As Scripture has shown, God’s judgment is good news for those of us who believe in Him, who trust in Him, and who are loyal to Him, even though “we cannot answer the charges of Satan against us.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 472. However, the judgment is not only for us. It also serves the purpose of vindicating God before the entire universe.
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How is God’s character presented in the [...]
From the very beginning, God left no doubt that He would invalidate Satan’s accusations and demonstrate His ultimate love and justice. His justice demands that there be payment of the penalty for mankind’s sin. His love seeks to restore humanity into fellowship with Him. How could God manifest both?
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How did God demonstrate both His love and justice? 1 John 4:10, Rom. 3:21–26.
God’s character of love and justice has been revealed in its fullest manifestation [...]
After his fall from heaven, Satan attempted to distort and slander God’s character. He did this in Eden (Gen. 3:1–5), in the midst of the first “sanctuary” on earth. Satan brought his rebellion, which originated in the heavenly sanctuary, down to the earthly sanctuary of Eden. After initiating contact with Eve through the medium of the serpent, he openly planted the idea in her mind that God was depriving them of something that would be good for them, that He [...]
Read Ezekiel 28:12–17 and Isaiah 14:12–15. What do these verses teach about Lucifer’s fall?
At first glance, Ezekiel 28:12 seems to be talking about only an earthly monarch. Several aspects, however, suggest that this is really referring to Satan.
For starters, this being is referred to as the anointed cherub “who covers” (Ezek. 28:14, NKJV), which recalls the Most Holy Place of the earthly sanctuary, where two cherubim covered the ark and the presence of the Lord (Exod. 37:7–9). This celestial being [...]
Read for This Week’s Study: Ezek. 28:12–17, Isa. 14:12–15, Job 1:6–12, Zech. 3:1–5, 1 John 4:10, 2 Tim. 4:8, Ezek. 36:23–27.
Memory Text: “And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments” (Revelation 16:7).
Seventh-day Adventists understand reality through the biblical concept of the “great controversy between Christ and Satan.” To use a phrase from philosophy, it is the “meta-narrative”—the grand, overarching story that helps to explain our world and the [...]
I am Daniel-at least that is the name I have taken. I live in the country of Benin, the birthplace of voodoo.
My grandmother was a voodoo priestess; so was my mother. People would come and whisper their problem or their wish into a seashell, which the priestess throws on the ground. How it lands tells the priestess what the problem is. The priestess tells the person what they must do and bring to receive what they wish. The person pays [...]
Further Study: For the view of the three angels’ messages by Ellen G. White, see “Heralds of the Morning,” pp. 299–316,” “An American Reformer,” pp. 317–342, “Light Through Darkness,” pp. 343–354, “A Great Religious Awakening,” pp. 355–374, in The Great Controversy for the first angel’s message. For the second angel’s message, see “Prophecies Fulfilled,” pp. 391–408, “What Is the Sanctuary,” pp. 409–422, “In the Holy of Holies,” pp. 423–432, in The Great Controversy. For the third angel’s message, see “God’s [...]
[Thought questions for Our Prophetic Message December 11, 2013]
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1. “I saw another angel.” What do the messages of the three angels of Revelation have in common? Or are their messages distinct and different? How do the angels communicate their urgent messages with believers on Planet Earth? Would you rather see them flying in the sky shouting the message? Or broadcasting from a celestial Powerpoint or hand-held device placed in each hand? What are some advantages [...]
The second and third angels’ messages of Revelation are a warning to all who do not heed the divine call of the first angel’s message. If people continue on their wrong path, they will partake of God’s seven last plagues, which are seen as “the wine of the wrath of God” (Rev. 14:10), and this wine will be poured out on those who remain in Babylon.
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In the Bible, Babylon stands for rebellion against God [...]
The heart of the book of Revelation is about worship. While the dragon, the beast from the sea, and the beast from the earth (often called “the false trinity”) join forces to unite the world in worshiping them (see Rev. 13:4, 8, 12, 15; 14:9, 11), God calls the human race to worship the Creator (Rev. 14:7). Those who do not worship the “image of the beast” risk losing their temporal lives (Rev. 13:15; see also Daniel 3), while those [...]
