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 –>
Adopted at a Funeral By Andrew McChesney Mourners gathered for the funeral of the young mother at the Seventh-day Adventist church in Milange, a town just 2 miles (3 kilometers) from Mozambique’s border with Malawi. The woman had died of HIV complications just five days after giving birth to a baby boy. Her HIV-positive … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The World’s Need”, pages 457-460, in Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers. The vision of the opening of the seven seals points symbolically to God’s care for, and discipline of, His people on earth. As Kenneth A. Strand has pointed out: “In Scripture there is assurance that God has always cared for … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: The breaking of the seals refers to the preaching of the gospel to the seven churches in Christian history. February 2, 2019 1. Have a volunteer read Revelation 6:3,4. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. What do the symbols of a horse … Continue reading –>
In the fifth seal, we see God’s people suffering injustice in a hostile world, crying for God’s intervention on their behalf. The time has come for God to intervene in answer to the prayers of His people. Read Revelation 6:12-14 along with Matthew 24:29-30 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10. What is being revealed here? The last three signs of the sixth … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 6:9-10. What is happening here? The word “soul” in the Bible denotes the whole person (Gen. 2:7). The martyrdom of God’s faithful and persecuted people is portrayed here in terms of the sacrificial blood poured out at the base of the earthly sanctuary’s altar of sacrifice (Exod. 29:12, Lev. 4:7). God’s people have suffered injustice and death … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 6:7-8. What scene is portrayed here? How is this scene related to the previous one? The color of the horse in the fourth seal is expressed with the Greek word chloros, which is the ashen-gray color of a decomposing corpse. The rider’s name is Death; meanwhile, Hades, the place of the dead, accompanies him. These … Continue reading –>
The seals. Not sea creatures, but symbols of what? What does “opening of the seals” mean to Christians today? Who only is able to open the seals in the proclaiming of God’s final message to the world? What comes to an end with the opening of the seventh and last seal? The first seal is … Continue reading –>
The breaking of the seven seals is telling us: “Go, Preach My Gospel”, Hymn 378. Sunday calls for us to be awake: Hymn 210, “Wake, Awake for the Night is Flying”, Hymn 598, “Watch, Ye Saints”, and Hymn 611, “Awake, My Soul!”. As were the martyrs (Wednesday), are we ready to “Stand Up! Stand Up … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 6:3-4. On the basis of the description of the red horse and the rider, what is being talked about here in reference to the gospel? Red is the color of blood. The rider has a great sword and is allowed to take peace from the earth, which opens the way for people to kill … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 6:1-8 along with Leviticus 26:21-26 and Matthew 24:1-14. Note the common key words in these texts. What do you learn about the meaning of the first four seals on the basis of these parallels? The events of the seven seals must be understood in the context of the Old Testament covenant curses, specified in terms of sword, famine, … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Rev. 6:1-17, Lev. 26:21-26, Ezek. 4:16, Deut. 32:43, 2 Thess. 1:7-10. Memory Text: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to … Continue reading –>
