Closer To Heaven
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Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Shawn Boonstra, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson.”
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/13-images-of-the-end-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/
View an in-depth discussion of Images of the End in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:
With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/13-images-of-the-end-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion/
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 24th of June 2025
After the city of Nineveh had been humbled (612 b.c.) by a coalition army that included both Medes and Babylonians (led by Nebuchadnezzar’s father), the city of Babylon experienced a revival, the likes of which the city had not seen since the days of Hammurabi, their great lawgiver. Under Nebuchadnezzar, who was now free from the problem of Assyrian raids, the city of Babylon grew in wealth and influence to the point where the neighboring nations had little choice but to grudgingly acknowledge her dominance. She was queen of the world, and nations who wished to prosper declared their loyalty to her.
Meanwhile, as far as we can tell, Nebuchadnezzar died as a believer, professing that Daniel’s God was, indeed, the rightful ruler of all nations (Daniel 4:34-37). The next account that Daniel provides is that of his successor, the vice-regent Belshazzar.
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
Perhaps the saddest, most tragic part of this account is found in Daniel 5:22. After recounting to the king the downfall and then the restoration of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel says to him, “ ‘But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this’ ” (NKJV). That is, though he had the opportunity to know truth, though he might have even witnessed firsthand what happened to Nebuchadnezzar, he chose to ignore these events and, instead, embarked on the same course that brought his predecessor so much trouble.
As Nebuchadnezzar had done by erecting the golden statue, Belshazzar was openly defying what Daniel’s God had predicted. By using the temple vessels in a profane manner, he was likely underscoring the fact that Babylon had conquered the Jews and now possessed their God’s religious articles. In other words, they still had supremacy over this God who had predicted their demise.
It was, indeed, an act of total defiance, even though Belshazzar had more than enough evidence, proof, to know better. He had enough head knowledge to know the truth; the problem, instead, was his heart. In the last days, as the final crisis breaks upon the world, people will be given the opportunity to know the truth, as well. What determines their choice, as with Belshazzar, will be their hearts.
(0)Daily Lesson for Monday 23rd of June 2025
Jonah had a very distinct message for the people of Nineveh. “And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ ” (Jonah 3:4, NKJV). It seems pretty clear: the place was doomed. After all, was that not a word directly from a prophet of the Lord?
Yet, what happened to Nineveh?
Image © Providence Collection from GoodSalt.com
Yes, the whole city repented, and the prophesied doom was averted, at least for a time. “Their doom was averted, the God of Israel was exalted and honored throughout the heathen world, and His law was revered. Not until many years later was Nineveh to fall a prey to the surrounding nations through forgetfulness of God and through boastful pride.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 271.
Can we expect something like this in the last days, with the final message to the fallen world? Yes—and no. That is, there will be, all over the world, many people who heed the call, “ ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues’ ” (Revelation 18:4, NKJV). All over the world, people will take their stand and, in defiance of the beast, will “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). These people, like those in Nineveh, will be spared the judgment that falls upon the lost.
Some prophecies, such as God’s announcement that Nineveh would be destroyed, are conditional. (Ninevah would be destroyed unless the people turned away from their evil [see Jeremiah 18:7-10].) Yet, some prophecies don’t come with these conditions. They are going to be fulfilled, no matter the human response. The Messianic prophecies of Christ’s first and second comings, the mark of the beast, the outpouring of the plagues, end-time persecution—these are not conditional; they will take place regardless of what humans do. What humans do, and the choices they make, will determine instead what side they will be on as final events, foretold by the prophets, unfold.
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What choices are you making now that could help determine what choices you will make when the issue of worshiping God or the image breaks upon the world? |
(1)To learn of the “Allusions, Images and Symbols” in Bible Prophecy, we are really in great need of saying to God
Give Me The Bible – Hymn 272 so we are able to learn with His abundant help. This will be our theme for this, the second quarter of Bible Study, 2025.
“This time we will look at the mission of Jonah to Nineveh, the fall of Babylon, and the rise of Cyrus, the Persian King wholiberated God’s people and enabled them to return to the Promised Land
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which is where we find our first hymn for this Sabbath:
Hymn 620 – On Jordan’s Stormy Banks, just as did the Children of Israel. This hymn comes along a few times this week.
Our Creator is spoken of frequently in our studies this week, giving us another hymn:
Hymn 320 – Lord Of Creation to enjoy.
It is wonderful to read that all over the world many people will heed the call of God and come to repentance (Monday). All will
Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus – Hymn 618, and will
Stand Like The Brave – Hymn 610 as well as be found
Standing On The Promises – Hymn 578.
Jesus warned His disciples (Tuesday) “Watch, therefore” just as
Hymn 598 – Watch Ye Saints does.
We learn on Thursday that Cyrus came forward and liberated God’s people, which is “a type of Christ’s Second Coming”:
Hymn 213 – Jesus Is Coming Again.
As this second quarter of 2025 closes, are we found
Standing On The Promises – Hymn 518? Please let us all say
O Brother, Be Faithful – Hymn 602 because
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213.
Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless 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.”
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/13-images-of-the-end-singing-with-inspiration/
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