Category: Sabbath Preparation And Observance

JESUS AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION
April 14th – 20th, 2018

Prayerfully* Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Cor. 10:1-11, Rev. 12:1-17, 19:11-15, Eph. 1:20, Rev. 11:19, 1:10-18.

MEMORY TEXT: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21

SABBATH AFTERNOON: The New Testament is linked to the Old Testament along a continuum of time documenting the Gospels and the Epistles. Revelation is about Jesus, about what He has done and will continue to do for His people.

SUNDAY: The central themes of Daniel and Revelation are historical and end-time events intricately woven together. By looking through the window of the Old Testament history, we can see indicators of what will happen in our days and beyond.

MONDAY: Jesus is depicted as the Lamb, the Sacrifice, the Risen, and the Breath of Life. His crowning role will be his return as the Righteous Judge who will “reward every man according to his works.” (Matt. 16:27)

TUESDAY: Christ appears in the heavenly sanctuary (Rev. 1:10-18) carrying out His priestly role for our souls. Regardless of our earthly challenges we can have the assurance that it is all about preparing us for His return.

WEDNESDAY: Interestingly enough the primary focus of Revelation is to reveal Jesus Christ ultimately as King of Kings. With all the stress, strife, decay and confusion caused by the devil and sin, we can have the assurance that our Saviour will come again and deliver on His promises.

THURSDAY: Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last and promises that He who believes in Him, though he may die, he shall live. His ability to deliver us from even death as promised is exemplified in His own resurrection after being sacrificed and killed for our sins.

PREPARATION DAY**: Revelation importantly reveals to us historical truths and prepares us for the last days. Prophecy is clearly echoed and confirmed by current-day events fulfilling same. Most significantly is how it reveals the great conflict between the powers of darkness and our God victorious.

(Steve Lawrence Ministries)
Steve Lawrence: Now that we are at the close of this earth’s history, Satan is working with all his powers, in the same manner, with the same temptations and traps that he set for and used to tempt and ensnare ancient Israel just before their entering the land of promise… He will lay snares for those who seek to keep the commandments of God, and who are working for God, with the hope to claim His promise of a Heavenly reward. He will use his powers to their utmost in order to entrap souls, trick people, distract us, have us lose sight of the call to love God and all others. It is always the devil’s plan to attack, discourage and destroy God’s professed people upon their weakest points… Let us stand ready, trim our lanterns so they give off the best and brightest Light from Above to draw others to Christ. Let us never lose sight of the prize, mission and focus always on God.
(A quote from EGW paraphrased*** to reflect the reality that we are now at that place in human history)
(Steve Lawrence Ministries)

 

Credits/Edits
Source: Brother Steve Lawrence (SDA, Bermuda)
Format: Edited for presentation and to reflect KJV
*Added by website host
** Substituted for “Friday”, by website host
*** Substituted for verbatim: “updated”, by website host (still awaiting authur’s approval)

DANIEL AND THE END TIME
April 7th – 13th, 2018

MEMORY TEXT: “The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” Daniel 2:47

SABBATH AFTERNOON: The Lord had great plans for ancient Israel. Unfortunately, the nation didn’t live up to the holy calling that God had given it. God was still able to use individual to be His witnesses & examples to others. How can God use you?

SUNDAY: “He that is faithful in that is least is faithful also in much:…” (Luke 16:10) God gives knowledge and wisdom because of faithfulness to Him. How can each one of us individually make decisions that will enable us to be powerful witnesses for God?

MONDAY: Daniel 2 provides powerfully rational evidence, not only for the existence of God but for His foreknowledge. Daniel had openly and unashamedly given all the credit to God for what had been revealed to him. The prayers that he and the others prayed (Dan. 2:17-23) showed their utter dependence upon God. What have we learnt about utter dependence upon God for salvation?

TUESDAY: The story of the three Hebrews, is an echo of the persecution that God’s people have faced in the past and will face in the last days. The issue of worship is pivotal but both talk about a worship that is forced. That is, the political powers in control demand the worship that is due to God alone. In Daniel 3:13-18 we are guided as to what we will face because of our beliefs in God & how we should face what is coming. Do you think you will be faithful when these challenges come?

WEDNESDAY: The knowledge of God and of His power isn’t the same as having the born-again experience that Jesus said was crucial for salvation (John 3:7). Indeed, the man depicted in Daniel 4:30 was anything but a converted soul. We have to totally submit to God, head knowledge does not equate to submission. What will prepare us for the end time events?

THURSDAY: Daniel 6 speaks about a man who was faithful to God even when the traps laid by those around him sought his life. He exemplified purity of spirit, action and motives that we should also seek to mirror in our own lives. What does Daniel 6 reveal about the character of Daniel?

PREPARATION DAY*: Typically we look at the book of Daniel in the context of the rise and fall of nations, the judgment (Dan. 7:22, 26; 8:14), and the final deliverance of God’s people in the time of trouble (Dan. 12:1). Daniel gives us examples of what it means for us individually to be prepared for trials and persecution, whenever they come. Examining scriptural accounts of what will come, are you ready?

CREDITS/EDITS 
Source: Brother Steve Lawrence (SDA, Bermuda)
Format: Edited for presentation and to reflect KJV
*Substituted for “Friday”, by website host