Closer To Heaven
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El número de víctimas mortales del potente terremoto de 7,7 grados de magnitud que sacudió Myanmar sigue ascendiendo a más de 2.000 muertos, y los limitados recursos ralentizan los esfuerzos humanitarios, mientras aún se calcula el alcance de la devastación. La Agencia Adventista de Desastres y Recursos Asistenciales (ADRA) se movilizó inmediatamente después de que […] Source: https://atoday.org/adra-sigue-ayudando-en-medio-del-creciente-numero-de-muertos-en-myanmar/
Please pray for Kim whose doctor has told her that she has a brain tumor. She will have an MRI next week. Pray for healing and for her husband and young child. Rose
Please pray also for our grand-nephew Ryan who has been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Please pray for healing for him. Rose
Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/prayer-request-for-our-grand-niece-and-for-a-grand-nephew.html
Lesson 1 – Some Principles of Prophecy
Introduction – When Truth Remains SealedSome truths need time.
Some books remain closed for a long time — until the right moment comes to understand them.
Such is the case with the book of Daniel.
While many Christians reference technical advancements or modern discoveries when speaking of Daniel 12:4, the text actually points to something deeper: a spiritual understanding that will increase in the time of the end.
Bible Study – What Does Daniel 12:4 Say Compared to Revelation 22:10?Daniel 12:4:
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end…”
Revelation 22:10:
“Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.”
Observation:
While Daniel is told to seal, John is explicitly told not to.
Why?
Because Daniel’s message was intended for the end times, whereas Revelation was meant to be understood from the beginning.
The “increase in knowledge” in Daniel 12:4 therefore refers specifically to the understanding of prophetic messages — especially Daniel’s — during the final chapter of earth’s history.
Spiritual Principles – What We Learn from Daniel 12:4God’s revelation is progressive.
Not everything was meant to be fully understood at every point in time — and this is by divine design.
The end times are a period of spiritual awakening.
After 1798, when the 1260-year prophecy ended, understanding of prophecy rapidly increased.
Knowledge is grace — not achievement.
It leads to obedience, not spiritual pride.
True prophecy always leads to Jesus and His redemptive work.
Not to wild speculation — but to a decision for Christ.
Life Application – What Does This Mean for Us Today?We live in prophetic times.
The book of Daniel is open — the real question is:
Do you read it with an open heart?
Knowledge alone doesn’t save — lived truth does.
➤ Do you understand what you read — and do you live it?
Others still live in darkness.
➤ Don’t treat your knowledge as superiority — treat it as a call to share light.
Gratitude over apathy.
➤ If you know what God has revealed — don’t stay silent.
Conclusion – Knowledge at the Right TimeGod didn’t seal the book of Daniel to hide it — but to reveal it at the right time.
We are now living in that time.
The prophetic insights into Jesus, the judgment, the Sabbath, and the Second Coming are clearer than ever.
The question is no longer whether God is speaking —
but whether we are listening and responding.
Thought of the DayGod has opened the book — now it’s up to us not just to read it, but to live it.
Illustration – The Opened BookSoft jazz music, the clinking of cups, warm light.
A quiet corner in a reading café in the heart of Cologne.
Julian sat there — 29, IT specialist, amateur historian, internally torn.
He had taken a vacation — not to travel, but to search.
Not on Google.
Not on Wikipedia.
But in a book that had long felt foreign to him: the Bible.
More precisely: the book of Daniel.
He had stumbled across a YouTube lecture about the “time of the end” and Daniel 12:4.
“Seal the words and shut up the book…”
What did that mean?
Why would something be sealed — and when would it be opened?
His thoughts spun in circles, but one idea wouldn’t leave him:
What if now is the time when the sealed knowledge is being released?
He read about William Miller, the Great Awakening, 1844, the Sabbath, and a judgment that didn’t terrify — but gave hope.
He felt it:
This wasn’t just history.
This was divine timing.
Julian closed his eyes.
Maybe this wasn’t about a new theory.
Maybe this was the moment when God’s timeline intersected with his own life.
Later, as he walked across the Cathedral Square, an inner voice whispered:
“You’ve seen more than many will ever know. What will you do with it?”
He didn’t know — not yet.
But he knew this much:
The book was open.
And he wanted to read it — with his heart.
April 1, 2025
DAILY BIBLE READING – Revelation Chapter 7
Bible Text (King James Version)And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth,
holding the four winds of the earth,
that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
And I saw another angel ascending from the east,
having the seal of the living God:
and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels,
to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Saying,
Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees,
till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
And I heard the number of them which were sealed:
and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand
of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude,
which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,
stood before the throne, and before the Lamb,
clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
And cried with a loud voice, saying,
Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about the throne,
and about the elders and the four beasts,
and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying,
Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might,
be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me,
What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.
And he said to me,
These are they which came out of great tribulation,
and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple:
and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more;
neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters:
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Explanation & Classification
IntroductionRevelation Chapter 7 is an interlude between the sixth and seventh seals.
Chapter 6 ended with the dramatic question:
“For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Rev 6:17)
Chapter 7 provides the answer:
Two groups will be able to stand – the sealed and the great multitude.
Commentary
Verses 1–3: The Four Winds Are Held Back
Judgment is restrained until the servants of God are sealed.
The seal on the forehead represents divine protection and belonging.
The angel from the east (sunrise) is a symbol of hope.
Verses 4–8: The 144,000 Sealed
Symbolic number: 12 tribes × 12,000 = 144,000
They represent the fullness of spiritual Israel – God’s faithful people in the end times.
The list of tribes differs from the traditional one, emphasizing symbolic meaning.
Verses 9–12: The Great Multitude
A countless multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language.
White robes = purified by Christ
Palm branches = victory
They worship God and the Lamb with loud praise.
Verses 13–17: Who Is This Multitude?
They come out of great tribulation – they remained faithful under suffering.
Their robes are washed in the blood of the Lamb – redeemed through Christ.
Eternal promises:
God dwells among them
No more hunger, thirst, or pain
The Lamb is their Shepherd
God wipes away every tear
SummaryRevelation 7 describes two groups of the redeemed:
The 144,000 Sealed – God’s faithful people, protected during the end times
The Great Multitude – from all nations, saved through the blood of the Lamb
Both groups stand before God’s throne, in relationship with Him, in worship and eternal peace.
Message for Us TodayGod knows you. The sealing shows you are not forgotten.
Salvation is for all. Background doesn’t matter – the Lamb offers His hand to everyone.
Tribulation is not the end. Suffering turns into praise, tears into comfort.
Jesus is the center. Everything revolves around the Lamb – redemption, guidance, and hope.
Whoever belongs to Jesus has nothing to fear – they are sealed, redeemed, and secure.
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/1-04-2025-revelation-chapter-7-believe-his-prophets/
Comments of the Week Mar 24-31 “This is really gonna backfire when someone releases an AI video of Wintley Phipps singing something ‘naughty.’ Lol.” –Luke Sherwin on Wintley Phipps’ new AI Model generating sermons and theological aid. Comments on Aunt Sevvy; How to Prepare for the 2025 GC Session; Wintley Phipps’ new AI Model; Church […] Source: https://atoday.org/comments-of-the-week-mar24-31/
31 March 2025 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, How many of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs can you disagree with and still call yourself an Adventist? Signed, Questioning Dear Questioning, Our pioneers wrote in 1872, “We wish to have it distinctly understood that we have no articles of faith, creed, or discipline, aside from the Bible.” Yet […] Source: https://atoday.org/how-many-of-the-28-fundamental-beliefs-can-you-disagree-with-and-still-call-yourself-an-adventist/
31 March 2025 | The death toll of Myanmar’s powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake continues to climb. Fatalities number over 2,000, with limited resources slowing humanitarian efforts. Adventist Disaster and Relief Agency (ADRA) immediately mobilized after the quake struck on Friday, March 28, 2025, at approximately 12:50 pm local time. The earthquake’s epicenter was located in Myanmar’s […] Source: https://atoday.org/adra-continues-aid-amidst-myanmars-rising-death-toll/
To learn of the Allusions, Images and Symbols in Bible Prophecy we are really in great need of saying to God
Give Me The Bible – Hymn 272 so we are able to learn with His abundant help. This will be our theme for this, the second quarter of Bible Study, 2025.
Sunday instructs us to be “surrendered to the Lord”, with our hearts “open to learning the truth”. I, therefore, say
All To Jesus I Surrender – Hymn 309, so that I may have the “guidance of the Holy Spirit”.
So that I am can understand our gracious God, I will say that
He Leadeth Me – Hymn 537 so that I will be given understanding as I keep learning (Monday).
With Daniel being such a wonderful help to our understanding of the last days, which follow all of earth’s history as he had written, I find the pre-1985 SDA Hymnal has a great hymn for a lot of this quarter, inDare To Be A Daniel – number 497. Tuesday’s study brings us to the beginning of this Bible book.
Wednesday steps further forward in encouraging the study of the Bible.
Lord, I Have Made Thy Word My Choice – Hymn 273 is a wonderful statement and promise to make. The Bible will then lead further in explaining itself (says Thursday)If You But Trust In God To Guide You – Hymn 510.
To be able to work further on “Whoso readeth, let him understand” – Matthew 24:15, it is necessary to request
Open My Eyes, That I May See – Hymn 326 (Friday).
Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.
To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/
Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/1-some-principles-of-prophecy-singing-with-inspiration/
Key Thought: The study of Revelation directs the mind to the prophecies of Daniel, and both present instruction concerning events to take place at the close of earth’s history.
April 5, 2025
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/1-some-principles-of-prophecy-teaching-plan/
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 1st of April 2025
It is not uncommon to hear preachers use Daniel 12:4 to predict the rise of technological and scientific knowledge just prior to the advent of Christ. Many also use it to describe the advances in rapid travel that have taken place over the past century or so. Many of our own books have taken this approach. Though certainly reasonable interpretations, it might mean something else, as well.
Read the passage again. The angel’s instruction to Daniel begins with an injunction to “shut up the words, and seal the book.” The subject being discussed is the book of Daniel itself. Perhaps, then, could that knowledge which would suddenly increase at the end of time be knowledge of the book of Daniel itself?
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
This makes the book of Daniel somewhat different from Revelation, in that John was told not to seal his book (Revelation 22:10). Revelation was meant to be understood from the first, because “ ‘the time [was] at hand.’ ” In contrast, Daniel would be understood more clearly at some point in the distant future.
Over the centuries, many fine Christian thinkers attempted to explain the book of Daniel, and some made great headway. Understanding of Daniel increased rapidly, however, after the end of the 1,260–year prophecy, which ended in 1798, when multiple expositors around the globe started concluding that something spectacular was going to happen around 1843. The most notable of these, however, was William Miller, whose preaching launched the Great Advent Movement of the nineteenth century and began a chain of events that would give birth to the “remnant” church and a clear understanding of the three angels’ messages.
The birth of our global movement, in other words, is a fulfillment of Daniel’s prediction that “knowledge shall increase” at “the time of the end.”
In contrast, and without judging people’s salvation, think about the “darkness” that so much of Christendom exists in. Something as basic as the seventh-day Sabbath, established in Eden, is ignored, even dismissed, in favor of Sunday, a day rooted in Roman paganism. Or think of the utter ignorance about death, with the vast majority of Christians believing the pagan idea that the dead immediately go soaring off to another existence, which for some means an eternally burning hell.
In contrast, we should be thankful—and humbled—by the knowledge of the truth.
(1)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25b-01-daniel-shut-up-the-words/
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