Lesson 10 Review: Satan’s Final Deceptions

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “ ‘Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth’ ” (John 17:17, NKJV).

Revelation warns us that the “inhabitants of the earth” will drink a deadly potion called the “wine of Babylon.” Like the Tylenol capsules proved to be laced with potassium cyanide, a deadly poison that made the people tragically sick, this wine of Babylon can affect us, we only have to have the antidote, the protection against this spiritual poison: the three angels’ messages.

How widespread is Satan’s deception?

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9, NKJV).

Why is it dangerous to trust our conscience to make the right decision?

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12, NKJV). Jer. 17:9, Rom. 3:9-18 ‘says that we are all sinners, all corrupted and so to trust our sentiments is almost a guaranteed way to, sooner or later, get it wrong and even to do wrong.’

What is one of the two great deceptions in the last days?

Of the two great deceptions in the last days, one will be “the immortality of the soul” (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 588).

What clear instructions did God give His people about life after death?

The Bible teaches about death as a sleep until the second coming of Jesus.

How do we know that Babylon was the center of Sun Worship?

In his book The Worship of Nature, James G. Frazer makes this observation, “In ancient Babylonia the sun was worshipped from immemorial antiquity.”¾(London: Macmillan and Co., 1926), vol. 1, p. 529. Sun worship was prominent in Egypt, Assyria, Persia, and certainly Babylon. Babylonian sun worship also influenced the worship of God’s people in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 8:16 and 2 Kings 23:5, 11).

How do we know that many people are involved in this sun worship?

John described in Revelation 17 a time when the principles of Babylon, including sun worship, would enter the Christian church during an age of compromise. Constantine was converted but had a strong affinity for sun worship. He passed the first “Sunday Law” in AD 321, which, though not a law enforcing Sunday observance strengthened the observance of Sunday in the minds of the Roman population. As succeeding decades passed, the ‘emperor and popes continued through state decrees and church councils to establish Sunday as the singular day of worship, which it remains today, as well, for the majority of the Christians.’ (Refer to Tuesday’s lesson for more details).

What are some of the events that take place in the final days?

‘Church and State unite. Falsehood prevails. Demons work their miracles to deceive. The world catapults into its final conflict.’ At the same time, the people of God are maligned, ridiculed, oppressed, and persecuted, but in Christ and through the power of His Holy Spirit, they are steadfast in their commitment.

What should be our guide in this critical hour of earth’s history?

‘The truth of God’s word, not human opinion or tradition, is the North Star to guide us in this critical hour of earth’s history.’

How does Ezekiel 20:1-20 align with the three angels’ messages?

‘Ezekiel 20 is an earnest appeal for Israel to forsake pagan practices and to worship the Creator instead of false gods, in this case, the “idols of Egypt.” In the message of the three angels, God is making a similar appeal for us to “worship the Creator,” for “Babylon is fallen.”’

How does the Sabbath fit into this call to faithfulness?

The Sabbath and faithfulness to it will play a big role in final events, when we have to worship the Creator.

What is God’s appeal to multitudes still in the fallen religious organizations?

“ ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues’ ” (Rev. 18:4, NKJV).

How does the Bible define sin?

Sin is the transgression or the breaking of God’s law.

In what way does the Bible teach us to obey God’s law?

‘The only way anybody can obey God’s law is through faith in the power of the living Christ.’ For those in churches that do not obey God’s law, Heaven’s appeal is to step out by faith, God’s appeal to Adventists in Sabbath-keeping congregations is to forsake all self-centered, human-attempts at obedience and live godly lives by faith in the grace of Christ, which delivers us from sin’s condemnation and its domination.

What benefit can faithfulness to the law bring?

‘And just as Israel’s faithfulness to the law (Deut. 4:6) would have been a powerful witness to the world, our faithfulness, too, can be a powerful witness and help guide people out of Babylon.’

In Conclusion,

The only safeguard against Satan’s final deceptions is the truth of the Word of God. I pray that God strengthens our faith to hold on to Him for grace to overcome the final deceptions of Satan in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 9 Review: A City Called Confusion

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “ ‘These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful’ ” (Revelation 17:4, NKJV).

A pure woman symbolizes the bride of Jesus, or the true Church and the Bible likens apostasy to harlotry or adultery. There is the woman clothed with the sun and the woman dressed in scarlet from Revelation 12 and 17 respectively. This week’s lesson will be about these women, and more deeply, the conflict between truth and error.

How do Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 17:14 describe the faithful?

‘Revelation 12:17 describes the faithful as those who “keep the commandments of God,” and those who are elsewhere depicted as “ ‘called, chosen, and faithful’ ” (Rev. 17:14, NKJV).’

What does Babylon represent?

Babylon represents a false religious system that will have similar characteristics to Old Testament Babylon.

What does the woman dressed in purple and scarlet do?

She rides on a scarlet beast, she has left her true Lover, Jesus Christ. This power is the one with “ ‘whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication’ ” (Rev. 17:2, NKJV).

What is the contrast between the true church system and the fallen church system?

‘In the true church system, the church is united with Jesus Christ. The fallen church looks to the political leaders of the earth for power and authority. Rather than drawing her strength from Jesus as her true Head, she looks to the state for support.’

What does the pure juice of the grape represent?

The pure juice of the grape is used throughout the New Testament to represent the untainted, pure blood of Christ poured out for our salvation on the cross (Matt 26:27-29, NKJV).

Where does the wine of Babylon come in?

The wine of Babylon comes in when the pure, new wine of the gospel is distorted, and the teachings of the Word of God are replaced with the teachings of human religious leaders.

What is God’s message to His people?

God calls His people out of Babylon because of its corrupt and evil nature, this “ ‘dwelling place of demons’ ” and cage for every unclean and hated bird’ ” (Rev. 18:2, NKJV).

 What does Revelation 17 describe?

It describes an apostate religious system that introduces into Christianity many of the teachings of Old Testament Babylon.

What was the nature of Babylon from the Old Testament?

The Tower of Babel is the first reference to Babylon in the Old Testament, there they sought their own glory, and God confused their languages. The Tower of Babel is a symbol of human self-sufficiency, self-preservation, and independence from God ([Gen.] 11:1-4).

What does Spiritual Babylon represent?

Spiritual Babylon represents a religion based on human teachings, established on human ideas, and supported by human traditions.

How does the book of Revelation describe the true Church System and the Babylonian system?

The first reveals total trust in Jesus and dependence on His Word. The second reveals trust in human authority and dependence on human religious teachers. One is a Christ-centered faith, and the other is a humanistic approach to faith that replaces total dependence on Christ.

What promise did Jesus give His disciples regarding His church?

“ ‘The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.’ ” (Matthew 16:18, NKJV). “ ‘ “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” ’ ” (Revelation 17:14, NKJV).

What will happen in the last days of Earth’s history?

A church-state system will arise, spiritual Babylon, with a spiritual leader claiming to speak as God. (see 2 Thess. 2:4).

What was one of the reasons for ancient Babylon’s demise?

One of the reasons for ancient Babylon’s demise was its idolatry. Idolatry was at the heart of Babylonian worship.

What was the nature of Babylon?

we can see Babylon as the center of idolatry, the Babylonians believed that these images were representations of their deities. The pillaging or destruction of idols was considered to be a loss for the people of divine patronage.

How does spiritual Babylon parallel ancient Babylon?

Spiritual Babylon does parallel ancient Babylon with the images introduced into its worship service. These images were introduced in the fourth century and ‘are often given the sacredness and homage that belongs to God alone, which makes the whole thing spiritually degrading.’

In Conclusion,

Ancient Babylon is long gone, the Roman Catholic Church is fallen, and the warning to “ “Come out of Her” ” is an individual call, it includes members of the protestant faith. I pray that we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to distinguish between truth and error as we live in this time of confusion in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 8 Review: The Sabbath and the End

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “And to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:9, NKJV).

Creation provides a true sense of self-worth, God uniquely created us, and we are a shared heritage. We have so much value that the God who created the cosmos took upon Himself our fleshly bodies and offered Himself as a sacrifice for you and your sins.

What does judgment imply about such issues as accountability and responsibility?

Judgment implies moral responsibility; God calls us to make decisions in the light of eternity.

What does our adherence to the seventh-day Sabbath demonstrate?

It demonstrates our belief that Jesus is worthy to be worshipped as our Creator. It reveals our acceptance of His Ten Commandment law as divinely inspired principles for living life to the fullest.

How does the Sabbath commandment link between Creation and Redemption, as well?

Sabbath is an eternal symbol of our rest in Jesus. The Sabbath speaks about a God who has achieved more for us what we could never do for ourselves. The Sabbath calls us back to our roots. The Sabbath has been observed continuously since time began, it calls us to an intimate, close relation with God our Father.

What is the not-subtle deception as recorded in Tuesday’s lesson?

‘God is the prime cause of creation, but He took long ages to bring life into existence. Evolution was the process He used.’

What do these clear Bible passages tell us about how God created the world?

The biblical account is clear, God “spoke and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9, NKJV). The first chapter of Genesis affirms that God created the world in six literal days of 24 hours and rested on the seventh.

What does Satan’s attacking the Sabbath imply?

By attacking the Sabbath, Satan is challenging the very heart of God’s authority, by denying the reality of the six-day Creation, he destroys the memorial of the six-day creation.

Revelation 14:7 is a call to?

Fear God and Keep His commandments and worship Him who made the Heavens and the earth, the sea and the springs of water.

Revelation 14:9 is a solemn appeal not to?

Worship the beast and his image

Revelation 14:12 describes a people who?

Keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.

The central issue between the conflict between good and evil, Christ and Satan is?

Worship.

How does keeping the Sabbath point us forward to eternity?

‘The same God who created the earth the first time will create it again, and the Sabbath remains an eternal symbol of Him as the Creator (see Isa. 66:23).’ The Sabbath points us to God as our Creator and Redeemer, the One who will, after the judgment, after sin is eradicated, make all things new (Rev. 21:5, NKJV).

In Conclusion,

The central issue is about worship; Satan is trying to make us forget about the Sabbath because by forgetting it we forget God His creative power. However, we have a choice to make and I pray that we choose to worship Him who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and springs of water in Jesus’ name. 

Lesson 7 Review: Worshiping the Creator

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “ ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will, they exist and were created’ ” (Revelation 4:11, NKJV).

‘Our universe exists because God, the Creator, has made it and everything in it.’

What is the message in Revelation 1:9, Matthew 13:21, and Acts 14:22 for all who seek to follow Jesus in this world?

The message in these passages is that as a person or people who seek to follow Christ, there will be tribulations, John faced it, but there is hope for these persons/people, and that hope can be found in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John on the isle of Patmos.

What is the central issue in the Book of Revelation?

‘The central issue in the book of Revelation is worship.’

Where is the root of Revelation’s final appeal?

Revelation’s final appeal is rooted in the Bible’s first book, Genesis because to understand the issues in the cosmic battle over worship we should understand the significance of creation, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, NKJV).

What small idea can we see of God’s unlimited power?

The sun produces more energy in a second than humanity has produced through oil, gas, coal, or fire since the beginning of time. It has a diameter of approximately 865,000 miles and could hold one million planets the size of the Earth but the sun is just one of at least 100 billion stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way. The Pistol Star gives off as much as ten million times the power generated by the sun and one million stars the size of our sun can easily fit within the sphere of the Pistol Star.

What does the wonder of creation teach us?

It teaches us that our God with unlimited might and power who created these vast creations, can also do as much as to die for us. God also knows and cares about even the minutest of our problems.

What is the great news about our God in Tuesday’s lesson?

The great news about our God is that His greatness and power are so vast that it reaches across the cosmos and into each of our lives.

What can we learn from Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:13-17, Revelation 4:11, and Romans 5:17-19 about Jesus as our Creator and Redeemer?

There is a link between Jesus as our Creator and Redeemer, when we question the fact that God created us, then we question also God as our Redeemer, because as Evolution teaches, we are to be saved from sin, but how can Jesus come to redeem us from something we are created from.

What is the role of the Seventh-Day Adventists in the midst of the errors of evolution?

The Seventh-Day Adventists, by calling the world to worship the Creator, stands as a living witness against the error of creation. We proclaim the foundational truth of God as our Creator and Redeemer.

The same Jesus who created us is the one who died on the cross, how are we to respond to this?

The heavenly beings worship Jesus they knew Jesus before He came to this earth, as for us, redeemed by His blood, what else could we do but worship our Creator and Redeemer?

In Conclusion,

The central issue of Revelation is worship; we are called to worship the Creator. He is worthy of our worship He not only created us but redeemed us from the penalty of sin. I pray that God helps us to understand more deeply and completely how His creative power can change our lives in Jesus’ name.