Sabbath: The Great Controversy
Read for This Week’s Study: Job 1:1-5, Job 1:6-12, Zech. 3:2, Matt. 4:1, Ezek. 28:12-16, Rom. 3:26, Heb. 2:14.
Memory Text: “And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2).
The Great Controversy
Scattered across the pages of both the [Old Testament] and the [New Testament] lie many references and allusions to an unrelenting war between God and Satan, between good and evil on both cosmic and personal levels. Comparing these passages, we inlay their individual insights to form a mosaic window of truth through which we can perceive the total message of Scripture with greater clarity than otherwise.”-The Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2000), p. 969.
The great controversy theme forms a template that can help us better understand “the total message” of the Bible, especially the plan of salvation. Though the theme is much more apparent in the New Testament, it is found in the Old Testament, too. And perhaps nowhere in the Old Testament are we given a clearer glimpse of Satan and this conflict, and how they can powerfully affect life here, than in the book of Job.
This week we’ll look at the broader reality behind this immediate reality that’s the main focus of Job. And though our lives and stories are different from Job’s, we have one thing in common: like Job, we are all involved in this controversy.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 8.
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The Great Controversy involves every human being , the Creation , God , angels , and unfallen beings
Franklyn, How Blessed to find Job in the pages from Genesis to Revelation. May have missed something important.
What is the great controversy? As Seventh-day-Adventist we are so blessed with the book 'The Great Controversy' this book illuminates the Bible, stimulates us to read the Bible more, and substantiates the authenticity of the Bible. Once you have read this book with Bible in hand, you will want to turn to the other books in the conflict series. There are 5 all together. The other 4 are, 'The Desire of Ages', Patriarchs and Prophets', 'Prophets and Kings', and 'Acts of the Apostles'. Just like the Bible, the great controversy is scattered across the pages of all 5. In them as in the Bible, lie many references and allusions to an unrelenting war between God and Satan, between good and evil on both cosmic and personal levels. Comparing these pages with the Bible we have a better understanding of the great controversy portrayed in the Bible. Enjoy the lessons this quarter, I know I will.
Oh, let me tell you where you can get 'The Conflict Series' the ebooks are scattered throughout out cyberspace. Just type in EGW on your app. free store, Android or Apple, Or for printed, AdventistBookCenter.com. Enjoy.
And Happy Sabbath
[Editor's Note: And you can also get these books in electronic format and read them on your computer, tablet or phone with the Kindle app. Go to US Store, Canadian Store, UK Store.]
Mr Shillingford,
The unfallen beings?
In the first chapter of job it says that the sons of man came to God
There was a meeting of all the inhabitants of the worlds
Earth is the only fallen place in the universe therefore in the other areas are unfallen beings
Yes....this is what the Book of Job is about...it is a synopsis of the life of humanity in the context of the Great Controversy between the LORD and Satan....lets pray for wisdom on this subject.
dear Editor, in relation to John Herscher's post - is there no way I can get 'The Conflict Series' ebooks in Australia?
Thanks John though for reminding us of EGW's 5 books and naming them. Not everyone who goes to the Adventist church has been brought up knowing what they are.
Godbless today, Mrs. A Stolz
"Ask and ye shall find (answers)" 🙂
You can find most Ellen White books on Amazon.com.au through a simple search.
A similar page for American buyers or anyone without a local Amazon store it this link for Ellen G White books in Kindle format.
You can also download the free Kindle app to read Kindle books on your phone, tablet or computer.
Adventist Book Centres of the South Pacific Division tells you how you can buy from the online AdventistBookCenter.
And here you can see the brick and mortar Adventist Book Centers in Australia and New Zealand.
Adventist Book Centre of Western Australia.
I also found AdventistBooks.com.au, an online store operating out of Queensland, AU.
Some of these are available to read online free of charge.
http://www.whiteestate.org/books/books.asp
SEB, I am not aware of any unfallen human being. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. For information as to the character of God and Satan, I would suggest Isaiah 14:12-15, and Ezekiel 28:11-13. The accompanying texts in Job are Job 1:6-12 and Job 2:1-7. I believe the time frame in Isaiah and Ezekiel is before the earth was created.
Brother Paul,
Paul, the apostle, stated many times in his letters that God(Jesus) created the "worlds", plural. Two references to this would be Hebrews 1:2, and in Hebrews 11:3. We will have to wait to ask God the Father and God the Son, at the resurrection, for the answers to support this further. In the meantime, I do believe that Paul was inspired by God the Holy Spirit to reveal to us through these bible verses that Jesus did create other worlds. Stay blessed!!
Toni, the references in Hebrews 1:2 says much the same as John1:3,4. Does this mean that other worlds were inhabited?
Thanks Inge,
for that advice regarding where to get Ellen White's books from, and how, "down under". I do not live in Australia as such, I am in the Pacific region, but it is nice to know where to go through. I am more keen for the ebooks to cut down on physical weight whilst traveling or moving house. Hence kindle books freely available for my laptop, sound very promising.
Godbless all, Mrs. A Stolz
Mrs Stolz, hi. There is a free app available through your windows app store online, Ellen G White. This app provides every single book, manuscript, article, letter, ever written by Mrs White. It also includes reference works such as histoorical books like "The History of Protestantism" and the "History of the Waldenses" by A J Wylie, Foxe's "Book of Martyrs", as well as books written by our pioneers, such as J N Andrews, Haskell, Waggoner, Jones, and man many others. Most of the books are downloadable and can be made available offline through Adobe reader or such similar tools you may have. Some I think, as well as Bibles, are available in audio format. I recommend this app for everyone, it is so useful, including an excellent search tool for EGW's writings. God bless.
Issues of the great controversy
“Satan’s efforts to misrepresent the character of God, to cause men to cherish a false conception of the Creator, and thus to regard Him with fear and hate rather than with love; his endeavors to set aside the divine law, leading the people to think themselves free from its requirements; and his persecution of those who dare to resist his deceptions, have been steadfastly pursued in all ages." GC 12
Humans by themselves can not keep the law of God...however with the grace of God they can. It is unfortunate that some will mention in church that it is impossible ..period..to keep the law of God and thus echo Satan's lie.
Thank God I worship in a church that teaches that we can keep God\'s law by (or with) God\'s grace. Just as we are expected to keep the civil laws in whatever land or kingdom you currently live here on earth, God expects us to keep His laws, for they are the laws of His kingdom. If you are worshiping in a church that is teaching otherwise, then it would be time to leave that church. Stay blessed!!!
Hello to Brendon and many thanks for sending the information regarding free apps. for Mrs White's writings and other relevant information. I did not know any of this. I will chase it up as soon as I have someone to hold my hand (Pastor's son).
And Inge thank you for putting up all that information for me too. I didn't know about the Brisbane connection as from Norfolk Island most communication is to Sydney. My mother is an Islander (99 years next week) and goes back to the Pitcairn connection. However I have lived in Queensland most of my life since marriage and widowhood, so will definitely support the 'home' crew and contact the QLD shop. Thanks much you two.
Godbless today. Mrs A Stolz.
Hello Mrs. Stolz,
Perhaps I shouldn't assume that knew about the Ellen White site because we link to it regularly, and it is listed in our resources, but here is the official site for you and others who missed it:
EGWWritings.com
At the top of the page is a link for "Apps," and if you click on it with your mobile device, you'll be able to choose the iStore or the Google Play Store to install the EGW app which allows you to carry with you everything that is on the site. I believe that's what Brendon was referring to, and both the site and the app are very helpful for research. 🙂
If you don't have a smartphone or other mobile app, the Kindle format is the only way you'll be able to access the books electronically without an internet connection. You can also download an app to your regular computer to read the books available on Amazon. Many are free, but sometimes the ones that cost a bit are more nicely formatted and more pleasant to read.