Introduction
Memory Text: “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…?” (2 Peter 3:11, 12, NKJV).
The book of
Revelation fills the mind with scenes of the end. The epicenter of the book
deals with the cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan, however, it ends with Jesus’
return to deliver His children from the destruction that awaits the devil and unrepentant
sinners. The Revelation is a missionary book focused on a missionary God who is
calling us to be a missionary church. Everyone ultimately has to make a choice
for or against God.
In what ways do we see evidence that the book of Revelation is focused on
God’s mission in the last days?
The first verses reveal that Jesus is the source of
Revelation. Revelation 1:4, 5 alludes to all Three Members of the Godhead, who
are working unitedly to save human beings. The Father is the eternal one who
was and is and is to come, the Holy Spirit, who is working powerfully among the
first-century churches, is named and John recalls the status of Jesus Christ-the “faithful witness,” “the
firstborn of the dead” (Rev. 1:5, NRSV), who possesses legal ownership of this
planet. God has victory over Satan, our Creator’s shed blood washes away our
guilt and shame. We also find the urgency of mission in Revelation 1:7: Jesus
is coming, and the nations will mourn because they are lost.
What does God’s salvation offer?
God’s salvation offers a new and honorable status because
God’s image is restored in us, beyond simply dragging perishing people to
safety.
What then does the Book of Revelation open with?
The book of Revelation opens, then with God’s mission for
human beings.
What is the message in Revelation 14:6-12?
The message, in a real sense, is the mission. The world
needs to be warned about what is coming upon it, and every person will be
forced to make a choice, a choice for either life or death.
What is central to the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14?
“the everlasting gospel” (rev. 14:6, NKJV) and the worship
of the Creator appearing in the depiction of the saints: “Here is the patience
of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of
Jesus” (Rev. 14:12, NKJV).
What is our special calling and mission?
To proclaim to a lost world, the hope found in the “everlasting
gospel,” as well as to warn the world of what will one day come upon it knowing
that we are either for or against Christ.
What is simply the “present truth” (2 Pet. 1:12)?
The Great Commission, and in many ways the three angels’
messages, with a call to “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Rev. 14:6,
NKJV), is simply the “present truth” (2 Pet. 1:12) expression of the Great
Commission.
What does Tuesday’s lesson teach us about how God treats every group of
people?
Everyone will be judged based on how much they did or didn’t
understand (Rom. 2:11-16). There will be only two groups, those who submitted
to the authority of Satan through religious and political institutions as shown
in Revelation 13 and 17, and those who have fully submitted to Jesus Christ,
whose faith is made manifest by their keeping “the commandments of God” (Rev.
14:12).
What, really is success in mission?
While we think of many baptisms, big churches and rapid growth rates
as success in mission, our focus is to be on the process; God’s focus will be
on the growth. The object of God’s mission is saving the lost in every people
group on earth by making them disciples of Jesus who are involved in His
mission. Hence success in mission results in making disciples of Jesus.
What are the qualities of the disciples of Jesus?
Disciples of Jesus are pure, remaining loyal to Jesus as a
pure bride would to her betrothed. This prevents them from being led astray, they
recognize that they are imperfect, requiring God’s cleansing grace and mercy,
hence they are open to correction and instruction from other believers.
What are some of the qualities of the new earth?
Death and sin will be gone, Satan and his wickedness will be destroyed.
We will meet our loving Savior and reunite with loved ones. And the new earth
will be populated with representatives from every ethnicity and language.
What metrics does the General Conference Mission Board of Seventh-day
Adventist use to determine whether a people group is reached and unreached?
A “reached people group” is one that has adequate numbers
and resources to witness effectively to the rest of the group without requiring
outside assistance. An “unreached people group” is one that has no indigenous
community of believing Adventists with adequate numbers and resources to
witness effectively to their own group without assistance from outside their
culture.
What is expected of every local church and conference of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church?
Every local church and conference must determine the people
groups in their community who need to be reached and invest in God’s mission of
making disciples in all people groups, hastening our Savior’s return and, in
the end, living with them in the new heaven and new earth that is promised to
us here.
No comments:
Post a Comment