Within Scripture, one can see two major predominant themes or motifs that are competing with each other. One is the theme of Salem, Mount Zion, Jerusalem, and the New Jerusalem, which represents God’s kingdom. The other is the theme of Babel and Babylon, which stands for Satan’s counterfeit domain. Several times God called His people … Continue reading –>
Read Ezekiel 28:12-19. What can we learn from this passage about the mysterious origin of sin? Much of the book of Ezekiel was written in end-time symbolic language. In many instances, specific entities (like persons, animals, and objects) and local events are used to represent and describe broader cosmic and/or historical realities. In Ezekiel 28:1-10, the Lord … Continue reading –>
Read 1 John 4:7-16. What does this passage tell us about free will as a condition to cultivating love? Artificial flowers can be gorgeous, but they do not grow and bloom as do real ones. Robots are pre-programmed to talk and to perform many tasks, but they have neither life nor emotions. In reality, life and … Continue reading –>
Nature in its present condition carries an ambiguous message that mingles both good and evil. Rosebushes can produce lovely and fragrant roses but also harmful and painful thorns. A toucan can impress us with its beauty and then dismay us by assaulting the nests of other birds and eating their frail chicks. Even human beings, … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16; 1 John 4:7-16; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 12:1-17. Memory Text: “How you have fallen from heaven, you star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who defeated the nations!” (Isaiah 14:12, NASB). Many thinkers have tried to explain the … Continue reading –>
On Death and Dying: Our Future Hope God created human beings to enjoy eternity in a loving relationship with Him and His creation. But this relationship was distorted by the mysterious appearance of sin within the heavenly courts (Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:12-19, Revelation 12:7-12) and the subsequent fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-19, Romans 5:12). Tragically, death engulfed not only … Continue reading –>
Part 13: Preparing to See Jesus By Andrew McChesney The evil spirits have fallen silent. Father believes Christ won a victory over Satan with the baptism, and that is why the devil tried so hard to prevent it. Peace has filled the family home. Mother is a church deaconess, and she still sings in the … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Gethsemane,” Pages 685-697, and “Calvary,” Pages 741-757, in The Desire of Ages. “Three times has He uttered that prayer. Three times has humanity shrunk from the last, crowning sacrifice. But now the history of the human race comes up before the world’s Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, … Continue reading –>
We might as well get used to it: as long as we are here, in this world, we are going to suffer. As fallen creatures, it is our fate. Nothing in the Bible promises us anything different. On the contrary … What do the following verses have to tell us about the topic at hand? Acts 14:22, Philippians … Continue reading –>
Christ in the Crucible streamed live from the inaugural Hit the Mark Spiritual Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. Join the panel and Summit attendees as they discuss our last lesson of the quarter. Question: Is this True, Somewhat True, or False?: There is nothing we can do to increase our value with God.
