Issue: 2007 September

Bible Study Guides – The Prophetic Vision

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October 21, 2007 – October 27, 2007

Key Text

“I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.” Hosea 12:10.

Study Help: Early Writings, 13-20; Testimonies, vol. 1, 58-61, 21-35.

Introduction

The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary defines the prophetic vision as follows: “A supernatural means by which God communicates His will to His servants the prophets (Isaiah 1:1; etc.). . . . A vision may come in waking moments (Daniel 10:7; Acts 9:3, 7), by day (Acts 10:3) or night (Genesis 46:2), or it may come as a dream (Numbers 12:6). The Bible makes no sharp distinction between visions and dreams, except possibly that dreams come during hours of slumber. In vision the prophet becomes oblivious of his natural surroundings and the Spirit of God so controls the sensory areas of his brain that the prophet seems literally to see, hear, and feel what is presented to him in vision. A vision may contain instruction for God’s people or reveal facts about the future that will enable God’s people to live more intelligently in the present. In vision the prophet sometimes seems to be transported over considerable distances (see Ezekiel 3:12-15; 8:3; 40:2; cf. 11 Corinthians 12:2-4.)” “Vision,” 1134, 1135.

Throughout Ellen G. White’s ministry of 70 years (1845-1915), revelations came to her in visions of the day and visions of the night. The light thus communicated to her by God she embodied in her oral addresses and in numerous periodical articles, hundreds of personal, written testimonies, and in her many published books.

1 In general, how did God communicate His messages to the prophet? Numbers 12:6. Compare Genesis 15:1; Ezekiel 8:3, 4.

note: “The Lord God speaking to Aaron and Miriam from the pillar of cloud, says, ‘Hear now My words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make Myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.’ [Numbers 12:6.]

“This then is the manner in which the Lord spoke through the prophets. By the power of His Spirit he takes complete possession of the mind, impressing upon its tablets those things which He is pleased to reveal. Then when restored to the natural state, the chosen person could speak or write out those words of instruction for others’ benefit. Events passed before the mind in vision like a moving panorama. These in the normal state brought up again by the aid of the Spirit of God are conveyed to others.” George I. Butler, Review and Herald, May 12, 1874.

2 How did Daniel describe his experience in connection with one of his visions? Daniel 10:7, 8, 15-18.

note: “In Jesus he [Peter] saw One who held all nature under His control. The presence of divinity revealed his own unholiness. Love for his Master, shame for his own unbelief, gratitude for the condescension of Christ, above all, the sense of his uncleanness in the presence of infinite purity, overwhelmed him. While his companions were securing the contents of the net, Peter fell at the Saviour’s feet, exclaiming, ‘Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’ [Luke 5:8.]

“It was the same presence of divine holiness that had caused the prophet Daniel to fall as one dead before the angel of God. He said, ‘My comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.’ So when Isaiah beheld the glory of the Lord, he exclaimed, ‘Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.’ Daniel 10:8; Isaiah 6:5. Humanity, with its weakness and sin, was brought in contrast with the perfection of divinity, and he felt altogether deficient and unholy. Thus it has been with all who have been granted a view of God’s greatness and majesty.” The Desire of Ages, 246. [Emphasis added.]

3 How is the experience of another prophet described? Numbers 24:2-4.

note: “Balaam owed the preservation of his life to the poor animal that he had treated so cruelly. The man who claimed to be a prophet of the Lord, who declared that his eyes were open, and he saw the ‘vision of the Almighty,’ [Numbers 24:4] was so blinded by covetousness and ambition that he could not discern the angel of God visible to his beast.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 442. [Emphasis added.]

4 How does Paul describe his experience while in one of his visions? 11 Corinthians 12:1, 2.

note: “Paul had a very humble opinion of his own advancement in the Christian life. He says: ‘Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.’ He speaks of himself as the ‘chief’ of sinners. [Philippians 3:12; 1 Timothy 1:15.] Yet Paul had been highly honored of the Lord. He had been taken in holy vision to the third heaven and had there received revelations of divine glory which he could not be permitted to make known.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 223, 224.

5 Describe Ellen G. White’s experience while in open vision during the early years of her prophetic ministry.

note: There were many who witnessed Ellen White in vision. G. I. Butler, president of the General Conference while Mrs. White was in mid-life, in a series of articles for the Review and Herald reported physical phenomena paralleling the experience of Daniel.

“They [the visions] generally, but not always, occur in the midst of earnest seasons of religious interest while the Spirit of God is specially present, as those can tell who are in attendance. The time Mrs. White is in this condition has varied from fifteen minutes to one hundred and eighty. During this time the heart and pulse continue to beat, the eyes are always wide open, and seem to be gazing at some far-distant object, and are never fixed on any person or thing in the room. They are always directed upward. They exhibit a pleasant expression. There is no ghastly look or any resemblance of fainting. . . .

“While she is in vision, her breathing entirely ceases. No breath ever escapes her nostrils or lips when in this condition. This has been proved by many witnesses, among them physicians of skill, and themselves unbelievers in the visions, on some occasions being appointed by a public congregation for the purpose. . . . When she goes into this condition, there is no appearance of swooning or faintness, her face retains its natural color, and the blood circulates as usual. Often she loses her strength temporarily and reclines or sits; but at other times she stands up. She moves her arms gracefully, and often her face is lighted up with radiance as though the glory of heaven rested upon her. She is utterly unconscious of everything going on around her while she is in vision, having no knowledge whatever of what is said and done in her presence.” Review and Herald, June 9, 1874.

6 What purpose was served by the physical phenomena in connection with the visions of Mrs. White?

note: “Some of the instruction found in these pages was given under circumstances so remarkable as to evidence the wonder-working power of God in behalf of His truth. Sometimes while I was in vision, my friends would approach me, and exclaim, ‘Why, she does not breathe!’ Placing a mirror before my lips, they found that no moisture gathered on the glass. It was while there was no sign of any breathing that I kept talking of the things that were being presented before me. These messages were thus given to substantiate the faith of all, that in these last days we might have confidence in the Spirit of Prophecy.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 38, 39. [Emphasis added.]

7 During what hours did Daniel receive the vision described in Daniel 7? Daniel 7:1, 2, 13.

note: “The Spirit of the Lord rested upon Daniel and his fellows, and the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision.” The Youth’s Instructor, September 1, 1903.

“In the hours of that night Ellen White was given a significant and solemn vision and was able to sleep but little.” Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White, vol. 3, The Lonely Years 1876−1891, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D. C., 310.

8 Name another prophet who received visions at night. Acts 16:9. Compare Genesis 46:2-4.

note: “There are many dreams arising from the common things of life with which the Spirit of God has nothing to do. ‘There are also false dreams, as well as false visions, which are inspired by the spirit of Satan. But dreams from the Lord are classed in the word of God with visions and are as truly the fruits of the spirit of prophecy as visions. Such dreams, taking into the account the persons who have them, and the circumstances under which they are given, contain their own proofs of their genuineness.’ ” Testimonies, vol. 5, 658.

9 How did the Lord in prophetic vision reveal to Ezekiel truths concerning the restored temple? Ezekiel 40:2-4.

note: “As inquiries are frequently made as to my state in vision, and after I come out, I would say that when the Lord sees fit to give a vision, I am taken into the presence of Jesus and angels, and am entirely lost to earthly things. I can see no farther than the angel directs me. My attention is often directed to scenes transpiring upon earth.

“At times I am carried far ahead into the future and shown what is to take place. Then again I am shown things as they have occurred in the past. After I come out of vision I do not at once remember all that I have seen, and the matter is not so clear before me until I write, then the scene rises before me as was presented in vision, and I can write with freedom. Sometimes the things which I have seen are hid from me after I come out of vision, and I cannot call them to mind until I am brought before a company where that vision applies, then the things which I have seen come to my mind with force. I am just as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in relating or writing a vision, as in having the vision. It is impossible for me to call up things which have been shown me unless the Lord brings them before me at the time that he is pleased to have me relate or write them.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, 292, 293.

10 In what form were messages imparted to Zechariah? Zechariah 1:8-10; 4:1-7. To John the Revelator? Revelation 1:10-20. Compare Revelation 12.

note: In symbols, many facets of truth could be imparted in a brief representation. The Word of God abounds in symbolic representations. To the mind of Ellen White there were often opened by symbols or figures events of consequence and meaning to the church. For example, the growth of modern spiritualism was shown to her as a fast-moving train plunging ahead with “lightning speed to perdition.” It seemed to her that “the whole world was on board.” See Early Writings, 263. Sometimes the symbolic would blend into the real. See her first vision in Early Writings, 13-20, or Testimonies, vol. 1, 58-61.

11 To what point was Ezekiel on one occasion seemingly conveyed in vision? Ezekiel 8:1-12.

note: Frequently in Mrs. White’s experience she seemed to be taken to some distant place where she saw and heard what was occurring. While in Moss, Norway, in 1887, she seemed to be at the Saint Helena Sanitarium in California and witnessed what took place as the guests settled their accounts.

In Counsels on Health, 412, 413, she describes a seeming visit to the Battle Creek Sanitarium where she saw how the work was done and heard the conversation of the helpers.

On the night of April 16, 1906, she seemed to be on an eminence and viewed the great San Francisco earthquake that occurred two days later. Read her vivid description in Testimonies, vol. 9, 92, 93.

12 Before one challenges the method by which God reveals the light, how important is it to read the prophetic messages and ask, Is this light or darkness? Isaiah 46:9, 10.

note: “The question is asked, How does Sister White know in regard to the matters of which she speaks so decidedly, as if she had authority to say these things? I speak thus because they flash upon my mind when in perplexity like lightning out of a dark cloud in the fury of a storm. Some scenes presented before me years ago have not been retained in my memory, but when the instruction then given is needed, sometimes even when I am standing before the people, the remembrance comes sharp and clear, like a flash of lightning, bringing to mind distinctly that particular instruction. At such times I cannot refrain from saying the things that flash into my mind, not because I have had a new vision, but because that which was presented to me perhaps years in the past has been recalled to my mind forcibly.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 37.

Bible Study Guides – The Broad Scope of the Prophet’s Work

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October 14, 2007 – October 20, 2007

Key Text

“And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.” Hosea 12:13.

Study Help: Selected Messages, Book 1, 33, 34; Education, 45-50.

Introduction

“The last work of the prophet Elijah was to visit all the schools of the prophets in Israel, and to give the students divine instruction.” Review and Herald, March 4, 1909.

“Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew, visited Ephesus. He had received the highest Grecian culture, and was a scholar and an orator. He had heard the teachings of John the Baptist, had received the baptism of repentance, and was a living witness that the work of the prophet was not in vain.” Sketches From the Life of Paul, 119.

“God never selected as a prophet either the high priest or any great personage; but rather, he chose low and despised men, once even the shepherd Amos.” The Great Controversy (1888), 142.

1 What does God reveal to His servants the prophets? Amos 3:7.

note: “When, therefore, he [William Miller] found, in his study of the Bible, various chronological periods that, according to his understanding of them, extended to the second coming of Christ, he could not but regard them as the ‘times before appointed,’ [Acts 17:26] which God had revealed unto His servants. ‘The secret things,’ says Moses, ‘belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever;’ and the Lord declares by the prophet Amos, that He ‘will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.’ Deuteronomy 29:29; Amos 3:7. The students of God’s word may, then, confidently expect to find the most stupendous event to take place in human history clearly pointed out in the Scriptures of truth.” The Great Controversy, 324.

2 What was Moses’ work as Israel’s prophet? Hosea 12:13.

note: “Moses heard the call from heaven to exchange his shepherd’s crook for the rod of authority; to leave his flock of sheep and take the leadership of Israel. The divine command found him self-distrustful, slow of speech, and timid. He was overwhelmed with a sense of his incapacity to be a mouthpiece for God. But he accepted the work, putting his whole trust in the Lord. The greatness of his mission called into exercise the best powers of his mind. God blessed his ready obedience, and he became eloquent, hopeful, self-possessed, fitted for the greatest work ever given to man. Of him it is written: ‘There hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face.’ Deuteronomy 34:10, A.R.V.” The Ministry of Healing, 475.

3 What was the first great truth revealed in Moses’ writings? Genesis 1:1.

note: “In the beginning, God was revealed in all the works of creation. . . . And upon all things in earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the message of the Father’s love.” Medical Ministry, 10.

“The preparation of the written word began in the time of Moses. Inspired revelations were then embodied in an inspired book. This work continued during the long period of sixteen hundred years¾from Moses, the historian of creation and the law, to John, the recorder of the most sublime truths of the gospel.” The Great Controversy, “Introduction,” v.

4 From what source did Moses receive the various statutes and precepts given to the children of Israel? Deuteronomy 4:1, 2, 5.

note: “Moses was commanded to write, as God should bid him, judgments and laws giving minute instruction as to what was required. These directions relating to the duty of the people to God, to one another, and to the stranger were only the principles of the Ten Commandments amplified and given in a specific manner, that none need err. They were designed to guard the sacredness of the ten precepts engraved on the tables of stone.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 364.

5 In what law did the prophet present instruction to ensure the well-being of God’s chosen people? Malachi 4:4.

note: “In the teaching that God gave to Israel, the preservation of health received careful attention. The people who had come from slavery with the uncleanly and unhealthful habits which it engenders, were subjected to the strictest training in the wilderness before entering Canaan. Health principles were taught and sanitary laws enforced.” The Ministry of Healing, 277.

“God gave to Israel instruction in all the principles essential to physical as well as to moral health, and it was concerning these principles no less than concerning those of the moral law that He commanded them: [Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 20-24 quoted].

“Had the Israelites obeyed the instruction they received, and profited by their advantages, they would have been the world’s object lesson of health and prosperity. If as a people they had lived according to God’s plan, they would have been preserved from the diseases that afflicted other nations. Above any other people they would have possessed physical strength and vigor of intellect. They would have been the mightiest nation on the earth.” Ibid., 283.

“The Israelites failed of fulfilling God’s purpose, and thus failed of receiving the blessings that might have been theirs. But in Joseph and Daniel, in Moses and Elisha, and many others, we have noble examples of the results of the true plan of living. Like faithfulness today will produce like results.” Ibid., 285.

6 Before Moses died, what view of the Promised Land was given to him? Deuteronomy 34:1-5.

note: “A panoramic view of the Land of Promise was presented to him. Every part of the country was spread out before him, not faint and uncertain in the dim distance, but standing out clear, distinct, and beautiful to his delighted vision. In this scene it was presented, not as it then appeared, but as it would become, with God’s blessing upon it, in the possession of Israel. He seemed to be looking upon a second Eden. There were mountains clothed with cedars of Lebanon, hills gray with olives and fragrant with the odor of the vine, wide green plains bright with flowers and rich in fruitfulness, here the palm trees of the tropics, there waving fields of wheat and barley, sunny valleys musical with the ripple of brooks and the song of birds, goodly cities and fair gardens, lakes rich in ‘the abundance of the seas,’ [Deuteronomy 33:19] grazing flocks upon the hillsides, and even amid the rocks the wild bee’s hoarded treasures. It was indeed such a land as Moses, inspired by the Spirit of God, had described to Israel.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 472.

7 What Old Testament incident reveals the prophet as an educator, living and working with his students? 11 Kings 6:1-3.

note: “The schools of the prophets were founded by Samuel to serve as a barrier against the widespread corruption, to provide for the moral and spiritual welfare of the youth, and to promote the future prosperity of the nation by furnishing it with men qualified to act in the fear of God as leaders and counselors. In the accomplishment of this object Samuel gathered companies of young men who were pious, intelligent, and studious. These were called the sons of the prophets.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 593.

“The schools of the prophets, established by Samuel, had fallen into decay during the years of Israel’s apostasy. Elijah re-established these schools, making provision for young men to gain an education that would lead them to magnify the law and make it honorable. Three of these schools, one at Gilgal, one at Bethel, and one at Jericho, are mentioned in the record. Just before Elijah was taken to heaven, he and Elisha visited these centers of training.” Prophets and Kings, 224, 225.

8 What is a difficult yet most important feature of the prophet’s work? Jeremiah 1:17-19; Ezekiel 2:3-8.

note: “He [God] sent His prophets to warn the guilty, denounce their sins, and pronounce judgment upon them. . . .

“In His providence the Lord has seen fit to teach and warn His people in various ways. By direct command, by the sacred writings, and by the spirit of prophecy has He made known unto them His will. My work has been to speak plainly of the faults and errors of God’s people. . . . But I [Ellen White] have been shown that it is not mine to choose my work, but humbly to obey the will of God.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 12, 13.

9 In what role was the prophet frequently cast? Jeremiah 29:19; 32:33.

note: “There are those who profess to believe and to teach the truths of the Old Testament, while they reject the New. But in refusing to receive the teachings of Christ, they show that they do not believe that which patriarchs and prophets have spoken.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 128.

“In the commission to His disciples, Christ not only outlined their work but gave them their message. Teach the people, He said, ‘to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.’ [Matthew 28:20.] The disciples were to teach what Christ had taught. That which He had spoken, not only in person, but through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament, is here included.” Evangelism, 15.

10 What helpful lesson concerning prophetic guidance is taught by a simple Old Testament experience? 1 Samuel 9:1-10, 18-20.

note: “Saul was the son of a powerful and wealthy chief, yet in accordance with the simplicity of the times he was engaged with his father in the humble duties of a husbandman. Some of his father’s animals having strayed upon the mountains, Saul went with a servant to seek for them. For three days they searched in vain, when, as they were not far from Ramah, the home of Samuel, the servant proposed that they should inquire of the prophet concerning the missing property. ‘I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver,’ he said: ‘that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.’ [1 Samuel 9:8.] This was in accordance with the custom of the times. A person approaching a superior in rank or office made him a small present, as an expression of respect. . . .

“At the gate of the city Saul was met by the prophet himself. God had revealed to Samuel that at that time the chosen king of Israel would present himself before him. . . .

“To the request of Saul, ‘Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is,’ Samuel replied, ‘I am the seer.’ [Verses 18, 19.] Assuring him also that the lost animals had been found, he urged him to tarry and attend the feast, at the same time giving some intimation of the great destiny before him.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 608, 609.

11 What message of hope did Isaiah give? Isaiah 40:1, 2.

note: “The covenant mercy of God led Him to interpose in behalf of His people Israel after their severe chastisement before their enemies. Israel had chosen to walk in her own wisdom and righteousness in the place of the wisdom and righteousness of God, and as a result her nation was ruined. God permitted them to suffer under a double yoke, that they might be humiliated and repent. But in their dispersion and captivity, the Jews were not left in a hopeless state. Encouragement was given them, for through this humiliation they were to be brought to seek the Lord. God gave to Isaiah a message for this people: [Isaiah 40:1, 2 quoted].” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1144.

12 What appealing message may be considered as summing up the over-all objective of the messages of the prophets? Amos 4:12, last part.

note: “My brother, my sister, I urge you to prepare for the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven. Day by day cast the love of the world out of your hearts. Understand by experience what it means to have fellowship with Christ. Prepare for the judgment, that when Christ shall come, to be admired in all them that believe, you may be among those who will meet Him in peace.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 285.

“A book has been given us to guide our feet through the perils of this dark world to heaven. It tells us how we can escape the wrath of God, and also tells of the sufferings of Christ for us, the great sacrifice that has been made that we might be saved and enjoy the presence of God forever. And if any come short at last, having heard the truth as they have in this land of light, it will be their own fault; they will be without excuse. The word of God tells us how we may become perfect Christians and escape the seven last plagues. But they took no interest to find this out. Other things diverted the mind, idols were cherished by them, and God’s Holy Word was neglected and slighted. God has been trifled with by professed Christians, and when His Holy Word shall judge them in the last day, they will be found wanting. That word which they have neglected for foolish storybooks, tries their lives. That is the standard; their motives, words, works, and the manner in which they use their time are all compared with the written word of God; and if they come short then, their cases are decided forever.” Ibid., vol. 1, 125, 126.

Bible Study Guides – Call to the Prophetic Office

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October 7, 2007 – October 13, 2007

Key Text

“And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.” Amos 7:15.

Study Help: Patriarchs and Prophets, 589, 590; Prophets and Kings, 407, 408.

Introduction

“In giving light to His people anciently, God did not work exclusively through any one class. Daniel was a prince of Judah. Isaiah also was of the royal line. David was a shepherd boy, Amos a herdsman, Zechariah a captive from Babylon, Elisha a tiller of the soil. The Lord raised up as His representatives prophets and princes, the noble and the lowly, and taught them the truths to be given to the world.” The Ministry of Healing, 148.

1 Who called Isaiah to his important work and gave him his message? Isaiah 6:8, 9. Compare 11 Peter 1:21.

note: “It was under circumstances of difficulty and discouragement that Isaiah, while yet a young man, was called to the prophetic mission. Disaster was threatening his country. By their transgression of God’s law the people of Judah had forfeited His protection, and the Assyrian forces were about to come against the kingdom of Judah. But the danger from their enemies was not the greatest trouble. It was the perversity of the people that brought upon the Lord’s servant the deepest depression. By their apostasy and rebellion they were inviting the judgments of God. The youthful prophet had been called to bear to them a message of warning, and he knew that he would meet with obstinate resistance. . . . His task seemed to him almost hopeless. . . .” Conflict and Courage, 232.

2 How and when was Jeremiah called to the prophetic office? Jeremiah 1:4-10.

note: “Among those who had hoped for a permanent spiritual revival as the result of the reformation under Josiah was Jeremiah, called of God to the prophetic office while still a youth, in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign. A member of the Levitical priesthood, Jeremiah had been trained from childhood for holy service. In those happy years of preparation he little realized that he had been ordained from birth to be ‘a prophet unto the nations’; and when the divine call came, he was overwhelmed with a sense of his unworthiness. ‘Ah, Lord God!’ he exclaimed, ‘behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.’ Jeremiah 1:5, 6.” Prophets and Kings, 407.

3 How early in history was the prophetic gift manifested? Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21.

note: “Jesus began with the first book written by Moses, and traced down through all the prophets the inspired proof in regard to his life, his mission, his suffering, death, and resurrection. He did not deem it necessary to work a miracle to evidence that he was the risen Redeemer of the world; but he went back to the prophecies, and gave a full and clear explanation of them to settle the question of his identity, and the fact that all which had occurred to him was foretold by the inspired writers. Jesus ever carried the minds of his hearers back to the precious mine of truth found in the Old-Testament Scriptures.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, 208, 209.

4 According to the Scripture record, what patriarch was first endowed with the prophetic gift? Jude 14, 15.

note: “Enoch was the first prophet among mankind. He foretold by prophecy the second coming of Christ to our world, and his work at that time. His life was a specimen of Christian consistency. Holy lips alone should speak forth the words of God in denunciation and judgments. His prophecy is not found in the writings of the Old Testament. We may never find any books which relate to the works of Enoch, but Jude, a prophet of God, mentions the work of Enoch.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1088.

5 What is said concerning the word of the Lord in the days of Samuel? 1 Samuel 3:1.

note: “God could not communicate with the high priest and his sons; their sins, like a thick cloud, had shut out the presence of His Holy Spirit. But in the midst of evil the child Samuel remained true to Heaven, and the message of condemnation to the house of Eli was Samuel’s commission as a prophet of the Most High.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 581.

“Before receiving this message from God, ‘Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him’ [1 Samuel 3:7]; that is, he was not acquainted with such direct manifestations of God’s presence as were granted to the prophets.” Ibid., 582.

6 How was Elisha called to the prophetic office? 1 Kings 19:15, 16, 19-21.

note: “As Elijah, divinely directed in seeking a successor, passed the field in which Elisha was plowing, he cast upon the young man’s shoulders the mantle of consecration. . . . To him it was the signal that God had called him to be the successor of Elijah. . . . Elisha must count the cost¾decide for himself to accept or reject the call. If his desires clung to his home and its advantages, he was at liberty to remain there. But Elisha understood the meaning of the call. . . . Not for any worldly advantage would he forego the opportunity of becoming God’s messenger, or sacrifice the privilege of association with His servant. . . . Without hesitation he left a home where he was beloved, to attend the prophet in his uncertain life.” Conflict and Courage, 221.

7 What gift did God entrust to Daniel? Daniel 1:17, last part.

note: “Daniel valued his human capabilities, but he did not trust in them. His trust was in that strength which God has promised to all who will come to him in humble dependence, relying wholly upon his power.

“He purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank; for he knew that such a diet would not strengthen his physical powers or increase his mental capability. He would not use wine, nor any other unnatural stimulant; he would do nothing to becloud his mind; and God gave him ‘knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom,’ and also ‘understanding in all visions and dreams.’ [Daniel 1:17.]” Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 22.

8 By whom was the prophetic gift exercised in early New Testament times? Luke 2:25-38. Compare Luke 1:41-55, 67-79.

note: “The heavenly heralds aroused all the wrath of the synagogue of Satan. He followed the steps of those who had charge of the infant Jesus. He heard the prophecy of Simeon in the temple courts, who had long been waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Ghost was upon him, and he came by the Spirit into the temple. Taking the infant Saviour in his arms, he blessed God. . . . Satan was filled with frenzy as he saw that the aged Simeon recognized the divinity of Christ.” Review and Herald, October 29, 1895.

“Simeon realized that he held in his arms One who was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There was at this time nothing in Christ’s outward appearance to give him this assurance, but Simeon had lived in the atmosphere of heaven. The bright beams of the Sun of righteousness gave him spiritual discernment. His one desire had been to see Christ. The purity of his life corresponded to the light he had received, and he was prepared for the revelation of the great truth that this helpless infant was the Lord’s anointed, even the Messiah. Joy and exultation transfigured his face as he held in his arms God’s most precious gift to men. His illumined mind received the light flowing from the Source of all light.” Ibid., April 2, 1901.

9 How does Paul describe the manner in which he received certain divine revelations? 11 Corinthians 12:1-4.

note: “The apostle Paul early in his Christian experience was given special opportunities to learn the will of God concerning the followers of Jesus. He was ‘caught up to the third heaven,’ ‘into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.’ He himself acknowledged that many ‘visions and revelations’ had been given him ‘of the Lord.’ His understanding of the principles of gospel truth was equal to that of ‘the very chiefest apostles.’ 11 Corinthians 12:2, 4, 1,

10 He had a clear, full comprehension of ‘the breadth, and length, and depth, and height’ of ‘the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.’ Ephesians 3:18, 19.

note: “Paul could not tell all that he had seen in vision; for among his hearers were some who would have misapplied his words. But that which was revealed to him enabled him to labor as a leader and a wise teacher, and also molded the messages that he in later years sent to the churches. The impression that he received when in vision was ever with him, enabling him to give a correct representation of Christian character. By word of mouth and by letter he bore a message that ever since has brought help and strength to the church of God. To believers today this message speaks plainly of the dangers that will threaten the church, and the false doctrines that they will have to meet.” The Acts of the Apostles, 469, 470.

11 What description of Elijah indicates that the call to the prophetic office does not remove the prophet above and away from his human characteristics? James 5:17; 1 Kings 17:1. Compare 11 Corinthians 4:5-7.

note: “In Elijah we see the natural elements of his character revealed amid the spiritual life, commingling together in strange confusion; the grace of God and the impulses and passions of the natural man, each striving for the supremacy. The human is being tried in the furnace and the dross is revealed, impurity is brought to the surface, but the trial of Elijah is a scene that all Heaven was looking upon at that time with deep solicitude. The fine gold appears in his character, the dross is lost sight of and consumed. This must be our individual experience in God’s own way.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, vol. 2, 490.

12 Desirous of learning God’s will for Judah, of whom did Hilkiah the priest and his associates seek counsel? 11 Kings 22:12-14.

note: “Josiah, from his earliest manhood, had endeavored to take advantage of his position as king to exalt the principles of God’s holy law. And now, while Shaphan the scribe was reading to him out of the book of the law, the king discerned in this volume a treasure of knowledge, a powerful ally, in the work of reform he so much desired to see wrought in the land. He resolved to walk in the light of its counsels, and also to do all in his power to acquaint his people with its teachings, and to lead them, if possible, to cultivate reverence and love for the law of heaven.

“But was it possible to bring about the needed reform? From all that he could learn from the reading of the volume before him, Israel had almost reached the limit of divine forbearance; soon God would arise to punish those who had brought dishonor upon His name. Already the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people. Overwhelmed with sorrow and dismay, Josiah rent his garments, and bowed before God in agony of spirit, seeking pardon for the sins of an impenitent nation.

“At that time the prophetess Huldah was living in Jerusalem, near the Temple. The mind of the king, filled with anxious foreboding, reverted to her; and he determined to inquire of the Lord through this chosen messenger, to learn, if possible, whether by any means within his power he might save erring Judah, now on the verge of ruin.” Ye Shall Receive Power, 268.

“Josiah sent as messengers to the prophetess, the highest and most honored of the people. He sent the first men of his kingdom,—men who occupied high positions of trust in the nation. Thus he conferred honor upon the oracles of God.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1133.

13 How were the prophets often treated? Matthew 23:29-31; 5:11, 12; Acts 7:52.

note: “Jesus said, ‘Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.’ [Matthew 23:34.] This prophecy was literally fulfilled by the Jews in their treatment of Christ and of the messengers whom God sent to them. Will men in these last days follow the example of those whom Christ condemned?” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 79.

“Prophets and wise men full of faith and the Holy Ghost, represented by Stephen, James, Paul, and many others, scribes, men of learning, who understood the Scriptures and could present them in all their bearings as revealed by God, would be scorned and persecuted, condemned and put to death.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, 68.

Bible Study Guides – Means of Communication

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September 30, 2007 – October 6, 2007

Key Text

“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7.

Study Help: The Great Controversy, “Introduction,” v-vii.

Introduction

“Before the entrance of sin, Adam enjoyed open communion with his Maker; but since man separated himself from God by transgression, the human race has been cut off from this high privilege. By the plan of redemption, however, a way has been opened whereby the inhabitants of the earth may still have connection with heaven. God has communicated with men by His Spirit, and divine light has been imparted to the world by revelations to His chosen servants. ‘Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.’ 11 Peter 1:21.” The Great Controversy, “Introduction,” v.

1 How did God communicate with man before the Fall? Genesis 1:27, 28; 2:15-17.

note: “Adam and Eve, in their untainted purity, delighted in the sights and sounds of Eden. God appointed them their work in the garden, ‘to dress it and to keep it.’ Genesis 2:15. Each day’s labor brought them health and gladness, and the happy pair greeted with joy the visits of their Creator, as in the cool of the day He walked and talked with them. Daily God taught them His lessons.” The Ministry of Healing, 261.

“Adam and Eve were given the garden of Eden to care for. They were ‘to dress it and to keep it.’ [Genesis 2:15.] They were happy in their work. Mind, heart, and will acted in perfect harmony. In their labor they found no weariness, no toil. Their hours were filled with useful work and communion with each other. Their occupation was pleasant. God and Christ visited them and talked with them.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 10, 327.

2 Since the Fall, how has God communicated with man? Hebrews 1:1. Compare Isaiah 59:2.

note: “Of special value to God’s church on earth today the keepers of His vineyard are the messages of counsel and admonition given through the prophets who have made plain His eternal purpose in behalf of mankind. In the teachings of the prophets, His love for the lost race and His plan for their salvation are clearly revealed. The story of Israel’s call, of their successes and failures, of their restoration to divine favor, of their rejection of the Master of the vineyard, and of the carrying out of the plan of the ages by a goodly remnant to whom are to be fulfilled all the covenant promises this has been the theme of God’s messengers to His church throughout the centuries that have passed. And today God’s message to His church to those who are occupying His vineyard as faithful husbandmen is none other than that spoken through the prophet of old:

‘Sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.’ Isaiah 27:2, 3.” Prophets and Kings, 22.

3 By what other means does God communicate with man? Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:20.

note: “How wonderfully, with what marvelous beauty, has everything in nature been fashioned. Everywhere we see the perfect works of the great Master Artist. The heavens declare His glory; and the earth, which is formed for the happiness of man, speaks to us of His matchless love. Its surface is not a monotonous plain, but grand old mountains rise to diversify the landscape. There are sparkling streams and fertile valleys, beautiful lakes, broad rivers, and the boundless ocean. God sends the dew and the rain to refresh the thirsty earth. The breezes, that promote health by purifying and cooling the atmosphere, are controlled by His wisdom. He has placed the sun in the heavens to mark the periods of day and night, and by its genial beams give light and warmth to the earth, causing vegetation to flourish.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 312.

“Let no one teach things that the Redeemer, He who owns man, body, soul, and spirit, has not taught. We need not any fanciful teaching regarding the personality of God. What God desires us to know of Him is revealed in His word and His works. The beautiful things of nature reveal His character and His power as Creator. They are His gift to the race, to show His power and to show that He is a God of love. But no one is authorized to say that God Himself in person is in flower or leaf or tree. These things are God’s handiwork, revealing His love for mankind.” Medical Ministry, 94.

4 Through whom did God warn Lot? Genesis 19:1-3, 12, 13. Compare Hebrews 1:14.

note: “In all ages, God has wrought through holy angels for the succor and deliverance of His people. Celestial beings have taken an active part in the affairs of men. They have appeared clothed in garments that shone as the lightning; they have come as men in the garb of wayfarers. Angels have appeared in human form to men of God. They have rested, as if weary, under the oaks at noon. They have accepted the hospitalities of human homes. They have acted as guides to benighted travelers. They have, with their own hands, kindled the fires at the altar. They have opened prison doors and set free the servants of the Lord. Clothed with the panoply of heaven, they came to roll away the stone from the Saviour’s tomb.” The Great Controversy, 631.

“God knows how Satan is working, and sends his angels to watch over his children, to protect them from the Devil’s power. And the battle is constantly going on between the angels of God, and the Devil’s angels. The angels of God are clothed with a complete armor, the panoply of heaven, and, although surrounded with deadly foes, fear nothing, for they are doing the will of their loved Commander. They enter the darkest places to rescue the children of God from the snares of Satan, and their presence causes the evil angels to fall back. And as the evil angels are defeated, they utter terrible imprecations against the injustice of God, and against his angels.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, 277.

5 What means did God use to warn Pharaoh of coming famine? Genesis 41:1-7.

note: “The king of Egypt had in one night two dreams, apparently pointing to the same event and seeming to foreshadow some great calamity. He could not determine their significance, yet they continued to trouble his mind. The magicians and wise men of his realm could give no interpretation. The king’s perplexity and distress increased, and terror spread throughout his palace.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 219.

6 What other means did God provide through which He might reveal His will to ancient Israel? Exodus 28:29, 30; Leviticus 8:8. Compare 1 Samuel 30:7, 8.

note: “The garments of the high priest were of costly material and beautiful workmanship, befitting his exalted station. . . .

“At the right and left of the breastplate were two large stones of great brilliancy. These were known as the Urim and Thummim. By them the will of God was made known through the high priest. When questions were brought for decision before the Lord, a halo of light encircling the precious stone at the right was a token of the divine consent or approval, while a cloud shadowing the stone at the left was an evidence of denial or disapprobation.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 350, 351.

7 What did Jesus say concerning Himself? John 12:46. Compare John 1:1-5, 9, 14, 18.

note: “We can trace the line of the world’s great teachers as far back as human records extend; but the Light was before them. As the moon and the stars of the solar system shine by the reflected light of the sun, so, as far as their teaching is true, do the world’s great thinkers reflect the rays of the Sun of Righteousness. Every gem of thought, every flash of the intellect, is from the Light of the World.” Gospel Workers (1915), 50.

“The question has been asked me [Ellen White], ‘Do you think that the Lord has any more light for us as a people?’ I answer that He has light that is new to us, and yet it is precious old light that is to shine forth from the Word of truth. We have only the glimmerings of the rays of the light that is yet to come to us. We are not making the most of the light which the Lord has already given us, and thus we fail to receive the increased light; we do not walk in light already shed upon us.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 401, 402.

8 Besides dreams and Urim, what other method of communication from God was available to ancient Israel? 1 Samuel 28:6.

note: “When the high priest entered within the most holy once a year, and ministered before the ark in the awful presence of God, he inquired, and God often answered him with an audible voice. When the Lord did not answer by a voice, he let the sacred beams of light and glory rest upon the cherubim upon the right of the ark, in approbation or favor. If their requests were refused, a cloud rested upon the cherubim at the left.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4A, 102.

9 By what means did God commonly impart His messages to prophets? Numbers 12:6. What is the message of the prophet frequently called? Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1; Micah 1:1.

note: “The word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 94.

“Isaiah, seeing in prophetic vision the apostasy of the Jews, addressed them as rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah: [1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:10-12, 16, 17 quoted].” The Desire of Ages, 590.

“The word of the Lord came to Elijah; he did not seek to be the Lord’s messenger, but the word came to him. God always has men to whom He entrusts His message. His Spirit moves upon their hearts and constrains them to speak. Stimulated by holy zeal, and with the divine impulse strong upon them, they enter upon the performance of their duty without coldly calculating the consequences of speaking to the people the word which the Lord has given them.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 299.

10 What does the Old Testament say of prophetic guidance in the last days? Joel 2:28-32. Compare Acts 2:16-21.

note: “In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God, the Lord by the prophet Joel has promised a special manifestation of His Spirit. Joel 2:28. This prophecy received a partial fulfillment in the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost; but it will reach its full accomplishment in the manifestation of divine grace which will attend the closing work of the gospel.” The Great Controversy, “Introduction,” ix.

11 What is one important characteristic of the remnant people of God? Revelation 12:17; 19:10.

note: “Those who love and keep the commandments of God are most obnoxious to the synagogue of Satan, and the powers of evil will manifest their hatred toward them to the fullest extent possible. John foresaw the conflict between the remnant church and the power of evil, and said, ‘The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’ [Revelation 12:17.]” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 974.

“Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light.” Colporteur Evangelist, 37.

12 How did Paul refer to those who were waiting for the day of the Lord? 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6; 1 Corinthians 1:4-7.

note: “The time of the end is come, the visions of the prophets are unsealed, and their solemn warnings point us to our Lord’s coming in glory as near at hand.

“The Jews misinterpreted and misapplied the word of God, and they knew not the time of their visitation. The years of the ministry of Christ and His apostles, the precious last years of grace to the chosen people, they spent in plotting the destruction of the Lord’s messengers. Earthly ambitions absorbed them, and the offer of the spiritual kingdom came to them in vain. So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men’s thoughts, and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift-coming kingdom of God.” The Desire of Ages, 235.

“It is ‘unto them that look for Him’ that Christ is to ‘appear the second time without sin unto salvation.’ Hebrews 9:28. Like the tidings of the Saviour’s birth, the message of the second advent was not committed to the religious leaders of the people. They had failed to preserve their connection with God, and had refused light from heaven; therefore they were not of the number described by the apostle Paul: ‘But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:4, 5.” The Great Controversy, 315.

Recipe – Mexican Beans

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5 cups pinto or black beans

15 cups water

2 large onions, chopped

1 Tablespoon onion powder

2 Tablespoons chili powder substitute

2 Tablespoons salt or to taste

1 Tablespoon garlic powder

4 cloves garlic, crushed

2 bay leaves

1/4 teaspoon cumin

Soak beans in water for 24 hours, changing the water several times. Place in a slow cooker with enough fresh water to cover the beans. Cook on low with all of the ingredients except the salt for 24 hours or until very tender. Add salt in the last 2 to 3 hours of cooking.

Food For Life – Protein and Health: Fact Or Fantasy

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Accepted as a nutrient class in 1838, protein, it was discovered, was necessary for all forms of life. This started a fascination with protein and its role in the health and strength of man.

Protein is the building block of every cell of the body and is critical for cell growth and repair. It is essential for energy and is also needed in the manufacture of hormones, antibodies, and enzymes. In addition, it helps maintain the proper acid-alkali balance in the body. Is it any wonder that we are encouraged to eat the protein food source on our plate? The questions, though, are: How much protein do we need? Are there times our protein requirements increase? Is too much protein harmful? What is the best source of protein?

Authorities differ on how much protein is needed for the average adult. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that an individual needs 56 grams of protein a day. The United States National Research Council recommends a protein intake of one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight. The World Health Organization recommends 0.45 to 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of ideal body weight. Using these figures and an ideal weight of 150 pounds, between 31 and 55 grams of protein per day would be recommended. (It should be noted that both agencies have been adjusting the requirements for protein downward despite objections from the meat and dairy industries.) The average American is ingesting two to four times as much protein as is recommended.

There are clearly times when the protein intake needs to be increased, such as during times of growth in infancy, childhood, and pregnancy; during times of injury when the body needs to repair cells; and during times of extreme exercise when muscle cells are being built. However, many studies on health and disease have linked too much protein, especially animal-based protein, to numerous health problems.

The standard American diet provides too much protein. One of the primary reasons for this is the large consumption of meat and animal products. Many diseases are greatly reduced when the protein source is plant based. Plant-based proteins are better for the body; most are a good source of fiber and protein, and plant-based proteins are much more economical to produce. Likewise, plant-based proteins do not contain the growth hormones that are so typical in animals sold for consumption. Plant-based proteins can provide all of the essential amino acids needed by man. Even the person on a totally vegetarian diet tends to get more protein than is needed for health.

If you have not already replaced animal proteins with the more healthful plant proteins, you need to consider doing so now. The recipe below can be used alone or in combination with brown rice as the main protein source for many dishes, including tostados, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, nachos, Chimichangas, tortilla casserole, chili, and many others.

Restoring the Temple – The Fountain of Youth

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Over the centuries, explorers hoped to find the fountain of youth. Of course, they did not find what they expected to find. However, perhaps we have had the fountain of youth with us throughout history, but have not appreciated it for what it is. Perhaps the fountain of youth is simply water itself!

We all know or have some idea that we need to drink fluids from time to time, but few people know or understand the damage the body sustains when a person does not drink enough water.

The cells of the body are about 75 percent water; the brain is about 85 percent water, while the bones contain less water. Many consider that water is just filler material and that as long as they drink a little, things will function just fine. However, nothing could be further from the truth. When insufficient water is taken in, the body suffers in numerous ways, and it alerts us to its deficiency through a multitude of pains and diseases.

Dehydration

When a person does not drink sufficient water, there is a shortage of water in the body for its various functions. This is known as dehydration. When this happens, the body embarks on a strict water-rationing program. It starts to produce more histamine, which regulates water distribution to the various organs and parts of the body. Those areas of the body not considered as essential for survival—such as bones, joints, and skin—receive little water, whereas other areas that are considered vital—such as the brain—still get a fair amount, albeit less than necessary for full and proper function.

Many people think that any fluid will satisfy their need for water. This is not true. Caffeine-containing beverages—coffee, tea, colas, and other soda drinks—and alcoholic beverages—such as wine and beer—are all diuretics. These substances cause more water to be eliminated than is taken in. If a person drinks a cup of coffee, for example, one and a half cups of water will be excreted from the body. It is the same with the other caffeine and alcohol-containing beverages. Thus, people can drink themselves into dehydration, while thinking that they have fulfilled their need for water. Milk and juice should be considered foods and are not a satisfactory replacement for water. Only water will truly satisfy the body’s need for water.

Minimum Needs

At minimum, a person needs eight cups of water a day. However, the following is a more precise formula for determining your individual water needs: Take your weight in pounds; divide that number by two, and this is the amount of water in ounces that you need every day. To find out how many cups that is, divide the amount in ounces by eight, and you will get the number of cups that you need. If you are exercising, sweating, living in a hot climate, overweight, experiencing pain, sick or diseased, or under stress of any kind, you may need to drink more water than that. A good indicator for determining if you are drinking enough water is if your urine is clear or if it is very light in color. The darker the urine, the more dehydrated you are. When you drink the amount of water that you need, you should not go on a salt-free or salt-restricted diet. All that water will flush any extra salt out of your body. Also, you should drink your water between meals and not with your meals. “The more liquid there is taken into the stomach with the meals, the more difficult it is for the food to digest; for the liquid must first be absorbed.” Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 51.

The following are a few of the health problems in which dehydration is a major cause:

High Blood Pressure

When there is not enough water in the body, the volume of blood decreases. To compensate for the reduced amount of blood, the blood vessels have to reduce their interior size; otherwise there would not be enough blood to fill all of the available area in the circulatory system and gas pockets would form. Thus, the muscles that line the arteries squeeze down so that the passageway for the blood is smaller. This tension in the arteries is then detected as hypertension. Also, because there is not enough water to go around, this extra pressure in the blood vessels is needed in order to force water into certain vitally important cells so that they do not get too dehydrated. Lastly, the body starts to retain salt in an effort to keep more water in the body, for water follows salt. The solution for this is to drink sufficient water and to take a little salt, preferably sea salt.

Stomach Pains

When the body is dehydrated, there is insufficient mucus lining the interior of the stomach. This mucus layer must be of a sufficient quantity to protect the stomach from the acid that digests the food. When stomach acid reaches the tissues under the mucus, pain is the result.

Water is also necessary to produce the digestive enzymes and alkaline solution from the pancreas. When there is insufficient water to produce adequate quantities of this solution, the stomach is not able to pass the food into the intestines in a timely manner, and digestion is greatly slowed. This can also result in putting pressure at the top of the stomach and causing heartburn. Constipation will result when there is a shortage of water, and the body is trying to recapture water from the waste in the colon. The solution for all of these problems is to drink one to two cups of water 30 minutes before each meal, and then wait at least one hour after eating before drinking more water.

Fatigue

Many times fatigue is merely due to dehydration. There are little mechanisms in cell walls that operate like the hydroelectric generators in a dam producing electricity. Much energy can be produced from these “cellular hydroelectric pumps.” However, in order for this to happen, there must be sufficient “free” water in the body. In other words, this operation requires water that is not engaged in any other activity. But in dehydration, all of the water is being put to use in other vital areas, and the person is not able to benefit from this source of energy. This source of energy is as important as food energy. To fight fatigue, drink your individual requirement of water.

Many other health problems are also caused or made worse by not drinking enough water. These include asthma, allergies, arthritis, edema, obesity, headaches, migraines, depression, pain of all kinds, autoimmune diseases, and more. Hopefully, you will decide to start drinking more water, and eliminate the diuretic beverages from your lifestyle. Your health will greatly improve just by doing this.

Water Source

The source of your water should be clean and uncontaminated. In today’s environment, it makes sense to use bottled water or filtered water. Filtration removes the chlorine from the water and enhances the water’s taste, helping you to enjoy it and to drink the amount you should.

Diane Herbert is a naturopath and lifestyle consultant. She received training from the NAD Lifestyle Consultant program, Thomas Edison State College, Clayton College of Natural Healing, and Bastyr University. Diane teaches health classes at the Gilead Institute located in Norcross, Georgia, gives health presentations, and contributes to the Institute’s literature and health flyer series. If you would like more information on water or other health topics, you may contact her at: The Gilead Institute of America, 6000 Live Oak Parkway, Suite 114, Norcross, Georgia 30093; telephone: (770) 270-1087; Website: www.gileadinstitute.org.

Nature Nugget – The Water Cycle

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There are an estimated 326 million trillion gallons of water on the Earth. The Earth is covered with 70 percent water, 98 percent of which is salty. Only a small portion of the Earth’s water is fresh, and 1.6 percent of that is locked up in the polar ice caps and glaciers. Another 0.36 percent of the water is found underground in aquifers and wells. Only about 0.036 percent of the planet’s total freshwater supply is found in lakes, rivers, and streams. The rest of the planet’s freshwater is floating in the air as clouds and water vapor, locked up in the tissues of plants and animals, and sitting on shelves in stores as bottled water and other beverages.

The Earth’s water is always in circulation in a rapid recycling process called the water cycle. This cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. In the cycle, water can change from liquid, vapor, or ice at various periods. The process starts when the Sun’s heat warms the Earth’s surface waters causing the evaporation of water molecules into the air, changing the water from a liquid to a gas. The rate of evaporation is determined by temperature, humidity, and wind. The oceans supply about 80 percent of the evaporated water that goes into the atmosphere.

Another important source of water entering the atmosphere is through a process called transpiration. Transpiration is the process by which plants release water into the air. The most important sources of transpiration are the great forests of the world, especially the rain forests of the tropics. Transpiration accounts for 10 percent of all evaporating water going into the atmosphere.

As the water evaporates into the atmosphere, it cools and forms clouds. The clouds are groups of tiny water droplets or ice crystals and can come in all shapes and sizes. Water can be carried great distances as clouds, with the help of winds. When conditions are right, the water returns to the Earth in the form of precipitation as either rain, snow, hail, sleet, or freezing rain. After the water returns to the surface of the Earth, it flows into rivers and streams which take it back to the oceans, or it soaks into the ground to water plants and renew underground aquifers. Then the process starts over again. Individual water molecules in an apple you ate yesterday may have fallen as rain halfway around the world last year or may have been frozen in a glacier a thousand years ago.

Without water, life would not exist. Jesus says that He is the source of living water: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37, 38.

“The cry of Christ to the thirsty soul is still going forth, and it appeals to us with even greater power than to those who heard it in the temple on the last day of the feast. The fountain is open for all. The weary and exhausted ones are offered the refreshing draught of eternal life. Jesus is still crying, ‘If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.’ [John 7:37, last part]. ‘Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely’ (Revelation 22:17). ‘Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life’ (John 4:14).” The Desire of Ages, 454.

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

Children’s Story – Miracle in the Mountains

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Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country on the Balkan peninsula of Southern Europe. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the south, Bosnia-Herzegovina is mostly landlocked, except for 26 kilometers (16 miles) of the Adriatic Sea coastline, centered around the town of Neum. The interior of the country is mountainous in the center and south, hilly in the northwest, and flat in the northeast. The nation’s capital and largest city is Sarajevo, seated between several high mountains, and was thus the host of the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. Formerly one of the six federal units constituting the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina gained its independence during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. (<https://en.wikipedia.org> June 2007.)

Driving in much of Bosnia-Herzegovina is at times very dangerous because of the mountainous terrain and narrow roads. These roads become even more treacherous in bad weather. Many of the mountain roads have no guardrails to protect cars from falling off the mountain.

In November 2005, a missionary was driving through the mountains of Northern Bosnia–Herzegovina with a couple of pastors. They were on their way to a conference. The weather was cold and rainy, so they were driving slowly and more cautiously than they would have been in better weather.

As they came around a curve, their vehicle ran across a slippery spot in the road. The car started to slide sideways toward the edge of the mountain. From there, it was a 40-foot drop-off with jagged rocks and a river at the bottom.

As the vehicle began to slide out of control, they all cried out, “Jesus!” The car hit the guardrail with the front bumper, then the side and back of the vehicle hit as it bounced along the guardrail. The impact with the guardrail pushed the car back onto the road.

The missionary and the men with him found a safe place to pull over on the side of the road, then got out of the car to take a look. First of all, they were amazed that there even was a guardrail there. Even more amazing was that the guardrail appeared to be new.

Then they checked out the car. The entire side of the car had hit the guardrail, but they could only find a few scratches on the front and rear bumpers—there was no damage at all to the side of the vehicle. It seemed as though there had been some type of invisible shield across the side of the vehicle protecting them and keeping them from going through or over the guardrail and falling down onto the sharp rocks and into the river.

They remembered Psalm 34:7, which says, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” They know that the Lord miraculously protected them that day, sparing them from injury and possibly even death. They are grateful for the Lord’s promise to watch over and protect those who love Him!

The Pen of Inspiration – The Spirit of Prophecy

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New Believers to Have Clear Understanding.―As the end draws near, and the work of giving the last warning to the world extends, it becomes more important for those who accept present truth to have a clear understanding of the nature and influence of the Testimonies, which God in His providence has linked with the work of the third angel’s message from its very rise.―Testimonies, vol. 5, 654. (1889)

God’s Present-Day Instruction.―In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the testimonies of His Spirit. There was never a time when God instructed His people more earnestly than He instructs them now concerning His will, and the course that He would have them pursue.―Testimonies, vol. 5, 661. (1889)

Frequently Neglected.―Ministers frequently neglect these important branches of the work―health reform, spiritual gifts, systematic benevolence, and the great branches of the missionary work. Under their labors large numbers may embrace the theory of the truth, but in time it is found that there are many who will not bear the proving of God. The minister laid upon the foundation, hay, wood, and stubble, which would be consumed by the fire of temptation.―Review and Herald, December 12, 1878.

Not to Take Place of the Bible.―The testimonies of Sister White should not be carried to the front. God’s Word is the unerring standard. The Testimonies are not to take the place of the Word. Great care should be exercised by all believers to advance these questions carefully, and always stop when you have said enough. Let all prove their positions from the Scriptures and substantiate every point they claim as truth from the revealed Word of God.―Letter 12, 1890.

Testimonies Not Ahead of Bible.―The more we look at the promises of the Word of God, the brighter they grow. The more we practice them, the deeper will be our understanding of them. Our position and faith is in the Bible. And never do we want any soul to bring in the Testimonies ahead of the Bible.―Manuscript 7, 1894.

Purpose of the Testimonies.―The Word of God is sufficient to enlighten the most beclouded mind, and may be understood by those who have any desire to understand it. But notwithstanding all this, some who profess to make the Word of God their study, are found living in direct opposition to its plainest teachings. Then, to leave men and women without excuse, God gives plain and pointed testimonies, bringing them back to the Word that they have neglected to follow. The Word of God abounds in general principles for the formation of correct habits of living, and the Testimonies, general and personal, have been calculated to call their attention more especially to these principles.―Testimonies, vol. 5, 663, 664. (1889)

The Greater and Lesser Lights.―Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light.― Colporteur Evangelist, 37. (1902)

Illustration: Presenting the Spirit of Prophecy.―Elder _____ enters into no controversy with opponents. He presents the Bible so clearly that it is evident that anyone who differs must do so in opposition to the Word of God.

Friday evening and Sabbath forenoon he spoke upon the subject of spiritual gifts, dwelling especially upon the Spirit of prophecy. Those who were present at these discourses say that he treated the subject in a clear, forceful manner.―Letter 388, 1906.

In his teaching Elder showed that the Spirit of prophecy has an important part to act in the establishment of the truth. When binding off his work, he called for me . . . to speak to the people.―Letter 400, 1906.

Give Time to Weigh Evidence.―In the last vision given at Battle Creek I was shown that an unwise course was taken at in regard to the visions at the time of the organization of the church there. There were some in who were God’s children, and yet doubted the visions. Others had no opposition, yet dared not take a decided stand in regard to them. Some were skeptical, and they had sufficient cause to make them so. The false visions and fanatical exercises, and the wretched fruits following, had an influence upon the cause in _____, to make minds jealous of everything bearing the name of visions. All these things should have been taken into consideration, and wisdom exercised. There should be no trial or labor with those who have never seen the individual having visions, and who have had no personal knowledge of the influence of the visions. Such should not be deprived of the benefits and privileges of the church, if their Christian course is otherwise correct, and they have formed a good Christian character.

Some, I was shown, could receive the published visions, judging of the tree by its fruits. Others are like doubting Thomas; they cannot believe the published Testimonies, nor receive evidence through the testimony of others, but must see and have the evidence for themselves. Such must not be set aside, but long patience and brotherly love should be exercised toward them until they find their position and become established for or against. If they fight against the visions, of which they have no knowledge; if they carry their opposition so far as to oppose that in which they have had no experience, and feel annoyed when those who believe that the visions are of God speak of them in meeting, and comfort themselves with the instruction given through vision, the church may know that they are not right.―Testimonies, vol. 1, 327-329. (1862)

Driven to a Premature Position.―I have been shown that some, especially in _____, make the visions a rule by which to measure all; and have taken a course which my husband and myself have never pursued. Some are unacquainted with me and my labors, and they are very skeptical of anything bearing the name of visions. This is all natural, and can be overcome only by experience. If persons are not settled in regard to the visions, they should not be crowded off. The course to pursue with such may be found in Testimony No. 8 [volume 1, pages 328, 329], which I hope will be read by all. Ministers should have compassion of some, making a difference; others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. God’s ministers should have wisdom to give to everyone his portion of meat, and to make that difference with different persons which their cases require. The course pursued with some in who are unacquainted with me, has not been careful and consistent. Those who were, comparatively, strangers to the visions, have been dealt with in the same manner as those who have had much light and experience in the visions. Some have been required to endorse the visions when they could not conscientiously do so, and in this way some honest souls have been driven to take positions against the visions and against the body, which they never would have taken had their cases been managed with discretion and mercy.―Testimonies, vol. 1, 382, 383. (1863)

Overcoming the Opposition.―The ministers (non-S.D.A.) are opening up their tirade, and against Mrs. White in particular. But this is only hurting themselves. . . . I am placing Desire of Ages, Great Controversy, Patriarchs and Prophets, and Christ Our Saviour in families; so while the ministers are working against me, I will speak in my writings to the people. I believe souls will be converted to the truth. We are now turning them to the law and to the testimonies. If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.―Letter 217, 1899.

Judged by Their Fruits.―Let the Testimonies be judged by their fruits. What is the spirit of their teaching? What has been the result of their influence? All who desire to do so can acquaint themselves with the fruits of these visions. . . .

God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs, and strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work . . . bears the stamp of God, or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil.―Testimonies, vol. 5, 671. (1889)

God Speaks Through Testimonies.―We must follow the directions given through the Spirit of prophecy. We must love and obey the truth for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions. God has spoken to us through His Word. He has spoken to us through the Testimonies to the church, and through the books that have helped to make plain our present duty and the position that we should now occupy.―Testimonies, vol. 8, 298. (1904)

Evangelism, 255-260.