Closer To Heaven
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El presidente de la AsociaciĂłn General, Ted Wilson, abordĂł tres puntos importantes en relaciĂłn con la Agencia Adventista de Desarrollo y Recursos Asistenciales (ADRA) durante la reuniĂłn de primavera del ComitĂŠ Ejecutivo de la AsociaciĂłn General (EXCOM). En primer lugar, se dio una cordial despedida al anterior presidente de ADRA, Michael Kruger. Aunque Kruger se […] Source: https://atoday.org/los-rumores-sobre-adra-fueron-discutidos-en-reunion-del-comite-ejecutivo-de-la-asociacion-general/
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Lesson 5: The Nations, Part 2………………………………………………………………….
IntroductionAmid wars, revolutions, and technological marvels, the prophecy of Daniel reminds us that every earthly kingdom is fleeting. Daniel 2 gives us a sweeping overview of human historyâfrom golden empires to a fractured world of iron and clay. Despite all human ambition, one truth remains: in the end it will not be a human kingdom that triumphs, but Godâs eternal reign.
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Bible Study
Question 1: What key lessons can we draw from Daniel 2:31â35?
The statue of mixed precious metals symbolizes the decline of human rule. Gold gives way to silver, then bronze, iron, and finally a brittle mixture of iron and clay. Human history isnât a story of moral or spiritual ascent, but of decay. Yet at the critical moment a stoneâstruck not by human handsâshatters the statue and establishes an everlasting kingdom. This prophecy assures us that despite all human failings, God remains sovereign.
Question 2: How can we draw comfort from Jesusâ warnings?
Jesus never promised an earthly paradise prior to His return. He spoke of wars, earthquakes, and faminesânot to discourage us, but to prepare us. Knowing these events fit into a larger divine plan gives us hope: we are not lost in senseless chaos, but led toward redemption.
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Spiritual PrinciplesHuman empires pass away, but Godâs kingdom endures.
True progress is spiritual, not merely technological.
Godâs prophetic word gives us hope amid crises.
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Daily ApplicationDo not place your trust in political systems or economic stabilityâthey come and go.
Read prophecy not as fearmongering but as an invitation to ready your heart.
Learn to recognize the signs of the times without giving way to fearâhope is our anchor.
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ConclusionDaniel 2 opens our eyes to historyâs true trajectory: not toward a human utopia, but toward Godâs ultimate victory. The stone that crushes all earthly kingdoms reminds us: the future belongs not to the rulers of this worldâbut to Christ.
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Thought of the DayThose who invest in Godâs kingdom build on eternal ground. Everything else is dust in the wind.
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Illustration â âThe Boy at the Lincoln MemorialâLocation: Washington D.C., USA, 2024
It was a gray afternoon when Elijah, 17, climbed the broad marble steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Rain dripped from his hoodie. In his pocket was a well-worn Bibleâa gift from his grandmother.
His heart felt heavy. Headlines about wars in Europe, famines in Africa, and political unrest in America flooded his phone daily. It seemed as if the world were falling apart.
He stood before the statue of Abraham Lincoln and read the engraved words of the Gettysburg Address:
â⌠that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom.â
âA new birthâŚâ Elijah whispered.
His gaze lifted to the sky, where dark clouds rumbled.
In that moment he recalled the stone in Daniel 2âthe stone âcut out, not by human hands,â that struck the statue and obliterated all those kingdoms. Elijah realized: his hope need not rest on presidents, laws, or global treaties.
His true home was not here.
His kingdom was yet to come.
He grabbed his phone, deleted the news appsâfor at least one dayâand instead opened his Bible to Daniel 2.
As he descended the steps, his heart felt lighter.
The world would shake, yes. But Godâs plan would prevail.
And he, Elijah, wanted to be among those waiting for the stone.
April 28, 2025
DAILY BIBLE READING
Genesis 12: Abramâs Calling and First Steps of Faithââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Bible Text â Genesis 12 (KJV)1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, âGet thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy fatherâs house, unto a land that I will show thee.â
2 âAnd I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.â
3 âAnd I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.â4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brotherâs son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, âUnto thy seed will I give this landâ: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.
8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.
9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, âBehold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, âThis is his wifeâ: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.â14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaohâs house.
16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
17 And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abramâs wife.18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, âWhat is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
19 Why saidst thou, âShe is my sisterâ? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.â
20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Explanation & Contextââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
IntroductionGenesis 12 marks a new chapter in human history: God calls Abram and promises him a great future. Abramâs responseâhis departure and his faithâshapes the story of Godâs people to this day. Yet human weaknesses emerge, teaching us that God remains faithful even when we fail.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Commentary
1. Godâs Call and Blessing (vv. 1â3)
God summons Abram to leave his country, kin, and fatherâs house.
He promises him descendants, a great name, and blessing for all nations through him.
Abramâs obedience becomes the archetype of faith for all believers.
2. Abramâs Obedience and First Steps of Faith (vv. 4â9)
At age 75, Abram sets out without knowing his destination.
He reaches Canaan; God reaffirms the land promise.
Abramâs first response is worshipâhe builds altars.
3. Flight to Egypt and Human Weakness (vv. 10â20)
A famine drives Abram to leave Canaanâan act of human precaution.
In fear, he passes off his wife Sarai as his sister.
God intervenes, protects Sarai, and brings Abram safely back.
Godâs plan endures despite Abramâs mistakes.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
SummaryGenesis 12 begins Abramâs faith journeyâhe later becomes Abraham. He obeys Godâs call even into uncertainty. This chapter shows God at work in Abramâs life despite human weakness and fear. Godâs promises stand firm because they rest on His character, not on Abramâs perfection.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Application for Today
What does Genesis 12 teach us?
Godâs call often involves stepping into the unknown.
Obedience is rewarded by God, even when our path is imperfect.
God safeguards His promises and His people, even when they stumble.
Trusting in Godâs faithfulness is more vital than our own perfection.
âAnd I will bless thee⌠and thou shalt be a blessing.â (Genesis 12:2)
Today, God still calls people to follow Him in faithâand through their lives to become blessings to others.
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April 27 â May 3, 2025 WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING Ellen G. White â Patriarchs and Prophets â Chapter 2 The Creation Read online here
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
IntroductionChapter 2 unfolds the wonder of Creation in all its beauty:
The earth was formed in perfect harmony, and humanity is Godâs crowning workâcreated in the image of the Creator.
This chapter not only describes the origin of the earth and of Adam and Eve, but also emphasizes the special blessing of the Sabbath and Godâs institution of marriage.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Commentary 1. The Beauty of the Created World
The earth came from Godâs hand without swamps, deserts, or jagged mountains.
Every plant, animal, and landscape reflected Godâs love and wisdom in harmonious unity.
2. Humanity as the Crown of Creation
Adam and Eve were made in Godâs image, endowed with high intelligence, free will, and noble character.
There was no process of evolutionâhumanity sprang directly from Godâs creative act.
Humans were appointed stewards of creation, embodying Godâs glory in both form and function.
3. The Institution of Marriage
Eve was given to Adam as an equal helperânot subordinate, but a partner of equal worth.
Marriage was instituted by God Himself as a sacred, lifelong union.
4. The Garden of Eden
Eden was a specially prepared dwelling placeâa glorious natural sanctuary.
At its center stood the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
5. The Institution of the Sabbath
After six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day, blessing and sanctifying it.
The Sabbath was given to humanity as an eternal memorial of Creation.
This day of rest was meant for reflecting on Godâs work and renewing our relationship with Him.
6. Humanity as a Moral Being
God tested Adam and Eveâs loyalty with the command regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Obedience was to be voluntary and motivated by love, not compulsion.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
SummaryChapter 2 reveals how perfect and beautiful Godâs original creation was:
Adam and Eve lived in a world without death, pain, or suffering, surrounded by divine abundance.
The Sabbath and marriage were instituted as special gifts for humanity.
God sought a voluntary, loving relationship with His creatures, founded on trust, obedience, and shared delight in His work.
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Application for Today What can we learn from Chapter 2 for our lives?
Stewardship of Creation: The world around us testifies to Godâs loveâwe are called to preserve it.
Our Identity in God: We are not accidents; we are intentionally created and deeply loved by our Maker.
Value of Work and Community: Labor, marriage, and Sabbath rest are divine gifts intended for our well-being.
Freedom through Obedience: True life and joy are found in willingly following Godâs good commands.
âRemember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.â (Exodus 20:8)
Today God invites us to marvel at His works, honor His wisdom, and find true fulfillment in communion with Him.
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/28-04-2025-genesis-chapter-12-believe-his-prophets/
Jesus meets us in our weakness. He doesn’t ask us to pretend we’re okay—He invites us to bring our brokenness to Him. That’s grace. That’s hope. That’s Jesus. Save this reel to remember you don’t have to be strong on your own. He is enough. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icfCHyCvav0
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COLUMBIA, Md. â In a move that has raised eyebrows and lowered vaccination rates, the North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists has unveiled the creation of the âPureBlood Union Conference,â a new administrative body dedicated exclusively to members who proudly reject vaccines in favor of ânatural immunity and essential oils.â The announcement, made during […] Source: https://atoday.org/satire-new-union-created-for-anti-vaxxers-nad-announces-pureblood-union-conference/
Daily Lesson for Monday 28th of April 2025
It was during the Babylonian captivity, through the prophet Daniel, that God presented the most compelling descriptions we have of the relationship between His people and the kingdoms of this world. His people were no longer autonomous; they would now be reaping the consequences of their choices. (And, perhaps, learning from them?)
Image Š Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com
At the end of the nineteenth century, many people were exuding a new confidence in human progress. The Paris Exposition (1900), for example, was a remarkable showcase of optimism about the future. Surely, with all of our technological and scientific advances, many of humanityâs worst problems would be at an end! As humanity entered the twentieth century, among many thinkers there was this great optimism that Enlightenment idealsâsuch as human perfectibility and the power of reasonâwould usher in a wonderful new era for humanity.
World War I, however, quickly shattered those dreams, and by the end of the twentieth century, we had lost more than 200 million people to warfare. We may have advanced in a technological sense, but certainly not in a moral one. To paraphrase Martin Luther King Jr., we have guided missiles but misguided men. And thatâs a very scary combination.
Many students of prophecy have noticed that the metals in Daniel 2:1-49 move from most valuable to least valuable: gold devalues to silver, silver devalues to brass, and brass to iron, until we end up with only iron and clay.
Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and other nineteenth-century thinkers attempted to convince us that humanity is somehow tracking upwardâthat we are evolving biologically and socially. And though in some ways human existence has improved (at least at a physical level), who actually looks ahead to the future of this world, as it is now ruled and governed, with much optimism about peace, security, and prosperity?
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Jesus warned, â âAnd you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. . . . For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various placesâ â (Matthew 24:6-7, NKJV). Despite these warnings, how can we draw comfort from knowing that we have been warned beforehand about them? |
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