14 November 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Would it be better for me to marry a Seventh-day Adventist man even if he’s not my ideal man, or a man who isn’t Seventh-day Adventist but has the qualities I’m looking for? Signed, Searching Dear Searching When Aunty was young, she was told that Adventists should always […] Source: https://atoday.org/must-i-marry-an-adventist-man-to-be-happy/
Wednesday: At the Sound of the Trumpet
The Thessalonians were convinced that eternal life would be granted exclusively to those who would remain alive until the Second Coming. “They had carefully guarded the lives of their friends, lest they should die and lose the blessing which they looked forward to receiving at the coming of their Lord. But one after another their loved ones had been taken from them, and with anguish the Thessalonians had looked for the last time upon the faces of their dead, hardly daring to hope to meet them in a future life.” — Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 258.
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. How did Paul correct this misconception?
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
There is a historical tendency to read into the expression, “bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, NKJV) more than the text is saying. Many who accept the theory of the natural immortality of the soul suggest that Christ, at His second coming, will bring with Him from heaven the souls of the righteous dead who are already in heaven with God. Those souls thus can be reunited with their respective resurrected bodies. But such an interpretation is not in harmony with the overall teachings of Paul on the subject.
Read the words of this non-Adventist theologian on the real meaning of this verse: “The reason why the Thessalonian Christians can have hope as they grieve for the dead members of their church is that God ‘will bring’ them, that is, he will resurrect these deceased believers and cause them to be present at Christ‘s return, such that they will be ‘with him.’ The implication is that these deceased believers will not be at some kind of disadvantage at the parousia of Christ but will be ‘with him’ in such a way that they share equally with living believers in the glory associated with his return.” — Jeffrey A. D. Weima, 1-2 Thessalonians, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014), p. 319.
If the souls of the righteous dead were already with the Lord in heaven, Paul would not need to mention the final resurrection as the Christian hope; he could have just mentioned that the righteous were already with the Lord. But, instead, he says that “those who sleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, NKJV) would be resurrected from the dead at the end of time.
The hope in the final resurrection brought comfort to the grieving Thessalonians. The same hope can help us face with confidence the painful moments when the cold grip of death takes our loved ones from us.
Amen!
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The post Wednesday: At the Sound of the Trumpet appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/wednesday-at-sound-of-trumpet/
Southern Adventist University Archeologists Assist in Huge Discovery
14 November 2022 | Southern Adventist University archaeologists Yosef Garfinkel, Michael G. Hasel, and Martin G. Klingbeil teamed up with students and employees from Southern Adventist University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to uncover a tiny ivory comb with the oldest sentence written in the world’s first alphabet. According to Smithsonian magazine, archaeologists unearthed […] Source: https://atoday.org/southern-adventist-university-archeologists-assist-in-huge-discovery/
Acusaciones de malversación de fondos en Asociación de Panamá
El tesorero de la Asociación Metropolitana de Panamá, el Sr. Ovidio Abdiel Guerra, fue destituido de su cargo tras ser acusado de malversación de fondos. En una reunión de Zoom celebrada el domingo 11 de septiembre de 2022, el presidente de la Asociación, Eluvinio Castrellón, explicó la salida del tesorero a los Ancianos de las […] Source: https://atoday.org/acusaciones-de-malversacion-de-fondos-en-asociacion-de-panama/
Not an Emotion or Rapture
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2.
My brother, there is danger of those in our ranks making a mistake in regard to receiving the Holy Ghost. Many suppose an emotion or a rapture of feeling to be an evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit. There is danger that right sentiments will not be understood, and that Christ’s words “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20) will lose their significance. There is danger that original devisings and superstitious imaginings will take the place of the Scriptures. Tell our people, Be not anxious to bring in something not revealed in the Word. Keep close to Christ. Remember His words: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (verse 20).
He is with us as we teach the words He spoke in the Old Testament as well as in the New. He who gave commandment in the New Testament is the One also who gave the instruction contained in the Old Testament. The Old and New Testaments are both sacred; for they both contain the words of Christ. All communication from heaven to earth since Adam’s fall has come through Christ. He who believes the instruction contained in the New Testament and in the Old, doing those things which Christ has commanded therein, has the Saviour always with him.—The Kress Collection, 126.
The apostles and prophets and holy men of old did not perfect their characters by miracles, by some wonderful and unusual demonstration; but they used the ability given them by God, trusting alone in the righteousness of Christ. And all who will use the same means may secure the same result.—The General Conference Bulletin, July 1, 1900.
Satan is willing that every transgressor of God’s law shall claim to be holy. This is what he himself is doing. He is satisfied when men rest their faith on spurious doctrines and religious enthusiasm; for he can use such persons to good purpose in deceiving souls.—Evangelism, 597.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 327
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Prayer Requests
—-Ron had surgery for an umbilical hernia just over a week ago. He is still having a lot of pain whenever he tries to drive or anything much. Please pray that he mends quickly. Rose
—-E and children need extra prayer. R
—-Please pray for my husband Marcelo. He has been experiencing GI distress for over 3 weeks. He had an endoscopy this morning. Please pray for good news and healing. Rachelle
—-Jaclyn got an appointment set up for an ultrasound for her heart. They think she may have an undiagnosed defect that is causing her sleep issues and may be a big part of her seizure issue. She can get in in about 3 weeks and she’s so nervous right now. Pray with me that she will have peace and not worry. Jennifer
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Dear Friends,
Since I have had a very busy couple of weeks, I haven’t had time to send out the devotional. Today, I have a couple of free minutes, so I thought I would share a hymn that is a favorite of mine. It was written by Jessie E. Strout.
Lift up the trumpet, and loud let it ring:
Jesus is coming again!
Cheer up, ye pilgrims, be joyful and sing:
Jesus is coming again!
Echo it, hilltops; proclaim it, ye plains:
Jesus is coming again!
Coming in glory, the Lamb that was slain;
Jesus is coming again!
Heavings of earth, tell the vast, wondering throng:
Jesus is coming again!
Tempests and whirlwinds, the anthem prolong;
Jesus is coming again!
Coming again, coming again,
Jesus is coming again!
May we look around us and see the rapidly fulfilling signs that the end is near even at the doors. May we be ready for Jesus to come. May we share the good news of His coming to all around us.
Rose
Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/not-an-emotion-or-rapture.html
