Daily Lesson for Tuesday 7th of May 2024

By a.d. 538, the pagan Roman Empire had collapsed. Justinian, the Roman emperor, surrendered civil, political, and religious authority to Pope Vigillis. The long period of the medieval church’s domination began. It continued until a.d. 1798. The French general Berthier, on orders from Napoleon, marched unopposed into Rome on February 10, 1798. Pope Pius VI was taken captive and brought back to France, where he died. This date marks the prophetically predicted end of the Roman Church’s secular authority, the 1,260 days or years as depicted in Daniel and Revelation (see yesterday’s study).

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What a powerful manifestation of the truth of biblical prophecy! Daniel, writing more than 500 years before Christ, so accurately predicted events more than 2,300 years later. We can, indeed, trust the prophecies given in the Bible.

Meanwhile, during all this, the truth of the gospel was kept alive by the witness of the Word. But even greater challenges threatened biblical truth. The beast that ascended from the bottomless pit (Satan) made war against the Scriptures. He initiated new assaults on the Bible’s authority through the French Revolution that began in 1789.

In the French Revolution, the government officially established the Cult of Reason as a state-sponsored atheistic religion, intended to replace Christianity. A Festival of Reason was held nationwide on November 10, 1793. Churches across France were turned into Temples of Reason, and a living woman was enthroned as the Goddess of Reason. Bibles were burned in the streets. God was declared nonexistent, and death was pronounced to be an endless sleep. Satan worked through godless men to kill God’s two witnesses. Their dead bodies would “lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified” (Revelation 11:8, NKJV).

Egypt was a culture of many gods that denied the true God (see Exodus 5:2). Sodom represents gross immorality. In the French Revolution, God’s two witnesses—the Old and New Testaments—lay dead as a result of the atheism and immorality that ran rampant as normal restraints were loosed in revolution and bloodshed.

Revelation 11:9 says that the bodies of God’s two witnesses would lie unburied for “three-and-a-half days” (NKJV), i.e., prophetic “days” representing three and a half literal years. Atheism was at its height in the French Revolution, at least for about three and a half years. This period extended from November 26, 1793, when a decree issued in Paris abolished religion, to June 17, 1797, when the French government removed its restrictive religious laws.

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Key Thought: During the French Revolution, blood flowed through the streets. Atheism was the ste religion for three and a half years. Thousands were slaughtered, the Bible was banned and burned. But the Word of God could not be silenced.
May 11, 2024

1. Have a volunteer read Revelation 11:3-6.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. List five identifying features of the two witnesses in this prophecy.
3. Personal Application: What blessings do you get from reading the Old Testament? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “I am a New Testament Christian. The Old Testament is a history of the Jews under the Old Covenant. It is irrelevant and unnecessary for us today. I don’t read the Old Testament.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Revelation 11:7-9.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What did the Bible predict would happen to these two witnesses?
3. Personal Application: What are some of the teachings that are based on tradition that are held by many Christians that are not based on the words of God? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why do you think the two witnesses are symbolic and not literal?. Why do you think the one thousand two hundred and sixty days are symbolic and not literal?” How would you respond to your friend?
   (Note: See Rev 12:5,6,14,15; Rev 11:2; Daniel 7:25.)

3. Have a volunteer read Revelation 11:11.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What prediction does this text make about the word of God? How was this fulfilled?
   (Note: During this time the American Bible Society and International Bible Societies were formed. Bibles were printed in thousands of languages and spread around the world.).
3. Personal Application:: What prophecies speak to you personally and why? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “What are some ways that people today may be trying to kill the two witnesses or make them minister in sackcloth? Is there an attack on the Old and New Testaments today?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Revelation 11:15-19.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What events take place when the seventh trumpet sounds at the close of time?
3. Personal Application: What did John see opened in heaven? What does this tell you? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of 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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Daily Lesson for Monday 6th of May 2024

The two witnesses “ ‘will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth’ ” (Revelation 11:3, NKJV). This is the same time period as the 42 months during which the “Gentiles” (those who oppose God’s truth) will tread the Holy City underfoot (Revelation 11:2). The enemies of God tread underfoot God’s truth for 1,260 days (42 x 30 = 1,260, each day symbolizing a year in apocalyptic prophecy), and God’s two witnesses, the Old and New Testaments, prophesy against them during this same time.

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As we already have seen (see lesson 4), Daniel 7:25 says the little-horn power that would arise out of the breakup of the Roman Empire would persecute God’s people “ ‘for a time and times [literally, “two times”] and half a time’ ” (NKJV). A “time” is one year (360 days). So, three and a half times equals 1,260 days.

Revelation 12:6,13 talks about 1,260 days of persecution for the people of God. Revelation 12:14 talks of a time, times, and half a time. Revelation 13:5 talks about 42 months. We find both 42 months and 1,260 days mentioned in Revelation 11:2-3. All these prophecies describe different aspects of the same historical time period.

When the authority of Scripture is neglected, other (human) authorities arise instead. This often leads to persecution of those who uphold the Word of God, which happened during the time of papal domination from a.d. 538 to a.d. 1798, when the medieval church descended into deep spiritual darkness. The decrees of men substituted for the commandments of God. Human traditions overshadowed the simplicity of the gospel. The Roman Church united with the secular power to extend its authority over all of Europe.

During these 1,260 years, the Word of God—His two witnesses—were clothed in sackcloth. Their truths were hidden under a vast pile of tradition and ritual. These two witnesses still prophesied; the Bible still spoke. Even amid this spiritual darkness, God’s Word was preserved. There were those who cherished it and lived by its precepts. But in comparison to the masses in Europe, they were few. The Waldenses, John Huss, Jerome, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, John and Charles Wesley, and a host of other Reformers were faithful to God’s Word as they understood it.

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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.

The first paragraph on Sabbath afternoon is encouragement showing that with all the attempts to delete the Bible from existence, “God’s Word has prevailed”. Yes, please 
Give Me The Bible – Hymn 272 so I may continue to know 
This Is The Threefold Truth – Hymn 203 showing us that 
Christ Is The World’s Light – Hymn 234.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday give us a great reminder of those who stood fast to God’s Word and were found to be 
Standing On The Promises – Hymn 518, Stand Like The Brave – Hymn 610 and they were able to 
Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus – Hymn 618.

As “Christ is victorious” (Thursday), so we are able to know that 
Faith Is The Victory – Hymn 608 all because 
We’ll Build On The Rock – Hymn 531.

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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Daily Lesson for Sunday 5th of May 2024

In Zechariah 4:1-14, the prophet saw two olive trees on either side of a golden lampstand—the same imagery that we find here in Revelation 11:1-19:1-19:1-19. Zechariah is told that this represents “ ‘the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth’ ” (Zechariah 4:14, NKJV). The olive trees feed oil into the lampstand so that it continues to give light. We are reminded of what the psalmist wrote: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalms 119:105, NKJV). Oil represents the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:2,6). John’s vision in Revelation 11:1-19:1-19:1-19 is describing God’s Word being proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit to lighten the world.

Image © Steve Creitz at Goodsalt.com

These two witnesses can prophesy and keep rain from falling for as long as they predict. They can turn water to blood and smite the earth with plagues. By the word of God, Elijah said no rain would fall on Israel, and in answer to his prayer, there was no rain for three and a half years (see James 5:17). Then he prayed to God, and rain returned after the false prophets of Baal failed to end the drought (1 Kings 17:1-24; 1 Kings 18:1-46). Moses, through the Word of God, brought plagues of all kinds on the Egyptians, including turning water to blood, because Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go free (Exodus 7:1-25).

Those who seek to harm the Scriptures will be consumed by the fire that comes from their mouth. God says, “ ‘Because you speak this word, behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them’ ” (Jeremiah 5:14, NKJV). God’s Word pronounces judgment upon all those who reject it. His word is like fire in the mouth.

In John 5:39, Jesus declares that the Old Testament scriptures testify (bear witness) of Him. He also says that the gospel will be proclaimed “as a witness” to the whole world (Matthew 24:14, NKJV), and the New Testament, together with the Old Testament, is the basis of that witness. A word from the same root (martys) as the words for witness used in these two verses appears in Revelation 11:1-19:1-19:1-19:3.

Who are these two witnesses? In view of these biblical points and the characteristics given in Revelation 11:1-19:1-19:1-19, we can conclude (not dogmatically, however) that the two witnesses are the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, communicating God’s light and truth to the world.

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