Lesson 1 – Some Principles of Prophecy

1.4 Studying the Word

Understanding Prophecy Means Letting the Whole Bible Speak

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Introduction – Seeing the Whole

Many Christians look for quick answers in the Bible – a verse for comfort, a quote against doubt, a proof text for a debate. But to understand prophecy, one must go deeper.

Like a puzzle, the picture only becomes clear when enough pieces are properly connected. Two verses don’t make a doctrine – and a text ripped out of context can confuse more than enlighten.

William Miller wasn’t perfect, but he had a method: Let the whole Bible speak. And this approach paved the way for a movement still searching for truth today.

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Bible Study – What does Scripture say about studying Scripture?

• Matthew 5:18: “Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law…”

• 2 Timothy 3:15–17: All Scripture is God-breathed – useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

• Luke 24:27: Jesus Himself explained to the disciples “what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

Key Point:

The Bible is a unified whole.
To understand prophecy, we must be willing to compare Scripture with Scripture.
Jesus is the central thread – even in prophecy.

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Spiritual Principles – The Bible Interprets Itself

1. The Bible is not a quote dictionary. Quoting verse by verse in isolation misses the bigger picture.

2. Context is crucial. A text without context easily becomes a pretext.

3. Prophecy is not a guessing game. Imposing current events over Scripture often leads to speculation.

4. The Holy Spirit leads us into understanding – through patience and humility.

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Application in Everyday Life – How We Should Read the Bible Today

Take time for the whole. Don’t just read verses – read entire chapters. See how they connect.
Let the Bible explain the Bible. When a verse is unclear, find other passages that speak about it.
Don’t ask: “What fits my opinion?” – but rather: “What does God say in His whole Word?”
Be cautious with so-called new discoveries. What seems “new” often results from disconnected texts.
Speak with love when others argue from isolated proof texts. Truth doesn’t win by quarrels, but through clarity and heart.

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Conclusion – All of Scripture Leads to the Fullness of Christ

We don’t need new speculations but a return to the proven method: Interpret Scripture with Scripture.

Not the loudest voice is right – but the one who listens deeply.
Not the fastest judgment brings clarity – but patient searching.

The Bible is not a patchwork, but a woven whole.
And the center of all prophecy is Jesus Christ.

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Thought of the Day

He who knows only isolated verses barely knows the Bible. He who listens to it fully hears God’s voice.

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Illustration – More Than One Verse

It was late evening in a small apartment in Munich.
Lina sat on the couch, laptop on her knees, Bible app open. She was preparing for the Friday night Bible study.

Her brother Leo, 25, had just returned from work. He wasn’t a churchgoer – but always ready for a debate.
“You’re reading that old Bible again?” he teased, pulling off his jacket.
“Yes,” Lina replied calmly, “we’re going to talk about the prophecy of Daniel.”
“Oh, Daniel. I saw something on TikTok – apparently it all happened already. Back during the Roman Empire or whatever.”

Lina smiled. “TikTok is fast – but not always deep.”
Leo sat down. “So what do you think?”

Lina opened to Daniel 8:14.
“Many people quote just this one verse – but William Miller did something different. He searched for how this verse fits into the whole context. And it took him years to see the connections.”
“That sounds complicated,” Leo muttered.
“It is. But it’s like a puzzle. You can’t stop after the second piece and say you know the picture.”

Leo was silent for a moment. Then he asked, “So… what is the picture in the end?”
Lina looked at him.
“Jesus. Always Jesus.”

He said nothing. But as she continued reading, he leaned back. Not convinced – but curious.
And maybe that was the beginning.
Not with a single verse.
But with a picture.
A picture the Bible itself paints.
For everyone who wants to see.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-1-some-principles-of-prophecy-1-4-studying-the-word-allusions-images-symbols-living-faith/

2 April 2025

DAILY BIBLE READING – Revelation Chapter 8

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Bible Text (King James Version)

¹ And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

² And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

³ And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

⁴ And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

⁵ And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

⁶ And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

⁷ The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

⁸ And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

⁹ And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

¹⁰ And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

¹¹ And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

¹² And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

¹³ And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

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Explanation & Classification

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Introduction

Revelation 8 introduces us to a very serious and symbolically charged part of Scripture. With the opening of the seventh seal, John’s dramatic vision continues. Unlike the previous seals, however, no immediate action follows; instead, there is a half-hour of silence in heaven. This silence is not emptiness but a significant pause—a moment of divine stillness before God’s judgments begin in the form of the seven trumpets. The chapter reminds us that God is not indifferent to the evil in the world. His justice will be revealed—but always in connection with grace, patience, and the call to repentance.

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Commentary

1. The Silence in Heaven (Verse 1)

The half-hour silence after the opening of the seventh seal is unique. It may indicate the end of the period of grace—a symbolic moment of tension and transition. It is as if heaven itself holds its breath. God’s judgment begins, but not without one final moment of grace and waiting.

2. The Prayers of the Saints (Verses 3–5)

Before the judgment begins, the prayers of the believers ascend like smoke before God. This shows that no prayer is in vain. The angel’s service with the golden censer reminds us of Jesus’ priestly ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. The combination of incense and fire alludes to purification, but also to the impending judgment.

3. The First Four Trumpets (Verses 6–12)

The judgments that follow affect a third of nature, the sea, water sources, and the heavenly bodies—symbolically indicating limitation. God does not judge to annihilate, but to warn. The images of fire, blood, bitter water, and darkness recall the plagues of Egypt—signs of divine authority and a call to repentance.

4. The Flying Angel and the Triple Woe (Verse 13)

The angel proclaims loudly, “Woe, woe, woe!”—an emphatic warning that the trumpets to come will be even more severe. It is a wake-up call to the inhabitants of the earth to consider their ways.

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Summary

Revelation 8 demonstrates that God’s judgment is not a sudden outburst of wrath, but part of His holy, righteous action in a world full of rebellion. The silence, the prayers of the saints, and the measured judgments reveal God’s patience. He seeks to warn, awaken, and call for repentance. Every step underscores the reality that God does not turn away—but calls out.

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Message for Us Today

God hears our prayers—even when they seem to be met with silence. His silence does not imply absence, but sometimes preparation. The silence in heaven invites us to become still ourselves, to pause, and to give space for God. The trumpets serve as a reminder: this world will not continue in the same way forever. God will act—justly, holy, and yet full of mercy. Our charge is to remain ready, to be faithful in intercession, and to warn others of the coming judgment—with love, seriousness, and hope.

 

WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING
Ellen G. White – Steps to Christ
Chapter 11 – The Privilege of Prayer
Read online here

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Explanation & Classification

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Introduction

Prayer is more than a religious obligation or a cry for help in difficult times – it is the living connection between the human soul and the heart of God.
Chapter 11 of Steps to Christ shows us that prayer is not only possible, but a divine privilege – a channel of grace and communion with a loving, listening Father.
And yet – this gift is often neglected, to the great loss of our spiritual life.

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Commentary

Paragraphs 1–4: The Necessity of Prayer

God speaks to us through nature, Scripture, providence, and His Spirit.
But without our response in prayer, the relationship remains incomplete.
Prayer is more than words – it is opening our heart to God and drawing near to Him.

Paragraphs 5–6: Jesus’ Example in Prayer

Jesus – though divine and without sin – felt the need for prayer.
He sought solitude, carried our burdens, and became our intercessor.
If the Son of God prayed, how much more do we need to pray!

Paragraphs 7–10: God’s Willingness to Hear

God longs to bless us – and yet we pray so little!
The angels can hardly understand this – for they know the joy of constant communion.
Without prayer, we disconnect from heaven and stand defenseless against temptation.

Paragraphs 11–18: Conditions for Answered Prayer

Prayer must be sincere – coming from a heart that longs for God.
Repentance, confession, and forgiveness toward others are essential.
Faith is key – even when we see no immediate answer.
God hears – and answers at the right time, according to our real needs.

Paragraphs 19–25: The Power of Personal and Constant Prayer

Private prayer – in stillness and solitude – has great value.
But prayer can also be a continual connection, a life lived with God.
Biblical examples like Enoch and Nehemiah show us: true prayer is a lifestyle.

Paragraphs 26–30: The Danger of Neglected Prayer

Neglecting prayer leads to spiritual weakness and distance from God.
True devotion includes prayer, fellowship, and service.
Those who isolate themselves or pray without action lose the joy and power of prayer.

Paragraphs 31–End: The Joy of Prayer and Praise

Thanksgiving and praise should be central to our prayer life.
God wants our worship to be joyful, trusting, and full of love – not fear.
Praise opens our hearts to God’s presence and prepares us to receive more blessings.

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Summary

Prayer is a sacred gift of grace, through which we live in communion with God.
It is the “key in the hand of faith” that opens heaven’s treasure house.
Prayer is indispensable to the spiritual life – but its power depends on conditions: humility, faith, forgiveness, and perseverance.
Christ gave us the perfect example – and invites us to find strength, peace, and nearness to God through prayer.

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Message for Us Today

In a world of noise, stress, and distraction – prayer remains our direct line to heaven.

“Ask, and it shall be given you…” (Matthew 7:7)
God waits for us – not as a distant judge, but as a loving Father.
Prayer does not change God – it changes us:
Our trust deepens, our thoughts become clear, and our hearts are opened to His Spirit.

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What does this mean for you today?

• Take time for silent, personal prayer – not out of duty, but for peace and strength.

• Stay connected with God throughout the day – in thought, in whisper, in silence.

• Trust His answers – even when they come differently than expected.

• Forgive others – we cannot ask for grace while holding onto bitterness.

• Praise God! Gratitude transforms the heart and prepares us for more blessings.

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Prayer is not just speaking with God – it is living with God.
Let us live in the light of this grace-filled gift.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/2-04-2025-revelation-chapter-8-believe-his-prophets/

Lesson 1 – Some Principles of Prophecy

1.3 Daniel-Shut Up the Words

When Knowledge Blossoms in the Time of the End

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Introduction – When Truth Remains Sealed

Some 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.

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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.

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Spiritual Principles – What We Learn from Daniel 12:4

• God’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.

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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.

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Conclusion – Knowledge at the Right Time

God 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.

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Thought of the Day

God has opened the book — now it’s up to us not just to read it, but to live it.

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Illustration – The Opened Book

Soft 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.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-1-some-principles-of-prophecy-1-3-daniel-shut-up-the-words-allusions-images-symbols-living-faith/

April 1, 2025

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/1-04-2025-revelation-chapter-7-believe-his-prophets/

Lesson 1 – Some Principles of Prophecy

1.2 God Wants to Be Understood

A Clear God in a Confused World

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Introduction – When Communication Becomes a Challenge

Few things are more frustrating than urgently needing to communicate — for example, in a hospital in a foreign country — and realizing you don’t have the language to do so.

Sometimes, faith feels similar: we know God speaks, but do we really understand Him?

The Bible clearly says:

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

God is infinite; we are limited — and yet He wants us to understand what truly matters:
His love, His plan of salvation, and His invitation to relationship.

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Bible Study – What Does Scripture Say About God’s Insight?

• Psalm 139:1–6: God knows us completely — even our unspoken thoughts.

• Psalm 147:5: His wisdom is beyond measure.

• Romans 11:33: His ways and thoughts are deep and unsearchable.

• 1 John 3:20: God is greater than our hearts — and He knows everything.

Key Message:
God is all-knowing — but He does not want to remain hidden.
He speaks in a language that our hearts can understand, especially when it comes to salvation.

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Spiritual Principles – Understanding What Truly Matters

• We will never fully grasp God — but enough to be saved.
  (2 Timothy 3:14–15)

• Prophecy is not for speculation, but for revealing Jesus.
  It helps us recognize the plan of redemption.

• God wants everyone, even the lowliest, to understand His offer.
  That’s why He speaks clearly, lovingly, invitingly.

• Understanding begins with relationship, not intellect.
  The depth of God is revealed to those who truly seek Him.

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Life Application – How Do I Deal with Not Knowing Everything?

• Focus on what God has already revealed to you.
  ➤ Live it, share it, trust Him in it.

• Don’t let unanswered questions paralyze you.
  ➤ Faith doesn’t mean knowing everything — it means trusting the One who does.

• Trust God’s clarity — despite your limitations.
  ➤ You don’t have to understand it all to live rightly.

• Be faithful in the little things.
  ➤ Obedience in daily life opens the way to deeper understanding.

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Conclusion – God Reveals Himself to Be Known

We will never fully comprehend God’s thoughts —
but we can grasp what matters:

• Jesus Christ as Savior

• God’s Word as clear revelation

• Prophecy as an invitation to hope

Don’t hide behind “not knowing” — live in the light of what you do know.

God speaks so that He may be understood.

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Thought of the Day

You don’t have to understand everything — but you are invited to trust the One who understands you completely.

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Illustration – To Be Understood

It was a chilly Tuesday evening in Berlin.
The windows of the small apartment fogged up slowly as Mira, 27, tried to make her way through a chapter of Revelation.

She hadn’t grown up religious. Theology had always been a topic in books — not in life.
But for a few months now, one thought hadn’t let her go:

“If God really speaks — why have I never heard Him?”

She had bought a simple Bible, downloaded an app, and subscribed to a podcast called “Prophecy for Beginners.”
And there she was — somewhere between daily chaos, university stress, and relationship drama — reading lines that felt strange, yet surprisingly familiar.

“Whoever has ears, let them hear…”

She scoffed quietly.

“I am listening — but what does any of this mean?”

A few hours later, still unsettled on the bus, the thought that God might truly know her wouldn’t leave her alone.
Not just her performance, her thoughts — but her heart.

Back home, she opened her Bible again.

Psalm 139.

“LORD, You have searched me and known me…”

Her fingers trembled slightly.

“You understand my thoughts from afar.”

She wept.
Not because she understood everything — but because, for the first time, she felt understood.

Maybe this was the beginning.
Not of “seeing it all clearly” —
but of trust.

“For God is greater than our hearts and knows all things.” (1 John 3:20)

And Mira knew:
She would keep asking.
Keep reading.
But not to take control —
rather, to listen.

Because she had come to understand:

God doesn’t speak to confuse —
He speaks to reach.

And she had been reached.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-1-some-principles-of-prophecy-1-2-god-wants-to-be-understood-allusions-images-symbols-living-faith/