Lesson Ten : UPON WHOM THE ENDS HAVE COME
Introduction: Given that eternity is God’s intention for humanity, we may expect that the message of future eternity is contained in the Biblical stories. Therefore, this week, we are studying how the Old Testament stories point us to the way of life expected of us by God, as we look forward to the fulfilment of prophecy regarding the end of the age.
Memory Text: 1 Corinthians 10:11-12(NKJV)
[11]”Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
[12]”Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
SABBATH: As we study the word of God deeper while seeking to understand the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, we need to take note of the historical events that the Bible records such as the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah because they have parallels in events, similar to the end of the world as prophecy entails and as Jesus Christ re-echoed in the New Testament. Through it all, Jesus Christ remains the solid foundation through whom all prophecy is fulfilled.
SUNDAY: The Bible describes people in Revelation 6 as those who will be lost in the last days, in that they will have received the message of warning from God, and yet willfully disobey Him and refuse to believe just as those in the days of Noah refused to believe and heed to the warning. Jesus Christ also reminds us that His second coming will surprise many. This is not because many will not have been told, but because, despite being told, they will have falsified this prophecy due to its delay in fulfilment.
(READ Revelation 6:12-17; Matthew 24:36-44; 2 Peter 3:3-4)
MONDAY: Many theories today have come up to challenge the authenticity of the story of the flood. However, its reality is re-echoed through its comparison to the end times in the New Testament. Noah preached for 120 years and the result was the saving of his family and the perishing of the rest. Unlike those times, many today are responsive to the end-time message of the Three Angels and you and I are called upon to actively take part in sharing this message of hope as the close of probation approaches.
(READ Matthew 24:37-39; Genesis 6:1-8; Hebrews 11:7)
TUESDAY: Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of utter and continuous wickedness in the sight of the Lord. Israel having known God and yet by remaining rebellious, proved to be more wicked than Sodom and Gomorrah because of their spiritual adultery. This is a warning to us Christians not to allow sin to blind us into not seeing our own transgressions, for the Bible is first and foremost addressed to us, that we may understand the seriousness of our sins.
(READ 2 Peter 2:4-11; Jude 5-8; Ezekiel 16:46-50; Revelation 20; Romans 1:18-32)
WEDNESDAY: God is so loving, in that even though we are undeserving, He informs His people about His actions prior to fulfilling them(this is basically what prophecy is about) God informed Abraham about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. And just as the two angels moved down to the cities to warn people about the upcoming destruction, so does God call people out of Babylon during these end times before the earth’s final destruction. We can see God’s great love and mercy extended to the obedient, however few they may be, in saving them from destruction.
(READ Genesis 18:17-32; Galatians 3:16; Revelation 20:4, 11-15)
THURSDAY: Paul warns us against judging one another because we shall all stand in front of God to be judged. God allowed Abraham to examine the guilt of Sodom and Gomorrah before He destroyed them. God also allowed Abraham to study His decision to destroy Sodom. Then Abraham could decide for himself if God was doing the right thing. In the same way as Jesus is shown in the throne room in Daniel 7, Jesus is the only reason that God judges in favour of His people.
(READ Daniel 7:9&10, 13&14, 22, 26&27; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 14:10; Matthew 20:28)
FRIDAY: Satan’s pleasures are in those who transgress the law of God because it is through their rebellion that he gains power over them. However, through the plan of Salvation, Jesus is breaking Satan’s hold upon the human family and rescuing souls from his power because by man’s own strength, he can’t meet the charges of the enemy. Jesus Christ pleads the cause of those committed to keeping their souls to Him through repentance and faith.
(READ “The Flood” pp.101&102 in Patriarchs and Prophets by Ellen G White)
CAPTIONS
SUNDAY: The wrath of the Lamb
MONDAY: Noah’s evangelism
TUESDAY: The story of Sodom and Gomorrah
WEDNESDAY: The judge of all the earth
THURSDAY: The pre-advent judgement
FRIDAY: Further thought
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- How can we learn not to get discouraged if our personal evangelistic efforts don’t seem to be bearing much fruit for the moment? Why must we continue our efforts? (See John 4:37)
- Jesus told His disciples that they were in the world but not of the world. (See John 15:19, John 17:14 16.) How do we balance our responsibility to win the world with the need to keep ourselves “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27)?
- What does Noah’s public ministry before the Flood teach us about how the great controversy works? In what ways do we play the same role today?
- As you consider the stories we studied this week, what cautions do you find for your own life? What do these stories teach you about your hope in Christ?
