Back to top

Sabbath Bible Lessons

Sealed for Eternity

 <<    >> 
Lesson 5 Sabbath, July 31, 2010

The Final Warning

“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory” (Revelation 18:1).

“The efforts made to retard the progress of truth will serve to extend it. . . . The people whom God has made the depositaries of His law are not to permit their light to be hidden. The truth must be proclaimed in the dark places of the earth.”—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 454.

Suggested Reading:   The Great Controversy, pp. 603-612.  

Sunday July 25

1. THE GLORY OF THE TEMPLE

a. At the beginning of the reconstruction of Jerusalem when the foundation of the new temple was laid, there was, on the one hand, weeping and, on the other, shouts of joy. Why were there two opposite reactions? Ezra 3:10–12; Haggai 2:3.

“There were them . . . aged men who had seen the glory of Solomon’s temple, and who wept at the foundation of the new building, that it must be so inferior to the former. . . . Then was given the promise that the glory of this latter house should be greater than that of the former.”—The Great Controversy, pp. 23, 24.

b. How, or in what work, did the Jews hope to see, in the second temple, the fulfillment of the prophecy of Haggai 2:9? John 2:20.

“The disciples had been filled with awe and wonder at Christ’s prediction of the overthrow of the temple, and they desired to understand more fully the meaning of His words. Wealth, labor, and architectural skill had for more than forty years been freely expended to enhance its splendors.”—Ibid., p. 24.


Monday July 26

2. THE GLORY OF THE TEMPLE (CONTINUED)

a. To what did Haggai refer when speaking about the glory of the second temple? Haggai 2:7, 9 (compare Malachi 3:1). In what manner did the second temple supersede the glory of the first temple? In other words, whose presence filled the second temple with superior glory? John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 2:8.

“For centuries the Jews had vainly endeavored to show wherein the promise of God given by Haggai had been fulfilled; yet pride and unbelief blinded their minds to the true meaning of the prophet’s words. The second temple was not honored with the cloud of Jehovah’s glory, but with the living presence of One in whom dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily—who was God Himself manifest in the flesh. The ‘Desire of all nations’ had indeed come to His temple when the Man of Nazareth taught and healed in the sacred courts. In the presence of Christ, and in this only, did the second temple exceed the first in glory. But Israel had put from her the proffered Gift of heaven. With the humble Teacher who had that day passed out from its golden gate, the glory had forever departed from the temple. Already were the Saviour’s words fulfilled: ‘Your house is left unto you desolate’ (Matthew 23:38).”—The Great Controversy, p. 24.

b. What did Jesus say about the surprsing fate of the second temple? Matthew 24:1, 2; Luke 21:5, 6.

“The stones of the temple were of the purest marble, of perfect whiteness, and some of them of almost fabulous size. A portion of the wall had withstood the siege by Nebuchadnezzar's army. In its perfect masonry it appeared like one solid stone dug entire from the quarry. How those mighty walls could be overthrown the disciples could not comprehend.

“As Christ’s attention was attracted to the magnificence of the temple, what must have been the unuttered thoughts of that Rejected One! The view before Him was indeed beautiful, but He said with sadness, I see it all. The buildings are indeed wonderful. You point to these walls as apparently indestructible; but listen to My words: The day will come when ‘there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down’ (Mark 13:2).”—The Desire of Ages, p. 627.


Tuesday July 27

3. CHRIST IN YOU

a. How can human nature be briefly summarized? Romans 3:10–12, 23.

b. What is the glory of God that must shine through His servants? Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:5–7.

“The followers of Christ are to shed light into the darkness of the world. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s word is a light as it becomes a transforming power in the life of the receiver. By implanting in their hearts the principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God. The light of His glory—His character—is to shine forth in His followers. Thus they are to glorify God, to lighten the path to the Bridegroom’s home, to the city of God, to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 414.

c. What must happen in us if we want to reflect the glory of God? Colossians 1:27. How does God work in our life to prepare us for such an experience? 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:17.

“The closer our communion with God, and the clearer our knowledge of His requirements, the more fully shall we be conformed to the divine image, and the more readily do we become partakers of the divine nature.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 330.

“Before giving us the baptism of the Holy Spirit, our heavenly Father will try us, to see if we can live without dishonoring Him.”—Selected Messages, bk. 3, pp. 426, 427.

“Christ is seeking to uplift all who will be lifted to companionship with Himself, that we may be one with Him as He is one with the Father. He permits us to come in contact with suffering and calamity in order to call us out of our selfishness; He seeks to develop in us the attributes of His character—compassion, tenderness, and love. By accepting this work of ministry we place ourselves in His school, to be fitted for the courts of God. By rejecting it, we reject His instruction, and choose eternal separation from His presence.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 388, 389.


Wednesday July 28

4. THE EARTH LIGHTENED WITH GOD’S GLORY

a. What is the glory that will lighten the whole earth, and why is another angel needed to accomplish this work? Revela­tion 18:1.

“Those who wait for the Bridegroom’s coming are to say to the people, ‘Behold your God.’ The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them.

“The light of the Sun of Righteousness is to shine forth in good works—in words of truth and deeds of holiness.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 415, 416.

“There must be no toning down of the truth, no muffling of the message for this time. The third angel’s message must be strengthened and confirmed. The eighteenth chapter of Revelation reveals the importance of presenting the truth in no measured terms but with boldness and power. . . . There has been too much beating about the bush in the proclamation of the third angel’s message. The message has not been given as clearly and distinctly as it should have been.”—Evangelism, p. 230.

“The Lord God of heaven will not send upon the world His judgments for disobedience and transgression until He has sent His watchmen to give the warning. He will not close up the period of probation until the message shall be more distinctly proclaimed. The law of God is to be magnified; its claims must be presented in their true, sacred character, that the people may be brought to decide for or against the truth. Yet the work will be cut short in righteousness. The message of Christ’s righteousness is to sound from one end of the earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the glory of God, which closes the work of the third angel.”—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 19.

b. When did the light of Revelation 18:1 begin to shine?

“The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 363. [Written in 1892 with reference to the 1888 Minneapolis conference.]


Thursday July 29

5. “COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE”

a. What is the message of this other angel, and how does it compare with the second angel’s message? Revelation 18:2, 3; 14:8.

“The message of the fall of Babylon, as given by the second angel, is repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the churches since 1844. The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry. And the people of God are thus prepared to stand in the hour of temptation, which they are soon to meet. I saw a great light resting upon them, and they united to fearlessly proclaim the third angel’s message.”—Early Writings, p. 277.

“While Satan is working with his lying wonders, the time has come [that was] foretold in the Revelation, when the mighty angel that shall lighten the earth with his glory will proclaim the fall of Babylon and call upon God's people to forsake her.”—Selected Messages, bk. 3, pp. 406, 407.

b. In what manner is the message so severe? What is found in Babylon that demands such forceful action? Revelation 18:5–24.

c. What must God’s people in other folds do in order to escape the coming plagues? Revelation 18:4; Isaiah 56:1–7; John 10:16.


Friday July 30

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

a. When the Bible speaks of the glory of God, what does it mean?

b. In what way did the second temple exceed the glory of the first?

c. How is it possible for a human being to reflect the glory of God?

d. Why is there a need for the fourth angel, and when did he begin his work?

e. What do people who are in the popular churches need to do in order to be spared?

 <<    >>