Lesson 10: Upon Whom the Ends Have Come

10.5 The Pre-Advent Judgment

When the Final Hour Strikes – Insights for the End Times

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Introduction

The Bible speaks not only prophetically and openly about the end of the world, but often also implicitly and existentially. It shows, through historical events—such as Creation, the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the life of Daniel—principles that point directly into the future. The hope for the Kingdom of God is already visible in the beginnings of the story.

This lesson teaches us:
God’s plan has been directed toward eternity from the very start—and you are part of it.

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Bible Study – The Message of the End in the Old Testament

1. Creation – the Beginning Is the Promise of the End

The world begins with a divine word. Sabbath, the goal of the Creation week, points not only back to God’s work but forward to eternal rest (cf. Heb 4:9). Hope for a new Eden is deeply embedded in Creation—we come from God’s hand, and history leads back to Him (Rev 21).

2. The Flood – Judgment and Salvation at Once

As in the days of Noah: people lived as if there were no tomorrow. But suddenly, judgment came. Jesus Himself draws this parallel to the end times. The Flood reminds us that God’s patience has limits. But it also shows: God saves those who trust Him. The Ark is a symbol of Christ—our secure refuge.

3. Sodom and Gomorrah – Grace before Judgment

God shares His plans with Abraham—just as He does with His children today. Abraham intercedes for others—persistently, humbly, courageously. That too is an end-times model: intercession instead of indifference. The destruction of Sodom is God’s response to unbridled wickedness, yet His patience and mercy remain evident.

  4. Daniel – Living with an Eternal Perspective

Daniel lives at the heart of the world power Babylon—but he lives differently. His diet, his attitude, his faith: everything is shaped by the Kingdom of God. Daniel shows us that it is possible to live by God’s principles in a godless world, and that hope for the eternal Kingdom can shape our thinking, decisions, and actions.

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Spiritual Principles

God’s story is not past; it is moving toward its goal.

Every beginning in the Bible carries within it the promise of a new ending.

God’s judgment is always accompanied by grace, patience, and salvation.

Our present life is part of a larger narrative—an eternal one.

Faith shows itself in everyday life: in what we eat, how we think, how we behave, and in our relationships.

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Application in Daily Life

Live consciously with eternity in your heart—remember that your life is more than this world.

Keep the Sabbath as a weekly foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God.

Practice intercession—pray for people who are far from God, just as Abraham did.

Live integratively, even in a godless environment—like Daniel.

Act according to God’s standards, even when they seem outdated or uncomfortable.

Trust that God sees your life—and does not forget what you do in secret.

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Conclusion

God’s story is a movement from beginning to completion. What started in Eden will end in the new Creation. And in between stands you—invited to make your life part of this hope.

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Thought of the Day

“God has placed eternity in our hearts—so that we do not perish in the transient.”
– freely after Ecclesiastes 3:11

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Illustration – The Day Everything Changed

The day began like any other. Jonas woke up late, the coffee machine was empty, and his little brother had unplugged the Wi-Fi router again, convinced it would improve his “ping.” Nothing special. Nothing world-shaking. And yet—something felt different.

It had rained heavily overnight. The street in front of the house was half-flooded, and neighbors were cursing softly as they tried to move their cars. Jonas pulled on his black jacket, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and ran toward the bus stop. The air smelled of earth, fresh, almost like… like the beginning. He couldn’t describe it, but the day felt like a beginning. Or an end.

At school, everyone was talking about the earthquake in Turkey. A 7.9—severe, many dead. During the break someone said, “Climate change, pandemic, war, now an earthquake—this is no longer normal.” Jonas listened but said nothing. He was thinking about what he had read the night before. A random Bible passage that had opened before him when he idly flipped through his grandmother’s old Bible: “As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man…”

He could not forget that sentence. It kept appearing in his mind’s eye. What was it like in the days of Noah? Had anyone cared? Or had everyone continued eating, building, living as if nothing were happening?

After class, Jonas did not go straight home. Instead, he headed to the small park behind the library. It was quiet there; you could hear the birds, the water, the wind—things you easily miss in everyday life. He sat on a bench, pulled the old book from his backpack, and opened it again. This time he landed in Genesis. The Creation. “And God saw that it was good.”

Was it? Was it still good?

Jonas thought about his environment, about his school, about himself. People were living as if there were no tomorrow—but everyone was afraid of tomorrow. Some hid in distraction, others in control. And others—like him—simply felt lost. Was there a plan? A beginning and an end?

His thoughts were interrupted by a message: “Are you coming today or not?” It was his girlfriend, Leni. He texted back, “I’m on my way.” But he didn’t go. He stayed seated.

Because in that moment he realized: If there is a Creator, then there is also purpose. If there was meaning at the beginning, then there is also meaning at the end. And if that’s true—then I’m not a coincidence.

Over the following week, Jonas began to live differently on purpose. Not fanatically, not dramatically—but honestly. He asked questions. He searched. He began to observe the Sabbath consciously—not because he had to, but because he wanted to understand what “rest” means in a world that never stands still.

He didn’t change everything overnight. But he became quieter. More awake. More observant. And gradually, he grew braver as well. He read about Daniel, who lived in Babylon yet remained faithful inwardly. He saw himself in these stories— not as a hero, but as someone who wanted to belong: to God’s story.

One day he was sitting in the cafeteria when his classmate Chiara joined him. “You’ve become somehow calmer,” she said. “But not in a bad way. More… peaceful.”

Jonas smiled. “I think I’ve found something.”

She frowned. “What?”

He hesitated, then said, “Purpose. Direction. Hope.”

She looked at him for a long moment. “That’s rare.”

He nodded. “I know.”

That evening he sat again in the park, alone under the open sky. The clouds had moved on, and on the horizon stretched a thin rainbow. No loud sign. No miracle. Just an arc of light—still and yet profound.

Jonas didn’t know what would happen tomorrow. But he knew: He no longer belonged only to a world in decline. He belonged to a story heading toward renewal.

And that was enough.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-10-upon-whom-the-ends-have-come-10-6-summary-allusions-images-symbols-living-faith/

The Message of Exodus

The message of the biblical book of Exodus is powerful, profound, and central to the understanding of the Old Testament. It can be divided into three main themes:

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1. Deliverance from Slavery – God Rescues His People

At the heart of Exodus is the story of Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian slavery. God hears the cries of His people (Exodus 2:23–25) and acts with power and mercy. Through Moses as His instrument, He leads His people out of oppression—with ten plagues, the Passover, and the crossing of the Red Sea.

Central Message:

God is a saving God. He delivers people from bondage—then as now.

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2. Covenant and Law – God Reveals His Will

At Mount Sinai, God reveals Himself to His people and makes a covenant with them. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) lie at the center of this covenant. They show how life with God and with one another is to be lived.

Central Message:

God is not only a Savior but also a Lawgiver. Those who are freed do not live aimlessly—but according to divine principles.

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3. God’s Presence Among His People

In the second part of the book, God gives instructions for the Tabernacle—the Tent of Meeting. It is meant to be a visible sign that God dwells in the midst of His people (Exodus 25:8). The many details for its construction reveal how holy, accessible, and faithful God is.

Central Message:

God is not a distant God. He dwells among His people and desires a relationship.

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Summary of the Message of Exodus:

God delivers – God leads – God dwells with His people.
He is faithful, just, mighty, and full of grace.
The Exodus is not only a historical event but also a spiritual pattern for the life of every believer: from the slavery of sin into freedom with God.

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June 6, 2025

DAILY BIBLE READING

Exodus 1 – God’s People Under Pressure – Yet Unstoppable

How God Remains Faithful Amid Oppression and Causes His People to Grow

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Bible Text – Exodus 1 (KJV)

1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.

² Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

³ Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

⁴ Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

⁵ And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

⁶ And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

⁷ And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

⁸ Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

⁹ And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

¹⁰ Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

¹¹ Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

¹² But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

¹³ And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

¹⁴ And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

¹⁵ And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

¹⁶ And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

¹⁷ But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

¹⁸ And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

¹⁹ And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

²⁰ Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

²¹ And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

²² And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

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Introduction

The story of the people of Israel in Egypt does not begin with freedom or departure—but with hardship. The God who promised Abraham a great offspring in Genesis seems to be hidden in the shadows while a new Pharaoh rules with violence and fear.

Yet Exodus 1 shows: God’s plans cannot be thwarted—even by human power or political systems. This chapter is not only a historical introduction but also a powerful picture of how God acts even in the darkest times.

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Commentary

1. Names, Origins, and Continuity (vv. 1–5)

“These are the names…”
The opening verses bridge back to Genesis: Jacob and his sons, the patriarchs of Israel, have come to Egypt. This list reminds us of God’s faithfulness—He has not forgotten their story.

2. Blessing Amid Foreignness (vv. 6–7)

“The Israelites flourished… and the land was filled with them.”
Despite being in a foreign land and facing seeming invisibility of God, the people grow. Here God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 12) is fulfilled: “I will make of you a great nation.” Their increase is a blessing for the world.

3. New Power, New Threat (vv. 8–10)

“A new king…who did not know Joseph.”
Political amnesia changes everything. Suspicion becomes strategy: Pharaoh no longer sees the Israelites as guests but as a threat. Fear leads to oppression—a dynamic we still recognize today.

4. Systematic Oppression (vv. 11–14)

“They set taskmasters over them to thrust them into forced labor.”
What begins as political concern becomes structural violence. The Israelites are reduced to slave labor, their freedom and dignity systematically destroyed. Yet:
“The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied.”
God’s promise proves stronger than Egypt’s schemes.

5. The Courage of the Midwives (vv. 15–21)

“But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them; they let the boys live.”
Two ordinary women—Shiphrah and Puah—defy the orders of the world’s most powerful man. Why? Because they fear God more than people. Their civil disobedience preserves life—and God blesses them for it.

6. Brutal Escalation (v. 22)

“Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, ‘Every son who is born you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.’”
When subtlety fails, Pharaoh resorts to outright violence. This final verse is grim—but it sets the stage for God’s intervention in the next chapter. When human control collapses, God’s plan becomes visible.

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Summary

Exodus 1 portrays the shift from blessing to slavery—and how God’s people are oppressed yet continue to grow. Pharaoh fears Israel and tries to subjugate them by force. But God works behind the scenes: through the people’s growth, through the courage of simple women, through quiet faithfulness. Humans may try to stop what God has begun—but they cannot succeed.

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Message for Us Today

God’s promises hold true even in hard times. If you feel under pressure, remember: God is present—even when things feel darkest.

Growth often happens amid hardship. Precisely in difficult seasons, your faith can deepen. Resistance builds character.

Courage begins in small acts. Shiphrah and Puah were not prophets or queens—they were simply faithful women who feared God. And God uses ordinary people to preserve life.

Civil disobedience can be godly. When what is demanded of you contradicts God’s Word, you must say “No.” Fear God above all people.

God’s story continues. Even though chapter 1 ends in darkness, deliverance soon begins. God’s plans do not end in suffering—they often unfold right there.

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June 1 – 7, 2025

WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING

Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 8

After the Flood

Read online here

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Introduction

The flood was over. The waters receded, and the ark came to rest. But life after the flood was not simply a continuation—it was a complete new beginning. In Chapter 8 of Patriarchs and Prophets, we read how God not only saves but also leads, protects, and grants new promises. Noah, the faithful preacher of righteousness, stands as a shining example of obedience, gratitude, and trust—even in times of deep uncertainty. The world that awaited him was no longer the same—but God had not changed: faithful, powerful, and full of grace.

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Commentary

1. Faith in the Test (The Months in the Ark)

The five months spent in the ark were a hard trial of patience. Without knowing when the waters would recede, Noah remained steadfast. He did not doubt God’s leading. Faith carried him and his family through the darkness.
Lesson: True trust is shown in the silence of waiting. God’s hand guides even when we cannot see it.

2. The Ordered Return (The Birds and Patience)

Noah sent out the raven and the dove in search of a sign. But he did not act impatiently—he left the ark only when God explicitly commanded him.
Lesson: Even when we see signs, our decisions must be guided by God’s word, not by circumstances alone.

3. The First Altar (Gratitude and Sacrifice)

Before he built a home for himself, Noah built an altar for God. He offered clean animals—an expression of his faith in the coming sacrifice of Christ.
Lesson: True gratitude first honors the One who gave everything—even when our own resources are scarce.

4. God’s Response: The New Covenant

God smelled the “pleasing aroma” of the sacrifice and declared a new covenant: there would be no more global flood. The rainbow became the sign of this covenant.
Lesson: God uses visible signs to assure us of His invisible faithfulness. His promises are for all generations.

5. A Changed Earth, A Changed Lifestyle

The earth was completely altered—landscape and ecosystem. God permitted the eating of meat as an adaptation to the new reality.
Lesson: God’s care and instructions adapt to human situations, but His moral will remains unchanged.

6. Hidden Treasures and Judgment

The flood buried not only bodies but also human pride, wealth, and idolatry. From this came coal, oil, and ore—evidence of God’s judgment but also of His mercy.
Lesson: What man abused, God transformed into a testimony of His power and justice.

7. Future Judgments: Fire Instead of Water

As water once cleansed the earth, so fire will purify it at the end. Volcanoes, earthquakes, and disasters are forerunners of Christ’s return.
Lesson: God’s warnings are not meant to frighten but to call us to repentance—His grace protects His people.

8. God’s Protection for His Own

Just as Noah was safe in the ark, God’s people will be protected by His power at the end. Psalm 91 becomes a personal promise amid chaos.
Lesson: The safe place is not geographical, but spiritual—under God’s wings.

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Summary

After the flood, Noah stepped into a radically changed world. But in the midst of death and destruction, his heart remained focused on God. His obedience, gratitude, and faith make him a model for all generations. And God responded with grace, promise, and protection. The rainbow stretching across the sky and throne remains the eternal sign: God’s covenant stands. And though future judgments will come, He will preserve those who trust in Him.

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Message for Us Today

In a world again marked by uncertainty, disasters, and moral decay, God calls us to live like Noah: with faith, obedience, and gratitude. When all that we know is shaken, we can rest assured:

God’s hand is still at the helm.
His covenant still stands. The rainbow in the sky is more than a natural phenomenon—it is a testimony of His faithfulness. And just as Noah was preserved in the midst of judgment, so we too can know:

The righteous are safe—not because they are strong, but because they trust in God.

So then, let us build altars of gratitude before we build houses. Let us give before we take. Let us believe before we see.
For the Lord, your Redeemer, says:
“My kindness shall not depart from you.” (Isaiah 54:10)

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/6-6-2025-exodus-chapter-1-believe-his-prophets/