There seems to be this old heresy of Arianism raising its ugly head again...so time to nip it in the behind...(the idea that Christ is not eternal)
"One of the key passages that semi-Arians use to prove that Jesus proceeded from the Father is found in Micah 5:2:
apart from a larger house, just as Jesus came forth from the Father.
However, this word “mowtsa’ah” is the feminine form of this word and the masculine form is “mowtsa” which is used 27 times in the Old Testament. In two places, it is used to described a king or his representative going about His business (2 Samuel 3:25 - representative of king David doing his business; Hosea 6:3 - the Lord going forth as the morning in preparation to pour out the early and latter rain). Thus, it makes far more sense to see the “goings forth” of Micah 5:2 as Christ the King going about His business as the King of the Universe than to compare Christ to a toilet house set apart from a larger house.
Another key passage for semi-Arians to prove that Jesus was begotten from the Father in the distant past is Proverbs 8. While Proverbs 8 primarily is describing wisdom personified, Ellen White does use this Scripture passage to apply the subject to Christ starting in Proverbs 8:22. Verse 23 states “I was set up from everlasting from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” Verse 24 says “I was brought forth.” Verse 25 says “before the hills was I brought forth.” The idea is aggressively promoted that these passages provide conclusive proof for a beginning point in time for Christ.
However, Ellen White quotes this passage to use decisive language about the eternal existence of Christ:
"One of the key passages that semi-Arians use to prove that Jesus proceeded from the Father is found in Micah 5:2:
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of Thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”The focus is placed on the phrase “goings forth.” This phrase is from the Hebrew word “mowtsa’ah. It is claimed that the only place this phrase is found in Scripture is in 2 Kings 10:27 where it is translated as “draught house” or “toilet house.” They claim this draught house is a smaller house set
However, this word “mowtsa’ah” is the feminine form of this word and the masculine form is “mowtsa” which is used 27 times in the Old Testament. In two places, it is used to described a king or his representative going about His business (2 Samuel 3:25 - representative of king David doing his business; Hosea 6:3 - the Lord going forth as the morning in preparation to pour out the early and latter rain). Thus, it makes far more sense to see the “goings forth” of Micah 5:2 as Christ the King going about His business as the King of the Universe than to compare Christ to a toilet house set apart from a larger house.
Another key passage for semi-Arians to prove that Jesus was begotten from the Father in the distant past is Proverbs 8. While Proverbs 8 primarily is describing wisdom personified, Ellen White does use this Scripture passage to apply the subject to Christ starting in Proverbs 8:22. Verse 23 states “I was set up from everlasting from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” Verse 24 says “I was brought forth.” Verse 25 says “before the hills was I brought forth.” The idea is aggressively promoted that these passages provide conclusive proof for a beginning point in time for Christ.
However, Ellen White quotes this passage to use decisive language about the eternal existence of Christ:
“Before Abraham was, I am.” Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God. The message He gave to Moses to give to the children of Israel was, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” The prophet Micah writes of Him, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of Thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” {ST August 29, 1900, par. 13}."Fulcrum7