Is there anything you can really trust? Where can you find real, authentic answers to life’s greatest questions? “The Great Controversy” outlines a great cosmic battle, between good and evil, and it is centered around you. How can you survive? What is the answer? In the final episode, we will explore the history of the great battle between good and evil. It will show the fall of Lucifer and demonstrate that God has a plan that will overwhelm the devil’s attack. This is the fourteenth and final episode in the AWR Masterclass series called Unlocking Bible Prophecies. You can follow the series and interact LIVE at: https://bible.awr.org/the-blueprint/ CAMI OETMAN Ten years ago, Cami Oetman had a real encounter with God that would change her life forever. She was a successful entrepreneur at the time, and the transition wasn’t easy. However, the truth Cami will share in this series was so compelling that she knew every human being in the world should experience the love of Jesus as she had. Within three years, she had preached 350 Bible presentations. Today, as a vice president for Adventist World Radio, Cami travels the world documenting the miracles that take place when people give their hearts to Jesus.
It may seem difficult to imagine yourself understanding Bible prophecy. Cami couldn’t either. She had spent two decades in the modeling world — in front of and behind the camera. She had also used her master’s degree in social work to care for hospice patients. She then started a successful retail business. But no one can predict how they will react when they have a real experience with God! THE BLUEPRINT Have you ever been lost without directions or a map? Did you know that God gave us a roadmap to navigate our lives? In order to read God’s map, we must first understand the great controversy, a cosmic war between God and Satan.
The great controversy began with Lucifer, a heavenly angel, proclaiming in Isaiah 14:14 that he wanted to be “like the Most High.” The problem was that Lucifer wanted to be Holy without following the law of God, which reflects His character of love. God needed a jury to judge Lucifer (who became Satan) fairly and justly (Deuteronomy 19:15), so He created humans, partially to serve as jurors and demonstrate His true character (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). Adam and Eve chose to sin against God, disqualifying them from jury selection, because they were no longer law-abiding citizens. The Gospel was given to restore humanity to be sound jurors, who can distinguish from right and wrong. God knew that we would need a map in order to make our way back to heaven. What is this blueprint? The Sanctuary is a unique structure that represents God’s house among His people (Exodus 25:8). It is also the blueprint to God’s plan of salvation, with each piece of furniture symbolizing a part of the Gospel message. God shows His plan to deliver His people through this blueprint. God also gives prophecies, which are like landmarks through time. Our first landmark is in the book of Daniel, the 70-week prophecy that foretells the first coming of the Messiah (Daniel 9:24-27). Israel is not prepared for Jesus’ coming and rejects Him. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two, signifying the end of the earthly blueprint (Matthew 27:51).
The second landmark, the prophecy of 1260 years, states that the little horn would rise in power (Daniel 7:19, 25). Many Seventh-day Adventists believe that the little horn represents papal Rome and have interpreted this prophecy to symbolize an attempted change in the Christian day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. The third landmark, the prophecy of 2300 years, tells us that the sanctuary will be cleansed (Daniel 8:14). We believe that this period of time ended in 1844. Over a period of 500 years, God used the Reformation movement to restore His truth to the world using everyday Christians like you and me.
Finally, we come to our last landmark, the third angel’s message. Revelation 15 and 16 tell us that the seven last plagues are inflicted on those who ignore and reject God’s message. However, those who choose to receive God’s seal are safe (Psalms 91:1-2). The seal of the living God marks the end of our journey (Revelation 7:1-4).
In Revelation 12:10, Satan accuses humanity of falling away from God. However, when God opens the books, heaven’s records show that all our sins have been blotted out. Yes, our merciful God is willing to wipe all our sins away! No matter what you have done, Jesus has enough mercy to cover you. #GoodandEvil #Bible #UBP20 #Ep14 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNUaL5IKMLU
Reactive Abuse and Burning Cities
By Lindsey Abston Painter | 12 June 2020 | When I got divorced I discovered a new community of people: divorced women. In the beginning, I relied heavily on this community for support, for clarity, and for emotional comfort. Now, years later, I still find them to be a deep well of wisdom and friendship. […] Source: https://atoday.org/reactive-abuse-and-burning-cities/
The Bible as Divine Abstract Art
By Victoria Pendleton | 12 June 2020 | A friend of mine tells a story of going to a gallery show of abstract artworks by an artist friend of his. One of the large canvases he found especially striking. It had a white background, and some very flowing, vigorous figures in the foreground that, he […] Source: https://atoday.org/the-bible-as-a-divine-abstract-art/
ADVENTIST NEWS NETWORK | June 12, 2020
Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22.
Dear Brother: I have the most tender love for you, and would that it were otherwise with you; that those pursuing you would let you alone. But, my brother, you must bear in mind that these perplexities and annoying things are included in the “all things” that work together for good to those who love God. The Lord’s eye is upon you…. If you will keep up good courage, if you will stay your soul upon God, if you will trust your heavenly Father as a child trusts its parent, and deal justly and love mercy, God can and will work with you. Then amid all your trials you will honor God, and His promise is sure, “Them that honour me I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30).
Remember that your experience is not the first of the kind. You know the history of Joseph and of Daniel. The Lord did not prevent the wicked plottings of their enemies, but He caused all their devices to work for good to those who kept their faith and loyalty amid trial and conflict.
The furnace fires are not to … [destroy], but to refine, ennoble, sanctify. Without these trials we would not feel so much our need of God and His help. We would become proud and self-sufficient. In these trials I see evidence that the Lord’s eye is upon you, and that He means to draw your heart to Himself. It is not the whole, but the wounded, who need a physician; those who are pressed almost beyond the point of endurance, who need a Helper. Turn unto the stronghold. Learn the precious lesson, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Jesus loves you. The experience which you are having makes me glad, not because you are a sufferer, but because this is evidence to me that the Lord is testing and proving you to see if you will come to Him, to see if you will put your trust in Him, if you will find peace and rest in His love….
Jesus has not left you to be surprised and amazed at the trials and difficulties you meet. He has told you all about them, and He has also told you that you should not be cast down and oppressed when trials come. You are to look to Jesus, your Redeemer, and be cheerful and rejoice…. We have a living Saviour, who so loved us that He died for us, that through Him we might have hope, strength, and courage, and a seat with Him upon His throne.—Letter 8, July 16, 1886, to Dr. J. H. Kellogg, director of Battle Creek Sanitarium.
The Upward Look p. 211
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayers for my father. He’s in ICU with Covid-19. Ana
—-Please pray for Larry. He is in the hospital. Please pray that the doctors will figure out why he is so anemic and has other health issues going on. Rose
—-Please pray for my niece Audry. She had non smokers lung cancer and it has now moved to her brain and spinal cord. Debbie
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Ronnie Jay, Esther Marie, and Brian went camping in Northern Minnesota. Even though it rained almost the entire time, they brought back a multitude of photos and videos of both animals and scenery.How much I enjoyed looking at them! There was so much beauty that I wished I had been there.
Even as I marveled at our Great Creator’s handiwork, there were signs of the enemy’s work in dead and dying flower, leaf, and animal. One poor moose that Ronnie Jay came upon as he was walking off the trail, was nothing more than a bag of bones with skin stretched thinly over them.We felt so sorry for this creature and wondered how long it would be before wolves would find her. That thought makes us look forward all the more to the time when “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev 1:4
Yet, even after 6000 years of sin, there are still scenes of grandeur that are breathtakingly beautiful. These places reminds us of our Great Creator. As we walk beside a river whose rushing water is splashing over great rocks worn smooth by its action, we can think of the works of the Lord upon our heart, constantly bringing about circumstances to mold us into His image. When surrounded by great snowcapped mountains dotted with evergreens nearly to their summit, we can meditate upon the Rock Christ Jesus, Who veiled His glory and majesty and came to this dark and sinful world to live a life filled with all the troubles and trials the evil one could heap upon Him. He is our “chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” He is “the stone which the builders disallowed,” Who is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient.” (1 Peter 2:6,8) As we gaze upon the colorful clouds at the close of the day, we looked forward to our Heavenly Home where all is light and beauty, “and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Rev 21:23
David exclaimed, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” Ps 33:6-9; 19:1-6; 8:3-9
May we spend time viewing our Great Creator’s handiwork, that we may praise the Lord for His marvelous creation. May we meditate upon His mighty works, lifting our mind and heart up in thankfulness to the One Who loves us so.
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/ym67IPpAS0A/cast-thy-burden-upon-the-lord.html
