Lesson Seven: FOUNDATIONS FOR PROPHECY*
Introduction: God is our Creator, for He is the Creator of all good things in this universe and in Heaven as well. In this week’s lesson study, we will reflect on the significance of this foundational truth, which is the basis of the revelations of God in regard to His throne.
Memory Text: Isaiah 6:8(NKJV)
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
SABBATH; God is righteous and it is because of Hid unchanging character that He is the Only One suitable to rule this universe for He is our Creator. We can not approach His throne due to our sinfulness, and this is why we can only be restored through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In addition, God intends that all humanity is saved and restored back to Him. Furthermore, after restoration, God has a mission, of which He wants you and I to be a part, in line of redeeming humanity.
(READ )
SUNDAY; As one learns more about the throne of God, endowed in majesty and glory, one sees more and more of one’s defects in character. This is what Prophet Isaiah witnessed to. His sins were forgiven when a seraph took a coal from the altar and put it upon his lips. It is until this point that He was considered fit to stand before God. It is after this that God sent forth Prophet Isaiah to pass on His message to His people. Similarly, God sent Prophet John the Baptist to point to Jesus Christ, our own Salvation.
(READ Isaiah 6:5-8; Revelation 8:3&4; John 5:35)
MONDAY; The Bible mentions the Cherubim in reference to the presence of God. At the East of Eden, God placed two cherubim who guarded against Adam from accessing the tree of life. Adam’s visit to this entrance, together with his sons, was to renew their vows of obedience to God, as well, looking forward to the hope of Messiah, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, a glimpse of God’s throne by John the Revelator sites out the presence of the cherubim who declare God as the Only Right One to rule over all creation.
(READ Exodus 25:18; Genesis 3:21-24; Revelation 21:1; 1 Chronicles 13:6; Psalms 80:1; Isaiah 37:16)
TUESDAY; Ezekiel sees God’s throne above everything else, and the living things that he sees have the same faces as the living things in John’s dream in Revelation: a lion, an eagle, an ox, and a man. We see burning stones about these angels which are also referred to as cherubim in the book of Isaiah. This stamps more in the fact that cherubim are very much connected to God’s throne, and are created to reflect God’s glory, as do all creatures created by God.
(READ Ezekiel 1:4-14; Isaiah 6:1-6; Revelation 4:1-11; Exodus 25:22)
WEDNESDAY; In Israel’s time, God commanded that the twelve tribes of Israel settle around the Tabernacle, with Judah dominant in the East, Reuben in the South, Ephraim in the West and Dan in the North. The nations are represented by the four living creatures seen by Prophet Ezekiel at God’s throne. This depicts how close God wishes humanity to be so close to His throne.
(READ Numbers 2:3,10,18,25; Revelation 21:12&13,22)
THURSDAY; Lucifer, once held the position of a covering cherub at God’s throne before he was cast out of heaven because of pride due to his beauty that made him try to usurp God’s throne. Only those that acknowledge God as the Almighty and Only One worthy to rule have the chance to be in God’s presence, as the angels that didn’t rebel against God. They are able to do so because of the Gospel of redemption, a theme seen in Revelation 4 and 5. This is the same everlasting Gospel that we are required to preach to everyone. All need to learn that Christ died for each single person, and they are left to choose to accept it or not.
(READ Ezekiel 28:11-17; Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 4;5; 14:1-12; 22:1-3)
FRIDAY; God has allowed fallen angels to continue in their rebellion in order to show the universe the depths of wickedness that come from self-exaltation-and, while Satan managed to deceive the human race into joining war against God, Christ utterly defeated him at the Cross, securing a place for humanity where fallen angels once stood.
(READ “The Controversy Ended” pages 669-671, 676&678 by Ellen G White)
CAPTIONS:
SUNDAY; Here am I! Send me
MONDAY; The two cherubim
TUESDAY; Like burning coals of fire
WEDNESDAY; God among His people
THURSDAY; The fall of Lucifer
FRIDAY; Further thought
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS;
1. Of course, we don’t live in the camp of Israel. But in what ways can we, in our own lives now, draw close to the Presence of God?
2. John the Baptist as we have seen, played the role of a seraph-a burning and shining lamp.(See John 5:35) He was, of course, the forerunner to Christ, heralding the Messiah’s first appearance. How do God’s last-day people hold a similar prophetic role?
3. What role do we have as a church, and as individuals, in letting people know about what Christ has done for them?
