Lesson FOUR: THE NATIONS: part 1
Introduction:
Memory Text: Daniel 7:14 (NKJV)
“Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”
SABBATH; The book of Revelation tells of the account of how God is to restore the world back to complete righteousness, which is the opposite of the book of Genesis which accounts how sin came into this world. In addition, through out history, human beings have attempted to control what belongs to God despite failed attempts over time. However, this is bound to get worse before God finally restores the earth.
(READ Daniel 7:27)
SUNDAY; Sin came into this world because of disobedience to God. Life became harder. Adam and his sons often sought God’s presence in order to renew their vows of obedience, hoping that life as was in Eden can be restored. In the other hand, other people sought to build cities in rebellion to God so as to make life easier. Among whom is Nimrod who began a resistance against God that is bound to continue until the earth is finally eradicated and restored.
(READ Genesis 3:16-19; 10:1-12)
MONDAY; The birth of many nations, also known as the Gentiles is seen in Genesis 10. One nation among them, out of whom God calls Abraham. God did this, that through Abraham, a nation wholly belonging to God would be made, showing the benefits of obeying God. Furthermore, it is through obedience to the statutes and judgements that God gave Israel, that other nations would testify to God’s Almight and Wisdom, however, failure to keepinh them bound to bring curses and death in life instead of blessings and life respectively.
(READ Genesis 10:5; 12:1-9; Revelation 14:6; Deuteronomy 4:5-9)
TUESDAY; Contrary to God’s original intention, Israel asked for a king like other nations had. Despite being warned about the disadvantages that came with having a human king such as ruling according to how pleased he feels, losses brought by wars and high taxation, Israel insisted to have a king. Accounts of their rulership after God grants them this request show how badly things turned out to be, more so because the measures God has put in place to protect them were often ignored.
(READ 1Samuel 8:4-18; Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1Kings 11:6; 15:26; 16:30; 2Kings 3:2)
WEDNESDAY; Unlike the rulers of the worldly nations that wrongly use authority over those being led, Jesus Christ warns the disciples against using this same method in the church. Just like in the times of Israel where their godly principles were overlooked and sought help from non-godly nations, the same applied to the early Christian church that sought help from the state rulership at that point, leading to worse problems because of compromise of the church.
(READ Matthew 20:25-28)
THURSDAY; Israel, as a nation was to lead the surrounding nations to righteousness by highlighting their sins and selfishness. Just like Israel, God intends that we, the church, draw sinners to Christ through proclamation of the three angels’ message. In addition, Revelation 18:1 predicts that the whole earth will be lighted up with God’s glory prior to the Second coming of Jesus Christ.
(READ Revelation 14:12; John 3:16-21; Numbers 14:17-21; Isaiah 42:6; 49:6; 60:3; Revelation 18:1-4)
FRIDAY; The spirit of compromise and conformity to the pagan standards was restrained by the church for sometime by the fierce persections that it underwent. But as persection ceased and as Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles, for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and substituted the requirements of God with human traditions and doctrines. Paganism, as was thought to be eradicated, became the ruler and her ways incorporated in the professed followers of Christ.
(READ Isaiah 44:24-45:13 and The Great Controversy pp 49&50 by Ellen G White)
CAPTIONS:
SUNDAY; Nimrod and Nineveh
MONDAY; Abraham’s call
TUESDAY; Given what you asked for
WEDNESDAY; The rulers of the Gentiles
THURSDAY; A light to the Gentiles
FRIDAY; Further thought
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS;
1. Why is the sin of rebellion against God more subtle than we might readily realise? How can we protect ourselves against this very human trait?
2. How does the same principle, that of not just knowing these truths, but obeying them, apply to us as Adventists today?
3. In your own culture, your own society, in what ways can these same temptations jeopardise the integrity of our faith?
4. Read again Revelation 18:1-4, the call for “my people”-that is, God’s people-to come out of Babylon. How is that going to happen? In other words, how can we, as a church that is not Babylon, be used by God to call out God’s people who are still in Babylon
?
