This week, Pastor Ted Wilson discusses the second chapter of The Great Controversy by Ellen White, entitled "Persecution in the First Centuries." Christ's followers suffered humiliation, suffering, and persecution. They were stripped of their possessions and driven from their homes. They were "falsely accused of the most dreadful crimes and declared to be the cause of great calamities…As they became the objects of popular hatred and suspicion, informers stood ready, for the sake of gain, to betray the innocent. They were condemned as rebels against the empire, as foes of religion, and pests to society. Great numbers were thrown to wild beasts or burned alive in the amphitheaters. Some were crucified; others were covered with the skins of wild animals and thrust into the arena to be torn by dogs. Their punishment was often made the chief entertainment at public fetes. Vast multitudes assembled to enjoy the sight and greeted their dying agonies with laughter and applause" (Ellen White, The Great Controversy, page 40). But despite this, the number of Christians increased. Since Satan wasn't succeeding in wiping them out through brutal persecution, he tried a more deceptive approach. "Persecution ceased, and in its stead were substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity and worldly honor. Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Christian faith while they rejected other essential truths. They professed to accept Jesus as the Son of God and to believe in His death and resurrection, but they had no conviction of sin and felt no need of repentance or of a change of heart" (page 42). This is how compromise and corruption entered the church. "The Bible was not accepted as the standard of faith." Pagan rituals and festivals became a part of the Church's practice. "The doctrine of religious freedom was termed heresy, and its upholders were hated" (page 45). Though ridiculed for their faith, early Christians remained faithful to the teachings of Christ and His disciples. "Well would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast souls were revived in the hearts of God's professed people. There is an alarming indifference in regard to the doctrines which are the pillars of the Christian faith. The opinion is gaining ground that, after all, these are not of vital importance. This degeneracy is strengthening the hands of the agents of Satan, so that false theories and fatal delusions, which the faithful in ages past imperiled their lives to resist and expose, are now regarded with favor by thousands who claim to be followers of Christ" (page 46). We are living in the end times. Our only safety is to build on the solid rock of God's Word. As such, let us ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance as we study the Bible, understand its teachings, accept them into our hearts, and share them to others. To learn more about persecution in the first centuries, read The Great Controversy by Ellen White at https://greatcontroversyproject.org/. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zCKngWKenM

This week, Pastor Ted Wilson discusses the first chapter of The Great Controversy by Ellen White, entitled "The Destruction of Jerusalem." Here, we find Jesus on the Mount of Olives, gazing down on Jerusalem and its temple, weeping while saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you, and close you in on every side, and level you and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another because you did not know the time of your visitation" (Luke 19:42-44, NKJV). Knowing the walls of Jerusalem were high and fortified, how could this destruction be possible? Forty years after that instance, the prophecy was fulfilled: "It was an appalling spectacle…The whole summit of the hill which commanded the city blazed like a volcano. One after another, the buildings fell in with a tremendous crash and were swallowed up in the fiery abyss. The roofs of cedar were like sheets of flame; the gilded pinnacles shone like spikes of red light; the gate towers sent up tall columns of flame and smoke. The neighboring hills were lit up; dark groups of people were seen watching in horrible anxiety the progress of the destruction…The shouts of the Roman soldiery as they ran to and fro, and the howlings of the insurgents who were perishing in the flames, mingled with the roaring of the conflagration and the thundering sound of falling timbers…all along the walls resounded [with] screams and wailing" (Ellen White, The Great Controversy, page 34). Amazingly, no Christians died in the destruction. How did they escape? Christ gave His disciples a warning: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her" (Luke 21:20-21, NKJV). They believed these words and watched for the promised sign. Then, under the command of Cestius, the Romans surrounded the city of Jerusalem. But later, they withdrew. "God's merciful providence was directing events for the good of His own people. The promised sign had been given to the waiting Christians, and now an opportunity was offered for all who would, to obey the Saviour's warning" (Ellen White, The Great Controversy, page 30). All who heeded this warning had already fled when the Romans returned under the command of Titus. These scenes will be repeated in a much bigger way. "The Saviour's prophecy concerning the visitation of judgments upon Jerusalem is to have another fulfillment, of which that terrible desolation was but a faint shadow. In the fate of the chosen city, we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon His law…Terrible have been the results of rejecting the authority of Heaven. But a scene yet darker is presented in the revelations of the future," Ellen White continued on page 36. Nevertheless, we don't have to fear. Jesus "has warned the world of the day of final destruction and has given [us] tokens of its approach, that all who will may flee from the wrath to come" (page 37). Do you believe the end is near? Do you see the signs of Jesus' second coming? Are you ready for it? "Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper" (2 Chronicles 20:20, NKJV). To learn more about the destruction of Jerusalem, read The Great Controversy by Ellen White at https://greatcontroversyproject.org/. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jQ1X5E9beo

This week, ASTR’s Dr. David Trimm meets with Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists editor, Dr. Dragoslava Santrac, to discuss the growing online resource containing hundreds of articles on Adventist mission stories, among other content.
Topics of discussion: how Adventist mission work expanded in Europe and the Middle East through the work of Adventist missionary, Emil Frauchiger. Also, this week in Adventist history and Adventist healthcare highlighted in the Adventist Yearbook. The Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research (ASTR) is a department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that brings together the Church’s past and present to inspire the future.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 21 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers who promise to help people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Click the notification bell so that you never miss a new video! Find us on social media by following the links below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAdventist
Twitter:https://twitter.com/adventistchurch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventistch Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVS0K7VF5xw

Have you ever sung a song and actually thought about the words you were singing? Music is a gift from God, given to help us express our worship and gratitude to Him. It is also a form of pouring out our hearts to Him and expressing our deepest thoughts. Next time you sing a song during a worship service, stop to consider the words you are singing and what they mean. Music is a beautiful way to share the gospel, and many truths are communicated in this manner. This #short clip from the Global #Campmeeting sermon, “Four Practical Ways to Deepen Your Worship Experience Through Music” with Ryan Day and Tim Parton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyIit3qqREE&list=PL-k2Gb-DBYo9tb9fHW_AxGxJ1R8MpNnpa&index=41 discusses how music can be used to communicate the truths of the gospel. Watch the video to find out why understanding what you’re singing can profoundly impact your walk with Jesus.
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The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 21 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers who promise to help people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Click the notification bell so that you never miss a new video! Find us on social media by following the links below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAdventistChurch
Twitter:https://twitter.com/adventistchurch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventistchurch/ Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCc-2ZCLuo4

Can the Christian ideal of Psalm 139 be reconciled with the evidence of science? Timothy Standish examines the nature of humanity based on the findings of history’s most celebrated scientists versus that revealed in Scripture. In the Bible, we find one of the reasons for praising and worshiping God is His creative design. This design does not go unnoticed by scientists and even non-believers in the science community. . Watch as Tim Standish looks at renowned intellectuals like Richard Dawkins and Charles Darwin to extract truths to complement the Truth of God’s relationship to humanity. . #Campmeeting The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 21 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers who promise to help people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Click the notification bell so you never miss a new video! Find us on social media by following the links below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAdventistChurch
Twitter:https://twitter.com/adventistchurch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventistchurch/ Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_44S5MBHnjM