Was Jesus the literal pre-incarnate Son of God?
There is a paper by a SDA pastor out there in the SDA community denying the literal sonship of Jesus. The paper is entitled "Jesus the Unique Son of God" and is a concern because:

1. It denies the literal "Father and Son"
2. It indirectly makes of none effect the Spirit of Prophecy.

(A response to that paper is being put together at this time)

MOSES: The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. Deut. 18:15. {LHU 29.1}

Through Moses, God's purpose to send His Son as the Redeemer of the fallen race was kept before Israel. On one occasion, shortly before his death, Moses declared, "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken." Plainly had Moses been instructed for Israel concerning the work of the Messiah to come. "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee," was the word of Jehovah to His servant;" and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him" (Deut. 18:15, 18) (Prophets and Kings, pp. 683, 684). {LHU 29.4}

The priest went through the ceremony of his official work. He took the child in his arms, and held it up before the altar. After handing it back to its mother, he inscribed the name "Jesus" on the roll of the firstborn. Little did he think, as the babe lay in his arms, that it was the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory. The priest did not think that this babe was the One of whom Moses had written, "A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you" (Acts 3:22). He did not think that this babe was He whose glory Moses had asked to see. But One greater than Moses lay in the priest's arms; and when he enrolled the child's name, he was enrolling the name of One who was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy (The Desire of Ages, pp. 50-52).

1. "Through Moses, God's purpose to send His Son as the Redeemer of the fallen race was kept before Israel."
2. "The priest did not think that this babe was the One of whom Moses had written,..."
3. "He did not think that this babe was He whose glory Moses had asked to see."

WHO WAS THIS BABE???

"How different would have been the Scriptural record of the history of Israel, a nation so highly favored of the Lord, if they had carried out the instruction given them from the pillar of cloud by the Son of the living God. But they did not diligently follow the admonitions given. They failed to teach their children the requirements of God; and the sad results are pictured before us in a nation rejected of God. They separated so far from the wisdom of God that when the Great Teacher, Jesus, the world's Redeemer, appeared, they cried, "Away with Him!" The tradition of men was more highly revered than the commandments of God. False practices and human inventions had taken the place of the pure teaching of God. That which was to have become a part of their being, was regarded as of small consequence and little worth." {CSW 47.1}

" The Son of God, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, was the leader of the children of Israel, overseeing every phase of their experience. He educated and disciplined them, often testing their faith. Fleeing from Pharaoh's host, they found themselves at one time hemmed in by inaccessible mountains, with the Red Sea before them and the enemy following hard after. The command came, "Go forward," and as they obeyed, the waters parted before them. In their journey through the wilderness, the Israelites were led and protected by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. . . ." {UL 341.5}

WHO WAS THIS BABE???

4. "...if they had carried out the instruction given them from the pillar of cloud by the Son of the living God."
5. " The Son of God, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud,..."