Sabbath School Lesson for April 20-26, 2024 Overview of Lesson 4 Memory Text: ” ‘And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.’ ” John 3:14, 15 NKJV Continuing the story of the great controversy, we are drawn once again to the persecution of God’s followers, which indicates the deadly lengths Satan will use to drown out God and His word. Smyrna, one of the seven prophetic churches mentioned in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, was an ancient city (now the Turkish seacoast city of Izmir) that had a thriving Christian population. It was in the town square of Smyrna that an early church leader in the second century, Polycarp, lost his life when he refused to burn incense to the Roman gods. But, the persecution only worsened, as each century brought more apostacy and alienation from God’s word. It was under the auspices of papal Rome that these tragedies occurred and lasted for 1,260 years (from 538-1798 A.D.). Looking at the sacrifices of faithful martyrs, such as the Waldenses, Wycliffe, and Huss, we are inspired by their unflinching loyalty to God and the Scriptures. Read chapters 4-6 of The Great Controversy for the historical background of our lesson this week. It will cover these topics: Sunday: Persecuted Yet Triumphant–understanding the prophetic time period of 1,260 days Monday: Light Vanquishes the Darkness–learning the origin of the Waldenses and how they differed from the Franciscans Tuesday: Courage to Stand–valuing the work and sacrifices of the Waldensian Christians Wednesday: The Morning Star of the Reformation–finding out why John Wycliffe is called the Morning Star of the Reformation Thursday: Cheered by Hope–being sustained by the same hope of martyrs such as Huss, Jerome, Tyndale, and Latimer Sunday: Persecuted Yet Triumphant Intense persecution lasting 1,260 days or years is found in Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 12:6. Many think this time period represents the medieval years of 538-1798 A.D. when the papacy held supreme power over much of the Western world. 538 has been chosen because that was the year that the last barbarian tribe of Ostrogoths was driven out of Rome, and 1798 was the year that the pope was kidnapped and taken out of Rome by one of Napoleon’s generals. Although many faithful Christian believers were tortured and even lost their lives during those difficult years, we are encouraged that their sacrifices were not in vain. God’s cause prevailed, and they, like the persecuted church in Smyrna, would be rewarded by receiving a crown of life (Revelation 2:10). We, also, are uplifted when we realize that times of persecution are limited, as this one was, and God is ultimately in control of events. This would, thankfully, include the final, fierce persecution we know is to occur just before Christ’s promised return to earth to take us home with Him (Matthew 24:21, 22). Bible Verses: Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6 Why do you think it’s reasonable to use the day/year principle in these verses (and others) about the 1,260 days prophecy? Daniel 8:23-25 and Revelation 12:6, 14 Why do you think we are given such a definitive timeframe of persecution, as seen in these 1,260 days, or prophetic years? Matthew 24:21, 22 How do these verses calm our fears about that final persecution in the last days? Monday: Light Vanquishes the Darkness At the beginning of the thirteenth century, two priests, both from wealthy backgrounds, decided to take vows of poverty and established orders in the Roman church. One was Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) and the other, a few decades earlier, was Peter Waldo (d. 1205). The monastic order of Franciscans was recognized by the pope, and still exists today (the present Pope Francis even honoring him by adopting his name). The difference in these two movements was the acceptance of the pope as their spiritual authority on earth by the Franciscans. The Waldenses, however, refused to give such allegiance, maintaining that their authority came from God’s holy Scriptures. The pope, therefore, declared that the Waldenses were heretics and sought to eliminate their influence by torture and death. But the courage of these brave martyrs inspired early Reformers to stand for Bible truths, as they were revealed to them. Many of them also lost their lives for their beliefs. Bible Verses: Jude 3, 4 Why do you think these two verses were so meaningful to the Waldensian believers in the Middle Ages? Revelation 2:10 What does it mean for the persecuted church members of Smyrna to have a crown of life? How does this verse encourage anyone who is persecuted for his faith? Tuesday: Courage to Stand Waldensian believers, forced to flee to the mountains of northern Italy and southern France, found ways to share their faith, despite the harsh living conditions in such mountainous terrain. They were one of the first groups to have the Bible in their own language. They lived before the invention of the printing press, so with great effort, they  copied the Scriptures by hand. Not content to have God’s word just for themselves, they found ways to share it with those outside their own communities. Young people, who had been encouraged to memorize large passages of Scripture, traveled outside their mountain homes with portions of the handprinted word hidden in their clothing to share with those who were hungering to know God better. They went about as merchants and some enrolled in universities–finding ways to share their faith, despite the danger of being exposed as a Waldensian heretic and imprisoned or even tortured and killed. We are grateful for the vital role those courageous Waldenses played in preserving Bible truths for generations to come. Bible Verses: Acts 5:28-32, Ephesians 6:10-13, and Revelation 3:11 How would these messages have instructed and encouraged the Waldensians, and why should we also use God’s word for guidance and comfort today? Wednesday: The Morning Star of the Reformation Many people view Bible The Teacher’s Notes–Standing for the Truth, Lesson 4 Adult Sabbath School Lesson, 2024 2Q, “The Great Controversy”“>Read more…

Sabbath School Lesson for April 13-19, 2024 Overview of Lesson 3, Light Shines in the Darkness Memory Text: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.’ ” John 12:35 NKJV There’s an expression that’s used to describe two very different things. We say they are as “different as night and day”. As we soon discover in looking at the attributes of good and evil, they, too, are as different as night and day. But, thankfully, as Jesus has told us, the light of God is bright enough to guide us out of our spiritual darkness. Darkness often overtakes us gradually. Even nature’s change from day to nighttime may be a slow process, allowing us some hours before the full darkness arrives. In the same way, sin can seep into our lives unknowingly until we suddenly find ourselves totally in darkness, because we listened to the dark messages of God’s enemy, Satan. In addition to the following topics we explore this week, read chapter 3 of The Great Controversy, called “An Era of Spiritual Darkness”. Sunday: Compromise, Satan’s Subtle Strategy–Knowing God through the Scriptures, aided by the Holy Spirit, is key to avoiding Satan’s cunning deceptions. Monday: Savage Wolves–Heresies, deviations from the truth, cause persecution from within the church. Tuesday: Safeguarded by the Word–The truth in God’s word builds us up and sanctifies us. Wednesday: Human Reasoning Apart From Scripture–Human reasoning through science, or even theologians, can’t always be relied on to show us the truth about God. Thursday: Battle for the Mind–Satan’s principal work is to blind or darken our minds, so we will worship him rather than the Creator of light. Sunday: Compromise–Satan’s Subtle Strategy Jesus defined Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He also identified Satan as a murderer and a liar (John 8:44). We must choose between an all-knowing, loving God–or Satan, the father of deceitful lies and power-grabbing selfishness. But the choice is not as cut and dry as we might hope. Satan uses subtle compromises with the truth that lead us to doubt our confidence in God’s word, and to ultimately abandon our loyalty to God. In the Garden of Eden, Satan used the serpent to persuade Adam and Eve to disobey God’s clear instructions. He has had centuries now to perfect his deceitful strategies and keep his agenda hidden from unsuspecting members of the human race, including those in the church. The Great Controversy, p. 51, points out that the post-apostolic church, for hundreds of years, prohibited the distribution and reading of the Bible, causing most of the laity to accept the pope when he declared himself viceregent of God on earth and gained “authority over church and state”. We are witnessing today many countries combining church and state, in order to push their apostasies and distorted views of the Bible–combining them, of course, with some truth. These unholy alliances between church and governments can only lead to a renewed persecution and death for many of the faithful. Revelation 13:11-18 reveals how this happens in a powerful way at the end of time. Bible Verses: John 14:6 and 8:44 How does the darkness differ from the light? Why are so many deceived into following Satan’s lies? John 8:32 and 17:17 How do the Scriptures protect us from spiritual darkness? Monday: Savage Wolves The apostle Paul warned the churches to be wary of wolves, who like Jesus predicted in Matthew 7:15, would come into the flock in sheep’s clothing. These were actually savage wolves, Paul declared, who would speak perverse, wrong things to draw the sheep to themselves (Acts 20:27-32). It’s startling to think that our greatest danger, our most unbearable persecution, comes from within the church. But this is just how it has happened in the past. Look at the Dark and Middle Ages and you will find that the Roman church was indeed capable of such atrocities. As a matter of fact, Paul, in his time, perceived that the “mystery of lawlessness”, otherwise known as the Anti-Christ, the “man of sin”, was already at work (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12). Satan was working to secure his supremacy through pagan and then papal Rome. Even in Paul’s day, compromising doctrines were being formulated by Satan and his cohorts to draw people away from the truth of God’s word. Those perverse doctrines included bowing down to graven images (idol worship), the immortality of the soul with the dead immediately being transported to heaven or hell, and the transfer of seventh-day Sabbath worship to another day, namely Sunday. These compromising measures were justified as a way to include pagans and secure the power of the church leaders. Bible Verses: Acts 20:27-32 How were the churches warned about future apostasy and persecution from within the church? 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 How can we avoid the strong delusions that will assault God’s true believers? Tuesday: Safeguarded by the Word The best way to be protected from “savage wolves”, as Paul calls them, is to immerse ourselves in God’s word, the Bible. It is through the Scriptures that God’s love and will for our lives is most clearly revealed. In addition, it exposes Satan’s strategies and goals, giving us ample information and warning about his deceitfully subtle lies. The middle chapter of the Bible is Psalm 117. It’s also the shortest chapter, just two verses that praise God for His mercy and truth. It is shortly followed by the longest chapter, Psalm 119, where we find repeated references to the importance of God’s Word. See Psalm 119:105, 116, 130, 133, and 160. The New Testament supports the value of God’s word, as our eyes are more fully opened to God’s Son, the embodiment of that word (John 1:1, 14). It is through His Word that we are forgiven, sanctified, and at last glorified on Resurrection Morning, when the Lord, with The Teacher’s Notes–Light Shines in the Darkness, Lesson 3 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2024 2Q, “The Great Controversy”“>Read more…

Sabbath School Lesson for April 6-12, 2024 Remember that Bible texts are hyperlinks to take you to the verses! Overview of Lesson 2, The Central Issue, Love or Selfishness? Memory Text: ” ‘ “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” ‘ ” Isaiah 41:10 NKJV After examining the origin of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, it’s logical to explore the destruction of Jerusalem that was foretold by Jesus while He was on earth. After all, He coupled the prediction of that important event with His prophecy of the last days in Matthew 24. We find in Jerusalem’s destruction in about 70 A.D. a foreshadowing of the attempts of Satan to deceive and destroy God’s people at the end of time. Isaiah 41:10, and many other verses like it, remind us that we don’t need to fear those times, as hard as they may be. God has promised to be there with us during it all. He will strengthen and uphold us just as He’s promised. We will look at the central issue in the controversy by studying… Sunday: A Brokenhearted Savior–Our loving Jesus does all He can to save His people. Monday: Christians Providentially Preserved–The faithful church has survived Satan’s attacks in the past with God’s providential care. Tuesday: Faithful Amid Persecution–The early church of the first century can teach us much about having faith despite hard times. Wednesday: Caring for the Community–New Testament believers were noted for their love for each other and their neighbors. Thursday: A Legacy of Love–The Christian church not only survived, but grew because of their selfless care of others. Read chapters 1 and 2 of The Great Controversy, by Ellen G. White. An easy-to-read version in today’s English, called Love Under Fire, is available online at https://media2.egwwritings.org/pdf/en_LF.pdf Sunday: A Brokenhearted Savior Even though “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11), Jesus did everything He could to call His people to repent. He delayed the consequences of their disobedience many times over the years. As Jesus approached God’s city for the last time, His tears flowed freely, showing the love He had for those who would experience the horrific attack upon the city forty years yet in the future. The many people who lost their lives when the Roman general Titus laid siege to Jerusalem was totally the work of Satan. God would have been justified in making it happen immediately after they killed His Son–the final act of their rebellious betrayal. But, out of His mercy, it was delayed another forty years. Christ lovingly gave His followers guidance on how to escape the disaster. By carefully obeying His directive to leave the city as soon as it was totally surrounded, many were able to survive the impending destruction of Jerusalem, which, according to the historian Josephus, killed more than a million people. Bible Verses: Luke 19:41-44, Matthew 23:37, 38, and John 5:40 What do we find here about the character of God, revealed in His Son? Matthew 24:15-20 and Luke 21:20-24 How important were these words to Christians still living in Jerusalem in 70 A.D.? Monday: Christians Providentially Preserved We may wonder how Christians were able to escape the city after they saw that it was surrounded by Roman armies.  Some historians tell us that at some point before their final assault on the city, the Romans mysteriously withdrew, causing Jewish armed forces to pursue them, winning a great victory. It must have been during one of the brief pauses in the siege, when the Jews were able to drive back the enemy, that allowed enough time for Christians to get out of the city. Heeding the words of Jesus, some of them fled to Pella, a city just beyond the Jordan River. Hebrews 11, known as the faith chapter, mentions several times when God intervened and preserved His people. But the chapter also reminds us that  many have fallen victim to intense suffering and even death for the cause of their faith. Thankfully, despite Satan’s best efforts to erase God’s followers from the face of the earth, they continued to grow in numbers, proclaiming the gospel with enthusiastic voices. Bible Verses: Psalm 46:1 and Isaiah 41:10 How does God help us during our trials? Hebrews 11:35-38 and Revelation 2:10 How does God reward the faithful, even those who suffer and are killed? Tuesday: Faithful Amid Persecution One has only to read the first eight chapters of Acts to get a sense of the crushing difficulties of the early church in those years immediately following Christ’s resurrection. They were fiercely threatened and imprisoned, and some were even killed. The death of the first martyr, Stephen, took place only three and a half years after the crucifixion of Jesus, with many others following. This intense persecution, however, led to the spreading of the gospel. Many Christians fled to other parts of the world, carrying with them their supreme desire to share the good news of the Messiah’s coming to anyone who would hear. Because of their fervent preaching, the church in Jerusalem grew by the thousands (Acts 2:41 and 4:4). Many of the Jews, from far and near, were delighted to hear about the Lord’s sacrifice, not just for them, but for anyone who chose to accept His love. The invitation to join God’s heavenly kingdom was more inclusive than they could have hoped for. Those Jews gathered in Jerusalem carried the disciples’ message back to their homelands, planting seeds that later bore fruit for apostles like Paul and Barnabas. Bible Verses: Acts 2:41, 4:4, 31, 5:42 Why did so many respond favorably to these early sermons of the disciples? Acts 4:17, 5:17, 18, 8:1 What kind of trials faced God’s people in the early years after Jesus’ sacrifice and triumphant victory over death? Wednesday: Caring for the Community It wasn’t just The Teacher’s Notes–The Central Issue: Love or Selfishness?, Lesson 2 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2024 2Q, “The Great Controversy”“>Read more…