The Time of the End - Steps to Life

January 25 – 31, 2026

Key Text

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37

Study Help: Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, 306–313; The Great Controversy, 582–592

Introduction

“It was because of their wickedness that they [the Antediluvians] were destroyed; and today the world is following the same way.” The Desire of Ages, 633

Sunday

1 THESE LAST DAYS

1.a. How did Christ depict the conditions prevalent in the world in these last days? Matthew 24:6–8, 37–39

Note: “When the Saviour pointed out to His followers the signs of His return, He foretold the state of backsliding that would exist just prior to His second advent. There would be, as in the days of Noah, the activity and stir of worldly business and pleasure seeking—buying, selling, planting, building, marrying, and giving in marriage—with forgetfulness of God and the future life.” The Great Controversy, 309

1.b. What can be seen even among churchgoers today? 2 Timothy 3:1–5; Matthew 24:12

Note: “Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.” The Desire of Ages, 636

Monday

2 SPIRITUAL DECADENCE

2.a. What has been the condition of the professed Christian churches since 1844? Revelation 3:1, last part. What fearful denunciation rests upon the churches? Matthew 7:21–23

Note: “The unhappiness and degradation that follow in the train of licentiousness cannot be estimated. The world is defiled under its inhabitants. They have nearly filled up the measure of their iniquity; but that which will bring the heaviest retribution is the practice of iniquity under the cloak of godliness. The Redeemer of the world never spurned true repentance, however great the guilt; but He hurls burning denunciations against Pharisees and hypocrites. There is more hope for the open sinner than for this class.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 144

2.b. How can we be in danger of imitating the evil servant in the parable? What will be the end of these professed believers? Matthew 24:48–51

Note: “The evil servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delayeth his coming.’ He does not say that Christ will not come. He does not scoff at the idea of His second coming. But in his heart and by his actions and words he declares that the Lord’s coming is delayed. He banishes from the mind of others the conviction that the Lord is coming quickly. His influence leads men to presumptuous, careless delay. They are confirmed in their worldliness and stupor. Earthly passions, corrupt thoughts take possession of the mind. The evil servant eats and drinks with the drunken, unites with the world in pleasure seeking. He smites his fellow servants, accusing and condemning those who are faithful to their Master. He mingles with the world. Like grows with like in transgression. …

“Men are putting afar off the coming of the Lord. They laugh at warnings. The proud boast is made, ‘All things continue as they were from the beginning.’ ‘Tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.’ (2 Peter 3:4; Isaiah 56:12). We will go deeper into pleasure loving. But Christ says, ‘Behold, I come as a thief’ (Revelation 16:15). At the very time when the world is asking in scorn, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’ the signs are fulfilling. While they cry, ‘Peace and safety,’ sudden destruction is coming. When the scorner, the rejecter of truth, has become presumptuous; when the routine of work in the various money-making lines is carried on without regard to principle; when the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of everything but his Bible, Christ comes as a thief.” The Desire of Ages, 635

Tuesday

3 DECEPTIONS

3.a. What types of deception will lead many souls to perdition? Revelation 13:13; Matthew 24:23, 24. What is our only safeguard? Isaiah 8:20

Note: “Even now false christs and false prophets are showing signs and wonders to seduce His [Christ’s] disciples.” The Desire of Ages, 631

“Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.” The Great Controversy, 593

“Except those who are kept by the power of God, through faith in His word, the whole world will be swept into the ranks of this delusion. The people are fast being lulled to a fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God.” Ibid., 562

3.b. What will be the climax in the work of deception? Matthew 24:26; 2 Corinthians 11:14

Note: “Satan came as an angel of light in the wilderness of temptation to deceive Christ; and he does not come to man in a hideous form, as he is sometimes represented, but as an angel of light. He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ. What shall we do?—Tell them that Christ has warned us against just such a foe, who is man’s worst enemy, yet who claims to be God; and that when Christ shall make His appearance, it will be with power and great glory, accompanied by ten thousand times ten thousand angels and thousands of thousands; and that when He shall come, we shall know His voice.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, 1105, 1106

Wednesday

4 TROUBLOUS TIMES

4.a. What attitude prevails in these last days? Luke 18:8; 2 Peter 3:3, 4

Note: “Marvelous beyond expression is the blindness of the people of this generation. Thousands reject the word of God as unworthy of belief and with eager confidence receive the deceptions of Satan. Skeptics and scoffers denounce the bigotry of those who contend for the faith of prophets and apostles, and they divert themselves by holding up to ridicule the solemn declarations of the Scriptures concerning Christ and the plan of salvation, and the retribution to be visited upon the rejecters of the truth. They affect great pity for minds so narrow, weak, and superstitious as to acknowledge the claims of God and obey the requirements of His law. They manifest as much assurance as if, indeed, they had made a covenant with death and an agreement with hell—as if they had erected an impassable, impenetrable barrier between themselves and the vengeance of God. Nothing can arouse their fears. So fully have they yielded to the tempter, so closely are they united with him, and so thoroughly imbued with his spirit, that they have no power and no inclination to break away from his snare.” The Great Controversy, 561

4.b. How will the faithful people of God be treated because of their adherence to the truth? Matthew 24:9; Luke 21:16–18

Note: “Persecution in its varied forms is the development of a principle which will exist as long as Satan exists and Christianity has vital power.” The Great Controversy, 610

“The authorities will make laws to restrict religious liberty. They will assume the right that is God’s alone. They will think they can force the conscience which God alone should control. Even now they are making a beginning; this work they will continue to carry forward till they reach a boundary over which they cannot step. God will interpose in behalf of His loyal, commandment-keeping people.” The Desire of Ages, 630

Thursday

5 WARNINGS AND PROMISES

5.a. What admonitions apply to those who are looking forward to the soon coming of Christ? Luke 21:34–36; Matthew 24:4; 25:13

Note: “In consideration of the shortness of time we as a people should watch and pray, and in no case allow ourselves to be diverted from the solemn work of preparation for the great event before us. Because the time is apparently extended, many have become careless and indifferent in regard to their words and actions. They do not realize their danger and do not see and understand the mercy of our God in lengthening their probation, that they may have time to form characters for the future, immortal life. Every moment is of the highest value. Time is granted them, not to be employed in studying their own ease and becoming dwellers on the earth, but to be used in the work of overcoming every defect in their own characters and in helping others, by example and personal effort, to see the beauty of holiness. God has a people upon the earth who in faith and holy hope are tracing down the roll of fast-fulfilling prophecy and are seeking to purify their souls by obeying the truth, that they may not be found without the wedding garment when Christ shall appear.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, 306, 307

5.b. If we are faithful to Christ, what help is assured us? Luke 21:14, 15; Isaiah 43:1, 2

Note: “Despised of men, persecuted, forsaken, God’s children in every age have nevertheless been sustained by His sure promises. By faith they have looked forward to the time when He will fulfill to His church the assurance, ‘I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.’ (Isaiah 60:15).

“Often the church militant is called upon to suffer trial and affliction; for not without severe conflict is the church to triumph. ‘The bread of adversity,’ ‘the water of affliction’ (Isaiah 30:20), these are the common lot of all; but none who put their trust in the One mighty to deliver will be utterly overwhelmed.” Prophets and Kings, 722, 723

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

What preoccupations may be afflicting us even now?
How may we be as guilty as the evil servant in the parable?
Name some deceptions during earth’s final days.
Why should we pity the plight of scoffers?
What should be our main concern as the end draws nearer?