Inside Story for Friday 10th of May 2024

By Nelson Cinco Reis Chitaonga

and Calavete Sabonete Ossifo

Few people can say that they have seen an angel. Oyele says he has seen an angel—not just once, but four times.

Oyele slipped away from his childhood faith as he labored for three years away from home, helping construct a 250-mile (400-kilometer) road between the cities of Mocuba and Nampula in Mozambique. It was tough work, and he sought relief in ways that he knew violated God’s law.

One day, several strangers approached Oyele, who was drunk after work, and asked if he was aware that the Bible taught that the Sabbath was on the seventh day of the week. Oyele was convinced that the strangers were wrong. “Prove it to me from the Bible,” he said.

The strangers, who introduced themselves as Seventh-day Adventists, opened the Bible to the fourth commandment and read, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8, NKJV). Then they turned to Ezekiel 20:20 and read, “Hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God” (NKJV).

Oyele read and reread the verses over the next few days. He wondered if he was reading truth from God. Even though he had gone to church since he was a boy, he had never noticed the verses before.

As he thought and prayed, a shining angel appeared at night over the house where he was staying. “Strength!” the angel said. “You are on the right path.” The next night, he saw the angel again in the same place. “Strength!” the angel said. “You are on the right path.” The same thing happened the third night. Oyele went to an Adventist church the next Sabbath. After that, he worshiped regularly with the Adventists.

When his three-year contract ended, Oyele returned home and was surprised to find that his wife and children had joined the Adventist Church. He had had no contact with them during his extended absence.

“What a coincidence!” his wife said when she learned that Oyele had been going to an Adventist church. “Is this by chance?”

Back home, Oyele went to the Adventist church on Saturdays and his childhood church on Sundays. He wasn’t sure what to do. Then the angel appeared for a fourth time. “What you are studying is true,” the angel said. Oyele decided on the spot to become a Seventh-day Adventist.

There are few Adventists where Oyele lives, but God has blessed his efforts to share the good news that Jesus is coming soon. Oyele has helped start three house churches. “Evangelize anyone, even if they’re drunk,” he said. “God is the one who converts, and there are many people who God has prepared to accept the gospel. They only need to be touched by you.”

Thank you for your Sabbath School mission offerings that help spread the gospel in Mozambique and around the world.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24b-06-inside-story-one-angel-four-encounters/

Daily Lesson for Friday 10th of May 2024

“When the Bible was proscribed by religious and secular authority; when its testimony was perverted, and every effort made that men and demons could invent to turn the minds of the people from it; when those who dared proclaim its sacred truths were hunted, betrayed, tortured, buried in dungeon cells, martyred for their faith, or compelled to flee to mountain fastnesses, and to dens and caves of the earth—then the faithful witnesses prophesied in sackcloth. Yet they continued their testimony throughout the entire period of 1260 years. In the darkest times there were faithful men who loved God’s word and were jealous for His honor. To these loyal servants were given wisdom, power, and authority to declare His truth during the whole of this time.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 267, 268.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

“When France publicly rejected God and set aside the Bible, wicked men and spirits of darkness exulted in their attainment of the object so long desired—a kingdom free from the restraints of the law of God. . . . The restraining Spirit of God, which imposes a check upon the cruel power of Satan, was in a great measure removed, and he whose only delight is the wretchedness of men was permitted to work his will. Those who had chosen the service of rebellion were left to reap its fruits until the land was filled with crimes too horrible for pen to trace. From devastated provinces and ruined cities a terrible cry was heard—a cry of bitterest anguish. France was shaken as if by an earthquake. Religion, law, social order, the family, the state, and the church—all were smitten down by the impious hand that had been lifted against the law of God.”—The Great Controversy, p. 286.

“Unless the church will follow on in His [God’s] opening providence, accepting every ray of light, performing every duty which may be revealed, religion will inevitably degenerate into the observance of forms, and the spirit of vital godliness will disappear.”—The Great Controversy, p. 316.

Discussion Questions

1. How are the principles of the great controversy revealed in the French Revolution?
2. When arguing that there is no God, one person wrote that “we are free to establish our own goals and to venture across any intellectual boundaries without looking for no-trespassing signs.” Why is that phrase “without looking for no-trespassing signs” so instructive to the motives many have for rejecting God? How might such ideas help explain some of what happened in the French Revolution?
3. What is the significance of John’s vision of the sanctuary as it relates to final events?

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24b-06-further-thought-the-two-witnesses/

Daily Lesson for Thursday 9th of May 2024

Despite the attacks of the enemy, God’s work on earth will come to a glorious climax. The gospel will be preached to “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6, NKJV). The great controversy between Christ and Satan will end with Christ completely defeating the powers of hell. God’s kingdom will triumph over evil, and sin will be eradicated forever from the universe.

Image © Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com

Revelation 11:1-19:1-19 begins with Satan’s attempt through the French Revolution to destroy the Christian faith and eradicate belief in God, but the chapter ends with the triumph of God’s kingdom over the principalities and powers of evil. It provides encouragement to all who go through fiery trials for the cause of Christ and His truth.

The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord. Christ is victorious. Evil is defeated. Jesus wins and Satan loses. Righteousness triumphs. Truth reigns. We would do well to heed the following instruction: “Whatever is built upon the authority of man will be overthrown; but that which is founded upon the rock of God’s immutable word shall stand forever.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 288.

The temple of God in heaven was opened to John’s view. As he gazed into the Most Holy Place, he saw the ark of the covenant. In the Old Testament sanctuary, which was a type patterned after the great original in heaven, the glorious presence of God was revealed between the two angelic figures fashioned on the cover of the ark of the covenant. Within the ark was the law of God. Although we are saved by grace alone through faith, obedience to God’s law reveals whether our faith is genuine. The law of God is the basis or the standard of judgment (James 2:12). This fact becomes especially important and relevant at the end of time (see Revelation 12:17, Revelation 14:12).

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24b-06-truth-triumphant/

 When Peter Dunne mentioned listening to Love Under Fire, I checked Youtube for a reading of Love Under Fire (since it’s easy to play on a smart TV), and I found this play list of the modern version of the “Conflict of the Ages” series in modern English.
Love Under Fire begins with Video #133 (audio only). Unfortunately the videos are not in order.

But this week’s reading can be found at
#141 Chapter 12: Daybreak in France
#138 Chapter 13: The Netherlands and Scandinavia
#156 Chapter 14: Truth Advances in Britain
#135 Chapter 15: France’s Reign of Terror: Its True Cause
#147 Chapter 16: Seeking Freedom in a New World
#154 Chapter 17: Promise of Christ’s Return

Enjoy! (Don’t  you just love the title? A war against Christ is really a war against love.)

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Are you confused by the discussion surrounding the “Two Witnesses” in Revelation 11?

I think the lesson author of “The Two Witnesses” does a pretty good job of explaining it, but, judging by the comments suggesting interpretations that cannot fit the description given, confusion remains. The language in Revelation is prophetic and figurative, but the symbols have meaning that can be deduced by context and cross-referencing. So let’s look at them again:

³ And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy

4 These [the two witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth  (Rev. 11: 3, 4)

So it seems that the “two witnesses,” the “two olive trees” and the “two lampstands” all refer to the same divine agency. Let’s check out  similar wording in Zechariah 4:

² And he said to me, “What do you see?”

So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. ³ Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” ⁴ So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”

⁴ These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the ^[God of the earth. 

⁵ Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?”

And I said, “No, my lord.”

⁶ So he answered and said to me:

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:2-6)

⁷ When they [the two witnesses] finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. (Rev. 11:7)

⁸ And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Rev. 11:8)

Goddess of Reason, an opera girl, presented as an object of worship in the French Revolution.  ©GoodSalt.com

Sodom is symbolic of sexual excesses and Egypt is symbolic of open defiance of God. (“Who is God?”) Revolutionary France fits both these descriptions. 

And “our Lord was crucified” in France in spirit if not in a physical body, which was safe in heaven (or they would have crucified Him again): “Jesus Christ was declared to be an impostor and the rallying cry of the French infidels was “Crush the Wretch,” meaning Christ.” (The Great Controversy, p. 190) But that’s not all, Christ was crucified in the persons of His followers as well: The St. Bartholomew Massacre, carried on for a week in Paris, but continued for two months in the rest of France, butchering 70,000 men, women and children for no other reason than that they believed in Christ. (The Great Controversy, p. 272)

Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, (Rev. 11:9)

¹⁰ And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. (Rev. 11:10)

That, too, is an accurate description of what happened among the enemies of the Bible, especially at Rome.  (They literally “sent gifts to one another.” Read it for yourself .) Note that here “the two witnesses” are called “these two prophets.” (Prophets speak for God!)

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
⁴ If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
⁵ Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:3-5)

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