Daily Lesson for Wednesday 12th of June 2024

Rather than worshiping the beast, God’s people find their greatest joy and highest delight in worshiping Him. Their obedience springs from their heart of love. They are committed to Him because they know how committed He is to them.

Image © Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com

Recall from lesson 4 that God gives us a key for understanding prophetic time—one prophetic day equals one literal year (Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6). Calculating the time period of 42 months mentioned in Revelation 13:5 using the 30-day Hebrew month equals 1,260 prophetic days or literal years.

The Papacy exercised great influence from a.d. 538 to a.d. 1798. But when Berthier, Napoleon’s general, took the pope captive in a.d. 1798, the prophetic period of papal supremacy ended, and Revelation’s prophecy was fulfilled: “He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity” (Revelation 13:10, NKJV). The blow to the Papacy was extremely serious but not fatal. According to Revelation 13:12, the deadly wound would be healed. The Papacy’s influence once again would be felt worldwide.

Today, world leaders welcome the pontiff as an ambassador of the church of Rome and visit him regularly at the Vatican. In a world of unprecedented instability, the scene is being set for the Roman pontiff to become the acclaimed moral leader of the world who can bring people together. During his speech on June 6, 2012, to more than 15,000 people gathered in Saint Peter’s Square in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI declared, “Sunday is the day of the Lord and of men and women, a day in which everyone must be able to be free, free for the family and free for God. In defending Sunday we defend human freedom.”—https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20120606.html (accessed October 10, 2022). The Great Controversy clearly reveals where this movement will one day ultimately lead: “Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. . . . They will be accused of disaffection toward the government. Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the civil authorities as ordained of God. In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment keepers will be misrepresented and condemned.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 592.

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Daily Lesson for Tuesday 11th of June 2024

The book of Revelation identifies the dragon primarily as Satan. Revelation 12:3-5 says the dragon attempted to destroy, “as soon as it was born,” the “male Child,” who was later “caught up to God and His throne” (NKJV). It was the devil, working through pagan Rome, who tried to destroy Christ (see Matthew 2:16-18). The archenemy of God and humanity works through political and religious institutions to accomplish his purposes.

Image © Marcus Mashburn at Goodsalt.com

About this beast power we’re told, “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (Revelation 13:1-18:2, NKJV). This prophecy was precisely fulfilled hundreds of years later when the Roman emperor Constantine moved his capital from Rome to what came to be called Constantinople, in modern-day Turkey. This left a power vacuum at the former throne or seat of the caesars, the imperial city of Rome. Thus, pagan Rome gave the beast its seat, or capital city.

Isaac Backus stated, “By removing the seat of the empire to Constantinople, . . . Constantine made way for the bishop of Rome to exalt himself above all men upon earth, and above the God of Heaven.”—The Infinite Importance of the Obedience of Faith, and of Separation from the World, p. 16, quoted in Le Roy Edwin Froom, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3, p. 213. According to Thomas Hobbes, “the Papacy is no other than the ghost of the deceased Roman empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof.”—Leviathan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996), p. 386. A careful analysis reveals that the sea beast of Revelation 13:1-18 is an apostate religious power that rises out of Rome and becomes a worldwide system of worship (Revelation 13:3-4). This beast is not a person; it is a religious organization that has substituted the truth of God’s Word for human decrees.

The Bible defines blasphemy in John 10:33 and Luke 5:21 with two examples: (1) a man pretending to be or claiming to be God, and (2) a man claiming the power to forgive sins. These accusations against Jesus were unjust because He is truly God and, therefore, has the right to forgive sins. The Roman Papacy has two distinctive doctrines that the Bible calls blasphemy: its claims that its priests have the power to forgive sins and that the pope has the prerogatives of God on earth.

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Daily Lesson for Monday 10th of June 2024

The mark of the beast prophecy in Revelation 13:1-18 tells us about the fiercest and very worst stage of Satan’s war against God. Ever since Jesus died on the cross, the enemy has known he was defeated, but he is determined to take as many as possible down with him. His first strategy in this campaign is deception. When deception does not work, he resorts to force. He is ultimately behind the decree that anyone who refuses to worship the beast or receive his mark will be put to death.

Image © Krieg Barrie at Goodsalt.com

Religious persecution, of course, is not new. It has been around ever since Cain killed Abel for obeying God’s command. Jesus said it would happen even among believers.

Throughout Christian history, persecution was common. It happened in pagan Rome but was especially evident in the vicious persecution of Bible-believing Christians by the medieval church. The mark of the beast is the final link in this hellish chain. Like past persecutions, it is designed to force everyone to conform to a certain set of beliefs and an approved system of worship.

The prophecy indicates that persecution will start with economic sanctions: no one can buy or sell unless they have the mark. Anyone who refuses to receive the mark will eventually be placed under a death decree (Revelation 13:15,17).

The devil already is preparing professed Christians to receive the mark of the beast when the final test comes by encouraging them to make compromises in their lives. When it appears that the whole world is following the beast in wondering admiration (Revelation 13:3), suddenly the scene changes, and the prophetic camera focuses on God’s people. Revelation 14:12 gives us this picture. “Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (NKJV). God’s people live lives of godly obedience. By His grace, they stand firm when everything is shaking all around them. While the world is following the beast, they “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Revelation 14:4, NKJV). By the power of Christ, they triumph over the powers of hell arrayed against them.

As we saw in lesson 9, the central conflict between good and evil is over worship. The beast uses deception and, when that fails, force and coercion.

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Our learning this quarter will show us that 
God Is Working His Purpose Out – Hymn 225 so that we will Lift Up The Trumpet because 
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213. You may have two hymns from which to choose for your theme hymn this quarter.

Our greatest encouragement this week comes from 
Hymn 506 – A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, a God who goes on to teach us 
Don’t Forget The Sabbath – Hymn 388.

We continue to learn to keep 
Standing On The Promises – Hymn 518 so that we can raise our voices in 
I Sing The Mighty Power Of God – Hymn 88.

Sunday shows us who to worship: 
O, Worship The Lord – Hymn 6 and 
O, Worship The King – Hymn 83, concluding with 
We Love Thy Sabbath, Lord – Hymn 390 due to our deep faith.

With “The Coming Crisis” (Monday), it is best to 
Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus – Hymn 618.

All these hymns spring up throughout each day of our study this week. May we continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed and to bless many others.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Key Thought: The coming conflict is over worship. Satan will challenge God’s authority by attempting to undermine God’s law. He hates the Sabbath because he hates the Creator.
June 15, 2024

1. Have a volunteer read John 16:2, Matt. 10:22; 2 Tim 3:12; I Peter 4:12.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on the most important point in this passage.
2. What did the New Testament church experience and how does that apply to Christ’s end-time church?
3. Personal Application: How quickly do you allow economic considerations to compromise your Sabbath-keeping? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “How can we help ourselves and others face the future with confidence and not with fear – knowing things are going to get worse in government, society, and the economy?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Revelation 13:1-6.

1. Ask class members to share the most important point in this text.
2. Where does the beast rise from and who gives it authority?
3. Personal Application: How do we live in expectation of the second coming without becoming alarmists every time something happens? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What keyword is used to identify the beast power? How is this word described in Scripture?.” How would you respond to your friend?
   (Note – Blasphemy – Jesus was accused of blasphemy by forgiving sin and claiming to be God)

3. Have a volunteer read Revelation 13:11-18.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How does this second beast differ from the first beast in Revelation 13?
3. Personal Application: What practical difference does understanding last-day events make in our lives today? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “With the political instability in America today, and in many other parts of the world, how might that one day lead to fulfilling this prophecy? Do we see signs that it could could happen?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Revelation 13:11,12.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What changes do you see in this beast, and how does it speak? Why are both important?
3. Personal Application: What does our daily life, and our daily routine tell us about who or what we worship? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Consider one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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