Sabbath: A City Called Confusion
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Revelation 17:1-2, Revelation 17:15; Revelation 18:1-4; Revelation 17:4-6; Matthew 16:18; Jeremiah 50:33-38; Psalm 115:4-8.
Memory Text: “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14, NKJV).
The great controversy theme is summarized in Revelation with the symbolism of two women: one clothed with the sun, in Revelation 12:1-17, and one dressed in scarlet, in Revelation 17:1-18.
The striking symbol of the woman clothed with the sun, in the dazzling glory of Christ, is found in Revelation 12:1-17. She is faithful to her true lover, Jesus. She is not defiled with the corruption of false doctrines. Throughout the Bible, a pure woman symbolizes the bride of Jesus, or the true church. In Jeremiah 6:2, the prophet says, “I have likened the daughter of Zion to a lovely and delicate woman” (NKJV). The prophet uses the expression “daughter of Zion” or a faithful woman to describe God’s people. (See also Ephesians 5:25-32 and Hosea 2:20.)
In contrast, the Bible likens apostasy to harlotry or adultery (James 4:4). Speaking of Israel’s rebellion and unfaithfulness, Ezekiel laments, “You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband“ (Ezekiel 16:32, NKJV).
In this week’s lesson, we will study these two women of Revelation and probe, more deeply, the conflict between truth and error.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 27.
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Yesterday, I had a conversation with ChatGPT. I have a long history with computer science so that should not surprise you. For those who have been living off the grid for the last 6 months, ChatGPT is a public-domain Artificial Intelligence (AI) application that has become both immensely popular and at the same time, challenging. I had been experimenting with writing programming code and answering my grandson's problems with differential equations (ChatGPT got some of those wrong so it still has a way to go before it is perfect.) I thought it was about time I asked it some spiritual questions. Here is part of that conversation:
I am not upholding ChatGPT as some sort of oracle on the enemies facing the Church in these last times, but we may like to think about the 21st Century enemies we face.
According Revelation 12:1-17, "Pure Woman", with our church Seventh Day Adventist, are we really standing on these pillars and that we can bare such kinda name? or is it another group of saints?
Dear Brother Frederick,
I think that when Jesus comes, we will see the saints as followers of Jesus that we are familiar with (Seventh-day Adventists) and a lot of followers that we are not familiar with.
We must continue to pray for ourselves, and our churches.
However, individually, we must be of the mindset that we will do whatever it takes to "stay connected to Jesus Christ"; we cannot make it to without Him. Jesus already told us, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me", John 14:6. Therefore, we must purpose in our minds and hearts that we will stay with Jesus come what may, or no matter what happens (but unfortunately, many will decide to leave the church, that's why we must "pray without ceasing"). If my church decided to close their doors because they no longer believe in the precepts of the Bible, I am not going to leave Jesus; I will find another body of believers to continue my spiritual journey, because we all need the fellowship of one another to grow spiritually. But my focus will always be on Jesus, no matter what the church believes or teaches.
The church cannot save me; only Jesus can save me. He has already saved us all; we just have to choose to follow Him. We must remember that the church is Jesus' followers, those "who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ", Revelation 12:17.
If you see a problem in the church, then just "PRAY" for the church. Jesus is watching it all and will handle any and all problems that can and will happen in the church. Over my 40 years in this church, I have seen it with my own eyes; so, there is one thing that I do believe and know, that Jesus will bring His CHURCH through victoriously.
God's blessing be with us all.
Seventh-day Adventism is experiencing a shaking. The rumblings are within; they are clear; they are distinct. Yet, to some, they are wholly untraceable-they are not known or perceived. It is time for each and every Seventh-day Adventist to take a personal responsibility for our religion.
The prophet clearly tells us what the world needs; it is not yes men and women; it is not careless sinful individuals; it is not the willingly indifferent:
(Ellen G White, Education, p. 57).
The greatest want of the world is the want of men,-men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; *men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall*.
I think it is fair to say that Seventh-day Adventism has always experienced "a shaking". It is part of the process of determining truth.
It is not a terribly good illustration, but as an ex-concrete worker, I know that if you want good strong concrete you shake it with a vibrator to remove the bubbles and excess water before it sets.
We need the challenge of our differences in order to grow and develop.
Hi Dear Brother Frederick,
I wrote a reply to your first post before I read your second post. I definitely agree with you:
The prophet clearly tells us what the world needs; it is not yes men and women; it is not careless sinful individuals; it is not the willingly indifferent:
That is what I meant when I said that we must have the mindset to "stay connected to Jesus Christ" no matter what happens.
If you see that there is a "shaking in the church" now, then please don't be surprised when the enemy continues to shake the church, to the point that "great lights will go out". That's why we all have to make a personal, individual commitment to being in a relationship with Jesus, instead of watching or looking at the Great Lights of our religion.
Thank you so much for your insightful words of wisdom.
Hosea 2:20 - ”I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD.”
Ezekiel 16:32 - ”You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband.”
Isaiah 5:20-21 - ”Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!”
Our days are becoming the time of the counterfeit gospel - the gospel of doing the ‘right thing according to AI’. It is mostly promoted by leaders of nations who had been blessed to help establish the Gospel Truth within their borders as their clergy took it to all the world. These nations now lead out in finding ways to ‘augment/change’ the Word of God, His Truth as revealed by the Spirit of God, and confuse His people who neglected to establish a firm personal relationship with Him – Rom.1:18-23.
As Maurice pointed out, one can go online and hear AI share its ‘wisdom’ in response to any topic. Questions reserved to be revealed through the Holy Spirit residing within faithful men and women, are now being answerd by AI. Could it be that Babylon’s conscience is being established through this AI as well? It appears to have became popular in a very short time and is well on its way to become mankind’s new ‘source of wisdom’, establishing its universal influence to guide people to learn how to 'get along'.
Will the Holy Spirit still be sought by Christians as the only source to reveal God’s Wisdom for answers to their lives? What if it is neglected, moved aside to make room for AI? If so, we will find that the final time for the false prophet will have come.
But there is hope for all who choose not to seek to be comforted by false gods. Matt.16:18 – “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Babylon’s powers, protected by the ‘gates of Hades’, cannot stand against the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ when presented to its leaders.
The resolve and conviction to stand up boldly for the Truth of God’s Light will be met with severe threats of punishment, but in the end the Laws governing God’s Kingdom will prevail – hallelujah!
I don't think that AI is providing the answers. It's a bit like saying that I got the answers from the telephone, or Google, or any other technology. The power of AI, at least at this stage, is its enormous resource of human knowledge, its power to select from it and its expressive ability.
"Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus." Without the "Faith of Jesus" there is no such a one that "keeps the commandments of God." So that is why the Apostle Paul could say that "Without faith it Is impossible to please God." And then also while it is the 10 Commandments that determine "True Righteousness," it is only a "Righteousness by faith in Jesus' Righteousness," on our part that will count for being a one that is someone that "Keeps the commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus," even if that one still does not even equal Jesus "The True Pattern," And that is also why Jesus told us not to "Judge anyone" either. So, only God can truly judge us all period!
Fidelity = faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
In the dictionary, regarding fidelity, a person is related to a cause or belief. In Revelation, a woman (person) is associated with a belief/faith or religion.
Thus, faithfulness/fidelity is essential to develop a genuine relationship, including any relationship, with either other human beings or God.
However, JC Zielak, no matter how much anyone of us tries to equal Jesus' pattern of character, we as sinful humans will always come short of Jesus' flawless character. But as long as we by faith cling to Jesus' "Faithfulness," the Father sees us as being sinless as Jesus, so that what King David said in Psalm 103:12 the Father removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. And we are then counted as being those in Revelation 14:12 who "Keep God's commandments" and have Jesus' faith too.