Issue: 2004 June

Bible Study Guides – God’s Dealings with Nebuchadnezzar

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July 24, 2004 – July 30, 2004

Memory Verse

“Break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.” Daniel 4:27.

Suggested Reading: Prophets and Kings, 514–521.

Introduction

“To understand that ‘righteousness exalteth a nation’; that ‘the throne is established by righteousness’ and ‘upholden by mercy’ (Proverbs 14:34; 16:12; 20:28); to recognize the outworking of these principles in the manifestation of His power who ‘removeth kings, and setteth up kings’ (Daniel 2:21),—this is to understand the philosophy of history.

“In the word of God only is this clearly set forth. Here it is shown that the strength of nations, as of individuals, is not found in the opportunities or facilities that appear to make them invincible; it is not found in their boasted greatness. It is measured by the fidelity with which they fulfill God’s purpose.” Education, 175.

“We are living in the last days of this earth’s history, and we may be surprised at nothing in the line of apostasies and denials of the truth. Unbelief has now come to be a fine art which men work at to the destruction of their souls. There is constant danger of there being shams in pulpit preachers, whose lives contradict the words they speak; but the voice of warning and of admonition will be heard as long as time shall last; and those who are guilty of transactions that should never be entered into, when reproved or counseled through the Lord’s appointed agencies, will resist the message and refuse to be corrected. They will go on as did Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, until the Lord takes away their reason, and their hearts become unimpressible. The Lord’s word will come to them; but if they choose not to hear it, the Lord will make them responsible for their own ruin.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 147.

1 What messages were sent to Babylon of old to call her to God? Daniel 2:47; 3:28; 4:1–3.

Note: “As the time comes for it [the third angel’s message] to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven.” The Great Controversy, 606, 607.

2 What further dream was given to Nebuchadnezzar? To whom was the dream first made known? With what result? Daniel 4:4–7.

Note: “The Lord is our helper. It is not his good pleasure that any should perish, but rather that all should come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved. God will not withhold from man the fulfillment of the only real hope he can have in the world. Jesus says, ‘Without me, ye can do nothing’ [John 15:5]; but in him, and through his righteousness imputed unto us, we may do all things. The work of the Spirit of God will stand forever, but the works of men will perish. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. To the worldly-wise the workings of the Spirit of God that leads to confession and acknowledgement of sin and to the acceptance of the truth as it is in Jesus, appear as foolishness. They cannot reason out the ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’ of its operation . . . , and they ridicule and denounce the work of God; their human wisdom cannot interpret it.” Review and Herald, July 1, 1890.

3 In the king’s perplexity, for whom did he call? What different spirit did he recognize in Daniel? Daniel 4:8, 9.

Note: “The spirit that possessed Daniel, the youth of today may have; they may draw from the same source of strength, possess the same power of self-control, and reveal the same grace in their lives, even under circumstances as unfavorable. Though surrounded by temptations to self-indulgence, especially in our large cities, where every form of sensual gratification is made easy and inviting, yet by divine grace their purpose to honor God may remain firm. Through strong resolution and vigilant watchfulness they may withstand every temptation that assails the soul.” God’s Amazing Grace, 256.

4 Relate the dream of the king. What was the purpose of the dream? What appeal did the king make? Daniel 4:10–18.

Note: “To Nebuchadnezzar the king the true object of national government was represented under the figure of a great tree, [Daniel 4:11, 12 quoted]. This representation shows the character of a government that fulfills God’s purpose—a government that protects and upbuilds the nation.

“God exalted Babylon that it might fulfill this purpose. Prosperity attended the nation until it reached a height of wealth and power that has never since been equaled.” Education, 175.

5 How was Daniel affected by the dream? Daniel 4:19.

Note: “The prophet realized that upon him God had laid the solemn duty of revealing to Nebuchadnezzar the judgment that was about to fall upon him because of his pride and arrogance. Daniel must interpret the dream in language the king could understand; and although its dreadful import had made him hesitate in dumb amazement, yet he must state the truth, whatever the consequences to himself.” Prophets and Kings, 517.

6 What was the meaning of the dream? Daniel 4:20–26.

Note: “The last dream which God gave to Nebuchadnezzar, and the experience of the king in connection with it, contain lessons of vital importance to all those who are connected with the work of God. . . .

“Today there is a Watchman taking cognizance of the children of men, and in a special sense of those who are to represent God by receiving his sacred truth into the heart and revealing it to the world. That Watcher is guarding the interests of all. Every individual is before him. There is not a thought of the heart that is unNoted. Nothing can be hidden from him. His ear hears the secret whisperings, and every secret thing is to be brought into judgment. All need to learn that the heavenly Watcher is acquainted with the children of men. If men forget this, there is danger of a spirit of selfishness and self exaltation entering their work. These principles practiced are not only detrimental to all within the sphere of their action, but will lead to a development of character so objectionable that its possessor cannot find a place among the redeemed. He that sitteth in the heavens requires that a different spirit shall control his workers.

“Whatever the position we are called to fill, our only safety is in walking humbly with God. The man who glories in his supposed capabilities, in his position of power, in his wisdom, in his property, or in anything else than Christ, will be taken in the net of the enemy. He who fails to walk humbly before God will find a spirit rising up within him, prompting the desire to rule others connected with him, and causing him to oppress others who are human and erring like himself. He appropriates to himself jurisdiction and control over other men,—an honor which belongs alone to God.” Review and Herald, September 8, 1896.

7 How only, did the prophet say, might this punishment be averted? Daniel 4:27.

Note: “God will not condemn any at the judgment because they honestly believed a lie, or conscientiously cherished error; but it will be because they neglected the opportunities of making themselves acquainted with truth. The infidel will be condemned, not because he was an infidel, but because he did not take advantage of the means God has placed within his reach to enable him to become a Christian.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 437.

8 How long was it before the unheeded counsel allowed the punishment to fall upon the king? Daniel 4:28, 29.

Note: “Instead of being a protector of men, Babylon became a proud and cruel oppressor. The words of Inspiration picturing the cruelty and greed of rulers in Israel reveal the secret of Babylon’s fall and of the fall of many another kingdom since the world began: ‘Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.’ Ezekiel 34:3, 4.” Education, 176.

9 What boastful words were being uttered as the judgment fell upon the king? Daniel 4:30, 31.

Note: “Let us consider, What reason has man to be puffed up? . . . He has nothing but that which he has received from God the Redeemer. Learning of the very highest order cannot purchase heaven for any of us. The man possessing large estates and lofty mansions, who walks the earth with all the independence of Nebuchadnezzar as he walked in the palace of the king of Babylon, can claim the right to heaven only through humble obedience to all of God’s commandments.” Review and Herald, July 19, 1887.

10 What was the king’s condition? Daniel 4:33.

Note: “Neither riches nor honor can purchase one of the rich graces of the Spirit of God, or secure for man by all his wisdom a mansion in the heavens. The proud monarch of Babylon was made to feel that there was a power behind and above all his boasted wisdom. God simply removed from the proud boaster his reason, which was the gift of God, and he became degraded to the society of the beasts for seven years.” Review and Herald, July 19, 1887.

“Humanity may be exalted by the world for what it has done. But man can lower himself very fast in God’s sight by misapplying and misappropriating his entrusted talents, which, if rightly used, would elevate him. While the Lord is long-suffering and not willing that any shall perish, He will by no means clear the guilty. Let all take heed to the words of the Lord. ‘Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed’ (1 Samuel 2:29, 30).” Selected Messages, Book 1, 298.

11 When his reason was restored, by what words did Nebuchadnezzar acknowledge the living God? Daniel 4:34, 35.

Note: “In spite of the warning he received, Nebuchadnezzar went on in his own strength, till God took from him the talent of wisdom, that he might be led to see and acknowledge that the God of Israel was able to create and to destroy. The kings who succeeded him failed to profit by his experience, and the kingdom of Babylon passed away because, in their prosperity, her rulers forgot God, and ascribed her honor and glory to human achievement. So today, when men forget God and refuse to obey his law, they are humiliated. God tests them, and if they do not humble their hearts and confess their sins, they receive the penalty of transgression.” Review and Herald, February 6, 1900.

12 What tribute did the once proud king then render to Jehovah? Daniel 4:37.

Note: “In Daniel’s life, the desire to glorify God was the most powerful of all motives. He realized that when standing in the presence of men of influence, a failure to acknowledge God as the source of his wisdom would have made him an unfaithful steward. And his constant recognition of the God of heaven before kings, princes, and statesmen, detracted not one iota from his influence. King Nebuchadnezzar, before whom Daniel so often honored the name of God, was finally thoroughly converted, and learned to ‘praise and extol and honor the King of heaven.’ [Daniel 4:37.]” Review and Herald, January 11, 1906.

“The king upon the Babylonian throne became a witness for God, giving his testimony, warm and eloquent, from a grateful heart that was partaking of the mercy and grace, the righteousness and peace, of the divine nature.” The Youth’s Instructor, December 13, 1904.

Bible Study Guides – A Test of Faith

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July 17, 2004 – July 23, 2004

Memory Verse

“Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:18.

Suggested Reading: Prophets and Kings, 503–513.

Introduction

“These faithful Hebrews possessed great natural ability and intellectual culture, and they occupied a high position of honor; but all these advantages did not lead them to forget God. All their powers were yielded to the sanctifying influence of divine grace. By their godly example, their steadfast integrity, they showed forth the praises of Him who had called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. In their wonderful deliverance was displayed, before that vast assembly, the power and majesty of God. Jesus placed Himself by their side in the fiery furnace, and by the glory of His presence convinced the proud king of Babylon that it could be no other than the Son of God. The light of heaven had been shining forth from Daniel and his companions, until all their associates understood the faith which ennobled their lives and beautified their characters.” Review and Herald, February 1, 1881.

“Those who study the Bible, counsel with God, and rely upon Christ will be enabled to act wisely at all times and under all circumstances. Good principles will be illustrated in actual life. Only let the truth for this time be cordially received and become the basis of character, and it will produce steadfastness of purpose, which the allurements of pleasure, the fickleness of custom, the contempt of the world-loving, and the heart’s own clamors for self-indulgence are powerless to influence. Conscience must be first enlightened, the will must be brought into subjection. The love of truth and righteousness must reign in the soul, and a character will appear which heaven can approve.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 43.

1 What had been revealed to Nebuchadnezzar concerning God’s plan for the world? Daniel 2:44, 45.

Note: “The dream given to the king of Babylon is a very striking one. Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest ruler, the most powerful king, of the time, and the prosperity of his kingdom, which had been given him of God for the glory of God, caused the Lord to designate that kingdom as the head of gold. But Nebuchadnezzar turned the warnings of God against himself. Instead of tracing out the end of all earthly things and the setting up of God’s everlasting kingdom, he turned aside to follow the imaginations of his proud heart, thinking that his kingdom should be a more extensive and powerful kingdom than it then was.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 63.

2 By what words had the king acknowledged the power of God? Daniel 2:47.

Note: “The solemn truths conveyed in this vision of the night, made a deep impression on the sovereign’s mind, and in humility and awe he fell down and worshiped, saying, [Daniel 2:47 quoted].

“Light, direct from Heaven, had been permitted to shine upon King Nebuchadnezzar, and for a little time he was influenced by the fear of God.” Review and Herald, February 1, 1881.

3 After some years had elapsed, what did the king do? Daniel 3:1. What was Nebuchadnezzar’s reason for making his image all of gold? Compare Daniel 2:32, 37, 38.

Note: “The words, ‘Thou art this head of gold,’ had made a deep impression upon the ruler’s mind. [Daniel 3:38.] The wise men of his realm, taking advantage of this and of his return to idolatry, proposed that he make an image similar to the one seen in his dream, and set it up where all might behold the head of gold, which had been interpreted as representing his kingdom.

“Pleased with the flattering suggestion, he determined to carry it out, and to go even farther. Instead of reproducing the image as he had seen it, he would excel the original. His image should not deteriorate in value from the head to the feet, but should be entirely of gold—symbolic throughout of Babylon as an eternal, indestructible, all-powerful kingdom, which should break in pieces all other kingdoms and stand forever.” Prophets and Kings, 504.

4 At the dedication of the image, what command was given the assembled multitude? Daniel 3:2–6.

Note: “The appointed day came, and a vast concourse from all ‘people, nations, and languages,’ assembled on the plain of Dura. [Daniel 3:7.] In harmony with the king’s command, when the sound of music was heard, the whole company ‘fell down and worshipped the golden image.’ [Ibid.] On that eventful day the powers of darkness seemed to be gaining a signal triumph; the worship of the golden image bade fair to become connected permanently with the established forms of idolatry recognized as the state religion of the land. Satan hoped thereby to defeat God’s purpose of making the presence of captive Israel in Babylon a means of blessing to all the nations of heathendom.” Prophets and Kings, 506.

5 Who disregarded this command? Daniel 3:8–12.

Note: “To bow down when in prayer to God is the proper attitude to occupy. This act of worship was required of the three Hebrew captives in Babylon. . . . But such an act was homage to be rendered to God alone—the Sovereign of the world, the Ruler of the universe; and these three Hebrews refused to give such honor to any idol even though composed of pure gold. In doing so, they would, to all intents and purposes, be bowing to the king of Babylon. . . .

“Both in public and private worship it is our duty to bow down upon our knees before God when we offer our petitions to Him. This act shows our dependence upon God.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 312.

6 What defiance was shown to the God of Israel? Daniel 3:13–15. By what noble words did the young men show their trust and loyalty? Verses 16–18.

Note: “The king commanded that the men [Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego] be brought before him. ‘Is it true,’ he inquired, ‘do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?’ [Daniel 3:14.] He endeavored by threats to induce them to unite with the multitude. Pointing to the fiery furnace, he reminded them of the punishment awaiting them if they should persist in their refusal to obey his will. But firmly the Hebrews testified to their allegiance to the God of heaven, and their faith in His power to deliver. The act of bowing to the image was understood by all to be an act of worship. Such homage they could render to God alone.” Prophets and Kings, 507.

“These three Hebrews possessed genuine sanctification. True Christian principle will not stop to weigh consequences. It does not ask, What will people think of me if I do this? or, How will it affect my worldly prospects if I do that? With the most intense longing the children of God desire to know what He would have them do, that their works may glorify Him. The Lord has made ample provision that the hearts and lives of all His followers may be controlled by divine grace, that they may be as burning and shining lights in the world.” The Sanctified Life, 39.

7 What did the king do? How was the command fulfilled? Daniel 3:19–22.

Note: “When the king saw that his will was not received as the will of God, he was ‘full of fury,’ and the form of his visage was changed against these men. [Daniel 3:19.] Satanic attributes made his countenance appear as the countenance of a demon; and with all the force he could command, he ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than its wont, and commanded the most mighty men to bind the youth, and cast them into the furnace. He felt that it required more than ordinary power to deal with these noble men. His mind was strongly impressed that something unusual would interpose in their behalf, and his strongest men were ordered to deal with them. . . .

“Trial and persecution will come to all who, in obedience to the Word of God, refuse to worship this false sabbath [Sunday]. Force is the last resort of every false religion. At first it tries attraction, as the king of Babylon tried the power of music and outward show. If these attractions, invented by men inspired by Satan, failed to make men worship the image, the hungry flames of the furnace were ready to consume them. So it will be now. The papacy has exercised her power to compel men to obey her, and she will continue to do so. We need the same spirit that was manifested by God’s servants in the conflict with paganism.” The Signs of the Times, May 6, 1897.

8 Why was the king astonished by what he saw? How was he able to recognize the fourth man as Jesus? Daniel 3:24, 25.

Note: “When Christ manifests himself to the children of men, an unseen Power speaks to their souls. They realize that they are in the presence of the Infinite One. Before his majesty, kings and nobles tremble, and acknowledge the living God as above every earthly power. The Hebrew captives had told Nebuchadnezzar of Christ, the Redeemer that was to come, and from the description thus given, the king recognized the form of the fourth in the fiery furnace as the Son of God.” The Youth’s Instructor, April 26, 1904.

9 How complete had been the protection of God over the three young men? Daniel 3:26, 27.

Note: “He who walked with the Hebrew worthies in the fiery furnace will be with His followers wherever they are. His abiding presence will comfort and sustain. In the midst of the time of trouble —trouble such as has not been since there was a nation—His chosen ones will stand unmoved. Satan with all the hosts of evil cannot destroy the weakest of God’s saints. Angels that excel in strength will protect them, and in their behalf Jehovah will reveal Himself as a ‘God of gods,’ able to save to the uttermost those who have put their trust in Him. [Daniel 2:47.]” Conflict and Courage, 252.

10 What conviction came upon the king? Daniel 3:28.

Note: “ ‘The wrath of man shall praise Thee,’ says the psalmist; ‘the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.’ [Psalm 76:10.] God means that testing truth shall be brought to the front and become a subject of examination and discussion, even if it is through the contempt placed upon it. The minds of the people must be agitated. Every controversy, every reproach, every slander, will be God’s means of provoking inquiry and awakening minds that otherwise would slumber.

“Thus it has been in the past history of God’s people. For refusing to worship the great golden image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up, the three Hebrews were cast into the fiery furnace. But God preserved His servants in the midst of the flames, and the attempt to enforce idolatry resulted in bringing the knowledge of the true God before the assembled princes and great men of the vast kingdom of Babylon.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 453.

11 By what command did the king show his excess of zeal? Daniel 3:29.

Note: “One man’s mind, one man’s power, should not rule and control another’s conscience. In the sight of God wealth and position do not exalt one man above another. Men are free to choose the service of God, to love the Lord, and to keep all His commandments.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1107.

“It was right for the king to make public confession, and to seek to exalt the God of heaven above all other gods; but in endeavoring to force his subjects to make a similar confession of faith and to show similar reverence, Nebuchadnezzar was exceeding his right as a temporal sovereign. He had no more right, either civil or moral, to threaten men with death for not worshiping God, than he had to make the decree consigning to the flames all who refused to worship the golden image. God never compels the obedience of man. He leaves all free to choose whom they will serve.” Prophets and Kings, 510, 511.

“He [Satan] worked to put to death those who were determined to serve God, according to the light they had received, and according to the dictates of their own conscience. Satan tries to force men even in their worship of God to carry out his ideas. Christ has given no example for this kind of work. He draws men, but He never drives them. ‘My sheep hear My voice,’ He says, ‘and they follow Me.’ ” The Signs of the Times, July 25, 1900.

12 How were the young men rewarded for their fidelity? Daniel 3:30.

Note: “In your contact with friends and associates, do you keep your lips closed regarding the truth for this time? Do they receive no help from you as to the best way to serve and glorify God? You have brothers, sisters, friends, acquaintances. To each of these you should be giving an example that will honor the truth you profess. By patience and forbearance in your dealings with them, you may teach them to be patient under test and trial. When in the kingdom of God you meet those whom you have sought to influence for right, will you not be abundantly rewarded for any effort, any sacrifice, you may have made?” The Columbia Union Visitor, October 2, 1912.

Bible Study Guides – The Gospel of the Kingdom

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July 10, 2004 – July 16, 2004

Memory Verse

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14.

Suggested Reading: The Desire of Ages, 231–235.

Introduction

“Of the poor in spirit Jesus says, ‘Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ This kingdom is not, as Christ’s hearers had hoped, a temporal and earthly dominion. Christ was opening to them the spiritual kingdom of His love, His grace, His righteousness. . . . His subjects are the poor in spirit, the meek, the persecuted for righteousness’ sake. The kingdom of heaven is theirs. Though not yet fully accomplished, the work is begun in them which will make them ‘meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light’ (Colossians 1:12).” God’s Amazing Grace, 9.

1 What did Jesus preach? Matthew 4:23. Compare Mark 1:14, 15.

Note: “The gospel message, as given by the Saviour Himself, was based on the prophecies.” God’s Amazing Grace, 12.

“Christ ‘went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness.’ [Matthew 4:23.] He preached in the synagogues because thus He could reach the many who gathered there. Then He went out and taught by the seaside and in the great thoroughfares of travel. The precious truths that He had to proclaim were not to be confined to synagogues. . . .

“Christ might have occupied the highest place among the highest teachers of the Jewish nation. But He chose rather to take the gospel to the poor. He went from place to place, that those in the highways and byways might catch the words of the gospel of truth. He labored in the way in which He desires His workers to labor today. By the sea, on the mountainside, in the streets of the city, His voice was heard explaining the Old Testament Scriptures. So unlike the explanations of the scribes and Pharisees was His explanation that the attention of the people was arrested. He taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes. With clearness and power He proclaimed the gospel message.” Evangelism, 54.

2 For what purpose is time being continued? Matthew 24:14.

Note: “Now, before the coming of the Son of man, the everlasting gospel is to be preached ‘to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.’ Revelation 14:6, 14. God ‘hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world.’ Acts 17:31. Christ tells us when that day shall be ushered in. He does not say that all the world will be converted, but that ‘this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’ [Matthew 24:14.] By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord’s return. We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God.” The Desire of Ages, 633.

3 What is said of the preaching of the gospel in Abraham’s time? Genesis 12:1–3; Galatians 3:8.

Note: “As the Bible presents two laws, one changeless and eternal, the other provisional and temporary, so there are two covenants. The covenant of grace was first made with man in Eden, when after the Fall there was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. To all men this covenant offered pardon and the assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith in Christ. It also promised them eternal life on condition of fidelity to God’s law. Thus the patriarchs received the hope of salvation.

“This same covenant was renewed to Abraham in the promise, ‘In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.’ Genesis 22:18. This promise pointed to Christ. So Abraham understood it (see Galatians 3:8, 16), and he trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. It was this faith that was accounted unto him for righteousness. The covenant with Abraham also maintained the authority of God’s law. The Lord appeared unto Abraham, and said, ‘I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect.’ Genesis 17:1.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 370.

4 To what degree did Israel fail of meeting God’s purpose? Hosea 1:9, 10. Compare Hosea 2:23; John 1:12.

Note: “This gathering in of the Gentiles to the church of God had been traced by the pen of inspiration, but had been but faintly understood. Hosea had said, [Hosea 1:10 quoted]. And again, ‘I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.’ [Hosea 2:23.]

“During the life of Christ on earth he had sought to lead the Jews out of their exclusiveness. The conversion of the centurion, and that of the Syrophenician woman, were instances of his direct work outside of the acknowledged people of Israel. The time had now come for active and continued work among the Gentiles, of whom whole communities received the gospel gladly, and glorified God for the light of an intelligent faith. The unbelief and malice of the Jews did not turn aside the purpose of God; for a new Israel was being grafted into the old olive-tree. The synagogues were closed against the apostles; but private houses were thrown open for their use, and public buildings of the Gentiles were also used in which to preach the Word of God.” Redemption: or the Teachings of Paul, and his Mission to the Gentiles (1878), 14.

5 In the time of Israel’s punishment for her failure, what glad tidings did God proclaim? Daniel 2:44.

Note: “The dream of the great image, opening before Nebuchadnezzar events reaching to the close of time, had been given that he might understand the part he was to act in the world’s history, and the relation that his kingdom should sustain to the kingdom of heaven. In the interpretation of the dream, he had been plainly instructed regarding the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom. [Daniel 2:44, 45 quoted.]” Prophets and Kings, 503.

6 Through whom will this promise be fulfilled? Luke 1:31–33.

Note: “[Luke 1:31–33 quoted.] These words do not refer to any human being, except to the Son of the infinite God.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1128.

“Before the foundations of the world were laid, Christ, the Only Begotten of God, pledged Himself to become the Redeemer of the human race, should Adam sin. Adam fell, and He who was partaker of the Father’s glory before the world was, laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and stepped down from His high authority to become a Babe in Bethlehem, that by passing over the ground where Adam stumbled and fell, He might redeem fallen human beings. He subjected Himself to all the temptations that the enemy brings against men and women; and all the assaults of Satan could not make Him swerve from His loyalty to the Father. By living a sinless life He testified that every son and daughter of Adam can resist the temptations of the one who first brought sin into the world. . . .

“Christ came in human form to show the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds and of the fallen world that ample provision has been made to enable human beings to live in loyalty to their Creator.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 226, 227.

7 Before this promise could be fulfilled, what did the Son of God become? John 1:1, 2, 14.

Note: “In taking upon Himself humanity, our Saviour unites His interests with those of the fallen sons and daughters of Adam, while through His divinity He grasps the throne of God. And thus Christ is the medium of communication of men with God, and of God with men.” The Desire of Ages, 143.

8 What name is given to this divine-human union? 1 Timothy 3:16. What did Jesus call this same mystery? Mark 4:11.

Note: “Great is the mystery of godliness. There are mysteries in the life of Christ that are to be believed, even though they cannot be explained. The finite mind cannot fathom the mystery of godliness.” Letter 65, 1905.

“In eternity we shall learn that which, had we received the enlightenment it was possible to obtain here, would have opened our understanding. The themes of redemption will employ the hearts and minds and tongues of the redeemed through the everlasting ages. They will understand the truths which Christ longed to open to His disciples, but which they did not have faith to grasp. Forever and forever new views of the perfection and glory of Christ will appear. Through endless ages will the faithful Householder bring forth from His treasure things new and old.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 134.

9 What shows that the wise men of Babylon did not understand this blessed, mysterious union? Daniel 2:11.

Note: “ ‘The union of the divine and human in the person of Christ is “the mystery of godliness,” or “the mystery of the kingdom of God.” In the case of the seed which is sown in the field, this same principle is illustrated by the union of the reproducing power with the material form. As the seed is thus capable of multiplying itself, so Christ reproduces His own character in believers, by making them partakers of the divine nature. At His coming He bestows upon the subjects of the kingdom the gift of immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51–53), and so the kingdom will stand forever. It is quite likely that the wise men of Babylon did not understand about the incarnation of God in the flesh in the coming Messiah; but in their statement that the dwelling of the gods was not with flesh, they announced the fundamental error of Babylon, both ancient and modern, and really denied the vital principle of the kingdom of God, which needed to be known in Babylon, and which is still to be proclaimed throughout the world.’ Bible Readings, 211.” Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California, April 1918, 9, 10.

10 How did Daniel’s experience show that the true God does dwell with flesh? Daniel 2:19. How personal is this union for us? What does this mystery accomplish for the believer? Colossians 1:26–28.

Note: “While Daniel clung to God with unwavering trust, the spirit of prophetic power came upon him. While honored by men with the responsibilities of the court and the secrets of the kingdom, he was honored by God as His ambassador, and taught to read the mysteries of ages to come. Heathen monarchs, through association with Heaven’s representative, were constrained to acknowledge the God of Daniel.” Education, 56.

“When His words of instruction have been received, and have taken possession of us, Jesus is to us an abiding presence, controlling our thoughts and ideas and actions. We are imbued with the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. A sense of human accountability and of human influence gives character to our views of life and of daily duties. Jesus Christ is everything to us—the first, the last, the best in everything. Jesus Christ, His Spirit, His character, colors everything; it is the warp and the woof, the very texture of our entire being. The words of Christ are spirit and life. We cannot, then, center our thoughts upon self; it is no more we that live, but Christ that liveth in us, and He is the hope of glory. Self is dead, but Christ is a living Saviour. Continuing to look unto Jesus, we reflect His image to all around us. We cannot stop to consider our disappointments, or even to talk of them; for a more pleasant picture attracts our sight—the precious love of Jesus. He dwells in us by the word of truth.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 389.

11 In what words did King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledge Daniel’s fellowship with God? Daniel 2:47.

Note: “The Lord worked with power to bring the mightiest king on the earth to acknowledge Him as King over all kings. He moved upon the mind of the proud king until Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged Him as ‘the most high God,’ ‘whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.’ ” Evangelism, 88.

12 What invitation will the King extend to those who have experienced the mystery of the kingdom? Matthew 25:31–34.

Note: “Not until the personal advent of Christ can His people receive the kingdom. The Saviour said: [Matthew 25:31-34 quoted.] We have seen by the scriptures just given that when the Son of man comes, the dead are raised incorruptible and the living are changed. By this great change they are prepared to receive the kingdom; for Paul says: ‘Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.’ 1 Corinthians 15:50. Man in his present state is mortal, corruptible; but the kingdom of God will be incorruptible, enduring forever. Therefore man in his present state cannot enter into the kingdom of God. But when Jesus comes, He confers immortality upon His people; and then He calls them to inherit the kingdom of which they have hitherto been only heirs.” The Great Controversy, 322, 323.

Bible Study Guides – The Establishment of the Everlasting Kingdom Foretold

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July 3, 2004 – July 9, 2004

Memory Verse

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” Daniel 2:44.

Suggested Reading: Prophets and Kings, 491–502.

Introduction

“Hundreds of years before certain nations came upon the stage of action, the Omniscient One looked down the ages, and predicted through His servants the prophets the rise and fall of the universal kingdoms. The prophet Daniel, when interpreting to the king of Babylon the dream of the great image,—an image symbolic of the kingdoms of the world,—declared to Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom should be superseded. His greatness and power in God’s world would have their day, and a second kingdom would arise, which also would have its period of trial as to whether it would exalt the one Ruler, the only true God. Not doing this, its glory would fade away, and a third kingdom would occupy its place. Proved by obedience or disobedience, this also would pass away; and a fourth, strong as iron, would subdue the nations of the world. These predictions of the Infinite One, recorded on the prophetic page and traced on the pages of history, were given to demonstrate that God is the ruling power in the affairs of this world. He changes the times and the seasons, He removes kings and sets up kings, to fulfill His own purpose. . . .” Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 49.

1 Over whose kingdom had Solomon and his descendants reigned? 1 Chronicles 28:5; 29:23.

Note: “When he felt that death was approaching, the burden of David’s heart was still for Solomon and for the kingdom of Israel, whose prosperity must so largely depend upon the fidelity of her king. [1 Kings 2:1–4 quoted.]” Patriarchs and Prophets, 753.

2 Upon what condition was the house of David to continue to rule over the kingdom of the Lord? 1 Chronicles 28:6, 7.

Note: “God promised that as He had been with David, so He would be with Solomon. If the king would walk before the Lord in uprightness, if he would do what God had commanded him, his throne would be established and his reign would be the means of exalting Israel as ‘a wise and understanding people,’ the light of the surrounding nations. Deuteronomy 4:6.” Prophets and Kings, 30.

3 Why did God permit Babylon to swallow up His own kingdom? 1 Chronicles 9:1.

Note: “Because Israel had been chosen to preserve the knowledge of God in the earth, they had been, from their first existence as a nation, the special objects of Satan’s enmity, and he had determined to cause their destruction. He could do them no harm while they were obedient to God; therefore he had bent all his power and cunning to enticing them into sin. Ensnared by his temptations they had transgressed the law of God and thus separated from the Source of their strength, and had been left to become the prey of their heathen enemies. They were carried into captivity to Babylon, and there remained for many years.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 468.

4 Because of the Israelites taken captive and of the items confiscated from the temple, at what conclusion did the Babylonians arrive? 11 Chronicles 36:18; 11 Kings 25:13–15.

Note: “The fact that these men, worshipers of Jehovah, were captives in Babylon, and that the vessels of God’s house had been placed in the temple of the Babylonish gods, was boastfully cited by the victors as evidence that their religion and customs were superior to the religion and customs of the Hebrews. Yet through the very humiliations that Israel’s departure from Him had invited, God gave Babylon evidence of His supremacy, of the holiness of His requirements, and of the sure results of obedience. And this testimony He gave, as alone it could be given, through those who were loyal to Him.” Prophets and Kings, 479, 480.

5 Amid these seemingly hopeless conditions, what truth was vividly set forth by means of the king’s dream interpreted by Daniel? Daniel 2:44.

Note: “Exalted to the pinnacle of worldly honor, and acknowledged even by Inspiration as ‘a king of kings’ (Ezekiel 26:7), Nebuchadnezzar nevertheless at times had ascribed to the favor of Jehovah the glory of his kingdom and the splendor of his reign. Such had been the case after his dream of the great image. His mind had been profoundly influenced by this vision and by the thought that the Babylonian Empire, universal though it was, was finally to fall, and other kingdoms were to bear sway, until at last all earthly powers were to be superseded by a kingdom set up by the God of heaven, which kingdom was never to be destroyed.” Prophets and Kings, 514.

“The prophecy of Daniel pictured the glory of His [the Messiah’s] reign over an empire which should succeed all earthly kingdoms; and, said the prophet, ‘It shall stand forever.’ Daniel 2:44. While few understood the nature of Christ’s mission, there was a widespread expectation of a mighty prince who should establish his kingdom in Israel, and who should come as a deliverer to the nations.” The Desire of Ages, 34.

6 In the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, what is symbolized by the golden head? Daniel 2:37, 38.

Note: “To Nebuchadnezzar the king the true object of national government was represented under the figure of a great tree, whose height ‘reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: the leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all;’ under its shadow the beasts of the field dwelt, and among its branches the birds of the air had their habitation. Daniel 4:11, 12. This representation shows the character of a government that fulfills God’s purpose—a government that protects and upbuilds the nation.

“God exalted Babylon that it might fulfill this purpose. Prosperity attended the nation until it reached a height of wealth and power that has never since been equaled—fitly represented in the Scriptures by the inspired symbol, a ‘head of gold.’ Daniel 2:38.” Education, 175.

7 By what kingdom was Babylon succeeded, and why? Daniel 2:39, first part; 5:28.

Note: “God declared to Nebuchadnezzar that the kingdom of Babylon should fall, and a second kingdom would arise, which also would have its period of trial. Failing to exalt the true God, its glory would fade.” Prophets and Kings, 501.

“Babylon passed away because in her prosperity she forgot God, and ascribed the glory of her prosperity to human achievement.

“The Medo-Persian kingdom was visited by the wrath of heaven because in this kingdom God’s law was trampled under foot. The fear of the Lord found no place in the hearts of the people. The prevailing influences in Medo-Persia were wickedness, blasphemy, and corruption.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1168.

“Babylonia was succeeded by Medo-Persia under Cyrus the Great. For about two hundred years Persia, symbolized by the silver of the image, sat on the throne of world empire.” The Publishers, Prophets and Kings, 496.

8 What is represented by the brass? Daniel 2:39, last part.

Note: “In 331 b.c., Darius 111 (Codomannus) fought the issue of power with Alexander the Great at the battle of Arbela, and Alexander of Greece became the world’s ruler. Grecia’s symbol is the brass. Alexander died in 323 b.c.; and in a few years his kingdom was divided between warring factions and the century following hopelessly weakened and left a prey to the rising power of the emperor on the Tiber River.” The Publishers, Prophets and Kings, 496.

9 What do the legs of iron symbolize? Daniel 2:40. What was to befall that empire? Verses 41, 42.

Note: “Persia was subdued in 331 b.c. by the Grecian or Macedonian empire. This, after its time of testing, was followed by Rome, the mighty empire of the Csars, which, between the years 168 and 30 b.c., absorbed all the parts of the Macedonian empire. Rome, in turn, was divided by the barbarians into lesser kingdoms, out of which have grown the nations of western Europe.” Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California, April 1918, 8.

“Prophecy has traced the rise and fall of the world’s great empires—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. With each of these, as with nations of less power, history repeated itself. Each had its period of test, each failed, its glory faded, its power departed, and its place was occupied by another.

“While the nations rejected God’s principles, and in this rejection wrought their own ruin, it was still manifest that the divine, overruling purpose was working through all their movements.” Education, 177.

“Rome conquered the Syrian division of that formerly powerful Greek Empire in 190 b.c., the Macedonian division of that empire in 168 b.c., while Egypt acknowledged the authority of the iron monarchy of Rome in the same year. Rome was united in her beginning, although a republic. Later she became an empire.” The Publishers, Prophets and Kings, 496.

10 What does the mingling of iron and clay signify? Daniel 2:43.

Note: “We have come to a time when God’s sacred work is represented by the feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay. God has a people, a chosen people, whose discernment must be sanctified, who must not become unholy by laying upon the foundation wood, hay, and stubble. Every soul who is loyal to the commandments of God will see that the distinguishing feature of our faith is the seventh-day Sabbath. If the government would honor the Sabbath as God has commanded, it would stand in the strength of God and in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints. But statesmen will uphold the spurious sabbath, and will mingle their religious faith with the observance of this child of the papacy, placing it above the Sabbath which the Lord has sanctified and blessed, setting it apart for man to keep holy, as a sign between Him and His people to a thousand generations. The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God’s forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1168, 1169.

11 By whom will the empire represented by the stone be established, and how long will it continue? Daniel 2:44, 45. Compare Matthew 21:43, 44.

Note: “The people whom God had called to be the pillar and ground of the truth had become representatives of Satan. They were doing the work that he desired them to do, taking a course to misrepresent the character of God, and cause the world to look upon Him as a tyrant. The very priests who ministered in the temple had lost sight of the significance of the service they performed. They had ceased to look beyond the symbol to the thing signified. In presenting the sacrificial offerings they were as actors in a play. The ordinances which God Himself had appointed were made the means of blinding the mind and hardening the heart. God could do no more for man through these channels. The whole system must be swept away.” The Desire of Ages, 36.

“Satan was exulting that he had succeeded in debasing the image of God in humanity. Then Jesus came to restore in man the image of his Maker. None but Christ can fashion anew the character that has been ruined by sin. He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will. He came to lift us up from the dust, to reshape the marred character after the pattern of His divine character, and to make it beautiful with His own glory.” Ibid., 37, 38.

12 In view of such a kingdom, what exhortations are given us? Hebrews 12:28; 11 Peter 3:11–14.

Note: “There are many who profess to be Christ’s followers and yet are not doers of His Word. They do not relish this Word because it presents service which is not agreeable to them. They do not relish the wholesome reproofs and close, earnest appeals. They do not love righteousness, but are mastered and tyrannized over by their own erratic, human impulses.

“It makes every difference how we do service for God. . . .

“When the love of Christ enters the heart we strive to imitate the character of Christ. . . . The more we study the life of Christ with a heart to learn, the more Christlike we become. Into the heart of every true doer of the Word the Holy Spirit infuses clear understanding. The more we crucify selfish practices by imparting our blessings to others and by exercising our God-given ability, the more the heavenly graces will be strengthened and increased in us. We will grow in spirituality, in patience, in fortitude, in meekness, in gentleness. . . .” That I May Know Him, 118.

Bible Study Guides – The Fulfilling of God’s Purpose for the Nations

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June 26, 2004 – July 2, 2004

Memory Verse

“Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” Daniel 2:20–22.

Suggested Reading: Prophets and Kings, 340–348; 367–378; 479–490.

Introduction

“It was in order that the Israelites might be a blessing to the nations, and that God’s name might be made known ‘throughout all the earth’ (Exodus 9:16), that they were delivered from Egyptian bondage. If obedient to His requirements, they were to be placed far in advance of other peoples in wisdom and understanding; but this supremacy was to be reached and maintained only in order that through them the purpose of God for ‘all nations of the earth’ might be fulfilled.” Prophets and Kings, 368, 369.

“In the years that followed the occupation of the Promised Land, the beneficent designs of Jehovah for the salvation of the heathen were almost wholly lost sight of, and it became necessary for Him to set forth His plan anew.” Ibid., 370.

1 What was God’s purpose for the nations in the separation of Israel as announced to Abraham? Genesis 12:2, 3; 22:17, 18.

Note: “It was for the purpose of bringing the best gifts of Heaven to all the peoples of earth that God called Abraham out from his idolatrous kindred and bade him dwell in the land of Canaan. ‘I will make of thee a great nation,’ He said, ‘and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.’ Genesis 12:2. It was a high honor to which Abraham was called—that of being the father of the people who for centuries were to be the guardians and preservers of the truth of God to the world, the people through whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed in the advent of the promised Messiah.

“Men had well-nigh lost the knowledge of the true God. Their minds were darkened by idolatry. For the divine statutes, which are ‘holy, and just, and good’ (Romans 7: 12), men were endeavoring to substitute laws in harmony with the purposes of their own cruel, selfish hearts. Yet God in His mercy did not blot them out of existence. He purposed to give them opportunity for becoming acquainted with Him through His church. He designed that the principles revealed through His people should be the means of restoring the moral image of God in man.” Prophets and Kings, 15, 16.

2 When Israel was slow in extending the gospel blessings to the surrounding nations, how was she reminded of this purpose? Psalm 102:15, 18–22.

Note: “Had Israel been true to her trust, all the nations of earth would have shared in her blessings. But the hearts of those to whom had been entrusted a knowledge of saving truth, were untouched by the needs of those around them. As God’s purpose was lost sight of, the heathen came to be looked upon as beyond the pale of His mercy. The light of truth was withheld, and darkness prevailed. The nations were overspread with a veil of ignorance; the love of God was little known; error and superstition flourished.” Prophets and Kings, 371.

3 After the recovery of Hezekiah, what opportunity came to him to make known the goodness and power of God? Isaiah 39:1, 2. How did he fail to discern God’s providential call? 11 Chronicles 32:31, 24–26.

Note: “The visit of these messengers from the ruler of a far-away land gave Hezekiah an opportunity to extol the living God. How easy it would have been for him to tell them of God, the upholder of all created things, through whose favor his own life had been spared when all other hope had fled! What momentous transformations might have taken place had these seekers after truth from the plains of Chaldea been led to acknowledge the supreme sovereignty of the living God!

“But pride and vanity took possession of Hezekiah’s heart, and in self-exaltation he laid open to covetous eyes the treasures with which God had enriched His people. [Isaiah 39:2 quoted.] Not to glorify God did he do this, but to exalt himself in the eyes of the foreign princes. He did not stop to consider that these men were representatives of a powerful nation that had not the fear nor the love of God in their hearts, and that it was imprudent to make them his confidants concerning the temporal riches of the nation.” Prophets and Kings, 344–346.

4 Because of Hezekiah’s failure, what change in the Lord’s plan was announced to him through Isaiah the prophet? Isaiah 39:5–7.

Note: “Filled with remorse, ‘Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.’ 11 Chronicles 32:26. But the evil seed had been sown and in time was to spring up and yield a harvest of desolation and woe. During his remaining years the king of Judah was to have much prosperity because of his steadfast purpose to redeem the past and to bring honor to the name of the God whom he served; yet his faith was to be severely tried, and he was to learn that only by putting his trust fully in Jehovah could he hope to triumph over the powers of darkness that were plotting his ruin and the utter destruction of his people.” Prophets and Kings, 347.

5 Who of the royal descendants are named among those whom God allowed to be carried to Babylon to proclaim His gospel? Daniel 1:3, 6, 7. Whose resources did the Lord employ in giving training to these young men? Verses 3–5.

Note: “Among the children of Israel who were carried captive to Babylon at the beginning of the seventy years’ captivity were Christian patriots, men who were as true as steel to principle, who would not be corrupted by selfishness, but who would honor God at the loss of all things. In the land of their captivity these men were to carry out God’s purpose by giving to heathen nations the blessings that come through a knowledge of Jehovah. They were to be His representatives. Never were they to compromise with idolaters; their faith and their name as worshipers of the living God they were to bear as a high honor. And this they did. In prosperity and adversity they honored God, and God honored them.” Prophets and Kings, 479.

6 How did Daniel manifest his heart’s purpose to be loyal to the God of his fathers? Daniel 1:8–13.

Note: “At the very outset of their [Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego)] career there came to them a decisive test of character. It was provided that they should eat of the food and drink of the wine that came from the king’s table. In this the king thought to give them an expression of his favor and of his solicitude for their welfare. But a portion having been offered to idols, the food from the king’s table was consecrated to idolatry; and one partaking of it would be regarded as offering homage to the gods of Babylon. In such homage, loyalty to Jehovah forbade Daniel and his companions to join. Even a mere pretense of eating the food or drinking the wine would be a denial of their faith. To do this would be to array themselves with heathenism and to dishonor the principles of the law of God.” Prophets and Kings, 481.

7 What was God’s response to the faith of His servants? Daniel 1:14–16. In what way did God show that these young witnesses had communion with Him? Verses 17–20.

Note: “As the Lord co-operated with Daniel and his fellows, so He will co-operate with all who strive to do His will. And by the impartation of His Spirit He will strengthen every true purpose, every noble resolution. Those who walk in the path of obedience will encounter many hindrances. Strong, subtle influences may bind them to the world; but the Lord is able to render futile every agency that works for the defeat of His chosen ones; in His strength they may overcome every temptation, conquer every difficulty.” Prophets and Kings, 487.

8 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, what occurred that showed to the Babylonians the worthlessness of their religion? Daniel 2:1–11.

Note: “The king knew that if they [his astrologers and magicians] could really tell the interpretation, they could tell the dream as well. The Lord had in His providence given Nebuchadnezzar this dream, and had caused the particulars to be forgotten, while the fearful impression was left upon his mind, in order to expose the pretensions of the wise men of Babylon. The monarch was very angry, and threatened that they should all be slain if, in a given time, the dream was not made known. Daniel and his companions were to perish with the false prophets; but, taking his life in his hand, Daniel ventures to enter the presence of the king, begging that time may be granted that he may show the dream and the interpretation.” The Sanctified Life, 34, 35.

9 Where did Daniel instinctively turn for help? Daniel 2:17–19.

Note: “Daniel sought the Lord when the decree went forth to slay all the wise men of the kingdom of Babylon because they could not relate or interpret a dream which had gone from the king’s mind. Nebuchadnezzar demanded not only the interpretation of the dream, but the relation of the dream itself. . . .

“Daniel came before the king, and pleaded for time to bring this matter before the supreme court of the universe, from whose decision there could be no appeal. When his request was granted, Daniel laid the whole matter before his companions, who were united with him in worshiping the true God. The matter was fully considered, and on their bended knees they pleaded that God would give them the power and wisdom that would alone avail them in their great necessity. They asked God that he would so arrange matters that they need not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” The Youth’s Instructor, November 22, 1894.

10 How was Daniel’s consciousness of his dependence on God shown? Daniel 2:19–23.

Note: “Daniel called together his companions, and thanked God that their prayers had been heard and answered, and they presented to God an offering of praise and thanksgiving, that was wholly acceptable to the Ruler of the universe. [Daniel 2:20–22 quoted.] Daniel and his fellows had a praise meeting, and all the universe of heaven united with them in thanksgiving.” The Youth’s Instructor, November 22, 1894.

11 By what answer did Daniel magnify Jehovah? Daniel 2:27–30.

Note: “The Jewish captive stands before the monarch of the most powerful empire the sun had ever shone upon. The king is in great distress amid all his riches and glory; but the youthful exile is peaceful and happy in his God. Now, if ever, is the time for Daniel to exalt himself,—to make prominent his own goodness and superior wisdom. But his first effort is to disclaim all honor for himself, and to exalt God as the Source of wisdom.” Review and Herald, February 1, 1881.

12 What testimony was borne by the king concerning the power and wisdom of the God of Israel? Daniel 2:47.

Note: “While honored by men with the responsibilities of the court and the secrets of the kingdom, he [Daniel] was honored by God as His ambassador, and taught to read the mysteries of ages to come. Heathen monarchs, through association with Heaven’s representative, were constrained to acknowledge the God of Daniel.” Education, 56.

“At the court of Babylon were gathered representatives from all lands, men of the choicest talents, men the most richly endowed with natural gifts and possessed of the highest culture this world could bestow; yet amid them all the Hebrew captives were without a peer. In physical strength and beauty, in mental vigor and literary attainments, and in spiritual power and insight they stood unrivaled. ‘In all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.’ Daniel 1:20. While faithful to his duties in the king’s court, Daniel so faithfully maintained his loyalty to God that God could honor him as His messenger to the Babylonian monarch. Through him the mysteries of the future were unfolded, and Nebuchadnezzar himself was constrained to acknowledge the God of Daniel ‘as a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets.’ Daniel 2:47.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 220.

Food for Life – Tofu Pecan Loaf

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The meat diet is the serious question. Shall human beings live on the flesh of dead animals? The answer, from the light that God has given is, No, decidedly No. Health reform institutions should educate on this question. Physicians who claim to understand the human organism ought not to encourage their patients to subsist on the flesh of dead animals. They should point out the increase of disease in the animal kingdom. The testimony of examiners is that very few animals are free from disease, and that the practice of eating largely of meat is contracting diseases of all kinds,—cancers, tumors, scrofula, tuberculosis, and numbers of other like affections.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 388.

Tofu is an excellent substitute for meat and dairy products in many vegetarian recipes. There are two basic types of tofu. Silken tofu is soft and can be utilized as an ideal additive for dressings, sauces, and in dairy-free versions of ice cream or cheesecake. Firm tofu, on the other hand, comes in a more solid form. It can be stir-fried, grilled, scrambled, pickled, smoked, baked or barbecued.

Easy to digest, tofu is high in protein and calcium, low in saturated fat and salt, and free of cholesterol. Tofu is also a superior source of magnesium, iron, zinc, and Vitamin B. Documentation of the nutritional benefits of tofu continues to accumulate. More tofu in the diet means fewer cancers and less heart disease. More tofu also means a lower risk of osteoporosis, and for women, eating a lot of tofu translates to an escape from the symptoms so popularly tied to menopause (in the Western Hemisphere).

Tofu Pecan Loaf

1 cup bread crumbs

1 cup soy milk

Soak bread crumbs in milk for 10–15 minutes. Then add:

16-ounce block tofu, mashed

1 cup oats

1 large onion, chopped

1 cup pecans, finely chopped

4 Tablespoons soy flour

2 Tablespoons Bragg Liquid Aminos

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Mix all ingredients together well then let stand for 5 minutes. Place mixture in a Pam-sprayed or lightly oiled loaf pan. Bake at 375 degrees for one hour, until set in the middle.

A friend of Steps to Life, Margaret Murray enjoys reading LandMarks and watching sermon videos on Sabbath. She lives on the Sussex Coast at Eastbourne, England.

Do you have a favorite vegan recipe you are willing to share with LandMarks’ readers? Send it to us with a photo of you, if available, and a two or three line bio. We will consider all submissions. Send to the address below or by e-mail at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

LandMarks Recipes
Steps to Life Ministry
P.O. Box 782828
Wichita, KS 67278

Ask the Pastor – How is the Holy Spirit like the wind?

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Question:

Can you please explain to me John 3:8. How is the Holy Spirit like the wind? I just do not understand what this means.

Answer:

This is a question that is circulating around and around the world today. There are many people who, because of such statements in the Bible, have come to the conclusion that there is no Holy Spirit. The truth is that there are many things in the Bible which we will not be able to understand until we are in heaven, simply because we are earth creatures. This is where the element of faith comes to play in understanding such things in the Bible.

First of all, let me state that the Bible teaches that there are three persons who make up the Godhead —the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (1 John 5:7.) In Genesis 1:2, the Bible is clear that the Spirit of God was present during the creation of this world. There are several instances in the Old Testament where the Spirit of the Lord is mentioned as doing a great work—the books of Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings just to mention a few. Of course, there is that famous passage by King David in Psalm 51 where he pleads with the Lord to not take the Holy Spirit from him. We cannot lightly dismiss these Bible teachings.

We must take into consideration what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit before we can understand the Holy Spirit as the wind. The Holy Spirit is the One who reproves us of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. (John 16:7, 8.) The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. (John 16:13.) The way that this all takes place is through the silent working of the Holy Spirit on our hearts and our minds.

Truth has force. It may be a gentle force, or it may be a strong force. There is the gentle breeze, and then there is the hurricane which blows with tremendous power. When the wind of the Holy Spirit blows on the heart and mind of an individual, things happen. That is why the word spirit is used in the Bible, both in the Hebrew and in the Greek, to describe the work of God through that heavenly agency. In both the Old and New Testaments, the word spirit means breath or wind.

Let us define this further. Wind is moving air, and this fresh air is needed continually for life itself. Even seeds often require wind for their dispersal and subsequent growth. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is the presence of God who is the giver of all life.

Wind has no material shape or form. It is invisible; we cannot see the source or the destination of wind. It is a mysterious, unseen force. Nevertheless, its presence is known by its effects. In the same way, the unseen Holy Spirit can be experienced in a refreshing way. His presence is displayed in the work He does in human lives by transforming, sanctifying, encouraging, and teaching.

Wind is a powerful force. It cannot be stopped or controlled by people. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is not subject to human control. The moving of the Holy Spirit is God at work.

In and through all the descriptions about God, we find enough information so we can grasp what God is about, concerning our salvation. We may not be able to understand every heavenly element, but enough has been revealed to us to generate faith so we can hold onto the rest until Jesus comes.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life Ministry. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life Ministry, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

Restoring the Temple – Mad Cow Disease

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Question:

Since there has been more news about Mad Cow Disease lately, I’ve been concerned about my loved ones getting the illness. Can you help me understand this issue?

Answer:

Mad Cow Disease is the common name for Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis or BSE. In 2001, a herd of 80 cattle was imported into the United States (U. S.) from Canada. On December 9, 2003, at least one cow of that herd was slaughtered at a plant in Mabton, Washington. Officially, the cow was classified as nonambulatory, commonly called a downer, and therefore samples of its brain were examined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). On December 23, a diagnosis of BSE was made confirmed two days later at the BSE International Reference Laboratory in England.

BSE is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system of adult cattle, leading to death. BSE is caused by a prion, which is an infectious protein. The concern for humans is that the prion that causes BSE in cattle can be transmitted to humans when they eat infected meat. In humans, the disease is called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). The median age for people to come down with the symptoms of vCJD is 28 years. It is a fatal, rapidly progressive, degenerative disease of the central nervous system, causing psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, hallucinations, and neurological symptoms including tremors, muscle weakness, and inability to walk.

There are other types of CJD. One type, called sporadic CJD, was not thought to be caused by eating BSE-infected meat. A recent study has shown that there is increasing evidence that sporadic CJD can also be caused by Mad Cow meat ingestion. This could potentially raise the numbers of known infected cases in the U. S.

The Problems

There are several points at which this incidence of infection has the potential to affect the local and greater communities. The first, and most obvious, is the question of whether or not products from the infected cow reached the consumer. Confusingly, and perhaps misleadingly, the FDA states that the infected meat was traced and was removed from the market. This appears to suggest that the meat never made it to the consumer, yet it did.

The diseased cow was slaughtered December 9, and BSE was not detected until December 23—after the meat went to market. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that those meat products were distributed to various parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and California. The CDC further states that the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service “continues to verify the distribution and control of all recalled products.” As of February 1, 2004, only 29 of the original 80 head of cattle exported from Canada have been located. One family in Mercer Island, Washington, has learned that the hamburger they mixed into their spaghetti dinner on December 21, 2003, was part of the lots that were later recalled. “I know the odds that any of us will get sick are slim,” said Brian Weinstein, father and husband, “but my family’s risk is greater than anyone else’s in the U. S. because we actually ate it.”

Ineffective Testing

In the U. S., is the Weinstein family really the only family at greater risk? Proponents of the U. S. beef industry and the efficiency of the USDA often cite the Harvard study to back up their beliefs. The USDA commissioned Harvard to evaluate the U. S. regulatory measures for prevention of BSE infection. The Harvard study concluded that “BSE is extremely unlikely to become established in the U. S. . . . [and] only a small amount of potentially infective tissues would likely reach the human food supply.”

This information sounds impressive, yet records show that in Washington State, where the infected cow was found, no commercial cattle were tested for BSE through the entire first seven months of 2003. In fact, USDA records show that tests are conducted at fewer than 100 of the 700 U. S. slaughterhouses. Fewer than 30,000 of the approximately 300 million cattle slaughtered in the U. S. in the past nine years were tested.

One of the reasons why testing is not done more frequently is because the U. S. uses tests that take days to weeks to provide results. Japan and Europe use tests that take only hours, which would enable tainted meat to never reach the market. Dr. Ron DeHaven, the USDA’s chief veterinarian, states that the U. S. system is meant only as a “surveillance system, not a food-safety test,” and was not intended to keep diseased meat from the consumer.

A typical four-ounce hamburger contains the meat and fat of between 50 and 100 cattle. This means that the average American, who consumes two hamburgers every week, ingests parts of up to 10,400 cattle every year. With the inadequate testing in the U. S., the likelihood of eating infected meat—for meat-eaters—is very high.

Weak vCJD Screening

The occurrence rate of vCJD was previously thought to be 1 in 1,000,000. However, in a U. S. study, autopsies of humans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease showed that 5.5 percent of them were actually infected with vCJD. The CJD surveillance unit in Britain states that “the differential diagnosis . . . is a potentially wide one and it may be difficult or impossible to make a diagnosis of vCJD in the early stages of illness.”

A Compromised USDA

According to Eric Schlosser, editor of The New York Times, the USDA has a dual and conflicting charge, and that is to 1) guarantee that U. S. meat is safe for consumers, and 2) in behalf of producers, to promote the sale of meat. Perhaps that is why their own literature contains several misleading statements, such as the preceding comment about infected meat being removed from the marketplace. Another example of these types of inconsistencies is again found in their Commonly Asked Questions online fact sheet. The FDA states that certain rendered animal products are processed with heat “which may further minimize any risk of infectivity.” Two paragraphs later they state that the prions that cause BSE are resistant to heat. Tested in laboratories, these infectious proteins cannot be destroyed with 1000° Fahrenheit heat.

Conclusion

A Washington State cow, after slaughter and distribution, was discovered to be infected with BSE, commonly known as Mad Cow Disease. While other countries, notably Great Britain, have experience with this disease and its human counterpart, vCJD, this event is thought to be the first known case in the U. S. However, poor practices including insufficient BSE testing, ineffective tracking methods, and weak vCJD screening abilities, make it impossible to know the true extent of the diseases.

If we follow God’s laws of health, we will be protected from many illnesses, such as CJD. However, it is also our duty to let our light shine and continue to help others understand what risks they are taking by going against the laws of health.

Sheryle Beaudry, a certified teletriage nurse, writes from Estacada, Oregon where she lives with her husband and twin daughters. She may be contacted by e-mail at: sbeaudryrn@hotmail.com. If there is a health-related question you would like answered in LandMarks, please e-mail your question to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

Nature Nugget – Prickly Mammals

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Throughout most of northern and western North America lives the world’s second largest rodent, the North American Porcupine. Attaining a weight of up to 40 pounds, this rodent is found from high-mountain, forested areas to the scrubby, creosote expanses of the low deserts. Porcupines are heavy-set, short-legged, slow-moving mammals, preferring to be alone. They are also nocturnal and spend most of their time in trees.

The porcupine’s back and tail are covered with up to 30,000 sharp quills armed with barbs. These barbed quills detach easily and can become painfully embedded in the skin of an attacker—especially so when the porcupine swats the attacker with its tail. Not only do the quills inflict painful wounds, but they also work their way deep into the skin and may even cause death if they puncture vital organs or if the wounds become infected.

Porcupines are vegetarians, preferring to feed on leaves, twigs, and green plants. In the winter they feed on the inner bark of trees. As with all rodents, the porcupine’s teeth grow continuously and must be kept worn down by gnawing on wood. They are especially fond of salt and will chew on axe handles to get the salt left there by human hands.

In Australia and New Guinea lives an odd family of mammals known as echidnas or spiny anteaters. They are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs rather than give live birth as most mammals do. Echidnas have long, sharp spines protecting their bodies. When danger threatens, they roll into a ball, thus protecting their vulnerable undersides. There are several different species of echidnas and all are insectivores, feeding on ants, termites, other insects, and earthworms, which they find with their sensitive snouts. They then dig them out with their strong claws and catch them with their long, sticky tongues. During the breeding season, a female echidna develops a simple pouch into which she lays a single, leathery-shelled egg. The egg hatches in ten days and the baby is blind and hairless. It gets milk from a gland within the mother’s pouch. In a few weeks, the baby (called a puggle) develops sharp spines and must leave the pouch.

In Africa and Eurasia lives another group of spiny mammals called hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are in the order Insectivora and are related to shrews and moles. They have rounded bodies up to thirteen inches long, very short tails, and pointed snouts. Their backs and sides are covered with stiff, inch-long spines, and their undersides are covered with coarse hair. When threatened, a hedgehog rolls itself into a tight ball with its spines pointing outward. When rolled up like this it is invulnerable to almost any predator. Hedgehogs are very popular with gardeners in Europe. Because of their appetite for insects, they are encouraged to live around farms and gardens. Hedgehogs are also raised and sold for pets in many places.

Just as painful and even suicidal as it is for a predator to try and make a meal out of one of the prickly mammals mentioned above, so it is for men who try to work against God. In Acts 9:5, the Lord said to Paul, just after he was struck blind on the road to Damascus, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” We should be careful that, in our zeal for God, we do not end up working against God or preventing others from doing the Lord’s work like Paul did. Just because the work is not being done the way we think it should be or through the channels we think it should be does not mean that the Lord is not leading it! “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” Acts 5:39.

David Arbour writes from his home in DeQueen, Arkansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

The Pen of Inspiration – The Love of God

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Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” [1 John 3:1–3.]

John presents before us the love of the Father toward the children of men. God’s love has been manifested to us in the gift of his beloved Son. The apostle cannot find words to describe the greatness and the tenderness of this love; but he calls upon the world to behold it. This is to be our work. We are to call the attention of our fellow men to the love of God that has been manifested to us by the infinite cost of Calvary. Jesus was one with the Father; he shared his majesty and glory. God made an infinite sacrifice when he gave his beloved Son to die for the world; but few have any appreciation of this great love that has been expressed toward a fallen race. Those who do have an appreciation of it are not looked upon with favor by the world. The apostle says, “Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” He says further: “It doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Those who are sons of God will be constantly purifying themselves, and seeking to fashion their characters after the divine Pattern. Their thoughts will be upon heavenly things. Their conversation will be concerning Jesus, their Saviour. They will be waiting for him to appear in the clouds of heaven, and when he comes escorted by ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of angels, those who have looked for him, and who have loved his appearing, will meet him with joy.

We have a great work before us, not only to form characters ourselves for eternal life, but to labor that others may be fitted for the kingdom of Heaven. We must educate our tastes and our habits of life to simplicity. We cannot afford to place our hands in the hands of the world, and follow its customs and fashions. We must be natural, not artificial. And how beautiful is the natural in contrast with the artificial!

We should have hearts overflowing with sympathy for souls for whom Christ died. We should seek to educate our children in the fear of God, teaching them that Christ died for them, and that they may have salvation without money and without price. It will only be a little while before Jesus will come to save his children and to give them the finishing touch of immortality. “This corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality.” [1 Corinthians 15:53, 54.] The graves will be opened, and the dead will come forth victorious, crying, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” [1 Corinthians 15:55.] Our loved ones who sleep in Jesus will come forth clothed with immortality. And as the redeemed shall ascend to Heaven, the gates of the city of God will swing back, and those who have kept the truth will enter in. A voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, will be heard saying, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” [Matthew 25:34.] Then the righteous will receive their reward. Their lives will run parallel with the life of Jehovah. They will cast their crowns at the Redeemer’s feet, touch the golden harps, and fill all Heaven with rich music.

Satan has misrepresented the character of God. He has clothed him with his own attributes. He has represented him as a being of inflexible sternness. He had shut the world away from beholding the true character of God, by casting his shadow between men and the divine One. Christ came to our world to remove that shadow. He came to represent the Father. He said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” [John 14:9.] He prayed that his disciples might be one with him, even as he was one with the Father. Men have declared that this oneness with Christ is an impossibility, but Christ has made it possible by bringing us into harmony with himself, through the merits of his life and sacrifice. Why should we doubt the love and power of God? Why should we not place ourselves on the faith side of the question? Do you behold the charms and attractions of Jesus? Then seek to follow in his footsteps. He came to reveal the Father to the world, and he has committed to us the work of representing his love, purity, goodness, and tender sympathy, to the children of men.

We have eternal life to win, and this is worth the loss of everything besides. We should study the Scriptures diligently. The Bible is like a garden where God has placed rich roses, and lilies, and pinks of promise, and they are for us if we will only pluck them.

When Satan casts his shadow athwart your pathway, grasp the precious promises of God, and go through the shadow by living faith, and you will find only light, mercy, goodness, and truth. When the enemy tells you that you are a sinner, tell him that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Come to the foot of the cross with your burden, and roll it off into the open sepulcher. Our Lord is precious, but we lose sight of his willingness to help and save us, when we dwell in the darkness of unbelief. Lift up the Man of Calvary. There is enough to talk about without talking of the power of the evil one. We have found the field that contains the treasure which is of inestimable value. When God gave his Son he gave us all Heaven in that one gift. Why should we cherish darkness and doubt, and those things that bring despondency and discouragement into our lives?

Why not bring the joy and light and peace of Heaven into our hearts? The religion of Christ never degrades the receiver. The truth of God is the mighty cleaver that has separated us from the world, and now we have been brought into God’s workshop to be hewed and squared and polished for the heavenly building. We are to be living stones in the temple of God. We are not to be dull and lifeless stones; but we are to reflect the rays of light that fall from Heaven, so that men may see that the truth has done something for us that the knowledge and wisdom of this world could not do.

Has the reception of the truth made you more cheerful? Have the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone upon your heart in vain? Those who are meeting the conditions on which the promises are based, should be the happiest people in the world, for they have all Heaven at their command. We may have Heaven below. God will put a new song into our hearts, even praise to his name. The enemy may stand ready to cast his shadow upon you, but will you talk of his power, his darkness?

Christians that carry a gloomy countenance are misrepresenting their Lord. They represent the Christian life as one of toil and hardship. They go mourning and groaning as if it were uphill work. Is the gate of Heaven shut? Have they no Father in Heaven? You might think from their attitude that Jesus was in Joseph’s new tomb, and a great stone rolled against the door. But Jesus is risen. He has ascended on high, and has led captivity captive, and has given gifts unto men. He has made manifest what he will do. He will break the fetters of the tomb, and bring forth his people from the land of their captivity. We dwell too near to the lowlands of earth. Let us raise our eyes to the open doors of the heavenly sanctuary, where the light of the glory of God shines in the face of Jesus Christ, who “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.” [Hebrews 7:25.] Why not talk of the plan of salvation? Why not dig in the mines of truth for the treasures of wisdom, that you may appreciate the promises of God? Why not dwell in the love of Christ, and talk of the plan of redemption? We should study how to overcome appetite, ambition, and the love of the world. Is there not enough for us to do that we have to give so much time to matters of small importance?

When Christ left the world, he committed his work to his followers. He came to represent the character of God to the world, and we are left to represent Christ to the world. We are not to go on in the path of darkness, stumbling on the dark mountains of unbelief. There is a way cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in, and this is where we may walk securely every day. Do not grasp the thistles, gather the roses, the lilies, and the pinks. If we are to understand the rich treasures of God’s word, we must separate our souls from all iniquity, that we may not come under its denunciations. As loyal soldiers we are to march under the banner of Prince Immanuel. We are to study the Bible, that we may know how to meet the assaults of the enemy. When Christ was tempted, how did he overcome?—He met the tempter with, “It is written.” He used the words of God, declaring, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” [Matthew 4:4.] This is the way that we are to overcome. We must search the Scriptures, and appropriate the promises of God to our souls.

The Signs of the Times, April 15, 1889.

Ellen G. White (1827–1915) wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books during her lifetime. Today, including compilations from her 50,000 pages of manuscript, more than 100 titles are available in English. She is the most translated woman writer in the entire history of literature, and the most translated American author of either gender. Seventh-day Adventists believe that Mrs. White was appointed by God as a special messenger to draw the world’s attention to the Holy Scriptures and help prepare people for Christ’s second advent.