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God’s Omnipotence

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In Daniel 4:13, Daniel tells of his experience when King Nebuchadnezzar asked Daniel to explain his dream about a watcher and a holy one. In the dream, the watcher was a guest, though uninvited, at Belshazzar’s sacrilegious feast, decades later, after which his kingdom was taken from him.

The king let wine, power, and pride control him, and he took the lead in the riotous blasphemy occurring at this feast.

This same watcher who had come to Nebuchadnezzar, looked on this scene of debauchery and the desecration of the sacred temple articles during Belshazzar’s feast, and soon, the unseen and uninvited guest had seen enough and made His presence felt. At the moment when the sacrilegious revelry was at its height, a bloodless hand came forth and moved along the wall, tracing flaming characters of doom.

“ ‘Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin’ was written in letters of fire. Only four characters were traced by that hand on the wall facing the king, but they showed that the power of God was there.”

Belshazzar had been given many opportunities to know and do God’s will. He had seen his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar, banished from the society of men. He had seen the intellect in which the proud monarch gloried taken away by the One who had given it. He had seen the king driven from his kingdom and made the companion of the beasts of the field. But Belshazzar’s love of amusement and self-glorification overshadowed the lessons he should never have forgotten; and he committed sins similar to those that had brought judgments on Nebuchadnezzar. He wasted the opportunities graciously granted him, neglecting to take advantage of the opportunities within his reach to learn the truth. “What must I do to be saved?” was a question that the great but foolish king thought unworthy of consideration.

We know the rest of the story. Daniel was called in to explain to the king the meaning of the words that the hand of the Omnipotent one had burned into the wall of the banquet hall.

Could the curtain be rolled back before those who have never given their hearts to God, with others who are Christians in name but who are unrenewed in heart and unsanctified in temper, they would see that God’s eye is ever upon them. They would feel as shaken from their carnal security as was the king of Babylon. They would realize that in every place, at every hour in the day, there is a holy Watcher who balances every account, whose eye takes in the whole situation, whether that situation is one of faithfulness or one of disloyalty and deception.

This scene should remind us that we are never alone. We have a companion, whether we choose Him or not. Remember that wherever we are, whatever we are doing, God is always with us. To our every word and action, we have a witness—the holy, sin-hating God. Nothing that is said, or done, or thought, can escape His infinite eye. Our words may not be heard by human ears, but they are heard by the Ruler of the universe. He reads the inward anger of the soul when the will is crossed. He senses the offense we feel when we think we have been slighted. He hears the expression of profanity, whether vocalized or not. In the deepest darkness and solitude, He is there. No one can deceive God; none can escape from their accountability to Him.

While this fact should be a cause for alarm to the unfaithful, it is a reason for hope and encouragement for the faithful. Knowing that our God watches over us every moment of every day should be of great comfort to those who continually seek to know and do His will. David undoubtedly had this thought in mind when he wrote Psalm 139.

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’ even the night shall be light about me; indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 139:1–18

Thus, David speaks of the omnipresence of God:

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”

Acknowledgment of this component of God’s personality, for want of a better word, leads to consideration of another aspect of God that is now manifested and will be even more magnificently revealed once time and eternity meet—His omnipotence. The combination of the two—His omnipresence and His omnipotence—speak to the incomprehensible nature of His power.

Consider these statements from the pen of Inspiration that address this all-powerful aspect of His nature.

BAPTISM

“The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, powers infinite and omniscient, receive those who truly enter into covenant relation with God. They are present at every baptism.” God’s Amazing Grace, 143

Undoubtedly, more than one baptism occurs at any given time throughout the world. Nevertheless, we are told that Jesus is one of the Holy Three who are present at every one.

Baptisms might be considered singular events. At any baptism, it is usually one person being baptized at a time. However, Inspiration speaks of events when there will be untold numbers of saints being served, apparently in incomprehensibly quick succession, if not simultaneously.

“My brethren and sisters, God is your strength, and He does not want you to go crippling along in this life. And when you enter the gate of the New Jerusalem you will read over the gate, ‘Blessed are they that do His commandments.’

“Jesus will welcome you, and with His own hand place the crown upon the brow of all those who enter there.” Sermons and Talks, Book 1, 45, 46

Just how many are there upon whose brows Jesus will place the crown of life? In Genesis 32, we find the story of Jacob’s return from serving Laban and his anticipation of meeting Esau, who he fears is intent on his destruction. In verse 12, appealing to God for protection, Jacob reminds God that He had assured him that his descendants would be as the sands of the sea.

We can speculate about how many that might be, but the Internet provides a clue. It reports that one cup of sand can contain anywhere from two million to 15 million grains of sand, depending on the size of the grains and their degree of packing density. The total number of grains of sand worldwide is a number too great for finite minds to comprehend. Nevertheless, we are assured that Jesus Himself will individually crown all of Jacob’s descendants, “which cannot be numbered for multitude.”

In Exodus 32:13, Moses is pleading with the Lord to spare the rebellious Israelites who have just made and worshiped a golden calf. He states, “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom you swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven … .’ ”

Here is another number that is too great for the finite mind to comprehend. There are an estimated 200 billion trillion stars in the observable universe, according to astronomers. That’s 200 sextillion, or a 2 followed by 23 zeroes. This number is derived by multiplying the estimated number of galaxies in the universe by the average number of stars, like those found in the Milky Way, in a galaxy.

Just how Jesus will crown that many is another fact beyond the comprehension of the finite mind.

Now consider this statement:

“… those who love and obey God will partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb in the kingdom of God, and Jesus Himself will serve them.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 16, 63

That will be quite a feast, and the thought of being individually served by the Master Servant is quite humbling.

Clearly, the Son of God possesses attributes that we cannot comprehend from our finite, human perspective. When we read these inspired statements regarding His accomplished acts, which seem completely impossible to us, we can only exclaim in awe, “Our God is an awesome God.”

John R. Pearson is the office manager and Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.

Is Sin Inherited?

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It is very important for us to understand what Christ was so we know what we are to become.

There was war.

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael [Hebrew meaning “One who is like God”] and His angels fought with the dragon [Satan]; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7–9

War broke out in heaven and its peaceful atmosphere was completely shattered. Every single angel in heaven was on one side or the other in this war. But we see that Satan and his angels were unable to prevail and were forced out of heaven, cast out, banished to this world.

Before the war, heaven’s angels had lived happy and harmoniously with each other for millennia, but Satan had sewn doubt among the angelic host. Every war begins with some type of disagreement or argument between the parties involved. The war in heaven was caused by a disagreement. How could this happen? It is very important for us to know what the argument was about because it still exists in the world today, and each one of us must decide on whose side of the disagreement we are.

God had a problem.

“It was difficult to uproot Satan from the affection of the angels in heaven.” Christ Triumphant, 216

The Father could have stopped Lucifer immediately. Instead, He permitted him to continue his work of disaffection until it erupted in active revolt, and the true nature of his plans could be seen by all (The Faith I Live By, 70). God gave all the angels a choice. Believe the lies of Lucifer and join in his rebellion against God or trust and obey the Creator and remain loyal to His Son, Michael. Neutrality was not an option, neither then, nor now.

“He [Lucifer] took the position that the law of God was against the heavenly intelligences, and the warfare and controversy between Christ and Satan was started in heaven and is going on in the earth to the present day.” Ibid.

Satan’s assertion was that the law of God is too restrictive. He first insinuated that the angels, though created beings, were pure and strong enough to make their own decisions about right and wrong. The law was not needed for them. The great majority of people in the world today, even professed Christians, claim this as a right. They will say, “I have a right to choose what I will believe and do.” It is easy to see that they are opposed to one or more of the principles of God’s law.

Today, people everywhere, Christians, too, are breaking the seventh commandment, especially the young people. It is difficult to find someone who honors and cares for their parents as we are instructed in the fifth commandment. There are church-going people who believe that one day during the week is good enough to worship God, thereby breaking the fourth commandment. The devil says that the law of God is against us, that it is burdensome and unnecessary.

The devil was not alone.

“It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your law as void. Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!” Psalm 119:126, 127

Not only was the devil cast out of heaven. The angels who sympathized with him were cast out, too.

Sympathy is a good emotion. The Bible says to treat people the way you would want them to treat you (Matthew 7:12) and to esteem others better than yourself (Philippians 2:3). Sympathy causes us to reach out when someone is in pain, or when we observe the helplessness of a person in need, leading us to provide aid. But it can also be a very dangerous thing. When we sympathize with sin, we are on the devil’s side of the great controversy. God has no sympathy for sin of any kind nor for those who side with the devil. Christ said the law of God is honorable, and you need to keep it. But too many refuse to do God’s will, and thereby, are sympathizing with the devil.

“Angels of great power were expelled from heaven because of the spirit of self-exaltation. They felt that they should be above Christ.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 76

This will become more clear at the end of the millennium when all the wicked are raised. They have said that if you believe in Christ, you don’t need to keep the law. But the Christian world in this generation will see that they were wrong. They will see something they didn’t expect: Christ sitting on a throne, not as our Saviour, but as our Judge. In His hands He holds two tables of stone. It is then that they realize you cannot belong to Christ and break the law.

When Satan was cast out to this earth, he decided to take revenge on God by capturing this world and establishing his kingdom here. But the devil had a problem because he didn’t own this world. This world wasn’t his; it had been given to someone else. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ ” Genesis 1:26–28. God gave the entire world to Adam and Eve, including dominion over every living thing. The only way the devil could set up his kingdom in this world was to wrest it from its rightful owners.

A master strategist.

So, the devil set about developing a strategy to overcome Adam and Eve. He would persuade them to give their allegiance to him instead of to the God of heaven. He started by telling a series of lies and using trickery. Once the devil obtained control over Adam and Eve, it was a simple matter of continued deception and the world became his by deception.

However, if you obtain something, anything, by deception, is it really yours? Absolutely not. You stole it. “By whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19, last part. Adam and Eve were brought into bondage. By choosing to believe Satan, they were no longer free.

God designed that Adam and Eve would have children. Their character was perfect; they were sinless, and their children would be perfect and sinless. The children of Adam and Eve were to go out from the garden of Eden and establish other gardens of Eden all over the world; but the devil kept that from happening. It looked like for a long time that he would succeed, but there was only one Person in the whole universe that could actually solve this problem, redeem the human race, and give them back their freedom.

You can be free

God wants you to be free, but human beings are in bondage to sin. However, the plan of salvation was devised to set you free from that bondage. No sinner can have eternal life unless he has been set free from the guilt and power of sin; only then will he receive the gift of eternal life.

The angels who were cast out of heaven with Lucifer wanted to exalt themselves above Christ. They didn’t need to follow the law. They were created perfect, and therefore, they could determine right from wrong on their own. This was Lucifer’s argument in heaven, and it has been the same argument for over 6,000 years. Sin came in through the desire for self-exaltation

The plan of salvation was established by Jesus. It said that Christ would humiliate Himself by coming to this world as a man, and fighting the devil as we must fight him. Christ would prove that mankind can keep the law of God in spite of the devil’s temptations.

But that’s not what Satan wanted.

Lucifer had become jealous of Christ. He wanted, first, to be equal with Him, but soon he wanted to be like God, until he settled on being God. He would make heaven a place of freedom, where all could choose to live as they deemed right. After all, they were perfect, and they would make perfect choices; therefore, the law of God was not necessary for them, and neither was His government.

How does one change a government? By changing its laws. And what do we know about God’s law? It is the transcript of His character, embodying the principles of His kingdom (God’s Amazing Grace, 141). To abolish the law of God and His government, would mean God would have to change, and we know that He does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Satan does not have the power to change God, His law, or His government.

“Satan wished to change the government of God.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 16, 180

“Satan wished to change the government of God, to fix his own seal to the rules of God’s kingdom. … Working in secrecy but known to God, Lucifer became a deceiving character.

“He was expelled from heaven … .” Ibid.

Falsehood for truth, deceit, through these and many other tools of his trade, Satan created his kingdom on this Earth. He whose deceiving power was so great that he persuaded one-third of the angels in heaven to unite with him against God and Jesus Christ, their Creator, has found mortal man to be easy subjects.

His claims would be false.

“He knew that all his claims to the kingdoms of the world were false and could not be sustained unless he should overcome Christ.

“It is impossible to take in the depth and the force of these temptations. …

“Christ’s perfect humanity is the same that man may have through connection with Christ.” Ibid., 181

Alone, man does not have perfect humanity, but he may have it through connection with Christ. “As Christ humbled Himself to the nature of man, He could be tempted. He had not taken on Him even the nature of the angels, but humanity, perfectly identical with our own nature, except without the taint of sin.” Ibid., 182

His nature was perfectly identical to ours except without the taint of sin. If you cannot understand anything else about Christ’s human nature, you must understand this, it was “without the taint of sin.”

“A human body, a human mind, with all the peculiar properties, He was bone, brain, and muscle. A man of our flesh, He was compassed with the weakness of humanity. The circumstances of His life were of that character that He was exposed to all the inconveniences that belong to men, not in wealth, not in ease, but in poverty and want and humiliation. He breathed the very air man must breathe. He trod our earth as man. He had reason, conscience, memory, will, and affections of the human soul which was united with His divine nature.

“He was capable of yielding to temptations, as are human beings. His finite nature was pure and spotless, but the divine nature that led Him to say to Philip, ‘He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father’ also, was not humanized; neither was humanity deified by the blending or union of the two natures; each retained its essential character and properties.

“But here we must not become in our ideas common and earthly and in our perverted ideas we must not think that the liability of Christ to yield to Satan’s temptations degraded His humanity and He possessed the same sinful, corrupt propensities as man.” Ibid.

We must not think that He possessed the same sinful propensities that human beings have. He had our weaknesses but not our guilt, not the taint of sin.

“The divine nature, combined with the human, made Him capable of yielding to Satan’s temptations. Here the test to Christ was far greater than that of Adam and Eve, for Christ took our nature, fallen but not corrupted, and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God.” Ibid., 182, 183

To have an eternal kingdom of his own, Satan knew he must overcome Christ. He felt this could be accomplished when Christ came to Earth as a man. After all, man is so easily deceived. And we read in 2 Peter 2, that when man was overcome, he was in bondage to the one who overcame him. The entire human race was brought into bondage to Satan—Adam and all of his posterity. Now he must overcome Christ.

God had a plan.

”God made every provision in man’s behalf, creating him only a little lower than the angels. Adam disobeyed, and entailed sin upon his posterity; but God gave His Son for the redemption of the race.” Ibid., Vol. 6, 3. The word entail means “something transmitted as if by unalterable inheritance.”

The angels understood this from the beginning. They were sorrowful because they understood that all the descendants of Adam and Eve would not only have to die, but, they would never wake up, for the price of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23).

The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

The Bible also says that when a person dies the body returns to dust and the spirit goes back to God who gave it. When a person dies in this world, they don’t go to a physical heaven or hell. They rest in the grave until everyone is resurrected—good and bad—just not at the same time.

If you are good, you will be resurrected when Christ comes. If you are bad, you will be part of the resurrection of the damned. The good will be changed from mortal to immorality and will go with Jesus to His home, a physical heaven. This is called the first death. But the bad, will not be resurrected until the end of the millennium, and ultimately will perish in the lake of fire. Not an ever-burning hell, but a fire so hot that it will not only burn up every man, woman, and child until there is nothing left but ash, but it will also destroy sin, root and branch. Sin and sinners will be gone forever. God sent His Son to this world so that we would never have to face eternal death, if we would only believe in Him.

We are born into this world as sinners with an evil nature (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23), and it is this nature that must be changed if we are to be with Jesus in the kingdom of heaven.

“It is at an immense cost that we have been placed on the high vantage ground where we can be liberated from the bondage of sin, which has been wrought by the fall of Adam.” Christ Triumphant, 215

An immense cost! The life of Jesus Christ so that I can be liberated from the bondage of sin.

“He [Christ] made the infinite sacrifice not only that sin might be removed, but that human nature might be restored, re-beautified, reconstructed from its ruins, and made fit for the presence of God.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 11

The Lord wants to reconstruct our nature back to His own image, like we were meant to be from the beginning. Have you been liberated? Do you want to go to the kingdom of heaven? Then this transformation must happen. And here is the really good news, it can happen to every person.

“It is the privilege of every believer in Christ to possess Christ’s nature, a nature far above that which Adam forfeited by transgression.” The Upward Look, 18

Christianity is a process.

Jesus accepts us the way we are, but He does not leave us that way. It is His supreme desire to change us, to make us completely over like Himself, and He can do it. No one can say they are too bad to be changed. If we yield ourselves to Him, obey and follow Him, He will change us and restore our nature into His own image.

“Let us realize the weakness of humanity, and see where man fails in his self-sufficiency. We shall then be filled with a desire to be just what God desires us to be—pure, noble, sanctified. We shall hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Christ. To be like God will be the one desire of the soul.”
The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, 1087

“Salvation is a gift offered to you free; on no other condition can you obtain it, only as a free gift. But cooperation on your part is essential for your salvation. …

“There must be a cooperation of the human with the divine. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord; but Jesus is ready to receive you now; and if you will only believe that He is your Saviour, that He died to redeem you, He will be found of you as the most precious friend.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 19

If we could have paid the price of salvation ourselves, Christ would not have had to die. But we could not pay the price in the first place, so He came and paid it for us, making salvation free to all who would accept it.

Do you want your sinful nature to be changed? The Lord has promised to change every member of mankind if they will but accept His salvation and surrender themselves—heart, body, and soul—to Him. How much does God want to change us? Look to the cross and Christ’s life on this earth. Christ is the Pattern Man. Though we cannot change ourselves, we must never say that it is impossible for us to be changed. Every necessity needed for this transformation to occur is promised and provided, according to God’s promise if we will believe (Philippians 1:6, 7).

They were ready.

When sin entered the world, the Godhead was ready to meet the crisis. Christ assembled the two-thirds of the angels who remained faithful to Him, and they went to war, casting Lucifer and his angels out of heaven. Then He explained the plan of salvation to the remaining heavenly host.

“When Christ first announced to the heavenly host His mission and work in the world, He declared that He was to leave His position of dignity and disguise His holy mission by assuming the likeness of a man, when in reality He was the Son of the infinite God.” Christ Triumphant, 227

Sadly, however, when the Son of the Infinite God, came to His chosen people, all they saw was His humanity. They did not recognize the divinity of Christ. Their Messiah had come, but they did not know Him; and it is still so today. They could have, should have, known Him, but they did not see, and though they found no fault with His humanity, they killed Him because they could not accept that God, in the person of His Son, had come to be sacrificed to save them from certain death.

“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3, 4

God wants us to become partakers of His divine nature.

“The Lord Jesus came to our world, not to reveal what a God could do, but what a man could do, through faith in God’s power to help in every emergency. Man is, through faith, to be a partaker in the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset. The Lord now demands that every son and daughter of Adam through faith in Jesus Christ, serve Him in human nature which we now have.

“The Lord Jesus has bridged the gulf that sin has made. He has connected earth with heaven, and finite man with the infinite God. Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, could only keep the commandments of God, in the same way that humanity can keep them. ‘Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.’ 2 Peter 1:4.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 341, 342

Jesus is all powerful. He is a conqueror with the ability to subdue and overcome every evil trait of character we possess, completely transforming it to be like His character. This is true Christianity, the miracle of our religion. We do not have to stay the way we are. We can be set free from the bondage of sin, our natural condition, and be made a partaker of the divine nature; no longer reflecting the image of the devil, but now reflecting the image of Jesus Christ.

Do you want that miracle to take place in your life? Do you want it badly enough to cooperate with the Holy Spirit? That is the only way to have eternal life. At the end of this world, every single person will have to make this choice.

Pastor John J. Grosboll is the Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be reached by email at historic@stepstolife.org or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

If You Are Hopeless…

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“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. …

“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ The sick man answered Him, ‘Sir, I have no man, to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.’

“Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.’ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.” John 5:2, 3, 5–9

“His disease was in a great degree the result of his own sin, and was looked upon as a judgment from God. Alone and friendless, feeling that he was shut out from God’s mercy, the sufferer had passed long years of misery. At the time when it was expected that the waters would be troubled, those who pitied his helplessness would bear him to the porches. But at the favored moment he had no one to help him in.

“The sick man was lying on his mat, and occasionally lifting his head to gaze at the pool, when a tender, compassionate face bent over him, and the words, ‘Wilt thou be made whole?’ arrested his attention. Hope came to his heart. He felt that in some way he was to have help. …

“Jesus does not ask this sufferer to exercise faith in Him. He simply says, ‘Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.’ But the man’s faith takes hold upon that word. Every nerve and muscle thrills with new life, and healthful action comes to his crippled limbs. Without question he sets his will to obey the command of Christ, and all his muscles respond to his will. Springing to his feet, he finds himself an active man.

“Jesus had given him no assurance of divine help. The man might have stopped to doubt, and lost his one chance of healing. But he believed Christ’s word, and in acting upon it he received strength.

“Through the same faith we may receive spiritual healing. … The Saviour is bending over the purchase of His blood. … He bids you arise in health and peace. Do not wait to feel that you are made whole. Believe His word, and it will be fulfilled.” The Desire of Ages, 202, 203

The Saints’ Eternal Inheritance

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December 21 – 27, 2025

Key Text

“And you, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, even the first dominion shall come. The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” Micah 4:8

Study Help: The Great Controversy, 675–678

Introduction

“God created man for His own glory, that after test and trial the human family might become one with the heavenly family.” God’s Amazing Grace, 344

Sunday

1 THE PURPOSE OF CREATION

1.a. For what two reasons did God create the earth and the human being? Isaiah 45:18; 43:7

 

Note: “All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation of the world and of man. Human beings were a new and distinct order. They were made ‘in the image of God,’ and it was the Creator’s design that they should populate the earth.” Sons and Daughters of God, 7

“It was God’s purpose to repopulate heaven with the human family, if they would show themselves obedient to His every word.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, 1082

1.b. How did our first parents turn away from the purpose for which they were created, and what was the result? Genesis 3:9–14, 23

 

Note: “When Adam sinned, man broke away from the heaven-ordained center. A demon became the central power in the world. Where God’s throne should have been, Satan placed his throne. The world laid its homage, as a willing offering, at the feet of the enemy.” Reflecting Christ, 51

Monday

2 RESTORING THE FIRST DOMINION

2.a. Throughout history, what was constantly promised to our forefathers in the faith? Psalms 25:13; 37:9; Matthew 5:5; 2 Peter 3:13

 

Note: “The meek ‘shall inherit the earth.’ It was through the desire for self-exaltation that sin entered into the world, and our first parents lost the dominion over this fair earth, their kingdom. It is through self-abnegation that Christ redeems what was lost. And He says we are to overcome as He did. Revelation 3:21. Through humility and self-surrender we may become heirs with Him when ‘the meek shall inherit the earth.’ Psalm 37:11

“The earth promised to the meek will not be like this, darkened with the shadow of death and the curse.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 17

2.b. Besides the restoration of humanity, what else is to be restored by the plan of redemption? Luke 19:10; Micah 4:8; Ephesians 1:14

 

Note: “God’s original purpose in the creation of the earth is fulfilled as it is made the eternal abode of the redeemed. ‘The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.’ The time has come to which holy men have looked with longing since the flaming sword barred the first pair from Eden—the time for ‘the redemption of the purchased possession.’ The earth originally given to man as his kingdom, betrayed by him into the hands of Satan, and so long held by the mighty foe, has been brought back by the great plan of redemption.

“All that was lost by the first Adam will be restored by the second. The prophet says, ‘O Tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion.’ And the apostle Paul points forward to the ‘redemption of the purchased possession.’ God created the earth to be the abode of holy, happy beings. That purpose will be fulfilled when, renewed by the power of God and freed from sin and sorrow, it shall become the eternal abode of the redeemed.” The Adventist Home, 540

Tuesday

3 OUR FUTURE INHERITANCE

3.a. How are we assured that our promised inheritance is a real place? John 14:1–4; Hebrews 11:13–16

 

Note: “As Christ’s earthly ministry drew to a close, and He realized that He must soon leave His disciples to carry on the work without His personal supervision, He sought to encourage them and to prepare them for the future. He did not deceive them with false hopes. As an open book He read what was to be. He knew He was about to be separated from them, to leave them as sheep among wolves. He knew that they would suffer persecution, that they would be cast out of the synagogues, and would be thrown into prison. He knew that for witnessing to Him as the Messiah, some of them would suffer death. And something of this He told them. In speaking of their future, He was plain and definite, that in their coming trial they might remember His words and be strengthened to believe in Him as the Redeemer.” The Acts of Apostles, 21

3.b. How can we be sure that our future inheritance is a clean and safe place? Psalm 24:3–5; Isaiah 32:18; 35:8; 2 Peter 3:13

 

Note: “[In the New Jerusalem] immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love. There will be no cruel, deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God. Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body.

“All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s redeemed. Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless flight to worlds afar—worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe and rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul. With unutterable delight the children of earth enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. They share the treasures of knowledge and understanding gained through ages upon ages in contemplation of God’s handiwork.” The Acts of Apostles, 677

Wednesday

4 OUR FUTURE INHERITANCE (CONTINUED)

4.a. What are some glorious words of assurance we can declare about the earth made new? Isaiah 33:24; 35:10; Revelation 21:4; 22:3

 

4.b.  Will there be real work for the redeemed to do in eternity? Isaiah 65:17–25. What is written about the regular meetings that will be held there? Isaiah 66:22, 23

 

Note: “We cannot suppose that when the final triumph shall come, and we have the mansions prepared for us, idleness will be our portion—that we shall rest in a blissful, do-nothing state.

“In the earth made new, the redeemed will engage in the occupations and pleasures that brought happiness to Adam and Eve in the beginning. The Eden life will be lived, the life in garden and field.” Maranatha, 360

“[In the school of the hereafter,] every power will be developed, every capability increased. The grandest enterprises will be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations will be reached, the highest ambitions realized. And still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of body and mind and soul.

“All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s children. With unutterable delight we shall enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. We shall share the treasures gained through ages upon ages spent in contemplation of God’s handiwork. And the years of eternity, as they roll, will continue to bring more glorious revelations. …

“ ‘The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.’ Matthew 20:28. Christ’s work below is His work above, and our reward for working with Him in this world will be the greater power and wider privilege of working with Him in the world to come.” Education, 307, 308

“When there shall be a ‘restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began’ (Acts 3:21), the creation Sabbath, the day on which Jesus lay at rest in Joseph’s tomb, will still be a day of rest and rejoicing. Heaven and earth will unite in praise, as ‘from one Sabbath to another’ (Isaiah 66:23) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyful worship to God and the Lamb.” The Desire of Ages, 769, 770

Thursday

5 FINAL WORDS

5.a. When will the redeemed take possession of the new earth? Revelation 20:6, last part, 7; 21:1–4

 

5.b. Since our language is inadequate, what can we say to describe our future inheritance? 1 Corinthians 2:9. In view of this profound thought, what desire should mold our priorities in life?

 

Note: “The apostle Paul was taken to the third heaven, and while there was given a view of celestial things. When he returned to a consciousness of earthly things, he found that it was impossible for him to describe the enrapturing scenes that had passed before him. But he kept in his soul the wonderful picture of what he had seen.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 20, 153

“The overcomer will have a whole heaven of bliss, with no tempting devil, no sorrow, sickness, pain, or death. I desire to know more about heaven, and I am determined by God’s grace to be there. Let us all strive to obtain an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, where we shall be surrounded with beautiful objects surpassing by far anything that we could imagine. …

“I want to see the whole heavenly host casting their glittering crowns at the feet of Jesus, and then touching their golden harps, and filling all heaven with rich music and with songs to the Lamb.

“Will you be there? God wants you to be there; Christ wants you to be there; the angels want you to be there.” Sermons and Talks, Vol. 2, 223, 224

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1    Why were we created?

2    What was the first dominion, and how was it lost?

3    How is it being restored?

4    Why is it wrong to spiritualize away our future inheritance?

5    How much can we know about what God is preparing for His faithful people?

Copyright 2010, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

By the Tree of Life

by

December 14 – 20, 2025

Key Text

“In the midst of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:2

Study Help: Early Writings, 13–20

Introduction

“The fruit of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden possessed supernatural virtue. To eat of it was to live forever. Its fruit was the antidote of death. Its leaves were for the sustaining of life and immortality.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, 288

Sunday

1 THE TREE OF LIFE

1.a. Where do we first learn of the existence of the tree of life? Genesis 2:9. What restriction, placed upon our first parents, shows that access to the tree of life was conditional? Genesis 2:16, 17

 

Note: “In order to possess an endless existence, man must continue to partake of the tree of life. Deprived of this, his vitality would gradually diminish until life should become extinct.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 60

1.b.      Describe the test to which Adam and Eve were submitted, after which they were debarred from eating of the tree. Genesis 3:22–24

 

Note: “The first great moral lesson given Adam was that of self-denial. The reins of self-government were placed in his hands. Judgment, reason, and conscience were to bear sway.” That I May Know Him, 14

Monday

2 THE SOURCE OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE

2.a. What does the tree of life represent? Through whom and how do we have access to the tree of life in a spiritual sense? Proverbs 3:13–18

 

Note: “The tree of life is a representation of the preserving care of Christ for His children. As Adam and Eve ate of this tree, they acknowledged their dependence upon God.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 988

“Jesus Christ is to the world as the tree of life to which Adam and Eve had access in the Garden of Eden. When, by disobedience, the fallen pair were deprived of the fruit of this tree, they lost everlasting life. The tree of knowledge became a curse to them, not because of its poisonous qualities, but because of their act of disobedience. It was attractive to them; and in their great desire for it, they partook of it, and lost their purity and their allegiance to God. But Christ presents Himself as the Life-giver, the tree of life for the world. By feeding upon His flesh, and drinking His blood, our spiritual life is perfected.” General Conference Daily Bulletin, March 6, 1899

2.b.      How are we to eat and share the fruit of the tree of life? Proverbs 11:30; 15:4. When we are working for souls, how do we show them the way to the tree of life? Daniel 12:3; Philippians 1:10, 11

 

Note: “[Jesus’ earthly] brothers … regarded the precepts of men more highly than the word of God, and they were greatly annoyed at the clear penetration of Jesus in distinguishing between the false and the true. His strict obedience to the law of God they condemned as stubbornness. … They recognized that His education was of a higher type than their own. But they did not discern that He had access to the tree of life, a source of knowledge of which they were ignorant.” The Desire of Ages, 86

“In Nazareth, Christ announced that His work was to restore and uplift, to bring peace and happiness. He came to this world to represent the Father, and He revealed His divine power by giving life to the dead, by restoring the sick and suffering to soundness and health. He was in this world as the tree of life.” The Signs of the Times, March 21, 1900

Tuesday

3 THE TWO TREES IN THE NEW DISPENSATION

3.a. How can the tree of life be identified in the New Testament? 1 Corinthians 1:21, 30; Colossians 2:2, 3. What is the tree of knowledge of good and evil in our days? 1 Corinthians 1:20; Colossians 2:7, 8

 

Note: “The garden of Eden was not only Adam’s dwelling, but his school room. As in that school, so in the school of earth today, two trees are planted—the tree of life, which bears the fruit of the true education, and the tree of knowledge, yielding the fruit of ‘science falsely so called.’ All who have a connection with Christ have access to the tree of life, a source of knowledge of which the world is ignorant.” General Conference Daily Bulletin, March 6, 1899

“Christ’s teachings are to be to us as the leaves of the tree of life.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 1135

“The lessons drawn from the parables of our Saviour will be to very many as the leaves of the tree of life.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 475

3.b.      What does Jesus say to all those who want to live? Matthew 4:4; John 5:39; 6:63; Luke 11:28

 

Note: “The knowledge that comes from God is the bread of life. It is the leaves of the tree of life which are for the healing of the nations. The current of spiritual life thrills the soul as the words of Christ are believed and practiced. Thus, it is that we are made one with Christ. The experience that was weak and feeble becomes strong. It is eternal life to us if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end.” The Upward Look, 224

“The word of the living God is not merely written, but spoken. The Bible is God’s voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe would we open God’s word, and with what earnestness would we search its precepts! The reading and contemplation of the Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with the Infinite One.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 393

Wednesday

4 A PROMISE TO THE OVERCOMERS

4.a. To what extent must we eat of the tree of life and stand firm in the truth to be overcomers? Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 3:6, 14; Revelation 2:10, 26

 

Note: “Must we wait until we are translated before we eat of the leaves of the tree of life? He who receives into his heart the words of Christ, knows what it means to eat the leaves of the tree of life.” The Upward Look, 224

“After the entrance of sin, the heavenly Husbandman transplanted the tree of life to the Paradise above; but its branches hang over the wall to the lower world. Through the redemption purchased by the blood of Christ, we may still eat of its life-giving fruit.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, 288

4.b.      What is the final reward of all who overcome? Revelation 2:7

 

Note: “ ‘And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.’ Talk it, pray it, sing it, and remember that you must eat of the leaves of the tree of life here in this world, if you would know the healing power of the grace of God. When words are spoken that tempt you to feel provoked, ask the Lord Jesus to give you a taste of the healing brought by the tree of life. Get your mind on some subject of eternal interest, and it will be easy for you to keep still when you ought to keep still, and to speak when you ought to speak.” The Review and Herald, July 20, 1905

“Christ assured His disciples that He went to prepare mansions for them in the Father’s house. Those who accept the teachings of God’s word will not be wholly ignorant concerning the heavenly abode. And yet, ‘eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.’ 1 Corinthians 2:9. Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous. It will be known only to those who behold it. No finite mind can comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God.” The Great Controversy, 675

Thursday

5 THE TREE OF LIFE FOR ETERNITY

5.a. Where is the Paradise of God today? Revelation 2:7. How did the apostle Paul describe one of his visions in which he was “caught up to the third heaven,” “into paradise”? 2 Corinthians 12:2–4. How will our first parents respond upon entering that place?

 

Note: “Transported with joy, he [Adam] beholds the trees that were once his delight—the very trees whose fruit he himself had gathered in the days of his innocence and joy. He sees the vines that his own hands have trained, the very flowers that he once loved to care for. His mind grasps the reality of the scene; he comprehends that this is indeed Eden restored, more lovely now than when he was banished from it. The Saviour leads him to the tree of life and plucks the glorious fruit and bids him eat. He looks about him and beholds a multitude of his family redeemed, standing in the Paradise of God. Then he casts his glittering crown at the feet of Jesus and, falling upon His breast, embraces the Redeemer.” The Great Controversy, 648

5.b.      How does the Bible describe Eden restored? Revelation 22:1, 2

 

Note: “In the Bible, the inheritance of the saved is called ‘a country.’ Hebrews 11:14–16. There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the service of the nations.” The Great Controversy, 675

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1    Why was humanity debarred from eating of the tree of life after sin?

2    What is the reward promised to all who teach the truth to others?

3    How can we eat of the tree of life today?

4    What promise belongs to those who will stand firm to the end?

5    What privilege will be restored to the people of God?

Copyright 2010, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

The Character of God Vindicated

by

December 7 – 13, 2025

Key Text

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8

Study Help: Patriarchs and Prophets, 33–43

Introduction

“The commandments of God are His expressed character flowing out of a heart of love in thoughtful plans that man may be preserved from every evil.” The Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893

Sunday

1 GOD’S CHARACTER REVEALED

1.a. What is one of the main attributes of God’s character? 1 John 4:8. What are the conditions that must be fulfilled by those who want to be in the kingdom? Luke 10:25–28; Ephesians 5:28. What are the different aspects of genuine love? 1 Corinthians 13:4–8

 

Note: “The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all intelligent beings depends upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love—service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 34

1.b.      What are the two basic principles of the divine law? Romans 13:8–10; Matthew 22:36–40

 

Note: “Whatever is contrary to love, humility, and faith, denies Christ. Although the professor of religion may make professions of love for his brethren, still if love is not in his heart, he cannot diffuse it to those who are about him.” The Youth’s Instructor, December 2, 1897

Monday

2 LOVE TO GOD AND TO OUR NEIGHBOR

2.a. What does it mean to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul? Deuteronomy 6:5, 6; 5:6–15; Mark 12:29, 30

 

Note: “Whosoever will willfully break one command cannot in spirit and in truth keep any of them. He may claim that, with the exception of what he may regard as slight deviations, he keeps them all; yet if he willingly offends in one point he is guilty of all.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 434

“To love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves is to keep the first four and the last six commandments. God has given to man a large field in which he may work; and in doing the work appointed him of God, man will not lift up himself but will exalt Christ. He will cherish love for God and love for his brethren and for all men. Love will soon die out of the heart if it is left without cultivation; we can only keep divine love in the soul by doing the words of the Master. … It is impossible to keep the last six commandments unless we keep the first four.” The Signs of the Times, September 22, 1890

2.b.      What does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves? Mark 10:17–19; 12:31

 

Note: “God is love, and when we love God supremely and love our neighbor as ourselves, we reflect the character of the Father and the Son. But those who truly love God will be obedient to all His commands. Obedience is the test of love.” The Signs of the Times, October 22, 1894

“The Lord requires at this time just what He required of Adam in Eden—perfect obedience to the law of God. We must have righteousness without a flaw, without a blemish. God gave His Son to die for the world, but He did not die to repeal the law which was holy and just and good. The sacrifice of Christ on Calvary is an unanswerable argument showing the immutability of the law. Its penalty was felt by the Son of God in behalf of guilty man, that through His merits the sinner might obtain the virtue of His spotless character by faith in His name.” Faith and Works, 89, 90

Tuesday

3 DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD’S LAW

3.a. What is sin? Romans 7:7; 1 John 3:4. Who originated sin? John 8:44. What has been at the center of the dispute between Christ and Satan from the very beginning? Matthew 5:19, 20

 

Note: “In the beginning, man was created in the image of God. He was in perfect harmony with the nature and the law of God; the principles of righteousness were written upon his heart. But sin alienated him from his Maker. He no longer reflected the divine image. His heart was at war with the principles of God’s law.” Amazing Grace, 20

3.b.      How was sin introduced into the world? Genesis 3:4, 5. How did the whole universe react when sin entered into the world?

 

Note: “It was through the desire for self-exaltation that sin entered into the world.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 17

“The fall of man filled all heaven with sorrow.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 63

3.c. How are we to avoid the pitfall of Satan in his self–exalting attitude? 1 Corinthians 10:12

 

Note: “No outward observances can take the place of simple faith and entire renunciation of self. But no man can empty himself of self. We can only consent for Christ to accomplish the work. Then the language of the soul will be, Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul. …

“All our good works are dependent on a power outside of ourselves. Therefore, there needs to be a continual reaching out of the heart after God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin and humbling of the soul before Him. Only by constant renunciation of self and dependence on Christ can we walk safely.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 159, 160

Wednesday

4 THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION

4.a. What is God’s desire for every person on this earth? Ezekiel 18:30–32; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9

 

Note: “The reason why the Bridegroom delays is because He is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. O the precious longsuffering of our merciful Saviour! O that each of the dear youth would appreciate the value of the soul that has been purchased at infinite cost on Calvary! O that each one would place a proper estimate upon the capabilities that have been given him of God! Through Christ you may climb the ladder of progress, and bring every power under the control of Jesus. … In spirit, in thought, in word, and in action, you may make manifest that you are moved by the Spirit of Christ, and your life may wield a power of influence over others.” Sons and Daughters of God, 118

4.b.      What is the evidence of a new heart? Deuteronomy 5:29; John 14:15, 21; 15:10

 

Note: “The law of God is the foundation of all enduring reformation. We are to present to the world in clear, distinct lines the need of obeying this law.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, 199

“He who is righteous within is not hard-hearted and unsympathetic, but day by day he grows into the image of Christ.” Messages to Young People, 35

“True sanctification is an entire conformity to the will of God. Rebellious thoughts and feelings are overcome, and the voice of Jesus awakens a new life, which pervades the entire being. Those who are truly sanctified will not set up their own opinion as a standard of right and wrong.” The Sanctified Life, 9

“Sanctification consists in the cheerful performance of daily duties in perfect obedience to the will of God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 360

Thursday

5 IDENTIFYING THE FAITHFUL

5.a. Throughout the history of the world, by what mark of identification have God’s remnant people been clearly distinguished? Malachi 4:4; 1 Corinthians 7:19

 

Note: “Obedience is the test of discipleship. It is the keeping of the commandments that proves the sincerity of our professions of love. When the doctrine we accept kills sin in the heart, purifies the soul from defilement, bears fruit unto holiness, we may know that it is the truth of God. When benevolence, kindness, tenderheartedness, sympathy, are manifest in our lives; when the joy of right doing is in our hearts; when we exalt Christ, and not self, we may know that our faith is of the right order.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 146, 147

5.b.      How does prophecy identify the faithful right up to the end of time? Isaiah 8:20; Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 22:14

 

Note: “ ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ Revelation 14:12. Since those who keep God’s commandments are thus placed in contrast with those that worship the beast and his image and receive his mark, it follows that the keeping of God’s law, on the one hand, and its violation, on the other, will make the distinction between the worshipers of God and the worshipers of the beast.” The Great Controversy, 445, 446

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1    What is the basic attribute of God’s character?

2    What are the two fundamental principles of divine love, and where are these principles specified and exemplified?

3    What is the biblical definition of sin?

4    Describe a person who has received a new heart.

5    By what identifying mark are God’s people distinguished from the world?

Copyright 2010, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

The Universe Cleansed

by

Sealed for Eternity

November 30 – December 6, 2025

Key Text

“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:32

Study Help: The Great Controversy, 662–678

Introduction

“The whole wicked world stand arraigned at the bar of God on the charge of high treason against the government of heaven.” The Great Controversy, 668

Sunday

1 AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM

1.a. At the end of the millennium, when Christ comes to this earth for the third time, whom will He bid to arise from the dead? John 5:29, second half; Revelation 20:5, first half

 

Note: “At the close of the thousand years, Christ again returns to the earth. He is accompanied by the host of the redeemed and attended by a retinue of angels. As He descends in terrific majesty He bids the wicked dead arise to receive their doom. They come forth, a mighty host, numberless as the sands of the sea.” The Great Controversy, 662

1.b.  For what purpose will the wicked be raised? Isaiah 24:22; Jude 6; Psalm 97:1–3

 

Note: “At the close of the thousand years the second resurrection will take place. Then the wicked will be raised from the dead and appear before God for the execution of ‘the judgment written.’ Thus, the revelator, after describing the resurrection of the righteous, says: ‘The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.’ Revelation 20:5.” The Great Controversy, 661

Monday

2 THE MOUNT OF OLIVES IS LEVELED

2.a. When Christ comes again, at the end of the thousand years, where will He descend? Zechariah 14:4

 

Note: “Christ descends upon the Mount of Olives, whence, after His resurrection, He ascended.” The Great Controversy, 662

2.b.  As Jesus stands on the Mount of Olives, surrounded by the holy angels and all the saints, what will be clear to all concerning the sovereignty of the Son of man? Zechariah 14:5, last part, 9

 

2.c. In Christ’s presence, how will the wicked show the same desperate feeling they manifested a thousand years before? Isaiah 2:19

 

Note: “When the voice of God awakes the dead, he will come from the grave with the same appetites and passions, the same likes and dislikes, that he cherished when living. God works no miracle to re-create a man who would not be re-created when he was granted every opportunity and provided with every facility. During his lifetime he took no delight in God, nor found pleasure in His service. His character is not in harmony with God, and he could not be happy in the heavenly family.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 270

2.d. Describe what unrepentant sinners must face. Psalm 145:20

 

Note: “As soon as the books of record are opened, and the eye of Jesus looks upon the wicked, they are conscious of every sin which they have ever committed. They see just where their feet diverged from the path of purity and holiness, just how far pride and rebellion have carried them in the violation of the law of God. The seductive temptations which they encouraged by indulgence in sin, the blessings perverted, the messengers of God despised, the warnings rejected, the waves of mercy beaten back by the stubborn, unrepentant heart—all appear as if written in letters of fire.” The Great Controversy, 666

Tuesday

3 AN AWFUL SPECTACLE

3.a. What scenes are revealed, as in a moving picture film, before Satan, his angels, and the wicked multitudes? When the godless crowds realize that, through their actions, they have pierced the Son of God, how will they show fear before the expected punishment? Zechariah 12:10, last part; Revelation 1:7; Hebrews 10:28, 29, 27

 

Note: “Before the swaying multitude are revealed the final scenes—the patient Sufferer treading the path to Calvary; the Prince of heaven hanging upon the cross; the haughty priests and the jeering rabble deriding His expiring agony; the supernatural darkness; the heaving earth, the rent rocks, the open graves, marking the moment when the world’s Redeemer yielded up His life.

“The awful spectacle appears just as it was. Satan, his angels, and his subjects have no power to turn from the picture of their own work. Each actor recalls the part which he performed. Herod, who slew the innocent children of Bethlehem that he might destroy the King of Israel; the base Herodias, upon whose guilty soul rests the blood of John the Baptist; the weak, timeserving Pilate; the mocking soldiers; the priests and rulers and the maddened throng who cried, ‘His blood be on us, and on our children!’—all behold the enormity of their guilt. They vainly seek to hide from the divine majesty of His countenance, outshining the glory of the sun, while the redeemed cast their crowns at the Saviour’s feet, exclaiming: ‘He died for me!’ ” The Great Controversy, 667

3.b.  What new scene is suddenly displayed before the wailing multitudes? Revelation 21:2. What must all realize about the awesome magnitude of this moment? Job 37:5

 

Note: “As the New Jerusalem, in its dazzling splendor, comes down out of heaven, it rests upon the place purified and made ready to receive it, and Christ, with His people and the angels, enters the Holy City.” The Great Controversy, 663

“Let the imaginations of the people be on the highest stretch to contemplate the glories of the New Jerusalem and yet they have but just entered upon the borders of the eternal weight of glory that shall be realized by the faithful overcomer.” This Day With God, 103

Wednesday

4 THE LAST DAYS OF SATAN

4.a. As Satan contemplates the New Jerusalem and the home that he has lost, how does he recall the history of his rebellion? Isaiah 14:12–20

 

Note: “Memory recalls the home of his [Satan’s] innocence and purity, the peace and content that were his until he indulged in murmuring against God, and envy of Christ. His accusations, his rebellion, his deceptions to gain the sympathy and support of the angels, his stubborn persistence in making no effort for self-recovery when God would have granted him forgiveness—all come vividly before him. He reviews his work among men and its results—the enmity of man toward his fellow man, the terrible destruction of life, the rise and fall of kingdoms, the overturning of thrones, the long succession of tumults, conflicts, and revolutions. He recalls his constant efforts to oppose the work of Christ and to sink man lower and lower. He sees that his hellish plots have been powerless to destroy those who have put their trust in Jesus. As Satan looks upon his kingdom, the fruit of his toil, he sees only failure and ruin.” The Great Controversy, 669

4.b.  How will the great deceiver rally the finally impenitent for the last great battle before he and his cohorts are destroyed? Revelation 20:9

 

Note: “Satan rushes into the midst of his followers and tries to stir up the multitude to action. But fire from God out of heaven is rained upon them, and the great men, and mighty men, the noble, the poor and miserable, are all consumed together. I saw that some were quickly destroyed, while others suffered longer. They were punished according to the deeds done in the body. Some were many days consuming, and just as long as there was a portion of them unconsumed, all the sense of suffering remained. Said the angel, ‘The worm of life shall not die; their fire shall not be quenched as long as there is the least particle for it to prey upon.’

“Satan and his angels suffered long. Satan bore not only the weight and punishment of his own sins, but also of the sins of the redeemed host, which had been placed upon him; and he must also suffer for the ruin of souls which he had caused.” Early Writings, 294, 295

Thursday

5 THE FINAL DESTRUCTION

5.a. In order to make the entire universe a safe place for all who want to live and work in harmony with the Great Lawgiver, what must each person admit? Romans 14:10–12; Philippians 2:10, 11

 

Note: “Said the angel: ‘If [those who fail to imitate the self-sacrificing Pattern] should be ushered into the city of God, and told that all its rich beauty and glory was theirs to enjoy eternally, they would have no sense of how dearly that inheritance was purchased for them. They would never realize the matchless depths of a Saviour’s love. They have not drunk of the cup, nor been baptized with the baptism. Heaven would be marred if such should dwell there.’ ” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, 155

“Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has unfitted him for heaven. He has trained his powers to war against God; the purity, peace, and harmony of heaven would be to him supreme torture. His accusations against the mercy and justice of God are now silenced. The reproach which he has endeavored to cast upon Jehovah rests wholly upon himself. And now Satan bows down and confesses the justice of his sentence.” The Great Controversy, 670

5.b.  What is the final, eternal destiny of the wicked? Who are the only ones exempt? How will all the wicked, including the originator of all evil, be annihilated? Psalm 37:9, 10; Malachi 4:1–3; 2 Peter 3:10, 11; Revelation 20:9, last part, 10, 14, 15

 

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1    What will be the new capital of the universe?

2    What is the purpose of the great white-throned judgment?

3    What type of record books are being kept in heaven?

4    Describe the final struggle for preeminence.

5    How is the originator of sin finally annihilated?

Copyright 2010, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

Recipe – Healthy Halvah

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Tahini

Tahini is a creamy butter made from toasted, hulled or un-hulled sesame seeds. Ground to a fine creamy paste, it is nutty in flavor, with a thick, oily, and smooth texture similar to natural peanut butter.

Should tahini be a staple in your diet?

The answer is a resounding yes! In many corners of the world, tahini is called a nutritional powerhouse, and many call it a superfood for its outstanding nutritional benefits.

When you think of copper, pennies might be the first thing that come to mind. But this trace mineral is a nutrient your body needs, and tahini has plenty of it. Copper plays a crucial role in assisting in the formation of red blood cells, controlling blood pressure, maintaining healthy bones and connective tissue, and preventing anemia.

Sesame seeds have more phytosterols than other nuts and seeds, and these plant compounds have been shown to help lower cholesterol.

Studies further show that sesame seeds contain both sesamol and selenium, natural chemicals found in sesame seeds and sesame oil, have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging benefits, as well as strong anti-cancer effects.

There are numerous ways to use tahini, and they’re all delicious. On the savory side, it’s commonly found in hummus, sauces, and dips, including eggplant-based baba ghanoush. But tahini is also tasty in sweet recipes. The most popular tahini-based sweet, halvah, is a slightly crumbly treat made into in bars.

Source: webmd.com/diet/benefits-of-tahini; syndian.com.au/single-post/amazing-facts-about-tahini

Recipe – Healthy Halvah

Ingredients

1 ½ cups raw almonds, or almond pulp from homemade almond milk

3 Tbs. honey

½ tsp. vanilla powder or flavoring

½ cup tahini sesame butter

1 Tbs. carob powder

Process

Process almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Add the honey, vanilla, and tahini butter; process thoroughly. Place ½ mixture in a bowl; set aside. Add carob to the remaining mixture and process until mixed. Press the plain mixture into a flat dish until it is ¼ inch thick. Pat the carob mixture evenly onto the plain mixture. Press the two mixtures together to make ½ inch thick. Chill for 1 hour, then cut into bite-sized pieces.

Music in the Home

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God has made parents responsible for their children—for feeding, clothing, housing, raising them correctly, and keeping them safe. If a child were to run out in front of a car, a parent would know what to do to protect them. The parent wouldn’t just wring their hands and ask, “What can I do?” If a child started to drink a glass of poison, smoke a cigarette, or drink a can of beer, a parent would not hesitate to take immediate action, because they are responsible. You must not hesitate to take proper action if your child is in danger. No excuses!

Equally important is the parents’ responsibility to protect their children from worldly music, whether it is a bedlam of noise or pretty, schmaltzy music, which is a mockery of Christ. Parents should not tell their child that it is all right for them to listen to strange music as long as they wear earphones or go to their bedroom and shut the door so they don’t have to hear it. And though it can be challenging, parents should teach their child to avoid it, even at friends’ homes. Parents must teach them to be bold and to stand up and say to their friends, “I can’t listen to music like this. If you have to listen to it, I can’t stay.” Do whatever it takes. It shouldn’t be any harder than to say, “No, I won’t smoke a cigarette,” or “No, I will not take a drug.”

My great-grandson, Adam, went with his mother and grandfather to eat in a Turkish restaurant. While Adam was ordering his meal, he noticed that there was terrible rock music playing, so he said to the waiter, “Will you please play some Turkish music? We are in a Turkish restaurant.”

The waiter said, “We don’t have any Turkish music.”

Adam, speaking in a voice like he was some kind of royalty and expected to be obeyed, said, “Well, then, I want classical music, please.” The waiter found a radio station that had classical music, and Adam’s mother said it was the best music she had ever heard in a restaurant in her life. Teach your children to stand boldly for what is right.

Musical Opportunities

Children need to have musical opportunities. When they are still very young, acquire small, inexpensive instruments for them to have at home. Do not force a child to take lessons, but if they show an interest, provide music lessons for them when they are a little older. As a music teacher, I know forcing a child to take up an interest in music will not work. To encourage an interest in music, parents should take their children to good music concerts. What kind of concerts? Good ones! There are a lot of bad ones; don’t go there.

What kinds of songs should our children listen to at home and in Sabbath School? Children should not be given little repetitious ditties, nor songs set to secular music. If children happen to know the secular songs, when they sing the tune—even with religious words—they will think about the secular words. Even if they don’t know the secular words, secular music is not appropriate for sacred songs. If the music used is not suitable for the words, chances are the words aren’t spiritual, either. This applies to adult music as well. You cannot legitimately mix sacred and secular music.

Parents must teach their children real songs—not songs that simply entertain. They should be taught songs like “O Worship the King.” It has meaning. Teach them what the words mean, making sure they understand. Teach them Seventh-day Adventist songs. Don’t downplay children’s capabilities. Teach them to sing as the angels sing. How do the angels sing?

“Their [the angels’] singing does not grate upon the ear. It is soft and melodious . … It is not forced and strained.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 333. Angels sing softly. Our children should sing softly, not shout or make a bedlam of noise.

“Some think that the louder they sing the more music they make; but noise is not music. Good singing is like the music of the birds—subdued and melodious.” Evangelism, 510

Musical Movement

If children need exercise, take them outside to play. A religious meeting is not the place for raucous, boisterous, rough-and-tumble movement. The best kind of movement parents can teach their children is choreographed movement and sign language to go along with the song. One such song is “I’m Too Young.” With this song, the children can march “in the infantry,” ride “in the cavalry,” shoot “the artillery,” and fly “o’er the enemy, … but I’m in the Lord’s army (ending with a salute).” Or “Only a Boy Named David” gives them the ability to gather “five little stones,” and swing the slingshot “round and round,” and then fall as the “giant came tumbling down.” “Praise Him!” and “Kum Bah Ya” teach children sign language as they sing. Children enjoy these songs.

Hymnals

Dr. Oliver Beltz once told me that he was on the committee to choose the songs for the 1941 Church Hymnal. Years later, John Thurber shared that he was on the committee to select the songs for the 1985 Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. Review and Herald Publishing Association, in Washington, DC, publishes both hymnals. These conversations have given me a little insight into how the songs for each of these hymnals were chosen.

Despite the 40-year gap between each man’s experience, they both told me a similar story. Each said that there were times when the committee members wanted to include songs they knew Dr. Beltz and Mr. Thurber would not approve. So, without notifying either of them, they would call a committee meeting and approve the songs while they were absent. Both committees did that! You can’t take either of these hymnals and think that everything in them is good.

Parents might like to build a personal, family hymnal for use at home. Selecting the favorite songs each member of the family likes best would make a beautiful addition to family worship, as parents teach their children songs about Jesus’ love, creation, and salvation. Assembling a hymnal is a tough job, but you may find it well worthwhile. Let me offer principles and ideas that I believe will help parents choose the best songs for their home hymnal.

Guidelines

  1. Choose music that is worship-centered. There are only two beings in this universe to worship—God or Satan. The songs selected should be centered towards the being you choose to worship.
  2. Choose music that is Christ-centered and not I-centered. This can be a difficult concept to understand. As you examine a song, ask these questions: Who is the center of this song? About whom am I singing? Am I singing about myself, or am I singing about Christ? An example of a song that may be a challenge to judge is the song “Not I, but Christ.” It has the word “I” in it several times, but the message of the words is clearly centered on Christ.

I once presented a music seminar in a church in West Virginia. A man came to the meeting primed for an argument with me. He wanted to prove to me that it is all right to sing I-centered songs. In the seminar, we were discussing several songs, and regarding one of them, I said, “You know, I’m quite uncomfortable with this song. Although the music seems to sound all right, the words seem very I-centered to me.”

This man said, “We must have songs about our experience.” Do we? Let me share a personal experience that could easily become I-centered.

The devil doesn’t want me to share all these things with you, and for several months before camp meeting, he has been pouring out his whole arsenal on me. I have nearly gotten to the end of my rope. I knew God was taking care of me, but it still had an effect inside my body. It was affecting me both physically and emotionally.

After arriving at the camp meeting, we began having trouble with our computer. It was working beautifully when I left home. We spent a whole afternoon trying to get it to work, including a solid hour on the telephone with the computer service desk. That’s how much the devil has been working! Now that my computer is working again, do you think I should write a song about my experience—the lost afternoon, the hour on the phone, how I have suffered while the devil bombarded me with everything he’s had? No! I want to sing about how God has saved me, making this experience with my computer nothing at all. I want to sing, “Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow.”

  1. Don’t choose harmful music. Yes, music can harm you. It can hurt your body, your mind, and your spirituality. Don’t choose that kind of music.
  2. Choose music that will allow the angels to join in as you sing. We should sing and listen to music that is subdued and melodious, like the songs of the birds. At our house, we feed the birds, so we are surrounded by them. I love to hear them sing. We should sound like birds singing. I don’t think we could have any higher ambition than that. Birds sing softly and melodiously.
  3. Do not choose music meant for entertainment. What does this include? Pop music, nightclub, crooning music; music with warm fuzzies—that’s entertainment music.
  4. Do not choose music that is only emotion-based or sensual. I have had this theory for a long time, and I was so happy when I discovered it in the Spirit of Prophecy. All of our talks, all of our sermons, and all of our music should include both emotion and intellect. If you leave out one or the other, or overbalance one way or the other, we will be in trouble.

I heard a very prominent pastor preach a wonderful sermon about heaven, and I was emotionally moved by it. But I have found that sermons that only excite the emotions don’t last very long. You leave the church, realizing that the sermon’s emotional impact was all it had. There was no intellect in it at all. You don’t even remember what was in it, and you feel let down, perhaps empty, because you were not spiritually fed. That is why Mrs. White so often refers to the need for balance in our lives. [See Sons and Daughters of God, 161–163.]

  1. Do not choose music with false theology. Carefully review every word.
  2. Choose songs in which the words and the music match. Don’t mix secular and sacred. Beyond that, don’t choose a happy, uplifting tune to sing about something serious and solemn. For instance, don’t sing a song about marching to Zion when the words are saying something about the love of God. It doesn’t fit.
  3. Choose music that will draw each individual in the congregation closer to God.

“Jesus carried into His labor cheerfulness and tact. … Often, He expressed the gladness of His heart by singing psalms and heavenly songs. Often the dwellers in Nazareth heard His voice raised in praise and thanksgiving to God. He held communion with heaven in song, and as His companions complained of weariness from labor, they were cheered by the sweet melody from His lips. His praise seemed to banish the evil angels, and, like incense, fill the place with fragrance.

“With the voice of singing, He welcomed the morning light. He listened to the lark caroling forth music to its God, and joined His voice with the voice of praise and thanksgiving.

“Song is a weapon that we can always use against discouragement.

“The voice of thanksgiving, praise, and rejoicing is heard in heaven. The voices of the angels in heaven unite with the voices of the children of God on earth as they ascribe honor and glory and praise to God and to the Lamb for the great salvation provided.

“Let us learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks.” The Faith I Live By, 273

Juanita McElwain earned her PhD in Music Therapy from Florida State University. She has taught music on all levels from preschool to college graduate. She has worked as a music therapy clinician with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Her areas of expertise in research include the effects of music on brain waves and the effects of music on headache. She has given numerous seminars on the power of music, which include good and bad effects of music, rock music, sensual music, music in worship and mind control through music throughout the United States and in Europe. She and her husband are presently retired in West Virginia. She may be contacted by e-mail at: juamce@meer.net

Why Do People Pass Out?

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Recently I saw a video of a young man and his girlfriend strapped into an amusement park ride that took them to the top of a tall pole, paused, then suddenly dropped them, and repeatedly stopped and dropped. They both must have been on the ride for the first time because they each expressed concern and even suggested that maybe they should get off.

But before they could execute that suggestion, they were rapidly pulled to the top of the pole and let go. The video shows that the girlfriend screamed and to some degree, seemed to enjoy the ride. The young man, however, screamed and promptly fainted. What made it interesting was that throughout the entire ride, the girlfriend didn’t notice. This young man would wake up screaming and then faint again, over and over. So, why did he keep passing out while the girlfriend did not?

These brief periods of fainting—greyouts or blackouts—are known as syncope. Gravitational forces (G-forces) and abrupt changes in acceleration and deceleration are the reason that people pass out on rides. A roller coaster accelerates upward, forcing blood downward toward the lower extremities, away from the brain, temporarily reducing the oxygen supply to the brain. The individual will experience loss of peripheral vision, what they see is dimmed (a greyout) or they experience total temporary blindness (a blackout).

The body, in an effort to counteract all this, increases the heart rate, and blood vessels constrict in an effort to maintain adequate blood flow to the brain. But because of the G-forces, these compensation efforts may not be sufficient causing a lack of oxygen to the brain and resulting in syncope.

The balance systems—vestibular and autonomic nervous systems—can also play a role. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary bodily functions. This system can be overwhelmed by extreme sensory input from, let’s say, a roller coaster. This triggers a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure (a vasovagal response), which in turn reduces blood flow to the brain and a person will faint. The vestibular system provides information about motion, balance, and spatial orientation. It is located in the inner ear. On a fast-moving ride, what the eyes see conflicts with what the inner ear feels. This mismatch leads to motion sickness symptoms and contributes to the vasovagal response, resulting in overstimulation of the vagus nerve and a temporary loss of consciousness.

But why did the young man do all the fainting, but the girlfriend did not at all? Several other factors can increase a person’s susceptibility to passing out. Dehydration and hunger can reduce blood volume, and the body is then less able to cope with the changes that occur when experiencing G-forces. Fatigue lowers the body’s resilience to stress. Pre-existing medical conditions like low blood pressure and heart issues can contribute to the fainting episodes. Even psychological factors such as anxiety and fear can trigger an adrenaline rush, increasing the heart rate and blood pressure, and once the intense portion of the ride is over, there is a sudden drop resulting in fainting. Hyperventilation or heat illness can also cause a person to faint.

Fainting, without the sudden ups and downs of an amusement park ride, is still caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain. This lack of blood flow can be caused by many of the same things. But just fainting can also be a sign of a serious or even life-threatening condition. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should take immediate steps to prevent fainting, but you should still try to determine why you felt like fainting.

While fainting can happen and there’s nothing you can do to stop it, there are things you can try when you feel a faint coming on:

  • Make a fist
  • Cross your legs
  • Squeeze your thighs together
  • Tighten the muscles in your arms
  • Lie down or put your head between your knees

A person may faint only occasionally as a result of easily-recognized reasons, but if a person experiences frequent fainting spells, it might be time to consult a healthcare provider to determine the cause.

Did You Know?

Fainting happens most often to people between the ages of 10 and 30 years, and in those 65 and older.

Commonly found in males, micturition syncope can cause a person to pass out when they urinate, cough or stretch.

Standing for long periods with knees locked can cause you to faint. This is a result of blood pooling in your leg veins.

FAINTING SYMPTOMS causes of lack of blood flow to the brain
Feeling flushed and warm Dehydration
Weakness Shock
Confusion Drugs and alcohol
Dizziness or lightheadedness Drug interactions
Headache Orthostatic Hypotension (standing up too fast)
Nausea Anxiety or fear
Shortness of breath Stress
Cold sweats Sight of blood
Trembling of shaking Getting a shot
Tunnel or blurred vision

Source: biologyinsights.com/why-do-some-people-pass-out-on-rides; verywellhealth.com/causes-of-fainting