Foreword
During this quarter, Sabbath School students all around the world will focus on end-time Bible prophecies. This essential prophetic study involves truths vital to our spiritual strength in the perilous times in which we are living.
We began this year with the study of the everlasting gospel, involving the judgment-hour-message and the good news of the moral victory offered to every believing soul through Christ. How important is it that we gain hold of the strength of our spotless Redeemer to pilot us through the many temptations that surround us! We are warned:
“Those who have permitted their minds to become beclouded in regard to what constitutes sin are fearfully deceived. Unless they make a decided change they will be found wanting when God pronounces judgment upon the children of men.”—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 267.
“The religion which is current in our day is not of the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world.”—The Great Controversy, p. 48.
“Satan came as an angel of light in the wilderness of temptation to deceive Christ; and he does not come to man in a hideous form, as he is sometimes represented, but as an angel of light. He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ. What shall we do?—Tell them that Christ has warned us against just such a foe, who is man’s worst enemy, yet who claims to be God; and that when Christ shall make His appearance, it will be with power and great glory, accompanied by ten thousand times ten thousand angels and thousands of thousands; and that when He shall come, we shall know His voice.”—The Review and Herald, December 18, 1888.
“As we near the close of this world’s history, the prophecies relating to the last days especially demand our study. The last book of the New Testament scriptures is full of truth that we need to understand. Satan has blinded the minds of many, so that they have been glad of any excuse for not making the Revelation their study. But Christ through His servant John has here declared what shall be in the last days.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 133.
That the Lord may guide and bless His people through the study of these lessons and fortify our faith at this critical hour in history is the prayer of the
The General Conference Sabbath School Department
