July 28–August 3, 2002
MEMORY VERSE: “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” 3 John 1:11.
STUDY HELPS: Patriarchs and Prophets, 90–104; 156–170.
INTRODUCTION: “Before the Flood God sent Noah to warn the world, that the people might be led to repentance, and thus escape the threatened destruction. As the time of Christ’s second appearing draws near, the Lord sends His servants with a warning to the world to prepare for that great event. Multitudes have been living in transgression of God’s law, and now He in mercy calls them to obey its sacred precepts. All who will put away their sins by repentance toward God and faith in Christ are offered pardon.” Conflict and Courage, 41.
1 What type of social life will people have just before Christ’s return? Luke 17:26–28.
NOTE: “The same sins that brought judgments upon the world in the days of Noah, exist in our day. Men and women now carry their eating and drinking so far that it ends in gluttony and drunkenness. This prevailing sin, the indulgence of perverted appetite, inflamed the passions of men in the days of Noah, and led to widespread corruption. Violence and sin reached to heaven. This moral pollution was finally swept from the earth by means of the flood.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 146.
2 What conditions existed before the Flood? Genesis 6:2, 5, 11–13.
NOTE: “This is inspired testimony respecting the state of society in the days of Noah,—an accurate description of the generation that perished in the waters of the flood. . . . The fear of God had well-nigh died out of the hearts of the children of men. Lawlessness was rife, and almost every conceivable sin was practiced. The wickedness of men was open and daring, and the cries of the oppressed reached to heaven. Justice was trampled in the dust. The strong not only disregarded the rights of the weak, but forced them to commit deeds of violence and crime.” Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, July 1, 1887.
3 What were the conditions in Sodom and Gomorrah? Ezekiel 16:49, 50.
NOTE: “The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was on account of their great wickedness. They gave loose rein to their intemperate appetites, then to their corrupt passions, until they were so debased, and their sins were so abominable, that their cup of iniquity was full, and they were consumed with fire from heaven.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4a, 121.
4 What did Paul say about the moral conditions of the last day? 2 Timothy 3:1, 3, 4, first part.
NOTE: “Perilous times are before us. Every one who has a knowledge of the truth should awake, and place himself, body, soul, and spirit, under the discipline of God. The enemy is on our track. We must be wide awake, on our guard against him. We must put on the whole armor of God.” Gospel Workers, 308.
“The picture which the apostle Paul has drawn of the professed people of God in the last days is a sad but faithful delineation of the popular churches of our time. . . . And in view of the frequent and startling revelations of crime, even among those that minister in holy things, who dare affirm that there is one sin enumerated by the apostle which is not concealed under a profession of Christianity?” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 239.
5 During this time, what is the reaction of young people to parental authority? 2 Timothy 3:2.
NOTE: “The sin of rebellion against parental authority, lies at the very foundation of the misery and crime in the world today.” The Faith I Live By, 269.
“One of the signs of the ‘last days’ is the disobedience of children to their parents. And do parents realize their responsibility? Many seem to lose sight of the watch care they should ever have over their children, and suffer them to indulge in evil passions and to disobey them.” Child Guidance, 229.
6 What will be the consuming interest of people living in the last days? 2 Timothy 3:4, last part.
NOTE: “One of the sins that constitute one of the signs of the last days, is that professed Christians are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Deal truly with your own souls. Search carefully. How few, after a faithful examination, can look up to Heaven and say, I am not one of those thus described. I am not a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God. How few can say, I am dead to the world; the life I now live is by faith of the Son of God. My life is hid with Christ in God, and when he who is my life shall appear, then shall I also appear with him in glory. The love and grace of God! Oh precious grace! more valuable than fine gold. It elevates and ennobles the spirit beyond all other principles. It sets the heart and affections upon Heaven. While those around us may be engaged in worldly vanity, pleasure-seeking, and folly, the conversation is in heaven, whence we look for the Saviour; the soul is reaching out after God for pardon and peace, for righteousness and true holiness. Converse with God, and contemplation of things above, transform the soul into the likeness of Christ.” Review and Herald, May 11, 1886.
7 From whom are we to turn away? 2 Timothy 3:5.
NOTE: “Pleasure-lovers may have their names upon the church-records, they may stand high as worldly-wise men; but they have no connection with Christ of Calvary. . . . Be not deceived by them, do not imitate their practices.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 295.
“Many have a form of godliness, their names are upon the church records; but they have a spotted record in heaven. The recording angel has faithfully written their deeds. Every selfish act, every wrong word, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling, is faithfully chronicled in the book of records kept by the recording angel.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 442.
8 What course will men take in these last days on earth? 2 Timothy 3:13.
NOTE: “We must make up our minds that instead of matters taking a more favorable turn, wicked men, seducing teachers, will grow worse and worse, deceiving themselves and deceiving others. We may expect greater opposition than has yet been experienced. . . . We must now make Christ our refuge, or in the days before us our souls will be overwhelmed with darkness and despair. There is a point beyond which human help cannot avail. Every one must live by faith as he is forced into close and apparently deadly conflict with the powers of darkness. Each must stand or fall for himself. The arrows of the destroyer are about to be hurled against the faithful ones, and no earthly power can turn aside the shaft. But could our eyes be opened we could see angels of God encircling the righteous, that no harm may come upon them. . . .” Our High Calling, 362.
9 How did the antediluvians reap the results of their wickedness? Genesis 6:7; 7:11, 19, 21, 22.
NOTE: “From the highest peaks men looked abroad upon a shoreless ocean. The solemn warnings of God’s servant [Noah] no longer seemed a subject for ridicule and scorning. How those doomed sinners longed for the opportunities which they had slighted! How they pleaded for one hour’s probation, one more privilege of mercy, one call from the lips of Noah! But the sweet voice of mercy was no more to be heard by them. . . . The avenging waters swept over the retreat, and the despisers of God perished in the black depths.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 100, 101.
10 What wickedness caused God to rain fire from heaven to destroy men? Genesis 13:13; 19:4, 5.
NOTE: “In Abraham’s day the people of Sodom openly defied God and His law; and there followed the same wickedness, the same corruption, the same unbridled indulgence, that had marked the antediluvian world. The inhabitants of Sodom passed the limits of divine forbearance, and there was kindled against them the fire of God’s vengeance.” Prophets and Kings, 297.
11 At the end of time, how will God again cleanse the earth? 2 Peter 3:10.
NOTE: “The hand of omnipotence is at no loss for ways and means to accomplish his purposes. He could reach into the bowels of the earth and call forth his weapons, waters there concealed, to aid in the destruction of the corrupt inhabitants of the old world. . . . Water will never destroy the earth again, but the weapons of God are concealed in the bowels of the earth which he will draw forth to unite with the fire from heaven to accomplish his purpose in the destruction of all those who would not receive the message of warning and purify their souls in obeying the truth and being obedient to the laws of God.” Signs of the Times, January 3, 1878.
12 What is the last message to be sent to our world? Revelation 14:6–12.
NOTE: “The Three Angels’ Messages are to be combined, giving their threefold light to the world. In the Revelation, John says, ‘I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.’ [Revelation 18:1.] . . . This represents the giving of the last and threefold message of warning to the world.” Maranatha, 173.
13 What message are we to be giving to the people who are in error about the true worship of God? Revelation 18:1–4.
NOTE: “Angels were sent to aid the mighty angel from heaven, and I heard voices which seemed to sound everywhere, [Revelation 18:4, 5 quoted]. This message seemed to be an addition to the third message, joining it as the midnight cry joined the second angel’s message in 1844. The glory of God rested upon the patient, waiting saints, and they fearlessly gave the last solemn warning, proclaiming the fall of Babylon and calling upon God’s people to come out of her that they might escape her fearful doom.” Early Writings, 277, 278.
“Many of the honest in heart are gasping for a breath of life from heaven. They will recognize the gospel when it is brought to them in the beauty and simplicity with which it is presented in God’s Word.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 110, 111.