Bible Study Guides – Parallel Messages of the First and Second Advent Movements

March 27, 2005 – April 2, 2005

Memory Verse

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

Suggested Reading: John 6:25–69; The Desire of Ages, 383–385, 390–394; The Great Controversy, 582, 583, 593, 594, 603–605.

Introduction

In this lesson, we are going to study the similarities between the chapter in The Desire of Ages entitled “The Crisis in Galilee” and those chapters in The Great Controversy entitled “The Impending Conflict,” “The Scriptures A Safeguard,” and “The Final Warning.” The similarities of “The Crisis in Galilee” to these three chapters in The Great Controversy and the attitudes of the people to which they were addressed have very significant meaning to the people of God during the second advent movement.

The Impending Conflict in Both Advent Movements

1 Identify at least three sentences in the following paragraph that reveal that there is an impending conflict. For Jewish type, see Malachi 3:1–3; John 6:14, 15, 60, 66.

note: “When Christ forbade the people to declare Him king, He knew a turning point in His history was reached. Multitudes who desired to exalt Him to the throne today would turn from Him tomorrow. The disappointment of their selfish ambition would turn their love to hatred, and their praise to curses. Yet knowing this, He took no measures to avert the crisis. From the first He had held out to His followers no hope of earthly rewards. . . . If men could have had the world with Christ, multitudes would have proffered Him their allegiance; but such service He could not accept. Of those now connected with Him there were many who had been attracted by the hope of a worldly kingdom. These must be undeceived. The deep spiritual teaching in the miracle of the loaves had not been comprehended. This was to be made plain. And this new revelation would bring with it a closer test.” The Desire of Ages, 383.

2 From the reference above and The Great Controversy reference below, find two problems common to the people of both advent movements. For Jewish type, see 1 Corinthians 1:22, 23.

note: “Papists, who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church, will be readily deceived by this wonder-working power; and Protestants, having cast away the shield of truth, will also be deluded. Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium.” The Great Controversy, 588, 589.

3 Describe the attitude of the crowd in the synagogue at Capernaum after they rejected Christ’s statements of divine truth. John 6:52, 61.

note: “Their dissatisfied hearts queried why, if Jesus could perform so many wondrous works as they had witnessed, could He not give health, strength, and riches to all His people, free them from their oppressors, and exalt them to power and honor? The fact that He claimed to be the Sent of God, and yet refused to be Israel’s king, was a mystery which they could not fathom. His refusal was misinterpreted. Many concluded that He dared not assert His claims because He Himself doubted as to the divine character of His mission. Thus they opened their hearts to unbelief, and the seed which Satan had sown bore fruit of its kind, in misunderstanding and defection.” The Desire of Ages, 385.

4 What similar characteristics are found among the enemies of God’s people in the second advent movement? John 6:60–66; 11 Timothy 3:1–5; 11 Thessalonians 2:9–11.

note: “Thousands who pride themselves upon their wisdom and independence regard it as an evidence of weakness to place implicit confidence in the Bible; they think it a proof of superior talent and learning to cavil at the Scriptures and to spiritualize and explain away their most important truths.” The Great Controversy, 583.

comment: In The Desire of Ages, 383–390, and in The Great Controversy, 582–586, we see that in both advent movements a large group of people turned against the words of Jesus and His Word. This turning back on the part of His professed believers causes a major crisis in both advent movements.

The Scriptures a Safeguard in Both Advent Movements

5 Where were the people of Galilee to find their spiritual life? John 6:63.

note: “The life of Christ that gives life to the world is in His word. It was by His word that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons; by His word He stilled the sea, and raised the dead; and the people bore witness that His word was with power. He spoke the word of God, as He had spoken through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament. The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ, and the Saviour desired to fix the faith of His followers on the word. When His visible presence should be withdrawn, the word must be their source of power. Like their Master, they were to live ‘by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4.” The Desire of Ages, 390.

6 What were “His disciples” to find in the study of the Scriptures? John 6:63.

note: “By looking constantly to Jesus with the eye of faith, we shall be strengthened. God will make the most precious revelations to His hungering, thirsting people. They will find that Christ is a personal Saviour. As they feed upon His word, they find that it is spirit and life. The word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and the heart receives the divine similitude.” The Desire of Ages, 391.

7 Who only will stand through the last great conflict? Revelation 14:12.

note: “Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men?” The Great Controversy, 593, 594.

8 What is the highest duty of every rational being today? Acts 17:11; John 12:35; 1 John 1:7.

note: “It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light and encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought and comparing scripture with scripture.” The Great Controversy, 598.

comment: In the crisis in Galilee and in the final conflict in the second advent movement, the Scriptures are the safeguard for the people. It was those who believed the Word that passed the test in the first advent and it will be those that fortify the mind with the truths of the Bible that will succeed during the second advent movement.

The Final Warning in Both Advent Movements

9 What happened to “His disciples” who turned their backs on Jesus in the crisis in Galilee? John 6:66.

note: “By the public rebuke of their unbelief these disciples were still further alienated from Jesus. They were greatly displeased, and wishing to wound the Saviour and gratify the malice of the Pharisees, they turned their backs upon Him, and left Him with disdain. They had made their choice,—had taken the form without the spirit, the husk without the kernel. Their decision was never afterward reversed; for they walked no more with Jesus.” The Desire of Ages, 392.

10 Describe the work that Jesus was doing in the crisis in Galilee. Luke 3:16, 17.

note: “ ‘Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner.’ Matthew 3:12. This was one of the times of purging. By the words of truth, the chaff was being separated from the wheat. Because they were too vain and self-righteous to receive reproof, too world-loving to accept a life of humility, many turned away from Jesus.” The Desire of Ages, 392.

11 As the people in the synagogue in Capernaum were brought to the place where they had to decide whether they would accept or reject Jesus (John 6:53–59), what will also be required of the people during the final warning of the second advent movement? Revelation 16:15.

note: “But not one is made to suffer the wrath of God until the truth has been brought home to his mind and conscience, and has been rejected. There are many who have never had an opportunity to hear the special truths for this time. The obligation of the fourth commandment has never been set before them in its true light. He who reads every heart and tries every motive will leave none who desire a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the controversy. . . . Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his decision intelligently.” The Great Controversy, 605.

12 What will the great final test do? Matthew 6:24; 1 Kings 18:21.

note: “The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false Sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God’s law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God.” The Great Controversy, 605.

comment: As the decision of “His disciples” at the crisis in Galilee was their final decision, so the decision of every individual concerning the seventh-day Sabbath will be their final test during the final warning.