Jana Wagner, Author at Steps to Life

Lesson 15 – The Beast

June 23, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: One of God’s strongest warnings for the last days is against receiving the mark of the Beast. Before identifying this mark, let us learn the identity of the Beast.

1. What warning does God give against worshiping the Beast? Rev. 14:9, 10 [The Further-study verse is Rev. 18:1-5]

2. Why is God opposed to the Beast power? Rev. 13:1, 5-7 [Rev. 19:11,19; 18:6]

3. What does Paul call this power who seeks to exalt himself above God? 2 Thess. 2:3, 4, 8 [Ans: The “man of sin” and “the lawless one,” (NKJV). Rev. 17:1-6]

4. What descriptions in Daniel, compared with what we read in Revelation 13:5-7, show that the “Beast” power is the same as the “Little Horn” of Daniel 7? Dan. 7:25 [Note: A “time” is a year (Dan. 4:16-32; Rev. 12:6,14). A time, two times, and a half a time equal 3 1/2 years, or 42 months, as denoted in Revelation 13. Revelation 12:14 refers to this period of time when the Beast rules as 1260 prophetic days (or literal years). Symbolic time prophecies are based on 30-day months, making 360 days a year. 3 1/2 times 360 equals 1260 days. Rev, 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 13:5; Dan 12:7; Eze. 4:6; Num. 14:34]

5. Out of what kingdom did the little horn (Beast power) arise? Dan. 7:7, 8 [Ans: Out of the fourth kingdom, pagan Rome. See Lesson 7. Rev. 12:1-5; 13:2]

6. What happened to the Roman empire that made it possible for this new power to arise from its midst? Dan. 2:40, 41 [Ans: It was broken up. 2 Thess. 2:6,7]

7. Pagan Rome was divided into ten kingdoms between 351 and 476 A.D. When would the little horn arise? Dan. 7:24 [Note: It arose as a political power AFTER the ten; but Paul notes in 2 Thessalonians that, though not ruling politically until pagan Rome was “taken out of the way,” it was already present in his day and would continue until Jesus’ second coming. 2 Thess. 2:7-12]

8. What happened to three kingdoms before the little horn arose and exercised kingly power? Dan. 7:8 [Note: Three kingdoms from the divisions of Rome opposed the spiritual supremacy of the papacy. They were the Heruls, destroyed in 493; the Vandals, destroyed in 534; and the Ostrogoths, “uprooted” from Rome in 538 and destroyed in 553. The Pope began exercising civil authority in 538 A.D. 2 Thess. 2:7-9]

9. Would the little-horn kingdom be like the others? Dan. 7:24 [Ans. No. It would be religious as well as political. See verse 25. Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Cor. 11: 13-15]

10. What religious-political power arose out of Rome around 538? [Ans: The Papacy. Emperor Justinian declared the Pope the ruler of Rome in 533, but he did not start to reign until 538. The Pope was the temporal ruler of Rome from 538 until taken captive by Napoleon’s General, Berthier, in 1798–EXACTLY 1260 YEARS FROM WHEN HE STARTED RULING! Rev. 17:3, 9, 18]

11. What kind of words does the little horn speak? Dan. 7:25a [Note: The Roman Catholic Church claims that the Pope “Is not a mere man, but as it were God.” He is crowned with a triple crown as “king of heaven . . ., earth and . . . the lower regions.” He “is of so great authority that he can modify . . . even divine laws.”– L. Ferraris, Prompt Bibliotheca, vol. VI, pp. 26-29. 2 Thess. 2:3, 4; Dan. 11:36, 37; Matt. 23:9; 1 Tim. 4:1-3]

12. What would this power do to the saints? Dan. 7:25b [Note: It is estimated that 50 million Christians were martyred during the middle ages. Rev. 17:6; 18:24]

13. Though the Pope was wounded by losing his political power in 1798, how large an influence will he again exert in the world? Rev. 13:3 [Rev. 18:1-3]

14. Does God have true and sincere followers in spiritual “Babylon”? Rev. 18:4 [Ans: Yes. God calls those within, who are obeying the truth they know, “My people.” It is the system, not the people, to which God is opposed, for it is a mixture of truth and error. God loves every person within every false system, but He is calling them to come out and to join His “sheepfold.” John 10:16]

Commitment: Protestants arose from “protesting” against Rome, but now even they are “wondering” after the Beast. God has many people in the Catholic Church, but He is saying, “Come out of her, My people . . .” (Rev. 18:4). As we will see in the next lesson, soon all will have to decide between the traditions of Rome and the commandments of God. Are you willing to follow God all the way, even if all the world acknowledges another authority?

STEP 2 (Lessons 11-20): Accepting Christ’s Final Message

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Lesson 14 – The Sign of Allegiance to God

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: In our last lesson we saw that we will be judged according to God’s law. Keeping the law does not save us, but it shows whether we have been born again. In Revelation, the keeping of God’s law is also what distinguishes God’s people from those who follow the Beast. In this lesson we will learn why.

1. How is the “man of sin” (sometimes called the “Beast” power in Scripture) described by Paul? 2 Thess. 2:3, 4, 7-10 [Ans: “The lawless one” (NKJV) The Further-study verse is Dan. 7:25]

2. We will study about the Beast in our next lesson. There we will learn that most of the world will receive his mark of authority. These people who receive the mark of the Beast (unknowingly, of course,) will actually think they are saved through faith in Jesus and will be astounded to find, too late, that they are lost! How did Jesus describe these professed Christians in the last days who follow the “lawless” Beast power? Matt. 7:21-23 [Ans: Like the Beast, they “practice lawlessness” (NKJV) Rev. 22:14]

3. How many commandments may we disregard without being considered “lawless” by God? James 2:10-12 [Matt. 5:17-19]

4. What commandment in God’s law do most Christians disregard? Ex. 20:8-11 [Note: By looking at the calendar we find that the seventh day of the week is Saturday, not Sunday! According to the Ten Commandments, “the seventh day [not the first day] is the Sabbath of the Lord [not of the Jews].” The Jews kept this day simply because, until they rejected Jesus, they were God’s people. Our Further-study verse also makes it clear that the Sabbath is for Gentiles who are God’s people. Is. 56:1-8]

5. When does the Biblical Sabbath begin and end? Lev. 23:32 [Ans: It begins at sundown Friday and ends at sundown Saturday. Gen. 1:5; Luke 23:54-56]

6. What day does Jesus claim as His day, the Lord’s day? Mark 2:27, 28 [ Matt. 12:8]

7. What right does Jesus have to claim a day as His? Col. 1:16 [Ans. Because He made it. He is the Creator. John 1:3]

8. When did Jesus make the Sabbath? Gen. 2:1-3 [Note: Our Further-study verses show that God’s people kept the Sabbath before Sinai; and there is still, after Jesus’ death on the cross, a Sabbath rest to be kept. It was not just for the Jews and it has not passed away. There were, however, old-covenant yearly, ceremonial sabbaths (such as the Passover) which were given at Sinai and which, as “shadows of things to come,” pointed forward to Christ and were fulfilled and done away with at the cross. Ex. 16:21-30; Matt. 24:20; Col. 2:16, 17 cf. Lev. 23:23-44]

9. How did Jesus relate to the Sabbath when He was on earth? Luke 4:16 [ Matt. 24:20; Isa. 42:21; Heb. 13:8]

10. On what day did Paul, long after the crucifixion, worship with both the Jews and the Gentiles? Acts 13:42-44 [ Acts 13:14; 16:13; 18:4, 11]

11. Was this Paul’s custom? Acts 17:2 [Note: Paul was accused of many things by the Jews, but one thing he was never accused of was Sabbath breaking! The Bible contains a record of only one meeting that Paul held on the first day, and that was a farewell service that continued until after midnight. Also, Paul told the Corinthians to gather up their poor fund on the first day of the week. This was a weekday activity. Acts 20:7-11 (In this passage, the New English Bible says “Saturday night,” instead of “the first day of the week.”); 1 Cor. 16: 1, 2]

12. On what day did John, the last apostle, have a vision while in exile? Rev. 1:10 [Note: The only “Lord’s Day” throughout Scripture is the Seventh-day Sabbath. Luke 23:56 (In this verse the followers of Jesus continued to recognize the binding claims of the fourth commandment after Jesus’ death on the cross. And Luke, writing decades after the crucifixion, continues to call the seventh day “the Sabbath.”)]

13. The Bible describes a people who will repair a broken-down law of God that has been trampled on for many generations. What commandment is it? Isa. 58:12-14 [ Rev. 12:17]

14. On what day will the redeemed worship God in the new earth? Isa. 66:22, 23 [ Ps. 119:152]

15. While all the commandments show our allegiance, which one is a special sign of allegiance that we may know that we are truly following God, as His people, and that He is our God? Eze. 20:19, 20 [ Rev. 14: 12]

Commitment: The Sabbath is the one commandment we must accept solely by faith in Jesus’ authority. Keeping it does not save us, but it demonstrates our true allegiance. Today, during the judgment, God is again bringing His people back to full obedience. Though we are not held accountable until we have an opportunity to know the truth (James 4:17), out of love for us God is again teaching us these forgotten principles, that we may not inadvertently become followers of the “lawless” Beast. Is it your desire to follow Jesus all the way? Will you show your allegiance and love to Jesus by keeping His day of worship?

STEP 2 (Lessons 11-20): Accepting Christ’s Final Message

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Lesson 13 – By What Standard Will We Be Judged?

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: In our last lesson we learned that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” In this lesson we will discover the standard by which we are to be judged.

1. Can we earn salvation? Eph. 2:8-10 [The Further-study verses are Rom.6:23; Gal. 2:16; Titus 3:5-8.]

2. What experience must we have to receive this free gift? John 3:3 [Note: While the gift is free and cannot be earned, it is conditional upon our being born again. John 1:12, 13; 1 John 5:4]

3. To be born again means to receive the gift of Jesus’ divine nature (In the Scriptures, this nature is variously called life, power, seed, or spirit.) How can we receive this new nature? 2 Peter 1:3, 4 [Ps. 119:11]

4. Unless we are “eating” the Word of God, through Bible study and prayer, can we have Jesus’ life (or nature) abiding in us? John 6:53, 63 [Note: God gives us a new spiritual birth through Christ Jesus, but we must nourish that spiritual life with spiritual food, just as our physical life is kept alive with physical food. Are we as careful about spending time in Bible study and prayer as we are in eating physical food? Matt. 4:4; John 15:4-7]

5. When we are born again, what must happen to the sinful habits in our life? Rom. 6:4-6 [1 John 3:3-9]

6. What is sin? 1 John 3:4 [Note: If sin is breaking God’s law, and to be born again involves overcoming sin, then the truly born-again person who will pass the judgment must become a law-keeper. Rom. 4:15; 7:7]

7. How will God know that we have been born again? By what standard will He judge us on the day of judgment? James 2:10-12 [1 John 2:3-6]

8. Since we were born in sin, and love sin, how can we have the new birth experience of victory over sin? Rom. 8:2-6, 13 [Note: We were born with a weak and fallen nature. This is the hereditary “law of sin and death.” But when Jesus became the Son of Man, He conquered sin by combining human nature with His divine nature, thereby “condemning sin in the flesh.” He now offers us His divine nature “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us” also. We are born again when we by faith surrender the soul to Christ to be filled with His Spirit, and, thus strengthened, begin to live a life of righteousness. John 8:34-36; I John 3:3-9; Titus 2:11-14]

9. How do we know that Jesus had no advantage over us so that we, too, can live victoriously over sin “just as” Jesus did (1 John 3:3)? Heb. 4:15, 16 [1 Cor. 10:13]

10. How could Jesus have been “tempted as we are”? Heb. 2:11, 14-18 [Ans: Because He was “made like His brethren.” He came with a “heredity” like ours “to share our . . . temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.” “As the Son of Man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey.” “Jesus . . . exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess.” “In Christ, God has provided means for subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong.”–The Desire of Ages, pp. 49, 24, 664, 429. Heb. 5:8, 9; Matt. 1:21, 23; Rom. 1:3; Phil. 2:7 cf. Rom. 8:3]

11. When Jesus gives us a new beginning (new birth) by imparting to us His Spirit (or nature), what does He write on our hearts? Heb. 8:10 [Phil. 2:5; Rev. 14:1]

12.What motive should prompt us to keep God’s law? John 14:15 [2 Cor. 5:14; John 15:10; 2 Thess. 2:8-12 (especially note verse 10)]

13. Are God’s commandments burdensome to those who are truly born again? 1 John 5:3, 4 [Ps. 119:47, 77, 97, 174]

14. Why will many who think they are born again be disappointed on the day of judgment? Matt. 7:21-23 [Note: The Greek literally reads: “Depart . . . you who work LAWLESSNESS” (ergazomenoi ten anomian). 1 John 2:3-6, 28]

15. How does the Bible summarize the answer to our question, “By what standard will we be judged on the day of judgment”? Eccl. 12:13, 14 [Rom. 2:13; James 1:25]

16. Who will be admitted into heaven? Rev. 22:14 [Note: The KJV and NKJV based on the “textus receptus” manuscript, read: “Blessed are they who do His commandments, that they may have the right to . . . enter.” Rev. 14:12]

Commitment: Our salvation cost Jesus His life, but He offers salvation to us free if we will but surrender our sinful natures to Him, who has promised to “take away our sins” (1 John 3:5) and to write His law on our hearts. Thus it is that we will be judged according to God’s law, for our works show whether we have been born again (1 John 2:29). “Let no one deceive you” on this point (1 John 3:6, 7)! The new birth involves a total, growing change of character, habits, and thinking (2 Cor. 5:17). Do you want Jesus to give you this new-birth experience, beginning today?

STEP 2 (Lessons 11-20): Accepting Christ’s Final Message

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Lesson 12 – God’s Court of Justice

November 3, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: In our last lesson we learned that Jesus is working (ministering) for us in the heavenly sanctuary. We might call this sanctuary Jesus’ and His Father’s office or court. The ministering angels are their staff. There are many types of work carried on in the sanctuary, but one of the most important is that of judgment. Sometimes we think of judgment in negative terms, but the purpose of this judgment is to declare us “not guilty”–if possible! In this lesson we shall study the work of the judgment as carried on in the heavenly sanctuary.

1. What court summons do we all have pending? 2 Cor. 5:10 [The Further-study verse is Rom. 14:10.]

2. There are three parts to a court case: (1) Investigation, (2) Sentencing, and (3) Execution of the sentence. When will the investigative part of the judgment be done–before or after Jesus comes? Rev. 22:12 [Ans: Jesus comes WITH the rewards to pronounce sentence, therefore the investigative part of the judgment must already have been done. Matt. 16:27]

3. Must we appear in person, or is there a record of our lives that will be reviewed? Rev. 20:12 [Mal. 3:16]

4. With whom does this investigation of people’s LIFE-RECORD begin? 1 Peter 4:17 [Ans: With the professed followers of God. Daniel 7:22 states: “The Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High” (NKJV). The Beast had judged against the saints, but God judges for them. Actually, the words “in favor” are italicized in the NKJV, meaning they were supplied by the translators. The passage literally reads, “A judgment was made of the saints.” Dan. 7:21, 22; Matt. 22:11-14]

5. Though no longer permitted in the sanctuary courtroom, who is the prosecuting attorney who accuses God’s people? Rev. 12:9, 10 [Job 1:8-11]

6. Who is the defense attorney who serves as our advocate? 1 John 2:1 [Rom. 8:33, 34]

7. What will happen to the record of the sins of God’s people who were converted and who repented of their sins? Acts 3:19 [1 John 1:9]

8. There are various books of record in heaven. What is the name of the register that records the names of those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Advocate? Rev. 21:27 [Phil. 4:3; Rev. 13:8; 20:12; 22:19]

9. What will happen to those who were once “saved” and registered in this book of life, but who continue to cherish sin? Ex.32:31-33 [Rev. 3:5; Eze. 18:21-24; 33:11-16]

10. Will all who profess that Jesus is their Savior, and who claim to be saved, ultimately be saved? Matt. 7:21-23 [2 Thess. 2:9-12]

11. Will we be judged by our religious profession or by some other means? Eccl. 12:13, 14 [James 2:12]

12. Although we are saved by grace through faith alone and not by works, for it is by faith that our sins are forgiven and our lives are changed, by what will we be judged? Matt. 16:27 [Rev. 22:12]

13. How do our works reveal our faith? Matt. 7:16-20 [James 2:17]

14. When God showed Daniel the future of the earth (Lesson 7), He depicted the rise of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome by four symbolic beasts; and then He used ten horns to depict the splintering of the Roman Empire into European fragments. What did Daniel see happening in the heavenly sanctuary, where God’s throne is, sometime after the division of Rome into the European nations? Dan. 7:9, 10 [Rev. 14:6, 7]

15. Jesus offers to be our advocate in this court of justice, but He does not plead everyone’s case. Jesus said He had never “known” (never represented or been the advocate of) those who called Him “Lord” in Matthew 7:21-23. How can we make sure that He will be our advocate and thus win our case, in the judgment? 1 John 2:1-6 [John 15:10; Prov. 28:9]

Commitment: The judgment in the heavenly sanctuary has eternal consequences for every one of us. Do you desire to have Jesus as your advocate in this judgment? Will you continue to learn from Him and to walk in the light that He is revealing to you so that you may have the assurance of eternal life in Him?

STEP 2 (Lessons 11-20): Accepting Christ’s Final Message

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Lesson 11 – The New Covenant Ministry of Jesus

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: “Covenant” means promise or agreement. God’s covenant is His promise and plan to save us. It is His “plan of salvation.” The Bible speaks of two covenants-the old one, made at Sinai, and the new one, established at the cross. Let us compare the two.

1. From where does Jesus carry on His new-covenant ministry for us? Heb. 8:1, 2 [Ans. At the right hand of God in the heavenly sanctuary. The Further-study verses are Rev. 1:13; 4:5; 8:3, 4; 11:19.]

2. Where were the old-covenant services performed? Heb. 9:1-5 [Ans: In the earthly sanctuary. See figure on back. Ex. 25-27; 16:33, 34; Num. 17:10; Ex. 25:8, 9, 40]

3. What did Paul call the old-covenant sanctuary, with its earthly services? Heb. 9:24 [Ans: “Copies” of the true. Note: The old covenant is a picture of the new covenant. It is the plan of salvation illustrated. In some respects it is like a picture of a man’s wife. The man may show it to you and say, “This is my wife.” But is it really? No, it is only a picture! He may treasure the picture, but it cannot replace his wife. The Jewish nation hung on to the old-covenant “picture” but rejected the One to whom it pointed forward-Jesus and His ministry. We could also illustrate it with a blueprint of a house which is made before the house is built. Heb. 8:3-5]

4. When God illustrated His plan of salvation at Sinai, what covenant did the people make with Him? Ex. 19:8 [Note: When God gave the old covenant at Sinai, the people promised to keep it, and they intended to, but they could not do so in their own strength (Rom. 8:3). They should have asked God for help; then the Savior, to whom the old covenant pointed forward, would have come into their hearts and delivered them from the power of sin. Matt. 1:21; John 8:34-36; Ex. 25:8]

5. What was the purpose of the laws of the earthly sanctuary? Gal. 3:24 [John 5:46, 47; Heb. 10:1]

6 . Everything in the old covenant-its people, its law, its sanctuary and services, its capital city, etc.-represented (or pictured) something in the new covenant established at the cross. Who did the HIGH PRIEST represent? Heb. 4:14-16 [1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:17; 3:1]

7. Who did the PEOPLE of the old covenant, the literal children of Abraham, represent? Gal. 3:9, 29 [Rom. 2:28, 29; Gen. 17: 1-7; Eze. 34:30; Matt. 3:9; John 8:37-44]

8. What new-covenant capital city corresponds to the old-covenant CAPITAL? Gal. 4:24-26 [Note: Some people still look to old-covenant Jerusalem for the fulfillment of God’s promises. Like the Pharisees, they are clinging to the old-covenant “picture”; but that covenant was nailed to the cross. The old covenant was like Hagar. Hagar was intended to be the midwife to deliver the child of promise, but she was never intended to be the mother of that child. Thus the old covenant was perfect for leading God’s people to Christ and to the New Jerusalem, but it was never intended to take its place. John 8:34-36; Heb. 10:4; 11:8-10]

9. How did the old covenant SACRIFICES take away sins? Heb. 10:4, 5 [Ans: They didn’t. Those who trusted in these sacrifices alone, were lost. The sacrificial system was designed to develop and show one’s faith in the coming Messiah. Acts 4:12]

10. Who did the LAMB represent? John 1:29 [1 Cor. 5:7]

11. In the old covenant, what was one purpose of the ten-commandment LAW written on stone? Rom. 7:7-10 [James 1:23, 24; 2:10-12; Ex. 24:12; Deut. 4:13]

12. Besides providing forgiveness for breaking God’s law, why else did Jesus come to earth? Rom. 8:3, 4 [Ans: To give us power to keep God’s law. 1 John 3:4-6]

13. God’s law was written on STONE in the old-covenant “picture.” Where is it written in the new covenant? Heb. 10:16 [Eze. 11:19, 20; 2 Cor. 3:7-10, 18; 1 John 2:3-5]

Commitment: Some have wondered why, when the Ten Commandments were included in the old covenant, the New Testament says, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may . . . enter . . . the [New Jerusalem] city” (Rev. 22:14, NKJV). But the old covenant merely foreshadowed the new. In the new covenant the commandments are to be written on our hearts. Do you want Jesus to perform this new-covenant ministry in your life?

STEP 2 (Lessons 11-20): Accepting Christ’s Final Message

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Lesson 10 – Jesus Returns to Earth

June 23, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: The second coming of Jesus was the great theme of the apostles. It is estimated that one in every 25 verses of the New Testament speaks of this event. But Satan has sought to confuse people so that they will not be ready to meet Him. Before Jesus’ first coming in Bethlehem, Satan was successful in confusing the Jewish people by causing them to misapply the prophecies of His second coming to His first coming. As a result, few were ready to receive Him. Now He is applying the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming-such as the 70th week in Daniel 9-to His second coming. And again it is working effectively to deceive! Let us see what the Bible says about Jesus’ second coming.

1. Before Jesus returned to heaven, what did He promise? John 14:13 [Note: Jesus promised that He would receive us to Himself WHEN He came again-NOT BEFORE, in some secret rapture, as some people are teaching today. The Further-study verses are Rev. 22:12-14; Heb. 9:28; 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Peter 1:13; 5:4; 1 John 2:28; Ps. 50:3]

2. How will Jesus come? Acts 1:9-11 [Matt. 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Isa. 66:15; Ps. 104:3, 4]

3. Will there be counterfeits of Jesus’ second coming? Matt. 24:23-27 [ 2 Thess. 2:9, 10]

4. How can we know when the real Christ has come? Matt. 24:30, 31 [Ans: Everyone will see Him. There are many other identifying characteristics of Jesus’ second coming described in the questions and verses below. See if you can list them all. Rev. 1:7]

5. What work of judgment will Jesus do at His coming? Matt. 25:31-34, 41, 46 [Ans: He will separate the righteous from the wicked and execute judgment upon the inhabitants of the earth. (The chronology of these events will be further detailed in Lesson 20.) Matt. 16:27; Ps. 50:3, 4; Isa. 66:15-17]

6. What historical event did Jesus use to illustrate this separation? Matt. 24:36-41 [Note: In this separation, those who were taken were taken away in death by the flood (verse 39), and the others were left alive in the ark. So will it be at Jesus’ second coming. While people are doing common things, Jesus will come suddenly in judgment upon all. 2 Peter 3:3-7]

7. While we cannot know the hour, can we know when Jesus’ coming is near? 1 Thess. 5:1-6 [ Matt. 24:32, 33]

8. Will Christ’s coming be secret and silent, as a thief in the night? 2 Peter 3:10-12 [Ans. No, it will be a surprise as when a thief breaks in, but it will not be secret or silent-it will terrify the wicked as when a thief wreaks sudden carnage with great noise upon the household. Ps. 50:3; Isa. 66:15, 16]

9. See if you can answer these questions from the following passage: (1) At Jesus’ second coming, what will happen to the righteous who have previously died? (2) What will happen to the righteous who are still living? (3) Will His coming be silent? 1 Thess. 4:15-18 [ John 5:28, 29; 1 Cor. 15:51-55]

10. What will happen to the kingdoms of the world when Jesus comes? Dan. 2:44 [ Rev. 6:14-17; 16:19-21]

11. What will happen to the wicked at Jesus’ second coming? 2 Thess. 1:7-9 [ 2 Thess. 2:8; 2 Peter 2:9]

12. Will everyone who claims to be saved, be taken to heaven when Jesus comes? Matt. 7:21-23 [ 2 Thess. 2:11, 12]

13. What should we do to be ready for that day? Titus 2:11-14 [ Luke 21:34-36]

Commitment: Jesus’ second coming will be a sudden, all-encompassing surprise to the world, at which time all will be eternally separated-some for everlasting destruction and some for eternal life. Is the glorious appearing of Jesus your blessed hope? Do you want Jesus to redeem you from every lawless deed, and to write His law of love and righteousness in your heart, so that you will rejoice to see His face?

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ, Our Savior and Coming King

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Lesson 9 – Our Redeemer, the Theme of Prophecy

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: Multitudes today are losing faith in Jesus. How can we KNOW that He was the Savior of the world? We can know because of the Old Testament prophecies.

1. What did Jesus show was the theme of the Old Testament prophecies? Luke 24:25-27 [The Further-study verses are Luke 24:44; John 5:39]

2. In what city did the Old Testament say Jesus was to be born? Micah 5:2 [ Luke 2:1-7; Isa. 9:6]

3. Was there also a specific time when Jesus was to appear? Gal. 4:4

4. When was that time to be? Dan. 9:24, 25 [Ans: Sixty-nine weeks after the command to restore and build Jerusalem. Ezra 6:14; 7:7-11]

5. Sixty-nine weeks is 483 days. In symbolic prophecy, what does a day represent? Eze. 4:6 [ Num. 14:34]

According to Ezra 6:14, the threefold decree to restore and build Jerusalem was completed by the Persian king Artaxerxes. This decree went forth shortly after Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth Jewish month in the seventh year of Artaxerxes’ reign (Ezra 7:8, 9). Artaxerxes’ first year, counted as year “zero” by the Jews, was from the autumn of 465 B.C. to the autumn of 464 B.C. The fifth Jewish month of his seventh year was in 457 B.C. Therefore the Messiah should appear 483 years after 457 B.C., which was 27 A.D. (There is no year “0” between B.C. and A.D., so you must add a year when going from B.C. to A.D.) Twenty-seven A.D. was the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar.

6. Thus the 69 weeks ended in Tiberius Caesar’s 15th year. What happened that year? Luke 3:1-3, 21, 22.

7. The Hebrew word “Messiah” (“Christ” in Greek) means “anointed.” If Jesus was the Messiah, (1) HOW was He anointed, thereby becoming the Messiah; and (2) WHEN did that happen? Acts 10:37, 38 [Ans: He was anointed by the Holy Spirit at His baptism in 27 A.D., exactly according to prophecy! Luke 3:21, 22; 4:18; John 1:41]

8. Did Jesus recognize the fulfillment of this prophetic time? Mark 1:15 [Note: The Greek word here is “pleroo,” meaning “fulfilled,” or “completed,” as translated in the KJV, NKJV, and NASB. The time that had just been fulfilled was the 69 weeks. Matt. 4:17]

9. Although the Jewish people wanted a conqueror, what would happen to the Messiah sometime after 27 A.D.? Dan. 9:26a [Ans: He would be “cut off.” Isa. 53:8, 9]

10. Jesus’ baptism marked the end of the 69 weeks and the beginning of the 70th week of probationary time allotted to the Jewish nation. What would happen in the middle of this prophetic week? Dan. 9:27a [Ans: Jesus, who made the covenant, would put an end to animal sacrifices by Himself being “cut off ‘ and becoming our sacrifice on the cross. Isa. 53:8; Heb. 10:6, 9-14, 18; Matt. 23:38; 27:51]

11. Did Jesus understand the prophetic time period pointing forward to His being “cut off” and doing away with sacrifices? Luke 9:51 [ Matt. 26:18; John 7:6-8]

12. Since after Jesus’ death there were still 3 1/2 years of the final (70th) week for special ministry to the Jewish people, where did Jesus tell His disciples to begin their witness? Acts 1:8 [Note: Jesus confirmed the covenant of 490 years with the Jewish people (Rom. 15:8), first through His own ministry (Matt. 24:47), and then through His disciples. Luke 24:47]

13. When did the gospel begin to go to the Gentiles? Acts 7:59; 8:1, 4 [Note: In the stoning of Stephen, the Jewish nation once more rejected the covenant of mercy. Acts 10:9-17, 28, 29]

14. Was the Jewish nation still God’s chosen people after 34 A.D.? Rom. 2:28, 29 [ Jer. 18:9, 10; Deut. 28:45, 46, 63; Matt. 21:43; 1 Peter 2:9, 10]

15. Under the New Covenant, who are the true Israel? Gal. 3:26-29 [ Gen. 17:4-7; 1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 3:7; 6:15, 16; Eph. 2:11-22]

Commitment: Jesus alone fulfills the prophecies of the Messiah. Through Him we can each become a part of God’s true people-spiritual Israel. Is it your desire to be a part of God’s true Israel today?

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ, Our Savior and Coming King

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Lesson 8 – What Will the Next Life Be Like?

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: Many people picture heaven as an imaginary cloud carrying imaginary spirits who are listening with imaginary ears to imaginary music from imaginary harps-and then we wonder why some people are not excited about going there! Today we will see what heaven is really like.

1. Where did the human race come from? Gen. 1:26-28 [The Further-study verse is Ps. 8:4, 5]

2. What kind of world did God create for our happiness-a real, tangible world; or a make believe, invisible world? Gen. 1:1, 11, 20, 24 [Note: Our streams today are from the very waters God created; our trees are from the seeds of the trees He made. Rev. 4: 11]

3. What did God think of His creation? Gen. 1:31 [James 1:17, 18]

4. God made the human family to enjoy this world forever if they would be loyal and trustworthy. But, since Satan had already rebelled in heaven, what provision for free choice did God give our first parents? Gen. 2:8, 9, 15-17 [Note: Some understand this to mean that as soon as Adam and Eve sinned, they would come under the sentence of death. The KJV margin says: “dying thou shalt die.” On the other hand, if God had not implemented the plan of salvation immediately, Adam and Even would have died at once. Rom. 6:23]

5. Our first parents failed, and what was the result? Rom. 5:12 [Gen. 3:6]

6. God created a perfect world for human beings to enjoy eternally, but through sin they lost that inheritance. Who provided them a second chance to obtain that eternal inheritance again? 1 Peter 1:3, 4, 18, 19 [Isa. 53:46]

7. What kind of life has Jesus promised to give back to us? John 10:10 [Note: Jesus promised a MORE abundant life (one of reality such as He created for us to enjoy in Eden, and which He said was “very good”), not a LESS abundant life. This not only applies to life in heaven, but to our present life as well. Right now God promises to give us peace, joy, and meaning to life. John 14:1-3; Isa. 45:18; Mark 10:29, 30]

8. How long will this “more abundant” life last? John 10:27, 28 [John 3:16]

9. We have seen that God made man a tangible being to enjoy things, and God said it was “very good” (Gen. 1:31). What will the next life be like? Isa. 65:17, 21, 22, 25 [Rev. 21:4; 22:1,3]

10. Since “it is appointed for men to die,” and to lay to rest these tangible bodies (Heb. 9:27), how will we become “real” people again? 1 Thess. 4:15-18 [John 5:28, 29; 6:39, 40; 11:24]

11. How do we know that we will be resurrected to a new life? Who went through the portals of the tomb and was resurrected as an assurance to us that we will be resurrected too? 1 Cor. 15:20, 23 [Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5; Phil. 3:10, 11; 1 Cor. 15:12, 19]

12. Since we will be resurrected as Jesus was, what was He like after His resurrection? Luke 24:33, 43 [Matt. 26:29; I Cor. 15:17, 23; Phil. 3:20, 21]

13. Will we know each other after our resurrection? 1 Cor. 13:12 [Note: The soldiers recognized Jesus after His resurrection. When Mary first met Him after that event, her eyes were too tear filled to see, but she recognized His voice. Jesus hid His identity from the two men on the road to Emmaus so He could teach them truth, but they recognized His mannerisms when He blessed the food. The disciples and all others recognized Him when they saw Him. He was the “same Jesus” (Acts 1:11)! We, too, will be the same people when we are resurrected, and we will be recognized by our friends. Luke 24:30, 32; John 20: 16, 19, 29; Isa. 66:22]

14. It took Jesus’ death to provide this abundant, real, eternal life. What does it take on our part to receive this treasure? Matt. 13:44 [ Matt. 16:24, 26]

Commitment: God made us real human beings, to enjoy a real creation. Jesus came to restore this abundant life to us; but the parable in Matthew 13:44 says it takes all to buy the field. The field containing the treasure represents the Holy Scriptures, within which are hidden the treasures of the gospel-Jesus Christ and eternal life. The Bible teaches that it takes all to become a follower of Jesus, but this treasure is worth far more than everything we have. Will you make an entire surrender of your life to Jesus today that you may obtain this treasure?

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ, Our Savior and Coming King

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Lesson 7 – Getting Started With Prophecy

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: “Blessed is he who reads . . . this prophecy” (Rev. 1:3). This lesson begins our study of prophecy.

1. Who alone truly knows the future? Isa. 46:9, 10 [The Further-study verse is John 14:29]

2. Has God revealed the future? Amos 3:7 [2 Peter 1:19-21]

3. Which prophecies did Jesus mention by name, saying we should understand them? Matt. 24:15 [Rev. 10:1, 2]

4. For what time period was the book of Daniel especially written? Dan. 12:4 [Note: Daniel and Revelation are both about the last days; but Daniel was written first and Revelation builds on its prophecies. In order to understand the two books we must start with Daniel and with Daniel’s first prophecy. Each succeeding prophecy is built upon the ones before. Dan. 8:17; 12:9]

5. What circumstances led up to Daniel’s first prophecy? Dan. 2:1-3 [Dan. 2:1-23, 29]

6. Who explained the dream, and what period of earth’s history did it picture? Dan. 2:27, 28 [Dan. 2:19]

7. What was the dream? Dan. 2:31-35 [Acts 17:26]

8. There are two vital principles we must understand to interpret correctly Daniel and Revelation:
(1) These prophecies are given in symbols; and
(2) The symbols are interpreted by the Bible itself.
In this first prophecy, God makes it easy by giving the interpretation immediately. What did the head of gold represent? Dan. 2:36-38 [Note: Nebuchadnezzar represented Babylon. “King” and “kingdom” often mean the same in prophecy (Dan. 2:39; 7:17, 23). Hos. 12:10; Isa. 14:4]

9. What did the silver, bronze and iron represent? Dan. 2:39, 40 [Note: The three kingdoms that followed Babylon were Persia (or Media-Persia), Greece and Rome respectively. Dan. 5:28; 8:20, 21]

10. To see how prophecy builds on itself, note how these same four kingdoms are described again, in greater detail, in the next major prophecy of Daniel. What symbols did God use this time? Dan. 7:2-7, 17

11. What would happen to Rome, the fourth kingdom? Dan. 7:23, 24a [Note: As predicted, only three world powers followed Babylon. Rome was never succeeded, but from 351 to 476 A.D. it was divided up into the following divisions by warring factions within: AngloSaxons (England), Franks (France), Suevi (Portugal), Visigoths (Spain), Alamani (Germany), Burgundians, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Heruls, and Vandals.]

12. How is this breakup of Rome into modern Europe described in Daniel 2? Will Europe ever be reunited? Dan. 2:41-43 [Dan. 2:21]

13. What will happen in the days of divided Europe? Dan. 2:44 [Matt 21:44]

14. How does Revelation describe this event? Rev. 11:15-18 [Rev. 6:14-17]

Commitment: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and pagan Rome have all passed away–we are now living in the tiptoes of the image, just before the new kingdom is set up! When God’s kingdom comes, with what group of people, as described in our last text, do you want to be found?

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ Our Savior and Coming King

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Lesson 6 – Christ Cleanses the Temple

May 31, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: In our last lesson we learned that Jesus has power to forgive and cleanse us. In this lesson we will learn about one aspect of our lives that Jesus wants to cleanse.

1. Why did God ask the Israelites to build Him a sanctuary? Ex. 25:8 [Note: God’s real throne is in the sanctuary in heaven, but He manifested His presence in the earthly sanctuary (and temple) so that His people might realize His nearness. The Further-study verses are Ps. 11:4; Heb. 8:1, 2; and 2 Chron. 6:18, 12; 7:1.]

2. What was one of the first things Jesus did after beginning His earthly ministry? John 2:14-17 [Ans. He cleansed the temple.]

3. At the end of Jesus’ ministry He again cleansed the temple. But because the religious leaders and people refused to keep the temple spiritually clean, God deserted it and it was soon destroyed. Although that temple no longer exists, does God still have a sacred dwelling place on earth? 1 Cor. 6:19, 20 [John 14:23]

4. In the New Testament, the Christian church and the Christian himself are called temples, because God desired to dwell within both. What will God do if we defile or destroy His temple? 1 Cor. 3:16, 17 [John 2:19, 21]

5. What is one way that Daniel believed his body-temple could be defiled? Dan. 1:8, 12 [1 Cor. 9:25, 27]

6. What was the original diet God created for human beings? Gen. 1:29 [Gen. 9:3, 4; 7:2]

7. Man’s original diet for the first 1656 years was of fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables; and the average lifespan was 912 years! When vegetation was destroyed by the flood, God gave permission for the people to eat animal flesh. He had made provision for this by bringing extra of the “clean” animals into the ark. Why did God prohibit the Israelites from eating “unclean” animals? Deut. 14:2. What are some of these “unclean” creatures? Deut. 14:3-20 [1 Peter 2:9; and Lev. 11:1-47]

8. Some people, by misapplying Scripture, have suggested that these health laws from our Creator were only for the Jews (though Gentile bodies are really no different!). Paul’s counsels on health were to the Gentiles (e. g., 1 Cor. 6:10, 19, 20; 10:31). How, and when, will God judge those who rebel against Him by defying His health laws? Isa. 66:15-17 [Rev. 21:27].

9. Besides eating “unclean” meat, what is another way we can defile the body? Prov. 23:29-33 [Note: In Bible times, wine meant grape juice–either fermented or fresh. Here it says, “Do not look on the wine when” it turns “red” and “swirls . . . smoothly.” In other words, do not drink grape juice (or any other juice) after it has fermented. 1 Cor. 6:9-11; and Prov. 20:1]

10. Although cigarettes were not yet “invented” in Bible times, does not tobacco defile the body? [Note: Deut. 29:18 warns against a “poisonous herb”–KJV margin.]

11. How does Paul summarize the way we are to treat our body-temples? 1 Cor. 10:31 [1 Thess. 5:23]

12. What has God promised people who obey Him? Ex. 15:26 [Note: Though at times we may have infirmities which God does not choose to heal (see 2 Cor. 12:7-9), yet by following God’s counsels we will have better health, and nothing will happen to us but what is for our best good; and ultimately we will be perfectly healed when Jesus restores His kingdom! 3 John 1:2]

Commitment: Today Jesus is asking us to respect our body-temples so that we may have clearer minds and better health, and may be able to render Him more faithful service. Will you ask Him to give you power over everything that tends to defile the body?

Notes: There are some texts which, when taken out of context, could be “twisted to our own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). Jesus said that “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth” (Matt. 15:11). But Jesus was not talking about food. He was not contradicting Scripture. The Pharisees He was addressing were not questioning food at all, but their human tradition of ritual washing before eating (verses 2, 20). Peter certainly did not understand Jesus to be changing the health laws, for years later he was given a vision of “all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean'” (Acts 10:12-14). Perhaps there were lizards, cats, tigers, vultures, snakes, dogs-we probably would have asked to be excused too! But the vision was symbolic. Peter knew that. After the vision he “wondered within himself what the vision meant” (verse 17). And then he was “shown” that he “should not call any man common or unclean” (verse 28). The Jews called the Gentiles unclean dogs, but the time had come to take the gospel to these Gentiles. Read the whole account in Acts 10:9-11:18. Romans 14:2 says that “He who is weak eats only vegetables.” Meat was offered to idols, and those who were weak in the faith still superstitiously avoided food offered to idols. See 1 Cor. 8:4-11.

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ Our Savior and Coming King

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