Sabbath: The Everlasting Gospel
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Revelation 14:6-12; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 3:24-26; 1 Peter 1:18-20; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8.
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).
In ancient Israel, when the heathen around them were polytheists, worshiping multiple “gods” of wood and stone, Israel’s clear, identifiable, powerful statement of faith was found in Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one“ (NKJV).
Throughout the centuries, the chanting of the Shema (the name of the prayer, based on the Hebrew word for “hear”) reminded the Jews of the spiritual vision that united them as a people and that strengthened their resolve to maintain their unique identity as worshipers of the one true God.
For Seventh-day Adventists, the three angels’ messages in Revelation 14:1-20 are our Shema. They are our identifying statement of faith. They define who we are as a people and describe our mission to the world. In short, our unique prophetic identity is outlined in Revelation 14:6-12, and it is here that we find our passion to proclaim the gospel to the world.
In this week’s lesson, we will begin a detailed study of Revelation 14:6-12, but will do so through the eyes of grace as we listen to God speaking to our hearts.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 15.
(27)
We like the term "Everlasting Gospel". It has a good Christian ring to it. But when we take that expression outside of the people who use the term, what does it mean?
Hopefully we will understand the need to translate that term into the real world this week.
As most of you know, I live in Australia and I speak Australian which is a dialect of English that does not translate well when it crosses water. When I go overseas I have to be very careful and filter my language because I can easily be misunderstood.
What language should we use to spread the everlasting Gospel so that it is easily understood?
How about using the language of truth and love ❤ that is present in the gospel?
Eternal Good News! Inviolate Glad Tidings! God Never Changes! Jesus Christ The Same, Yesterday when He Created everything, Today=Present Truth, and Forever=The New Heavens and The New Earth that I will Created, All Flesh=Everyone will Worship Him every Sabbath Forever! Malachi 3:6,
Hebrews 13:8, 1:8, Isaiah 66:22-23.
What is the Shema prayer in English?
On day I was walking my dog. The neighborhood had a Jewish Synagogue. As a Rabbi was walking toward me, I stopped him because I love the Schema prayer and wanted to know the pronunciation in Arabic. He was very glad to help me with that. I mentioned to him with excitement how I love the righteousness of God. It was well received. Then he said he wished more people felt that way.
I was blessed in our greeting and thanked God for the hearing of his precious word from one of his children. And I pray that this Rabbi experiences Jesus as he diligently seeks God's guidance.
It appears to me that the Scriptures reveal the same gospel highlighting various aspects – the Gospel of Jesus Christ who teaches mankind the Will of God and how to live it by faith, and the gospel by the three angels “flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth: “Fear God and give glory to Him, ...” Rev.14:6-13; 14-20.
If permitted, I want to share a thought which came to mind. When sharing the Gospel, do we not also include the gospels according to the apostles who carried Jesus Christ’s Gospel to be preached and taught in all the world? Don't they 'flesh out' the warning contained in the angels gospel?
Personally, I also include an additional part of God’s Truth to that which is preached as the Gospel. Before anything can be established in the heart and mind of man based on faith, whoever believes the gospel message to be true, has to first believe that God exists and that Jesus Christ is His Son given to us to be His messenger – Heb.11:6. This is essential to the Gospel.
There are those who say ‘there is no God’ and refuse any teachings or truths coming from a source related to Him, or attribute any truth ‘they’ perceive as coming from their own mind.
But those who believe that humankind has a Creator, believe that: “The LORD our God, the LORD is one” – Deut.6:4, and that Jesus and the Father are one – John 10:15, accept Jesus as the Son of God – Luke 1:32; Luke 1:35, and accept His Gospel as coming directly from the Father – 1John5:10-13. Giving Glory to God is the first act of faith.
Unfortunately, we tend to promote confusing jargon to people who aren’t familiar with the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s unique doctrinal language.
When studying Revelation 14:6-12, it’s important that we approach it with an open heart, with intent to understand the message in a way that speaks to everyone. In New Zealand it is obvious that most people have no clue what we’re talking about. Members who hold strong beliefs sometimes become condescending, argumentative, and dismissive towards those who do not share their understanding. People visiting, as a result of watching HOPE Channel, with no previous experience of Seventh-day Adventists, have unfortunately witnessed this during Sabbath School classes.
All members and visitors should be valued and free to share their opinions without being attacked or dismissed. Otherwise, we have become just another cult.
Today, as I visit my Jesus and read Revelation 14 where it is written that "he [the unsaved] himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation," I am reminded of the verse in Matthew 26:39.
This cup in Revelation doesn't only show what the unsaved will suffer at the judgement; it also shows what Christ suffered on the cross. I don't believe our meager minds are capable of the scope of suffering He endured for all those who have been saved, and those who will be saved. To be reminded of what He did for me is overwhelming me to tears. I am so grateful that He can communicate to me all that is Him, as long as I keep my Spirit open to hear His still small voice.
I pray all who love God would keep their spirits open to hear God's guidance in their daily lives. May the Lord bless and keep you in Christ, Jesus.
In the context of God's wrath on sinners, thank you for reminding us that the Son of God Himself was the first to experience that wrath.
I have read all the comments and reviewed the post by Maurice. It still isn’t clear to me what we mean by the gospel. We use various definitions often glibly and without considering the context of the non-believer or how best to avoid jargon that is meaningless when reaching out to those with a different religious background or none. For me, I see our living example and lifestyle as the first step and pointing others to Jesus and his lifestyle and developing a relationship with Him. Relationship to a church is secondary.
The gospel can only be found in the person of Jesus. It's everything about Him. He reveals himself to all of us through His Spirit into our spirits. He is the only one who can truly explain His Gospel without the need of interpretation. That is because the Gospel is spiritually discerned. Call upon Him, and He will answer you.
The ancient Israelites were surrounded by nations who worshiped many gods. Sounds like us today, right? We hear things like, "To each his/her own" .... "you believe what YOU believe" .... and people are chasing money or relationships or entertainment or degrees or whatever god appears to lead to happiness. People divide their allegiance between many fantasies. Even people called Christian.
The Shema excludes allegiance to any other gods. It is a prayer reminding us there is only One true God. It was easy for the Israelites to start to get sucked into the ways around them...they had steeped in polytheistic cultures for generations...roots in Egypt and traveling through Canaan. Mixing the holiness of their faith with the world's absorption with self. Sounds like us today, right? Surrounded maybe at work or school or on electronic devices...So morning and night they said the Shema of Deut. 6:4-5, and also Deut. 11:13-21 and Num. 15:37-41. Listen to this part:
To do them. This kind of love is not primarily a warm fuzzy feeling. It's the "I love you" shown by loyal, faithful action. Allowing the words to sink in and provide an understanding that generates a response.
The Israelites were to bind Yahweh's Word on their hand and between their eyes ....symbolic of guiding their vision and their actions.
We are to put our whole being into living out the gospel story. We can't divide our allegiance between our Saviour God and the old self-centered ways we used to turn to. Rev. 22:4 says that the redeemed have God's name in their foreheads, just like the Shema was on the forehead....He's the only thought on our minds. Rev. 13:11,16 tells us that if we don't pledge allegiance to the Lamb, then we will have given our allegiance to other powers bent on destroying us, as depicted by the beast's mark on the hands or in the foreheads. We each choose. Either Jesus influences how we see and act, or demonic influences govern how we see and what we do in life. One path leads to life and the other to death. As we listen to Jesus, we are driven forward to endure and share with others the Good News of how different our life is when hidden in Him, eager to hasten His coming (Matt. 24:12-14). Maybe we can pray the Shema and these other texts daily too. And ask God for help in sharing our testimony appropriately and fearlessly.