Sabbath: Worship the Creator
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Read for This Week’s Study: Rev. 14:6-7; Matt. 24:14; Gal. 3:22; Luke 23:32-43; Gen. 22:12; Rev. 14:8-12.
Memory Text: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth — to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6, NKJV).
As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, we believe in the biblical concept of “present truth” (2 Pet. 1:12). It’s basically the idea that God unfolds truth to humanity at the time it is needed, with more and more light being given by the Lord over the ages. The first gospel promise, in Genesis 3:15, revealed to the fallen pair that hope would come through the seed of the woman. The promise to Abraham, that he “shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him” (Gen. 18:18, NKJV), is a fuller revelation of the gospel promise. The coming of Jesus, who proclaimed that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, NKJV), is, of course, an even greater revelation of the gospel truth.
Today we believe that the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12 is “present truth” for those living in the last days prior to Christ’s return and the fulfillment of all our hopes as Christians.
This week, we will focus particularly on the first angel’s message, for it contains truths crucial for those who seek to stay faithful amid end-time perils.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 26.
(45)
Present truth.
Judgment is being carried out in the courts of heaven
Judgments ends with verdict
Daniel 7: 21 & 22
21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
The present truth has the same theme running throughout. The truth looked at carefully is a message of hope seeking to pull God’s people to the love of God. At the centre of this message is love though the devil is seeking to alienate the people from this love of God.
Yes, I whole-heartedly agree with you because "the present truth" has always been about the Love of God for us, his people, and the Love of Jesus, who sacrifice his life to reconcile us back to God; a plan that Jesus chose to do before the foundation of this world.
Like the Pastor at the Royal Wedding said this weekend: "the power of love...God is Love...We are to love God with all our heart, soul and spirit, and our neighbors as ourselves...Those that do not love, do not know God, because God is love". He didn't say anything new that we haven't heard before, but sometimes I think that we forget what the Message is really all about; "God is Love" has always been the Message, and that love is manifested toward us, to redeem us back into His family.
Also, I sometimes feel that we have gotten so far from the "Love of God" in our homes, churches and at our jobs, that we forget to reflect the love of God as we should. I don't keep the Sabbath as I should, but one thing I will not hesitate to do. and that is to witness, teach, answer any question related to the Jesus and His love, and to help anyone that is in need. I wanted to cheer out loud during the Royal Wedding when I heard the Pastor speak, because it inspired me that I need to do more to love my neighbor and to show forth the love of God (those are my words that I got from the message).
Please, we must not let tradition, even sda traditions, prevent us from showing the love of God, on an individual level. You don't have to do anything Grand to show the love of God. When we reflect the love of God, people will be drawn to us. Have you drawn anyone to Jesus Christ later?
Be blessed!
I would say that all three angels in Revelation 14:6-12 are talking about the same judgment. The judgment of the seven last plagues that God is going to use to destroy the beast and his image and also how to escape this great sevenfold judgment of God against this antichrist power via Jesus Blood.
In 2Peter 1:12, the Epistle remind us that we have been established in the present truth, so for this manner we have to live, eat and practice or in what so ever things we do the Gospel will reach the world, or in short through our lives with the help of the Holy Spirit the truth should be proclaimed to the world. Nevertheless if we really abide in Christ and Him in us as the branches we will love as He loved us we will serve as He served, and we will also count it joy as we are persecuted for His name\'s sake, just like other disciplines, Peter, John, Paul who meet Christ and never stopped preaching about His word up until they lose their lives for the truth\'s sake
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night.What this verse is all about??does it mean that the wicked will continue to be burned forever??How is it possible for them to suffer day and night ??because the cup of wrath of God is unmixed,how can they burn day and night??Shalom
Yona, no one will be worshiping the beast that they allowed to deceive them when God consumes the wicked, so not having rest "day or night" is speaking of before that time. Apart from the gospel of Christ, there is no rest or peace, which is why those who worship the beast have no rest(peace that comes from being justified by faith; Rom 5:1), since those who worship the beast are under the bondage of sin.
The smoke of their torment could relate to the last judgment upon them, but "forever and ever" is simply referring to the duration of their destruction, not forever as we would understand the term today; meaning without an end. It will ascend until the work of the flames is finished. This is saying they will not escape complete destruction.
Sodom and Gomorrah suffered "everlasting fire"(Jude 7), but the fire itself isn't eternal, only the results. And while the flames burned, the smoke ascended.
The smoke of their torment could also be referring to their life without rest/peace, with the constant torment of their soul from convictions which the Holy Spirit brings to sinners(John 16:8) in order to save them. So the smoke could be a figure of speech here.
Until the image to the beast is formed, the 2nd and 3rd angel's messages are not present truth. Babylon has yet to fall, as I understand it. These messages, as a loud cry, will become timely and relevant in the wake of the image being set up as a defiant act against God's Law.
The 1st angel is of vital importance to those who are to give it, for any who have not received this message themselves will never give it with the power it possesses. It is the rejection of this first message that results in the 2 warning messages that follow it. We could sum up the 1st angel with: "repent and believe the gospel"(Mark 1:15).
'WORSHIP THE CREATOR'
The main purpose of God creating this universe and us(Human being)is for us to worship Him. We'v been called to worship the creator.
The main theme for this week is 'WORSHIP' who 'THE CREATOR'
The Lord has been calling people since creation to worship Him. Hes also calling us being the End -time people to still make a decision of worshiping Him only in truth and spirit. We are to focus our mind, body and soul to Him.
Even the 1st commandment God is telling us 'Do not worship other gods because Hes a jealousy God.
In the book of Isaiah 14:12-14 The devil (Lucifer) is fighting for that seat of God i.e To be worshiped. The following are examples of things we might be worshiping knowingly or unknowingly.
1.Self- thinking to be better than others.
2. Money- Alot of money until you dont have peace.
3.Position- Workplace
4.Spouses/Children/parents.
5.Politics & Politicians
6.Food
7.Football/Spotpesa/certain game.
Anything that you put 1st in your life that is your god.
As per the memory Text the 1st angel who is seen by John in Rev 14:6 is carrying an everlasting gospel to preach and remind all people, nation, tribe, kindred to focus their worshiping towards the creator.
Yes indeed thanks to you all for these beautiful and meaniful contributions.The best thing any believer or Christian can do is to give God the full time He deserve ....lets worship him while it is still day light.