Sabbath: Foundations for Prophecy
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 10th of May 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Isaiah 6:6-8, Genesis 3:21-24, Ezekiel 1:4-14, Revelation 4:1-11, Numbers 2:3-25, Isaiah 14:12-14.
Memory Text:
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me’ ” (Isaiah 6:8, NKJV).
God’s right to rule the universe is founded upon His position as the Creator of all things (Revelation 4:11) and also upon His character. It is in discovering God’s righteous character that we begin to understand how and why sinful human beings fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
This week, we move further into the vision of the throne room and consider how the human race relates to a holy God and how the sacrifice of Christ restores us and brings us close to the throne. God plans to restore us, not just as individuals but also as a race, so that we once again reveal His glory to the rest of creation. By searching through the rest of the Bible, we can find important clues that help us understand and begin to appreciate the high calling that God has extended to us, a race of forgiven and redeemed sinners.
Human rebellion, ultimately and forever, will be ended. And, more than that, God’s loving character, His self-denying and self-sacrificing character, will shine even brighter than it did in His original design for humanity. Though God never intended for humanity to fall, through the Cross, God’s loving character has been put on display in a remarkable way.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 17.
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In our thinking, we often describe prophecy as foretelling the future. Or, as is currently happening on many "Christian" websites trying to convince others that we have the inside knowledge on what is happening currently in America and Rome.
While I accept that there is an element of foretelling in prophecy, I am not convinced that it is the main purpose. There are passages in the Old Testament where companies of prophets are engaged in activities that could best be described as praising God. In Elisha's time there is an incident where the "Sons of the Prophets" (or student prophets, if you like) are engaged in building a house.
A wise theologian described prophecy as not only "fortelling' but "forth-telling" - putting forward Jesus.
I like that description and it is probably good advice, particularly in our current circumstances. Our credentials as a church of prophecy should be about sharing Jesus, not about forecasting current political trends.
For the record, I have seen 14 USA presidents and 7 Popes during my lifetime. Most have been subjects of speculative sermons on religious-political outcomes. I have served one Jesus during that time and I still have lots to learn about him. I pray my witness will be about Him and not the comings and goings of earthly captains and kings.
God is the origin of all biblical prophecies. All prophecies originate from God as His divine communication where He reveals His will, warn His people and guides them. “Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7,NKJV). As God is the source of all prophecies, Jesus Christ is the central point of focus. “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10, NKJV). Understanding the foundations of prophecy is not simply to make us “prophecy geniuses” but to understand God’s will in our lives, the mission of Jesus Christ on earth and hence live a faithful life.
“God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3, NLT)