Friday: Further Thought – Earth’s Closing Events
Daily Lesson for Friday 21st of June 2024
As early as 1851, Adventist pioneers identified the second beast of Revelation 13:11-17 with the United States of America. But it must have been difficult back then to see how the United States could cause all the world to worship the first beast (Revelation 13:12). Even by the 1880s the entire United States Navy consisted of just forty-eight aging ships.
But since the end of the Cold War, no power matches the United States militarily. And though Americans have enjoyed wonderful freedoms, as times get harder, it’s not difficult to see those freedoms being trampled on—or even completely undermined. Many believe that even now we are seeing this happen.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“All who refuse compliance [in observing the false sabbath] will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God enjoining the Creator’s rest day demands obedience and threatens wrath against all who transgress its precepts.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 604.
“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 608.
Discussion Questions
- Why is an understanding of last-day events so important in the coming crisis? How are the Scriptures a safeguard from deception?
- Democratic societies worldwide have been bastions of religious freedom for centuries. How might that change rather quickly?
- Look at Ellen White’s statement above. What choices are you making today that could result in your being with those professed Adventists tomorrow?
- How does the second angel’s message change under the loud cry, and what personal preparation can we make for receiving the latter rain to finish God’s work on earth?
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When I was younger, back in the days when popular music came on 45-singles or one of those high-tech cassettes, someone religious got the idea of playing some of the music backwards. They thought they discovered that hidden in the music were subliminal messages of satanism and the other evils. It caused quite a stir in churches at the time and I heard several sermons on the topic of “back-tracking”, admonishing parents to be aware that their children were being exposed to these evil messages. During this period of interest, a local newspaper columnist wrote an article on “back-tracking”, lampooning the idea and suggesting some hilarious back tracking he had discovered in the National Anthem. Then he hit his readers between the eyes, He wrote, “Why do you need to play the tracks backwards? Play them as they are; their message is pure evil!” And he went on to give examples from some of the popular tracks of the day.
It was a sobering article because it pointed out that in our effort to discover a covert conspiracy to inject subliminal evil messages we had not even looked at the evil that was there in plain sight.
I hear lots of discussion about the evils of the end-time and how various technologies such as credit cards, artificial intelligence, medical technology and so on will be used to usher in final events. That is not new. Even as a child I heard those same predictions, and I have seen Seventh-day Adventists, in some cases, become “preppers” squirrelling away supplies to tide them over during the time of trouble. And all the while, I have seen the evils of consumerism, secularism and apathy capturing the attention of Christians as the other “end-time” evils have come and gone.
I am not sure that Jesus had this in mind when he spoke these words in the Sermon on the Mount, but I think they are relevant to this discussion:
We are surrounded by the battle for evil right now. It is quite possible that this is the last battle for at least some of us. And the only way to survive this one is to be on the right side now.
Amen!!
The difference between a true Christian and a professed Adventist is very simple.
Professed Adventists belong to an exclusive club, zealously maintaining the club rules, and avoiding anyone who may detract from the exclusivity of the club. Somehow, they can recite the whole law, but have overlooked the Pledge "I will love my neighbour as myself".
True Christians (some are also Adventists) are found in Matthew 25:37-40 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Each time I study, listen to sermons, bible study discussions, lectures, etc., on the topic of this week's lesson, I ask a question that never provides me with a proper answer. The question is, "how does the mark of the beast apply to people from non Christian religions such as Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc?" These poeple don't observe Sabbath as Christians do. So how does Seventh-day Adventist teachings on end-time prophecy apply to these people?
Russell, I am a true Christian Seventh day Adventist. How about that. And to top it, I have friends in our local church that also are both. I would say a true Seventh day Adventist has the characteristics Christ exemplified as you described in your second paragraph. God bless you.
I am not surprised to find Ellen G. White describe what must be a similar scenario of what happened when church and state persecuted its own throughout the Middle Ages. It is difficult to understand how this can happen again at a time when the Holy Spirit pours out its most powerful demonstration of the Power and Glory of God? Could it be because of it?
How is it that there are people that cannot see their error of judgement when persecuting those who love God more than they love life? The angle’s call is loud and clear; Rev.18:4-5 – ”And I heard another voice from heaven, saying ‘Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” When still loving the ‘life’ this fallen world offers, this could possibly testify to ones entanglement with ‘Babylon’ in some form – Matt.24:24.
Zealotry can be found in both camps, as both rally around that which they are persuaded to be the ‘right way’; willing to stand up for it and defending their ‘right and just cause’. Christians understand the 'Way' - the Word of God -, and bear its fruit for all to see - Gal.5:22-23.
I consider anyone or anything rallying to strengthen the current secular or religious systems of this fallen world as a potential tool by the adversary of God to be used against His people – Micah 6:7-8
They did this to Jesus.
The similarities between the last quote from The Great Controversy in today's lesson and what happened to Jesus should give the true believer hope.
We have His example of love, expressed in
1 Corinthians 13.
( It sounds unrelated, but reread the above New Testament chapter and search for the correlations.)
We know what to expect in general. Having that foreknowledge gives us the opportunity to prepare mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
Just did what you suggested, Susan, and did indeed find the correlation. May God help me remember this whenever I meditate on this ultra important chapter!