Further Thought: “The message of Revelation 14:1-20, announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt. Since this message follows the warning of the judgment, it must be given in the last days; therefore it cannot refer to the Roman Church alone, for that church has been in … Continue reading –>
Here is another clue in clearly identifying the “mystery of Babylon the great.” Idolatry was at the heart of Babylonian worship. Read Jeremiah 50:33-38 and Jeremiah 51:17, Jeremiah 51:47. What do you discover in these verses about ancient Babylon’s worship of images and God’s response to it? Jeremiah 50:1-46 and 51 predict Babylon’s destruction by the Medes and Persians. … Continue reading –>
Revelation’s appeal is an urgent call to commitment, summarized in the symbolism of the two women in Revelation. Although at times it will appear that God’s people will be defeated in this cosmic controversy between truth and error, God promises that His church will triumph in the end. Compare Matthew 16:18 and Revelation 17:14. What promise did Jesus … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 17:4-6. What do these verses teach us about the nature of this evil system? As we have seen, Revelation 17:1-18 describes an apostate religious system that introduces into Christianity many of the teachings of Old Testament Babylon. “In order to search for an understanding of the nature of Babylon, we need to go back … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 17:1-2, Revelation 17:15 and Revelation 18:1-4. How extensive is Babylon’s influence? The fallen church system has an international reach influencing people around the world with her deceptions. Satan is enraged that the gospel will be proclaimed to every “nation, tribe, tongue, and people” and this “gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world,” so … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 17:14. How is God’s church described, and what is Satan’s reaction to it? Down through the centuries, God has always had a people who have been faithful to Him. Revelation 12:17 describes their faithfulness as those who “keep the commandments of God,” and also who are elsewhere depicted as “called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14, NKJV). … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Revelation 17:1-2, Revelation 17:15; Revelation 18:1-4; Revelation 17:4-6; Matthew 16:18; Jeremiah 50:33-38; Psalm 115:4-8. Memory Text: “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14, NKJV). The great controversy theme … Continue reading –>
Quandary of Two Books By Clifford Goldstein When I grew up in a secular Jewish home, the essence of my religious experience could be summed up by how we kept the holidays: They tried to kill us, they failed – let’s eat! Nevertheless, I was always a seeker for truth. In the fall of 1979, … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “The reason provided … to worship God is that He is the Creator. In the heavenly liturgy, celestial beings expressed the idea in a very succinct way: ‘For You created all things’ ([Rev.] 4:11, [NKJV]). On earth, God’s creatorship needs to be emphasized as much as possible, so the angel says, ‘Worship Him who … Continue reading –>
The Sabbath is a place of refuge in a weary world. Each week we leave the cares of this world and enter God’s retreat center — the Sabbath. The famed Jewish author, Abraham Heschel, calls the Sabbath “a palace in time.” — The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man (New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2005), p. … Continue reading –>
