Prophetic Insights on the Original Diet of Man and Healthful Living Principles of the Remnant Church
The Bible clearly outlines that God's original plan for humanity included a plant-based diet.
📖 Genesis 1:29 "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat."
This passage reveals that fruits, grains, nuts, and seeds were designed to sustain human life. It was a diet perfectly suited for man's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
📖 Genesis 2:16-17 "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
God provided an abundance of wholesome food in the Garden of Eden, promoting health and longevity. There was no death or suffering associated with this diet, reflecting the harmony of creation.
After the fall of man and the global flood, God permitted the consumption of clean animal flesh as a temporary measure.
📖 Genesis 9:3-4 "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat."
However, this was not God's ideal diet. The introduction of flesh foods brought a significant decline in human lifespan (Genesis 11). The consumption of animal flesh was associated with disease and moral degradation.
God later gave His people dietary guidelines to distinguish between clean and unclean foods.
📖 Leviticus 11:46-47 "This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten."
The distinction between clean and unclean meats further confirms that even after the introduction of flesh foods, God desired His people to maintain a health-conscious diet.
The remnant church upholds healthful living as part of God's divine plan. Health reform is a significant component of the last-day message, preparing God’s people for His coming.
📖 1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
📖 3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
These verses emphasize that health is integral to spiritual growth and that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Ellen G. White strongly emphasized a return to the original diet as part of the health reform message.
📖 Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 380 "God is trying to lead us back, step by step, to His original design—that man should subsist upon the natural products of the earth."
📖 Ministry of Healing, p. 311 "Flesh was never the best food; but its use is now doubly objectionable, since disease in animals is so rapidly increasing."
White warned that in the last days, meat consumption would lead to increased disease and spiritual dullness. She urged God’s people to transition toward a plant-based diet to prepare for the time when flesh foods would no longer be safe for consumption.
The Spirit of Prophecy advocates eight natural health principles, commonly referred to as NEWSTART:
Nutrition – A plant-based diet supports health and vitality.
Exercise – Physical activity strengthens the body and mind.
Water – Clean water is essential for cleansing and hydration.
Sunlight – Provides Vitamin D and strengthens immunity.
Temperance – Avoiding harmful substances and excesses.
Air – Fresh air is necessary for good circulation and oxygenation.
Rest – Adequate sleep and Sabbath rest promote healing.
Trust in God – Faith and prayer bring inner peace and well-being.
These principles, when followed, contribute to a healthier and more vibrant life, preparing God’s people to serve Him effectively in the last days.
As we approach the end times, God calls His people to practice temperance and health reform in preparation for Christ’s return.
📖 Isaiah 66:15-17 "For, behold, the Lord will come with fire... They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord."
This prophecy warns against consuming unclean foods in the last days, reinforcing the importance of dietary obedience to God's laws.
The Spirit of Prophecy calls upon God’s people to embrace a plant-based diet to enhance physical, mental, and spiritual health.
📖 Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 373 "A diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains prepares the body and mind for communion with God and for receiving His truth."
📖 Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, p. 153 "Health reform is to take the place among the great subjects to be received by our people. It is to be connected with the third angel’s message."
God’s original diet remains the best for humanity. The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy both advocate for a return to plant-based eating, especially as we near the final events of earth’s history. Health reform, as taught in the remnant church, is not just about physical well-being but is deeply connected to spiritual preparedness and our witness to the world.
Are you ready to embrace God’s health message and return to His original plan?