Surveys reveal a deep lack of trust in institutions and governments. Millions wonder, “Where is there someone who is morally fit to lead the world?” Revelation’s prophecies identify the beast power as the one who, under the auspices of a religious/political union, will be the power believed to fill this role.

Read Revelation 17:12-14. How does John describe these final scenes of earth’s history? What powerful contrast is seen here?

There are three significant points John makes in this passage. First, the political powers have “one mind” and “give their power and authority” to the beast. Second, this conglomerate of error makes war against Jesus the Lamb. Third, in earth’s last war, Christ and His followers are triumphant. The beast does not win; Jesus does.

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Have you ever wondered what strategy the devil might use to unite the nations? History often repeats itself. We discover valuable lessons from the collapse of the Roman Empire. When the Germanic invasions from the north threatened Western Europe, the Roman Emperor Constantine turned to religion. The authority of the church, combined with the power of the state, became the very instrument Constantine needed. The continual strengthening of the sanctity of Sunday in the fourth century was a calculated political and religious move to unite the empire at a time of crisis. Constantine wanted his empire united, and the Roman Church wanted it “converted.” The renowned historian Arthur Weigall states it clearly: “The church made a sacred day of Sunday … largely because it was the weekly festival of the sun; for it was a definite Christian policy to take over the pagan festivals endeared to the people by tradition and give them Christian significance.” — The Paganism in Our Christianity (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1928), p. 145.

At a time of great crisis, when all the world is scared, hurting, and fearful, people will be desperate for someone to bring some stability and protection. This is how tyranny has arisen in the past, and there’s no reason to think that it could not happen again. According to prophecy, something will bring about these final events.

Though it’s hard to know how all this could unfold, the world has already seen how great changes can come, and very quickly, too. Though we don’t know details about what is coming, we need to be ready for whatever does come.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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“Three Cosmic Messages” encourages us to 
Watch, Ye Saints – Hymn 598 as we near the end of this old world’s history to witness the Second Coming of our Lord, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is a wonderful hymn to give courage, dear people, and is our theme for this quarter.

 We will be noting at times throughout the quarter that 
“Tis Almost Time For The Lord To Come – Hymn 212 and we should be proclaiming the message that 
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213.

 “God will have a people who will not capitulate,” says Sabbath afternoon’s study, therefore I know perfectly that I am
A Child of the King – Hymn 468.

“The apostle Paul warns the Christian community of a ‘falling away’ but I say 
Give Me The Bible – Hymn 272 which gives me Wonderful Words of Life – Hymn 296. With that preparation being done, it is with great joy that I know that 
Christ Is Coming – Hymn and 
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213 (Monday).

With Jesus winning the battle (Tuesday), with great adulation we all will be able to 
Crown Him With Many Crowns – Hymn 223.

Weary souls will be out 
Long Upon The Mountains – Hymn 447 keeping the ten commandments (verse 2), and we are all advised to 
Watch, Ye Saints – Hymn 598 (Wednesday).

I wish to BE one of those who will “stand firm in their convictions to follow Him” (Thursday): 
How Firm A Foundation – Hymn 509. Further on this day, we learn “He invites us to let Him shape our minds by His Holy Spirit so that we cannot be moved from the anchor of our faith in the Word of God”: 
Hymn 534 – Will Your Anchor Hold? so that we may 
Stand Like The Brave – Hymn 610. We are to encourage each other: 
O Brother, Be Faithful – Hymn 602.

The final thought on Friday states “Creator and Redeemer, the only one worthy of worship”: 
Hymn 6 – O Worship The Lord and 
Hymn 83 O Worship The King.

 So, dear people, be encouraged to go forward and
“Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus IS coming again” – Hymn 213.

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:  Like the persecutions of the past, the mark of the beast is designed to force everyone to conform to a certain set of beliefs and system of worship.
June 17, 2023

1. Have a volunteer read Revelation 13:5, Revelation 12:6,14, and Daniel 7:25.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in these passages.
2. How long was this power to rule through previous centuries?
   (Note: 42 months; a time, times, and half a time; and 1,260 days is the same 1,260 years from 538AD with Justinian’s Code to 1798AD with Berthier marching into Rome and putting the pope in prison.)
3. Personal Application: How do you respond to people who don’t believe in applying time prophecies to history? How would you help them see that they are to help us, warn us, and guide us? Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Why didn’t anyone understand the idea that the church itself was the antichrist until you Adventists came up with this idea in the 1800s?” How would you respond to your relative?
   (Note: The time prophecy hadn’t been fulfilled until the late 1700s and 1800s, so it wasn’t understood until after that time. (See John 14:29). People did identify the church as antichrist. Almost all Protestant leaders pointed to the Papacy as the antichrist in the 1800 and 1900s.)

2. Have a volunteer read 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4,9-12.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does Paul predict about the last days? What identifying marks does he give for the beast, the antichrist power?
3. Personal Application: Why must we be careful not to get into fanaticism, new date setting, or speculating beyond what has been revealed by inspiration? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Given the state of the world; this idea of persecution by the church, and the mark of the beast being Sunday worship just doesn’t seem possible. ” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Revelation 17:12-16.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why do the ten kings give their power to the beast and then turn against her and burn her with fire?
   (Note: When the plagues fall on them, they realize they have followed the wrong doctrine and system.)
3. Personal Application: Why can’t there be a middle ground between God’s way and man’s way? If we try to compromise, what might be the result? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “What is the meaning of the ten kings having power one hour with the beast? Why are they making war with the Lamb? Is this a symbolic specific time or does it just mean a short time?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Revelation 14:9, Revelation 14:12..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What two characteristics have those who don’t receive the mark of the beast?
3. Personal Application: Where is the mark of the beast placed? What do the forehead and the hand represent? Share your thoughts.
   (Note: The forehead is the cerebrum, the thinking part of the brain. It is the mind of choice and who we worship. The hand represents the work we choose to do on the Sabbath in spite of our knowledge that we shouldn’t.)
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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Read 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. What does Paul predict about the last days? What identifying marks does he give for the beast, the antichrist power?

The apostle Paul warns the Christian community of a “falling away” from the truth of God’s Word. He is concerned about the seeds of apostasy already present in the New Testament church, which would flourish in the coming centuries before the second coming of Christ. A counterfeit gospel would come into the church, distorting the Word of God.

Satan is the one who is behind this apostasy. He is the true “man of sin” who desires to exalt “himself above all that is called God” and sits in the “temple of God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). But the “great deceiver” works through human agencies to accomplish his purposes. The identifying characteristics in Daniel and Revelation reveal that the little horn of Daniel 7:1-28, the beast of Revelation chapters 13 and 14, and the “lawless one” of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 represent the same entity.

The SDA Bible Commentary states it this way: “A comparison with Daniel’s prophecy of the blasphemous power that succeeds that of pagan Rome … , and with John’s word picture of the leopardlike beast. … reveals many similarities between the three descriptions [the little horn, the beast power, and the lawless one]. This leads us to the conclusion that Daniel, Paul, and John are speaking of the same power, … the papacy.” — Volume 7, p. 271.

It is extremely important to remember that Bible prophecy is describing a system of religion that has compromised God’s Word, substituted human traditions for the gospel, and one that drifted away from biblical truth. These prophecies are given by a God of incredible love to prepare a people for the coming of Jesus. They are a rebuke of apostate religious organizations that have departed from God’s Word, though not necessarily the people in them (see Revelation 18:4). Our message is about a system that has deceived millions. Though deceived, these people are much loved by Christ. Hence, we must treat them accordingly.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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As we have already studied, the beast powers of Revelation 13:1-18 and 14 represent a worldwide system of false worship. But there’s more.

Read Revelation 13:5; Revelation 12:6, Revelation 12:14; and Daniel 7:25. How long would this power dominate the religious landscape in the previous centuries?

The beast would continue for a period of specific duration of time in history. In symbolic time prophecies, a prophetic day equals a literal year. In Numbers 14:34 we read: “for every day a year” (RSV) — applying the Bible principle of counting a day for a year. Again, God says, “I have appointed thee each day for a year” (Ezekiel 4:6).

Image © Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com

This principle has repeatedly proven itself accurate in interpreting biblical time prophecies, such as with the 70 weeks of Daniel 9:24-27. Calculating the time period mentioned in Revelation 13:5 of 42 months, with 30 days in a month, we come up with 1260 prophetic days or literal years. The ancient calendars regularly had 360 days per year.

In the fourth century, the Roman Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity throughout the empire. When he moved his capital in A.D. 330 to Byzantium to unite the eastern and western parts of his empire, it left a leadership vacuum in Rome. The pope, then, filled this void. He became not only a powerful religious leader but also a political force to be reckoned with in Europe. In A.D. 538, Justinian, the Roman emperor, officially granted the Roman bishop the role of the defender of the faith. The medieval church exercised great influence from A.D. 538 to A.D. 1798, including the terrible persecution mentioned in the introduction to the lesson. Napoleon’s General Berthier took the pope captive in A.D. 1798, in exact fulfillment of the prophecy.

Berthier and his army captured Pope Pius VI and unceremoniously removed him from the papal throne. The blow to the papacy was serious, but, according to Revelation 13:12, the deadly wound would be healed, and the world would hear more from this power — a lot more.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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