Messiah

Story – The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

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The Magi were philosophers from the East and wise as man reckons. They studied for long years the heavens and the stars, and as they observed these marvelous things they beheld the glory of the Creator.

Even though they were considered heathens, in their wonderment they turned to the Hebrew Scriptures and learned that there were prophesies that had been handed down century after century regarding a Messiah. Even in their own land there were treasured prophesies regarding a divine Teacher. And as they studied, they learned that His coming was near.

One night they noticed an extremely bright star in the heavens, one they had not observed before. They consulted with priests and philosophers and searched the ancient records. Balaam of the Old Testament had been one of their number and they found that he had declared “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17. Some were given dreams and in this way instructed to go in search of the newborn Prince.

They did not know that the star they beheld was actually a company of angels declaring the birth of the Messiah in a manger, in a stable, to the shepherds upon the hills outside Bethlehem. An angel had appeared to the shepherds and said, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manager.” And then this angel was joined by a multitude of angels and they all sang together, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:10–14

When that company of angels had faded away, a luminous star appeared and lingered in the sky.  This was the star observed by the Magi and we are told that once they set off, it led them each night closer to the Christ child. They brought with them rich gifts from their land, as was their custom, to bestow upon the Child. It is a beautiful thought that while the Magi had not only the physical star in the sky to guide their way to the manger, they were also given inward evidence by the Holy Spirit. And though the journey was long, this impressed their hearts and filled them with hope.

The star ultimately led them to the manger in Bethlehem and they were able to bow before the Prince of heaven and to give Him their gifts and worship and praise.

The Spirit of Prophecy says that sin had become very bad and had even found its way into the religious practices of the day. It caused rebellion in the hearts of men and made them hate God, all the while claiming to be His children. “It was demonstrated … that, apart from God, humanity could not be uplifted. A new element of life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world.” The Desire of Ages, 37

Even the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds thought that God would rise up and sweep the earth clean of sin and sinners. But this would have given Satan the opportunity to declare again that God’s government could not be both just and merciful.

But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it and though sin was everywhere, God made a way for its recovery. “At the very crisis, when Satan seemed about to triumph, the Son of God came [as an emissary] of divine grace.” Ibid.

The angel who came to tell Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah said, “[Y]ou shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. And verse 23 declares further, “ ‘and they shall call His name Immanuel … God with us.’ ”

So herein lies the greatest love story ever told. The story of a God who wanted children so much that He created worlds until one chose not to be His. Yet, His love for them was so great that instead of abandoning them, leaving them to die alone, He made a plan to send His Son to pay the price they could not pay. He came to die for their sins and to show them how to live their lives so that they could one day be restored again to their heavenly home, to live for all of eternity with their Father.

“Through every age, through every hour, the love of God had been exercised toward the fallen race. Notwithstanding the [wickedness] of men, the signals of mercy had been continually exhibited. And when the fullness of the time had come, the Deity was glorified by pouring upon the world a flood of healing grace that was never to be obstructed or withdrawn till the plan of salvation should be fulfilled.” The Desire of Ages, 37

When the need was the most dire, Jesus came. He lived. He died. He rose again. He lives. He forgives. He saves. This is love.

Adapted from The Desire of Ages

Bible Study Guides – The Ministry of Deliverance

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May 10 – 16, 2020

Key Text

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).

Study Help: The Desire of Ages, 547–551.

Introduction

“Through yielding to sin, man placed his will under the control of Satan. He became a helpless captive in the tempter’s power. God sent His Son into our world to break the power of Satan, and to emancipate the will of man.” Australasian Union Conference Record, June 1, 1900.

Sunday

ESTABLISHING GOD’S KINGDOM

  • What question did Jesus ask regarding God’s kingdom? Mark 4:30. To what did He desire to draw the people’s attention?

Note: “Christ found the kingdoms of the world corrupt. … When Christ came to the world to establish a kingdom, He looked upon the governments of men, and said, ‘Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God’ (Mark 4:30)? Nothing in civil society afforded Him a comparison. …

“In striking contrast to the wrong and oppression so universally practised [sic] were the mission and work of Christ. … He planned a government which would use no force; His subjects would know no oppression. … He came as the divine Restorer, bringing to oppressed and downtrodden humanity the rich and abundant grace of Heaven, that by the power of His righteousness, man, fallen and degraded though he was, might be a partaker of divinity.” God’s Amazing Grace, 14.

“Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles. He called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak. Power, position, talent, education, placed their possessor under the greater obligation to serve his fellows.” The Desire of Ages, 550.

Monday

THE MISSION OF CHRIST

  • How is the character of the coming Deliverer described? In what power did He work? Isaiah 42:1–4.

Note: “The dimly burning wick of faith and hope, He [Christ] would encourage, and not quench. He would feed His flock like a shepherd; He would gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1146.

  • What royal title was the Messiah to carry? Isaiah 9:6.

Note: “Christ is ‘the Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9:6), and it is His mission to restore to earth and heaven the peace that sin has broken. … Whoever consents to renounce sin and open his heart to the love of Christ, becomes a partaker of this heavenly peace. …

“The heart that is in harmony with God is a partaker of the peace of heaven and will diffuse its blessed influence on all around.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 27, 28.

  • What sums up Christ’s lifework? Acts 10:38. What practical things did Christ’s work include? Matthew 4:23, 24.

Note: “With a heart ever touched with the feelings of our infirmities, an ear ever open to the cry of suffering humanity, a hand ever ready to save the discouraged and despairing, Jesus, our Saviour, ‘went about doing good’ (Acts 10:38).” God’s Amazing Grace, 14.

“The sick came to the places through which He would pass, that they might call on Him for help. Hither, too, came many anxious to hear His words and to receive a touch of His hand. Thus He went from city to city, from town to town, preaching the gospel and healing the sick—the King of glory in the lowly garb of humanity.” The Ministry of Healing, 22.

“Tender, compassionate, sympathetic, ever considerate of others, He [Christ] represented the character of God, and was constantly engaged in service for God and man.” Ibid., 423.

Tuesday

CHRIST’S WORK IS TO BE OUR WORK

  • How extensive was the work Christ did under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? Isaiah 61:1–3.

Note: “The mission described by the prophet is the mission of every disciple of Christ. We are to practice the words of Christ, and present before others the covenant of grace, the righteousness of Christ. We are to make it manifest to the world that we have the oil of grace in our vessels in our lamps. The work of every representative of Christ, both in the ministry and among the laymen, is to tell of the great salvation brought to them as God’s free gift.” The Review and Herald, March 27, 1894.

  • What are we called to do as followers of Christ? Isaiah 58:6, 7.

Note: “All who are members of the kingdom of Christ will represent Him in character and disposition.” God’s Amazing Grace, 14.

“Through yielding to sin, man placed his will under the control of Satan. He became a helpless captive in the tempter’s power. God sent His Son into our world to break the power of Satan, and to emancipate the will of man. He sent Him to proclaim liberty to the captives, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free.” Our High Calling, 104.

“Find out what the poor and suffering are in need of, and then, in love and tenderness, help them to courage and hope and confidence by sharing with them the good things that God has given you. Thus you will be doing the very work that the Lord means you to do.” The Medical Missionary, June 1, 1891.

“Christ’s work is to be our example. Constantly He went about doing good. In the temple and the synagogues, in the streets of the cities, in the marketplace and the workshop, by the seaside and among the hills, He preached the gospel and healed the sick. His life was one of unselfish service, and it is to be our lessonbook. His tender, pitying love rebukes our selfishness and heartlessness.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 31.

  • What promise did Christ make to His disciples concerning the power which was to attend the spreading of the gospel? Acts 1:8.

Wednesday

WITNESSES TO DELIVERANCE

  • What encouraging words should inspire us to follow in Jesus’ footsteps in reaching out to others? Isaiah 52:7; 61:6–9.

Note: “He [God] wants you to go forth to our churches to labor earnestly for Him. He wants you to institute meetings for those outside the churches, that the people may learn the truths of this last message of warning. There are places where you will be gladly received, where souls will thank you for coming to their help. May the Lord help you to take hold of this work as you have never yet taken hold of it.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 107.

“It will require moral courage to do God’s work unflinchingly. Those who do this can give no place to self love, to selfish considerations, ambition, love of ease, or desire to shun the cross.” The Review and Herald, February 7, 1893.

  • What is a wonderful example of what Jesus wants those who have been delivered from sin to do? Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:6–8, 18–20.

Note: “The two restored demoniacs were the first missionaries whom Christ sent to preach the gospel in the region of Decapolis. For a few moments only these men had been privileged to hear the teachings of Christ. Not one sermon from His lips had ever fallen upon their ears. They could not instruct the people as the disciples who had been daily with Christ were able to do. But they bore in their own persons the evidence that Jesus was the Messiah. They could tell what they knew; what they themselves had seen, and heard, and felt of the power of Christ. This is what everyone can do whose heart has been touched by the grace of God. John, the beloved disciple, wrote: ‘That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; … that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you’ (1 John 1:1–3). As witnesses for Christ, we are to tell what we know, what we ourselves have seen and heard and felt. If we have been following Jesus step by step, we shall have something right to the point to tell concerning the way in which He has led us. We can tell how we have tested His promise, and found the promise true. We can bear witness to what we have known of the grace of Christ. This is the witness for which our Lord calls, and for want of which the world is perishing.” The Desire of Ages, 340.

Thursday

WORKING IN HUMILITY

  • What attitude did Jesus have as He worked for others, and what can we learn from this? John 6:38; James 4:6, 10.

Note: “The greatest possible kindness and freedom are to be granted to the purchase of the blood of Christ. Over and over again in His teaching, Christ presented the value of true humility, showing how necessary it is that we exercise helpfulness, compassion, and love toward one another. …

“No confidence can be placed in human greatness, human intellect, or human plans. We must place ourselves under the guidance of an infinite mind, acknowledging that without Jesus we can do nothing.” The Review and Herald, August 18, 1896.

  • How far should we go in reaching out to those in need? Job 29:15, 16; Matthew 25:34–40.

Note: “Notice, you are not to comfort only the few whom you are inclined to regard with favor, but all that mourn, all who apply to you for help and relief; and more, you are to search for the needy. Job says, ‘The cause which I knew not I searched out’ (Job 29:16). He did not wait to be urged, and then turn away, saying, ‘I will not help him.’ ” The Review and Herald, October 15, 1901.

“The world is full of men and women who carry a heavy burden of sorrow and suffering and sin. God sends His children to reveal to them Him who will take away the burden, and give them rest. It is the mission of Christ’s servants to help, to bless, to heal.” Ibid., October 29, 1903.

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1    How is Christ’s kingdom different from worldly kingdoms?

2    How can I be a part of Jesus’ mission to restore the peace that sin has destroyed?

3    As we are rescued from the slavery of sin, what is our duty?

4    How can I show my gratitude for God’s unselfish interest in me?

5    Whom should I help? What should my mission be?

Copyright 2019, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

Editorial – Preconceived Opinions

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In Jesus’ day, the Jews had many preconceived opinions about how prophecy was going to be fulfilled. They clung so tenaciously to these preconceived opinions (many of which were hundreds of years old—venerable with age) that, when prophecy was fulfilled in a different way than their pre-conceived opinions, they rejected the evidence of fulfilled prophecy. This was one of the reasons for the rejection of Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. One of the Jews’ preconceived opinions was that nobody would be able to tell where the Messiah was from, another was that the Messiah would appear at the head of armies for their deliverance from the Romans. The irony of all this is that nobody really could explain where Jesus was from, because the virgin birth could not be explained then or now. They rejected it, and accused Jesus of being born of fornication; they were sure that they were right because Joseph had been engaged to Mary at the time that she became pregnant. The Messiah would have delivered them from the tyranny of the Romans if they had accepted Him, but not in the way that they pre-conceived this to happen. Notice how clearly this is stated in The Desire of Ages, 576: “If Jerusalem had known what it was her privilege to know, and had heeded the light which Heaven had sent her, she might have stood forth in the pride of prosperity, the queen of kingdoms, free in the strength of her God-given power. There would have been no armed soldiers standing at her gates, no Roman banners waving from her walls. The glorious destiny that might have blessed Jerusalem had she accepted her Redeemer rose before the Son of God. He saw that she might through Him have been healed of her grievous malady, liberated from bondage, and established as the mighty metropolis of the earth. From her walls the dove of peace would have gone forth to all nations. She would have been the world’s diadem of glory.” [Emphasis supplied.]

How much they missed because they clung tenaciously to their preconceived opinions! Is there any danger of that today? Do we have preconceived opinions about how prophecy is to be fulfilled? If prophecy is fulfilled in a completely different way, will we recognize it, or will we reject the light and go into darkness? It has been my observation for many years that misinterpretation of prophecy is usually based on reading something into the prophecy that it does not exactly say, based on preconceived opinions that are widely held. This has been a reason for the controversy over who and what the church is—is it exactly what the Bible says, no more and no less, or not? (The book of Ephesians tells us exactly who and what it is.) The same is true in regard to statements in the Spirit of Prophecy—many of these statements were given in a specific context and cannot be given a universal or restricted technical application. (See Ellen G. White Volume 6 The Later Elmshaven Years 1905–1915, by Arthur L. White, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington D.C., 1982, 384, 385.)

In future editorials we will look at some of these preconceived opinions by which we read things into inspired writings. We all need to ask ourselves the question, “Do I believe what the prophet actually wrote and no more, or do I believe what I think it means?”

Parallel Prophecies of Daniel, Part II

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Daniel 8 and Daniel 11 do not deal with Babylon, because Babylon has already come to an end. Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 deal with Babylon. Daniel 11 deals with Medo-Persia, then Greece, and then Rome. There is a tremendous amount of detail in Daniel 11 and 12.

Daniel 11

I love to study Daniel 11 and 12. Understanding of these chapters provides historical anchors for everything that Adventists believe. Daniel 11 has some amazing detail. For instance, in just a few words in Daniel 11 is an amazingly detailed history of the life of Julius Caesar. It is astonishing! I have taken a history book and followed down each point. Each point was fulfilled in the life of Julius Caesar in detail, exactly the way it was written.

The people who are opponents of Adventism—the liberal theologians—say that Daniel was written in the second century b.c. The Bible says it was written in the sixth century b.c. If it was written in the second century b.c., how did Daniel know, over a hundred years in advance, the detail? If he was a liar and a fraud, how did he know, over a hundred years in advance, the exact description of the life history of Julius Caesar? What is even more, after Julius Caesar, Daniel points out in detail the life history of Augustus Caesar. Every single thing mentioned there exactly came to pass. From the manuscript written in Daniel, I can point out from the history book how it was fulfilled exactly, on every detail. Even more amazing is that it points out in detail the life history and the career of Tiberius Caesar. It tells, in verse 22, that at the time of Tiberius Caesar the prince of the covenant would be broken. Who was the Caesar when Jesus was crucified? Tiberius Caesar. Amazing!

Messiah Timeline

Daniel 11 shows in great detail the history of these earthly powers. It points out the history of three of the most well-known Caesars. The reason that is done is so we have an historical anchor with the Messiah.

We know exactly when the Messiah was to be crucified from both Daniel 9 and Daniel 11. If the Jews had studied Bible prophecy, they would have known—as soon as Tiberius Caesar became the Caesar—that during the reign of this Caesar the Messiah would be crucified. If they had studied Daniel 9 carefully, they would have known the exact year when Jesus would be crucified! They would have known the exact month and the exact day, because the Messiah was to die as our sacrifice on the Passover Day in the middle of the seventieth week. Not only that, if they had really studied carefully, they would have known the exact hour of the day when Jesus would die on the cross. They would have been right, because He died at the time of the evening sacrifice. They would have known the Caesar that would be reigning. They would have known the year. They would have known the month and the day. They would have known the hour of the day when the Messiah would be crucified. That is how specific Old Testament prophecy was about the Messiah.

Does it ever alarm you when you read that Ellen White said that the history has been pointed out to us just as clearly as it was pointed out to them? “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.

Have you ever prayed, “Lord, help me to understand prophecy so that I will not be taken by surprise”? We need to be students of prophecy, and when we read these prophecies, we need to pray and ask the Lord to help us to understand what we read.

One Prophecy

Daniel 11 and 12 are all one prophecy. There is not even a sentence break at the end of Daniel 11. In Daniel 11, there are given the earthly powers. Then, in Daniel 11 and 12, there is a Divine intervention. Daniel 11:44–12:2 says, “Reports from the east will cause him to tremble, and from the north. And he will go out with great fury to destroy and to kill many, and he will plant the tents of his citadel [or his palaces] between the seas and the glorious holy mountain. But he shall come to his end and no one will be helping him, and in that time Michael will stand up, the great Prince who stands for the sons of your people, and there will be a time of distress [a time of trouble], which has not been since there was a nation, even to that same time. And in that time your people shall be delivered; all who shall be found written in the book. And many who sleep in the dust of the ground will wake up, these to life everlasting and these to reproach and abhorrence everlasting.”

Did that happen during the days of Antiochus Epiphanes? Of course not! Here in the last part of Daniel 11 and the first part of Daniel 12, are the very same things as were given in the earlier prophecies, only with greater detail. There are 1) earthly powers. Then 2) there is a Divine intervention. Michael stands up and the result is that 3) all the earthly powers come to an end. And then Daniel is going to stand in his inheritance; he is going to stand in his lot.

Let us go into a little bit more detail. We went through the whole book of Daniel with a real simple outline. Now, we will amplify our outline. It is good to start simple. It helps us to understand what we are talking about. There are accusations that Seventh-day Adventists do not know who the little horn is, so we will go into a little bit more detail.

Babylon

Is Babylon the first world kingdom that is given to us in Daniel 2? Oh, you cannot mistake it. Daniel 2, remember, is the image, and it starts with the head of gold, then the breasts and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of brass, and the legs of iron. Then there are feet. The feet, clear down to the toes, are partly iron. The iron goes clear to the ends of the toes, but at the bottom there is some clay with it. That is important to remember.

People say Babylon meant this or it meant that, but when you are studying Daniel 2, how many things could Babylon mean? Have you ever thought about that? Can you say you could interpret it this way or that way? Can you really say that? I cannot. When I read, in verse 38, that Daniel declares, “You [Nebuchadnezzar] are this head of gold,” I do not know any other way to interpret that except that this head of gold refers to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar’s empire. So, Babylon is the first kingdom.

In verse 39, Daniel continues with the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, saying, “After you, there is going to arise another kingdom inferior to you.” What kingdom overthrew Babylon? The Medes and the Persians.

Then Daniel said, “As you saw the belly and the thighs of brass, after the second kingdom there is going to be still a third kingdom that rules over all the earth.” Who was that kingdom? Greece.

Please do not get upset if we are going through some rather elementary points. You will soon see that every single point we are looking at now is going to become very, very important in understanding Daniel 7 and 8.

Fourth Kingdom Unnamed

After the third kingdom, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, in verse 40, that there was going to be a fourth kingdom! Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece are all mentioned by name in Daniel. The fourth kingdom is never mentioned by name in Daniel. Because this fourth kingdom is never mentioned by name, there has been argument about it for 2,000 years. Our theological opponents are always mixed up about this.

Let me ask you a question. If Babylon is clearly defined as the first kingdom, should you know who Babylon is? Yes. If you next have Medo-Persia, should you know who that kingdom is? Then you have the worldwide kingdom of Greece. This kingdom had such an influence on the ancient world that the whole world spoke Greek in the time of Christ. The New Testament was not written in Hebrew and Aramaic like the Old Testament. The New Testament was written in Greek, because of the influence of this nation on the world.

Then, if you say that after this and this and this, there is going to be a fourth kingdom that will rule over all the world, do you think that a person should be able to figure out who this kingdom might be? This nation is called an iron kingdom.

Identifying Features

Notice five things about this fourth kingdom. These five things will be true whether studying in Daniel 2, 7, 8, or 11. They will be true every single time, but we will stay in Daniel 2 right now. Five things about the fourth kingdom are identified in Daniel 2. The reason we need to concentrate on this is because in Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 11 there is more time spent on the fourth kingdom than on the other three kingdoms put together.

If a writer spends more time on this one kingdom than on all the other three kingdoms put together, do you think we should spend more time studying this one, even if it is not named? Everything that God does is intelligent, not arbitrary. There is a very intelligent reason why this fourth kingdom was not named, but we will not go into that now. You can begin trying to figure that out. Let us look at a few details about this fourth kingdom.

First, were the first three kingdoms worldwide empires? Yes. Is the fourth kingdom a worldwide empire? Yes, it is a worldwide empire. You cannot say that about Antiochus Epiphanes.

Second, this fourth power will be a powerful, violent kingdom or entity. (See verse 40.)

Third—this should be so obvious, but we have to point it out—does the fourth kingdom arise after the third kingdom in Daniel 2? Yes, it does. We have to point this out since our theological opponents, in an attempt to reinterpret prophecy, have confused the time sequence.

Fourth, look at Daniel 2 carefully now, because many Seventh-day Adventists are confused since they have not understood this. This fourth kingdom extends until the end of time. Do not let anyone confuse you about that. This fourth kingdom arises after the third kingdom. That locks it into a specific time of arising, and it is going to extend until the end of time. At the last, there is going to be some clay mixed with the iron, but the iron goes to the end of time. That is very important to understand.

Fifth, this fourth kingdom, at the end of time, will be destroyed without hand. In other words, there will be a Divine intervention that will destroy this fourth kingdom. Now, if the fourth kingdom arose after the Greek kingdom and if the iron is going to go clear down until it gets struck with a rock, has this image been struck by the rock yet? No. When it is struck by the rock, all earthly kingdoms are going to come to their end. (Verses 44, 45.) Has the rock struck yet? No, because we still have earthly kingdoms.

What we have just reviewed proves that this fourth kingdom still has to be in existence, because this fourth kingdom is going to go on until it is struck on the feet. It is going to change. Daniel 7 will give you some more detail about this so that it will be clear to you. If all we had was Daniel 2, we would have a difficult time figuring that all out, but in Daniel 7, we have the very same sequence with much more added detail.

Daniel 7

In Daniel 7, there is the first kingdom, Babylon, again—a lion this time. We have the second kingdom again—a bear this time. We have the third kingdom again—a leopard this time. And we have the fourth kingdom again—a great and terrible beast, so awful that there is nothing in the natural world with which to compare it.

If you look carefully in Daniel 7, you will see something very interesting. This fourth beast has a latter-day development that is very intriguing. Out of this fourth beast, eventually grow ten horns. Where are the ten horns? They are on the fourth beast; do not ever forget that. And the fourth beast goes until it is destroyed without hand. There is a Divine intervention that destroys the fourth beast. But this fourth beast, in time, has some interesting developments. Ten horns grow out of it. After the ten horns grow out of it, we are told, another horn comes up—an eleventh horn, a little horn—and as it comes up, it destroys three of the first horns.

As you read Daniel 7, you see that this fourth kingdom has several phases. There is the beast; then there are the horns that grow up out of it, and eventually there is one little horn that becomes greater than all the rest of them. Where does the little horn come up? What does it come out of? It comes out of the fourth beast.

Rome

This fourth beast was called Rome. Have you heard of any entity in the world today that is still called by that name? It is called Roman; that is the first word of its name. It is the Roman kingdom, and it is going to go right on until the end of time, and then it is going to be destroyed without hand. No human being is going to destroy it. Human beings have tried to destroy this power many times. They cannot.

Remember that the little horn comes out of the Roman kingdom. It grows out of that kingdom, and it is that kingdom. It is still Roman today. Do you know the official title of the leading personage of the Roman kingdom? Pontifex Maximus. They refer to his rule as his pontificate, and he makes pontifical announcements.

Daniel 8

By the time of Daniel 8, we are not dealing with the nation of Babylon anymore, just as with Daniel 11. We start with Medo-Persia followed by Greece. That is the ram and the he-goat. There are some details about the first horn that was broken into four horns and the little horn that developed out of one of them.

Let us look at seven facts about the little horn in Daniel 8. 1) This is the same symbol as is used in Daniel 7. 2) The little horn in Daniel 7 and the little horn in Daniel 8 engage in similar actions. 3) In Daniel 7 and in Daniel 8, the very same thing happens. When this horn comes up, it is little, but it becomes greater than everybody else. 4) In both Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, this little horn power is a blasphemous power. 5) In both Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, the little horn persecutes the saints. 6) In both Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, the little horn power endures for a protracted period of time—a long time. 7) In both Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, the little horn power suffers the same fate. It is destroyed without hand.

Now concentrate on this little horn power. In Daniel 8, Persia, which is the ram, is called great. Let us be sure we understand what we are talking about. How large a nation was Persia? It was vaster than Nebuchadnezzar’s empire. It was a worldwide empire. Although Nebuchadnezzar’s empire was a worldwide empire, he did not control as much territory. He had worldwide influence, but he did not physically rule over every city. They all paid allegiance to him; they sent tribute to him. But Persia was even bigger than Babylon.

Greece, the he-goat with the horn, is exceedingly great. Greece had more territory than did Medo-Persia. It had a greater effect on the world. The whole world adopted the Greek language, as a result of the influence of Alexander the Great and the Greek Empire.

Little Horn

But then we come to this little horn. Remember what opponents of Adventism say. They say that the little horn is Antiochus Epiphanes and that Seventh-day Adventists are confused and deluded. I have done a lot of studying on this subject, because I wanted to be sure I knew what the Hebrew said. Daniel uses the same word, great, but then adds another word, the Hebrew word yether. There are various ways to translate that word. In this context, it would be translated above and beyond, or some lexicons would say beyond measure.

It is like the apostle Paul. The apostle Paul uses such superlative terms that you cannot translate them. You have to use a number of superlative words to try to explain how it is something that is far beyond super abounding. How do you express something like that? That is the situation relating to the little horn. First there is Medo-Persia, and it is great, but then there is the he-goat, and it is great exceedingly. Then there is the little horn, and it is great beyond measure. It is so great that Daniel cannot find a word to describe it so he uses the word yether, which means above and beyond.

The prophecy said that after Alexander the Great died, his kingdom would be divided into four parts. The prophecy in Daniel 11 reveals that those four parts would be divided so that there were just two parts, and there would be the king of the north and the king of the south. Antiochus Epiphanes was one of those kings of the north. He was the eighth of about twenty Seleucid kings.

The little horn is great beyond measure. It is greater than Greece; it is far greater than Persia; . . . and some people want us to believe it refers to Antiochus Epiphanes? Wait a minute! I am not willing to lay my reason aside at the door. This could not possibly be Antiochus Epiphanes. Whoever or whatever this is has to be somebody or something that is greater than Persia, and it has to be greater than Alexander the Great.

Think this through. The world at large—everyone who has studied the most basic ancient history available—will tell you about the neo-Babylonian Empire and about Persia and about Greece and about Alexander the Great. Look, I just want to be sure you understand this. You should not have to have a high school education to figure out who the little horn represents, because whoever it is has to be greater than Persia and greater than Alexander the Great.

How many people walking down the street today, if asked, would know who Antiochus Epiphanes was? Was Antiochus Epiphanes greater than Alexander the Great? That is ludicrous! That is insane, as people would say, and it is a form of insanity. That is what opponents of Adventism want us to believe. Think this through.

No Gaps

There is one basic point that I want to be sure you understand so thoroughly that you will never forget it, even if you live to be 100 years old. This is important. It is important to understand the prophecies of Daniel and to understand where we live in the stream of time and what is about to happen.

There is Babylon; there is Medo-Persia; there is Greece; there is the fourth kingdom. This fourth kingdom has two phases. There is Divine intervention, and all earthly powers come to an end. Here is what I want you to think through. If you have never studied this before, go through Daniel 2 and then Daniel 7 and then Daniel 8 and then Daniel 11 and 12, and you will see it every single time. This is very important to understand, because the people who believe in the rapture are confused on this point. This is not complicated. It is so simple that if we did not have theological opposition, we would think that we were insulting each other’s intelligence by even bringing this up, but we need to make this clear because of what people believe.

People have been told, regarding the time prophecy of Daniel 8:14, that between week 69 and week 70 there is a gap of about 2,000 years. Some people believe the little horn power is Antiochus Epiphanes. Other people say that the little horn power is the antichrist power that is going to come at the end of time. It may be someone who is born right now. It may be some atheist dictator that is born in Israel—a Jewish, atheist dictator that will take control of the whole world at the end of time when there will be seven years of tribulation. Where do they get all of this?

Notice, from the study of Daniel, that whether you are reading Daniel 2, 7, 8, or 11 and 12, it will come out the same every single time. There is Babylon, then Medo-Persia, then Greece, and then a fourth kingdom. The fourth kingdom, in its later history, becomes divided, but remember that the iron goes all the way to the end. Then there is a Divine intervention, and all earthly powers are destroyed. This is something that goes from Babylon, from Nebuchadnezzar’s time, until the end of the world, and there are no gaps.

You cannot find a gap in the Book of Daniel. Can you find a gap in Daniel 2 between Babylon and when the stone is cut out? Can you find a gap anywhere? There is no gap. It is continuous. You will find the same thing in Daniel 7. In Daniel 7, the fourth kingdom arises after Greece, and this fourth kingdom has a further development into a different phase, but it goes all the way to the end, and then it is destroyed without hand. There are no gaps. It is continuous. The same is true in Daniel 8. In Daniel 8, there is Medo-Persia, Greece, and the development of a little horn power, and the little horn power goes all the way to the end. Then, in verse 25, we read that it will be destroyed without hand. The same thing is found in Daniel 11. Starting with Medo-Persia, there is then Greece, and more detail is given about Greece and how it would be divided. Then it tells about this fourth power developing, and describes a further development of this fourth power. It goes all the way to the end. Then there is the Divine intervention (Daniel 11:45; 12:1, 2), and all the earthly powers come to their end, and there is no gap.

There is no gap. That is very important to understand, because people today have been taught that there was a gap of about 2,000 years. They have been told that the prophets can only see certain high points and there were 2,000 years in between called the “church age,” and they could not understand that. Well, wait a minute. Do you believe that God means what He says and says what He means? In the Book of Daniel, there are no gaps. The fourth kingdom is the final earthly kingdom.

That final earthly kingdom is still here, and it is still all over the world. I have seen it everywhere I have traveled in the world, and I have traveled over a good share of this world. Do not ever think that you or I will ever destroy this final earthly kingdom of which we are now in the final stages. No human being is going to destroy it. God is going to destroy it when He comes. “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” 11 Thessalonians 2:8.

It is my hope that this brief look at Daniel will stimulate you to study. I hope you will study these things and that you will know why you believe what you believe and know what the Bible says about it. Every single word in the prophecy of Daniel is important. If you do not know Greek or Hebrew and you are having trouble with some verses, get an interlinear Bible and some appropriate books and study it out. Know what the Bible says.

[Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

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

Bible Study Guides – The Messiah’s Mission

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February 22, 2009 – February 28, 2009

Key Text

“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” Isaiah 43:1.

Study Help: Testimonies, vol. 8, 9–18; The Desire of Ages, 476–484.

Introduction

“It is your privilege to trust in the love of Jesus for salvation, in the fullest, surest, noblest manner; to say, He loves me, He receives me; I will trust Him, for He gave His life for me.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 517.

1 What evidence do we have of the pre-existence of Christ as Creator and God Himself? Isaiah 48:12, 13; Revelation 22:12, 13; John 1:1–3, 14; I John 5:20.

Note: “If Christ made all things, He existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt. Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity. God over all, blessed forevermore.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1126.

“Although Christ’s divine glory was for a time veiled and eclipsed by His assuming humanity, yet He did not cease to be God when He became man. The human did not take the place of the divine, nor the divine of the human. This is the mystery of godliness. The two expressions ‘human’ and ‘divine’ were, in Christ, closely and inseparably one, and yet they had a distinct individuality. Though Christ humbled Himself to become man, the Godhead was still His own. His deity could not be lost while He stood faithful and true to His loyalty.” Ibid., 1129.

2 What responsibility does this knowledge bring to us? Isaiah 43:10, 11; Acts 1:8; I John 2:1–6.

Note: “ ‘Ye are My witnesses,’ [Isaiah 43:10] said Jesus, and in each act of our lives we should inquire: How will our course affect the interests of the Redeemer’s kingdom? If you are indeed Christ’s disciple, you will choose to walk in His footsteps, however painful this may be to your natural feelings.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 367.

3 What prophecies point to salvation from sin? Isaiah 46:12, 13; 49:6–8; 56:1. What does the New Testament say about this promise? Matthew 1:21; John 8:12.

Note: “In the words, ‘I am the light of the world,’ [John 8:12] Jesus declared Himself the Messiah. The aged Simeon, in the temple where Christ was now teaching, had spoken of Him as ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.’ Luke 2:32. In these words he was applying to Him a prophecy familiar to all Israel. By the prophet Isaiah, the Holy Spirit had declared, ‘It is too light a thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.’ Isaiah 49:6, R.V. This prophecy was generally understood as spoken of the Messiah, and when Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world,’ [John 8:12] the people could not fail to recognize His claim to be the Promised One.” The Desire of Ages, 465.

4 Which prophecy of Isaiah began its fulfillment in Nazareth? Isaiah 61:1–3; Luke 4:16–21. When the people in the synagogue heard Christ, how did they react? Luke 4:28–30.

Note: “The Jews, because their understanding was darkened by selfish prejudice, could not harmonize the strange power and authority of Christ’s convicting words, with His humble life and appearance. They did not appreciate the fact that real greatness can afford to go without display. This man’s poverty and humility seemed wholly inconsistent with his claims to the great honor and power of the Messiah. That He should announce Himself as the Son of God, they deemed intolerable blasphemy. They questioned, if he were the Messiah, why was He so unpretending? What would become of their nation if he were satisfied to be without the force of arms? When and how would the glory and power, so long anticipated, bring the nations as subjects to the city of the Jews? Had not the priests taught that they were to bear rule over all the earth? and could it be possible that the great religious teachers were in error? The Lord had answered their query through Isaiah: ‘O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.’ [Isaiah 3:12.]” The Review and Herald, February 7, 1888.

5 How did Isaiah depict Christ’s mission as the true shepherd? Isaiah 40:11. With what declaration did Christ confirm this prophecy of Isaiah? John 10:7–15.

Note: “In all ages, philosophers and teachers have been presenting to the world theories by which to satisfy the soul’s need. Every heathen nation has had its great teachers and religious systems offering some other means of redemption than Christ, turning the eyes of men away from the Father’s face, and filling their hearts with fear of Him who has given them only blessing. The trend of their work is to rob God of that which is His own, both by creation and by redemption. … It is the gospel of the grace of God alone that can uplift the soul. The contemplation of the love of God manifested in His Son will stir the heart and arouse the powers of the soul as nothing else can. Christ came that He might recreate the image of God in man; and whoever turns men away from Christ is turning them away from the source of true development; he is defrauding them of the hope and purpose and glory of life. He is a thief and a robber.” The Desire of Ages, 478.

6 What did Isaiah write about Christ’s willingness to lead His people? Isaiah 30:21; 48:17. What did Christ say in confirmation of the words of Isaiah? John 16:13; 8:32.

Note: “While it is true that the Lord guides individuals, it is also true that He is leading out a people, not a few separate individuals here and there, one believing this thing, another that. Angels of God are doing the work committed to their trust. The third angel is leading out and purifying a people, and they should move with him unitedly.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 488.

7 According to His prophetic promise, on what conditions is Christ willing to dwell with us? Isaiah 57:15; John 14:23. What blessings belong to those who have His presence? I Peter 5:6, 7.

Note: “The presence of God is guaranteed to the Christian. This Rock of faith is the living presence of God. The weakest may depend upon it. Those who think themselves the strongest may become the weakest unless they depend on Christ as their efficiency, their worthiness. This is the Rock upon which we may build successfully.” Sons and Daughters of God, 77.

8 What should we always bear in mind about Christ’s promises? Isaiah 43:1, 2; Romans 8:31; Hebrews 2:14, 15.

Note: “When trouble comes upon us, how often we are like Peter! We look upon the waves, instead of keeping our eyes fixed upon the Saviour. Our footsteps slide, and the proud waters go over our souls. Jesus did not bid Peter come to Him that he should perish; He does not call us to follow Him, and then forsake us.” The Desire of Ages, 382.

“In [the promises of God’s word] He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice. It is in these promises that Christ communicates to us His grace and power. They are leaves from that tree which is ‘for the healing of the nations.’ Revelation 22:2. … Nothing besides can impart the courage and faith which give vital energy to the whole being.” The Ministry of Healing, 122.

9 What reformative work does the Messiah want to accomplish through His followers? Isaiah 29:18, 19; 62:10.

Note: “In ministry to the poor there is a wide field of service for women as well as for men. The efficient cook, the housekeeper, the seamstress, the nurse—the help of all is needed. Let the members of poor households be taught how to cook, how to make and mend their own clothing, how to nurse the sick, how to care properly for the home. Let boys and girls be thoroughly taught some useful trade or occupation.

“Missionary families are needed to settle in the waste places. Let farmers, financiers, builders, and those who are skilled in various arts and crafts, go to neglected fields, to improve the land, to establish industries, to prepare humble homes for themselves, and to help their neighbors.

“The rough places of nature, the wild places, God has made attractive by placing beautiful things among the most unsightly. This is the work we are called to do. Even the desert places of the earth, where the outlook appears to be forbidding, may become as the garden of God.” The Ministry of Healing, 194.

10 Describe some further aspects of the Messiah’s work and explain how we are to be colaborers in this work. Isaiah 42:16–20.

Note: “The work outlined in these scriptures is the work before us. The terms ‘My servant,’ ‘Israel,’ ‘the Lord’s servant,’ mean anyone that the Lord may select and appoint to do a certain work. He makes them ministers of His will, though some who are selected may be as ignorant of His will as was Nebuchadnezzar.

“God will work for those of His people who will submit themselves to the working of the Holy Spirit.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 138.

“In Christ were united the human and the divine. His mission was to reconcile God and man, to unite the finite with the infinite. This was the only way in which fallen men could be exalted through the merits of the blood of Christ to be partakers of the divine nature.” Ibid., vol. 2, 201.

Additional Reading

“Jesus stood before the people as a living expositor of the prophecies concerning Himself. Explaining the words He had read, He spoke of the Messiah as a reliever of the oppressed, a liberator of captives, a healer of the afflicted, restoring sight to the blind, and revealing to the world the light of truth. His impressive manner and the wonderful import of His words thrilled the hearers with a power they had never felt before. The tide of divine influence broke every barrier down; like Moses, they beheld the Invisible. As their hearts were moved upon by the Holy Spirit, they responded with fervent amens and praises to the Lord.

“But when Jesus announced, ‘This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears,’ [Luke 4:21] they were suddenly recalled to think of themselves, and of the claims of Him who had been addressing them. They, Israelites, children of Abraham, had been represented as in bondage. They had been addressed as prisoners to be delivered from the power of evil; as in darkness, and needing the light of truth. Their pride was offended, and their fears were roused. The words of Jesus indicated that His work for them was to be altogether different from what they desired. Their deeds might be investigated too closely. Notwithstanding their exactness in outward ceremonies, they shrank from inspection by those clear, searching eyes. Who is this Jesus? they questioned. He who had claimed for Himself the glory of the Messiah was the son of a carpenter, and had worked at His trade with His father Joseph. They had seen Him toiling up and down the hills, they were acquainted with His brothers and sisters, and knew His life and labors. They had seen Him develop from childhood to youth, and from youth to manhood. Although His life had been spotless, they would not believe that He was the Promised One.” The Desire of Ages, 237.

“As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience.” The Desire of Ages, 232.

©2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Insights from the Book of Isaiah (2) – Meeting the Messiah

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January 14 – 20

Key Text

“He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).

Study Help: Testimonies, vol. 5, 629–635.

Introduction

“Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He cares for His feeble, sickly, wandering sheep. He knows them all by name. The distress of every sheep and every lamb of His flock touches His heart of sympathizing love, and the cry for aid reaches His ear.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 346.

Sunday 

1              GOD’S MIGHT AND OUR MORTAL FRAILTY

  • As we consider our plans for the future, what should we remember? Isaiah 40:6–8. What other illustration also shows God’s greatness and, at the same time, relates a piece of scientific information? Verse 22, first part.

Note: “At this time, before the great final crisis, as before the world’s first destruction, men are absorbed in the pleasures and the pursuits of sense. Engrossed with the seen and transitory, they have lost sight of the unseen and eternal. For the things that perish with the using, they are sacrificing imperishable riches. Their minds need to be uplifted, their views of life to be broadened. They need to be aroused from the lethargy of worldly dreaming.

“From the rise and fall of nations as made plain in the pages of Holy Writ, they need to learn how worthless is mere outward and worldly glory. Babylon, with all its power and its magnificence, the like of which our world has never since beheld—power and magnificence which to the people of that day seemed so stable and enduring—how completely has it passed away! As ‘the flower of the grass’ it has perished. So perishes all that has not God for its foundation. Only that which is bound up with His purpose and expresses His character can endure. His principles are the only steadfast things our world knows.” Education, 183.

Monday 

2              THE ONLY TRUE GOD

  • As Isaiah prophesied of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, what did he reveal about the work of the Messiah? Isaiah 40:9–11.

Note: “The truths of the third angel’s message have been presented by some as a dry theory; but in this message is to be presented Christ the Living One. He is to be revealed as the first and the last, as the I AM, the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright and morning Star. Through this message the character of God in Christ is to be manifested to the world.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 20.

“In Christ is the tenderness of the shepherd, the affection of the parent, and the matchless grace of the compassionate Saviour. His blessings He presents in the most alluring terms. He is not content merely to announce these blessings; He presents them in the most attractive way, to excite a desire to possess them. So His servants are to present the riches of the glory of the unspeakable Gift. The wonderful love of Christ will melt and subdue hearts, when the mere reiteration of doctrines would accomplish nothing. … Tell the people of Him who is ‘the Chiefest among ten thousand,’ and the One ‘altogether lovely’ (The Song of Solomon 5:10, 16). Words alone cannot tell it. Let it be reflected in the character and manifested in the life. … In everyone Christ’s long-suffering love, His holiness, meekness, mercy, and truth are to be manifested to the world.” The Desire of Ages, 826, 827.

  • Where are we to look for salvation, and why? Isaiah 45:21, 22.

Note: “Come with your whole heart to Jesus. Repent of your sins, make confession to God, forsake all iniquity, and you may appropriate to yourself all His promises.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 634.

“Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Saviour, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered? This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in men’s minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God. They thus receive their lesson.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1113.

Tuesday 

3              AN ENDURING UNION

  • How does the Lord depict the tender care He has for His children? Isaiah 49:15, 16; Matthew 12:50; Galatians 3:29. How can we be sure to be included among those children?

Note: “Those who share Christ’s suffering and reproach now will share His glory hereafter. He ‘is not ashamed to call them brethren’ (Hebrews 2:11). His angels minister to them. His second appearing will be as the Son of man, thus even in His glory identifying Himself with humanity. To those who have united themselves to Him, He declares: ‘Though a mother may forget her child, “yet will not I forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.” Thou art continually before Me’ (Isaiah 49:15, 16). …

“A union with Christ by living faith is enduring; every other union must perish. Christ first chose us, paying an infinite price for our redemption; and the true believer chooses Christ as first and last and best in everything. But this union costs us something. It is a union of utter dependence, to be entered into by a proud being. All who form this union must feel their need of the atoning blood of Christ. They must have a change of heart. They must submit their own will to the will of God. There will be a struggle with outward and internal obstacles. There must be a painful work of detachment as well as a work of attachment. Pride, selfishness, vanity, worldliness—sin in all its forms—must be overcome if we would enter into a union with Christ. The reason why many find the Christian life so deplorably hard, why they are so fickle, so variable, is that they try to attach themselves to Christ without first detaching themselves from these cherished idols.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 230, 231.

  • As we surrender our entire being to the guidance of the Good Shepherd, what assurance comes to us? Psalms 36:7; 34:22.

Note: “He who took humanity upon Himself knows how to sympathize with the sufferings of humanity. Not only does Christ know every soul, and the peculiar needs and trials of that soul, but He knows all the circumstances that chafe and perplex the spirit. His hand is outstretched in pitying tenderness to every suffering child. Those who suffer most have most of His sympathy and pity. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and He desires us to lay our perplexities and troubles at His feet and leave them there.” The Ministry of Healing, 249.

Wednesday 

4              MAGNIFYING THE LAW

  • What work would Jesus have us do for souls who are in darkness? Isaiah 42:5–7.

Note: “As a people we are to be reconverted, our lives sanctified to declare the truth as it is in Jesus. In the work of scattering our publications, we can speak of a Saviour’s love from a warm and throbbing heart. God alone has the power to forgive sins; if we do not speak this message to the unconverted, our neglect may prove their ruin. Blessed, soul-saving Bible truths are published in our papers. There are many who can help in the work of selling our periodicals. The Lord calls upon all of us to seek to save perishing souls. Satan is at work to deceive the very elect, and now is our time to work with vigilance. Our books and papers are to be brought before the notice of the people; the gospel of present truth is to be given to our cities without delay. Shall we not arouse to our duties?

“If we are making the life and teachings of Christ our study, every passing event will furnish a text for an impressive discourse. It was thus the Saviour preached the gospel in the highways and byways; and as He spoke, the little group that listened to Him swelled to a great company.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 63.

  • How does God regard His law? Isaiah 42:21. What can we learn from this?

Note: “We must strive to arouse church members, and those who make no profession, to see and obey the claims of the law of Heaven. We are to magnify this law and make it honorable.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 403.

“The very One who ages before had spoken the law from Mount Sinai, now came to magnify it and make it honorable. In His Sermon on the Mount He explained the law, showing what each precept comprehended. Covetousness was shown by Him to be idolatry, lust adultery, and anger murder. He made manifest the spirituality of the law, and pointed out that it reaches to every phase of life.

“Before the universe of heaven, before the fallen angels, and before those whom He had come to save, Christ lived the law of God. By His supreme obedience to its requirements, He exalted and enforced it. …

“As Christ lived the law in humanity, so we may do if we will take hold of the strong for strength.” The Signs of the Times, March 4, 1897.

Thursday 

5              GUARDING OUR EYES AND EARS

  • What does the Lord want us to do with our eyes and ears? Isaiah 42:19, 20. Why?

Note: “God does not wish us to hear all that is to be heard, or to see all that is to be seen. It is a great blessing to close the ears, that we hear not, and the eyes, that we see not. The greatest anxiety should be to have clear eyesight to discern our own shortcomings, and a quick ear to catch all needed reproof and instruction, lest by our inattention and carelessness we let them slip and become forgetful hearers and not doers of the work.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 707, 708.

“It makes every difference what we give our minds and souls to feed upon. We can let our minds dwell upon romance and castle-building, and what will it do for us? It will ruin us, soul and body. … We want to have that power that will enable us to close our eyes to scenes that are not elevating, that are not ennobling, that will not purify and refine us; and to keep our ears closed to everything that is forbidden in God’s word. He forbids us to imagine evil, to speak evil, and even to think evil.” Our High Calling, 334.

  • What does God want us to behold? Hebrews 12:1, 2.

Note: “Let us look to Jesus and consider the loveliness of His character, and by beholding we shall become changed into the same likeness.” Our High Calling, 334.

Friday 

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1             How does a sense of our own mortality give us a better perspective on life?

2             In what ways should we tell others of Jesus and His love?

3             Explain the depth of a genuine union with Christ.

4             In what sense did Christ magnify the law in His teaching and example?

5             To what things should we close our eyes and ears?

Bible Study Guides – “We Have Found the Messias”

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December 27, 2015 – January 2, 2016

Key Text

“Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

Study Help: The Desire of Ages, 132–143.

Introduction

“John was sent in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of Jesus. Those who rejected the testimony of John were not benefited by the teachings of Jesus.” Early Writings, 259.

1 JOHN THE BAPTIST

  • Considering the interview of John the Baptist with the Jerusalem authorities, what lessons can we learn from the way the Baptist identified himself and his work? John 1:19–28.

Note: “When the Baptist [John] began his ministry, many thought that he might be the prophet Moses risen from the dead.” The Desire of Ages, 135.

  • What did John declare the day after the interview with the priests and Levites? John 1:29–34.

Note: “With awe and wonder the people looked upon the One just declared to be the Son of God. They had been deeply moved by the words of John. He had spoken to them in the name of God. They had listened to him day after day as he reproved their sins, and daily the conviction that he was sent of Heaven had strengthened. But who was this One greater than John the Baptist? In His dress and bearing there was nothing that betokened rank. He was apparently a simple personage, clad like themselves in the humble garments of the poor.” The Desire of Ages, 137.

2 “HE BROUGHT HIM TO JESUS”

  • What did John the Baptist say the following day? Who is specifically mentioned as hearing him? John 1:35, 36.
  • What essential attitude of an evangelist did these two disciples of John the Baptist have? John 1:37–39.

Note: “If John and Andrew had possessed the unbelieving spirit of the priests and rulers, they would not have been found as learners at the feet of Jesus. They would have come to Him as critics, to judge His words. Many thus close the door to the most precious opportunities. But not so did these first disciples. They had responded to the Holy Spirit’s call in the preaching of John the Baptist. Now they recognized the voice of the heavenly Teacher. To them the words of Jesus were full of freshness and truth and beauty. A divine illumination was shed upon the teaching of the Old Testament Scriptures. The many-sided themes of truth stood out in new light.

“It is contrition and faith and love that enable the soul to receive wisdom from heaven. Faith working by love is the key of knowledge, and everyone that loveth ‘knoweth God’ (I John 4:7).” The Desire of Ages, 139.

  • Who were these first two disciples? John 1:40. [Note: When writing the gospel of John, the author never identified himself by his name.] Explain Andrew’s desire, after spending time with Jesus, to share the good news. John 1:41.

Note: “The disciple John was a man of earnest and deep affection, ardent, yet contemplative. He had begun to discern the glory of Christ—not the worldly pomp and power for which he had been taught to hope, but ‘the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth’ (John 1:14). He was absorbed in contemplation of the wondrous theme.

“Andrew sought to impart the joy that filled his heart. Going in search of his brother Simon, he cried, ‘We have found the Messias’ (John 1:41).” The Desire of Ages, 139.

3 PETER, PHILIP, NATHANAEL

  • What did Jesus say to Simon Peter as soon as He saw him? John 1:42.

Note: “Simon waited for no second bidding. He also had heard the preaching of John the Baptist, and he hastened to the Saviour. The eye of Christ rested upon him, reading his character and his life history. His impulsive nature, his loving, sympathetic heart, his ambition and self-confidence, the history of his fall, his repentance, his labors, and his martyr death—the Saviour read it all, and He said, ‘Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone’ (John 1:42).” The Desire of Ages, 139.

  • How did a new disciple show his desire to share the good news the next day? John 1:43–45.
  • How did Nathanael express doubt in his heart about the good news, and how did Philip try to remove that doubt? John 1:46. What may we learn from the method these first Christian evangelists used in their work?

Note: “While they trust to the guidance of human authority, none will come to a saving knowledge of the truth. Like Nathanael, we need to study God’s word for ourselves, and pray for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. He who saw Nathanael under the fig tree will see us in the secret place of prayer. Angels from the world of light are near to those who in humility seek for divine guidance.

“With the calling of John and Andrew and Simon, of Philip and Nathanael, began the foundation of the Christian church. John directed two of his disciples to Christ. Then one of these, Andrew, found his brother, and called him to the Saviour. Philip was then called, and he went in search of Nathanael. These examples should teach us the importance of personal effort, of making direct appeals to our kindred, friends, and neighbors. There are those who for a lifetime have professed to be acquainted with Christ, yet who have never made a personal effort to bring even one soul to the Saviour.” The Desire of Ages, 141.

4 IF YOU BELIEVE ON ME

  • Despite Nathanael’s disbelief, what did Jesus say about him? John 1:47. What remark of Jesus caught Nathanael by surprise, and what was his response? John 1:48, 49.
  • As Jesus was looking forward with joy to the precious blessings that His work would bring to humanity, what did He say to Nathanael? John 1:51. Explain this verse.

Note: “If you believe on Me … your faith shall be quickened. You shall see that the heavens are opened, and are never to be closed. I have opened them to you. The angels of God are ascending, bearing the prayers of the needy and distressed to the Father above, and descending, bringing blessing and hope, courage, help, and life, to the children of men. …

“And it is through Christ, by the ministration of His heavenly messengers, that every blessing comes from God to us. 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, 142, 143.

  • How can we come to God through Christ? John 14:6.

Note: “Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians.

“Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.” Steps to Christ, 47, 48. [Emphasis author’s.]

5 REVEALING JESUS’ CHARACTER

  • What highly effective method of evangelism should each of us use? I John 3:10, 11.

Note: “Now that Jesus has ascended to heaven, His disciples are His representatives among men, and one of the most effective ways of winning souls to Him is in exemplifying His character in our daily life. Our influence upon others depends not so much upon what we say as upon what we are. Men may combat and defy our logic, they may resist our appeals; but a life of disinterested love is an argument they cannot gainsay. A consistent life, characterized by the meekness of Christ, is a power in the world.

“The teaching of Christ was the expression of an inwrought conviction and experience, and those who learn of Him become teachers after the divine order. The word of God, spoken by one who is himself sanctified through it, has a life-giving power that makes it attractive to the hearers, and convicts them that it is a living reality. When one has received the truth in the love of it, he will make this manifest in the persuasion of his manner and the tones of his voice. He makes known that which he himself has heard, seen, and handled of the word of life, that others may have fellowship with him through the knowledge of Christ. His testimony, from lips touched with a live coal from off the altar, is truth to the receptive heart, and works sanctification upon the character.” The Desire of Ages, 141, 142.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What did John the Baptist say about Jesus Christ as soon as he recognized Him?

2 What was Andrew’s first evangelistic experience—and what should we learn from it?

3 How did Philip manifest a concern similar to Andrew’s?

4 Explain how we are to come to God.

5 Summarize the most powerful means of evangelism.

Copyright © 2014 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Editorial – Reign of Peace

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Much can be learned by the sincere seeker for truth by studying the apparent contradictions in the Bible. Here is one such “apparent contradiction.”

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government will be upon His shoulder: and His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

This is a prophecy of the Messiah, but when the Messiah came He said, “Do not think I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).

The universal reign of peace spoken of by Isaiah does not occur until after the second coming of Christ and this is one of the many reasons Christians look forward to His soon appearing in the clouds of heaven. That is why the angels sang at His birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14).

Even though this universal external and internal peace will only be enjoyed after the second coming of Christ, nobody can experience this who has not first received inner peace. When Jesus left to His disciples a legacy of peace (John 14:27), this was an internal rather than an external peace because He said that they would not have peace on the outside in this world (John 16:33). This internal peace cannot be bought or sold or acquired by man’s intellect. It can be acquired only through Christ.

The first step in obtaining peace in your heart is to learn the lesson of penitence at the foot of the cross, because it is sin that has destroyed our peace. It is only as we surrender to the Lordship, the sovereignty, of Jesus, surrendering our will to His will, that we can receive forgiveness through the blood of the atonement that Jesus has made for us on the cross of Calvary. The gospel is a message of peace because only Jesus can bring to you peace on the inside.

When a person surrenders himself to Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to take possession of the heart and the life begins to be transformed. Sinful thoughts are put away and sinful actions are renounced and the anger, strife, and envy that are so much a part of human existence are exchanged for love, humility and peace.

There is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 57:21) but holiness of mind brings peace. Doing God’s will in dependence on divine power brings the peace of Christ into the heart. As we enter into communion with Christ we enter the region of perfect peace.

Life Sketches – The Called

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The New Testament teaches that all Israel will be saved, but the question is, Whom does God account as being part of Israel today? The apostle Paul said that not everyone who thinks he is part of Israel really is.

In the first part of the Bible, the Torah, written by Moses, tells the children of Israel of the curses, the awful things that will happen to them if they are not obedient. We read in Deuteronomy 28, verses 36 and 37, “The Lord will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods—wood and stone. And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the Lord will drive you.” He goes on to explain in more detail what is going to happen. These curses that were pronounced by Moses upon the children of Israel, if they would not be obedient, were fulfilled.

“All the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the Lord which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand” (2 Chronicles 36:14–17).

Verses 19, 20: “They burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions. And those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia.”

The reason for this is that the words of Jeremiah the prophet would be fulfilled. Jeremiah predicted that Israel would be taken captive to Babylon and they would stay there for 70 years, before coming back again. In other words, a whole generation would pass. It would be their children and grandchildren that would be able to return to the land of their fathers, on condition that they would be obedient and not go again into idolatry.

One of the people that was taken from Judah into the land of Babylon was a young man by the name of Daniel, who wrote a book in the Old Testament bearing his name; Daniel lived to be a very old man, until the end of this 70 year period. In Daniel 9:2 it says, “In the first year of his reign,” referring to Darius the Mede, “I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”

Daniel knew that these 70 years were about up, and he began to pray a long prayer, starting in verse 4: “I prayed to the Lord … and said, ‘… we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.’ ” He notes in verse 7 that they have been unfaithful. As he continues his long prayer of confession on behalf of the children of Israel, in verses 8 through 14, he prays, “We have sinned against You.” “We have rebelled.” “We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord.” “All Israel has transgressed.” “We have not obeyed His voice.” He concludes in verse 15 with “We have done wickedly.” He makes a long prayer of confession on behalf of all the children of Israel, God’s chosen people, the descendants of Abraham and those that have accepted the faith of Abraham.

In answer to his prayer, an angel was sent from heaven. In the latter part of Daniel 9 it is recorded, “While I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering” (verses 20, 21).

This angel, Gabriel, in answer to Daniel’s prayer, had a special message and prophecy to give to him. He says, in verse 23, “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision” (of the 2300 days). Verse 24, first part, says, “Seventy weeks are determined [cut off] for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression,” or it could also be translated, “to finish the rebellion.”

Daniel mentions several times in his prayer about their lack of obedience and because of this they had been taken captive, Jerusalem was destroyed, and it was a reproach and a byword to all the peoples of the earth. They said that these people claim to be God’s special people and look, they are scattered as prisoners of war, as servants and slaves all over the earth, and their nation is desolate. Their capital city and their temple is desolate. In Daniel’s prayer, he noted that the Lord had promised that their captivity would last for 70 years. Since the 70 years were about up, he wondered what was going to happen.

The angel said, “Seventy weeks are determined,” or cut off, “for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression …” in other words, to bring to an end the rebellion, “…to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness” (verse 24, second part).

It was during this 70 week period that everlasting righteousness was to be brought in. Everlasting righteousness can only be brought in by God Himself. The Bible is very clear that you and I do not have any righteousness of our own. As the result of the sin of our first parents, we have a sinful nature and cannot generate righteousness. The only way that we can have righteousness is if it is brought to us by somebody else who does not have a sinful depraved nature like we do.

In the 70 week prophecy, the angel predicts that during these 70 weeks, that everlasting righteousness is going to be brought in and the rebellion is to be finished. It says, “To bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy” (verse 24, last part). “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times” (verse 25).

This is one of the more astounding prophecies in all of the Bible. The angel says to Daniel, “From the time that the decree goes forth …,” in other words, from the time that the decree is implemented to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince is going to be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks (or sixty-nine prophetic weeks). Sixty-nine weeks is four hundred and eighty-three days. That would be between one and two years of literal time. But when we study the prophecy carefully, by comparing it with Daniel 7 and 8, and the prophecies in Ezekiel and Numbers, we see that the angel is using a common symbolic usage of the word time as is done with other prophets.

For example, Ezekiel is told in Ezekiel chapter 4:4–6, literal translation, “Lie on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah, forty days. I have laid on you a day for a year.” Notice, every day in the prophecy equals a year of literal time. This is a common symbolic usage of the word time in both the books of Daniel and Revelation. In fact, when we start computing it this way, we find the prophecy works out exactly. If you do not use this measuring stick, then the prophecy not only doesn’t work out, but it doesn’t make any sense.

But when you use the measuring stick of one day of prophetic time to equal one year of literal time, the prophecy works out perfectly. There are differences between calendars among the different nations and ancient nations, but we will convert the time into our time and we use AD and BC. BC was the time before Christ, and AD is the time after Christ. We are living about 2,000 years after the beginning of time when Christ came.

When we go back to when this decree was issued, when it was implemented to go and restore Jerusalem, we find that it was in the later part of 457 BC.

If you are using simply literal time, then you should be looking for the Christ, the Messiah, to come approximately sometime in 455 BC. However, nobody appeared in 455 BC. But, if you use the prophetic measuring stick for prophetic time, and a symbolic time prophecy of a day of prophetic time equaling a year of literal time, you will be astonished at what you come up with, because, in the New Testament, we find in Luke the 3rd chapter, the exact time when Jesus was baptized. It was at His baptism that He was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. You can read about it in Acts 10:38.

When we look in Luke 3 we find that it happened in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar, which began in the fall of AD 27. If you go from the fall of 457 BC, which was when the decree was implemented to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the time when Jesus was anointed; in other words, when He became the Anointed One, the Messiah, then you have a period of exactly sixty-nine weeks or four hundred and eighty-three years.

Mark 1:14, 15 says, “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.’ ” Daniel 9:25 had just been fulfilled. The Messiah had arrived, but for how long? In Daniel 9:26, it says, “After the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off.” There were 7 weeks and then 62 weeks, for a total of 483 days, or 483 literal years, which brings us to AD 27 in the fall when Jesus was baptized, recorded in Luke 3.

But then after that time it says that the Messiah was to be cut off, but not for Himself. “Then He [the Messiah] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” That’s the 70th week. “But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering” (verse 27), a week would be 7 years, the middle of the week would be 3 ½ years.

Did Jesus bring an end to sacrifice and offering, at the end of 3 ½ years after He was baptized? Yes, He did. Notice what it says in Hebrews 10:11–14: “Every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

Verse 18: “Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” Jesus came and offered one sacrifice. It is by this sacrifice that people are saved. After this, there is no more offering for sin. That one sacrifice is sufficient to take away the sins of all those who believe in Him.

So, when Jesus offered His life upon the cross of Calvary as an offering for sin, that brought an end to sacrifices and offerings. Sometimes the Lord teaches us by what He says and sometimes He teaches us by what He does.

It says, in Matthew 27:50, 51, “Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.” “The veil of the temple was torn in two.” What did that represent? Oh, friend, that showed that the way into the holy places of the heavenly sanctuary were now open to the believers, and the earthly sanctuary and the sacrifices of lambs, and goats, and bullocks had no more value, as Paul explains in Hebrews 10. The true Sacrifice had come. That happened in the middle of the 70th prophetic week, exactly 3 1/2 years after Jesus’ baptism. As you follow Jesus’ life there, you will find the first Passover after His baptism would have been the Passover in AD 28 (see John 2).

The 2nd Passover after His baptism would have been the Passover when Jesus went to the Jews and they had the huge argument in John 5. It’s very clear there that it was a feast of the Jews and this feast occurred after John 4, which had occurred just 4 months before harvest time.

Remember, Passover was harvest time. If you go then to the 3rd Passover after Jesus’ baptism, then you are at John 6, the feeding of the 5,000. That would be AD 30. And the 4th Passover after the baptism of Jesus was the time when He was crucified, during Passover time in AD 31, exactly as predicted in Daniel 9.

Jesus is the majesty of heaven. He is part of the Godhead. He is the One that made everything. What is going to happen to the people who won’t accept His lordship? They will not accept Him as the Messiah; they will not accept Him as their religious leader; they will not accept Him at all.

The details of Jesus’ life in this world were predicted throughout the Old Testament by the various prophets. For example, Daniel predicted when He would become the Messiah. We just read about that in Daniel 9. Micah predicted that He would be born, in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2). Isaiah predicted where He would have the largest part of His ministry in Galilee (see Isaiah 9). Isaiah also predicted that He would be rejected by the Jewish people (see Isaiah 53; Psalm 69). His death on the cross was also predicted (see Psalm 22). The various details of Jesus’ life were all predicted.

What happens, then, to people, even God’s chosen people, if they reject God Himself, if they reject the Prince of Heaven, the Majesty of Heaven? (See Matthew 21:33–39.) It is a very interesting parable about the wicked vine dressers. The vine dressers represented the Jewish leaders, and the Son of the householder whom they killed represented Jesus Christ. The others that they killed represented the prophets and servants that had been sent to them. Verses 40, 41 say, “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will He do to those vinedressers? They said to Him, ‘He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease His vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to Him the fruits in their seasons.’ ”

“Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone which the builders rejected, [He] has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes”? ‘Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it’ ” (verses 42, 43).

Jesus, talking to God’s chosen people said, because you have rejected the Messiah, the kingdom of God is going to be taken from you, and it is going to be given to somebody else.

Then He says, “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder” (verse 44). When would the kingdom of God be taken from them?

The kingdom of God, even after the crucifixion of Jesus, was not taken from the Jews right away. The apostles went first to Jerusalem to preach the gospel to give them even another chance. In fact, at Pentecost, Peter is talking to the people who are responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus, and he tells them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). There were many Jews who became Christians at that point in time, but, unfortunately, the majority of the nation did not. The leaders did not. In fact, their opposition to the gospel, their opposition to the idea of Jesus Christ being the Messiah, became so vehement, so fierce, and so bitter, that eventually, they came to the end of the line.

They stoned to death one of the Christian leaders. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. Before His stoning he said to them, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). He accused them of becoming the murderers of the Just One who was sent to them saying, “And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, on whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers” (verse 52).

He was filled with the Holy Spirit and they were so angry that they gnashed their teeth and drew him out of the temple, and out of the town, and stoned him to death. When they were doing this, he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (verse 56)!

O friend, when Jesus is sitting down on His throne, that’s one thing, but when He stands up, that is a time of decision-making, a time of judgment. After that time the gospel went to the Gentiles and the Jews as a nation were no longer God’s chosen and special people.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

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