On the Mount of Olives, Jesus painted history in broad strokes as He responded to the questions of the disciples: “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3).

Jesus’ famous sermon, recorded in Matthew 24, covers the uninterrupted, historical timeline from His days until the Second Coming and beyond.

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Jesus wanted to give His people throughout the ages a rough sketch of the divine schedule for end-time prophecies, so that those living at the end of time could be prepared for the ultimate event. He wanted us to be able to rest confidently in His love, even when everything around us was falling apart.

Adventists know well Daniel’s description of “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation” (Daniel 12:1). Jesus wants us to be prepared for this event, which precedes His Second Coming.

What will His coming be like? How can we avoid being deceived? Read Matthew 24:4-8, Matthew 24:23-31.

Jesus’ coming will be a literal event at the end of time. Considering the space given in prophecy to His return, and even in Jesus’ sermons, this is a big deal.

The last time there was a worldwide climactic event only eight people in all the world were ready for it. Jesus compares the unexpectedness of the Second Coming to that event — the Flood (Matthew 24:37-39). But although no one knows the day or hour of the Second Coming (Matthew 24:36), God has given us a prophetic countdown that we can watch happening in the world around us.

We have been given a role to fill in this prophetic drama. What is our part? Focus on Matthew 24:9-14.

In this cosmic conflict, we are more than just observers. We are to be active participants in spreading the gospel to the ends of the world, which means that we, too, will face persecution.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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The oldest surviving disciple actually to have been with Jesus sat on a rocky prison island far from everything that was near and dear to him. What must have been going on in John’s mind as he found himself stranded on this desolate island? How did he wind up here, and like this, too? After all, he had seen Jesus leave, and he had seen the two angels standing there, saying: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

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That, however, had been years and years ago, and Jesus had not yet returned. Meanwhile, the other apostles present on that day already had died, most of them martyred for their witness about Jesus. The young church had undergone a generational change and was now facing horrible persecution from the outside and strange heretical movements from within. John must have felt alone, tired, and restless. And then, suddenly, he was given a vision.

What comfort can you imagine that John got from this vision? Read Revelation 1:9-19.

Jesus had told His followers, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20), words that, no doubt, must have encouraged John as he faced his lonely exile. Surely this vision, this “revelation” of Jesus, must have been a great comfort to Him, knowing that Jesus, “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” was now manifesting Himself in a special way to the exiled apostle.

What followed from these verses are visions about the future of this world. An awesome panoramic view of history would be portrayed before him, basically what’s to us the history of the Christian church but was to him its future. And yet, amid the trials and tribulations that would come, John was shown how it would all end. “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” ( Revelation 21.1-2, NKJV).

The great apocalyptic vision John has recorded in Revelation helped John confidently to rest in God’s provisions and promises.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Revelation 1:9-19; Matthew 24:4-8, Matthew 24:23-31; Revelation 14:6-12; Hebrews 11:13-16; Philippians 4:4-6.

Memory Text: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him’” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Have you ever felt that you were in the midst of a great battle, a kind of struggle between good and evil? Many, even secular people, have sensed this reality. And we feel that way because, well, it’s true. We are in a great battle between good and evil, between Christ (the good) and Satan (the bad).

Life, then, is really being played out on two levels. The great controversy between Christ and Satan is taking place on a global scale — in fact, even a cosmic level, for in heaven is where it first began (Revelation 12:7). Yet, in the confusion of events, we can easily lose the big picture of God’s escape plan for this world. Wars, political unrest, and natural disasters can hold us in helpless terror. But God’s prophetic guidance can help us keep in mind the big picture of where we are going and how we will get there.

The great controversy also is being played out on a much more personal level. All of us individually face faith challenges in our everyday life, and if we should not live to the second coming of Jesus, we will face death, too. This week, we look at how we can rest in Jesus in the face of global unrest and our own personal unknown future, at least in the short term. In the long term, things look very promising, indeed!

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 25.

Sunday–>

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Support for the mission activities of the Seventh-day Adventist church has always been part of the Sabbath School program. This video is Mission Spotlight for this week.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR2FJpyjD0U]

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Many of you will remember the Sabbath School Net “Discussion Starters” produced by Joyce Griffith. I was saddened to learn that Joyce passed away yesterday. Joyce had worked for various church departments, including the Voice of Prophecy. She had also been a missionary to Africa for about 5 years.

I never met Joyce in person. We become good friends through our work on Sabbath School Net. During her retirement, she wrote her Discussion Starters each week and I was given the task of checking and publishing them. She was a good editor and I don’t think I ever had to correct anything she had written. As time went on, she could no longer manage the internet editing facilities but would email her notes to me. I have just checked and found that over the last 4 years we exchanged over 1200 emails. Mostly they were her Discussion Starters, but always they included chats and little interludes about her personal life.

Sadly in 2020, I recognised that Joyce’s health was failing and she was becoming confused. She had an accident and broke her hip and could no longer use her computer. Her brother Dave used to ferry messages between us for a while, but she eventually had to be put into a care facility.

Joyce had a very perceptive mind and never took the status quo for granted. We often exchanged notes about the SSNET discussion and ways to challenge our readers’ thinking.

Joyce had a strong faith and I am sure that we will meet again in heaven and be able to continue our discussions face to face.

Thank you Joyce for your friendship and contribution to SSNET over the years. I miss you not only as a contributor but as a friend.

Joyce wrote a small book about her experiences in the mission school in Africa. It is available from Amazon:
Memories from Rusangu Secondary School Zambia

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