To me, the Bible is the most personal and universal book ever written. When I read it I know God is personally talking to me, just as He was personally talking to Martin Luther as he read the Bible chained to the monastery wall in Europe in 1517, and just as He was personally talking … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Sinlessness and Salvation”, pages 353-357, in Selected Messages, book 3. The identity of the 144,000 is a hotly debated issue. What seems evident in Revelation is that the 144,000 are the last generation of God’s people in the closing days of this earth’s history. We know that they will go through the time … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 14:5 along with 2 Peter 3:14 and Jude 24-25. Revelation describes God’s end-time people as “without fault”. How is this state achievable? The final characteristic of the 144,000 is that “in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Rev. 14:5). While the people of the world choose to believe Satan’s … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 14:1-5. What are the three chief characteristics of the 144,000 saints? How are these characteristics related to the description of the end-time saints in Revelation 14:12? Revelation 14:4-5 is a description of the 144,000 that aligns with God’s last day people who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12). Although they … Continue reading –>
Restraining the winds. The introduction to our lesson this week contains 20 different references, mostly found in the Bible, to what is meant by the winds that the angels will restrain, and how you and I need to pay attention to the warnings God has sent us. “At the end,” the warning roars, “all the … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Revelation 7 is an interlude between the sixth and seventh seals. It tells us who will stand on the day of Christ’s coming – the 144,000. February 9, 2019 1. Have a volunteer read Revelation 7:1-3. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. … Continue reading –>
On opening this week’s lesson and commencing to read, the picture immediately brought to mind: Hymn 633, “When We All Get to Heaven”. What a day of rejoicing that will be! Sunday we are reminded the Sabbath has been the sign of God’s people and will be till the end of time: Hymn 388, “Don’t … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 7:9-10. What group of saints does John see at this point? How are they described, and where do they come from? What are they shouting before God’s throne? John sees a “great multitude, which no one could number”, who came “out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 7:4-8. What is the number of God’s sealed people? What is the meaning of that specific number? The announcement of the number of those who are sealed marks the completion of the sealing. John hears that their number is 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel. The reference here is not to a literal … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 7:1-3 along with 2 Peter 3:9-14. What does John see? How long are the angels supposed to restrain the winds? What will happen when the sealing is concluded? In the Old Testament, winds stand for destructive forces by which God executes judgments upon the wicked (Jer. 23:19-20; Dan. 7:2). “As the angels of God cease to hold in … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Revelation 7; 2 Pet. 3:9-14; Deut. 8:11-17; Rev. 14:4-5, 12; Rev. 17:5; Rom. 3:19-24. Memory Text: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14, NKJV). The opening of the seven seals shows us that every person who claims to believe … Continue reading –>
Last week I wrote about the church of Smyrna which endured great persecution for being faithful to God, even when facing death. Bible scholars of the historicist tradition agree that the church of Smyrna represents the Christian era from 100 to 313. This brings us to the church of Pergamos, which represents the time period … Continue reading –>
