2002 Q 2

Futureglory:The8GreatestEndtime
PropheciesintheBible2002
byAngelMRodriguez(20022ndQuarterSabbathSchoolHelpbook)
GreatApocalypticProphecies
EditorialOffice:12501OldColumbiaPike,SilverSpring,MD20904.
PrincipalContributors:AngelManuelRodriguez
Editor:CliffordGoldstein
AssociateEditor:LyndelleBrowerChiomenti.
EditorialProductionManager:SorayaHomayouniParish.
ArtandDesign:LarsJustinen.
PacificPressCoordinator:PaulA.Hey.
Copyright2002OfficeoftheAdultBibleStudyGuide,
GeneralConferenceofSeventhdayAdventist.AllRightsReserved.
SABBATH SCHOOL QUARTERLY 2002 SECOND QUARTER
INTRODUCTION The Fear Factor
an,"wroteFranciscoJosMoreno,"isafraid.Fearisoneofthefundamental
motivatingforcesbehindouractions.Thehistoryofmankindistoaverylarge
extentthehistoryofourattemptstodeny,repress,orescapefromfear."Between
FaithandReason:BasicFearandtheHumanCondition(NewYork:Harper&
RowPublishers,1977),p.1.
Humansare,indeed,afraidandwithgoodreasonstoo.Whoknowswhatthenext
fullmoon,thenextgustofwind,thenextpoliticaltwitch,willbring?Maybe
wealthwillarriveinthemail,maybehappinesswiththetickoftheclock,maybe
peaceandhealthinthemorninglight.Or,maybe(orevenmorelikely),diseaseis
inthewind,famineinthesunshine,andwarinthesoul.Evenifweavoidfamine,
war,anddisease,ourbiggestfeardeathalwaysawaitsusattheend.
Fortunately,wehaveaGodwholovesus,aGodwhoknowsourfearsandwho
seekstoalleviatethosefearsasmuchastheparametersofthegreatcontroversy
will,fornow,allow.OnewayHedoesthisisthroughtheapocalypticpropheciesin
whichtheLordspoketotheprophets(throughdreamsandvisionsrichin
symbolism)tohelpusseewaybeyondthedrainingfervorandhopelessfermentof
afallen,dyingworld.Inanexistenceinwhichchaos,evil,andsinseemtoinfect
eventheprotonsandelectronsofreality,amessagecanbesqueezedoutofthe
symbols,decipheredfromthecodes,andtranslatedfromtheimagesofthese
prophecies.ThatmessageisFearnot,Godisincontrol;Hisplanwillfinally
triumph,andthegreatestofallHispromisesisasrealasGodHimself,thepromise
ofanewlifeinanewbodyinanewandsinlessworldforthosewhobyfaith
enduretotheend.
Throughtheuniquepoweroftheapocalyptic,Godshowsthatnomatterhow
capricious,evil,selfish,andcunninghumanwillis;nomatterhumankind's
devising,schemes,andplans;theLordstillrules,bothinheavenandearth,andHe
alonewilldeterminethecourseofeventsthatleadtotheendofthekingdomofsin.
Althoughhumanwillandresponsibilityarenotannulled,theapocalypticshowsus
thatGod'splanwillprevail;nomatterhowchaoticandunruly,evenarbitrary,
eventsseemnow.
Mostimportant,theapocalypticrevealstousJesus,whoconfrontedthepowersof
evilinheaven;inHisthreeandahalfyearministryonearth;and,finally,inHis
sacrificeonthecross.Ineachencounter,Heunreservedlyanduncompromisingly
defeatedHisandourfoes.Now,atthecloseoftheconflict,Hewilldefeatevil
again,pavingthewayforourplanettobereincorporatedintotheharmonyofthe
kingdomofGod.
Thisisthemessageoftheapocalyptic.Readit,loveit,trustit,andbelieveit,
becausethroughitGodhasgivenusasureremedytoalleviatethefearthat,
understandably,dominatesasinful,dyingworld.
EDITOR'SOVERVIEWWhentheApocalypticGetsPersonal
neofmy"favorite"interpretationsofapocalypticprophecy,delivered(believe
itornot)attheUnitedStatesCapitolbeforeapackedhouseonFebruary22,1857,
purportedtoshowfromthebookofDanieltheexactday,eventhehour,ofthe
signingoftheUnitedStatesDeclarationofIndependence!SeePaulBoyer,When
TimeShallBeNoMore:ProphecyBeliefinModernAmerican
Culture(Cambridge,Mass.:TheBelknapPressofHarvardUniversityPress,
1992),pp.84,85.
Anotherclassic,morerecently,claimedthatthe70weekprophecyofDaniel9:24
27waspartiallyfulfilledinthesigningoftheIsraeliPLOpeaceaccordin1993!
One"favorite"apocalypticprognosticationevenpredictedthatin1994anasteroid
wouldwipeoutonethirdoftheworld'spopulation.
Whatisitaboutapocalypticprophecythatcanbringoutsuchgullibility,even
naivet,amongChristians?Itisbadenoughthatthegoodfolkwhomakethese
predictionslookfoolishafterthefact,but,sadly,theirrepeatedfailuresreflect
negativelyonallChristianity.Afterall,thosewhoalreadyhavedoubtsaboutthe
Christianfaithcertainlywillhavemoredoubtwhen,timeandagain,these
predictions,basedonthesameBookthatrevealsthesalvationofferedtheworldby
Christ'sdeath,failtotranspirewhenandasproclaimed.
Thisistoobad,becausethereissomuchinapocalypticprophecythatshouldcause
peopletobelieve,nottodoubt.Iknow,becauseofwhattheapocalypticprophecies
havedoneforme,personally.Morethantwentyyearsago,havingjusthada
powerfulconversionexperience,Iwasexposedtosomeapocalypticpropheciesof
DanielandRevelation,propheciesthatimmediatelyhelpedgroundmyexperience
intheBible.Inotherwords,howeverrealandintensemyconversionexperience,it
wasstilljustthat,anexperience,andexperienceneedstobebalanced,interpreted,
andverifiedbytheWordofGod.Andforme,theseapocalypticpropheciesadded
thatneededballastinwaysthatstrengthenedmyfaithbackthenandthat,infact,
continuetostrengthenittoday.Nodoubt,manyotherscouldtestifytothesame.
Thus,thisquarter,Dr.AngelRodriguez,oftheBiblicalResearchInstituteatthe
GeneralConference,coverssomeofthemajorapocalypticpropheciesthat,if
properlyunderstood,willbecomepersonalforeachofus,aswell.These
prophecieswillbuildourtrustinGod'sWord;willteachusmoreabout"the
redemptionthatisinChristJesus"(Rom.3:24);andwillmakeusmoresure,more
confident,andmorehopefulofthefuturebecauseofwhatChristasrevealedin
theseprophecieshasdoneforusinthepast.
Indeed,thisisthepurposeoftheapocalypticprophecies,nottotellusabout
asteroidsorpeaceaccordsbuttorevealJesus,andwhenwebetterunderstandJesus
whatHehasdone,isdoing,andwilldoforusthatisthemomentwhenthe
apocalypticpropheciesbecomepersonal,thewaytheyalwayshavebeenmeantto
be.
Contents: (all lessons may not be posted)
No.
Study
Date
Topic
April 6
Interpreting Apocalyptic Prophecies (KJV)
April 13
Daniel 2 and 7: The ABCs of Apocalyptic Prophecies (KJV)
April 20
The Son of Man and the Final Judgment (KJV)
April 27
Daniel 8: The Prince of the Heavenly Host (KJV)
May 4
Daniel 9: The Coming of the Messiah (KJV)
May 11
The Eschatological Day of Atonement (KJV)
May 18
Matthew 24: Jesus' Sermon on Apocalyptic Prophecy (KJV)
May 25
The Child, the Church, and the Dragon: Revelation 12 (KJV)
June 1
The Dragon Versus the Remnant-Part 1 (KJV)
10 June 8
The Dragon Versus the Remnant-Part 2 (KJV)
11 Jun 15
The Three Angels' Messages: Revelation 14:1-12 (KJV)
12 June 22
The Climax of Apocalyptic Expectation: The Blessed

Hope (KJV)
13 June 29
Preparing for the Apocalyptic Consummation (KJV)
Lesson 1
*March 30 - April 5
InterpretingApocalyptic
Prophecies
Sabbath Afternoon
March 30
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Dan.2:28;7:1518;Matt.24:15,
16;Luke24:27;2Thess.2:38.
MEMORYTEXT:"'ThereisaGodinheavenwhorevealsmysteries'"
(Daniel2:28,NIV).
NEOFTHEGREATCONTRIBUTIONSOFBIBLICALTHOUGHTis
thenotionoflineartime,theideathattimemovesinastraightline,fromone
distinctbeginningtoonedistinctend.Thisviewcontrastsmanypaganfaithsand
conceptsthathaveviewedtimeascircular,cyclical,somethingthatconstantly
returnstoitsbeginnings,andgoesthroughallthecycles,againandagain,never
ending.
Thatisnotthebiblicalmodel,whichteachesthattheworldhasaspecific
beginningintimeandaspecificend.Thoughweknowthepast,ashumansweare
moreconcernedwiththefuture.Whatwillhappen,when,andwhy?Most
important,howwillitaffectourlives?
Godknowsthisconcern,whichiswhyHehasopenedupthefuturetousthrough
theapocalypticprophecies,evenifHedoesitina"strange"way:Hehidesthe
messagebehindsymbolsandimagesoftendifficulttounderstand,thuscallingour
attentiontotheiruniquenessandimportance.Thatiswhy,besidesusingthese
symbolsandimagestosharethefuturewithus,theLordhasprovided,withinthe
Bibleitself,themethodforinterpretingtheseimagesandsymbols.Thisweek,we
willexplorethatmethod.
*(Studythisweek'slessontoprepareforSabbath,April6.)
SundayMarch31
HISTORY AT A GLANCE.
"ButthereisaGodinheaventhatrevealethsecrets,andmakethknowntothe
kingNebuchadnezzarwhatshallbeinthelatterdays.Thydream,andthe
visionsofthyheaduponthybed,arethese"(Dan.2:28).
omeofthemostpowerfulandrationallyappealingpropheciesappearinthe
bookofDaniel.Biblestudentsfromancienttimesthroughtodayhavestudiedthe
writingsofthisJewishprophet,captiveinBabylon,andonepointthatclearly
comesthroughinhistextsparticularlyinthepropheciesofDaniel2,7,and8is
thatDanielcoversthebroadscopeofworldhistory.Heisnotdealingwithjustone
timeandonelimitedplacebutsomethingmuchlarger,andthatisthehistoryofthe
world.
ReadDaniel2:38and8:20,21.IntheseversesDanielnamesthreeofthefour
greatkingdomsdepictedinthevisionshehasbeenshown.Whatdoesthattell
usregardingthehistoricalscopeoftheseprophecies?Aretheylimitedtoa
specifictimeinthepastoronlytosomefutureeventsyettotakeplace?What
informationdothetextsthemselvesgiveregardingthemethodfor
interpretingtheseprophecies?
Bycoveringworldhistoryfromhistimeupuntil"thetimeoftheend"(aphrase
thatappearsfivetimesinthebookofDanielandnowhereelseinScripture),Daniel
showsjusthowwideandbroadaretheissuesheisaddressing.Thisisimportantto
know,becausesomepeoplewouldliketolimitallhispropheciesonlytothepast,
evenpriortotheChristianEra;otherswanttoplacethemwayoffinthefuture,to
eventsbeyondevenourtimetoday.
Itishard,however,toseehowanyone,lookingcarefullyatthetextsandletting
Scripturebeitsowninterpreter,couldconcludeanythingotherthanthatDaniel's
propheciescoverasweepofworldhistoryfromhistimeuntotheend.Theangel
interpreter,forinstance,inDaniel7:17,18,allbutgivesthatinterpretation.For
thisreason,manyinterpretershave,overthecenturies,understoodtheseprophecies
asagreathistoricalsequenceofonekingdomafteranotherupuntiltheend.Thisis
calledthehistoricistapproach,anditisthefoundationoftheAdventist
understandingofprophecy.
Read through Daniel 2 until you can see for yourself the
historical sweep of world empires presented in the
chapter. Know it well enough to be able to share it with
others, because it sets the foundation for the prophecies
yet to come.
Monday April 1
JESUS' METHOD OF INTERPRETATION.
"Whenyethereforeshallseetheabominationofdesolation,spokenofby
Danieltheprophet,standintheholyplace,(whosoreadeth,lethim
understand:)thenletthemwhichbeinJudaeafleeintothemountains"(Matt.
24:15,16).SeealsoLuke21:2022.
oticewhatishappeninghere.ThispresentsoneoftheraretimesthatJesus
Himselfisrecordedasinterpretinganapocalypticprophecy;inthiscase,fromthe
bookofDaniel.WeshouldpayverycarefulattentiontowhattheLordissaying,
becauseitunlocksacrucialprincipleregardingbiblicalinterpretation.
Asmuchaspossible,readtheimmediatecontextsurroundingverses15and
16inMatthew24.WhomisJesusaddressing?WhatquestionsisHe
answering?WhatisthebackgroundforHisinterpretation?
Whateverthenumerousissuesinvolved,Christ'swordsdopresentonevery
importantpointforthoseinterestedinunderstandingapocalypticprophecy,
particularlythebookofDaniel.JesusinterpretsthesesectionsinDaniel,the
sectionsabouttheabominationofdesolation(seeDan.9:27;11:31;12:11),as
somethingthatisfulfilledafterHimandafterHistimeonearth.Jesus,talkingto
HisdisciplesaroundthetimeofA.D.31,placesthesepropheciesatadateinthe
future.
Thisisacrucialpoint,because,overtheyears,manyBiblescholarsand
interpretershaveclaimedthatallthepropheciesofthebookofDanielwere
fulfilledalmosttwocenturiesbeforetheministryofChrist.Inotherwords,they
claimthattheseprophecieshavenothingtodowiththefuture,oranyendtime
events,butwereconsummatedintheMaccabeanrevoltinthesecondcenturyB.C.
Obviously,Jesushadadifferentunderstandingof,atleast,someofDaniel's
prophecies,forHeplacedthemafterevenHisownearthlyministry.
We live at a time when secular forces are at war with Christian faith.
One way to weaken our faith is to make us believe that there is no such
thing as predicative prophecy in the Bible, prophecy without any
bearing on our future How can the simple point from today's lesson,
regarding Jesus' understanding of Daniel, help protect us from this
insidious assault against our faith?
Tuesday April 2
INTERPRETATION OF SYMBOLS (Dan. 2:38; 8:21; Rev. 12:9; 17:15).
pocalypticliteratureisrichinsymbols.Thesesymbolshavethrilled,stymied,
andinspiredBiblestudentsforthousandsofyears.Asymbol,ofcourse,istheuse
ofanobjecttoconveyanideaorconceptotherthanthesymbolitself.Insome
casestheremaynotbeanaturalconnectionbetweenthesymbolandwhatit
symbolizes(forexample,atreesymbolizingabeliever);inothers,aclear
relationshipexistsbetweenthetwo(forexample,fireasasymbolofdestruction).
Often,butnotalways,theBibleitselfprovidesthemeaningofasymbol.
Studythefollowingsymbolsandwritedownthemeaninggiveninthetexts.
Symbol
Text
Head of gold
Dan. 2:38
Stone
Dan. 2:44, 45
Four beasts
Dan. 7:17
Goat
Dan. 8:21
Meaning
Seven stars
Rev. 1:20
Lampstands
Rev. 1:20
Lamps
Rev. 4:5
Dragon
Rev. 12:9
Seven heads
Rev. 17:9, 10
Ten horns
Rev. 17:12
Water
Rev. 17:15
Noticethat(1)themeaningofthesymbolisclearlystatedinthebiblicaltext,
facilitatingthetaskoftheinterpreter;(2)themeaningisfoundinitsimmediate
context,whichsuggeststhatwemustpaycloseattentiontothecontextofaverse;
and(3)asymbolmayhavemorethanonemeaning,butwemustaccepttheone
chosenbythebiblicalwriter.Forinstance,watermaybeasymboloflife(John
4:1014;Rev.21:6),butinsomecontexts,suchasRevelation17:5,itsymbolizes
"multitudes."
Indealingwithsymbolswhosemeaningsarenotclearlystated,wemuststudythat
particularsymbolandprayerfullyselectthemeaningthatseemsmostcompatible
withtheimmediatecontext.
Why does the Bible use symbols in these prophecies? Why
couldn't the meanings just have been expressed in ways
that would leave no room for question? Perhaps the Lord
wants us to study deeply for ourselves? Perhaps He wants
to hide these meanings from certain people? How do you
understand the reasons?
Wednesday April 3
PAUL'S VIEW OF PROPHECY.
"Letnomandeceiveyoubyanymeans:forthatdayshallnotcome,except
therecomeafallingawayfirst,andthatmanofsinberevealed,thesonof
perdition;whoopposethandexaltethhimselfaboveallthatiscalledGod,or
thatisworshipped;sothatheasGodsittethinthetempleofGod,shewing
himselfthatheisGod.Rememberyenot,that,whenIwasyetwithyou,Itold
youthesethings?Andnowyeknowwhatwithholdeththathemightbe
revealedinhistime.Forthemysteryofiniquitydothalreadywork:onlyhe
whonowlettethwilllet,untilhebetakenoutoftheway.Andthenshallthat
Wickedberevealed,whomtheLordshallconsumewiththespiritofhis
mouth,andshalldestroywiththebrightnessofhiscoming"(2Thess.2:38).
eadcarefullytheabovetext,keepinginmindthethemeofthisweek'slesson,
thatofunderstandinghowtointerpretprophecy.Here,Paulpointstoaseriesof
propheticeventsthatistoclimaxintheSecondComing.
Asbestasyoucan,listtheeventsthatPaultalksaboutintheaboveverses,in
theirorderofappearance:
AccordingtoPaul,someoftheseeventshadalreadystarted,eveninhisday("the
mysteryofiniquitydothalreadywork"[vs.7]).ThusPaul,likeDaniel,locatesthe
fulfillmentofapocalypticprophecywithintheflowofhistory,beginninginhis
owndayandculminatingintheendoftheworld.Hereagainismoreevidencefor
historicism,inwhicheventsfollowahistoricalsequencethatcanbetracedthrough
historyupuntiltheSecondComing.Apparently,Pauldoesnotsubscribetothe
viewthatleavesallpropheticfulfillmenttosomedistantdatesinthepast(called
preterism);nordoeshetakethefuturistview,whichputsoffallprophecytosome
fardistantdateinthefuture.
As we look back and see how, historically, prophecies have
been fulfilled as predicted, how can those fulfillments
strengthen our faith in prophecies that have yet to be
fulfilled?
Thursday April 4
CHRIST-CENTERED INTERPRETATION (Luke 24:27; John 5:39).
heprimarypurposeofapocalypticprophecyisnottopredictfinaleventsbutto
introducetheonlyOne,Christ,capableofdefeatingtheevilthatattemptsto
controltheflowofhistory.
Matcheachtitlebelowwiththecorrespondingbiblicalpassagefromthebook
ofDaniel.Then,intheblankprovided,writedownthesignificanceofthe
title:
Title
Verse
___ Son of man
(1) 9:2
5
___ Messiah
(2) 8:1
1
Significance
Michael, one of
(3) 7:1
___ the chief
3
princes
___
Michael . . . the (4) 9:2

great prince
6
___
Prince of
princes
(5) 12:
1
___
Michael your
prince
6) 10:
13
___
Prince of the
host
(7) 10:
21
___
Messiah the
Prince
(8) 8:2
5
ThebookofRevelationalsoputstheemphasisonthecentralityofChristinthe
finalconflict.Christologicaltitlesaboundinthebook,indicatingthemanifold
workofourSavior.HeisPrinceofthekingsoftheearth(Rev.1:5),SonofGod
(2:18),theLionandtheroot(5:5),theLamb(5:6),theWordofGod(19:13),and
KingofkingsandLordoflords(19:16).ItisthroughHim,andHimalone,thatwe
areredeemed(5:9),purifiedfromsin(7:14),andbecomevictoriousoverevil
(12:11).Inthefinalconflict,thosepowersthatfightagainstHimandHispeople
willbedestroyed(17:14).Nowonderwearetold,timeandagaininScripture,to
rejoice,trust,andhavefaith.Despiteimmediateappearances,ourGodisincontrol.
BecauseJesushasredeemedusanddefeatedtheenemyattheCross,Heinvitesall
ofustoshareinthefruitsofwhatHehasaccomplishedforus.
Onethingiscertain:Despiteallthevisionsofbeastsandwars,earthquakes
andplagues,andotherendtimecalamities,Jesusassuresourfinalvictory,no
matterwhathappenstoushereandnow,aslongaswecontinuetoaccept
Him.Ifyouknowsomeonewhoisstrugglingthroughsomethingdifficultnow,
orevenifyouyourselfare,studythepromisesofthefinalvictoryinChrist
andusethemtogiveyourself,orsomeoneelse,somecomfortandhopeina
worldthat,attimes,seemstoofferlittleofeither.
Friday April 5
FURTHERSTUDY:EllenG.White,"TheRevelation,"TheActsoftheApostles,
pp.578592.
Thehistoricistsystemofapocalypticinterpretationwastheone"usedbytheearly
ChurchFathersuptothefifthcenturyAD.LeRoyE.Froomhasshownthata
significantshiftinpropheticinterpretationoccurredwhenAugustinedefinedthe
kingdomofGodastheChristianchurchandspiritualizedthemillennium,making
itasymboloftheChristianEra(ThePropheticFaithofOurFathers,vol.1,pp.
473491).HisviewsprevailedduringtheMiddleAges,untiltheperiodofthe
Protestantreform.TheReformersrestoredhistoricismasthemethodtobeusedin
theinterpretationofDanielandRevelation."TheSDAEncyclopedia,second
revisededition,vol.AL,pp.698,699.
"IntheRevelationareportrayedthedeepthingsofGodItstruthsareaddressedto
thoselivinginthelastdaysofthisearth'shistory,aswellastothoselivinginthe
daysofJohn.Someofthescenesdepictedinthisprophecyareinthepast,some
arenowtakingplace;somebringtoviewthecloseofthegreatconflictbetween
thepowersofdarknessandthePrinceofheaven,andsomerevealthetriumphsand
joysoftheredeemedintheearthmadenew."TheActsoftheApostles,p.584.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1 Why is it important for the church to use a method of prophetic
. interpretation supported by the Scriptures themselves as opposed to
current popular or "scholarly" methods?
2 Certain prophecies have not yet been fulfilled How safe is it to
. attempt to interpret them? How can the writings of Ellen G White
help?
3 Think about it: If the preterist view of interpretation is used, all of
. Christian history is removed from prophecy, if, on the other hand,
the futurist method is used, again all Christian history is removed
from prophecy. In contrast, only the historicist method keeps the
Christian Era at the forefront of the prophecies Discuss
SUMMARY:Apocalypticprophecyunfoldsasastudyinhistory,withtheriseand
fallofgreatworldempiresformingthebackground.Daniel,Jesus,andPaul,inthe
textsusedthisweek,affirmthehistoricistapproachtoprophecy.Ratherthan
coveringonlythepastoronlythefuture,theycoverthepast,thepresent,andthe
future.
Lesson 2
*April 6 - 12
Daniel2and7:TheABCs
ofApocalyptic
Prophecies
Sabbath Afternoon
April 6
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Daniel2and7.
MEMORYTEXT:"'Thenthesovereignty,powerandgreatnessofthe
kingdomsunderthewholeheavenwillbehandedovertothesaints,thepeople
oftheMostHigh.Hiskingdomwillbeaneverlastingkingdom,andallrulers
willworshipandobeyhim'"(Daniel7:27).
OMEOFTHEMOSTINCREDIBLEFAITHBUILDING
PROPHECIESinallScriptureappearinDaniel2andDaniel7.Inthesetwo
parallelchapters,Danielportraysthesweepofworldhistoryfromhisowntimeup
throughoursandtotheendoftheworld.Ifanyoneeverneededa"rational"basis
tobelieveintheinspirationoftheBible,Godhasgivenitinthesetwochapters.
WhatisinterestingisthatDaniel2and7describethesameeventsfromdifferent
perspectives.WhileDaniel2emphasizestheriseandfallofthekingdomsofthe
earth,Daniel7emphasizestheexperienceofthepeopleofGodbeforethateternal
kingdomisfinallyestablished.
Whatevertheirdifferences,Daniel2and7bothdescribehistoryfromaspiritual
angle,revealingadimensionnotfoundinstandardhistorybooks.Bothchapters
aredeeplyreligiousdocuments,showingthathistoryis,afterall,thearenaofGod's
activity.Bothchaptersendwithanoteoftriumph:God'skingdomwillbe
victoriousoverthekingdomsoftheearth.Inthefinalvictory,theSonofmanis
theindispensableinstrument,anditisthroughHimthatHispeopleinheritthe
kingdom.
SundayApril7
TWO PARALLEL VISIONS.
Thoughtwosymbolicallydifferentpropheciesintwodifferentchapters,
Daniel2andDaniel7paralleleachother:
Daniel 2
Daniel 7
Gold (vs. 32)
Lion (vs. 4)
Silver (vs. 32)
Bear (vs. 5)
Brass (vs. 32)
Leopard (vs. 6)
Iron (vs. 33)
Fourth beast (vss. 7, 8)
God's kingdom (vss. 34, 35)
God's kingdom (vs. 14)
Whatgreatkingdomsdothesesymbolsrepresent?
heLorddeemedtheidentificationofthesesymbolssoimportantthatHe
namedthefirstthreeinthebookofDanielandmadetheidentityofthefourth
unmistakable.Thefirstone,thegoldheadinDaniel2andthelioninDaniel7,is
Babylon(Dan.2:38).Thesecondkingdom(thesilverandthebear)isidentified
inDaniel5:28,30,31and8:20
astheMedoPersianEmpire.Thethird(thebrass
andtheleopard)issymbolizedbyagoatinDaniel8:21andidentifiedasGreece
inDaniel11:2.Thenameofthefourthkingdom(theironandthefourthbeast)is
notgiven,butonlyonepowerpossiblyfitsitsdescriptioninthesweepofworld
historyandthatisRome.
WhatidentifyingmarksofthefourthkingdominDaniel2andofthefourth
beastinDaniel7makeitsidentificationasRometheonlysensibleone?
Whatweseeinthesepropheciesiswhatisknownbytheologiansas
"recapitulation,"afancywordforrepetition.Certainpropheciesarerepeated,not
identicallybutinwaysthatreinforcetheirbasicmessage,eveniftheseprophecies
aregivenfromdifferentangles.Inotherwords,theycancoverthesamehistorical
periodfromadifferentperspective,thusrevealingnewelementsintheevents
described.Daniel2and7,forinstance,tracehistoryfromthetimeofBabylonto
theendofearth'shistory;chapter7,however,thoughrepeatingwhatisinchapter2,
enlargesandexpandsonit,aswell.
Jos was the only Adventist in his family of atheists and
skeptics. Only after studying Daniel 2 and 7 with them did
they start to loosen up toward his beliefs. What is it about
these two prophecies that can open people to the validity
of God's Word?
Monday April 8
THE FOURTH BEAST.
"Andthefourthkingdomshallbestrongasiron:forasmuchasironbreaketh
inpiecesandsubduethallthings:andasironthatbreakethallthese,shallit
breakinpiecesandbruise"(Dan.2:40).
"ThenIwouldknowthetruthofthefourthbeast,whichwasdiversefromall
theothers,exceedingdreadful,whoseteethwereofiron,andhisnailsof
brass;whichdevoured,brakeinpieces,andstampedtheresiduewithhis
feet"(Dan.7:19).SeealsoDaniel7:7.
WhatsimilarityexistsbetweenthelanguageusedinDaniel7todescribethe
fourthkingdomandthewordsusedinDaniel2?
hebeastrepresentingtheRomanEmpireislikenootherbeast.Daniel
describesitas"'terrifyingandfrighteningandverypowerful'"(Dan.7:7,NIV).It
wasanundefeatedpower,committedtoconquerthroughwar.TheCambridge
AncientHistorypointsoutthat"fromtheendofthethirdcentury[B.C.]onwards,
Romanpolicywasaggressive,"havingnointerestinsettlingdisputesthrough
negotiationsbutrathermakingdemandstoothernationsthatmadewar
unavoidableA.E.Austin,editor(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,
1989),vol.8,p.382.CrueltycharacterizedtheRomanEmpire'sattitudetoward
thoseitconquered,acrueltyrepresentedbyits"ironteeth"(Dan.7:19,NIV).
WhatwouldhappentothepowerfulRomanEmpire?Dan.2:41;7:24.
ManyreasonscanbegivenforthebreakupoftheRomanEmpire,"butitwas
reallythemassiveinvasions,whichhadbecomeincessantduringthesecondhalfof
the[fourth]century,thattoppledtheempire."TheNewEncyclopoedia
Britannica:Macropoedia(Chicago:EncyclopaediaBritannica,Inc.,1981,fifteenth
edition),vol.15,p.1132.
Unlike the three powers that preceded it, Rome was not replaced by
another single power, in the way that Media-Persia replaced Babylon or
Greece replaced Media-Persia. Instead, it was broken apart into smaller
entities, just as Daniel's vision showed. How amazing that Daniel,
centuries before this event, described the demise of pagan Rome so
accurately! If God can tell the future of empires, certainly He holds our
individual future in His hands, as well. How does that knowledge give
you comfort, especially in the midst of terrible trials?
Tuesday April 9
THE LITTLE HORNPART 1.
"Ifamanconsidertheoriginofthisgreatecclesiasticaldominion,hewilleasily
perceivethatthepapacyisnootherthantheghostofthedeceasedRomanempire,
sittingcrownedonthegravethereof."SeventeenthcenturyBritishphilosopher,
ThomasHobbes,Leviathan,inGreatBooksoftheWesternWorld(Chicago:
EncyclopaediaBritannica,1971),p.278.
ReadDaniel7:8,24
anddescribeinyourownwordstheriseofthelittlehorn.
Whateventssurrounditsrisethatcanhelpleadtoacertainidentification?
heidentificationofthepowerrepresentedbythelittlehornisofcritical
importancefortheinterpretationofDaniel7.Theprophecyprovidesseveralfacts
thathelpmakeasureidentification.
First,thelittlehornarisesoutofthefourthbeast(7:24);thusitisnotseparate
fromtheRomanEmpirebutisactuallypartofit.
Second,itappearsaftertheother10horns(7:8).The10hornsrepresentthe
collapseanddivisionoftheRomanEmpire;therefore,thelittlehorncameafterthe
RomanEmpire'scollapse.
Third,asDaniel7:20reveals,itbecomesgreaterthantheotherhorns("literally
'whoseappearancewasbiggerthanthatofitscompanions'"[TheSDABible
Commentary,vol.4,p.830:20."Stout"]).Itrepresentedanentitymorepowerful
thantheotherkingdomsofdividedRome.
Fourth,threeofthetenhornswereuprooted(7:8).Inorderforittohavespaceto
exerciseitsgreatness,threepowersareeliminated.
WhatpoweraroseoutoftheruinsofpaganRometobealeadinginfluenceamong
thedividedkingdoms?Theanswerisblatantlyclear,theRomanChurch.Historian
R.P.C.Hansoncommentsthatthoughthechurch"wasformallyunpreparedfor
theappallingandunprecedentedcollapseofthesocietyinwhichithadgrowninto
maturity,whenthecrisiscametheChurchfoundpowerswithinitselftodealwith
thecrisis,toendure,tosurviveandfinallytogofartowardspermeatingand
controllingthenewstateofaffairswhichthebarbarianinvasionsandsettlements
hadbroughtabout.""TheChurchandtheCollapseoftheWesternRoman
Empire,"ChurchandStateintheEarlyChurch,ed.EverettFerguson(NewYork:
GarlandPublishing,Inc.,1993),vol.7,p.385.
How can we teach the texts we have studied today in a
way that does not appear bigoted? What can we do to
show that we are not discussing individuals but an
institution? Or can we, honestly, make that distinction?
Discuss different approaches.
Wednesday April 10
LITTLE HORNPART 2.
"AndheshallspeakgreatwordsagainstthemostHigh,andshallwearoutthe
saintsofthemostHigh,andthinktochangetimesandlaws:andtheyshallbe
givenintohishanduntilatimeandtimesandthedividingoftime"(Dan.
7:25).
anielspendsmuchtimegivingspecificdetailsabouttheactivityofthislittle
hornpower,papalRome.Amongthosedetailsare:
1.SpeakinggreatwordsagainstGod.Thechurchspokewithauthoritythroughits
teachingoffice,definingdogmasandbeliefsandrequiringsubmissiontothem.In
theprocess,truthanderrorweremixedtogether.Consequently,nonbiblical
teachingswereacceptedastruth(forexample,immortalityofthesoul,sacrament
ofpenance,purgatory,mediationofthesaints,etc.).
2.Persecution.Thosewhodidnotsubmittothedogmaswerepersecutedandeven
killed.DuringtheInquisition,torturewasusedagainstthe"enemies"ofthechurch.
"In1252[Pope]InnocentIVsanctionedtheinflictionoftorturebythecivil
authoritiesuponheretics,andtorturelatercametohavearecognizedplaceinthe
procedureoftheinquisitorialcourts."NewCatholicEncyclopedia(Washington,
D.C.:TheCatholicUniversityofAmerica,1967),vol.14,p.208:Tortureandthe
Church.
3.Changingthelaw.Themostdramaticanddaringchangeintroducedthroughthe
unionofchurchandstatewasthechangeofthelawofGod.Thebiblicaldayof
rest,theseventhdaySabbath,waschangedtoSunday.Thischangewasmade,
basedontheteachingauthorityofthechurch,andremainstodaythedayofrest
amongCatholicsandmostProtestantdenominations.OneCatholicsource
reads:"WhydoweobserveSundayinsteadofSaturday?WeobserveSunday
insteadofSaturdaybecausetheCatholicChurch...transferredthesolemnityfrom
SaturdaytoSunday."Rev.PeterGeiermann,C.S.S.R.,TheConvert'sCatechism
ofCatholicDoctrine(St.Louis,Mo.:B.HerderBookCo.,1937),p.50.
Even a cursory study of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 reveals that
the Lord has given us a lot more details about the little
horn and its activity than about any of the other powers
depicted. Why do you think that is so, and what does it tell
us about the importance of knowing just who this power
is?
Why,especiallyinanageofgreatecumenicaltrends,mustwekeepinmind
thetruthaboutthislittlehornandwhatitrepresents?
Thursday April 11
THE FIRST APOCALYPTIC TIME PROPHECY.
"Andtheyshallbegivenintohishanduntilatimeandtimesandthedividing
oftime"(Dan.7:25).
nlikeanyoftheotherpowersinDaniel7,thelittlehornpoweris
distinguishedbyonespecialcharacteristic:ItcomeswithDaniel'sfirstapocalyptic
timeprophecy.Itistheonlyoneofthekingdomsrepresentedinthechapter
identifiedwithatimeprophecy,anotherdetailthatstrengthenstheargumentthat
Godwantsustoknow,inparticular,whothispoweris.
WhatdoesthistimeprophecymeanhereinDaniel7:25,regardingthelittlehorn?
Inapocalypticsymbolism,"day"oftenrepresents"year."Scholarsofmany
denominationshavelongrecognizedthisprinciple(Jewishcommentatorswere
applyingthedayyearprincipletobiblicaltextscenturiesbeforeAdventistsever
existed).TheOldTestamentgivesnumerousexamplesofthedayyearprinciple.
Forexample,1Samuel20:6reads,"Forthereisayearlysacrificethereforallthe
family";thewordfor"yearly"isreallytranslatedas"days."Thisisjustoneof
manyexamples.
Read1Kings1:1;thewordtranslated"years"hereisreally"days."See
alsoGenesis6:3,Numbers14:34,andEzekiel4:6andtrytofindhintsofthe
dayyearprincipleinthesetexts,aswell.
The"timeandtimesandthedividingoftime"inDaniel7:25isdepicted
inRevelation12:6as1,260days.Ifthe"timeandtimesandthedividingoftime"
equals1,260daysandadayequalsayear,thenthe"timeandtimesandthe
dividingoftime,"or1,260days,equals1,260years.Thus,thereignofthelittle
hornpower(or,atleast,aphaseofit)willlastmorethantwelvecenturies.
InA.D.538,aftertheretreatfromRomeoftheArianinvaders,thewaywaspaved
fortheriseofpapalRome.Amazinglyenough,in1798exactly1,260yearslater
theFrenchgeneralBerthierarrestedandexiledPopePiusVI,withtheintention
ofbringingtoanendtheRomanCatholicsystem.Infact,thereweresomeBible
studentsbefore1798who,studyingtheseprophecies,cametotheconclusionthat
somethingdrasticwouldhappentoRomenearthebeginningofthenineteenth
century,whichispreciselywhathappened.Forfurtherstudy,seeTheSDABible
Commentary,vol.4,p.834,"Atimeandtimesandthedividingoftime."
Howdoesthismassivetimeperiodcoveringmorethanamillenniumhelp
identifythelittlehorn?
Friday April 12
FURTHERSTUDY:ReadTheSDABibleCommentaryonDaniel2and7;C.
MervynMaxwell,GodCares(Nampa,Idaho:PacificPressPublishingAssoc.,
1981),vol.1,pp.101141;EllenG.White,"AnEraofSpiritualDarkness,"inThe
GreatControversy.pp.4960.
Readthefollowinginsightinconclusiontothisweek'stopic:
TheBeastsandtheLamb."ToDanielwasgivenavisionoffiercebeasts,
representingthepowersoftheearth.ButtheensignoftheMessiah'skingdomisa
lamb.Whileearthlykingdomsrulebytheascendancyofphysicalpower,Christis
tobanisheverycarnalweapon,everyinstrumentofcoercion.Hiskingdomwasto
beestablishedtoupliftandennoblefallenhumanity."EllenG.White
Comments,TheSDABibleCommentary,vol.4,p.1171,onchapter7:27:
"Messiah'sEnsign,aLamb."
1 In your opinion, why did God use the principle of recapitulation (see
. Sunday's lesson) instead of giving the prophet one single vision that
would include all the prophetic events?
2 If you were part of a Bible study on this topic that had Roman
. Catholics in attendance, what approach could be taken to help break
down barriers that would, no doubt, arise?
3 In recent years, there have been many documents signed by Roman
. Catholics and Protestants that make great claims of unity between
them. How should we, as Seventh-day Adventists, in light of Bible
prophecy, respond in a responsible manner to these
pronouncements?
4 Many people are skeptical of Christianity because of the bloody and
. intolerant history of the church. How could this week's lesson help
weaken that common argument against the validity of the Christian
faith?
SUMMARY:Daniel2and7complementeachother,providinganoverviewof
historyfromGod'sperspective.Thevision,withamazingaccuracy,predictedthe
riseandfalloftheancientkingdoms,includingtheriseofthepapacy,whichis
depictedintheprophecywithunmistakableclarityandprecision.Clearly,God
wantedustoknowtheidentityofthatpower.Thereasonswillbecomemore
apparentaswecontinuethisstudy.
Lesson 3
*April 13 - 19
TheSonofManandthe
FinalJudgment
Sabbath Afternoon
April 13
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Gen.3:819;Ps.95:5,10;Dan.7:10,
22;John5:24,25;Rom.14:10;2Cor.5:10;Heb.9:24;Rev.20:12,13.
MEMORYTEXT:"'Ariveroffirewasflowing,comingoutfrombeforehim.
Thousandsuponthousandsattendedhim;tenthousandtimestenthousand
stoodbeforehim.Thecourtwasseated,andthebookswereopened'"(Daniel
7:10,NIV).
ASTWEEKWESTUDIEDDANIEL2AND7,inwhichthesequenceof
historyasitrelatestoGod'schurch(Babylon,MediaPersia,Greece,andRome
[paganandpapal])wasshown.Yet,notalltheeventsdepictedwereofanearthly
nature.Infact,Daniel7climaxeswithagreatjudgmentsceneinheaventhatleads,
ultimately,toGodestablishingHisfinalkingdom(vss.26,27).
ThreetimesinDaniel7(vss.911,21,22,25,and26)thisgreatheavenly
judgmenthappensafterthe"timeandtimesanddividingoftime,"usedtodelineate
aphaseofthelittlehorn'sdominion.Thesequenceunfoldslikethis:
(1)Littlehorn(vs.25)
(2)Heavenlyjudgment(vs.26)
(3)SecondComing(vs.27)
Clearly,then,thebookofDanielteachesapreAdventjudgment.Thisweek's
lessontakesalookatthebiblicalteachingonthisimportanttopic.
SundayApril14
THE GOD WHO JUDGES.
"FortheFatherjudgethnoman,buthathcommittedalljudgmentuntothe
Son....Andhathgivenhimauthoritytoexecutejudgmentalso,becauseheis
theSonofman"(John5:22,27).
heBible,innumerousplaces,makesitclearthattherewillbeajudgment.In
theabovetexts,however,JesussaysthatHe,Himself,willbetheOnewhodoes
thejudging.
WhyisitthatJesuswillbetheJudge,asopposedtotheFather?Whatinsight
doesverse27
providethatanswersthisimportantquestion?
"HewhotookhumanityuponHimself,andinthisworldlivedaperfectlife,isto
judgeus.HeonlycanbeourJudge....ChristtookhumanitythatHemightbeour
Judge."EllenG.White,TestimoniesfortheChurch,vol.9,p.185."BecauseHe
hastastedtheverydregsofhumanafflictionandtemptation,andunderstandsthe
frailtiesandsinsofmen;becauseinourbehalfHehasvictoriouslywithstoodthe
temptationsofSatan,andwilldealjustlyandtenderlywiththesoulsthatHisown
bloodhasbeenpouredouttosave,becauseofthis,theSonofmanisappointed
toexecutethejudgment."EllenG.White,TheDesireofAges,p.210.
Whattheprophetissayinghereisthat,apparently,theFatherentrustedjudgment
toChristtoavoidanyresemblanceofinjusticeonHispart.Inotherwords,because
Jesushadbeenahumanbeing,becauseJesushadpartakenofoursorrows,our
pains,andoursufferings,HeshouldbeourJudge!
TheAmericanIndianshaveasaying:"Neverjudgeamanunlessyouhavewalked
inhismoccasins."Jesus,who"wasinallpointstemptedlikeasweare"(Heb.
4:15);Jesus,whocame"inthelikenessofsinfulflesh"(Rom.8:3);Jesus,who
"becamefleshanddweltamongus"(John1:14,NKJV);Jesus,"bornofawoman"
(Gal.4:4,NIV),He,andHealone,willbetheOnewhojudgesus,becauseHehas
"walkedinourmoccasins."
No doubt, the Bible teaches that there is a judgment.
Think of how much more comforting it is to know that our
Judge is Jesus, Someone who has been here; Someone who
knows what temptation is like; Someone who knows our
sorrows, toils, and troubles. Look at how Jesus judged
people when He was on earth. In what ways does that
give you comfort to face His judgment at the end of the
world?
Monday April 15
JUDICIAL PROCESS.
"ForwemustallappearbeforethejudgmentseatofChrist;thateveryone
mayreceivethethingsdoneinhisbody,accordingtothathehathdone,
whetheritbegoodorbad"(2Cor.5:10).
"ForGodshallbringeveryworkintojudgment,witheverysecretthing,
whetheritbegood,orwhetheritbeevil"(Eccles.12:14).
tishardtoimaginetheconceptofjudgment,atleastafairjudgment,without
anykindoftrialorinvestigation.Onlyinnationsthatviolatethemostbasicof
humanrightsarepeoplesentencedwithoutanyinquiryintotheirdeeds.Evenin
theancientworld,aninquiryprecededjudgment.
ReadJudges6:2830,Esther2:2123,andActs25:412andstudythe
examplesofaninquirybeforejudgmentthere.
InIsrael'sjudicialproceedings,investigatingtheevidencewasoffundamental
importance."Investigatoryactivities...hadthepreciseaimofcastinglightona
particularevent(crime)insuchawaythatknowingwhatcrimehadbeen
committedandknowingwhowasitsauthoritwouldbepossibletoproceedto
theindictmentandsentencingoftheculpritinaccordancewithtruthand
justice."PietroBovati,ReestablishingJustice(Sheffield,England:JSOTPress,
1994),p.241.
WhichlegalproceduredidGodfollowinthefirsttrialrecordedinthe
Bible?Gen.3:819.
InGenesis3:818GodfunctionsasJudgeandProsecutor,who,before
pronouncingthesentence,makesaninvestigation.HeasksAdamandEve,"Where
areyou?""Whotoldyouthatyouwerenaked?""Haveyoueatenfromthetree?"
Hegathersinformationthatwilldeterminetheverdict.BecauseGodknowswhat
happened,"thepurposeofthetrialsceneistomakecleartothemanandthe
womanwhattheyhavedone."ClausWestermann,Genesis111:A
Commentary(Minneapolis,Minn.:AusburgPublishingHouse,1984),p.254.
Daniel 7:10; Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; and Revelation 20:12,
13 indicate an investigative process in the final judgment. What does
this tell us about how we should live now? Also, because no one has the
perfect life needed to stand in judgment, what do these texts say about
our need of a Savior?
Tuesday April 16
THE JUDGMENT HAS COME.
"Andasitisappointeduntomenoncetodie,butafterthisthejudgment"
(Heb.9:27).
StudyRomans2:58.Whatinsightsdoesitrevealaboutjudgment?
heNewTestamentestablishesseveralimportantthingsaboutthetimingofthe
finaljudgment.First,judgmentgenerallydoesnottakeplacewhilewearealive;
characterisfixedafterdeath(theexceptionisthelastgeneration).
Second,judgmentisdirectlyassociatedwith"thedayofwrath,"theSecond
Coming(Rom.2:5;2Tim.4:1).Theneachoneisrewardedaccordingtohisorher
works.
Third,atthereturnofChrist"therighteousjudgmentofGod"willberevealed
(Rom.2:5).Inthiscase,"judgment"referstothelegaldecisionarrivedatbya
celestialcourtunknowntohumans.AtthecomingofChrist,theverdictpassedin
heavenisrevealed:deathforsome;eternallifeforothers(vss.68).
WhereinsalvationhistorydidDanielplacethefinaljudgment?Dan.7:9,10,
25,26.
Danielteachesthatthefinaljudgmentisajudicialprocessthatincludesthe
followingelements:(1)itbeginsintheheavenlycourtroombeforeGod,theangels,
andtheSonofman(Dan.7:9,10,13);(2)thebooksareinvestigatedbeforea
decisionisreached(vss.10,22);(3)therevelationoftheverdictwillresultinthe
vindicationofthesaintsandthecondemnationoftheenemy(vss.22,26);(4)it
beginssometimeafterthe1,260yearsofpersecution,instigatedbythelittlehorn
(vss.25,26).
In what ways do you draw comfort from the notion of
judgment? Or does the notion scare you? If, however, God
is just and loving, we should trust that judgment will be
something as just and loving as God Himself. Thus, if we
are fearful of the judgment, that must be only because
either we know that we are not living right, and/or we do
not have a correct understanding of God and His love.
What can you do for yourself (or for someone else) who
fears the judgment, to help this person understand it
better? At the same time, in what ways does knowing
there is a judgment positively motivate us to live in
accordance with God's will?
Wednesday April 17
THE JUDGMENT OF THE WICKED.
"Andtheseagaveupthedeadwhichwereinit;anddeathandhelldelivered
upthedeadwhichwereinthem:andtheywerejudgedeverymanaccording
totheirworks.Anddeathandhellwerecastintothelakeoffire.Thisisthe
seconddeath.Andwhosoeverwasnotfoundwritteninthebookoflifewas
castintothelakeoffire"(Rev.20:1315).
oweverunpleasantatopic,thefinalpunishmentofthelostisdiscussedinthe
Bible.Thelostaredescribedasthosewho,throughtheirownchoices,didnotavail
themselvesofthelightthatGod,inonewayoranother,hadmadeavailableto
them.Nevertheless,itisatopicofconcernandimportance,becauseitdealswith
whatis,inmanyways,thefundamentalissueinthewholegreatcontroversy:the
characterofGod.
HowdoesRevelation20:1115depictthejudgmentofthewicked?
Thejudgmentofthewickedalsoincludesaninvestigativecomponentbeforethe
executionofthefinalsentence.Thisinvestigationtakesplaceduringthe
millenniumandthesavedonesparticipateinit(Rev.20:4).Itincludesthepassing
ofjudgmentonSatanandhisangels(1Cor.6:2,3;2Pet.2:4).Attheendofthe
millenniumcomestheexecutionofthesentence,whichisthedestructionofthe
wicked(Rev.20:1215).Studythefollowingsummaryofthejudgmentprocess:
FINALJUDGMENT
Judgment Begins
Investigative
judgment of saints
In heaven before
Second Coming
Second
Coming of
Christ
Millennium
Investigative
Rewards for the
judgment of the
saints
wicked
On earth at
Second Coming
In heaven during
millennium
Judgment Ends
Executive
judgment of the
wicked
On earth after the
millennium
Contrast our understanding of the second death, as

eternal destruction, to the common notion of hell as
eternal, conscious torture in flames of fire. What different
pictures of God do they present?

Thursday April 18
THE PURPOSE OF THE JUDGMENT.
"InthedaywhenGodshalljudgethesecretsofmenbyJesusChrist
accordingtomygospel"(Rom.2:16).SeealsoActs24:25.
Arethejudgmentandthegospelcompatible?Howdoweunderstandtherole
ofthejudgmentifwearesavedbyfaith,withoutthedeedsofthelaw?
SeeRom.3:28.
ntheScripturesthegospelandthefinaljudgmentareinseparable;infact,the
gospelreachesitsconsummationatthejudgment.Amongthegoalsofthat
judgmentare:
1.TorevealthetruthaboutGod'speople.Judgmentpresupposesanuncertainty
thatwillberesolvedthroughaninvestigation,anevaluationofevidence,anda
finalverdictinwhich,atacosmiclevel,God'sfaithfulonesarevindicated(Dan.
7:22).
2.TorevealGod'sjusticeandlove.ThejudgmentdoesnotinformGodaboutwho
isforgivenorguilty;rather,itrevealsthejusticeandloveofGodbeforetheon
lookinguniverse.
3.Torestoreharmonyintheuniverse.Anelementofdisharmonyfragmentsthe
universeasaresultoftheconflictbetweengoodandevil.Thefinaljudgment
restoresharmonybyrewardingtheforgivenandbringingtoanendthepresenceof
evilinthecosmos,cleansingitfromsin.ItisthenthatGod'sworkofsalvation
throughChristwillbeconsummated(Rev.11:1518).
4.Toforceallhumansandevilpowerstoassumeresponsibilityfortheir
actions.ConfrontedbytheevidencegatheredbytheDivinetribunal,everycreature
willhavetoacknowledgetherighteousnessofGod'sverdictagainsthimorher.
ThosewhoacceptedChristastheirSaviorrecognizethat,thoughtheydeserved
eternaldeath,itisthroughChrist'sgracealonetheyhavebeengiveneternallife
instead.Allthewickedwillrecognizethattheydeservetodieeternallyand,inthe
judgment,theywillacknowledgethejusticeoftheDivineverdictagainstthem
(Phil.2:911).
5.Tomotivatepersonalspiritualgrowth.Thefinaljudgmentcallsusto
perseveranceintheChristianlife;itcallsfortotalrelianceonChrist.Thejudgment
doesnotmakeoursalvationuncertain;rather,itreaffirmsitsexclusivecertaintyin
Christ(Rom.8:1).
SomeoneoncedescribedthejudgmentnotasatimewhenGoddecidedto
acceptorrejectusbutasthetimewhenGodfinalizesourchoiceofwhetheror
notwehavetrulyacceptedorrejectedHim.Howdoyouviewthatconceptof
thejudgment?
Friday April 19
FURTHERSTUDY:EllenG.White,"FacingLife'sRecord,"TheGreat
Controversy,pp.479491.
Pleasenotethefollowingpointsinconclusiontothisweek'sstudy:
1.ThecomingoftheSonofmantotheAncientofDays(Dan.7:13)."Attendedby
heavenlyangels,ourgreatHighPriestenterstheholyofholiesandthereappearsin
thepresenceofGodtoengageinthelastactsofHisministrationinbehalfofman
toperformtheworkofinvestigativejudgment."EllenG.White,TheGreat
Controversy,p.480.
"WearethusledtotheconclusionthatDan7:914describestheeschatological
DayofAtonement..whenthetruehighpriestwillcometotheAncientofDays
surroundedbycloudsofincense."CrispinH.T.FletcherLouis,"TheHighPriest
asMediatorintheHebrewBible:Dan7:13asaTestCase,"inSocietyofBible
Literature1997SeminarPapers(Atlanta,Ga.:ScholarsPress,1997),p.186.
2.Theheavenlyrecords."Thebookoflifecontainsthenamesofallwhohaveever
enteredtheserviceofGod....'Abookofremembrance'iswrittenbeforeGod,in
whicharerecordedthegooddeedsof'themthatfearedtheLord,andthatthought
uponHisname.'Malachi3:16....Thereisarecordalsoofthesinsofmen."
EllenG.White,TheGreatControversy,pp.480,481.
Thenatureoftheheavenlybooksisunknowntous,buttheyclearlyconveythe
ideathatdecisionsmadefororagainstapersonarebasedonfactual,objective
evidence.ItisbecauseoftheobjectivenatureofthejudgmentthatGod'sjustice
willberecognizedbyall(Rev.15:4).
1 If the investigative judgment takes place in heaven, how could it be
. said that you will stand before the judgment seat of God? See Luke
12:8, 9; The Great Controversy, p. 482.

2 The standard used by God to evaluate the life of each individual is
. His law (James 2:12) and the person's response to Jesus (2 Thess.
2:12). How are the two related?
3 In the Bible and in Ellen G. White's writings, the theme of the final
. judgment is used to encourage us to persevere in faith or to reform
our lives. How could you present that subject to others in a positive
light?
SUMMARY:Thefinaljudgmentproclaimstheconsummationoftheworkof
Christforus.ItbeginswithapreAdventinvestigationofthosewhohaveclaimed
toservetheLordandconcludeswiththeexecutivejudgmentofthewickedafter
themillennium.
Lesson 4
*April 20- 26
Daniel8:ThePrinceofthe
HeavenlyHost
Sabbath Afternoon
April 20
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Daniel8.
MEMORYVERSE:"AshecameneartheplacewhereIwasstanding,Iwas
terrifiedandfellprostrate.'Sonofman,'hesaidtome,'understandthatthe
visionconcernsthetimeoftheend"(Daniel8:17,NIV).
ANIEL8,howeversimilarinmanywaystoDaniel7,developsathemenot
foundinDaniel7,theattackagainstChristastheHighPriestintheheavenly
sanctuary.
Daniel8exudessanctuaryimagery.Thebeasts,forexample,usedassymbols
inDaniel7,areunclean(lion,bear,leopard),whilethoseusedinDaniel8areclean
(ram,goat).Also,incontrasttothebeastsofDaniel7,theanimalsinDaniel
8aresanctuaryanimals.Byemployingtheseanimalsassymbolsofkingdoms
(particularlyincontrasttothebeastsusedinthepreviouschapter),theLordseems
tobedirectingthereader'smindtowardthesanctuary,thusgivinghintsonhowwe
canunderstandandinterpretthevision.
Daniel8alsoemphasizestheelementofconflict,butattwolevels:thehistorical
(horizontal)andthespiritual(vertical).Thegoatattackstheramandisvictorious;
thelittlehornattacksthesouth(theeastandPalestine)andisvictorious.But,then,
thelittlehorndoessomethingthatnootherkingdomhasdone:Itgoesagainstthe
PrinceoftheHostintheheavenlysanctuary.Thisistheverticaldimensionofits
campaign:ItmakesanassaultagainstHeavenitself!
SundayApril21
A REVIEW OF WORLD HISTORY (Dan. 8:1-14).
ThevisionofDaniel8:114canbebrokendownintofourmajoreventsthat
followinorder:
Ram
Goat
Littlehorn
Sanctuarycleansed
Readthevisionoverinverses114asmanytimesasneeded,untilyouclearly
canseethissequence.
nlikeDaniel2andDaniel7,bothofwhichbeginwiththeBabylonian
Empire,Daniel8startswithMediaPersiainstead.Thoughnoexplanationisgiven,
morethanlikelytheomissionhastodowiththetimethatDanielhadthevision,
547B.C.;bythen,Babylonwasdeclininginpowerandimportance,whilethe
MedoPersianEmpirewasascendinginboth.Babylonwasexcluded,probably
becauseitwasalreadyfadingaway,andtheLordwantedtoemphasizetheevents
thatfollowedBabylonandnotBabylonitself.
ThevisionofDaniel8beginsintheMedoPersianEmpire.Inthe70week
prophecyofDaniel9:2427,the70weeksalsobeginsintheMedoPersian
Empire(seeDan.9:1,2).SomebelievethatonereasonDaniel8excluded
BabylonandstartedwithMediaPersiawastohelpestablishthelinkbetween
thepropheciesofDaniel8andDaniel9.Discussthatargument.
AftertheMedoPersianEmpire,anotherpowerarose.InDaniel8,itisshownasa
goatandrepresentsGreece.Itisevennamedassuch(Dan.8:21).Thelargehorn
betweentheeyesisAlexandertheGreat.TheMedoPersianEmpire"became
great"(vs.4),butGreece,whichfollowed,"becameverygreat"(NTV),even
tramplingtheram(vss.7,8).Alexanderdiedin323B.C.attheageof32(vs.8),
leavingtheempirewithoutacapablesuccessor.Afterafewyearsofinternalfights,
theempirewasdividedamonghisgenerals.ThishappenedexactlyasDaniel
prophesiedinDaniel8:8,wherewereadthepredictionofAlexander'sdemiseand
theparcelingofhisempire:"Thelargehornwasbroken,"and"inplaceofitfour
notableonescameup"totakehisplace(NKJV).
How amazing! Daniel lived in the sixth century B.C. and
not only depicted the rise of Greece in the fourth century
B.C. but named it. How can a prophecy like this not only
strengthen our faith in the Bible but give us courage amid
trials to see that our loving God not only knows the future
but even holds it in His hands?
Monday April 22
THE LITTLE HORNPART 1 (Dan. 8:9, 10, 23-25).
Daniel8depictedfourmajorevents:ram,goat,littlehorn,sanctuary
cleansed.TheramwasMediaPersia,andthegoatwasGreece.Nextcomes
thelittlehorn.Whoisthispower,andwhatdoesitdo?
hecorrectidentificationofthelittlehornisofcrucialimportance.First,it
representsanempirethat"grewexceedinglygreat"(Dan.8:9,NKJV),incontrast
toGreece,which"grewverygreat"(vs.8),andMediaPersia,which"became
great"(vs.4).
Second,thelittlehornoriginatesfromoneofthefourcardinalpointsofthe
compass,notfromoneofthedivisionsoftheGreekEmpire,suggestingthatitis
anotherempire.
Third,theparallelismbetweenDaniel2,7,and8clearlyshowsthatthehorn
representsanewpower,thefourthpowerofthepreviousvisions,andthisisRome,
whichconqueredEgypttothesouth,Syriatotheeast,and"theBeautifulland"of
Judea(NIV).Atfirst,thehornwasfundamentallyamilitaryandpoliticalpower,
conqueringothernations.Inthisphase,itrepresentedpagan,orimperial,Rome.
ReadDaniel8:912againcarefully.Atwhatpointdoestheactivityofthelittle
hornshiftfromthehorizontal(military,political)tothevertical(spiritual)?
Whatappearstobetheobjectofthisverticalattack?
Thelittlehornattemptedsomethingthatnootherpowerhaddonebefore:It
reacheduptotheheavens,signifyingitschallengetoGod'sauthority,anactthat
reflectsthesamespiritofrebellionthatpossessedLuciferatthebeginningofthe
greatcontroversy(Isa.14:13,14).
Theattackofthelittlehornagainstthesanctuaryisdescribedinmilitaryterms
(comparevs.12,NKJV).Intheearthlysanctuary,anarmy("ahost")ofLevites
protecteditagainstdesecration(Num.18:110;1Chron.9:2733).Theenemy
wouldhavetofightfirsttheLeviticalguardanddefeatitbeforehavingaccessto
thesanctuaryitselfandtotheministeringpriest.Thissamepictureisused
inDaniel8.Thelittlehornattackstheheavenlyhostandcasts"downsomeofthe
host"(vs.10);itthengoesintothesanctuarywherehe"exaltedhimselfashighas
thePrinceofthehost"(vs.11,NKJV).ThelittlehornisattackingHeavenanda
ministryinheaven.
How, possibly, could an earthly power, of any kind, wage an attack
against Heaven? Did this power attempt to burn it down? Or are the
texts talking about a spiritual attack instead? If so, what could that
mean?
Tuesday April 23
THE LITTLE HORNPART 2 (Dan. 8:10-12).
ofar,thischapterhasrevealedthefollowingsequenceofevents:
MediaPersia,Greece,Rome(pagan/papal).Indeed,thelittlehornrepresentsRome
initspaganandpapalaspects.Passagesdealingwiththehorizontal,political
expansionrefertoimperialRome(vs.9),whilethereligious,verticalgrowth
designatesthesecond,orpapal,phase(vss.1012),thepartthatDanielspends
numerousversesdescribingindetail.
IdentifythePrinceofthehost,orthePrinceofprinces,whocomesunder
attackbythelittlehorn.Josh.5:13,14;Dan.8:11,25.
Thetitle"Princeofthehost,"or"captainofthehostoftheLord,"isfoundinone
otherplaceintheBible(Josh.5:14),anditdesignatesaheavenlybeingidentified
astheLordHimself(Josh.6:2),thepreincarnatedChrist.InDaniel,thisPrinceis
alsotheSonofman,theMessiah,theKing,andthePriest(Dan.7:13;9:25;12:1).
InDaniel7HeisdescribedprimarilyasKing,butinDaniel8:11,Heisofficiating
intheheavenlysanctuary.WhatDaniel8showsisthatthelittlehornisattacking
ChristHimself,notasahumanbeing(asRomedidinitspaganphase)butnowas
HighPriestintheheavenlysanctuary.
WhatdidthelittlehornremovefromthePrince?Dan.8:12.
Thelittlehorntriedtocontrolthe"daily"or"continual"(inHebrew,tamid)
ministryofChristintheheavenlysanctuary.Mosttranslationsrendertamidas
"continualsacrifice,"butthetermsacrificeisnotintheoriginal.Inthesanctuary
services,tamidwasassociatedwiththedifferentactivitiesperformedbythepriest
duringhisdailyministry,andonlyhisdailyministry.Itisusedinconnectionwith
thedaily/continualsacrifice(Exod.29:42),thebreadofthepresence(Exod.25:30),
theofferingofincense(Exod.30:8),andthefireuponthealtar(Lev.6:13).The
dailyministryofthepriestintheHolyPlaceoftheearthlysanctuarywasatypeof
thedailyministryoftheintercessionofChristintheheavenlysanctuary.Itisthis
aspectofthepriestlyworkofChristthatthelittlehornopposesandattacks.
Many Christians have tended to focus on Christ's earthly
ministry alone, at the expense of His heavenly one. What
does the little horn's attack on Christ's heavenly ministry
say about the importance of this ministry? What is it
about Christ's ministry that would make it the subject of
attack?
Wednesday April 24
FALSE PRIESTLY MINISTRY (Dan. 8:11-13).
Whatdidthelittlehorndotothedailyministry,thesanctuary,andthe
truth?Dan.8:11,12.
houghpaganRomekilledJesus(Dan.11:22),papalRomebegananassault
againstHimfromanotherangle,thatofinterferingwithHishighpriestlyministry
inheaven.How,though,couldthelittlehorn,essentiallyanearthlyreligiopolitical
power,attackChristandHisministryinheaven?Whatdiditdo?
1."Itoverthrewtheplaceofhissanctuary"(NRSV).Aliteraltranslationreads:
"Andtheplaceofhissanctuarywasthrown."Placereferstothefoundationofthe
sanctuary,usedheremetaphoricallytodesignatetheessence,thepurpose,ofthe
sanctuary.Theverbwasthrownexpressestheideaofcastingaside,rejection,
abandonment(see2Kings7:15).BymisappropriatingthepriestlyworkofChrist,
thehornrejectsthefoundationoftheheavenlysanctuaryasaplaceofmediation
andforgiveness.
2.Ahostisplacedoverthedailyministry.Daniel8:12couldbetranslated,"Ahost
wasgivenoverthecontinualintransgression/rebellion."Theverbwasgivenover
oftenmeans"tosetsomeoneover"(seeDan.11:21).Hence,thetextsaysthatthe
hornmisappropriatedthedailyministryofChristandthen"setover,"orappointed,
itsownhosttocontrolorministerit.Afalsereligioussystemwasinstitutedinstead
ofthebiblicalone,anactofterriblerebellionagainstGodandthetruth.
3.Itcastthetruthtotheground.ThetruthoftheworkofChristintheheavenly
sanctuary(whichincludestheplanofsalvation)wasdiscardedbythis
religiopoliticalpower,thesamepowershown(inDan.7:25),asattemptingto
changethelawofGod.
WhatquestionwasraisedbyaheavenlybeinginDaniel8:13?
Thequestionisabouttheeventthatwillputanendtotheseriesofeventslistedin
thechapter.Aliteraltranslationreads:"Untilwhenthevision,thedaily,andthe
rebellionthatcausesdesolation...?"Thevisionistheonerecordedin8:114,
whichincludesMediaPersiaandGreece;thedaily;theworkofthePrinceofhosts
(vs.11);andtherebellionortheattackofthelittlehorn(vs.12).Thequestion
addressesthedurationofthewholevision.
Obviously, Daniel 8 is dealing with crucial issues. Review
what this week's lesson has so far covered until all the
events are clear enough in your mind, to the point where
you could explain them to someone else.
Thursday April 25
" 'FOR TWO THOUSAND AND THREE HUNDRED EVENINGS AND
MORNINGS' "(Dan. 8:14, NRSV).
Whatdoesthephrase"eveningandmorning"designate?Gen.1:8,13;Exod.
27:20,21;Lev.24:2,3.
hephrase"fortwothousandthreehundredeveningsandmornings"(NRSV)
definestheperiodthatwillcoverthefulfillmentofthevisionoftheram,thegoat,
andthelittlehorn,includingthedailyministryofChristandthelittlehorn'sattack
onHiswork.Attheendofthatpropheticperiodanimportanteventisintroduced:
Thesanctuarywillbecleansed(vindicated/restored).Thisistheeventthatinitiates
thepropheticperiodandtheeventthatclosesit.Whatthechapterdoesnotprovide
isaspecificdateforthebeginningoftheperiod(thatcomesinDaniel9).
Ifthe2,300dayperiodcoversthetimespanthatincludestheram,thegoat,
andthelittlehorn,whymustthe2,300daysnotbetakenliterally?
Daniel8:10introducedthedailyministryofJesusintheheavenly
sanctuary;Daniel8:14revealstheyearlyservice,calledtheDayofAtonement
(Leviticus16).InDaniel8bothphases,thedailyandtheyearlyofChrist'shigh
priestlyministry,areshown.
Duringtheearthlydailyservice,thesanctuarywascleansedfromthesinsofthe
Israelites,butjustforthatyear.Inthetruefulfillmentofthisearthlyservice,Daniel
8:14announcesthatafter2,300yearsChristwastoinitiateaworkthatwouldend
thesinproblem,notjustforayearbutforeternity.
Whatisthefinalfateofthelittlehorn?Dan.8:25.
DuringtheDayofAtonement,GodmanifestedHimselfastheOnewhoovercomes
evil.Intheearthlyservice,thatwasthedaythepeoplefacedafinalcleansingof
sinfortheyear,anactthatmadeitpossibleforthemtocontinueinHispresence.It
wasalsothedayofjudgment.Inchapter8,Daniellooksforwardtothetimewhen
thoseevents,symbolizedbytheearthlytype,willbefinalizedonacosmicscale.
Whatshoulditmeanforus,ifanything,thatwearelivinginthetimewhenthe
sanctuaryinheavenisbeingcleansed?Shouldthatknowledgechangeour
lives?Ifso,how?
Friday April 26
FURTHERSTUDY:C.MervynMaxwell,GodCares,vol.1,pp.145188;
WilliamH.Shea,Daniel712,pp.85120.
ChristianRomeinterferedwiththeworkofChristintheheavenlysanctuaryin
differentways.Forinstance:
1.TheEucharististhesacrificeofChrist.Throughit"thesameChristwhooffered
himselfonceinabloodymanneronthealtarofthecrossiscontainedandis
offeredinanunbloodymanner."CatechismoftheCatholicChurch(NewYork:
Doubleday,1997),p.381.
2.ForgivenessofsinisnotexclusivelythroughtheworkofChrist."He[Christ]
entrustedtheexerciseofthepowerofabsolutiontotheapostolicministry."Page
402."ItisthroughthesacramentofPenancethatthebaptizedcanbereconciled
withGodandwiththeChurch"Page278.
3.Confessionofsinstopriests."Confessiontoapriestisanessentialpartofthe
sacramentofPenance."Page405.
4.ExclusivemediatorialroleofChristisobscured.Mary"isinvokedintheChurch
underthetitlesofAdvocate,Helper,Benefactress,andMediatrix."Page275.
5.PurgatorycastsshadowsonChrist'swork.AfterdeathChristiansimperfectly
purified"undergopurification[inpurgatory],soastoachievetheholiness
necessarytoenterthejoyofheaven."Page28.
"Itrequiredadesperatestruggleforthosewhowouldbefaithfultostandfirm
againstthedeceptionsandabominationswhichweredisguisedinsacerdotal
garmentsandintroducedintothechurch.TheBiblewasnotacceptedasthe
standardoffaith."EllenG.White,TheGreatControversy,p.45.
1 Study the above statements regarding the activity of Rome. Make
. sure you can see for yourself just how these actions, indeed, attempt
to usurp the work of Christ as our High Priest.
2 British satirist Jonathan Swift once wrote that we have just enough
. religion to make us hate but not enough to make us love one
another. How can we teach these important biblical truths about
Rome while expressing only love and never hate?
SUMMARY:Godhasinformedusaboutthesuccessionofkingdoms,the
persecutionofHispeople,andtheeffortofthelittlehorntodistracttheattentionof
theworldfromtheworkofChristintheheavenlysanctuary.
Lesson 5
*April 27- May 3
Daniel9:TheComingof
theMessiah
Sabbath Afternoon
April 27
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Ezra7;Daniel9;Heb.10:810.
MEMORYTEXT:"Buthewaspiercedforourtransgressions,hewas
crushedforouriniquities;thepunishmentthatbroughtuspeacewasupon
him,andbyhiswoundswearehealed"(Isaiah53:5,NIV).
NEOFTHEMOSTBEAUTIFULandmostpowerfulexamplesof
intercessoryprayeroccursinDaniel9,theagedDaniel'spassionatepetitiontoGod
fortherestorationofIsraelafterdecadesofcaptivity.Verseafterversesingswith
Daniel'sconfessionofhissinsand"thesinofmypeopleIsrael"(vs.20).His
prayerexemplifiesourneedforGod'sgraceandmercy,becauseitrevealsthegap
betweenaholyGodandsinfulhumanityagapthatcanbeclosedonlybythe
Messiah,theGodwhobecameahumanbeingandthuswastheonlyOnewho
couldbridgethatgapbetweenhumanityandGod.
Perhapsthatiswhythischapterendswithoneofthemostcompellingandintense
MessianicpropheciesintheOldTestament,onethatforcefullypredictsthecoming
ofJesus,whocameinordertobridgethatgap.Andthough,intheimmediate
context,Danielwasconcernedwiththepoliticalandphysicalrestorationofhis
nation,theprophecypointstotheOnewhoseadventwould,eventually,leadtothe
ultimaterestorationofsinfulhumanitytoaholy,sinlessGod.
*(Studythisweek'slessontoprepareforSabbath,May4.)
SundayApril28
DANIEL'S PRAYER (Dan. 9:1-19).
WhatmotivatedDanieltopray,whattypeofprayerdidheoffer,andwhat
wastheimmediatecontextofhisprayer?Dan.
9:13.
ncommunalprayersforforgiveness,theprophetsexercisingtheirroleas
propheticintercessorsoftenidentifiedthemselveswiththepeople,asDanieldoes
here.Broadlyspeaking,Daniel'sprayerconsistsofpraisetoGodandconfession
(Dan.9:411),recognitionthatthepunishmentisdeserved(vss.1114),andan
appealtoGod'sforgivenesstowardHispeoplefromJerusalem(vss.1519).
WhichspecificsinsdidDanielconfessonbehalfofthepeople?Dan.9:5,6,11.
Therequestforforgivenessisaccompaniedbystatementsaboutthegreatnessof
God.Heisgreatandawesome,righteous,merciful,forgiving(Dan.9:47,9),and
faithfultothecovenantHemadewithHispeople.Forthesereasons,Danielfelt
freetoapproachthethroneofgraceandrequestforgiveness.Itisthegoodnessof
GodmanifestedfullyinChristthatleadssinnerstoconfessionandrepentance.In
thisprayer,itisclearthatDaniel'shopeliesnotinhimselforinanythingheorhis
peoplecoulddobutonlyinGod'sloveandgraceforfallenbeings.
t the end of this prayer, the angel Gabriel appears to
Daniel with an explanation. An important point to

remember is that nowhere in the prayer does Daniel ask
for any explanation about anything. Nevertheless, in
response to this prayer, Gabriel comes and gives Daniel an
explanation. An explanation about what?
Thenextfewdays'lessonswillexplain.
Read over Daniel's prayer (perhaps in your own devotion).
In what ways are the principles expressed in his petition
to God so relevant to us today, not only as individuals but
as a church?
Monday April 29
DANIEL 8 AND 9: CONNECTING LINKS (Dan. 8:26, 27; 9:23-27).
GabrielappearstoDanielandsaysthathehascome"togivetheeskilland
understanding"(Dan.9:22).Skillandunderstandingaboutwhat?Nothingin
hisprayersuggestedthatDanielneededunderstanding,atleastnotabouthis
immediateconcernregardingthecaptivity.WhatwasGabrieltalkingabout?
SeeDan.8:26,27.
helasttimeDanielneededanyunderstandingwasinregardtothevision
inDaniel8:14.InDaniel8:26and27,Danielsaysthathedidnotunderstandthe
visionaboutthe2,300"eveningsandmornings"ofverse14(NRSV).Now
Gabriel,inDaniel9:2427,comesspecificallytogivehimthatunderstanding.
TheHebrewmakesthelinkbetweenthetwochaptersobvious.Danielusestwo
Hebrewtermsinchapter8for"vision."Thefirstoneislocatedinverse1:"I,
Daniel,hadavision[chazon]"(NIV);theotherappearsinverse26:"Thevision
[mar'eh]oftheeveningsandmornings...istrue"(NIV).
Chazondealswiththewholevision,whilemar'ehdealsonlywiththe2,300days.
InDaniel8,GabrieldidnotexplaintoDanielthemar'ehofthe2,300days,which
iswhyDanieldidnotunderstandit(vs.27).Now,inDaniel9:23,Gabrielreturns
toexplaintoDanielthe"vision"(mar'eh)notexplainedinDaniel8(alltherestof
thevisionwasalreadyexplained).GabrielsaystoDanielinverse23,"and
understandthevision[mar'eh]"(NIV).Whatmar'eh?Obviously,themar'ehof
the"eveningsandmornings"(NRSV)ofDaniel8:14.Thus,Gabrielispointing
Danielbacktothe2,300days.
nd the vision [mar'eh] of the evening and the morning,
which was told is true. . . . I was astonished at the vision

[mar'eh], but none understood it. . . . At the beginning of
thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am
come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore
understand the matter, and consider the vision [mar'eh["
(Dan. 8:26, 27; 9:23).
Take as much time as needed until you are able to see the link
between Daniel 8 and Daniel 9. These are crucial texts regarding what
we believe; it is important to know them for ourselves.

Tuesday April 30
THE SEVENTY WEEKS.
"Seventyweeksaredetermined[or"cutoff"]uponthypeopleanduponthy
holycity,tofinishthetransgression,andtomakeanendofsins,andtomake
reconciliationforiniquity,andtobringineverlastingrighteousness,andto
sealupthevisionandprophecy,andtoanointthemostHoly"(Dan.9:24).
nresponsetoDaniel'sprayerforrestorationofhispeople,theangelGabriel
appearsandafterpointingDanielbacktothemar'ehofthe2,300eveningsand
mornings(atimeprophecy)immediatelygivesDanielanothertimeprophecy,
thatofthe70weeks,whichare"determined,"or"decreed"(NRSV),uponhis
people.
Theverbchatak,translated"determined"or"decreed,"neverappearsanywhere
elseintheHebrewBible;thusstudentscannotcompareitsusewithothertexts,a
commonlyusedmethodforseekingtolearnthemeaningofwordsfoundinthe
text.Nevertheless,thesameverbhasbeenusedinotherHebrewsources,andfrom
thesesourcesitisclearthatalthough"determine"or"decreed"isaviable
translation,theverboriginallyexpressedthemoreconcreteideaofseparationby
cuttingorcuttingoff.Infact,inamajorityofcasesinwhichitis
used,chatakclearlymeans"cutoff."
Becausetheverbcouldmeaneither"determine"or"cutoff,"thecontextis
decisiveinchoosingthebesttranslation.Gabriel,beforeevenmentioningthe70
weeks,pointsDanielbacktothe2,300eveningsandmornings;then,inthecontext
of2,300days,hesaysthe70weeksarechatak.Thebasicmeaningof"cutoff"fits
betterthan"decreed."The70weeks,theshortertimeprophecy,is"cutoff"from
thelongerone,the2,300daysofDaniel8:14.
Infact,theangelavoidsusingtheverbtodecreeinthatspecificinstance,though
heknowsthewordand,indeed,usesitonlyafewverseslater(Dan.9:26).
Thus,whateverthemeaningofthe70weeks,thistimeprophecyis"cutoff"from
thelargerone,the2,300daysofthepreviouschapter.
Read carefully the 70-week prophecy and write down
where you see the gospel preached in it. Because the 70-
week prophecy, a prophecy about Christ's work of

atonement, is not only linked to Daniel 8:14 but actually
forms the base of it, why, then, mustDaniel 8:14 be
understood in light of Christ's work of atonement, as well?
Use the lines below to jot down your thoughts.
Wednesday May 1
THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH (Dan. 9:25-27).
hemeaningofthe70weekprophecyofDaniel9ismuchmorechallengingto
graspthanotherpassagesofScripture.However,inanalyzingthepassage,
considerthefollowingpoints:
1.ThefirstthingannouncedisthecomingoftheMessiahafter62weeksplus7
weeks(69weeks).SeeDaniel9:25.HewillinitiateHisministryattheendofthe
69weeksastheAnointedOne(Mark1:911).
2.Thoughwhatwilltakeplaceduringthesevenweeksisnotclearlystated,the
contextsuggeststhatthecityofJerusalemwillberebuilt(Dan.9:25).
3.AccordingtoDaniel9:26,"afterthesixtytwoweeks"(plusthepreviousseven)
theAnointedOnewillbekilled,andnoonewillhelpHim(NKJV,emphasis
supplied).Thiswilltakeplaceduringthelastweekofthe70weeksanobvious
referencetoChrist'ssacrificialdeathonthecross.
4.Duringthelastweek,theMessiahwillalso"confirmacovenantwithmany"(vs.
27,NKJV).Abettertranslationcouldbe"hewillmakeastrongcovenant."Thisis
thenewcovenantfirmlyestablishedthroughthebloodofChrist(Luke22:20)and
includesJewsandGentileswho,throughfaithinChrist,enjoyitsbenefits.
5.Duringthemiddleoftheseventiethweek,thesacrificialsystemoftheOld
Testamentwouldend(Dan.9:27).TheHebrewwordtranslated"middle"(chatsi)
doesnotmean"half"but"midst."Christ'ssacrificialdeathbroughttoanendthe
Israelitesacrificialsystem(Mark15:37,38;Heb.10:810).
6.ThedestructionofJerusalembytheRomanarmiesispredictedinthisprophecy,
evenifitisnotclearlystatedthatitwillhappenduringthe70weeks.The
destructionisdecreedtotakeplaceinthefuture,butwearenottoldwhen(Dan.
9:26).ThefateofthecitywasdecreedbyJesusduringHisministry(Matt.24:1,2)
andtookplaceaboutfortyyearslater.
7.Becausethe70weekscoverthehistoricalperiodfromthetimeofPersiatothe
comingoftheMessiah,thepropheticperiodrepresents490literalyears,notdays
(70weeks,composedof7dayseach,istheequivalentof490propheticdays,or
490literalyears).
How interesting that Daniel's prayer for restoration should
precede this amazing prophecy. How do you understand
the restoration and forgiveness offered to you,
individually, by the Messiah, the Anointed One? Dwell on
Christ's death for you personally (as though no one else
existed) and write down what benefits you have received
from it now and what you may receive in the future.
Thursday May 2
CHRONOLOGY OF THE 70 WEEKS (Ezra 7; Dan. 9:25).
Whateventinitiatedtheprophecyofthe70weeks?Dan.9:25.
abrielprovidesinformationthatenablesustoidentifythespecificdecreehe
referstointheprophecy.Thedecreeauthorizestherestorationandtherebuilding
ofJerusalem.TheverbrestorereferstothereturnofthecitytotheJewsto
administeritinaccordancewiththeirownlaws,whilethereconstructionofthe
cityisindicatedbytheverbrebuild(NIV).
EzramentionsaPersiandecreegivenbyCyrusin537B.C.torebuildthe
temple(Ezra1:14),whichwasreaffirmedbyDariusin520B.C.(Ezra6:112).
However,thatspecificdecreedoesnotrefertotheonementionedinDaniel9:25,
because,accordingtoGabriel'swords,thedecreeinvolvedtherebuildingofthe
city,notjustthetemple.AnotherdecreewasissuedbyArtaxerxesin457B.C.,
authorizingtherestorationandrebuildingofJerusalem(Ezra4:723;7:1226).
ThisdecreeallowedtheJewstogovernJudahaccordingtotheirownlaw(7:25,
26)andistheonlydecreethatmeetsthepropheticstipulations.Later(444B.C.),it
wasreactivatedbythekingasrequestedbyNehemiah(Nehemiah2).
Studythefollowingdiagram(usingthecommentsthatfollowandprevious
lessons)untilyouareabletoexplainittoothers.(Dan.9:24;Dan.8:14)
1.In457B.C.,Artaxerxesissuedthedecree;49yearslater(7propheticweeks)the
citywasrebuilt(408B.C.);ChristwasanointedinAD.27(thesixtyninthweek)
anddiedinA.D.31(themiddleoftheseventiethweek).Stephendiedasamartyr
inA.D.34(thedateweusetoendthe70weekprophecy),andfromthatpointthe
gospelwentalsototheGentileworld.
2.Becausethe70weeks(490years)arepartofthe2,300years,457B.C.becomes
thestartingpointforthe2,300years,whichendedin1844,theyearthecleansing
oftheheavenlysanctuarywastobegin(Dan.8:14).
3.AccordingtoDaniel7:25,26,thepreAdventaspectofthefinaljudgmentwas
tostartsonictimeafter1798;wehavenowtheexactyear:1844.
Friday May 3
FURTHERSTUDY:EllenG.White,"TheComingofaDeliverer,"inProphets
andKings,pp.681702;C.MervynMaxwell,GodCares,vol.1.pp.195265;The
SDABibleCommentary,vol.3,pp.94107:vol.4,pp.847855.
Thefollowingmaterialexpandsonconceptscoveredthisweek:
TheseventhyearofArtaxerxes.Beforethediscoveryofancientsources,some
uncertaintyexistedconcerningthedatefortheseventhyearofArtaxerxes.But
nowwehaveBabylonianastronomicaltextsandpapyrusdocumentsfoundonthe
islandofElephantine,Egypt,thatconfirmthatArtaxerxes'sfirstfullyearonthe
thronewas464B.C.Hisseventhyearwouldthenbe457B.C.
Manyhistoriansdatetheseventhyearto458B.C.becausetheyusethePersian
calendar(springtospring)tocalculatetheyear.Butbiblicalandhistorical
evidenceindicatethattheJewsusedafalltofallcalendar,andthisfixedthe
seventhyearas457B.C.(Neh.1:1;2:1).Thisdateissolidlygroundedonreliable
evidence.
1 Read carefully Daniel 9:24. Notice the six specific events that were
. to take place during the 70-week period. What are these events, and
how do we understand them in the context of what Christ has done
on the cross?
2 If Daniel's time prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah was
. that clear, why were His people not waiting for Him at the fullness of
time? If God's people were not ready for Him at His first coming,
what makes us think they will be any more ready for Him at His
second coming?
3 In Daniel 9:24, it says that within this 70-week period the Holy of
. Holies is to be anointed. What does this mean?
4 The 70-week prophecy points to the Messiah, Jesus. Plug in the
. dates of the other decrees (520 B.C., 537 B.C., and 444 B.C.) as the
starting point of the prophecy. Why, if we believe Jesus is the
Messiah, can none of those dates be the one that begins the
prophecy?
SUMMARY:Theprophecyofthe70weekssupplementsthevisionofthe2,300
years;infact,itprovidesitsstartingpoint(457B.C.).Numerouslinkstiethesetwo
propheciestogether,bothofwhichstartinthePersianperiod.The2,300years
endedin1844,whenChristbegantheclosingaspectofHishighpriestlywork,the
cleansingoftheheavenlysanctuary.
Lesson 6
*May 4 - 10
TheEschatologicalDayof
Atonement
Sabbath Afternoon
May 4
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Exod.25:8;Leviticus16;Dan.7:911,
13,14;8:14;9:24;Rom.8:34;Heb.7:25.
MEMORYTEXT:"Itwasnecessary,then,forthecopiesoftheheavenly
thingstobepurifiedwiththesesacrifices,buttheheavenlythingsthemselves
withbettersacrificesthanthese"(Hebrews9:23,NIV).
LLTHEVISIONSINDANIELCULMINATEINTHEVICTORYof
God,throughChrist,overtheforcesofevil.Daniel2showsthevictoriousendthat
comeswhenthekingdomofGodis,finallyandforever,established.Daniel
7revealsthatthiskingdomwillbeprecededbyaworkofjudgmentinwhichthe
SonofmanisshownapproachingtheFather(vs.13).Daniel8emphasizesthe
priestlyworkoftheSonofmanintheheavenlysanctuary;inDaniel9,the
emphasisisonHissacrificialdeath.InallHisroles,Jesus,theSonofman,remains
atthecenterofoursalvation.
TheBiblestressestwomainaspectsofChrist'sministryinourbehalf:Hisworkas
asubstitutionarySacrificeforoursinsandHisworkattherighthandofGodinthe
heavenlysanctuaryasourHighPriest.
Thissubject,thatofChrist'sheavenlyministry,deservestheattentionofevery
Christian,becauseitdealswiththecrucialthemeofjustwhatChristhasdoneand
isdoinginourbehalfasbothourSacrificeandourHighPriest.
SundayMay5
EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY SANCTUARIES.
"Whoserveuntotheexampleandshadowofheavenlythings,asMoseswas
admonishedofGodwhenhewasabouttomakethetabernacle:for,See,saith
he,thatthoumakeallthingsaccordingtothepatternshewedtotheeinthe
mount"(Heb.8:5).
WhatpatternwasMosesshownwhenGodtoldhimtobuildanearthly
sanctuary?Inotherwords,whatwasMoses'modelfortheearthlysanctuary?
SeeExod.25:8,9;Ps.11:4;Heb.8:2;Rev.15:5.
osomeextent,theearthlysanctuaryhadfortheIsraelitesthesamefunctionas
theheavenlyhasfortherestoftheuniverse.First,bothsanctuariesareGod's
dwellingplaceamongHispeople.GodsaidtoMoses,"makeasanctuaryforme,
andIwilldwellamongthem"(Exod.25:8,NIV);theheavenlysanctuary,in
contrast,istheplaceintheuniversewhereGodhaslocatedHispresencewithin
creation,whereHisthroneis(Ps.11:4;Dan.7:9,10;Rev.4:27).
Second,bothsanctuariesareameetingplaceforGodandHisservants.Inthe
earthly,HemetwiththeIsraelites,andtheyworshipedHim(Exod.29:4245;Ps.
43:3,4).TheheavenlyistheplacewhereGodmeetswithcelestialbeingswho
cometoserveandpraiseHim(Job1:6;Ps.103:1922).GodlocalizedHimselfthere
inordertobeaccessibletoheavenlybeings,and,fromthere,Hispresenceis
projectedthroughouttheuniverse.
Third,GodrulesasKingfrombothsanctuaries:"TheLordreigns...enthroned
betweenthecherubim"(Ps.99:1,NIV)."TheLordhasestablishedhisthronein
heaven,andhiskingdomrulesoverall"(Ps.103:19,NIV).
WhendidChristinaugurateHisministryintheheavenlysanctuary?Dan.
9:24;Heb.9:11,12;10:19,20.
HebrewsindicatesthatafterHisascension,Jesus"opened/dedicated/inaugurated"
(NIV,NRSV)awayforustohaveaccesstoGod(Heb.10:20).Thispassage
teachesthatafterHisascension,ChristinitiatedHispriestlyworkintheheavenly
sanctuary.Daniel9:24placesthisinauguration,oranointing(Exod.40:911),
withinthetimeframeofthe70weeks.
Why should it be comforting to know that Jesus is
ministering in your behalf in heaven? What is your
understanding of that ministry, and what does it mean for
you individually?
Monday May 6
DAILY SERVICES (Dan. 8:11, 12; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 5:1; 7:25).
WhatwasthemostfundamentaltaskofthepriestintheIsraelite
sanctuary?Heb.5:1.
hepriestsrepresentedthepeoplebeforeGod,andtheyrepresentedGodbefore
thepeople.Everydaytheyperformedthedailyservices,whichconsistedprimarily
intheofferingofsacrificesonbehalfoftheIsraelites."Therepentantsinner
broughthisofferingtothedoorofthetabernacle,and,placinghishanduponthe
victim'shead,confessedhissins,thusinfiguretransferringthemfromhimselfto
theinnocentsacrifice....Thebloodwascarriedbythepriestintotheholyplace
andsprinkledbeforetheveil,behindwhichwasthearkcontainingthelawthatthe
sinnerhadtransgressed.Bythisceremonythesinwas,throughtheblood,
transferredinfiguretothesanctuary."EllenG.White,Patriarchsand
Prophets,p.354.God,throughtheprocessofatonement,forgaverepentantsinners
byassuminguponHimselfresponsibilityfortheirsins.
WhoisourHighPriest,andwhatdoesHeoffer?Heb.7:27;8:1,2.
ChrististheLambofGodwhotakesawaythesinsoftheworld(John1:29).He
cametogiveHislifeandHisbloodasaransomforthesoulsofmany(Mark
10:45).Hewhohadnosinwasmadesinforus(2Cor.5:21)and"redeemedus
fromthecurseofthelawbybecomingacurseforus"(Gal.3:13,NIV).
WhathasChristbeendoinginthesanctuarysinceHisascension?Heb.
7:25;Rom.8:34.
InChrist'satoningselfsacrifice,Godassumedresponsibilityforoursins,andin
theheavenlysanctuaryChristappliesthebenefitsofHissacrificetothosewho,by
faith,cometoHimseekingforgiveness.Intheheavenlysanctuary,Christ
performs,inreality,whatthedailyservicetaughtinsymbol,whichisthat,asour
HighPriest,Jesuscontinuallymediatesforgivenessforus(Eph.4:32),cleansesus
fromsin(1John1:9),andgrantsusaccesstoGod(Eph.2:18).
Benny loves the Lord and wants to do what is right, but time and again
he falls into sin, which he hates with a passion. What is Christ doing in
heaven that could give Benny hope that God will not cast him off, even
when he fails?
Tuesday May 7
THE DAY OF ATONEMENTPART 1.
ReadLeviticus16:30;seealsoHebrews9:23.
uringthedailyservicessinwas,symbolically,transferredtothesanctuary
throughthesacrificialsystem.Onceayear,thesanctuaryitselfwascleansedfrom
thesinandimpurityaccumulatedtherethroughouttheyear.Yet,accordingto
Leviticus,notonlythesanctuarywascleansed,butthepeopleweretoo.Atthe
consummationofthisservice,boththepeopleandthesanctuarywerecleansed
fromsin.
Acleansanctuary,acleanpeople.Nowonderthat,attheendoftheday,the
Hebrewnationwasatpeacewithheaven.(SeeTheDesireofAges,p.448.)
AccordingtoScripture,however,thecleansingoftheearthlysanctuarywas
onlyasymbolofagreaterreality,agreatercleansing.Whatisthat?SeeHeb.
9:23.
Biblestudentshavebeensurprisedbythestatementthatheavenlythingsneedtobe
cleansed(Heb.9:23).Howisitthatsomethinginheaven,sofaraway,needstobe
cleansed?Whatcouldhavedefiledit?
Theanswerisbestgraspedonceitisrecognizedthattheentireearthlyservicewas
ashadow,animageoftheheavenlyservice(Heb.8:15).Justastheearthlywas
defiledbysin,soistheheavenly.ForthisreasontheBible,inHebrews9:23,talks
abouttheneedtocleanseeventheheavenlysanctuary.Whatelsewoulditneedto
becleansedfromotherthansin,evenifsinnersdonotenterdirectlyintoitany
morethansinners(withtheexceptionofthepriest)enteredintotheearthly
sanctuary?
Hebrews9:23is,actually,referringtotheDayofAtonement.Theversedoesnot
state,however,thatthiscleansingtookplaceimmediatelyafterChrist'sascension;
thepoint,instead,isthat,atsomepointinsalvation'shistory,heavenlythings
themselvesneededtobecleansed.
AccordingtoRevelation,ChristperformedintheHolyPlaceoftheheavenly
sanctuaryaworkofmediation(Rev.8:3,4).Yet,RevelationteachesthatHealsois
performingaparticularworkintheMostHolyPlace.Thebeginningofthisworkis
introducedinRevelation11:19,wheretheMostHolyPlaceisvisible,anditcloses,
inRevelation15:8,wherethereisnolongeraccesstoit.
What does it mean to say that we are now living in the
great Day of Atonement? Should we be afraid, or should
we rejoice? Hint: What is atonement, and how is it
accomplished?
Wednesday May 8
THE DAY OF ATONEMENTPART 2.
"Andhesaiduntome,Untotwothousandandthreehundreddays;thenshall
thesanctuarybecleansed"(Dan.8:14).
"Itwasthereforenecessarythatthepatternsofthingsintheheavensshould
bepurifiedwiththese;buttheheavenlythingsthemselveswithbetter
sacrificesthanthese"(Heb.9:23).
Whatlinkexistsbetweenthesetwoverses?
ccordingtoDaniel,attheendofthe2,300years(1844),thecleansingofthe
heavenlysanctuarywastobegin.Thetermheusesfor"cleansed,"nitsdaq,usually
rendered"berestored,becleansed,bevindicated,"comesfromarootthatrefersto
therestorationoftherightsofapersonwhohadbeenfalselyaccused.Inthis
particularcontext,Psalm7:8andPsalm9:4usethatsameword,translatedinthese
textsas"righteousness"and"right."
Thetermisalsoasynonymforsalvation(Isa.1:27).Inthecontextofthe
sanctuary,theverbconveystheideaofcleansingandisasynonymfor"purity"
(forexample,seeJob4:17).Therestorationorvindicationofsinnerstakesplace
throughcleansing(Isa.53:11).Theverb,then,combineslegal,salvific,and
cleansingideas,which,nodoubt,iswhyitwasusedinDaniel8:14.TheLord
wantedtoconveythebroadnessandlargescopeofwhatwashappeninginthe
chapter.
Daniel7
Daniel8
Babylon
___________________
MediaPersia
MediaPersia
Greece
Greece
Rome(pagan/papal)
Rome(pagan/papal)
Judgmentinheaven
Cleansingofsanctuary
God'skingdom
God'skingdom
StudytheparallelsbetweenDaniel7andDaniel8onthischart.Noticethe
parallelbetweenthejudgmentsceneinDaniel7andthecleansingofthe
sanctuaryinDaniel8.Theyarethesameevent.Readcarefullywhathappens
inthejudgment(particularlyDaniel7:22).Fromwhatthesetextssay,whyis
thejudgment,thecleansingofthesanctuary,goodnewsforGod'speople?
Thursday May 9
THE ESCHATOLOGICAL DAY OF ATONEMENT.
WhatwasthepurposeofthegoatfortheLordandofthegoatforAzazel
(scapegoat)intheDayofAtonementservice?Lev.16:710,1522.
zazelwasapersonalbeing,asindicatedbytheparallelismbetween"forthe
Lord"and"forAzazel"(Lev.16:8,RSV).Thenamemostprobablymeans"a
stronggod"andrefersheretoademonicbeing.Sinwasremovedfromthe
sanctuarythroughthebloodofthegoatbelongingtotheLord.Oncetheatonement
wasover,thelivegoatcarriedsintoAzazel,tothewildernesswherehe
symbolicallyresided.Thus,sinandimpuritywerereturnedtoitsultimate
originatorandinstigator,Azazel,makinghimresponsible.AlthoughtheLordhad
assumedresponsibilityforthesinsofHispeople,Hewasnottheoriginatorofsin,
whichultimatelyhadtoberemovedfromHispresence.
WhatistherelationshipbetweenthesendingoutofAzazelandtheexperience
ofSatanduringthemillennium?Also,whatistherelationshipbetweenthe
allencompassingcleansingoftheDayofAtonementandthenewearth?Rev.
20:13,9,10,1215;21:15.
TheDayofAtonementemphasizesseveralaspectsofthesalvificworkofGod
throughChrist:
1.ItpointstothelastaspectofChrist'sworkintheheavenlysanctuary.Inorderto
encourageandprepareusforthefinalconflict,apocalypticpropheciesinformus
abouttheprecisemomentwhentheworkofjudgmentandcleansingistobegin.
2.Itrevealstheexterminationofsin.Christ'sworkintheheavenlysanctuary
announcesthatHewillsoonreturn(Heb.9:28),thatthetrueAzazelwillbe
identified(leftinthewildernessofadesolateplanetfor1,000years[Rev.20:13]),
thatsinwillbeeradicated,andthatourworldwillberecreated(Rev.21:15).
3.TheconnectionofjudgmentandcleansingduringtheDayofAtonementtestifies
tothefactthatGodisthemoralArbiteroftheuniverse.Everyoneisaccountableto
Him.ThosewhoremainloyaltotheirfaithcommitmenttoChristwillbe
vindicatedinthejudgmentandtherecordoftheirsinswillbeblottedoutforever
fromtheuniverse.Sincethejudgmentisapublicevent,God,throughthejudgment
willrevealHisrighteousnessincleansingthecosmosfromsinandfromimpenitent
sinners.(Seelesson3,"TheSonofManandtheFinalJudgment.")
Friday May 10
FURTHERSTUDY:EllenG.White,"WhatIstheSanctuary?"TheGreat
Controversy,pp.409432;"Christ'sMinistryintheHeavenlySanctuary,"Seventh
dayAdventistsBelieve...ABiblicalExpositionof27Fundamental
Doctrines(SilverSpring,Md.:MinisterialAssoc.,GeneralConferenceofSeventh
dayAdventists,1988),chap.23,pp.312331.
1.Natureoftheheavenlysanctuary.Nobuildingonearthcouldreflecttheglory
andvastnessofGod'sheavenlysanctuary.(SeeEllenG.White,TheGreat
Controversy,p.414.)Becausetheearthlysanctuarywasbuiltafterthepatternof
theheavenly,theremustbeacorrespondenceoffunctions,atleast,ofthebasic
structuralconcept.Thebasicarchitecturalconceptwasthatofatwocompartment
structure,suggestingthattheheavenlywillhaveatleasttwocompartments.Tosay
lessortosaymoreisonlytospeculate.Theheavenlysanctuaryseemstobethe
placewheretheInfiniteOnetouchesthefiniteinordertobeaccessibletoHis
creatures.
2.Thecleansingofthesanctuaryandthelittlehorn.Theattackofthelittlehorn
againstthesanctuaryresultedinprofanation(Dan.11:31).IntheOldTestament,
rebelliousprofanationofthesanctuarywasredressedthroughtheexterminationof
thesinnerandnotthroughexpiatoryblood.Forinstance,theBabylonians
destroyedanddesecratedthetemple(Ezek.7:22;25:3).Howwasthisprofanation
redressed?TheLorddestroyedthem(Jer.51:11),andlaterthetemplewasrebuilt.
Israeliteswhoprofanedthetemplewereputtodeath(Ezek.23:39,4649).
Atonementtookplace,sotospeak,throughthedeathoftheculprit(forexample,
seeNum.35:33).Thelittlehornistreatedasadesecratingpower,andattheendit
isdestroyed(Dan.8:25).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Read the following statement and discuss the
questions: "The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked
the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a
complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that
God's hand directed the great advent movement."Ellen G. White, The
Great Controversy, p. 423.
1. How did the sanctuary message shed light on Daniel 8:14?
2. How did the subject of the sanctuary lead to other truths, such as
the Sabbath, the law, and justification?
3. The sanctuary message is really a pictorial representation of the
plan of salvation. Explain how the gospel is taught in the sanctuary
service.
Lesson 7
*May 11 - 17
Matthew24:Jesus'
SermononApocalyptic
Prophecy
Sabbath Afternoon
May 11
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Matthew2425.
MEMORYTEXT:"AtthattimethesignoftheSonofManwillappearinthe
sky,andallthenationsoftheearthwillmourn.TheywillseetheSonofMan
comingonthecloudsofthesky,withpowerandgreatglory'"(Matthew
24:30,NIV).
NEOFTHEMOSTDISCUSSEDDISCOURSESOFCHRIST'S
LIFEappearsinMatthew24,whereJesusoutlinestheeventsthatwillprecedeHis
secondcoming.JesusbeginsHisapocalypticdescriptionofthefuturewithevents
thatwillhappenduringthelifetimeofthedisciples.FromthereHemovesintothe
future,throughwhatweoftencalltheDarkAges,andendswithHisreturnin
glory.
HowinterestingthatHestartswithpaganRome,thefourthkingdominDaniel7.
PerhapsHedoesthisbecausepaganRomeisthekingdomthatwasrulingthe
worldwhenJesusgaveHistalk.Thencomesaperiodoftribulationandterror
(Matt.24:21)duringtheMiddleAges(the1,260yearspropheticallydepicted
inDaniel7),followedbythesignsthatindicatethatthetribulationhasended(vs.
29).Finally,Histalkconcludeswiththelastdays'delusions(vss.2427)andthe
gloriousreturnofourLord(vss.30,31).
JesusbeginsHisdiscoursewiththepoliticalsituationofHisowntimeandthen
followsitupthroughhistoryuntilitculminatesinHissecondcoming.
Itsoundslikethehistoricistapproach(seelesson1),doesitnot?
SundayMay12
JESUS AND THE FUTURE OF HIS PEOPLE (Matt. 24:1-3).
UsingMatthew24:13,writedownthebackgroundsettingforJesus'discourse
ontheendoftheage.Lookatsuchissuesasthetemple,thetimeinChrist's
ministrywhenHespeaksthesewords,towhomHewastalkingandwhere.
HowdothesefactorsfitinwithwhatHesaysaboutthesignsthatprecedeHis
coming?
houghtheimmediatesubjectofthisdiscourseisthefallofJerusalem,this
subjectislinkedtoamuchwideronethesignsofChrist'scomingandtheendof
theage.ThefallofJerusalemis,here,asymboloftheworldpriortotheSecond
Coming.Notice,too,thatthedisciples,bytheirquestionsinverse3,revealsome
knowledge,evenbeforeHeleftthemthefirsttime,thatChristwouldbecoming
again!
Basedonthequestionstheyasked,whatwerethemainconcernsofthe
disciples?Matt.24:3.
ThedisciplesaskedthreequestionsthatJesususedtodevelopHisapocalyptic
message.
Thefirstquestion"'Whenwillthis[destructionofthetemplehappen?'"(NIV)
isaddressedbyJesusinMatthew24:1520.Thesecond"'Whatwillbethe
signofyourcoining?'"(NIV)isdiscussedinverses2131.Thethird'''What
willbethesign...oftheendoftheage?'''(NIV)isdealtwithinverses414.In
otherwords,JesusbeganHistalkbyansweringthelastquestionfirst(endofthe
age);thenHemovedtothefirstquestion(fallofJerusalem);andfinallyHedealt
withthecentralquestion,themostimportantoneChrist'sreturninglory.
Apparently,Jesus'maininterestislocatednotinthefallofthecitybutintheend
oftheageandHissecondadvent.Therestofthesermondealswithproper
preparationforthatevent.
Ellen White wrote that "Had He [Jesus] opened to His
disciples future events as He beheld them, they would
have been unable to endure the sight. In mercy to them He
blended the description of the two great crises, leaving
the disciples to study out the meaning for themselves."
The Desire of Ages, p. 628. What can we learn from that
principle in how we deal with others?
Monday May 13
SIGNS OF THE END OF THE AGE (Matt. 24:4-14).
nMatthew24:5,Jesusreveals,"Formanyshallcomeinmyname.saying,Iam
Christ:andshalldeceivemany."Howamazinglyhavethesewordsbeenfulfilled!
Allthroughhistory,upthroughtoday.peoplehaveclaimedtobeChristexactly
asJesushadwarned.
InwhatwayscouldyouuseChrist'spredictionaboutfalsechrists,so
accuratelyandundeniablyfulfilled,tohelpconvincesomeoneofChrist's
claimastheMessiahandofthevalidityoftheBibleasawhole?Howdoesthis
prophecy,solimitedandspecific,differfromHispredictionsthattherewould
befaminesandwarsandearthquakes?
Whatotherreligious,social,andnaturaleventsdidJesuspredictwould
precedeHiscoming?Matt.24:48.
Twothingsmustbenoticedregardingthesepredictedevents.First,theyarenot
signsoftheendbuteventsthatwillhappenwhileGod'speoplewaitfortheend
(Matt.24:6,8).Second.theseeventscontainpotentialspiritualandpsychological
threatstotheLord'sservants.Forexample,Jesusmentionedfalsemessiahsin
ordertoalertHisfollowerstothatspecificanddangerousdeception.Meanwhile,
naturaldisasterscouldcausedoubtaboutGodandHisloveinthemindsofmany
believers.Christ'swarningoftheseeventsbeforehand,however,doeshelp
alleviatethosedoubts,becausewehavebeenwarnedaboutthembyGodHimself.
WhatwastheonespecificsignthatJesussaidwouldleadtotheend?Matt.
24:14.
ThoughJesusdescribedthevarioustrialsandtribulationsthatHisfollowerswould
face(persecution,prejudice,apostasy,treason,andabsenceoflove),noneofthese
is"thesign"oftheend(inverse3Hisdisciplesaskedforthesign[asinonlyone
sign]oftheend).Thesignisthepreachingofthegospeltotheworld,"andthenthe
endwillcome"(vs.14,NIV).
Many people use the exact things that Jesus said would happenwars,
famines, disasters, diseaseas reasons not to believe in God. How does
Jesus' warning about events blunt, or weaken, that argument? Or does
it not?
Tuesday May 14
FALL OF JERUSALEM (Matt. 24:1-20).
WhatwasJesus'answertothequestion"Whenwillthis[thedestructionof
thetemple]happen?"(Matt.24:3,15,16,NIV).
esusisreferringtoDaniel9:27,wherethedestructionofJerusalemwas
predicted.TheLordpoints,withpropheticauthority,tothefulfillmentofthe
prediction,whichhappenedthroughtheRomanarmiesthatwoulddestroythe
templeandleaveitdesolate.ThewordabominationintheBiblereferstoidolatrous
practices,andeventothosewhoengageinthosepractices.TheidolatrousRoman
armiesaretheabominationthatcausesdesolation,thedesolationofthetempleand
thecity(Luke21:20).
WhatspecificinstructionsdidJesusgivetoHisfollowerslivinginJudeaatthe
timeofthefallofJerusalem?Matt.24:1618.
ThecounselgivenbyJesusemphasizestwoaspects:first,theneedtoseekaplace
ofrefugeorsafetytoavoiddeathorunnecessarysufferingasaresultofthe
militaryattackagainstJerusalem;second,theneedforimmediateaction.There
willhenotimetogatherpersonalbelongings;delaycouldbefatal.
Fortunately,thefollowersofJesusheededHiswords,andnotonebeliever
perishedduringthedestructionofthecity(EllenG.White,TheDesireofAges,p.
630)agreatexampleoffaiththatresultsinworks,inobedience.Thoughthese
followersofChristweresavedonlybyfaithinHimandnotbyworks,they
manifestedtheirfaithbyobeyingChrist'swordstoleavethecitywhenthearmies
approached.Inshort,theyobeyed,andthatobedienceledtotheirbeingsparedan
incredibleamountofsuffering.Allthatonehastodoisreadaboutthesiegeof
Jerusalemandofthebarbaritythatensued(horrendous,evenbytoday'sstandards)
tobegintoappreciatehowsimpleobediencehadsparedthesepeoplefrom
suffering.
What examples can you see, either in your own life or in
the lives of others, in which this principlethat of
obedience to God sparing people great painhas been
manifested? At the same time, what examples, if any,
have you seen of those who obey, suffering directly
because of their obedience?

Wednesday May 15
A SIGN OF JESUS' COMINGPART 1 (Matt. 24:21-31).
Describe,inyourownwords,thegreattribulationpredictedbyJesus
inMatthew24:21,22.
romthefallofJerusalem,Jesuspointstothegreattribulationdepicted
inDaniel7:25.Jesussaw"longcenturiesofdarkness.centuriesforHischurch
markedwithbloodandtearsandagony.UponthesescenesHisdisciplescouldnot
thenenduretolook,andJesuspassedthembywithabriefmention"EllenG.
White,TheDesireofAges,pp.630,631.
TwopointsaboutthisterriblephaseofWesternhistoryshouldbenoticed:(1)God
setsatimelimittoit(accordingtoDaniel7:25,itwilllast1,260years);(2)itis
unequaledinworldhistory."Thetribulationofthe1260yeardayswasthegreatest
inhistoryinthatitcontinuedforcenturiesandfromtimetotimeproduced
extremelyhighpercentagesofmortality."C.MervynMaxwell,GodCares,vol.
2,p.35.
Thatspecifictribulation,mentionedinDaniel7:25,isnotthesameastheone
mentionedinDaniel12:1,2.Thisoneisalsouniquebut"willoccurinconnection
withtheresurrectionatthesecondcoming.Itwilloccurafterthecourtofjudgment
describedinDaniel7:914hasfinishedexaminingthebooks.Itwillbringterror
onlytothewicked.God'speoplewillhedeliveredfromit.'everyone'ofthem."
Maxwell,p.34.
IfSatanwasdefeatedattheCross,whydosuchtimesoftribulationand
violencestilloccur?Howdotimefollowingverseshelpanswer,atleast
somewhat,thisdifficultquestion?
Job1:8
12________________________________________________________________
__________
Rom.
16:20_____________________________________________________________
____________
Rev.
12:12_____________________________________________________________
____________
Rev.14:17
19________________________________________________________________
_______
Explain, as best as you can, wars, famine, and tragedy in
the context of the great controversy between Christ and
Satan. How does knowing the great-controversy motif
help us understand how we are to relate to these things?
Thursday May 16
A SIGN OF JESUS' COMINGPART 2 (Mat 24:29-31).
WhichsignswilltakeplacebeforethesignoftheSecondComing
appears?Matt.24:29.
esusdescribesaseriesofcosmicsignsassociatedwiththeendofthegreat
tribulation.AdventistshaveidentifiedthemwiththeLisbonearthquakein1755,
thedarkeningofthesunonMay19,1780,andthemeteorshowerofNovember13,
1833.Thetimingofthoseevents,aswellastheorderinwhichtheyoccurred,
makethemafittingfulfillmentoftheprophecy.
Itisimportanttonoticethatbetween1700and1844aseriesofsignificant
propheticeventsoccurred."Thatsequencecanbeoutlinedasfollows:(1)agreat
earthquakel755;(2)theDarkDayl780:(3)judgmentuponthebeast1798;
(4)thefallingofthestars1833;(5)Judgmentbeginninginheaven1844."
WilliamShea,"CosmicSignsThroughHistory,"Ministry,February1999.The
Lordwasclearlycallingourattentiontothefulfillmentofapocalypticprophecies.
WhatwasJesus'answertothequestioninverse3,"'Whatwillbethesignof
yourcoming?'"(NIV).SeeMatt.24:30.
ItisdifficulttoknowwhatJesusmeantwhenHesaid'"Atthattimethesignofthe
SonofManwillappearinthesky'"(vs.30,NIV).Thiseventisfollowedbythe
mourningofthenationsandHisgloriousappearance.Biblestudentshave
speculatedaboutthenatureofthatsignbuthavenotprovidedanacceptable
interpretation.EllenG.Whitecomments,"Soonthereappearsintheeastasmall
blackcloud,abouthalfthesizeofaman'shand.Itisthecloudwhichsurroundsthe
Saviourandwhichseemsinthedistancetobeshroudedindarkness.Thepeopleof
GodknowthistobethesignoftheSonofman."TheGreatControversy,p.640.
"And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a
trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the
four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Man.
24:31). What Is Jesus referring to here? What other
verses in the Bible elaborate on this event? Find as many
other verses as you can that deal with this topic, place
them together, and see what kind of picture the Lord has
painted for us on this wonderful promise.
Friday May 17
FURTHERSTUDY:EllenG.White,"OntheMountofOlives,"TheDesireof
Ages,pp627636;"TheDestructionofJerusalem,"TheGreatControversy,pp.17
38.
Pleasenotethefollowingpointsinconclusiontothisweek'slesson:
1.Purposeofthesignsoftheend.ItwasnotJesus'purposetoexpoundupona
seriesofeventsthatwecouldusetoestablishthedateofHiscoming.Instead,He
talksaboutthesignssotheywillkeepfreshinourmindsthepromiseofHisreturn.
Jesusmentionseventsthatwouldhappenthroughouthistory.andwheneveroneof
themtakesplace,HispeoplemaketheconnectionwiththeSecondComing.
Second,eacheventidentifiedasasignbythecommunityofbelieverskeepsalive
theelementofexpectationandhope.TheyknowthattheLordhasnotforgotten
themandthathistoryismovingtowardGod'sappointedgoal.Third,thesignshave
thepurposeofprotectingthemfromdeceptions.Satanisgoingtotrytodeceive
them,butJesustoldthemhowtodistinguishtruthfromfalsehood.Theymustbe
watchfulwhilewaitingforthetruemanifestationofChristinthecloudsofheaven.
2.Thisgeneration.InMatthew24:34"thisgeneration"coulddesignatethose
listeningtoHimoratypeofpeople("evilgeneration")orevenaspecificethnic
group.Anyofthelasttwomakessenseinthecontext.
3.Thegreattribulation.Matthew24:21givestheimpressionthatthetribulation
takesplaceduringthefallofJerusalem,mentionedinthepreviousverse,hutsuch
animpressionisnotrequiredbytheGreektext.Theexpression"forthen,"atthe
beginningofverse21,isusedsometimestointroducesomethingnewinthedistant
futureinthiscase,somethingthattookplacelongafterthedestructionofthe
city.
1 In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said, "'Heaven and earth will pass away, but
. my words will never pass away" (NIV). What a prediction! By
reading that verse now, or any of His discourses centuries after He
said them, you are taking part in the fulfillment of this prediction.
How could a verse like this be used in witnessing?
2 With Christ's words so clear regarding the manner of His coming,
. why have so many people been deceived by false christs through the
ages? Read specifically Matthew 24:24.
SUMMARY:Jesus'apocalypticsermonfollowsthecontentofthevisionsof
Danielbutputsamajoremphasisontheneedtobealertagainstevildeceptions
andperseveranceinfaith.
Lesson 8
*May 18 - 24
TheChild,theChurch,
andtheDragon:
Revelation12
Sabbath Afternoon
May 18
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Revelation12.
MEMORYTEXT:"'TheyovercamehimbythebloodoftheLambandbythe
wordoftheirtestimony;theydidnotlovetheirlivessomuchastoshrink
fromdeath.Thereforerejoice,youheavensandyouwhodwellinthem!'
"(Revelation12:11,12,NIV).
ESIDESOUTLININGTHEATTACKSOFTHEENEMYagainstChrist
andHischurchthroughouttheChristianEra,Revelation12appearstohaveseveral
otherpurposes:
First,itintroducestheprotagonistsinthecontroversy:thewoman,theChild,the
dragon,andtheremnant.Second,itgivesassuranceofvictorytoGod'speople,
becauseitemphasizesthatChristhas,always,defeatedthedragonavictoryin
whichallHisfollowersshare.Third,itintroducesthefinalconflict,thistime
againstGod'sremnant.
Revelation12beginswithadescriptionofawomangivingbirthtoaChild,
followedbyadragonreadytoattackboththewomanandtheChild.Thechapter
thenendswhenthedragonpreparestolaunchanattackontheremnantofthe
woman'soffspring.ThewaragainsttheChild,describedinverses24,is
developedfurtherinverses712;theattackagainstthewoman,introducedinverse
6,isdiscussedinverses1316.
Yet,evenamidalltheattacks,thestruggles,andthebattles,thewordsthatcryout
fromthechapterarethoseofvictory,Christ'svictory,whichisthevictoryofthose
whofollowHimbyfaith,thosewho"overcamehim[thedragon]bythebloodof
theLamb"(vs.11,NIV).
SundayMay19
THE WOMAN AND THE CHILD (Rev. 12:1, 2).
WhatdoesthesymbolofthewomaninRevelation12:1represent?
hewomanisdressedinthesplendorofheaven;hergarmentsreflectthelightof
the"SunofRighteousness"(Mal.4:2;Matt.13:43;17:2).Thetwelvestarsarea
symbolofthepeopleofGodwhomsherepresents(seeDan.12:3).Though
celestialbodies,thesunandthemoon,inparticular,wereusedtoidentifythe
changeofseasons(Gen.1:14,15);inthiscase,theymayservetoannouncethe
beginningofanewerathroughthebirthoftheChild.
ThesymbolismusedinthesetextsseemsalsotohaveMessianicsignificance.
Christisthemorning"star"(Num.24:17),andthepermanencyofthesunandthe
mooncouldrepresentthepermanencyofthethroneofDavid(Ps.72:5;89:3537).
WhowastheChildborntothiswoman?Isa.7:14;9:6,7;Gal.4:4.
ThefirstgoodnewsfoundintheBibleisGod'spromisetosendaRedeemerborn
of"thewoman"(Gen.3:15).Christisthe"seed"ofthewoman.Hewastotakeour
natureandtobecomeoneofus,allinordertosaveusfromthedeadlywoundof
sin.Indeed,becauseofthispromiseofsalvation,firstgiventoAdamandEve,the
humanracewasnotpermanentlyseveredfromGod.
"TheSonofGod,undertakingtobecometheRedeemeroftherace,placedAdam
inanewrelationtohisCreator.Hewasstillfallen;butadoorofhopewasopened
tohim.ThewrathofGodstillhungoverAdam,buttheexecutionofthesentence
ofdeathwasdelayed,andtheindignationofGodwasrestrained,becauseChrist
hadenteredupontheworkofbecomingman'sRedeemer....Hebecamearefuge
forman,andalthoughmanwasindeedacriminal,deservingthewrathofGod,yet
hecouldbyfaithinChristrunintotherefugeprovidedandbesafe.Inthemidstof
deaththerewaslifeifmanchosetoacceptit."EllenG.White,
"Redemption,"PresentTruthandReviewandHeraldArticles(February24,1874),
vol.1,p.141.
Jesus, the Lord, became a human being in order to save us
from the ultimate results of sin. Hethe Creator of the
universe (Col. 1:16, 17)became part of the creation in
order to save the part of the creation who accepted His
gift of salvation, extended to all humanity. Dwell on what
these facts reveal about God's character and about His
love for us.
Monday May 20
THE CHILD AND THE DRAGON (Rev. 12:3-5).
Whataresomeofthecharacteristicsofthedragon?Rev.12:3,4.
necharacteristicofthisdragonisitssevenheadsandtenhorns(Rev.12:3).
AccordingtoRevelation17:9,10,thesevenheadsarethemainkingdomsusedby
thispowertooppressGod'speople.TenhornsappearinDaniel7:24asasymbol
ofadividedkingdom,adiversityofpoliticalpowers.Thesamesymbolismrefers
tothetotalityofthenationsthatwilljoinGod'sendtimeenemy(Rev.17:12,13).
Thedragon,clearly,hasanearthly,evenpolitical,manifestation.
Thedragonissaidtodraw"athirdofthestarsoutofthesky[heaven]"(NIV)
totheground.Whatdoesthatmean?SeeIsa.14:1215;Jude6.
Revelation12:4saysthatthisdragonattemptedtokillthewoman'sChild,
Christ,assoonasHewasborn.Whatreasonwouldthedragonhavefor
wantingtodothis?Seealsoverses10,11.
TheattackofthedragonagainsttheChildtookplacewhenHerodtriedtokillJesus
(Matt.2:13)andthroughthetemptationstowhichJesuswasexposedduringHis
ministry(Heb.4:15).ThoughthedragonisasymbolofSatan(Rev.12:9),hewill
usehumaninstrumentalitieswhenpossible,justasheusedpaganRome(oneofhis
sevenheads).
InGod'splan,whatwasthefinaldestinyoftheChild?Rev.12:5.
TheChildgoesthroughthreeexperiences.First,aspromisedbyGod,Hewasborn
ofawoman;inotherwords,Hewashuman.Second,Heexperiencedtheattacksof
thedragonbutdefeatedhimandovercamehisattacks.Third,Heascendedto
heaven,tothethroneofGod.Themovementisfromhumiliationtoglorification
andenthronement.HewillrulethenationsoftheearthasJudgeandKing.The
phrase"rule...withanironscepter"(Rev.12:5,NIV)referstoHisjudicial
function.Hisjudgmentisbasedonunbendingtruth.
In what ways does our own experience, as Christians, faintly reflect the
three phases of "the Child"? Keep in mind the saying, "No cross, no
crown."
Tuesday May 21
WAR IN HEAVEN (Rev. 12:7-12).
WhatdoesRevelation12:7,8teachaboutthenonearthlyoriginsofsin?This
isimportanttounderstand,becauseitshowsthatsin,andtheproblemsraised
bysin,haveimplicationsthatextendbeyondtheearth.
ohncombinesthetwoencountersbetweenChristandSatantoemphasize
Christ'stotalvictoryoverthedevilattheCross.Thefirstencounterwasinheaven,
whenLuciferrebelledagainstthegovernmentofGod(Isa.14:1214;Ezek.28:12
17).Hewantedathroneinheaveninordertobe"liketheMostHigh"(Isa.14:13,
14),buthewasexpelled(vs.12;Ezek.28:14,16)and,thenafterbeingtotally
defeatedinhisheavenlyrebellionSatanwascasttotheearth.
ThesecondencounterclimaxedinGethsemaneandattheCross.Theproclamation
ofsalvationrecordedinRevelation12:10cameaboutonlybecauseoftheCross,
whenChristdied(seealso,EllenG.White,TheDesireofAges,p.761).Christand
Satanfacedeachotherasneverbeforeand,again,Christcameoutvictorious.
Satanwasthenpermanently"drivenout"fromheaven(John12:31,NIV).Jesus
saidthatSatanfelllikelightningfromheaven(Luke10:18).Johnusesthe
languageofthewarinheaventoillustratewhathappenedattheCross(see
alsoCol.2:15;Heb.2:14).
HowdidcelestialbeingsreacttoChrist'svictory?What,incontrast,was
Satan'sresponse?Rev.12:1012.
Christ'svictorymeansthat,first,nooneinheavenisaccusingus;Heavenisnot
searchingforreasonstokeepusout(Rev.12:10).Second,wearevictorious
throughthebloodoftheLamb.SomehaveshedtheirbloodfortheLord,buteven
thesearesavedonlybythebloodofJesus(vs.11).Third,ourredemptionis
headingtowarditsconsummation.ThefinalfateofSatanisalreadydecided;his
time,heknows,isshort(vs.12).
"AllheaventriumphedintheSaviour'svictory.Satanwasdefeated,andknewthat
hiskingdomwaslost.Totheangelsandtheunfallenworldsthecry,'Itisfinished,'
hadadeepsignificance.Itwasforthemaswellasforusthatthegreatworkof
redemptionhadbeenaccomplished."EllenG.White,TheDesireofAges,p.758.
If Christ won the victory over Satan, and Christ's victory is
ours, why do we still fall into sin?
Wednesday May 22
THE WOMAN AND THE DRAGON (Rev. 12:6, 13-16).
Whydidthedragonpursuethewomanandforhowlong?Rev.12:13,15.
hewomanwhogavebirthtotheChildnowbecomestheobjectofthedragon's
attack,whichsuggeststhatsherepresentsthepeopleofGodintheOldTestament
andintheNewTestament.SatancouldnotdefeatChrist,sohegoesafterthenext
bestthingthepeoplewhoaresupposedtorepresentHimonearth.
TwiceinRevelation12aprophetictimeperiodisgiven(vs.6andvs.14).
Whatdoesthattimeperiodsymbolize?Whathappenedduringthistime,and
howlongdoestheeventlast?SeealsoDaniel7:2325;makesureyoucansee
theparallelbetweenthoseversesinDanielandwhatishappening
inRevelation12:6,14.
InwhatwayswasGodinvolvedwiththechurchduringthetimeperiod
depictedinRevelation12:6,14,16?
WhileDanielputtheemphasisonthepersecutionanditseffectonthepeopleof
God,JohnputstheemphasisonGod'sprotectivecareforHispeople.Animage
takenfromtheExodusoutofEgyptexpressesthatprotection:Godhasoncemore
carriedHispeopleon"eagles'wings"tothewilderness(Exod.19:4).Thoughthe
churchisunderattack,Godisprovidingforitanyway.Damagewillbedonetothe
church;Danielmakesthatclear(seeDan.7:25),butthechurch,intheend,willnot
bedestroyed,becauseChristwillnotallowthattohappen.
Theideaofpersecutionisalsoexpressedthroughthesymbolofwater,likeariver,
comingoutofthemouthofthedragon.Providentially,theearthhelpsthewoman
byswallowingit.TheEgyptianarmiespersecutedtheIsraelites,buttheLord
stretchedoutHisarmand"theearthswallowedthem"(Exod.15:12).Here,again,
GoddoesnotallowtheenemytodestroyHispeople.
However intense and (at times) discouraging the battle
against Satan can be (often manifested as a battle against
sin and self), it is not often that we engage in a struggle in
which we know the outcome from the start. How does the
knowledge that Christ, our King, has defeated the foe help
us press on ahead, in faith, despite even the most
discouraging circumstances?
Thursday May 23
THE DRAGON AND THE REMNANT (Rev. 12:17).
evelation12describestheattackofthedragonagainstJesus(Rev.12:4,7)and
againstthechurchduringthe1,260years(vs.13).Attheendofthechapter,
anothergroupisintroduced:"therestofheroffspring[lit.,theremnantofher
seed]"(vs.17,NIV).Scriptureisexplicit:Thedragonwillmakewaragainstthese
people,theremnant(vs.17),whoappearafterthe1,260yearperiodprophetically
representedinverse6andverse14(after1798).
ReviewRevelation12.WhatthreethingsareobjectsofSatan'sattack,andin
whatorderdotheyappear?
1.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
2.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
3.
__________________________________________________________________
_______________
Whatisthefirstcharacteristicoftheremnant?Rev.12:17.
InthebookofRevelation,thefirstfourcommandmentsseemtobeofextreme
importanceinabookwhosecentralthemeisworship:Whoshouldbethetrue
objectofworship?Neitherthedragonnorthebeast,tobesure(Rev.13:4;14:9)
butGodalone(vs.7).Worshipoftheimageofthebeastisalsocondemned(vss.9,
10).AmongthereasonsgiventoworshipGodistherecognitionthatHe"'made
theheavens,theearth,thesea'"(vs.7,NIV),aphrasetakenfromExodus20:11,
theSabbathcommandment.
ReadExodus20:111andcompareittotheissuesmentionedaboveuntilyou
canseeclearlyhowthefirstfourcommandmentsareinvolvedinwhat
Revelationsayswillhappeninthelastdays.
Anothercharacteristicoftheremnantisthattheyhave"thetestimonyofJesus,"a
phraseclarifiedinRevelation19:10:"ThetestimonyofJesusisthespiritof
prophecy."Theexpression"spiritofprophecy"wasusedinthetimeofJohnto
designatethegiftofprophecy.Johnsaysthatthepropheticgiftwillstillbeactive
inGod'sendtimeremnant.
What justification do we have as Seventh-day Adventists
to name ourselves as this remnant?
Friday May 24
FURTHERSTUDY:EllenG.White,"Calvary,"pp.741757,and"ItIs
Finished,"pp.758767,TheDesireofAges;C.MervynMaxwell,GodCares,vol.
2,pp.315324,403407.
Reflectonthefollowingpointsinconclusiontothisweek'sstudy:
JesusandMichael.Michaeliscalledthe"Archangel"(Jude9),suggestingthathe
isanangel,thecommanderoftheangels(Rev.12:7).Thewordangeldesignates
thefunctionofheavenlybeings;theyare"messengers."Theyarecreatedbeings,
exceptforoneofthem:theAngel(Messenger)oftheLord.ThefactthatthisBeing
isequatedwithGod(seeExod.3:2,4;Judg.6:12,14)hasledmanyChristiansto
identifyHimwiththepreincarnatedChrist.InHimtheSenderandtheMessenger
arethesamePerson.
MichaelisdescribedasthePrinceofIsrael(Dan.10:13,21),whoprotectsIsrael
asWarriorandJudge(vs.1).Mostprobably,HeisthePrinceofthe"hostof
heaven"mentionedinDaniel8:10,who,asPriest,isperformingthedailyservices
intheheavenlysanctuary.InJoshua5:14thatsameheavenlybeingisequatedwith
theLordHimself(vs.2).ItisthissameBeingwhowillcomeagain"withthevoice
ofthearchangel,"bringinglifeandfinalvictoryoverevilpowers(1Thess.4:16).
ThereisenoughbiblicalinformationtowarranttheconclusionthatMichaeland
ChristarethesamePerson.
1 Why did God foretell the experience of the church during the
. Christian Era if those prophecies were to be better understood after
they were fulfilled?
2 In what ways, even now, is the remnant experiencing Satan's attack?
. Does it have to be a violent attack? Can it be a spiritual one? Or
both? Do his assaults against the church have to come from without,
or can his greatest weapon against us come from within our own
ranks? Explain your answer.
3 Read Deuteronomy 4:1-4. What in these verses gives us an answer
. as to how we, individually, can withstand Satan's attacks on us
personally?
SUMMARY:ThoughthedragonwasdefeatedbyChristinheavenandatthe
Cross,andthoughhewas,andstillis,unabletodestroythechurch,heis,
nevertheless,preparinghislastattackagainstGod'sremnantpeople.God'sloving
providenceprovidedfortheneedsofthechurchinthepastandwillinthefuture.
Ourvictoryisassured.
Lesson 9
*May 25 - 31
TheDragonVersusthe
RemnantPart1
Sabbath Afternoon
May 25
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Rev.13:110.
MEMORYTEXT:"Ifanyoneistogointocaptivity,intocaptivityhewillgo.
Ifanyoneistobekilledwiththesword,withtheswordhewillbekilled.This
callsforpatientenduranceandfaithfulnessonthepartofthesaints"
(Revelation13:10,NIV).
EVELATION13:110alsorepeatswhatwassaidinRevelation12:6,13
16butaddssignificantnewinformation.Thepurposeoftherepetitionisto
indicatethatthereligiopoliticalpowerthatthedragonusedduringtheMiddleAges
willriseagaintolifeandwillbeakeyplayerintheattackagainstthe
remnant.Revelation13:1118isadevelopmentofRevelation12:17,whichtalks
aboutthedragon'senragedattempttomakewaragainsttheremnant,thosewho
keepthecommandmentsofGodandhavethetestimonyofJesusChrist.Thebeast
fromtheearth(startinginRev.13:11)isthesecondinstrumentusedbythedragon
torevivethebeastfromtheseaandtoattacktheremnant.
Atfirstglance,then,theversesdonotpaintaprettypicture;however,evenamid
theriseofthisbeast,amiditsblasphemyandpersecution,theWordgivesushope,
becauseevenheretheSonofGodandHisdeathisrevealed.Thus,nomatterwhat
thedragonandthebeastdo,ChristhaswonthevictoryandGodwantsusto
know,againandagain,notonlythatHehaswonbutthatHehaswononbehalfof
us.
*(Studythisweek'slessontoprepareforSabbath,June1.)
SundayMay26
DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAST FROM THE SEA.
"AndIstooduponthesandofthesea,andsawabeastriseupoutofthesea,
havingsevenheadsandtenhorns,anduponhishornstencrowns,andupon
hisheadsthenameofblasphemy.AndthebeastwhichIsawwaslikeuntoa
leopard,andhisfeetwereasthefeetofabear,andhismouthasthemouthof
alion"(Rev.13:1,2).
OutlineofRevelation13:111:
1.Descriptionofthebeast(vss.1,2)
2.Experienceofthebeast(vss.24)
3.Workofthebeast(vss.57)
4.Experienceandevaluationofthebeast(vss.810)
5.ExhortationtoGod'speople(vss.10,11)
Reviewtheseversesuntilthesequenceofeventsisclear.
Whatdoesthephrase"comingoutofthesea"(NIV)mean?Isa.17:12;Dan.
7:2,3;Rev.13:1;seealsoJer.46:7,8.
WhichelementsofthisbeastinRevelation13:1pointtotheprophecy
ofDaniel7?Makealistofthecommonelements(seeDan.7:27;Rev.13:1,
2).
neofthefirstthingsthatJohnobservedaboutthissecondbeastwasitsseven
headsandtenhorns.BecausethedragonofRevelation12:3hadthosesame
features,thevisionemphasizesthecloseconnectionbetweenthesetwoentities.
ThetenhornspointtoDaniel7,inwhichtenhornssymbolizethedivisionofthe
RomanEmpire(Dan.7:7).
BypointingtoDaniel7,Johnhelpsidentifythehistoricalmomentwhenthebeast
appearswithinthehistoricalflowofapocalypticprophecies.InRevelation13,the
beastsofDaniel7appearininvertedorder:leopard(Greece),bear(MediaPersia),
andthelion(Babylon).JohnmovesfromhistimebackwardtoBabylonandthen
forwardtothefuture.Thegreatbeasthedescribeshereisnotoneofthosethree
fromthepastbutadifferentone,theterriblebeastofDaniel7:7,theRoman
Empire.
Thereferencetothetenhornsmakestheprophecyevenmorespecific.Thefact
thateachofthetenhornshasacrownindicatesthatpaganRomehadalreadyfallen
andthatthenationsthatsprangupafteritsdemiseareexercising
theirpoliticalauthority.Thus,theworkofthisbeasthappensafterthedivisionof
paganRome,whichmeansthat,likethelittlehorninDaniel7,it
representsecclesiasticalRome.
Monday May 27
BEASTLY THINGS (Rev. 13:2, 4).
Whatdidthedragonentrusttothebeast?Rev.13:2.
hetextdescribeswhatcouldbecalledanenthronementscene:Thedragonis
appointingthebeastascoregentinhiskingdomandashisinstrumentinthe
prosecutionofhisowngoals.ThedragonistryingtodowhatGoddidwithChrist:
ChristreceivedauthorityfromGodandsitsonthethroneofHisFather(Rev.
2:27;3:21);thedragonimitatesthissameprocess.Hestill,obviously,wantstobe
likeGod!(Isa.14:14).
ReadRevelation1:18,5:6,and13:3.Whatparallelsexistbetweenthe
experienceofChristandthatofthebeast?Whywouldtheseparallelseven
exist?Whatpointismadebyparallelingthem?
AccordingtoRevelation13:3,thebeastgetsadeadlywound.Theintentionofthis
wound(Rev.13:3)wastokillthebeast;thewound,however,washealed,andthe
beastcontinueson.WhenRevelation17:8talksaboutabeastthat"'oncewas,now
isnot,andwillcome'"(NIV),itseemstobereferringtothisspecificpoliticaland
religiouspower.
Whatwillbetheresultofthebeast'shealing?Rev.13:3,4.
Theexperienceofthebeasthasauniversalimpact"theworldwillbeastonished"
(NIV)(seealsoRev.17:8).Thetextalsomakesitexplicitlyclearthatthebeastis
notonlyapoliticalpowerbutalsoareligiousone:Thedwellersofthe
earthworshipedthebeastandthedragon.Thereasongivenisthatthereisnoone
likethebeast.Buttheuniquenessofthispowerislocatedintheauthorityofthe
beasttoimposeitswill.
Compare this idea that no one was like the beast (Rev. 13:4) with these
verses: Exod. 15:11; 1 Sam. 2:2; Ps. 71:19; Ps. 35:10; Ps. 86:8; Ps.
113:5; Jer. 10:6. In what ways can you see the great-controversy theme
in this contrast?
Whyiswhomweworshipsoimportant?WhywouldGodevencarewhomweworship?
Afterall,ifweare"good"people,livegoodlives,andtreatourneighborskindly,why
doesitmatterwhomweworshiporevenhowweworship?Discuss.
Tuesday May 28
THE BLASPHEMY OF THE BEAST (Rev. 13:5-7).
Forhowlongdidthebeastexercisetheauthoritygiventoitbythe
dragon?Rev.13:5.
evelation13:5takesusbacktoRevelation13:2,themomentwhenafterthe
beastcameoutoftheseathedragongaveithispowerandauthority.Verses5
7describehowthebeastusedthatauthorityandpowerandforhowlong,aswell.
Attheendofthe1,260years(1798),the"deadlywound"(vs.3)isinflicted.
TheparallelwithDaniel7
issignificant.Danielalsomentionsthe1,260years(vs.
25),theboastfulspeechofthelittlehornagainstGod(vss.8,11,25),andthatthe
littlehornpersecutedthesaints(vs.25)andprevailedagainstthem(vs.21).Weare
dealinghere,inDaniel7,withthesamereligiopoliticalpowerasinRevelation13.
ReadRevelation13:57anddescribeinyourownwordsthenatureofthe
workofthebeast.Whatcharacteristicsofthebeaststandout?
ThetermthatpredominatesinthedescriptionoftheworkofthisantiGodpower
isblaspheme.Ageneralstatementismade"openedhismouthtoblaspheme
God"(Isa.13:6,NIV)andthenitisexplainedinmoredetail:
BlasphemesthenameofGod.ToblasphemethenameofGodistorobHimofHis
dignity,power,andauthority.Thishappenswhenhumansappropriatefor
themselvesdivinefunctionsandprerogatives(seeMark2:7)orwhen,throughtheir
conduct,God'sreputationisdamaged(1Tim.6:1).Thebeastacceptstheworship
ofthedwellersoftheearth;whatcouldbemoreblasphemousthanthat?
BlasphemesthedwellingofGod.Daniel8describestheattackofthissamepower
againstthemediatorialworkofChristintheheavenlysanctuary.Humansare
declaredtobeabletomediatedivinegraceandtoforgivesins.Theheavenly
sanctuaryisblasphemedwhenitisconsideredofnoeffectforhumans.
Blasphemesthosewholiveinheaven.InRevelationthepeopleofGodare
consideredtobealreadydwellersofheaven(Rev.14:1);perhaps,then,the
blasphemydirectedagainstthemismanifestedasthepersecutiontheyfacefor
servingtheLord(vs.7).
Though most of us who love God would never think of
blaspheming Him, in what subtle ways can we be guilty of
that sin without even realizing it?
Wednesday May 29
THE BOOK AND THE BEAST.
PleasereadRevelation13:8.
umerouspointscomethroughfromthisverseregardingtheactivityofthe
beast.First,itistalkingaboutsomethinguniversal,"allthatdwellupontheearth."
Theactivityofthebeastisnotlimitedtoanyspecificgeographicalarea.
Second,theissueofworshipclearlycomesintoplay.Theworldwillbedivided
overtheissueofworship.
Third,onlythosewhosenamesarenotwritteninthebookoflifeworshipthe
beast,theimplicationbeingthatthosewhosenamesarewritteninthebookdo
notworshiphim.
Whatdothefollowingteachaboutthebookoflifeandabouthavingour
nameswritteninheaven?
Exod.
32:32_____________________________________________________________
________________
Dan.
12:1______________________________________________________________
_________________
Phil.
4:3_______________________________________________________________
_________________
Rev.
3:5_______________________________________________________________
_________________
Rev.
20:12_____________________________________________________________
_________________
Rev.
20:15_____________________________________________________________
_________________
Rev.
21:27_____________________________________________________________
_________________
Afterthisdescriptionofthebeastandofthosewhoworshiphim,Revelation
13givesawordofexhortationinverses9and10,tellingpeopletoheedwhatis
beingsaid.Thoughopinionsdifferontheexactmeaningofverse10,itdoesseem
tobesaying,incontext,thatthebeastpowerwillonedayreceiveretribution
equivalenttothecrimesithascommitted.
Read again Revelation 13:8. It talks about the "book of life
of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
Notice the contrast between life and the lamb slain. How
do you understand the relationship between the death of
the Lamb and the names being written in the book of life?
What does the Lamb's death have to do with our names
being in that book? Why are some names not in it?
Thursday May 31
WORDS OF EXHORTATION.
"Hereisthepatienceandthefaithofthesaints"(Rev.13:10).
Whyistheremnantexhortedtodevelopsomespecificqualities?Rev.13:10.
hephrase"patientendurance"isthetranslationoftheGreekwordhupomone,
whosebasicmeaningis"toremainunder."Itseemstoexpresstwomainideas.
First,topersevereinone'scommitmentinspiteofpressurestothecontrary.Thisis
thekindoflifenotcontrolledbyexternalcircumstancesorbythepressurethey
placeontheindividual;itisalifeorientedtoaveryspecificandcentralgoal,a
willingnesstoendureanythinginordertoachieveit.
Thesecondideaexpressedbyhupomoneisoneofexpectation.Infact,itisthis
aspectthatmakesitpossibleto"remainunder,"toendure.Thosewhopossessthis
Christianvirtueanticipatethemomentofdeliverance.Theyknowthatthestressful
orevenlifethreateningcircumstancestheyfacearenotthepermanentmodeof
Christianexistence,and,therefore,theypersistbylookingforwardtothefinal
deliveranceatthereturnoftheLord.
TheothervirtuethatJohnmentionsis"faithfulness."TheGreekwordusedbyJohn
ispistis,usuallytranslatedas"faith."ButtheGreektermcouldmean"faith,trust,
faithfulness."Inthisspecificpassage,thebesttranslationseemstobe
"faithfulness."JohnencourageshisreaderstoremainloyaltotheLordunderany
circumstance.Whenfaith,understoodasthetotalsurrenderofourlivestoChrist,
isconfrontedwithtemptation,itexpressesitselfasfaithfulnesstoGod(seeHeb.
11:17).TheremnantmustbeunwaveringlyfaithfultotheLord.
Inwhatwayscanwe,evennow,beforepersecution,learntodevelopboth
patienceandfaithfulness?
"TheLordwillhaveapeopleastrueassteel,andwithfaithasfirmasthegranite
rock.TheyaretobeHiswitnessesintheworld...todoaspecial,agloriouswork
inthedayofHispreparation."EllenG.White,TestimoniesfortheChurch,vol.
4,pp.494,495.
Most of us, at some point in our Christian experience, have
had to exercise both patience and faithfulness. In fact, it
often takes faithfulness to be able to exercise patience,
and patience is needed to develop faithfulness. Discuss
the relationship between these two concepts and why we
need both, especially now.
Friday May 31
FURTHERSTUDY:TheSDABibleCommentary,vol.7,pp.816819;C.
MervynMaxwell,GodCares,vol.2,pp.324340.
Notethefollowinginconclusiontothisweek'sstudy:
Themortalwound.Revelation13:110indicatesthatthefatalwoundinflictedon
thebeasttookplaceafterthe1,260years.Thatspecificpropheticperiodcametoan
endin1798,whenGeneralAlexanderBerthierarrestedthepopewiththeintention
ofterminatingthepapacy."PiusVI,although81yearsoldandill,wasseizedand
takenasaprisonertoFrance,wherehedied(Aug.29,1799).Onthisdaythetotal
destructionoftheHolySeeseemedtomanytobeaccomplished."NewCatholic
Encyclopedia,vol.VI,p.191.
"AfterstrippingPiusVIofhistemporalpower,theFrenchdeprivedhimofhis
liberty.Hisdeathwhileaprisonermarkedalowpointinpapalfortunesnot
plumbedforcenturiesandgaverisetoaprophecythattheapostolicsuccessionhad
cometoaclosewiththedemiseof'PiustheLast.'"NewCatholicEncyclopedia,
vol.X,p.965.
1 Where would you place the time we live in within Rev 13:1-10? What
. impact should that have in your Christian life and in the fulfillment of
the mission of the church?
2 Satan has been long planning his attack against the remnant. In
. view of this fact, what should the remnant be doing to protect
themselves? What is the only way, in fact, that the remnant can be
protected from Satan? What is our only protection, and how do we
obtain it?
3 The efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ is placed in the heart
. of Revelation 13 (vs. 8). Why would John mention this in the midst of
a discussion of the enemies of God and their attempt to destroy
God's people?
4 We have seen that Satan tries to imitate the work of God the Father
. and of Christ. What is Satan's purpose in doing this?
SUMMARY:Thedragonlefttopreparehimselfforhislastattackagainstthe
remnant.Theunityofreligiousandcivilpowerheusedduringthe1,260yearswill
beestablishedagainandusedagainsttheremnant.Thecriticalissuewillbethe
trueobjectofworship.ThereissafetyforthosewhobelongtoChrist,whose
namesarewritteninthebookoflife.ThesacrificeofChristispowerfulenoughto
preservetheminhopeandfaithfulness.
Lesson 10
*June 1 - 7
TheDragonVersusthe
RemnantPart2
Sabbath Afternoon
June 1
MEMORYTEXT:"ThenIlooked,andtherebeforemewastheLamb,
standingonMountZion,andwithhim144,000whohadhisnameandhis
Father'snamewrittenontheirforeheads"(Revelation14:1,NIV).
NREVELATION13,AFALSETRINITYISFORMEDbetweenthedragon,
thebeastfromthesea,andthebeastfromtheearth.TheyopposetheGodhead
theFather,theSon,andtheHolySpiritandarereadytoventtheirwrathagainst
theremnant.GodrevealstoHispeoplethestrategythattheenemywilluse;He
doesthissowewillnotbesurprised,discouraged,ordeceivedbythetumultuous
eventsthatunfoldaroundus.Godnotonlyknowsthefuturebutcontrolsit,afact
thatshouldgiveuscomfortamidsituationsthat,fromourlimited,sinful
perspective,canattimesseemhopeless.
Revelation13:1118describesfutureeventsthatareintheprocessoffulfillment,
withtheUnitedStatesintheforefrontoftheselastdayevents.However,wemust
alwaysbecarefulnottospeculatebeyondwhatweknowforsure.Wemustnot
createdetailedscenariosoflastdayeventsasthoughweknowforcertainevery
detailwhen,ofcourse,wedonotknowthosedetails.Tothinkotherwiseistoset
ourselvesupfordisappointment,evendeception.
SundayJune2
DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAST FROM THE EARTH.
"AndIbeheldanotherbeastcomingupoutoftheearth;andhehadtwo
hornslikealamb,andhespakeasadragon"(Rev.13:11).
"AndGodsaid,Lettheearthbringforththelivingcreatureafterhiskind,
cattle,andcreepingthing,andbeastoftheearthafterhiskind:anditwasso"
(Gen.1:24).
haracteristicsofthesecondbeast:1.Thisnewbeastrisesafterthefirstbeast
waswounded.Becausethewoundwasinflictedin1798,weshouldbelookingfor
apowerthatarisesaroundthattime.
2.Thebeastfromtheearthisinvolvedinthehealingofthebeastfromthesea.
Theycoexistduringtheperiodofthehealingandafterthebeastishealed.
3.ThebeastfromtheearthwasbroughtintoexistencebyGod.Thesymbolismof
thephrase"comingupoutoftheearth"(Rev.13:11)isveryimportant.Thisisthe
onlyapocalypticbeastthatcomesoutoftheearthandnotoutofthesea.Seventh
dayAdventistshavecommonlytaken"earth"tomeanascarcelysettledarea
(seeProv.21:19;Jer.2:6),whichistrue.Butifweexaminethewholephrase
"comingupoutoftheearth,"thesymbolismisenriched.Thisbeast,likeaplant,
comesintoexistencefromoutoftheground.Onlyinthecreationnarrativedowe
findthesameidea:"Godsaid,'Letthelandproducelivingcreatures.'Anditwas
so"(Gen.1:24,NIV).Thesymbolismofabeastcomingupfromtheground
indicatesthatitarosefromGod'spower.
4.Thephrase"hadtwohornslikealamb"(Rev.13:11,NIV)describestheinitial
appearanceofthebeasttoemphasizeagentlesystemofgovernment;lateritwill
speaklikeadragon.
Thenationwearelookingforappearedaround1798(afterthe1,260yearperiod),
wasblessedbyGod,andhadasystemofgovernmentthatwasinitiallygentle,like
alamb.Regardingthelastcharacteristic,theUnitedStates,atleastincertainareas
(thecontextofthechapter),hascertainlybeenlamblike.Forthesereasons,we
interpretthisprophecyastheUnitedStates.
The second beast looks like a lamb but speaks as a dragon. In the Bible,
whom does a lamb represent, and whom does a dragon represent? The
Lamb never forces worship, though He alone is entitled to it; in
contrast, the dragon seeks to force worship, though he deserves none.
Discuss. Also, in what ways can individuals manifest the characteristics
of either power?
Monday June 3
THE UNION OF THE TWO BEASTS (Rev. 13:12).
Howwouldyoudefinetherelationshipestablishedbetweenthebeastfromthe
seaandtheonefromtheearth?Rev.13:12.
hephrase"buthespokelikeadragon"(Rev.13:11,NIV)isexplainedin13:12.
Thisverseisasummaryofwhatismorefullydescribedinthefollowingverses.
Thesecondbeastisonethathasthepower(political,military,economic)toforce
theworldtoworshipthefirstbeast.Obviously,thissecondbeastpossessesgreat
mightandauthority.
InTheGreatControversy,EllenWhiteunambiguouslyidentifiesthatsecond
beastastheUnitedStates.Whatissoamazingaboutthatidentificationisthat
itwasmademorethanahundredyearsago(1888),atatimewhentheUnited
Stateswasnowherenearasinfluentialandpowerfulasitistoday.What
events,evenoverthepasttwentyyears,haveplacedtheUnitedStatesina
uniquepositiontofulfillitstragicpropheticrole?
Thefirstbeastdeputizespowertothesecondbeast,whowillactasits
representative.ProtestantAmericawillexercise"allthepowerofthefirstbeast."
Whatpoweristhisreferringto?ItisthepowertoblasphemeGodandHis
sanctuaryandtopersecuteGod'speople(Rev.13:57).Thisprediction"plainly
foretellsadevelopmentofthespiritofintoleranceandpersecution[inProtestant
America]thatwasmanifestedbythenationsrepresentedbythedragonandthe
leopardlikebeast."EllenG.White,TheGreatControversy,p.442.
Thebeastfromtheearthwillbeinstrumentalinpersuadingthewholeworldto
worshipthefirstbeast.ApostateProtestantismwillworkthroughouttheworldto
healthebeastandtopersuadealltoacknowledgetheauthorityofthefirstbeast;
thatis,toworshipthebeast.Johnisdescribingamovementofapostasyofglobal
proportions.
Many sincere Christians of other faiths believe that there will be endtime persecution, but very few see it coming from within the church
itself. In other words, they see some outside, blatantly anti-Christian
power as the persecutor. How can you use Christian history to show
people that, historically, persecution often has arisen from within the
church itself? Make a list of historical examples that prove this specific
point, that persecution has often come from within, as opposed to
without.
Tuesday June 4
SPIRITUALISM AND THE BEASTS: MIRACLES (Rev. 13:13, 14).
Whatisthepurposeofthemiraclesperformedbythebeastfromthe
earth?Rev.13:13,14.
nordertoaccomplishtheirgoalofuniversaldominion,thedragonandthetwo
beastsusemiracles(Rev.16:13,14).Oneparticularmiracleismentioned,
highlightingitsimportance:Thebeastcausesfiretocomedownfromheaven.
Whatdoesthephrase"sothatheevenmakesfirecomedownfromheavenon
theearth"(Rev.13:13)mean?
InthebookofRevelation,fireisasymbolofGod'sjudgment(Rev.8:5;14:10)and
ofGod'spresence.TheSpiritisrepresentedby"seventorchesoffire"(Rev.4:5,
RSV),andChristHimselfhas"eyes...likeaflameoffire"(1:14,NRSV)andlegs
"likepillarsoffire"(10:1,NKJV).John'simagerecountsalsothestoryofElijah
andtheprophetsofBaalonMountCarmel.TherethetrueGodrevealedHimself
bymakingfirecomedownfromheaven(1Kings18:2039).OnlytheLord,not
Baal,coulddoit.Now,however,inthiscontext,thedragon(usingthesecond
beast)willbeabletodosomethingsimilarenoughtodeceivetheunwary.
IntheNewTestament,firecomesdownfromheavenontwoparticularoccasions.
ThefirstonewasatPentecost,whentheSpiritdescendedfromheavenonthe
disciplesintheformoffire(Acts2:14).Revelation13:13couldbereferringtoa
falseoutpouringofthespiritthatwillresultinafalserevivalofworldwide
dimensions.
Thesecondreferencetofiredescendingfromheavenisrecordedin2
Thessalonians1:7,8,"WhentheLordJesusshallberevealedfromheavenwithhis
mightyangels,inflamingfire"(emphasissupplied).Firefromheavenisasymbol
ofthereturnofChrist.CouldRevelationbepredictinganimitationofthecoming
ofChristbydemonicpowersaidedbyProtestantAmerica?(SeeTheGreat
Controversy,p.624.)
Philip, an Adventist, has a friend Anthony, steeped in
spiritualism. Each time Philip tries to warn Anthony about
his beliefs and practices, Anthony rebuffs him by saying
that he has witnessed "miracles" that affirmed his beliefs.
What does today's lesson teach that should show anyone
that miracles alone do not determine truth?
Wednesday June 5
THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST (Rev. 13:14, 15).
Whattestofloyaltydoesthesecondbeast,onbehalfofthefirstbeast,impose
upontheworld?Rev.13:14,15.
hatevertheexactdetailsofhow"theimagetothebeast"(Rev.13:15)willbe
manifested,onethingisclear:Theissueregardingthisimagewillcenteron
worship.
ReadthroughDaniel3,particularlyverses3,5,10,14,18,28.Whatparallels
existbetweenthatchapterandthatwhichisdepictedhereinRevelation13?
Notice,too,whichcommandmentwastheparticularissueinDaniel3,in
contrasttowhichcommandmentwillbetheparticularfocusofthefinal
eventsdepictedinRevelation13.Whatdothesetwocommandmentshavein
common?(Hint:seeDan.7:25.)
Intheancientworld,animagewasconsideredarepresentativeofthepersonit
depicted.Wehaveseenthatthesecondbeast"actsonbehalfofthefirstbeast"
(Rev.13:14,NIV),anotherwayofsayingthatinawayitfunctionsasits"image."
Revelation13:15saysthesecondbeast"wasgrantedpowertogivebreathto
theimageofthebeast"(NKJV).Whatsimilarlanguageandconceptsare
foundinGenesis2:7?Inthecontextofthegreatcontroversy,asmanifested
inRevelation13,whatparallelsexistbetweenwhatishappeninghereand
whathappenedinGenesis?
ThesymbolismofbreathinglifeintotheimageofthebeastgoesbacktoGenesis
2:7,whereGod,aftercreatingman,breathedlifeintohim,makinghimableto
functionasHisrepresentative.Thelamblikebeast,whocameintoexistence
throughthepowerofGod,willclaimpowerthatbelongsonlytoGod:thepowerto
giveandtakelife.Refusaltoworshiptheimageorthebeast,whichmeansnot
submittingtoitsteachingsandcommands,willbeconsideredanactofdisloyalty
worthyofdeath.
It has been said that humanity cannot live without
worshiping something. Ask yourself Who, or what, is the
true object of my worship? Is it really the Lord? Or maybe
it is wealth, power, or something else. How can you know
for sure whom or what you worship, and why is it
important that you know?
Thursday June 6
THE MARK AND NUMBER OF THE BEAST (Rev 13:16-18; 14:1).
WhatisJohn'spurposeinmentioningthemarkandnumberofthe
beast?Rev.13:1618.
hemarkofthebeast.Thismarkequatedwiththenameofthebeast
identifiesthoseloyaltothebeast.NamesintheBibleoftendesignatethecharacter
oftheindividual.Thosewhoreceivethemarkdisplaythesamespiritofrebellion
characteristicofthebeast,aspiritthatrevealsitselfintheirattitudetowardthelaw
ofGod(Dan.7:25).Incontrast,thosewhoreceivethesealofGodkeepthe
commandments,thusshowingtheirloyaltytoGod(Rev.12:17;14:12).Thebeast
isopposedtoGod'slawandevenmodifieditbychangingSabbathobservanceto
Sunday.Itwasinthatactthattheauthorityofthebeastmanifesteditself.Those
whosubmittoitsauthoritywillshowitbyobservingSunday,thedistinctive
sign/markofloyaltytothenameofthebeastandtowhatthebeaststandsfor.
WhydowesaythatthosewhokeepSundaydonothavethemarkofthebeast
now?Whyisitimportantthatwemakethispointclear?
Thenumberofthebeast.Themark,thename,andthenumberofthebeastare
closelyrelated(Rev.13:17).Manysuggestionshavebeenmadetoexplainthe
meaningof666.Herewemustbeverycareful.TheBibledoesnotsaythatthe
numberistheaddednumericalvalueofthelettersofaname.Someseeinthe
meaningof666asymbolofhumanityseparatedfromGod.Humanswerecreated
onthesixthday,andthenumbercanstandasasymbolforhumanitywithout
divinerest(theseventhday).Humanshaveclaimedultimateindependencefrom
God(thecauseoftheirfall),andevennowtheydonotwanttofindrestinChrist.
Overtheyears,numerousBiblestudentshavecomeupwithvariousexplanations
forthe666.Somefoundsignificanceinthefactthatifyouaddedupthenumberof
lettersinthenameofaformerpresidentoftheUnitedStates,RonaldWilson
Reagan,itcameto666;otherssawmeaninginthat,yearsago,allthebusesin
Jerusalemhad666ontheirlicenseplates.Thisisfutilespeculationthatadds
nothingtowardunderstandingtruth.TheimportantpointisthatGod'sWordhas
givenusenoughinformationtoknowwhatthekeyissuesareandwhotheplayers
willbeinthelastdays,evenifwedonotknowallthedetailsfornow,suchasthe
precisemeaningof666.
Friday June 7
FURTHERSTUDY:EllenG.White,"God'sLawImmutable,"TheGreat
Controversy,pp.438450;C.MervynMaxwell,GodCares,vol.2,pp.330349;
377399;413416.
1.VicariusFiliiDei(VicaroftheSonofGod).SincetheReformation,thispapal
titlehasbeenusedtocalculatethenumber666.Butthereareseveralquestionsthat
shouldmakeuscautious.First,itisnotclearthatthistitleisanofficialone.
Second,thereisnoclearindicationinRevelation13thatthenumberisbasedon
thenumericalvalueofthelettersofaname.Thephrase"itisthenumberofaman"
(vs.18,NIV)couldbetranslated"itisthenumberof[humanity]";thatis,of
humansseparatedfromGod.Third,thosewhoinsistincountingthenumerical
valueoflettersconfronttheproblemofdecidingwhichlanguagewillbeused.
Becausethetextdoesnotidentifyanylanguage,theselectionofaparticularone
willbesomewhatarbitrary.Atthepresenttime,thesymbolismofintensified
rebellion,sixusedthreetimes,andtotalindependencefromGodseemtobethe
bestoption.Timewillrevealthefullmeaningofthesymbol.
2.Sharingwithothers.WhensharingwithothersthecontentofRevelation13,we
shouldgiveprecedencetothegospel.Then,attheappropriatetime,introducethem
totheprophecies.Weshouldnotattackindividualsordenominationsbutrather
calltheChristianchurchbacktotheBibleasaruleofbeliefsandpractices.This
mustbedoneinaspiritofhumility,seekingtogainfriends.ThespiritofChrist
shouldcontrolwhatwedo.
1 Prophecy indicates that oppression and persecution will become
. worldwide. Why, then, should we today be involved in the defense
of religious liberty if we know that, inevitably, persecution will
come?
2 The Catholic Church, over the past few years, made numerous
. pronouncements in defense of religious liberty. Does this truth
affect in any way what Revelation 13 says? Does it impact on how
we witness regarding Rome? If so, how so?
SUMMARY:Revelation13:1118describestheroleofProtestantismasit
supportsandmimicstheapostasyoftheMiddleAgesandlegislatesandenforces
themarkofthebeast.Itwillbethroughtheapparitionofdemonicpowers,evenin
theformofChrist,thatsuchthingswilltakeplacearoundtheworld.Butthe
remnantareinvincibleonMountZioninthecompanyoftheLamb.
Lesson 11
*June 8 - 14
TheThreeAngels'
Messages:Revelation
14:112
Sabbath Afternoon
June 8
MEMORYTEXT:"Hesaidinaloudvoice,'FearGodandgivehimglory,
becausethehourofhisjudgmenthascome.Worshiphimwhomadethe
heavens,theearth,theseaandthespringsofwater"(Revelation14:7,NIV).
EVELATION13ENDSWHENECONOMICSANCTIONS,ANDEVEN
ADEATHDECREE,areimposeduponGod'speople,thosewhorefuseto
worshiptheimageofthebeast.Theenemy'sintentiontoexterminatethemstems,
possibly,fromhisdesiretoproclaimhimselftherightfulownerofthisworld,
whichhecannotdoaslongasthereremainthosewhorefusetopayhimthe
homagethathebelievesheisdue.Satan,asalways,stillwantstoplayGod.
Thoughthedragon'smovementandmessageisaworldwideone,inthathewants
everyone,everywhere,toworshiphim,hehascompetition:Arival,competing
messageaboutworshipisgoingaroundtheworld,aswellthethreeangels'
messagesofRevelation14.
Revelationshowstwoglobalmovementsrunningparalleltoeachother,eachwith
essentiallydifferent,evencontradictory,goals.BesidesSatan'sdeceptivecallfor
peopletoworshiphim,Godissendingalastmessage,thelastofferofsalvation,to
theworldamessagethatcallsHispeopleoutofBabylonandintothefaithand
obediencethatstemsfromthetrueworshipoftheCreator.
SundayJune9
GLOBAL MISSIONS: ZION AND ARMAGEDDON.
WhatisMountZionandArmageddon?Ps.27:5;74:2;Rev.14:1;16:14,16.
ParallelsbetweenGod'splanandtheplanofthedragon:
GOD'S PLAN
3. Purpose
1. Instruments
To unmask evil powers (vss. 8Three angels (Rev. 14:6, 8, 9) 10).
To gather the remnant on
Mount Zion (vss. 1-3)
2. Method
Proclamation of the gospel
(vs. 6).
Reaching every nation, tribe,
people, and tongue (vs. 6)
4. Final Results
Victory (vs. 4)
THE DRAGON'S PLAN
1. Instruments
Three unclean spirits (Rev.
16:13)
2. Method
Performing miracles (vs. 4)
Going to the kings of the
earth (vs. 14)
3. Purpose
Deceive the world (Rev.
13:13; 16:14)
Gather the kings of the earth in
Armageddon (Rev. 16:14)
4. Final Results
Defeat (vs. 19)
mongAdventiststwomaininterpretationsofthenameArmageddonexist.
BothagreethattheArisaHebrewwordthatmeans"mount,mountain."Thefirst
viewconsidersmegiddotobeareferencetothecityofMegiddoinIsrael.The
namemeansMountMegiddoandistakentodesignateMountCarmel,where
ElijahconfrontedtheprophetsofBaalandwhereGodrevealedHimselfinfire.
Armageddonwouldthendescribethelastconfrontationbetweenthedragonand
theLord,andtheLordwillagainrevealHimselfasthetrueandonlyGod.
ThesecondviewtakesthetermArmageddontobeareferencetoIsaiah14:14.
Luciferwantedtoplacehisthroneonthe"mountofassembly"(vs.13,NRSV)
(fromtheHebrewArmoced),whereGod'sthronewaslocated.Armageddonwould
thenrefertoSatan'slastattempttooccupypermanentlytheplaceofGodinthe
world.Anyofthesetwoviewscouldfitwellintothemessageofthebookof
Revelation.
Ever since his fall, Satan has used counterfeits to deceive the unwary.
What kind of counterfeits does he use today?
Monday June 10
THE SEAL OF GOD AND THE REMNANT (Rev. 7:2-4; 14:1-5).
WhatistherelationbetweenthesealofGodandthenameofGod?Rev.
14:1;7:24.
ealshaddifferentfunctionsintheancientworldandintheBible.The
termsealdesignatestheinstrumentitself(forexample,cylinderseal,asignetring)
andtheimpressionitleavesontheclayorwax.IntheBibleasealwasasymbolof
ownership(Eph.1:13),inviolability(Matt.27:66),andauthenticity(1Kings21:8).
Whatwassealedwas,infact,preservedandprotected.
IntheperiodoftheNewTestament,thetermsealwasusedasasynonymfor
"sign."PaulreferstotheOldTestament"signofcircumcision"asa"sealofthe
righteousness";thatistosay,asevidencethatAbrahamwasjustifiedbyfaith
(Rom.4:11).TheothersignmentionedintheOldTestamentistheSabbath.
Ineachoftheseverses,theSabbathisseenasasign.Whatdoesitsignifyin
eachcase?
Exod.
31:13_____________________________________________________________
_______
Exod.
31:17_____________________________________________________________
InRevelation,obediencetothelawofGodisasignofsubmissionandloyaltyto
God(Rev.12:17;14:12).Thesealputontheforeheadsoftheremnant(Rev.7:3)
isequatedwiththenameofGodandtheLamb.Twoideasareexpressedhere.
First,tohavethenameontheforeheadmeansthattheybelongtoGodandare
underHisprotectivecare.Second,itmeansthattheirlivesreflectthecharacterof
God,Hisholiness(Rev.14:5).IntheBiblethenamestandsforthecharacterofthe
personwhobearsit.
ThelastdayservantsofGodwillrevealintheirdailylivestheirfullcommitment
toHimandtoholinessinobediencetothelaw,particularlytotheSabbath
commandment,whichisthesignofsanctification.Therefore,thesealofGod
standsforunconditionalloyaltytoGod,manifestedinobediencetoHislawand,
especially,totheSabbathcommandment.
Ellen White once talked about the seal of God in the context of "a
settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually."Ellen G.
White Comments: Ezekiel, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 1161.
How do you understand that concept, and what does that say to us
today about preparing, even now, for the seal of God as opposed to the
mark of the beast?
Tuesday June 11
MESSAGE OF THE FIRST ANGEL (Rev. 14:6, 7).
Whatisthecontentandtargetofthemessageofthefirstangel?Rev.14:6,7.
hemessageofthefirstangelisverynicelystructured.Thereisfirstthe
messageitself,thentheaudiencetowhomitisaddressed,andfinallyacall.
1.Themessage.Whatisproclaimedisthe"eternalgospel"(Rev.14:6,NIV).Itis
eternal,becauseitisimmutable,permanentlyvalid,forevertrue.The"gospel"
referstothesavingworkofChristinHisincarnation,ministry,death,resurrection,
andhighpriestlyworkonourbehalf.Italsoincludesthelastjudgment(Rom.
2:16)andthereturnofChrist(1Thess.1:5,9,10).Wemustproclaimtodaythat
salvationisonlybyfaithinChrist,afaiththatleadstoobedience.
2.Theaudience.Theproclamationisuniversal,becausethephenomenonofsinis
alsouniversal.Thegospelbelongstoallracesandethnicgroups,becauseweare
allsinners.
3.Thecall.Thisisexpressedthroughthreeimperatives:"FearGod,...giveglory
tohim;...worshiphim."WhenconfrontedbythegreatnessofGod(Ps.96:4),His
justice(Rev.15:3,4),andHissalvation(Isa.45:21,22),apersonsurrendersto
Himinfaithandobedience.TofearGodis,infact,tokeepHiscommandments
(Deut.8:6).
ThiscallalsotellsustogiveglorytoGod,toacknowledgeHimasthemostloving
andimportantfactorinourlives.ThereisnoonelikeHim,andbyglorifyingHim,
wedeclareouralliancetoHimandnottotheforcesofevil.TogiveglorytoHim
isnottogiveHimsomethingHedoesnothave,butitistogiveHimHisrightful
placeinourlives.Thiscallismotivatedbythefactthatthefinaljudgment,
announcedbyDaniel,isalreadyinprogress.ThisisChrist'slastworkonbehalfof
sinners;itrepresentsthelastopportunitytojoinandfollowtheLamb.
Thecallalsodealswithworship,whichiscentralinthegreatcontroversy.Only
God,notthedragon,isworthyofadoration,becauseonlyGod(notthedragon)is
theCreator.ThiscalltakesusbacktotheSabbathasasignofCreation;thiscallis
aclearandblatantrejectionofidolatryandthetheoryofevolution.
Notice, the first angel's message begins with the
"everlasting gospel" (Rev. 14:6). Why does it start with
this specific truth, that of the good news of what Christ
has done to save us? What validity, if any, does the rest of
the angel's message have, apart from the great truth of
salvation by faith alone in Christ?
Wednesday June 12
MESSAGE OF THE SECOND ANGEL (Rev. 14:8).
WhatwastheresultoftheinteractionbetweenBabylonandthenationsofthe
earth?Rev.14:8.
ntheOldTestament,BabylonwasthearchenemyofGodandHispeople(Jer.
50:24,28,29);inRevelation,itfunctionsinthatsamerole.Thisenemyis
representedasacityinordertoemphasizeitspoliticalpowerandasaprostitute
(Revelation17)toemphasizeitsreligiouspower,aswell.Babylon'soriginis
associatedwithaspiritofhumanarroganceandrebellionagainstGod(Gen.11:1
9).TheBibleinterpretsthenameBabylontomean"confusion"theconfusion
producedthroughevilanddeception.
WhatothersymboldoestheBibleusetodescribeBabylon,andwhyisthat
symbolused?Rev.17:14.
Babylonisalsodescribedunderthesymbolofawoman(Rev.17:14).Inthe
Scriptures,apurewomanisasymbolofGod'speople(Rev.12:1),whilea
prostituterepresentsthoseunfaithfultoGod(seeExod.34:15;Isa.1:21;Jer.
2:20;Ezek.16:41).
Spiritualunfaithfulnessmanifestsitselfintwocomplementaryways.First,thereis
arejectionoftruththatleadstoidolatry,aswellastoamixtureoftruthwitherror
(Jer.2:2325;Hosea13).Inthiscase,hereinRevelation,thewomangivestothe
nationsitsownwineratherthanthewinethatrepresentsthebloodofChrist.
Second,politicalalliancesareestablishedbetweenthosewhowerepartofGod's
peopleandthenationsoftheearth(Ezek.16:2629).Babylon,asawoman,
becameafittingsymbolofthechurchwhenittookovercivilpowerandcastthe
truthtotheground.
TheChristianapostasypredictedbyPaul,whichbegansoonaftertheApostolic
AgeanddevelopedduringtheMiddleAges,willreachuniversaldimensionswith
thesupportofapostateProtestantism.Asareligiopoliticalpower,itwillattempt
tocontroltheworldbeforethereturnoftheLord.Therefore,Babylondesignatesa
processofapostasyintheChristianworldthatwillculminateinthecrisis
describedinRevelation13:1517.Thenthebeastanditsimagewillformaworld
alliancethatwillunitereligiousandpoliticalpowers.ThefinalfallofBabylonisin
thefutureEllenG.White,TheGreatControversy,p.390.
Do you have to be living in "Babylon" to be "Babylonian"?
Can people be living in "Jerusalem" and yet have
"Babylon" in them? If so, what does that mean, and how
can they change?
Thursday June 13
MESSAGE OF THE THIRD ANGEL (Rev. 14:9-12).
Whatisthepurposeofthethirdangel'smessage?Rev.14:912.
hemessageofthisangelproclaimsthetotaldefeatofthebeastanditsimage.
Severaltimesinthismessagethebeast,theimage,andthemarkofthebeastare
mentioned,whichsuggeststhatthepreachingofthisthirdangel'smessagetakes
placeduring,andevenafter,thehealingofthebeast.
Whatisthefateofthosewhodonotheedthewarning?
1.TheydrinkfromthecupofGod'swrath.ThecupofGod'swrathexpressesthe
ideathatGodcompelsHisenemiestodrinkHiswine;thatistosay,toreceiveHis
judgment.Theseverityofthejudgmentisexpressedthroughtheideathatthe
wine/wrathisunmixed.Thereferenceisnotonlytothesevenlastplagues
(Revelation16)butalsotothefinaldestructionofthewicked.Theremnantdonot
havetodrinkfromthecupofGod'swrath,becauseChristdrankfromitontheir
behalf(Mark14:36).
2.Theyfaceeternalpunishment.Thephrase"thesmokeoftheirtormentrisesfor
everandever"(Rev.14:11,NIV)meansthattheywillbetotallydestroyed.The
samephraseisusedwithrespecttoEdom(Isa.34:9,10),butEdomisnolonger
burning.Thefireiseternal,becauseitsconsequencesareeternal.Whatitdestroys
willbedestroyedforever.
3.Theyhavenorest.Thosewhoworshipthebeastanditsimagewillnot
experiencerest.RestisagiftofGodforHispeople,availablethroughChrist
(Matt.11:2830).TheeternalrestpromisedtoGod'speoplewillnotbeenjoyedby
thewicked.
HowistheremnantdefinedinRevelation14:12?
ThefaithofJesuscouldbereferringtotheteachingsofJesusortothebelievers'
faithinJesus.ThefirstonewillstresscommitmenttothetruthasitisinJesus;the
second,totheirdependenceonJesusfortheirjustification.Perhapsbothideasare
beingcommunicatedhere.
The three angels' messages present a clear contrast
between the saved and the lost. What is the best advice
you can give to someone who wants to be on the right
side, even now, but fears that he or she might not be?
Friday June 14
FURTHERSTUDY:EllenG.White,"AWarningRejected,"TheGreat
Controversy,pp.375390.
1.CentralityoftheSabbath."Seventimesinchapters13and14theword'worship'
isappliedtotheunholytrinity.'Theyworshipedthedragon.''Worshipthebeast.'
'Worshiptheimageofthebeast.'Onlyonetimeinthiswholesectionisthereacall
toworshipthetrueGod.Iftrueversusfalseworshipisthecentralissueatthe
end,thispassage(Rev.14:7)isthecentraltextofthesection,perhapsoftheentire
book.WhenRevelationfinallygetsaroundtocallingonpeopletoworshipthetrue
God,itdoessointhecontextofthefourthcommandment,theSabbathcommand.
Inaspecialsense,therefore,theauthorofRevelationunderstoodtheSabbathto
bethecrucialissueinthefinalcrisis."JonPaulien,WhattheBibleSaysAbout
theEndTime(Hagerstown,Md.:ReviewandHeraldPublishingAssoc.,1994),p.
126;author'semphasis.
2.BabylonandEuphrates."Theangel'sinterpretationoftheEuphrates('peoples,
multitudes,nationsandlanguages')guardsusagainstarelapsetotheMiddleEast
applicationofBabylon'sriver.WheneverGoddriedupaliteralriverora'flood'of
enemiesinIsrael'shistory...,italwayssignifiedaprovidentialjudgmentonthe
enemiesofGod'speople.ThedryingupofBabylon'sgreatriverduringthefuture
sixthplague(Rev.16:12)willbenoexception.Thejudgmentissetinmotion
whenpoliticalrulersandmultitudesofallnationssuddenlyrealizeGod'sverdict
onreligiousBabylonandunitedlywithdrawtheirsupportfromher."HansK.
LaRondelle,"Armageddon,"inSymposiumonRevelationBookII(SilverSpring,
Md.:BiblicalResearchInstitute,GeneralConferenceofSeventhdayAdventists,
1992),pp.386,387.
1 Why does the message of the first angel begin with the proclamation
. of the gospel and then is followed by a call to fear, give glory to, and
worship God?
2 What does Revelation 14:13 mean when it says about those who died
. in the Lord that "their works do follow them"? What does that say
about the importance of works? What does it not say about them, as
well?
SUMMARY:God'splanincludesafinalcalltotheworldtoreturntoHiminlove
andloyalty.Throughthethreeangels'messages,Godunmaskstheplanofthe
dragonandannouncesitsfinaldefeat.ItisGod'spurposetogatherHisremnantout
ofBabylonbeforeitistoolate.
Lesson 12
TheClimaxofApocalyptic
Expectation:The
*June 15 - 21
BlessedHope
Sabbath Afternoon
June 15
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Isaiah35;Matt.24:30;John14:1
3;Acts1:10,11;1Cor.15:5157;1Thess.4:1517;Rev.21:17.
MEMORYTEXT:"Hewhotestifiestothesethingssays,'Yes,Iamcoming
soon.'Amen.Come,LordJesus.ThegraceoftheLordJesusbewithGod's
people.Amen"(Revelation22:20,21,NIV).
NCIENTGREEKDRAMATISTSoftenusedintheirplaysadevicecalled
deusexmachina,meaning"agodfromamachine."Intheplay,thecharactersare
facingsomeseeminglyunsolvabledilemmawhensuddenlyloweredontothe
stageviaamachineagodappearsoutoftheskyandsavestheday.
Howeverfaintly,theideaofGodcomingoutoftheskyto"savetheday"
representstheultimateandfinalhopeofallChristianseverywhere,whichisthe
secondcomingofJesus.
ThereturnofourLordassuresusthatpeace,justice,andlovewillprevailandthat
thedisruptivepresenceofevilwhichhascausedsomuchpain,somuchfear,so
muchdoubtwillcometoafinalandirreversibleend.Itisthisglorioushopethat
inspiredbelieversinthepasttopressonintheChristianpilgrimage,tokeepon
waiting"fortheblessedhopethegloriousappearingofourgreatGodandSavior,
JesusChrist"(Titus2:13,NIV),anditisthissamehopethatshoulddonolessfor
ustoday,whowaitforthatsamepromisedreturn,aswell.
SundayJune16
THE ONE WHO IS COMING.
"YemenofGalilee,whystandyegazingupintoheaven?thissameJesus,
whichistakenupfromyouintoheaven,shallsocomeinlikemannerasye
haveseenhimgointoheaven"(Acts1:11).
hescripturemakesitclearthattheOnewhoiscomingbackisJesusHimself,
notsomeoneelse.WhileChristwasascending,thediscipleshadfeelingsof
sadnessandjoy.Toencouragethem,twomessengerscametoreaffirmthe
certaintyofChrist'sreturn.Theirwordsemphasizedthecontinuityoftheascending
LordandthereturningKing."'ThissameJesus[notadifferentone],whohasbeen
takenfromyouintoheaven[theSamewhoascended],[He]willcomeback[He
Himselfwillreturn]inthesamewayyouhaveseenhimgointoheaven"(Acts
1:11,NIV,emphasissupplied).
HowdidPaulreaffirmthecertaintythattheOnewhoiscomingistheLord
Himself?1Thess.4:16.WhyisitimportantthatitbeJesusHimselfwho
returns?
ThefactthattheLordwilldescendfromheavenmeansthattheeventisnotunder
ourcontrol.Itisimpossibleforustomandatewhathappensinheaven.Italso
meansthatonlyatthepresenttimeisChristhiddenfromthehumaneye.Wenow
walkbyfaith,notbysight(2Cor.5:7).Itfinallymeansthatthereisgoingtobea
revelation,arevelationofChristHimselftous.Nowwearewaiting"forourLord
JesusChristtoberevealed"(1Cor.1:7).
ReadRevelation1:7andMatthew24:30.Dotheyteachthatthesecond
comingofChristisgoingtobesomesecret,spiritualeventunderstoodand
seenbyonlyaselectelite,orwillitbeaphysical,concreteeventthathappens
beforealltheworld?Whatotherversescanyoufindtobuttressyouranswer?
TheGreekwordparousiaisatechnicaltermusedintheNewTestamenttoreferto
thecomingorpresenceoftheLordinglory.Itreferstothepresenceorphysical
arrivalofaperson(1Cor.16:17;2Cor.7:6).AppliedtotheSecondComing,it
expressestwoideas:thephysicalpresenceandthearrivalofJesus(1Thess.
2:19;4:1517).
How important is the Second Coming to our beliefs? In other words, try
to imagine our faith without the Second Coming and all the promises it
contains. Does our faith even make any sense without the promise of
the Second Coming? If not, why not?
Monday June 17
A GLORIOUS AND GLOBAL PRESENCE.
"Lookingforthatblessedhope,andthegloriousappearingofthegreatGod
andourSaviourJesusChrist"(Titus2:13).
WhatistheonewordthefollowingversesallusetodescribeChrist's
return?Mark8:38;Titus2:13;1Pet.4:13.
loryisawordusedsometimesintheBibletodesignatetheluminousand
visiblepresenceofGod(Luke2:9;Acts7:55;1Tim.6:16).Italsodesignates
God'scharacter,themysteryofHisperson(John1:14).Christwillreturnin
thegloryofHisFather,thegloryHehadfromthebeginning(John17:5).During
HisincarnationHehiditandhumbledHimselfbybecoming"aman"(Phil.2:59).
AtHisreturnthegloryofHisdivinitywillirradiatethroughHishumanityinan
indescribabledisplayofpower.Wewillexperienceadivineepiphany:"The
gloriousappearing[epiphany]ofthegreatGodandSavior,JesusChrist"(Titus
2:13,NIV).
Read1Kings19:913andExodus19:10,11,twoinstancesinwhichGod
appearedtoindividualsortoagroup.WhatdifferenceexistsbetweenHis
appearancethenandwhatitwillbelikeattheSecondComing?
TheappearanceofChristattheSecondComingknowsnolimits.Theworldwill
befilledwiththebrightnessandgloryofHispresencefromoneendtotheother,
makingitpossible,somehow,foreveryhumaneyetoseeHim.Itwillbe
impossibleforanyonetoavoidthisencounterwithJesus.Hiscomingwillbeofa
globalnature,becausesinalsoisgloballypresent.Itwasnotaregionofourplanet
thatfellintosinbutthewholeplanet.Therewillnotbeaplaceonthisworldwhere
onecouldhidefromthegloriouspresenceofJesus.Hecomesinthecompanyof
mightyangelsandwiththeliberatingmusicofheaven.Heisnotcomingsecretly
oralonebutwiththosewhoministeredonourbehalf.Whatamagnificentsaving
showofsoundandmusicthatwillbe!(Matt.24:31;1Thess.4:16).
According to prophecy, at the return of Christ the wicked will flee,
crying out for the mountains to fall on them rather than face the
presence of our returning Lord. What more subtle ways do the wicked,
even now, attempt to flee from the presence of God? In what ways do
we, as professed followers of Christ, do the same thingthat is, try to
flee from God, even now?
Tuesday June 18
A POWERFUL PRESENCE FOR HIS PEOPLE.
Readtheseverses:Matthew24:30;1Thessalonians4:1517;2Thessalonians
2:8.Whatdotheyallhaveincommon?
tHisfirstadvent,Jesusarrivedasababy,ahelplessinfantwhohadtobe
skirtedawaybyHisparentsbecauseofthedangerfromanearthlyking.NowHe
willreturnasKingofkings,fullydisplayinggloryandpower.Infact,thepurpose
ofHisreturnisapositiveone:Heiscoming"tobringsalvationtothosewhoare
waitingforhim"(Heb.9:28,NIV).
WhathappenedatChrist'sfirstcomingthathasmadethepromiseofHis
secondcomingsuretobefulfilled?
TheSecondComingisunlikeanythingtheworldhasyetexperienced.Herearea
fewthingstoexpect:
ThroughHissacrificeHedefeatedSatan,whohadthepowerofdeath(Heb.2:14),
andChristiscomingbacktoconsummateHisvictoryoverdeath.Hisvoiceisso
powerfulthatitaccomplisheswhatnohumanvoicecanachieve;namely,itis
heardbythosewhodiedinHim.Itwillwakethemupfromthesleepofdeath,and
deathitselfwillbe"swallowedupinvictory"(1Cor.15:54;seealso1Thess.
4:16).
WhenJesusreturns,Hewilldestroyoursinfulnaturewithoutintheprocess
destroyingus.ThiswouldbeimpossiblebutfortheCrossofChrist.Thepowerof
thesacrificemakesitpossibleforChristtomanifestthepowerthattransformsour
naturetoagloriousone,freefromthecorruptingpresenceofsin.Thiswillhappen
inamoment,"inaflash,inthetwinklingofaneye"!(1Cor.15:52,NIV).
AtthemomentofChrist'sreturn,thecoalitionofevilpowerwillbereadyto
exterminateGod'speople.ButChristiscomingwithpower:"Theywillmakewar
againsttheLamb,buttheLambwillovercomethembecauseheisLordoflords
andKingofkingsandwithhimwillbehiscalled,chosenandfaithfulfollowers'
"(Rev.17:14,NIV).TheangelswhocomeaccompanyingJesus"'willgatherhis
electfromthefourwinds,fromoneendoftheheavenstotheother"(Matt.24:31,
NIV).Fortheredeemedones,thepresenceofChristwillbepermanentandeternal.
What does the Second Comingspecifically the things that
happen when it occursteach about humanity's
helplessness and the utter inability to save ourselves from

our own otherwise inevitable doom?
Wednesday June 19
A POWERFUL PRESENCE AGAINST HIS ENEMIES.
Readtheseverses:2Thess.2:8;Rev.19:1921;20:115.Whatdotheysay
aboutthefateofthewicked?
vilistemporal,afleetingphenomenon.Ithasabeginningand,also,anend.It
doesnotdefeatordestroyitself;Godhastointerveneinordertoendit.InHis
presence,thepowersofevilrecoilinterrorandareconsumed.Revelation19:11
21describestheSecondComingundertheimageofChristasawarriorwhofights
thosewhogathertogetheragainstHim.
WhilethepeopleofGodarebeinggatheredbytheangels,thebeast,thefalse
prophet,thekingsoftheearth,andallthepeoplewhosupportedthemare
destroyedbythepresenceoftheRiderofthewhitehorse(Rev.19:1121).The
bodiesof"kings,generals,andmightymen,ofhorsesandtheirriders,andtheflesh
ofallpeople"aretobeleftonthefield,dead(vs.18,NIV;seealsovs.21).
Whatisthefateofthedragon?Rev.20:13;710.
ThefollowingeventstakeplaceinconjunctionwiththeSecondComingand
duringandafterthemillennium:
1.Therighteousareresurrected,transformed,andtakentobewithChrist.Thisis
thefirstresurrection(Rev.20:4,5).
2.Satanisboundaliveandcircumscribedtothisplanet,reducedtoastateof
chaos.Thereisnooneelsealivewhomhecandeceive(vs.3).
3.Duringthemillennium,therighteousfunctionasjudgesinthekingdomof
Christ(1Cor.6:2,3;Rev.20:4,6).
4.After1,000yearsthewickedareraisedagainand,unitedwithSatan,they
launchanattackagainsttheHolyCity,whichhaddescendedfromheaven(vss.7,
8;Rev.21:2).
5.Thebattleisneverfought,becauseatthatmomentSatanandhishordesare
confrontedbyGod,judged,andcondemnedtoeternaldestruction(Rev.20:915).
Sadie draws great comfort from her faith in Christ. It has

given her hope, peace, and promise for a future much
better than her sad lot now. One great sorrow, however,
concerns her about her dead parents, who (at least as far
as she knows) never accepted Christ but, in fact, openly
rejected Him. Though grateful to know that the lost are
not eternally burning in hell, she is still saddened by what
she believes will be her parents' fate, as depicted
in Revelation 20:9-15. What, if anything, can a person say
to comfort her?
Thursday June 20
BACK TO EDEN.
"AndIsawanewheavenandanewearth:forthefirstheavenandthefirst
earthwerepassedaway;andtherewasnomoresea"(Rev.21:1).
ReadRevelation21:17andwritedownsomeofthedetailsgiven,concerning
postmillenniallife.Howdoyouunderstandwhattheymean?Forinstance,
whatdoesitmeanthatGodwillwipeawayallourtears?
owcanweimagineordescribeaworldinwhichthereisperfectharmonyin
essenceandformwhentheonlyworldwenowknowisfragmented,chaotic,andin
disarray?Obviously,ourexperienceinthenewearthwillbefilledwiththe
unimaginableandtheinconceivable.
TheBibleoftendescribesthenewworldbytellinguswhatitwillnotbelike.That
istosay,ittakeswhatweknowinaworldofsinandexcludesitfromheaven.So,
thenewearthisaplacewheretherewillbenodeathormourningorcryingorpain
(Rev.21:4).Therewillnotbeseparation,estrangement,orwhattheDanishwriter
SrenKierkegaardcalledangst.Allofthesebelongtotheoldorderofsin,andsin
willbenomore.
WhatdoesRomans8:1822addtoourunderstandingofthefutureglorythat
awaitsus?
ReadalsoIsaiah35.ItdescribestheeffectsofthepresenceofGodinaworldof
deathandsickness.Hispresencetransformsnature,returningittoitsoriginal
fertility,andfreeshumannaturefromthedeformitiesofsin.Thereisanexplosion
oflifefollowedbyanexplosionofjoy.Theindescribableproducesjoyand
gladness.Buteventhisjoyisofasomewhatdifferentqualitythanwhatwe
experiencenowasjoy.Todayweexperienceonlymomentsofjoyamongspansof
sadness.Buttheprophetisdescribingalimitlessjoythathasbecomeanintrinsic
partofhumannatureandwilllastforever.Thatwhichwillnotbedeath,
mourning,sorrow,suffering,andpainissupplantedbyjoyinamultiplicityof
dimensionsandexperiencesthatwecouldhardlyanticipate.
English writer Henry Fielding wrote that a man may go to
heaven with half the pains that it cost him to purchase
hell. How do you understand the meaning of these
words?
Friday June 21
FURTHERSTUDY:ReadthefollowingchaptersinEllenG.White'sTheGreat
Controversy,"God'sPeopleDelivered,"pp.635652;"DesolationoftheEarth,"
pp.653661;"TheControversyEnded,"pp.662678.
Pleasenotethefollowinginconclusiontothisweek'sstudy:
Studyingineternity."Thereimmortalmindswillcontemplatewithneverfailing
delightthewondersofcreativepower,themysteriesofredeeminglove.Therewill
benocruel,deceivingfoetotempttoforgetfulnessofGod.Everyfacultywillbe
developed,everycapacityincreased.Theacquirementofknowledgewillnotweary
themindorexhausttheenergies.Therethegrandestenterprisesmaybecarried
forward,theloftiestaspirationsreached,thehighestambitionsrealized;andstill
therewillarisenewheightstosurmount,newwonderstoadmire,newtruthsto
comprehend,freshobjectstocallforththepowersofmindandsoulandbody....
Andtheyearsofeternity...astheyroll,willbringricherandstillmoreglorious
revelationsofGodandofChrist.Asknowledgeisprogressive,sowilllove,
reverence,andhappinessincrease.ThemoremenlearnofGod,thegreaterwillbe
theiradmirationofHischaracter."EllenG.White,TheGreatControversy,pp.
677,678.
1 If Christ is returning in the glory of His divinity, how will we be able
. to see Him and not want to flee from His overpowering presence? Is
our transformation related to the ability to see Him in His glory?
What about the wicked? Will they also be able to see and recognize
Him? Why is their response so different from that of the saved?
2 What answers will you give to those who teach that Christ's return is
. an invisible one, impossible to apprehend with the human eye?
3 Wednesday's lesson states that during the millennium the righteous
. function as judges in the kingdom of Christ (1 Cor. 6:2, 3;Rev. 20:4,
6). What does this mean? What will we be doing in that role?
SUMMARY:TheChristwhoiscomingisthesamewhoascendedandpromised
toreturn.HecomesdisplayingthegloryofHisdivinitytosaveHispeople.
EveryonewillseeHim.Hispeoplewillberesurrectedandtransformed,andthe
wickedwilldie,leavingtheplanetindesolation.After1,000yearsthewickedwill
beresurrectedand,togetherwithSatan,willfaceGodasJudge.Theirdestruction
endsthecosmicconflict.
Lesson 13
*June 22 - 28
Preparingforthe
Apocalyptic
Consummation
Sabbath Afternoon
June 22
READFORTHISWEEK'SSTUDY:Gen.5:1824;Isa.53:5,6;Acts2:38;2
Cor.5:1821;1John1:9;2:1,2.
MEMORYTEXT:"Hecameandpreachedpeacetoyouwhowerefaraway
andpeacetothosewhowerenear.Consequently,youarenolongerforeigners
andaliens,butfellowcitizenswithGod'speopleandmembersofGod's
household"(Ephesians2:17,19,NIV).
HERETURNOFCHRISTMEANSOURULTIMATE
FULFILLMENTasChristians.Allthatwebelieveleadstothisevent,the
consummationofallourhopesasbelieversinJesusandbenefactorsofHis
atonement.Withoutit,whatcouldbeingaChristianmean?Whenwedie,ourfate
wouldbenodifferentthanthatofalion,afrog,orevenatree.Itisonlythehope
oftheSecondComing,maderealbywhatChristdidatHisfirstcoming,thatgives
ourfaithmeaning,purpose,andadirection.
Thus,Christcallsus,evennow,tobepreparedforthemomentwhenHecomes.
Yet,theinvitationdoesnotcomealone;themeansofacceptingitareprovided,as
well.NotonlydoesJesuscall,buttheSpiritcomestoenableustoheedthatcall.
Forourpart,wemustanswerthatcallandbringourlivesintoharmonywithGod
throughsurrenderofourselvestoChrist'sworkofreconciliationandjustification.
Thissurrenderistobefollowedbyagrowthingraceandbyalifeofcommunion
andconstantfellowshipwithourSavior.
SundayJune23
AN INVITATION.
"ThatyewouldwalkworthyofGod,whohathcalledyouuntohiskingdom
andglory"(1Thess.2:12).
"WhomGodhathsetforthtobeapropitiationthroughfaithinhisblood,to
declarehisrighteousnessfortheremissionofsinsthatarepast,throughthe
forbearanceofGod"(Rom.3:25).
heinvitationtopreparetomeetourSavioringlorycomesdirectlyfromGod(1
Thess.2:12);itwasmostforcefully,anddramatically,extendedtousatthecross
ofChrist(Rom.3:25).Thegospel,then,isnotjustourinvitationtothekingdom
butouronlymeansofaccesstoit.
SentoriginallyfromGod,thegospeldoesreachusindifferentways.Godcould
sendtheinvitationthroughafriendorarelative;HemayusearadioorTV
program,amagazine,oranyotheragent.RightnowHecouldbeusingthislesson
toinviteyoutopreparetomeetHim,toacceptHiscalltosalvation.Amongthe
manythingsthatChristianshaveincommon,perhapsthemostimportantoneis
thattheyhaveallacceptedtheinvitation.
WhatistheroleoftheHolySpiritwithrespecttothisinvitation?John16:8.
Whatpersuadespeopletoaccepttheinvitationisnothumanreasoningoranatural
dispositionoftheheart.Onthecontrarythehumanheart,byitself,wouldspurn
theinvitation.Therefore,Godhasasupernaturalagentworkingintheheartof
everyperson,movingeachonetoacceptGod'scall.ThisistheHolySpirit,who
Jesussaid"willconvicttheworldofguilt"(John16:8,NIV).
TheGreekverbelencho,translated"toconvict,"means"blame,punish,correct."
TheSpiritawakenstheconscienceandmakesusfeelguilty,lost,andseparated
fromGod(sometheologianscallitasenseof"estrangement").ThentheSpirit
pointstotheCrossandinvitesusthere,tofindtheanswertoourdeepestneeds.
TheSpirithasthedifficulttaskofconfrontinguswithourtrueconditionand,then,
andevenmoreimportantly,withtheremedyforit.AndthoughtheSpiritwill
convict,Heneverforces.Thechoicetoheedortorejectisalwaysleftuptothe
individual.
What is it about the human heart that makes it so resistant to
salvation? Why does everyone not immediately, and positively, respond
to the offer of eternal life?
Monday June 24
ANSWERING THE INVITATION.
"ThenPetersaiduntothem,Repent,andbebaptizedeveryoneofyouinthe
nameofJesusChristfortheremissionofsins,andyeshallreceivethegiftof
theHolyGhost"(Acts2:38).
hehumanproblemislocatedattheveryessenceofourexistence.Thus,itis
notanexteriorphenomenon,somemerecosmeticaberrationthatcaneasilybe
removed,likewarts.Someindividualstendtobeindifferenttospiritualmatters;
othersconsiderChristirrelevantfortheirlives.Stillothersareinopenrebellion
againstGod,denyingevenHisexistenceandrejectingthosewhofollowChrist.All
needachangefromwithin.Thatchangeiscalled"repentance."TheGreek
verbmetanoeomeans"tochangeone'smind."Ourpreparationforthecomingof
Christbeginswithachangefromrebelliontosubmission.Repentanceisagift
fromGod,butlikeallgifts,itcanberejected.
WhatwasDavid'sreactionwhenconfrontedwithhissin?2Sam.12:16,13.
Repentanceandconfessionareinseparable.Thosewhoacceptthegiftof
repentancewillconfesstheirsins.Toconfesssinistobreakwithit,to
acknowledgethatoursinsoffendedandinflictedpainonChristand,perhaps,
others.HowencouragingtoknowthatGod'sanswertoourconfessionisthe
forgivenessalreadymadeavailablebyChrist'sdeath.Indeed,thereisnosinthat
cannotbewashedawaybyChrist(Acts2:38)whenwecometoHiminfaithand
repentance.
WhatinvitationdidChristextendtothehumanrace?Matt.11:28.
Repentanceandconfessiondescribeourattitudetowardsin;theyshowthatwe
haverejecteditthroughthebloodofChrist.Conversiondescribesthepositiveside
ofthatexperience.Christiansarenotonlyagainstsomethingbutinfavorof
something.WesayNotosinbutYestoChrist.ConversionisreturningtoGod;it
isturningaroundandgoingbacktotheOnewhoisourCreatorandRedeemer.
Does repentance happen only at the beginning of the Christian life, or is
it a spiritual state that should constantly accompany the believer? If
you believe that repentance is ongoing, what function does it play in our
lives?
Tuesday June 25
IN HARMONY WITH GOD.
"AndallthingsareofGod,whohathreconciledustohimselfbyJesusChrist,
andhathgiventoustheministryofreconciliation;towit,thatGodwasin
Christ,reconcilingtheworlduntohimself,notimputingtheirtrespassesunto
them;andhathcommitteduntousthewordofreconciliation"(2Cor.5:18,
19).
thasalwaysbeenGod'sintentiontoresolvethesinproblempeacefully.He
offerstoallofusreconciliation;Hetellsusthatthereisnoreasontoperish.Godis
notinterestedinchargingoursinsagainstus;He'dmuchratherforgiveusthose
sins(theCrossprovesthat).Forgivenessbecomesarealityinourlivesthemoment
weacceptit;onlythenarewereadyfortheSecondComing.
HowisitpossibleforGodtoforgiveoursins?Isa.53:5,6;Mark10:45;2Cor.
5:21.
Godhadaproblem:howtoeradicatesinwithouteradicatingsinners.Throughthe
Cross,Godsolvedthatproblem."Godmadehim[Jesus]whohadnosintobesin
forus"(2Cor.5:21,NIV).GodplacedoursinonChrist,whodiedinourplace,as
aransomforoursins(Isa.53:5,6;Mark10:45).Inotherwords,Godhasalready
punishedoursin,butHediditinthepersonofJesusChrist.Consequently,God
candeclarethatthosewhoputtheirfaithinChristarerighteous,innocent,freeof
condemnation(Rom.3:23,24),whichiswhywecanfacetheSecondComingwith
hopeandconfidence,notbecauseofourselvesbutonlybecauseofJesus.Those
whoarewaitingforthereturnofChristhaveputtheirfaithinHimastheonly
meansofsalvation.
What do each of these texts tell us about what Christ has
done for us at the Cross, and why should they give us
confidence that we can be ready to meet Jesus when He
comes?
Isa.
53:11_____________________________________________________________
____________
1Cor.
5:7_______________________________________________________________
__________
Gal.
2:20______________________________________________________________
___________
1Pet.
2:24______________________________________________________________
_____
Wednesday June 26
GROWING IN CHRIST.
ReadthefollowingtextsJohn14:15;Romans8:9;1Corinthians
1:2;6:11;Philippians3:12;Hebrews12:14;2Peter3:18andthenanswer
thequestion,Issanctificationapastorapresentexperience?Orboth?Give
reasonsforyourchoice.
henwearejustifiedbyfaith,wealsoreceivethegiftoftheSpirit(Gal.3:2),
andtheprocessofsanctificationbegins.However,asweunderstandtheprocessof
sanctification,afewpointsneedtoberemembered:
First,sanctification,orholiness,isastateinwhichChristiansexist.Consequently,
itisdescribedasapastevent,grantedtouswhenwebelieved(1Cor.1:2;6:11).
ByacceptingChristwewereseparatedforHim,andHecleansedusfromsin(Eph.
5:25,26).
Second,sanctificationisalsoaprocessofspiritualandmoralgrowth(Heb.12:14).
Wewillalwaysneedtobeinconstantspiritualdevelopment(Phil.3:12).
Third,thetwomaingoalsofsanctificationare(1)torestoreinustheimageofGod
(Col.3:9,10)and(2)torevealtoothers,throughourlives,thelove,kindness,and
wisdomofourGod(Eph.3:10;1John4:713).
Fourth,sanctificationrequiresourwillingnesstoacceptGod'swillforus,butitis
nevermeritorious.SanctificationisalwaysgrowthinGod'sgrace,neveranything
apartfromit(Heb.13:20,21;2Pet.3:18).
Whatareweadvisedtodoifduringourgrowthinholinesswestillfallinto
sin?1John1:9;2:1,2.
TheChristianisapersonwhoisledbytheSpiritandisnolongeraslaveofsin
(Rom.8:9).WithHispowerwecanovercomesininourlives(Gal.5:16).Before,
wewereunabletoobeyGod'slaw(Rom.8:6),butnowweareenabledtofulfillit
(vs.4).SubmissiontothelawofGodisahumbleexpressionofourlovetoChrist
ourSavior(John14:15)andtoourneighbor(Rom.13:810).Obedienceisnot
subjectiontothelawinanefforttobeacceptedbyGod;itis,rather,GodHimself
tryingtoexpressHislovethroughthosewhoarefreelyjustifiedbyfaith.Ifduring
thistimewefall,thebiblicaladmonitionistorepentandconfessoursin.
If we already are, at conversion, ready for the Second
Coming, why is growth in grace so important as we await
the Lord's return?
Thursday June 27
WALKING THE WALK (Gen. 5:18-24).
HowwasEnoch'slifedifferentfromthatofhiscontemporaries?Gen.5:18
24.
herehasbeenalotofdiscussioninthechurchovertheyearsaboutthefinal
generation,the144,000,thegenerationthatlivestoseeChristreturn.Muchofit
hasbeenuselessbanter,excessivespeculationaboutthingswecan,intheend,only
speculateabout.
ThebottomlineforallwholoveGod,whoseekafterholiness,isthatwewalkwith
Godeveryday.Whereverwegoandwheneverwegetthere,regardlessof
whetherornotwelivetoseeChristreturninthecloudsofglory,weshouldseekto
havethesamewalkwiththeLordthatEnochhad.
Whatdoesitmeanto"walkwithGod"?Howhaveyou,personally,
understoodwhatthatmeans?Couldyouhonestlysaythatyou"walkwith
God"?Ifso,writeoutwhatthatmeans.Ifnot,askyourselfwhatchangesyou
needtomakeinordertobeabletohavethatwalk.Canthosewhowalkwith
Godsometimesstumbleinthatwalk?
TheBiblecombinesindifferentwaystheverbtowalkwithGod.Oneofthoseis
"towalkbefore/inthepresenceoftheLord"(see,forexample,Gen.24:40).The
phraseexpressesGod'sprovidentialcareforHispeople.Theimageisthatofa
childwhowantstowalkbyherself,andthefatherallowsher,withthe
understandingthatshewillwalkonlyinfrontofhim.Hewantstokeephiseyeson
herinordertoprotectherincaseofdanger.
Wealsofindthephrase"towalkbehind/aftertheLord"(see,forexample,Deut.
13:4).Itwascustomarytocarrytheimageofagodinaprocessionwhilethe
worshipersfollowedit.TowalkafterGodwasconsideredanactofworship.The
IsraeliteswereexpectedtowalkonlyaftertheLord.
Thethirdphrase,"walkingwithGod,"cametoexpressintimacy,communion,
fellowship.NowGodisplacedatthecenterofthelifeoftheindividual.The
expressionsuggeststhatGodandHishumancompanionwillgotogethertothe
marketplace,tothemall,totheschool,tochurch,torecreationplaces,tothehome,
andtowork.Lifeisawalk,wearepilgrims,andourcompanionisChrist.
TheremnantpeopleofGodwilldevelopastrongbondofcommunionwithChrist
and,likeEnoch,theywillwalkwithGodeverydayoftheirlives...evenif,at
times,theystumbleorfallalongtheway.
Friday June 28
FURTHERSTUDY:ReadthefollowingchaptersinEllenG.White'sStepsto
Christ:"Repentance,"pp.2336;"Confession,"pp.3746;"Consecration,"pp.43
48;"FaithandAcceptance,"pp.4955.
Pleasenotethefollowinginconclusiontothisweek'slessonstudy:
HoldingcommunionwithChrist."Byprayer,bythestudyofHisword,byfaithin
Hisabidingpresence,theweakestofhumanbeingsmayliveincontactwiththe
livingChrist,andHewillholdthembyahandthatwillneverletgo."EllenG.
White,TheMinistryofHealing,p.182.
Read Revelation 3:14-22 and meditate on the following questions.
1 There is an interesting paradox in the message to Laodicea. They
. are totally blind to their spiritual condition, thinking that they have
need of nothing, because they believe themselves to be rich. Yet,
they are told to buy "gold tried in the fire" (Rev. 3:18), that they may
"become rich" (vs. 18, NIV). Why should they heed the message to
acquire gold when they already believe that they are rich?
2 Hebrews 5:14 reads, "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of
. full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil." How does one understand
this text in light of the message to Laodicea?
3 Does the fact that, at the center of the message, there is an
. invitation to obtain our wealth (justification by faith) from God
suggest to you that your only security is found in Christ and not in
yourself? Explain your answer.
4 What does it mean to open the door to Christ when He knocks? How
. do we do that? Does Jesus ever break down the door and barge in
uninvited? If not, what role does free will play in whether the door is
open or remains shut?
SUMMARY:OurpreparationtomeetChristatHissecondcomingconsistsofa
surrenderofourlivestoHim,whodiedforus.Outofthatfaithcommitmentwill
developatransformedlifethatwillrevealthegoodnessandloveofourGodtothe
worldandeventotheforcesofevil.TheextenttowhichGodwilluseusas
channelsofHislovewilldependonthequalityofourdailywalkwithHim.
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2002 Q 2

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Futureglory:The8GreatestEndtime

SABBATH SCHOOL QUARTERLY 2002 SECOND QUARTER

INTRODUCTION The Fear Factor

Interpreting Apocalyptic Prophecies (KJV)

Daniel 2 and 7: The ABCs of Apocalyptic Prophecies (KJV)

The Son of Man and the Final Judgment (KJV)

Daniel 8: The Prince of the Heavenly Host (KJV)

Daniel 9: The Coming of the Messiah (KJV)

The Eschatological Day of Atonement (KJV)

Matthew 24: Jesus' Sermon on Apocalyptic Prophecy (KJV)

The Child, the Church, and the Dragon: Revelation 12 (KJV)

The Dragon Versus the Remnant-Part 1 (KJV)

The Dragon Versus the Remnant-Part 2 (KJV)

The Three Angels' Messages: Revelation 14:1-12 (KJV)

The Climax of Apocalyptic Expectation: The Blessed

Preparing for the Apocalyptic Consummation (KJV)

___ Son of man

Michael . . . the (4) 9:2

Gold (vs. 32)

Silver (vs. 32)

Brass (vs. 32)

Iron (vs. 33)

Fourth beast (vss. 7, 8)

God's kingdom (vss. 34, 35)

God's kingdom (vs. 14)

Contrast our understanding of the second death, as

pictures of God do they present?

12:8, 9; The Great Controversy, p. 482.

*April 27- May 3

t the end of this prayer, the angel Gabriel appears to

Daniel with an explanation. An important point to

nd the vision [mar'eh] of the evening and the morning,

which was told is true. . . . I was astonished at the vision

we believe; it is important to know them for ourselves.

week prophecy, a prophecy about Christ's work of

JESUS AND THE FUTURE OF HIS PEOPLE (Matt. 24:1-3).

because of their obedience?

GLOBAL MISSIONS: ZION AND ARMAGEDDON.

THE DRAGON'S PLAN

helplessness and the utter inability to save ourselves from

Sadie draws great comfort from her faith in Christ. It has

SABBATH SCHOOL QUARTERLY - 2ND QUARTER 2002

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