Friday: Further Thought – Foundations for Prophecy
Daily Lesson for Friday 16th of May 2025
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Controversy Ended,” Pages 669–671, 676–678, in The Great Controversy.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Satan, once a covering cherub, sought to destroy confidence in God’s throne. God has allowed fallen angels to continue in their rebellion to show the universe the depths of wickedness that come from self-exaltation—and while Satan managed to deceive the human race into joining his war against God, Christ utterly defeated him at the cross, securing a place for humanity where fallen angels once stood. Sinners, in Christ, publicly turn against Lucifer’s claims. The final scenario is, in some ways, an even greater revelation of God’s goodness and love than had existed prior to Lucifer’s fall. Though God never ordained that evil should exist, and it’s a tragedy with eternal consequences, when it’s all done, the goodness and love of God will be revealed in ways they otherwise never would have been.
Christ “looks upon the redeemed, renewed in His own image, every heart bearing the perfect impress of the divine, every face reflecting the likeness of their King. He beholds in them the result of the travail of His soul, and He is satisfied. Then, in a voice that reaches the assembled multitudes of the righteous and the wicked, He declares, ‘Behold the purchase of My blood! For these I suffered, for these I died, that they might dwell in My presence throughout eternal ages.’ And the song of praise ascends from the white-robed ones about the throne: ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.’ Revelation 5:12.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 671.
Discussion Questions
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Studying this week's lesson has been a bit of a journey for me. Maybe it was because I have had a busy week outside of Sabbath School Net, but trying to write a coherent comment each morning has not been easy. The lesson this week has been what I call a "bitsa" - bits and pieces stuck together for no apparent reason. I reiterate, this is my personal journey and you may feel quite differently.
Often a good lesson is not about its substance but where it pushes you in your mind. I am reminded of a year at high school where I had a bad science teacher. I worked out in the first couple of weeks that I had better do some studying myself. In terms of his effect on me, he was the best teacher I ever had!
So, where did my thoughts lead me this week? The big lesson for me is that prophecy is often a bit more ordinary than we would like it to be. As I mentioned in a previous comment, we like to think of ourselves as the church of prophecy and have built whole evanglistic efforts based on that premise. During my youth I well remember the "Voice of Prophecy" radio school and its associated correspondence lessons. I attended the "Dead Men Tell Tales" evangelistic series that gave the public a journey through past and present fulfilment of prophecy. And I think that some of us came into this current lesson study with the idea that we should reiterate our historical interpretation of prophecy.
But this week's lesson took us to the throne room of God where sin hatched itself in the mind of Lucifer, God's leading angel. If we think seriously about that, we should probably recognise that the same seeds of pride and self are still active in our own minds today.
The prophecy we need is not the interpretation of historical events so that we can pat ourselves on the back and tout to the unlistening public that we have got it right. Rather, the prophecy we need is the forth-telling to return to the relationship with God and put him first in our lives.
I am reminded that most of the prophetic writing in the Bible are centred around the message that the Israelites needed to get their act together and turn back to God. This is the "Fundamental of Prophecy".
Jeremiah prophecied:
Maurice, I enjoy reading your comments. They are a blessing to me.
You must have read my thoughts. I struggled a bit with the lesson this week, and previous weeks, but it has pushed me to go further in scripture and keep reminding myself what the real battle is all about and how I will respond to it.
The special words from the text are "self-exaltation" and the purchase of my blood." Here, we clearly see the difference between the characters of evil and God! "Worthy is the lamb!" May we reflect this love, a death to self and life for Christ!
The Bible vividly describes the physical glory and holiness of God, particularly in scenes where He is seated on His throne, surrounded by cherubim. Because of sin, humanity has been denied access to witness this glory in its full display.
Yet, God still reveals His glory to us—not through overwhelming visuals, but through His character. When Moses asked to see God's glory, God responded by proclaiming His nature: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). In Jesus Christ, we see the clearest expression of this glory—manifested in love, humility, compassion, and sacrificial service.
As followers of Christ, we are invited to reflect God’s glory in the way we live. Just as the cherubim in the throne room serve as guardians of God's holiness and expressions of His presence, we too have a role in representing God’s character on earth. We may not bear wings or radiant light, but through lives marked by integrity, mercy, and love, we reveal God's presence to the world.
As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.” Though we cannot now enter the throne room, the glory of God can shine through us as we reflect His character in our daily walk.
Beverley, your final sentence highlights for me the vital importance of doing what God empowers us to do. Allowing God’s Glory to shine through us is not optional —it is His testimony to the transformative power of His Spirit renewing mankind; we are called to display His Skill and Craftmanship! It’s not merely that His Glory 'can' shine through us, it must shine through us as evidence of our new nature in Christ Jesus.
The first thought that enters my mind are the lyrics of the song; " I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe.
"I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes would see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine
Yeah
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine..."
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriter: Bart Millard
It's actually a bit overwhelming to think that God's amazing grace could "save a wretch like me." So worthy is the Lamb that was slain... "Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and glory and majesty" are a phrase from the Bible, specifically from Revelation 5.
Worthy is The Lamb, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
I think Maurice got it right: “the Israelites needed to get their act together and turn back to God.”
I believe a key takeaway from this week’s lesson on prophecy is this: nothing can stand in the way of God accomplishing what He intends. This truth reflects His unquestionable sovereignty. Humanity’s role in this incredible journey of Creation is to recognize that we are part of God’s plan to restore what was once spoiled.
Each person must ask themselves: Do I want to be on the side of those who ruin, or on the side of those who participate in God's renewing work? It’s as simple as that. Acknowledging the reality of our current condition is a vital first step. From there, self-reflection and a willingness to humble ourselves will open the door to a fresh start that helps with drawing closer to our Creator God in Christ.
At a time of the ever increasing power of AI and global dissemination of information/knowledge, the one information that is unchangeable and the most important one to know is: God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, has made a way for anyone to begin life anew through faith in Him. Do we want to be part of God's work of creative renewal by humbly submitting to Him, trusting in what He has revealed through Christ, and believing that He loves us?
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isa 7:14) This prophecy was wonderfully fulfilled when God became flesh and dwelt among us - “Immanuel, God with us”. (Matt 1:23). However, this event was not cited in the study titled “God among His people”. We considered the Shekinah glory of the figurative tabernacle of Moses and the hoped for presence of God among His people in the new earth, but not God’s literal presence among His people having been born of a woman.
He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. The heads, rulers, and chief priests rejected Him outright.(Jn 1:9-11; 5:16,18; Matt 20:18; 26:59). He was the “true light” and the “true bread” of the Holy Place or tent of meeting of the tabernacle (Jn 1:9; 6:32). As the light He was the glory of God from heaven (Isa 60:1-4) dispelling the gross darkness which had enveloped Israel. He was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power at His baptism/washing and went about teaching, healing, and doing good - restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem according to Ezra’s commission authorized by Artaxerxes’ decree, spiritual kingdom (Ezra 7:10-26). Christ chose and taught His apostles whom He qualified to be judges of the children of Israel (Matt 19:28; Lk 22:30). The apostles became the foundation stones of the walls of heavenly Jerusalem (Dan 9:25; Eph 2:19-22; Rev 21:14-20).
There was God in Christ carrying out His Holy Place ministry, the earthly, having become flesh. He daily offered spiritual sacrifices to God. The priests’ duty with respect to the Lampstand was to diligently keep the light going through the night, the darkness (Ex 27:20,21; Lev 24:2-4; 2 Chron 13:10,11). The priests’ duty therefor should have been about encouraging and supporting and holding forth Christ, the true light, to the people. But they, on the contrary, were determined to extinguish the light. The shadow shewbread they faithfully replenished every Friday and ate it up. But the true living bread they rejected all together. They eventually offered Christ, God with us, as a sacrifice to their gods in order to save and retain their place (Jn 11:49-53). They committed the abomination of desolation (Ezk 20:26; 23:35-49; Lev 20:2-5).
At this time have we been brought into fellowship with God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ? (1 Jn 1:3) Are we reflecting this glory in which we live and move being members of the body of Christ?
Agreed: Maurice’s comments easily evoke further thought.
“The Lord sits on the throne, high and lifted up.” Is 6:1 … “Here I am! Send me.” Is 6:8
My questions arise in contemplation of this lesson; as well as by having lost so many loved ones, recently:
Does my work, mission and aim, “The Advent message to all the world, in my generation,” involve my being aglow with heaven’s righteousness? Do I adequately access the presence of God’s “ministering angels” and “Divine atmosphere” for soul-winning (AH), during this Revelation 14 era? Do I yearn for the privilege to “Tabernacle with God?”
Praying that this Sabbath School family and all who believe, including yours truly, will be exalted … given the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in John 14: 1-3.
“…I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Praise God for Resurrection victory in view!