Sabbath: The Cosmic Controversy
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Read for This Week’s Study: Ezek. 28:1-2, Ezek. 28:11-17; Gen. 3:1-7; Rev. 12:1-17; Rom. 8:31-39; Rev. 14:12.
Memory Text: “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17, NKJV).
The cosmic controversy, sometimes called “the great controversy”, is the biblical worldview. It forms the background in which the drama of our world, and even of the universe, unfolds. Sin, suffering, death, the rise and fall of nations, the spread of the gospel, last day events — these all occur in the context of the cosmic controversy.
This week we will look at a few crucial places where the controversy took hold, beginning somehow, mysteriously, in the heart of a perfect being, Lucifer, who brought his rebellion to earth through the fall of other perfect beings, Adam and Eve. From these two “pivot points”, the fall of Lucifer and then of our first parents, the great controversy took root and has been raging ever since. Each one of us is a part of that cosmic drama.
The good news is that one day it will not only end, but it will end with the total victory of Christ over Satan. And the even better news is that because of the completeness of what Jesus did on the cross, all of us can share in that victory. And as part of that victory, God calls us to faith and obedience now, as we await all that we have been promised in Jesus, whose coming is assured.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 7.
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Because we are created in Gods image, we are given the ability and mental capacity to make choices and ponder questions. As the lesson points out, why and how did Lucifer a perfect angel with a position near to God the Father, allow his heart to be envious. In our finite minds, we struggle with what is reasonable over and over many times. The bottom line is, God is in control and our answers require Trust and Faith. Questions as to the nature of God, are because my mind cannot imagine how God is able to be in total control of every human being by Billions every split second. That is only one of a number of unanswerable questions.
If one dwells on the things that we can readily see like the human body and all its functions, we then cannot help looking in disbelief and awe.
The controversy in heaven mentioned that will soon draw to close as some believe, precipitates a question then , what is soon? The thought we have to get ready, or we have to be ready, are admonitions from many decades ago. We have questions about how, when, and where, we might fit into the picture. These are questions that only God has the answer to. If we ask Him, He will enlighten our questionings.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:37-39
It appears the scripture already stated that the battle between good and evil has already been won...
So our goal in our daily walk as we still go to work, some people are retired, some on in school is what scripture says in
Hebrew 12:2 Let us fix our minds on Jesus–the perfect revelation of God–who establishes and fully matures our trust in God. For the joy of healing and restoring God's creation, Jesus endured the cross, nullifying its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
And remember this in Matthew 28:20 Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’
The cosmic controversy is really the
Genesis or the beginning of it in heaven.cosmic relates to regions distinct from Earth. The great controversy relates to the beginning and it's continuation of it on earth.
Are we not also part of the cosmos(universe as a whole)? Don't you imagine that all the other worlds are very interested in what happens here on our little world? The very one who tempted them as well is now here making his final effort to overthrow the government of their/our Creator. It is my belief that they too will be witnesses in the final judgment of both the saved and lost. In the end, all of God's creatures will sing the anthem found in Rev 5:13,14.
Ya know there is one thing that can separate us from God, saying no to the Holy Spirit. No maybe tomorrow I will give you all my bad habits. I have a few I want keep for now. Later I will surrender all of them. How do we keep from grieving the Holy Spirit? You say yes, yes in the morning, yes at noon, yes in the evening, and in between. Here Lord, take all my bad habits, I surrender all, including my self. You gave me all, I can give you all by Your power. What happens? A good habit is formed, soon we are saying, I would rather die then mis my daily baptism by the Holy Spirit. This is my favorite promise. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
I John 5:14-15 NKJV. We ask God to take all our bad habits away. Will He do it? Is it the will of God to take our bad habits? Yes! God said it and we believe it, and that’s good enough for us.
What is the Testimony of Jesus? 1.That He (Jesus,) was and is God in human flesh. 2. That He was and is equal to the Father who is the only true and almighty God. 3. That He was and is the Lamb of God tht takes away the sin of the world symbolized by all the animal sacrifices and rituals of the old sanctuary daily rituals and "Yearly Feasts," that ended when He as their type accomplished their fulfillment 2,000 plus or minus years ago in Jerusalem and Calvary with His flawless life, death and resurrection. 3. That He intercedes for us now from heaven and via his Holy Spirit. 4. That He will accomplish everything for us that He has promised in His word the Bible, including the endowing us with Spiritual Gifts via His Holy Spirit to overcome sin in our lives and empower us to witness to others of these very truths so that they, like us, will also be blessed by the same truths as they are in him (Jesus).
In the quarterly introduction, there is reference made concerning preparation for what most expect will soon be the final outcome of this controversy between good and evil. While some have had some rather wild notions about how to prepare for the coming conflict and the trouble it will bring to God's people, I love this simple plan of preparation found in Zephaniah 2:3. Sounds like much of Jesus' teaching doesn't it(Matt 6:33; 11:28-30, etc)?
The scriptures said that Lucifer was made a perfect being. So where did the inquity come from in his heart if he was made perfect. I know that I'm born in sin and shaped in inquity.
He was made perfect and also with the ability to choose.He isn't a robot that is programmed.God is Love so it is only him that can love unconditionally.For Lucifer it was a question of choice.God forces no one to love him but it is his wish that all would love him.
God is loving. That's why he gave us choices to make in our life. Even we now we have been blessed by kids, you only have right to choose for them for a certain time but when she\he attain maturity you let them make their own choices.
Revelation 12:17- Eventhough, Satan anger may rise up againt the remanant of God\'s people in war in last day. This particular church John speaks about will be scattered througout the world wherever they maybe found. But the church will have the power to conquer the victory by having the testimony of Christ Jesus. The rage Satan have for them will fail, and even better news is that because of the completeness of what Jesus did on the cross, all of God\'s last day church will be able to share in that victory.