Reveiation: Yrs Tra Ton

Ell
".....1 ADULT SCHOOL

BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
ReVeiation
yrs tra ton
God Shows and Tells
JAN FEB MAR 1999

rSee the Difference. The Sabbath School Lesson
VIDEOS
Those who appreciate added insight to the adult
Sabbath School lesson will welcome these videos that
enhance meaningful discussions during lesson study.
Use them for Sabbath School class or share them
with shut-ins, small groups, and those unable to attend
church. Parents and teachers in children's divisions
will appreciate this lesson tool to help them remain
involved in lesson-study time. Now everyone has the
opportunity to join in the spiritual growth found
through Sabbath School lesson discussions.
You are invited to see the refreshing difference these
videos can make for you.
US$21.95/Cdn$31.85 each. Available from your Adventist Book (enter.
US$75.95/Cdn$110.15 for one-year subscription (4 videos). Call toll free 1-800-765-6955.
Prices subject to change without notice 1997 Pacific Press8 Publishing Association
Scripture references other than from the King James Version quoted by permission in this quarterly are as follows:
NASB. From the New American Standard Bible, copyright the Lockman Foundation 1960, 1968.1975. 1977. Used by
permission.
NIV. From the New International Version, copyright © 1978 by New York International Bible Society. Used by permission.
NKJV. From the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by per-
mission.
RSV. From the Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education
of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and is used by permission.
Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide (USPS 702-480) (Standard Edition). Published quarterly by Pacific Press® Publishing Association,
1350 N. Kings Road, Nampa, ID 83687-3193, U.S.A. One-year subscription in U.S.A., $7.50; single copy, $3.95. One-year subscription to
countries outside U.S.A., $10.25: single $3.95. All prices at U.S.A. exchange. Periodicals postage paid at Nampa, Idaho. When a change of
address is desired, please send both old and new addresses.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide (Standard Edition), P.O. Box 5353. Nampa, ID 83653-
5353. Printed in the United States of America.
Editions in Braille available. Contact Christian Record Services, Box 6097, Lincoln, NE 68506.
Easy Reading Edition available. Contact Pacific Press®, 1350 N. Kings Road, Nampa. ID 83687.
Copyright © 1999 by the Sabbath School Department/Personal Ministries. General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 12501 Old
Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600, USA.
Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide (USPS 702-480)/No. 415/January-March 1999
Editorial Office God Is Good 6
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
That We May Know Him 14
Principal Contributor
Leo R. Van Dolson What Inspiration Is 22
Editor
Philip G. Samaan How Inspiration Works 30
Associate Editor The Preparation and Preservation
Lyndelle Brower Chiomenti
of the Scriptures 38
Editorial Assistant The Languages and Translations
Soraya Homayouni Parish of the Bible 46
Art and Design
Lars Justinen
The Bible Its Own Interpreter
56
The Uniqueness of the Gift
Pacific Press Coordinator of Prophecy 64
Glen Robinson
The adult Sabbath School Bible

Guide for the Last Days 72
Study Guide is prepared by the
Sabbath School/Personal Ministries Principles of Prophetic
Department of the General Confer- Interpretation 80
ence of Seventh-day Adventists. The
preparation of the guides is under Understanding Biblical
the general direction of a worldwide Literature 88
Sabbath School Manuscript
Evaluation Committee, the
members of which serve as
The Great Controversy Theme 96
consulting editors. The published
guide reflects the input of the The Adventist Church
committee and thus does not solely and Revelation 104
or necessarily represent the intent of
the authors.
Contents
Meet the Principal Contributor to
This Quarter's Bible Study Guide
Leo Van Dolson served on the editorial staff of the adult Sabbath
School Bible Study Guides (formerly known as the Adult Sabbath
School Lessons). His career has included pastoral work in the U.S.
and Japan and teaching at Pacific Union College and the Loma Linda
University School of Health. He holds a Ph.D. in educational admin-
istration from Claremont College. Dr. Van Dolson has served as an
editor on Ministry, Life and Health, and the Adventist Review maga-
zines. He has authored or co-authored 18 books and has written
several teachers' aids. He and his wife, Bobbie Jane, have two
grown sons.
Check with your local Adventist Book Center

for the companion book to the adult Sabbath
School Bible Study Guides.
ARE
YOU
PLANNING ON
A BIRTHDAY
THIS YEAR?
How about celebrating it
with a gift to missions that
will send the gospel to
all the world? And then
when the work is done,
we can all celebrate to-
gether in heaven!
D856
83 23B511
XL L
1/00 91699-99
THE COMING GREAT CALAMITY
BY MARVIN MOORE
Notice the headlines and top stories in the news displaying
signs of the times? Seventh-day Adventists have a profound
responsibility to be keenly aware of last-day events in order
to be prepared.
Best-selling author, Marvin Moore,
calls our attention to startling biblical COMING
predictions of current events and trends GREAT
that might be setting the stage for CALAMITY
last-day deceptions. The Coming Great
Calamity sheds light on how everything
can change in the twinkling of an eye
and helps prepare you for events that
from the author of
The Crisis of the End lihic
will usher in the new world order.
Paper, 176 pages. US$10.99, Cdn$15.99. MOORE
Pacific Press Publishing Association Available at your local
Creating the future of Adventist publishing
Visit us at www.pacificpress.com
Adventist Book Center.
1997 Pacific Press Publishing Association 185/70590 Call 1-800-765-6955.
Studies on Revelation and
Inspiration
God Shows and Tells
When we face the fundamental questions of life and death, we realize
how inadequate we are to find satisfying answers without God. There is
only one true solution—to turn to our Creator and Redeemer so that we
may discover what He is able to reveal to us about Himself and His
purposes for us. When we turn to Him for answers, we learn that God
loves us greatly and is eager to guide our lives.
Because it is impossible for us to discover what we need to know
about God, He reveals all that He knows we can grasp about His eternal
nature and infinite goodness. The fullest revelation of God is found in
Jesus Christ, who is the focus of the Scriptures. Indeed, the heart of God's
revelation in the Written Word centers in the Living Word.
But Satan does everything he can, especially in these last days, to
lead people to doubt, ignore, and reject God's revelations. He uses
what some call science to lead people to think that only that which is
reasonable to sin-perverted human minds is true. Thus the limited
human intelligence becomes the judge of whether the greatly su-
perior revelations of the infinite God are correct. Consequently,
many have rejected basically every aspect of God's self-revelation.
This quarter's guide is designed to deepen our appreciation of God's
revelation of and about Himself through His inspiration of the Bible
writers. Inspiration from God enabled them to grasp and communicate
His revealed will in a trustworthy manner. This guide is designed to help
us gain a proper perspective on how inspiration has produced and pre-
served the Scriptures and how God enables us to understand best what He
has revealed. A good deal of time and space could be given to dealing
with the questions and objections raised by skeptics. Instead, the ap-
proach purposely focuses on reviewing the clear and definite information
God has given about understanding His revealed will.
"The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written
Word of God, given by divine inspiration through holy men of God
who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this
Word, God has committed to man the knowledge necessary for
salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of His
will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the
authoritative revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of
God's acts in history.—Fundamental Beliefs, 1."—Quoted in
Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . , ed. The Ministerial Association
of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Hagerstown,
Md.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988), p. 4.
5
Lesson 1 December 26—January 1
God Is Good
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Ps. 107:1-8; 77:1-13; Jer.
31:3; 1 Chron. 16:8-12.
MEMORY TEXT: "And the Lord passed by before him, and pro-
claimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6).
KEY THOUGHT: God's revelation tells and shows us that He is

good. God uses various means of revelation to help us understand His
goodness. He wants us to trust Him in order that we might enjoy the
best and the most of life and, in turn, reveal His goodness to others.
GOD'S GOODNESS REVEALED. Jesus came to reveal the Father

(see John 1:1, 14; 14:9). If Christ were to talk to us personally, what
would He say? His favorite theme while on earth was the noble charac-
ter and abundant love of God. Wouldn't He speak to us about how
much our Father in heaven loves us and how good He is? He would
invite us as God's earthly children to trust our heavenly Father with a
deeper, stronger trust than that which children have for their loving,
earthly parents. The heart of our good God is moved by the loss of even
one sparrow, let alone the tragic loss of one of His earthly children. He
is continuously watching over His children. Isn't it a wonderful fact to
contemplate that in our busy world, where the population is fast ap-
proaching the five billion mark, our good God knows each one of us
intimately by name! Our God, in His goodness, generously provides our
daily bread and all else we need to live. Because He wants us to trust
Him, He has gone to great lengths to reveal His love for us.
6
Sunday December 27
THE GOODNESS OF GOD (Ps. 25:8; 31:19; 33:5; 107:1-8; 145:9; 1
John 4:8).
Goodness is derived from the Old English g6dnes. Thus, it is

associated with qualities that are like God. The Oxford English
Dictionary defines goodness as "the quality or condition of being
good . . . moral excellence, virtue."—(Oxford, Great Britain:
Oxford University Press, 1978), vol. III.
How did the psalmist outline the goodness of God?
1. Ps. 25.8
2. Ps. 31:19
3. Ps. 33.5
4. Ps. 145.9
Have you offered a treat to a child only to have the youngster draw
away from you in fear or suspicion? You know that your gift is good,
yet the child doesn't seem to understand that. What you have to offer
is something that he or she would really enjoy if it were accepted. Think,
then, how frustrated our loving God must feel when He offers so much
to us, His earthly children, only to be met with our response of backing
away fearfully, thinking that He wants to harm us or dilute our joy.
Our acceptance of what He reveals leads to a trust in Him that
encourages us to reach out with the hand of faith, take Him at His Word,
and accept all the precious blessings He longs to share with us.
Contemplate the familiar text 1 John 4:8, 16 in order to discover

some implications deeper than those readily perceived when first
reading it.
The text makes it clear that it is God's nature to love. Love is

characteristic of His very being. He is not a far-off, disinterested God.
Neither is He an angry dictator needing to be appeased. The text also
implies that there never has been and never will be a time when God is
not love. God does everything possible to lead us to understand that
He is love, that He is good, and that He cares for each one of us.
For reflection: Think of a time in your life when some terrible

tragedy took away a friend or loved one. Did you find it difficult
to understand why God allowed it to happen? If so, were you
able to reconcile your doubts with the innate goodness and love
of God?
7
Monday December 28
"GOD IS GREAT, GOD IS GOOD" (Ps. 77:1-13; 119:142; Titus 2:11,
12; Isa. 54:8).
Study the following lists of God's attributes and compare those

that help us understand the greatness of God with those that help
us understand His goodness. As you think about such attributes,
consider in what ways you can become more confident and secure
in God in your daily life.
GREATNESS GOODNESS
Eternal existence (Ps. 90:2) Love (1 John 4:8, 10)
All knowledge (Job 37:16) Grace (Titus 2:11, 12)
Presence everywhere (Ps.139:7-10) Mercy (Jer. 31:20)
All power (Eph. 1:19) Patience (Rom. 15:5)
Righteousness (Ps. 119:142) Holiness (Purity) (Exod. 15:11)
Justice (Ps. 89:14) Kindness (Isa. 54:8)
Truthfulness (John 14:6) Unselfishness (Eph. 2:8)
What else can you add to either of these lists? How have you
experienced these qualities in your relationship with God?
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved
thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I
drawn thee" (Jer. 31:3). Think of ways God's lovingkindness has
drawn you to Himself.
Analyze Jesus' statement to the rich young ruler in Mark 10:18 in

which He emphasizes goodness as an attribute of God. In your own
words tell what you think He is saying and why He says it.
The relevance of Old Testament thought to the New Testament

development of Christ's ministry and sacrifice is found primarily in the
emphasis on God's love and goodness. In the Old Testament one
senses God's eagerness to reveal that which is almost impossible to
understand fully about Him—His amazing trustworthiness, goodness,
and love. However, in the New Testament we find not only the full
revelation of God's love at the Cross, but even before Calvary, the life
and teachings of Jesus make it clear that we serve a good God.
Think on this: Reflect on the things God has done in your life
that reveal His goodness and His mercy.
8
Tuesday December 29
IT IS GOD'S NATURE TO LOVE (1 John 4:8-12; 1 Cor. 13:4-7).
Love is set forth in the Scriptures as the very nature of God. Yet,
His kind of love is not natural in a sinful world. The Bible reveals such
a unique and distinctive understanding of God that it is not possible
for human minds to comprehend this concept unaided. It can come to
us through God's self-revelation alone.
Review God's kind of love as defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
WHAT GOD'S LOVE IS WHAT GOD'S LOVE IS NOT
When His kind of love is seen in us, God is revealed.
The most natural thing in the world. "If we would but think of
God as often as we have evidence of His care for us, we should keep
Him ever in our thoughts, and should delight to talk of Him and to
praise Him. We talk of temporal things because we have an interest in
them. We talk of our friends because we love them; our joys and our
sorrows are bound up with them. Yet we have infinitely greater reason
to love God than to love our earthly friends; it should be the most
natural thing in the world to make Him first in all our thoughts, to talk
of His goodness and tell of His power."—Steps to Christ, p. 102.
Merely to tell of His power and goodness is not enough. For those
who can sing, the beautiful song "How Great Thou Art" is easy to
present; but when the words are real within us, we do more than sing or
tell it, we look for ways to demonstrate it.
List some of the persons with whom you will interact this
week and think of specific ways you might help them under-
stand the goodness and greatness of God.
9
Wednesday December 30
"BEHOLD, WHAT MANNER OF LOVE" (Isa. 63:7-9; 1 John 3:1, 2).
God's love is so great that it makes us sons and daughters in His

royal family. John, who was so closely associated with Jesus, describes
the vastness of His love. For God will not be satisfied until He gathers
us around His throne.
How is God's great love revealed to us in 1 John 3:1, 2? How does

this affect your understanding of Him?
In Christ, God adopts us as His sons and daughters. He is at work

restoring the image of God in us. The ultimate expression of His love will
be evident in the new earth when, freed from every trace of sin, "The
tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they
shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their
God" (Rev. 21:3).
"People think it a privilege to see a royal personage, and thousands
go great distances to see one. How much greater privilege it is to be
sons and daughters of the Most High. What greater privilege could be
conferred on us than to be given entrance into the royal family? . . . Let
no one be so deluded by the enemy as to think that it is a condescen-
sion for any man, however talented or learned or honored, to accept
Christ. Every human being should look to heaven with reverence and
gratitude, and exclaim with amazement, 'Behold, what manner of love
the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of
God.' "—Sons and Daughters of God, p. 8.
How did John, a son of thunder (Mark 3:17), become a son of God?
"John's was no faultless character.... He and his brother were called the
`sons of thunder.' . . . John was proud, ambitious, combative; but beneath
all this the divine Teacher discerned the ardent, sincere, loving heart.
"John's was a nature that longed for love, for sympathy and compan-
ionship. He pressed close to Jesus, sat by His side, leaned upon His breast.
As a flower [drinks] the sun and dew, so did he drink in the divine light and
life. In adoration and love he beheld the Saviour, until likeness to Christ and
fellowship with Him became his one desire, and in his character was
reflected the character of his Master."—Education, p. 87.
For reflection: Is there a character quality in my life that is

more like a son of thunder than a child of God? How does that
compromise how I reflect God's character to others? How can I
let God help me in this area today?
10
Thursday December 31
HOW CAN WE KNOW GOD? (Dent. 4:29-32; 1 Chron. 16:8-12).
In Job 11:7, Zophar asks the suffering patriarch, "Canst thou by

searching find out God?" Certainly, we cannot. The greatest human
mind cannot produce that which would be recognized as absolute
scientific evidence of God's existence. How then can we know God?
Only one way—through His self-revelation. God wants us to know all
that we can about Him and His goodness.
How does God reveal Himself in ways we can understand? The Bible
suggests some ways:
1. Earthly parents and/or others who have made a positive

impact on our spirituality and faith (2 Tim. 1:5).
2. Jesus (John 1:1, 2).
3. Nature (Job 12:7-10).
4. The Bible (John 5:39).
5. The image of God reflected in born-again people (Phil. 4:9;
2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 8:29).
6. His continual leading in our lives (Ps. 107:1-8).
7. The Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18, 26).
To this list add other ways from your experience and personal study
of the Bible that show how God reveals Himself to us.
All of these help to reveal that God is good. That He loves and cares
for us is beyond our ability to comprehend.
Evidences of God's goodness. Katie was dying from cancer. She

loved birds, but her viewing was restricted to those she could see from
her bedroom window. When her daughter Mary saw a flock of beautiful
birds in the backyard, she prayed, "Lord, please cause those birds to fly
around to the tree in front where Mom can see them." Just then, the
birds flew to her mother's window. God does not always answer prayer
in this fashion, but this time He did. Mary was overwhelmed with God's
goodness in answering such a small request, one that gave to Katie
and to her specially needed encouragement during that difficult time.
Recall some of the personal goodness that God has intimately shown
you in the past week.
In what ways have you been able to demonstrate the goodness

of God to those about you during the last week?
11
Friday January 1
FURTHER STUDY: Check the word goodness in your Bible or concor-
dance. Note those verses that apply to goodness as an attribute of God.
How many can you find? List several that indicate how God's goodness
is reflected in the actions of those who serve Him.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How does keeping the goodness and love of God uppermost in
our thinking help us in times of tragedy and trouble?
2. Are there any projects or activities our class could do that

would help to portray an attractive picture of God's goodness to
those in our community? How can we help people who have been
hurt by others to trust and accept God's love?
"When men go forth to their daily toil, as when they engage in

prayer; when they lie down at night, and when they rise in the morning;
when the rich man feasts in his palace, or when the poor man gathers his
children about the scanty board, each is tenderly watched by the
heavenly Father. No tears are shed that God does not notice. There is
no smile that He does not mark.
"If we would but fully believe this, all undue anxieties would be
dismissed. Our lives would not be so filled with disappointment as now;
for everything, whether great or small, would be left in the hands of
God, who is not perplexed by the multiplicity of cares, or overwhelmed
by their weight. We should then enjoy a rest of soul to which many
have long been strangers."—Steps to Christ, p. 86.
"Christ hungers to receive from His vineyard the fruit of holiness
and unselfishness. He looks for the principles of love and goodness.
Not all the beauty of art can bear comparison with the beauty of temper
and character to be revealed in those who are Christ's representa-
tives."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 298.
SUMMARY: One powerful way our families, church members, friends,

and neighbors understand the goodness of God is by seeing His good-
ness in us. When our good God has full control of our lives, His
unselfish goodness will be evidenced in our actions. This means more
than professing goodness; it involves doing kind, loving, merciful,
unselfish, generous, unexpected deeds that, by God's grace, enable
others to see His goodness in us.
12
Desperately Seeking God, Part 1
Charlotte Ishkanian
The world should have looked wonderful to 22-year-old Biruthe

[bih-R00-teh] Konciute [kon-CHOO-teh]. Her homeland, Lithuania,
was free after a lifetime of Communism. But a dark cloud of hope-
lessness hung overhead. Jobs were scarce, and crime was increasing.
Biruthe felt that something was missing in her life, something abso-
lute, something stable. She called that something "truth," but she did
not know where to find it or that it even existed.
A friend gave her a book to read. Biruthe flipped through it,
hoping to find something that would lift her heavy heart. One
chapter caught her attention. It began with the words of Jesus: "I
am the way, the truth, and the life." The word truth jumped out at
her. She realized that the ultimate truth is in God. But how could
she find God?
When she was a small girl she had sometimes gone to church with
her mother. She remembered that occasionally the priest had read
from the Bible. She asked her mother where she could get a Bible,
but her mother told her that only the priests read the Bible, not the
laity.
Biruthe was determined to find a Bible and read it. She searched
for a Bible in bookshops, but she found none. She prayed, "God, if
You are truly God, please help me to find Your Word." That day she
found a New Testament. Eagerly she began reading it. When she
found Christ's words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John
14:6), she knew she had the right book!
As she read she noticed that some people called Pharisees did
not like it when Jesus healed someone on Sabbath. She wondered
what was Sabbath, and why did it make the Pharisees angry when
Jesus healed on this day? She found other verses that referred to
the Sabbath, and she realized that the Sabbath day was holy to God.
But what day was Sabbath? In the former
Soviet Union the calendar week started with
Monday. But she had learned that other
countries started the week on Sunday, which
meant the seventh day was Saturday. How
could she know which was correct?
(continued next week)
Biruthe Konciute of Lithuania (left).

Charlotte Ishkanian is editor of Mission.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Awareness

E-mail: gomissioncacompuserve.com
13
Lesson 2 January 2 -8
That We May Know Him
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: 2 Kings 22; Ps. 107:31-43;
John 14:8-11; 16:8-14; 17:1-5; Rom. 1:17-23; Col. 1:12-20.
MEMORY TEXT: "And this is life eternal, that they might know
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent"
(John 17:3).
KEY THOUGHT: Because eternal life comes through knowing God,

He makes it possible for us to know as much about Him as He thinks is
necessary. We will study the means God uses to reveal Himself to us.
WHAT WE CAN KNOW. The Bible makes no direct attempt to

prove God's existence—it assumes it. The Bible claims to be God's
message to us about Himself and His plan for us and our world. The first
words of the Bible tell us that God is the Creator. Before the world
was, He was. As our Creator, He naturally is Sovereign over all He has
created. God can be seen in creation, but this form of revelation is
limited. Because our sin-ruined planet barely reflects the original world,
He must reveal Himself in other ways, as well. Among these is the
greatest of all revelations—His revelation through Christ, the living
Word. "Christ revealed all of God that sinful human beings could bear
without being destroyed. He is the divine Teacher, the Enlightener."
—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 266.
TERM FOR THE WEEK: Theistic evolution. The speculation that

God worked through the process of evolution to bring the universe and
life on earth into being.
14
Sunday January 3
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH NATURE (Rom. 1:17-23; Ps. 19:1-6;
Acts 14:15-17).
"Many are the ways in which God is seeking to make Himself known
to us and bring us into communion with Him. Nature speaks to our
senses without ceasing. The open heart will be impressed with the love
and glory of God as revealed through the works of His hands. The
listening ear can hear and understand the communications of God
through the things of nature. The green fields, the lofty trees, the buds
and flowers, the passing cloud, the falling rain, the babbling brook, the
glories of the heavens, speak to our hearts, and invite us to become
acquainted with Him who made them all."—Steps to Christ, p. 85.
Even though sin has so changed the natural world that much of it
barely reflects the original creation, what basic lesson does nature
still teach us? Ps. 19:1.
One of the frailties of being human is that we often hear only what we
want to hear. "If we will but listen, God's created works will teach us
precious lessons of obedience and trust. From the stars that in their
trackless courses through space follow from age to age their appointed
path, down to the minutest atom, the things of nature obey the Creator's
will. And God cares for everything and sustains everything that He
has created."—Steps to Christ, pp. 85, 86.
We learn to trust God more as we recognize His loving care all about
us and are able to see through faulty human reasoning to recognize
more clearly how nature testifies of its Creator. Our study of the Scrip-
tures leads us to a proper understanding of God through nature.
Read the following Bible passages and consider their context in

order to gain greater biblical insight into the way nature reveals its
Creator:
Acts 14:15-17. Under what circumstances was this given? How

were the listeners affected?
Rom. 1:19, 20. For what reason did Paul address this passage to the
Roman believers?
Think it through: What helpful answer can you offer to what

some consider to be discrepancies between nature and the Bible?
How does this answer help you to trust God more?
15
Monday January 4
SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE (Isa. 40:21-28; Heb. 11:3; 2 Pet. 3:3-6).
Humanity has gained much knowledge and has made many advance-
ments through science as it seeks to observe and research the phenomena
occurring in the natural world surrounding us. However, when science
enters into the realm of the origin of matter and life, it has its limitations.
Some scientists give the impression that the discussion that has raged for
little more than one hundred years between those who accept the theory
of evolution and those who accept the Bible record of special creation
was settled long ago in favor of evolution. That is not so. There is not
adequate evidence on either side to prove one position or the other
scientifically and conclusively. Ultimately, the choice between which
theory of origins we accept comes down to faith in God's Word or faith
in man's word. Here creationists have the advantage.
The Bible record of the creation of life comes from the Creator
Himself. See how He made it happen in the following texts as you
complete this chart.
Title of Creator What He did
Isa. 51:13
Jer. 10:12
Heb. 11:3
When we accept the Bible as our guide to understanding the natura

world, we find nature pointing to its Creator. For instance, the wood-
pecker is one of the Creator's marvelous productions in the natural
world. Some of its special features are: a beak that can drive through
wood hard enough to bend a nail; neck muscles strong enough to
enable the head and beak to deliver jackhammer blows; a skull so thick
that it sustains repeated shocks that would kill some other birds; and
stiff tail feathers with sharp spines to brace the bird for hammering.
It is amazing how our Creator God equips such small creatures as the
woodpecker with just the right intricate anatomy needed to carry out
its necessary functions.
In what ways has nature helped you to know, trust, and

glorify God?
16
Tuesday January 5
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS WRITTEN WORD (2 Pet. 1:19-21;
John 17:17; 2 Kings 22).
Study 2 Peter 1:19-21. List some characteristics of God's pro-

phetic word and consider how they affirm your confidence in it.
Characteristic Affirmation
The Bible writers lived and wrote in such widely scattered localities
as Sinai, Babylon, Jerusalem, and Rome. God used princes and pau-
pers, heroes and herdsmen to produce the Bible. It was written ap-
proximately between 1500 B.C. and A.D. 100. In spite of this great
diversity in authorship, time, and place in which it was written, the
Bible's wonderful harmony is one of the unmistakable evidences that
it is what it claims to be—the Word of God.
"God speaks to us in His word. Here we have in clearer lines the
revelation of His character, of His dealings with men, and the great work
of redemption. Here is open before us the history of patriarchs and
prophets and other holy men of old. They were men 'subject to like
passions as we are.' We see how they struggled through discourage-
ments like our own, how they fell under temptation as we have done,
and yet took heart again and conquered through the grace of God: and
beholding, we are encouraged in our striving after righteousness. As
we read of the precious experiences granted them, of the light and love
and blessing it was theirs to enjoy, and of the work they wrought
through the grace given them, the spirit that inspired them kindles a
flame of holy emulation in our hearts and a desire to be like them in
character—like them to walk with God."—Steps to Christ, pp. 87, 88.
Study 2 Kings 22 carefully to learn how God used the Written

Word and the testimony of a prophetess to lead King Josiah to an
understanding of His will.
Just as God spoke directly through the words of the book of

the Law and through a prophetess to King Josiah, He speaks to
us today. What a privilege it is to be able to hold in our hands
the Word of God and to study it carefully as it helps us to know
God and apply His principles to our daily lives!
17
Wednesday January 6
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH THE LIVING WORD (John 1:14; 5:39;
14:8-11; Col. 1:12-20).
The revelation of God through Jesus Christ is the greatest and most
complete of all revelations. The Written Word explains God's will,
but the Living Word demonstrates how to live it.
According to the following texts, how fully did Jesus reveal the
Father?
Matt. 11:27
John 1:14, 18
John 14:8-11
2 Cor 4.6
Heb. 1:1-3
"The revelation of God in the OT . . pointed beyond itself to a future

consummation to which the men who received it looked forward—and
already saw. . . . It is the revelation of God in Christ that discloses the
meaning of the OT revelation . . . . Christ stands at the convergence of all
the perspectives of the OT. In him all the diverse strands and fragments of
revelation are gathered up into a single significant pattern."—"The Man-
ner of Revelation," Theological Word Book of the Bible, Alan Richardson,
ed. (New York: Macmillan Pub. Co., Inc., 1950), p. 197.
The heart and sum of all God's revelation to us in the Scriptures

center in Christ. How is this fact made plain in John 5:39?
"Jesus said of the Old Testament Scriptures—and how much more

it is true of the New—`They are they which testify of me,' the Re-
deemer, Him in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered. Yes, the
whole Bible tells of Christ. From the first record of Creation—for
`without him was not anything made that was made'—to the closing
promise, 'Behold I come quickly,' we are reading of His works and
listening to His voice. If you would become acquainted with the
Saviour, study the Holy Scriptures."—Steps to Christ, p. 88.
For reflection: How do some of our ways of studying the

Scriptures obstruct our view of Jesus? In what ways can we
make our Bible study more Christ-centered to better reflect His
character before our families, neighbors, and co-workers?
18
Thursday January 7
OTHER MEANS OF REVELATION (Isa. 49:14, 15; Ps. 107:31-43;
John 16:8-14).
1. God speaks through Providence (Ps. 107:31-43).

Think of some incidents in your life where you have noted God's
providence at work.
"In our circumstances and surroundings, in the changes daily tak-

ing place around us, we may find precious lessons if our hearts are but
open to discern them."—Steps to Christ, p. 87.
2. God speaks through human relationships. The closest rela-

tionships of life, such as family relationships, can represent God's
love and care for us. Identify the relationships in the following texts
and how they may reveal the nature of God's love:
Isa. 49:14, 15
Isa. 54:5, 6
Prov. 18:24 (see 2T 271)
3. God speaks through the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-14). God

speaks through the Holy Spirit in various ways, but the focus here is
on the Holy Spirit exposing Satan's subtle deceptions. He guides us
into all truth by helping us separate truth from all the misinformation
and counterfeits with which Satan floods our world. Because the devil
does not want us to learn how kind God really is, he does everything
possible to keep us from getting to know God and loving Him:
A. In the natural world, Satan fogs up the testimony of nature by
introducing disease, pests, and the theory of evolution.
B. When it comes to Providence, Satan brings so many troubles into
the world that people sometimes find it difficult to sense God's love.
C. To destroy the sure testimony of the Scriptures, Satan encour-
ages a critical approach that views the Bible as any other book by
making the human mind the final arbiter of truth.
D. Satan not only misrepresents the character of Jesus but also tries
to convince people that it is impossible for them to be like Him.
E. By his subtle deceptions, Satan has made evil seem good and
good seem evil.
For reflection: What has been your reaction this week as you
reflected on becoming acquainted with God through His Word? What
are three specific actions you could take this coming week to help
others become better acquainted with God and desire to be like Him?
19
Friday January 8
FURTHER STUDY: Knowing God, of course, means much more
than intellectual understanding. It represents a continual, close rela-
tionship that leads us to so trust Him that we accept His revealed way
as the best for us. Look up and study some texts in the Bible that go
beyond mere intellectual understanding about God to experiencing an
intimate relationship with Him. Consider such texts as "Oh, taste and
see that the Lord is good . . ." (Ps. 34:8, NKJV).
1. What other means can you think of through which God has
revealed Himself? How about through history? What con-
clusions can you reach about God's character as you study
Jeremiah 18:7-10 and Acts 17:24-27?
2. What characteristics of God are revealed by His knowledge of

the future? Review Daniel 2 and Revelation 10.
3. Read chapter 10 in Steps to Christ, "A Knowledge of God," and

select thoughts that will add to your understanding of this
lesson.
Note: We cannot expect either the Bible or our Christian experience to

be meaningful unless we feed regularly on God's Word. Once we learn
to feed consistently on the Bread of Life, we develop a taste for it and
become hungry when we go without it. Why don't more people take
Bible study seriously? Possibly no one taught them how to study or
they feel no interest or they simply do not accept the Bible. Perhaps the
major reason people do not like to study the Bible is because they find
things there that cut across their way of living. The good news is that as
we become better acquainted with God through His Word, our charac-
ters are transformed and our desires change.
SUMMARY: In the space below, briefly write down what you learned
about how God is revealed through:
Nature
Science
The Bible
Jesus
Providence
Human relationships
The Holy Spirit
20
Desperately Seeking God, Part 2
Charlotte Ishkanian
As she searched for something to fill the aching emptiness in

her heart, Biruthe Konciute turned to God. She began reading the
Bible and found many references to the Sabbath. But which day
was Sabbath? The Christians she knew celebrate Jesus' crucifixion
on Friday, so the Sabbath should be on Saturday. But why then did
they worship on Sunday instead of Sabbath? she wondered.
She knew that somewhere there must be people who live ac-
cording to the principles of God's law. But how could she find
them? She kept praying that God would show her His truth.
Her family greeted her questions with indifference and even
animosity. "You should not be reading this book! Why can't you
be satisfied with the church you grew up in?" they asked her. But
their comments failed to deter her in her search for God.
Biruthe's search for truth continued several months. She learned
that God expected His followers to return a tithe of their income to
God. She thought, I want to pay tithe, but to whom shall I pay it?
When she heard of evangelistic meetings being held in her city,
she decided to attend. Perhaps these people knew where to find the
true church. She arrived at the lecture hall early the first night. She
was impressed with the friendliness and humility of the women
who greeted her. The preacher's words were warm, and his mes-
sage was backed by texts from the Bible. She could almost hear
God saying, "Here are the people whom I told you to look for!"
When the preacher presented the Sabbath, she nearly jumped
from her seat, for she knew she had found God's true church. And
when the pastor invited those who wanted to follow Jesus to stand,
Birhute was the first to her feet. She eagerly joined the baptismal
class.
Following her baptism her eyes began to bother her. The doctors
told her the redness and itching she was experiencing could not be
treated but would continue the rest of her life. She found it difficult
to read her Bible and begged God to heal her so she could again
read her Bible. That night she dreamed that a doctor put a certain
oil on her eyes. The next day she bought the oil and applied it.
Within a week her eyes were clear. She has not had any trouble
since then.
Biruthe shares her faith with her family every chance she has.
They no longer try to discourage her, for they see the differences in
her life and admit that perhaps she is right.
Charlotte Ishkanian is editor of Mission.

E-mail: gomission@compuserve.com
21
Lesson 3 Januarv9-15
What Inspiration Is
,-031
1.84'sftwoveoPil:L..
.w"
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; 2 Pet.
1:19-21; Rev. 1:1-3; Eph. 3:3-6; John 14:26; 16:12, 13.
MEMORY TEXT: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and

is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruc-
tion in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
KEY THOUGHT: God has revealed His character and His will for
us in the Bible. Yet, the Bible actually was written by people. How can
we have the assurance that the Bible accurately expresses God's thoughts?
The production of the Old and New Testament Scriptures was supervised
by God in such a way that we can accept what was written as the
authoritative and infallible expression of Divine revelation.
THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE. The authority of Scripture

is determined by the fact that it is the inspired Word of God. His Word is
authoritative because He is authoritative. Through His Word God Him-
self reveals His wise plan and loving will for us. He who is our Creator
and Redeemer continues to speak to us through His Word. Bible writers
were chosen, inspired, and guided by God Himself. "When we come to
the Bible, reason must acknowledge an authority superior to itself, and
heart and intellect must bow to the great I AM."—Steps to Christ, p. 110.
WORD FOR THE WEEK: Inspiration. The Greek word translated

inspiration in 2 Timothy 3:16 literally means "God-breathed." God
moved and enabled His chosen writers to grasp and communicate that
which He revealed to them in a trustworthy and authoritative fashion.
22
Sunday January 10
THE BIBLE UNDERSTANDING OF INSPIRATION (2 Tim. 3:16,
17; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; 2 Pet. 1:19-21).
How much of the Scripture is inspired, and what Divine agency

moved upon those chosen to express God's ideas? 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet.
1:21.
Inspiration refers to the means by which God safeguarded the pro-

duction and preservation of the Bible in order for it to become an
infallible and sufficient guide to salvation.
Inspiration acts on the writer. "The writers of the Bible were

God's penmen, not His pen. . . .
"It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that
were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man's words or his expres-
sions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy
Ghost, is imbued with thoughts. But the words receive the impress of
the individual mind. The divine mind is diffused. The divine mind and
will is combined with the human mind and will; thus the utterances of
the man are the word of God."—Selected Messages, book 1, p. 21.
"But the Bible, with its God-given truths expressed in the language
of men, presents a union of the divine and the human. Such a union
existed in the nature of Christ, who was the Son of God and the Son of
man. Thus it is true of the Bible, as it was of Christ, that 'the Word was
made flesh, and dwelt among us.' John 1:14....
"He [God] guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and
what to write. The treasure was entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is,
nonetheless, from Heaven. The testimony is conveyed through the
imperfect expression of human language, yet it is the testimony of
God. . . ."—The Great Controversy, pp. vi, vii.
In what ways does the Holy Spirit work with us to help us under-
stand the Inspired Word? 1 Cor. 2:10-14.
The Adventist position on inspiration strengthens the church.

"Our unequivocal, historic emphasis upon the divine inspiration and
trustworthiness of Scripture has strengthened our church. It has helped
us resist the error of treating some parts of Scripture as God's Word,
while ignoring or rejecting other parts. If we accept it as God's Word,
we must accept it all, whether or not we like what it says. To us the
Scriptures should be the ultimate revelation of God's will for our
lives."—Robert Folkenberg, "Standing on Solid Ground—The Bible,"
Adventist Review (August 3, 1995), vol. 172, no. 36, p. 22.
23
Monday January 11
THE OLD TESTAMENT CLAIMS INSPIRATION (2 Kings
17:13; Jer. 1:1, 2, 9; Ezek. 1:3; Hos. 1:1; Joel 1:1; Jon. 1:1).
Whom did God use to "testify against Israel"? 2 Kings 17:13.
What are the implications of the following statement in regard to

the inspiration of the Old Testament?
"The Bible writers testify that their messages come directly from
God. It is 'the word of the Lord' that came to Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea,
and others (Jer. 1:1, 2, 9; Eze. 1:3; Hos. 1:1; Joel 1:1; Jonah 1:1). As
messengers of the Lord (Haggai 1:13; 2 Chron. 36:16), God's prophets
were commanded to speak in His name, saying 'Thus says the Lord'
(Eze. 2:4; cf. Isa. 7:7). His words constitute their divine credentials
and authority."—Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . , ed. The Minis-
terial Association of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
(Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988),
pp. 11, 12.
Expressions such as the word of the Lord, thus saith the Lord, or
their equivalent appear more than 3,800 times in the Old Testament.
David claimed: "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in
my tongue" (2 Sam. 23:2).
Job and Genesis were inspired accounts written by Moses. The

first words in our Bible tell us that "In the beginning God created . . ."
(Gen. 1:1). During Moses' forty years in the desert of Midian, "under
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote the book of Genesis and
also the book of Job."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Com-
mentary, vol. 3, p. 1140.
The first part of Genesis has been likened to a primer that not only
tells us about how God created but step-by-step introduces us to the
God of Creation. In the book of Job, which may have been the first book
he wrote, Moses demonstrates how one human being came to know
God better through intense and seemingly unreasonable suffering.
Although the book takes us behind the scenes of the great controversy
to show us why God allows those who serve Him to suffer trial and
affliction, it is fascinating that, as far as we know, Job never was given
this insight, but Moses was.
Thought question: Since Moses was not present at Creation

and probably did not know Job personally, how was he able to
write authoritative accounts of what occurred during Creation
and what took place in the life of Job?
24
Tuesday January 12
THE NEW TESTAMENT CLAIMS INSPIRATION (Matt. 4:4-10;
Mark 7:7-9; Luke 20:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; Rev. 1:1-3).
What was Jesus' attitude toward the authority of the Scriptures?

Matt. 4:4-10; Luke 20:17; Mark 7:7-9.
Jesus recognized that, as the authoritative Word of God, the Bible was
above all human traditions. He pointed to the prophecies of the Old
Testament as confirming His role as the Messiah (see Mark 1:15; Luke 4:21).
What did Jesus mean when He told the Jews that "the scripture
cannot be broken"? John 10:35, 36.
The New English Bible translates this text "Scripture cannot be set
aside." The Jews who received the law acknowledged that it was impos-
sible to break, annul, or cancel what the Scriptures taught.
"Throughout His ministry, Jesus stressed the authority of the Scrip-
tures. When tempted by Satan or battling His opponents, 'It is written'
was His defense and offense (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10; Luke 20:17). . . .
"So, without reservation Christ accepted the Holy Scriptures as the
authoritative revelation of God's will for the human race. He saw the
Scriptures as a body of truth, an objective revelation, given to lead
humanity out of the darkness of faulty traditions and myths into
the true light of a saving knowledge."—Seventh-day Adventists
Believe . . . , p.12.
This is what Paul claims about his teachings: "For this reason we
also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of
God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men,
but as it is in truth, the word of God ..." (1 Thess. 2:13, NKJV; see
also 4:2). Compare 2 Peter 3:15, 16.
What did John the revelator state about the source of his mes-
sages? Rev. 1:1-3.
Thought question: In what way was the human personality of

the writers preserved through the process of inspiration as de-
scribed in the Scriptures? Give some illustrations from both the
Old and New Testaments. For example, in what way did Moses'
personality show through his writing? Identify what made his
style of writing different from Daniel's or David's.
25
Wednesday January 13
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND INSPIRATION (Eph. 3:3-6; Isa. 42:1;_61:1).
"These two pursuits of the Holy spirit, namely, revelation and inspi-
ration, are so closely intertwined that it is difficult to separate them. Not
only is it difficult, but fruitless as well, it seems, to try to know where
one ends and the other starts. One may want to distinguish between
them for the sake of clarity, but they should never be separated . . ."
—Raoul Dederen, "The Revelation-Inspiration Phenomenon Accord-
ing to the Bible Writer," Issues in Revelation and Inspiration, Frank
Holbrook and Leo Van Dolson, eds. (Berrien Springs, Mich.: A.T.S.
Publications, 1992), p. 18.
"Do not let any living man come to you and begin to dissect God's
Word, telling what is revelation, what is inspiration and what is not,
without a rebuke. Tell all such they simply do not know. . . . What we
want is to inspire faith. We want no one to say, 'This I will reject, and
this will I receive,' but we want to have implicit faith in the Bible as a
whole and as it is."—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commen-
tary, vol. 7, p. 919.
What does Paul teach about the Holy Spirit's part in the revelations
he received? Eph. 3:3-6.
Read Isaiah 42:1; 61:1; and Micah 3:8. How do these texts
demonstrate that the Old Testament writers were dependent on
the same Source?
"With enormous courage and amid great danger for their personal
lives, God's prophets delivered their messages, guided by the Holy
Spirit. Not often with great success, however.
"Zechariah, among others, deplored that his contemporaries turned
a stubborn ear to his proclamation, refusing as well 'the words which
the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets'
(Zech. 7:12). 'Many years thou didst bear with them, and didst warn
them by thy Spirit through thy prophets,' explains Nehemiah (9:30).
These messages were conveyed through the ministry of the Holy Spirit,
so that their statements, oral or written ... were an authentic expression
of the divine revelation. God enabled His servants to express in a fully
dependable manner what He had disclosed to them."—Dederen, Is-
sues in Revelation, p. 16.
Imagine that you were living in Israel when the prophets were led by
the Holy Spirit to present God's messages. Would you have responded
differently to them from the way the children of Israel responded?
26
Thursday January 14
TRUSTWORTHY TRANSMISSION (Matt. 7:29; Mark 1:22; 2 Pet.
1:20, 21).
Revelation is not a distinct process that can be separated from

inspiration. The two go hand in hand. In both, God is personally and
directly active. He revealed Himself and enabled His chosen writers to
receive and communicate His will in a trustworthy and authoritative
manner.
What characteristic of Christ's transmission of God's Word con-

trasted markedly with that of the scribes and Pharisees? Matt. 7:29.
(Compare Mark 1:22.)
"The scribes' teaching was dogmatic, and based on the traditions of

the elders. There was life-giving power in the method of Christ's pre-
sentation, as well as in the truths he set forth in contrast with the dead
formalism of the teaching of the scribes."—SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 5, p. 360.
To what extent did the Bible writers understand their messages to

be the faithful and inspired transmission of revelations given by God?
2 Pet. 1:20, 21.
"What Peter emphasizes here . . is that the prophets spoke because

they were `moved by the Holy Spirit.' None of their prophetic messages
came 'by the impulse of man.' In other words, their statements were in
no case the result of their own meditation, nor of their later reflection on
an allegedly silent encounter with God. This, explains Peter, is of first
importance and must be clearly understood. Being moved by the Spirit,
the prophets of old spoke for God. This work of the Spirit is what we
refer to as ìnspiration.' A supernatural quality all its own marks the
prophetic ministry. Inspiration enables the Bible writers to grasp and to
convey in a trustworthy and authoritative manner what God had re-
vealed to them. Inspiration is an enabling work which counterbalances,
so to speak, the shortcomings of the prophets and the sinful tendencies
of their human nature. Though the term 'inspiration' itself hardly ap-
pears in Scripture, the content . .. is firmly embedded in the Scripture's
teaching."—Dederen, Issues in Revelation, pp. 16, 17.
For reflection: What sort of Bible teaching have I experienced?

How can my church become closer to the life-giving power of Christ's
instruction? How can I avoid the dead formalism of the scribes in
teaching? How can I help my church improve in this area?
27
Friday January 15
FURTHER STUDY: Written by a large number of God's inspired
writers over a lengthy period of time, the Bible is rich in variety. Yet it
harmoniously brings us the revealed will of God. One of the reasons
that God gave us this rich difference in background and in ways of
expression used by the writers is because of our diversity in under-
standing and background. This way God is able to speak to people
throughout the ages in the various circumstances in which they find
themselves and to meet the needs of all who study what He has
revealed. Choose three writers from different backgrounds (such as
Moses, Jonah, and John) who lived at widely separated points in
history, listing some of their differences and showing how they speak
to your particular needs today.
1. John 14:26; 16:12, 13 contain promises that the Holy Spirit
will continue to enable Jesus' followers to comprehend and
teach truths not yet fully understood. How is this promise
fulfilled in the passages that follow?
Acts 4:8-31; 9:17-20
Gal. 1:11, 12
Rev. 1:1, 2
2. Review the Bible passages you have studied this week, then
select six texts that you understand well and arrange them
in a sequence that would be useful in presenting your un-
derstanding of the inspiration of the Bible to a friend who
may not understand this subject.
3. What are some implications to you and your church of the

belief that the Scriptures are the trustworthy transmission
of the revelation God gave us?
SUMMARY: "The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the
written Word of God, given by divine inspiration through holy men of
God who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In
this Word, God has committed to man the knowledge necessary for
salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of His will.
They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the authori-
tative revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God's acts
in history.—Fundamental Belief, I ."—Quoted in Seventh-day Adventists
Believe . . . , p. 4.
28
IIIK7i1111C
Miracles in the Land of Noah

Mike Feldbush
Nakhichevan is a scrap of land tucked between Iran, Turkey,

and Armenia. Its name means "Noah was here." Mount Ararat
looms on the horizon. But the saving knowledge of Jesus is virtu-
ally unknown among the predominantly Muslim population.
ADRA is working in this isolated region of Azerbaijan, where
war and boycotts have cut off the people from the outside world
and hunger and poverty stalk the countryside. ADRA workers
cannot openly evangelize, but their silent witness has made an
impact on the people in the land of Noah.
Nineteen-year-old Aygun noticed the difference in these Chris-
tian workers and began asking questions. Soon she began visiting the
tiny Adventist worship services. When her father learned of her
interest in Christianity, he forbade her to come, but she continued to
attend. Her mother decided to see for herself what her daughter was
learning and began attending as well. Aygun was thrilled when she
received a Russian Bible. She even slept holding her Bible tight
against her chest. She accepted Jesus as her Saviour.
Aygun began translating in the children's Sabbath School and
eventually learned to lead out. She and a Muslim friend now tell
stories from the Bible and pray with the children.
She continued studying her Bible and praying earnestly that she
could be baptized. But her father would not allow her. He forbade
her to read her Bible and other Christian literature. Aygun refused
to give up her Bible and challenged him to read the Christian
books before she did. "If you find any wrong teachings for health
and happiness, then you may forbid me to read these books."
Her father accepted her appeal and began reading her books and
literature. The Holy Spirit worked on his heart, and he found
himself enjoying the books! Finally he gave his permission for her
to be baptized. Today Aygun witnesses to
her Muslim relatives and classmates at
school. Pray that God will empower and
encourage her each day in her Christian
witness in the land of Noah.
Aygun (left). Mike Feldbush served with

ADRA on a short-term project in Nakhichevan,
Azerbaijan.

29
Lesson 4 January16-22
How Inspiration Works
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Deut. 4:1-9, 27-29; Jon. 1;
Luke 24:25-27; Heb. 11:8-10; 2 Pet. 1:19-21.
MEMORY TEXT: "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command
you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the
commandments of the Lord your God which I command you"
(Deuteronomy 4:2).
KEY THOUGHT: The words of the Bible have been transmitted to us in

such a way that they bring us a knowledge of God's plan of salvation and
His instruction on how to live the abundant life and bring glory to Him.
INSPIRATION IS NOT LIMITED TO THE TRANSMISSION OF

THE WRITTEN WORD. Peter states clearly that "the prophecy came
not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Pet. 1:21). Although the Scriptures
were not written until about 2500 years after Creation, the patriarchs
and prophets presented God's messages to those for whom it was
intended in oral form before that time. "Enoch . . . , the seventh from
Adam, prophesied . . . ." (Jude 14). God spoke to Noah, and Noah
spoke to the world for God. Jacob blessed Joseph's sons when he laid
his right hand upon the head of Ephraim. Joseph objected, explaining
that because Manasseh was the firstborn, Jacob's right hand should be
placed on him. Jacob refused, stating under Inspiration that Manasseh's
"younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a
multitude of nations" (Gen. 48:19).
30
Sunday January 17
THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE (Dent. 4:1-9; 18:15-19; Luke
24:27).
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Moses became the first to
write documents that now are part of the Bible. Over the next 1600 years,
many more prophets were used by God to prepare the Scriptures for us.
What did Moses claim as the Source of his instruction? What did
he predict concerning additional instruction that would come to God's
people after his death? Deut. 4:5, 6; 18:18, 19.
"Moses, no doubt, had many of the incidents and much of the instruc-
tion vividly in mind when he reviewed them orally to Israel shortly
before his death, and recorded them in Deuteronomy. The Spirit directed
in the selection of material to be recorded, refreshed Moses' memory to
recall it clearly, and 'moved' him in his writing. This is not a record of
entirely new information. Interspersed among the historical incidents
and reviewed instruction, however, are predictions and further instruc-
tion especially revealed to Moses by the Holy Spirit to be recorded under
His guidance."—T. H. Jemison, Christian Beliefs (Boise, Idaho: Pacific
Press Publishing Association, 1959), pp. 18, 19.
What does Jesus' statement in Luke 24:27 reveal concerning the

accepted divisions of the Old Testament Scriptures in His time?
The order of the Old Testament books. The Hebrew Scriptures

were organized as follows:
The Law—The five books of Moses known as the
Pentateuch.
The Prophets—Four "former" prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel
(1 and 2), and Kings (1 and 2). Four "latter" prophets: Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 12 minor prophets (in one book).
The Writings—The rest of the books.
The order of the New Testament books. The 27 books of the New
Testament are arranged in these five divisions:
(1) the four Gospels
(2) the book of Acts
(3) the fourteen Epistles of Paul
(4) the seven general Epistles
(5) the book of Revelation
31
Monday January 18
INSPIRATION AND THE PROPHETS (Jon. 1; Dan. 8:27; Heb.
11:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:10, 11).
There do not seem to be specific qualifications that served the Holy

Spirit as a guideline in choosing the Bible writers. God made the choice
for reasons best known to Him.
What do the Bible chapters that follow indicate about the prophets
noted? Why did God use them in spite of their glaring shortcomings?
Jonah—(Jon 1)
Balaam—(Num. 22-24)
David—(Ps. 51)
God had to use sinners because they were all that was available
(Rom. 3:23). By God's grace many of the Bible prophets became
persons of outstanding character and virtue, despite their human fail-
ings. Consider Abraham's experience as outlined in Hebrews 11:8-10.
Abraham, a channel of light and blessing. "When he received the

divine call, Abraham was not a man of renown, neither a lawgiver, nor a
conqueror. He was a simple herdsman, dwelling in tents, but employing
a large number of workmen to carry on his humble employment. And the
honor which he received was because of his faithfulness to God, his
strict integrity and just dealing. . . . Abraham's unselfish life made him
indeed a 'spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men' (I Cor.
4:9). . . . Through Abraham's experience in his religious life a correct
knowledge of Jehovah has been communicated to thousands; and his
light will shed its beams all along the path of those who practice the
piety, the faith, the devotion, and the obedience of Abraham."—E. G.
White, The Youth's Instructor, Mar. 4, 1897.
Note the fact that the Bible writers did not always understand the
messages they were asked to communicate. Dan. 8:27. What did they
have to do to gain a better understanding? 1 Pet. 1:10, 11.
For reflection: The Holy Spirit used the Bible writers despite
their failings and frailties. How does this encourage me today in
my spiritual walk and in my service to God?
32
Tuesday January 19
THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE DEMONSTRATES INSPIRATION
(Luke 24:25-27; Matt. 12:25).
Whether written by David in a palace, Paul in a prison, Moses in the

fifteenth century B.C., or John in the first century A.D., the books of the
Bible reveal a remarkable unity. This is one of the great evidences that
the same Spirit inspired all the writers.
"Unity is one of the clearly recognized characteristics of the Scrip-
tures. There is unity of purpose—the story of the plan of salvation. There
is unity in its theme—Jesus Christ, His cross and His crown. There is
complete harmony of teaching—the doctrines of the Old Testament and
those of the New are the same. There is unity of development—a
steady progression from the creation to the Fall and on to the redemption
and final restoration. There is unity in the co-ordination of the proph-
ecies. How can it be? The same Spirit who spoke through Moses spoke
sixteen centuries later through John the revelator. And in all the centuries
between, that same Spirit testified of the same Father-God and the same
Messiah, and the same plan for mankind."—Jemison, Christian Beliefs,
p. 17.
How did Jesus use the unity of Old Testament prophecies to demon-
strate that their fulfillment gave proof of His Messiahship? Luke
24:25-27.
"The truths of the Bible are as pearls hidden. They must be searched,
dug out by painstaking effort. Those who take only a surface view of
the Scriptures will, with their superficial knowledge, which they think is
very deep, talk of the contradictions of the Bible, and question the
authority of the Scriptures. But those whose hearts are in harmony with
truth and duty will search the Scriptures with a heart prepared to receive
divine impressions. The illuminated soul sees a spiritual unity, one
grand golden thread running through the whole."—Selected Messages,
book 1, p. 20.
Demonstrate the unity of the Bible by selecting a Bible topic and

choosing four texts referring to it from different Bible books. Note
how your compilation gives a more complete picture than most indi-
vidual texts do.
Text Idea
Text Idea
Text Idea
Text Idea
33
INSPIRATION AND HISTORY (John 20:30,31; 21:25; Luke 1:3,4;
1 Cor. 10:11).
God's direct control of revelation works through the Spirit to decide

what is to be included.
What does John say about the material covered in his Gospel and
why he included what he did? John 21:25; 20:30, 31.
John does not include much of what is covered in the other three
Gospels but adds a record of much that has not been included. Even
then, we are given records of only a few weeks from the total life and
ministry of Jesus.
Whether the information in the Bible "came from personal observa-
tion, oral or written sources, or direct revelation, it all came to the writer
through the Holy Spirit's guidance. This guarantees the Bible's trust-
worthiness."—Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . , p. 10.
What explanations are given for the inclusion of historical ac-

counts in the Bible? 1 Cor. 10:11; Luke 1:4.
"The Bible reveals God's plan in His dynamic interaction with the
human race, not in a collection of abstract doctrines. His self-revelation
stands rooted in real events that occurred in a definite time and place.
The reliability of the historical accounts is extremely important because
they form the framework of our understanding of God's character and
His purpose for us. . . . The Holy Spirit gave the writers special insights
so that they could record events in the controversy between good and
evil that demonstrate the character of God and guide people in their quest
for salvation."—Seventh-day Adventist's Believe . . . , p. 10.
Bible biographies also ground us in our certainty of Inspiration.
Contrary to much of what is included in ancient biographies, the Bible
faithfully records the errors and weaknesses of the individuals whose
lives are portrayed. It makes no excuses for them but portrays what they
were and what they became as God worked in them and through them.
"No cover-up shrouds Noah's lack of self-control or Abraham's decep-
tion. The fits of tempers that Moses, Paul, James, and John exhibited are
recorded. . . . Scripture makes no excuses for them, nor does it attempt to
minimize their guilt. It portrays them all for what they were and what they
became or failed to become by the grace of God. . . ."—Seventh-day
Adventists Believe . . . , pp. 10, 11.
In what ways does such frank portrayal of Bible characters'

failures give us assurance that we can overcome by God's grace?
34
Thursday January 21
AN INFALLIBLE REVELATION (Matt. 5:17, 18; 24:37-39;
John 6:32; Titus 1:1-3).
"The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible

revelation of His [God's] will."—The Great Controversy, p. vii.
To what extent did Jesus uphold the authority and inspiration of the
Scriptures? Matt. 5:17,18.
"Jesus accepted them [the Scriptures] as historically accurate and spir-

itually relevant (Matt. 12:39-41)."—Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . . ,
p. 11.
Find five Bible references showing examples of Jesus' confirma-

tion of the accounts recorded in the Old Testament. (Examples:
Noah's flood—Matthew 24:37-39; miracle of the manna—John 6:32).
What about mistakes in copying and other transcriptional er-

rors? The large number of copies of various manuscripts of Sacred
Records now available to scholars demonstrates that there have been
scribal errors through the ages. This has led to an attempt to restore the
original text by what is known as textual criticism. Taking into consid-
eration the thousands of copies of the Bible text in existence, what is
amazing is that there are so few errors. But what do we do about the
very few mistakes that have been documented?
"No man can improve the Bible by suggesting what the Lord meant to
say or ought to have said. Some look to us gravely and say, 'Don't you
think there might have been some mistake in the copyist or in the
translators?' This is all probable, and the mind that is so narrow that it
will hesitate and stumble over this possibility or probability would be
just as ready to stumble over the mysteries of the Inspired Word, because
their feeble minds cannot see through the purposes of God. . . .
"And He [God] has not, while presenting the perils clustering about
the last days, qualified any finite man to unravel hidden mysteries or
inspired one man or any class of men to pronounce judgment as to that
which is inspired or is not. . . .
"I take the Bible just as it is, as the Inspired Word. I believe its
utterances in an entire Bible."—Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 16, 17.
Think on this: Would you like to see a miracle? Pick up your

Bible and look at it. It is a real miracle. As you hold it in your
hands, contemplate the way it was produced, transmitted, safe-
guarded, and the way the Spirit uses it today to reveal Christ
and move upon your heart.
35
Friday January 22
FURTHER STUDY: "When men, in their finite judgment, find it
necessary to go into an examination of scriptures to define that which
is inspired and that which is not, they have stepped before Jesus to
show Him a better way than He has led us. . . . Men arise who think
they find something to criticize in God's Word. They lay it bare before
others as evidence of superior wisdom. These men are, many of them,
smart men, learned men, they have eloquence and talent, the whole
lifework [of whom] is to unsettle minds in regard to the inspiration of
the Scriptures. They influence many to see as they do. And the same
work is passed on from one to another just as Satan designed it should
be, until we may see the full meaning of the words of Christ. "`When
the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?"' (Luke 18:8).
"Brethren, let not a mind or hand be engaged in criticizing the Bible.
It is a work that Satan delights to have any of you do, but it is not a work
the Lord has pointed out for you to do."—Selected Messages, book 1,
pp. 16, 17.
1. Discuss the difference between "criticizing the Bible," as
mentioned above, and asking searching questions about it
so that we may know and appreciate it more fully.
2. Sometimes Bible writers did not understand the revelation

given to them by God. What implications does this have?
What does it tell us about how God works? What does it
also tell us about the Bible writers?
WORD FOR REVIEW: Moved (2 Pet. 1:21). Here the record "implies
that the prophets were borne along by the Spirit as a ship is borne along
by a wind. They were entirely under the Spirit's motivation."—SDA
Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 602.
SUMMARY: The Holy Spirit "moved" upon the prophets to enable

them to present accurately to others the messages God gave them to
deliver. The Bible we have today is the inspired Word of God. "The
Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible rev-
elation of His will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of
doctrines, and the test of experience."—The Great Controversy, p.vii.
36
From Buddhist to Believer, Part 1
Nola Tudu
Drathai Chureson grew up in Thailand. Her parents taught her

to follow the principles of Buddhism: Walk in the middle path and
do good to others. They urged her to worship the spirits of her
ancestors, who could protect them and ensure a good harvest. "If
we refuse to worship the ancestors, some harm might come to us,"
her mother often warned.
When Drathai was 10 years old, a friend told her about the God
who created the world. When Drathai asked to see this Creator
God, the girl explained that God is invisible, but He is everywhere.
Drathai could see and touch the family's images of Buddha. To her
these images were evidence that her family's god existed.
Drathai often wondered whether she was good enough to earn
favor with her god. She would examine her actions and resolve to
try harder, live better, and hope to gain favor with the deity.
She was 16 years old when an Adventist pastor visited her home
and left some Christian magazines. Drathai was impressed by the
pastor's concern for people. She began to read one of the maga-
zines that he had left and noticed that they were published by
Seventh-day Adventist Christians. She had heard of Christians, but
who were Seventh-day Adventists? And why were they so eager to
share with others? She found a Bible study enrollment card and
sent for Bible lessons. An Adventist in her village brought her a
small New Testament to use as she filled out the lessons. Tears
came to her eyes as she read the story of how Jesus healed the
paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through the roof into a
crowded room. (See Luke 5:17-26.)
But the story of the crucifixion stunned her. How could a Man
who had healed people, and even raised people from the dead,
allow a band of soldiers and an angry mob to put Him to death?
She tried to picture the scene of Jesus hanging
on the cross, to imagine His brokenhearted
plea, "Father, forgive them!" She wondered
how He could love people who had re-
jected Him, even after He had healed them
and taught them about God. What kind of
God was this anyway?
Drathai Chureson (left). Nola Tudu is acting

director of the Department of Journalism and
Communication at Spicer Memorial College.
E-mail: gomission(acompuserve.com
37
Lesson 5 January 23-29
The Preparation and

Preservation of the
Scriptures
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Deut. 31:24-26; 2 Kings 22; Jer.
36; 2 Pet. 3:15, 16; Acts 20:29, 30; 1 Cor. 10:11.
MEMORY TEXT: "The Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And
this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (1 Peter
1:25).
KEY THOUGHT: Not only did the Holy Spirit inspire the production
of the Bible, but He also, in a supernatural way, preserved those
Scriptures He wanted people of later ages to have and to study. The
Bible is a miracle book not only in its inception but also in its transmis-
sion to us. We need to be open to it as it leads us to Jesus our Lord.
WRITTEN REVELATION NOT GIVEN UNTIL THE TIME OF

MOSES. "During the first twenty-five hundred years of human history,
there was no written revelation. Those who had been taught of God,
communicated their knowledge to others, and it was handed down from
father to son, through successive generations. The preparation of the
written word began in the time of Moses. Inspired revelations were then
embodied in an inspired book. This work continued during the long
period of sixteen hundred years—from Moses, the historian of creation
and the law, to John, the recorder of the most sublime truths of the
gospel. . . .
The Infinite One by His Holy Spirit has shed light into the minds and
hearts of His servants . . . and those to whom the truth was thus
revealed, have themselves embodied the thought in human language."
—The Great Controversy, pp. v, vi.
38
Sunday January 24
THE PRODUCTION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (Dent. 31:24-26;
1 Sam. 10:25; 2 Chron. 36:22).
How did God give special significance to the preservation of the

Inspired Writings in the days of Moses? Deut. 31:24-26.
In this passage God marked the beginning of setting the inspired

_ writings apart as having special honor.
What did Samuel do centuries later that added to the collection of

the Old Testament Scriptures? 1 Sam. 10:25.
"As the centuries passed, one prophet after another wrote as he was
moved by the Holy Spirit, and the books came to be recognized as
messages of God. Priests or other religious leaders held the writings of
the prophets in private collections or deposited them for safekeeping in
the temple. Here they remained—in some instances for centu-
ries—until all available sacred writings were collected and sorted. . . .
It appears that the writings were not assembled into a body until after
the captivity and restoration of Israel; or in the days of Ezra and
Nehemiah."—Jemison, Christian Beliefs, p. 20. (For further discus-
sion of the Old Testament canon, see Friday's section.)
What indication is there that the book of Chronicles was written

after the Jewish exile in Babylon? 2 Chron. 36:22, 23; Jer. 29:10.
"Many books of pre-exilic origin survived the destruction of Jerusa-

lem and the Babylonian captivity. This can be seen from the fact that
Daniel used the book of Jeremiah during the exile in Babylonia (Dan.
9:2), and that about 20 different books are mentioned in the books of
Chronicles as either having provided the source material for the con-
tents of that work, or as books where additional information could be
secured concerning many points that were only lightly touched in
Chronicles."—SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 38.
For reflection: What have you found in your study of the

Bible that sets it apart from other works of literature? Recall
texts that have been a comfort to you during the hardships and
trials of your life. How have these Inspired Words been an
inspiration to you in the past, and how do they continue to draw
you closer to God and inspire you with a deeper understanding
of His divine love?
39
Monday January 25
THE PRESERVATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (Jer. 36;
2 Kings 22).
"More than any other of the prophets, he [Jeremiah] emphasized the

teachings of the Mosaic law, and showed how these might bring the
highest spiritual blessing to the nation and to every individual heart."
—Prophets and Kings, p. 411.
The rulers and the people became antagonistic toward Jeremiah
because of the straight messages he preached. He warned that, unless
the kingdom of Judah turned back to God, they were to be taken into
Babylonian captivity. He also cautioned them against stirring up the
wrath of the Babylonians by alliances with Egypt. God gave Jeremiah a
message for King Jehoiakim, telling the king not only that the Babylonians
would capture Jerusalem but that the king himself also would be put to
death (Jer. 22:18, 19). Angered, Jehoiakim threw Jeremiah into prison,
but this did not prevent the prophet from forwarding God's message to
the stubborn king.
Read the fascinating story found in Jeremiah 36, noting:

1. God's command to write His message on a scroll
2. How this was done and how it finally reached the king
3. How the pen of the prophet proved mightier than the king's knife
4. The result of King Jehoiakim's attempt to destroy the Word
of God (verse 32)
Jehoiakim's experience demonstrated that human efforts to destroy

the Word of God result in it becoming an even more powerful witness. A
more subtle and successful way to destroy the effectiveness and power
of the Bible is to neglect or ignore it.
Read 2 Kings 22:3-20 to find an illustration of how God brought a

reformation in the time of Josiah through the discovery of the long-
neglected book of the Law.
"[Josiah] resolved to walk in the light of its [the book of the Law's]
counsels, and also to do all in his power to acquaint his people with its
teachings, and to lead them, if possible, to cultivate reverence and love
for the law of heaven."—Prophets and Kings, p. 398.
For reflection: Have there been times on the job, in the family
circle, or among peers when you have been called like Jeremiah to
make a firm stand for God's truth in the face of opposition?
40
Tuesday January 26
THE PRODUCTION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (Isa. 8:20;
1 Tim. 5:18; 2 Pet. 3:15, 16; 1 Cor. 5:9; Acts 20:35).
The gathering of the New Testament books took far less time than
did the more complicated collecting of the Old Testament books. One
obvious reason is that the New Testament covers a much shorter period
of history, and most of it was written by or reflects the reports of
eyewitnesses. We see a continuation of God's revelation at work as the
New Testament reflects the new light that came into the world through
Jesus.
But it is essential to keep in mind here that new light that contradicts
old light is no light.
When Paul quotes Luke 10:7 in 1 Timothy 5:18, how does he refer
to it? How does Peter classify Paul's writings? 2 Pet. 3:15, 16.
"As accounts of the Saviour's life were circulated and letters ad-
dressed to churches or groups of churches appeared, exchanges were
made with other churches who had received documents from the same
authors. Col. 4:16. In some cases, copies were sent to relatives and
friends who were church members in other cities and countries. In this
way the writings of the apostles and those who had been closely associ-
ated with Jesus were widely circulated and accepted among Christians in
a relatively short time. Paul's epistles, which are generally regarded as
the earliest in the New Testament books, received almost immediate
acceptance everywhere."—Jemison, Christian Beliefs, p. 21.
In 1 Corinthians 5:9, Paul refers to an epistle he wrote to the

Corinthians that no longer exists. Because it also must have been
written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, why do you think it was
not preserved?
"That it was the apostle's habit to write letters to the churches is

evident from 2 Cor. 10:9, 10. The letters preserved in the NT for our
benefit form only part of the total instruction given through Paul to the
many groups of believers whom he had organized into churches."
—SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 692. Note that in Acts 20:35 Paul
quotes words of Jesus that are not recorded elsewhere in the New
Testament. John acknowledges that the Gospels do not contain every-
thing Jesus did or taught when he writes: "And there are also many
other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be writtten
every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the
books that should be written" (John 21:25).
41
THE PRESERVATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (Matt. 24:11;
Acts 17:16-34; 2 Pet. 3:3-6; Rev. 11:3-11).
We can rest assured that the twenty-seven books we now have in

the New Testament reveal divine guidance in their preservation for our
attention and use. Many uninspired and fanciful writings—often re-
ferred to as the pseudepigrapha—circulated among the early Chris-
tians. Most of them were falsely given the name of noted apostles or
church elders. Undoubtedly this caused confusion, but the Holy Spirit
was at work to prevent these from becoming part of the accepted
Sacred Canon.
What did Jesus warn about in Matthew 24:11?
What did Paul call false teachers who would distort God's revela-
tions? Acts 20:29, 30.
Scoffers and critics in Paul's day mocked his teachings. (See Acts
17:16-34.) Second Peter 3:3-6 mentions the scoffers' willful forgetful-
ness and criticism of the Bible record of the promise of Christ's coming,
of Creation, and of the Flood. But in every generation since the fall of
man, God has had faithful followers like Noah and Elijah to stand as a
witness against the scoffers and mockers of His truth.
Note: Here is a continuation of yesterday's discussion of the New

Testament canon for our consideration.
"The gathering of the New Testament books was somewhat different
from that of the Old. Both writers and readers were acquainted with and
believed in the doctrine of divine inspiration. They already had a group
of sacred writings in the form of the Old Testament. . . .
"Development of the canon progressed through the first four centu-
ries as men, prompted by the Spirit, recognized the writings as inspired.
"These men held two basic standards, or measures, for the books
that came to their attention: (1) Had the author been an apostle, or a
companion of an apostle? (2) Did the contents of the book agree with
the other Scriptures, was it internally consistent, and did it conform to
Christian experience? But these standards, without the guidance of the
Holy Spirit, would not have been sufficient to guarantee a correct
selection. The books were inspired when they were written, and accept-
ing them into the canon of Scripture in no way affected their inspira-
tion."—Jemison, Christain Beliefs, pp. 21, 22. (If available, see The
SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, pp. 123-132 for a fuller discussion of
the New Testament canon.)
42
Thursday January 28
PRESERVED FOR OUR BENEFIT (1 Cor. 10:11; Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23).
What does Paul suggest concerning the reason God has preserved
the Scriptures? 1 Cor. 10:11.
For whom was the Bible written? It was written for each one of us.
It is not just for the intellectual or the Bible scholar who can read God's
Word in the original languages. God meant for the Bible to be read and
understood by everyone. One of our problems in this scientific age is that
we have been conditioned to think that only the trained expert really
understands. Or maybe this is not the real problem—maybe it is just an
excuse. Perhaps we've just become comfortable with allowing the ex-
perts and the scientists do our thinking for us. As much as we are
indebted to theologians, it could be that we're just too accustomed to
being spoon-fed. We shouldn't rely on what others think about the Bible.
Nothing can take the place of studying and discovering Bible truth for
ourselves. Because it takes time and effort, many give up without finding
the blessing that God has placed there for those willing to discover the
value and experience the joy of in-depth Bible study.
What four types of response to the gospel seed did Jesus mention in
His parable of the sower? Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23.
Match the following: (Answers given in Friday's lesson)
1. The careless and prejudiced A. Thorny-ground hearers
2. The shallow and superficial B. Stony-ground hearers
3. The easily distracted C. Good-ground hearers
4. Those most receptive D. Wayside hearers
The careless and indifferent approach to Bible study can be worse

than not studying at all. Those who have such an attitude seem to
approach their occasional contact with the Scriptures with this motto:
Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disap-
pointed. Good-ground hearers train themselves to get the most out of
the time they regularly set aside for Bible study.
In which hearer category do you fit? What things can you

think of in other areas of your life that help you or hinder you
from becoming receptive to the gospel?
43
Friday January 29
FURTHER STUDY: (A continuation of the discussion of the Old
Testament canon begun in Sunday's lesson.) "Before this [the days of
Ezra and Nehemiah] all biblical references to `books' seem to be to
the books of Moses, the Pentateuch. But in the days of Ezra and
Nehemiah `the book of the law' appears to take on a wider meaning
and to include other writings. Jewish tradition indicates that these two
divinely guided leaders were largely responsible for gathering the
sacred writings and forming them into a unit.
"In the time of Christ the Jews were certain that the body of sacred
writings—called the `canon'—had been arranged in the days of Ezra
and Nehemiah. Following the council of Januiia, A.D. 90, the Jews
were united on the contents of the Old Testament canon. The books were
the same as in our Bible, but the order and grouping differed. . . .
"It [the canon] signifies something measured, recognized, or ac-
cepted according to a definite standard. . . . Applied to the Old Testa-
ment, it means the body of sacred writings that met the standard for
inclusion in the Scriptures. . . .
"Each book found its way into the canon by reason of its inspiration.
The choice of books to be included in the canon was not left to the
wisdom of men. The Holy Spirit, who inspired the writers, led minds to
recognize and accept the books that were to be preserved for future
generations. The authority for the choice was God's authority, and the
divinely prompted recognition of inspiration ensured the inclusion of a
book within the accepted group."—Jemison, Christian Beliefs,
pp. 20, 21.
"Jesus Christ and the apostles definitely believed in the authority and
inspiration of the Hebrew Bible, as seen from numerous testimonies
witnessing to this fact . . . Furthermore, hundreds of quotations taken
from at least 30 Old Testament books show the high esteem in which
these writings were held by the founder of the Christian faith and His
immediate followers."—SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1, pp. 44, 45. (For
a fuller discussion, see, if available, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1, pp.
36-45.)
WORD FOR REVIEW: Canon. "The collection or list of sacred books

composing the Old and New Testaments, which are accepted as in-
spired by God and therefore as possessing divine authority."—SDA
Bible Dictionary, p. 172.
SUMMARY: Not all the writings of the prophets were preserved for
future generations. But the Bible as we know it, after the fixing of the
canon, was supernaturally preserved for the admonition and guidance
of God's people.
Answers to matching quiz in Thursday's lesson: 1. D; 2. B; 3. A; 4. C.
44
From Buddhist to Believer, Part 2
Nola Tudu
As Drathai studied her Bible, she was amazed that the Creator
God allowed His own Son to die at the hands of an angry mob. She
wanted to talk with Him, to receive His guidance, but her growing
awareness of her own sinfulness troubled her. How could she ever
be good enough to approach this mighty God?
When the pastor visited her, she asked him to teach her how to
pray. Soon she made her first feeble attempts to communicate with
her Creator. Other Christians shared their faith with her, prayed
for her, and encouraged her in her steps of faith.
Drathai's parents had seen the letters that came to their daugh-
ter from the Bible correspondence school. They appreciated the
positive influence of her Christian friends. But they did not
realize the depth of interest Drathai had in Christianity.
Drathai decided to follow Jesus and be baptized. She knew that
her parents would try to stop her, so she was baptized secretly in
the nearby river. When her parents learned of her baptism, her
mother cried bitterly. "The spirits will punish us because you no
longer worship them!" her mother cried. "Please bow with me to
the ancestors!" Drathai quietly refused, explaining that a Christian
can have no other gods save the God of heaven.
Friends also scolded her. "You have been brainwashed! These
Christians will bring the anger of our ancestors down upon us!"
Drathai struggled to retain her faith. In her distress she poured out
her heart to Jesus.
God answered her prayers, and Drathai saw a remarkable change
in her parents' attitude. They told her that she was almost an adult
and had a right to make important decisions about her life.
When she finished secondary school, her pastor encouraged her
to attend Spicer Memorial College in Pune, India. With her par-
ents' permission, Drathai enrolled in the Christian college.
She writes her parents often, thanking them for allowing her to
follow her faith and complete her education. "I pray that the Holy
Spirit will work in their hearts and lead them to know Jesus. Each
day I learn more and more about God and His love," she says. "I
want to share that knowledge with others. That is my way of
saying Thank You to God."
Nola Tudu is acting director of the Department of Journalism and

Communication at Spicer Memorial College.
Produced by the (ieneral Conference Office of Nlission Awareness

goinissiont compusene.corn
45
Lesson 6 January 30—February 5
The Languages and

Translations of the Bible
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Isa. 19:18; Mark 5:41; 15:34;
Acts 21:37, 38; 2 Tim. 2:15; Rev. 14:6; 22:18, 19.
MEMORY TEXT: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of

heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell
on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people" (Revelation 14:6).
KEY THOUGHT: Since the Tower of Babel there has been an as-
tounding increase of various languages and dialects. Languages also
are in a constant process of change. This presents an enormous chal-
lenge if we are to fulfill the commission to provide the Word of God in
every tongue.
LANGUAGES OF THE BIBLE. Most of the Old Testament was

written in what now is known as ancient Hebrew. A small portion was
written in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in koine Greek (the
language of the common people) as opposed to the classical Greek used
by writers of that time.
Although the Bible was still read in Hebrew in the synagogues in the
time of Christ, Aramaic had become the common language of the Jewish
people. Aramaic was the language Jesus spoke. Bible translations be-
gan in the third century B.C. when the Hebrew Old Testament was
translated into Greek. Near the end of the second century A.D., the New
Testament was translated into Syriac (a form of Aramaic), into Latin,
and for the believers of Upper Egypt, into Coptic.
46
Sunday January 31
BIBLICAL HEBREW (Isa. 19:18; 2 Kings 18:26, 28; Neh. 13:24).
What biblical terms are used for the language spoken by the
Old Testament Israelites?
Isa. 19:18 2 Kings 18:26, 28

Neh. 13:24 2 Cor. 3:14
Biblical Hebrew is a branch of the ancient Semitic language spoken

by the Hebrews and the natives of Canaan. Most of its basic words
contain three consonants, making the Hebrew sentences brief and
forceful. The seventh commandment in English contains five words but
only two in Hebrew. The twenty-third psalm contains 57 words in
Hebrew as compared to 122 in the English translation. The Hebrew
makes the poetry of the Old Testament particularly vivid, expressive,
and beautiful.
What was one common form of keeping manuscripts in Old Testa-

ment times? Jer. 32:14.
This has been confirmed by the finding of many ancient records

stored in jars. The most famous of these are the Dead Sea Scrolls
found in the caves at Qumran and dating from the third century B.C. to
the first century A.D.
Significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. "These finds have provided

us with Bible manuscripts that are a thousand years earlier than the
earliest Hebrew Bible texts known before these scrolls came to light.
This is of great importance, because we have thus obtained samples of
every Old Testament book, save one [Esther], as it existed during the
time of Christ's ministry. In other words, we now know what the Bible of
Christ's time looked like; in fact, we have discovered that its text
differed scarcely at all from the one on which our modern translations
were based."—SDA Bible Commentary (1978), vol. 1, p. 34.
When Paul refers to reading the books of Moses in 2 Cor. 3:14,

what term does he use? What does Luke call the Old Testament,
and what does he include in it? Luke 24:27.
For reflection: How is your confidence affirmed in the Old

Testament you study, knowing that it was the Bible used by
Christ and His apostles?
47
Monday February 1
ARAMAIC IN THE BIBLE (Gen. 31:47; 2 Kings 18:26; Mark 5:41;
15:34; 1 Cor. 16:22).
Aramaic, closely related to Hebrew, was the language of the Aramaeans

who lived mainly in Upper Mesopotamia and Syria. Because it was a
simple and easy language to learn, the Assyrians and Babylonians
adopted it. The Persians made Aramaic the official language of their
empire. As the result of the Babylonian captivity, the Jews adopted it in
place of the Hebrew language.
By the time of Christ, Aramaic was the mother tongue of the people
who lived in Palestine. Ezra 4:8-6:18; 7:12-16; Daniel 2:4-7:28; and one
verse in Jeremiah (10:11) were written in Aramaic. As a high official in
Babylon, Daniel was so fluent in Aramaic that, when he introduced the
speech of the wise men in chapter 2:4, he began quoting them in Aramaic
and continued using that language through chapter 7:28.
When was an Aramaic word first used in the Old Testament? Gen.
31:47.
Laban used the Aramaic Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob used the

Hebrew Gal 'eed . Both mean "stone heap of witness."
Why did the officials of King Hezekiah ask Rabshakeh, the emis-
sary of King Senacherib of Assyria, to speak in Aramaic to them?
2 Kings 18:26.
How do such texts as Mark 5:41; 15:34; and 1 Corinthians

16:22 demonstrate that Jesus and Paul spoke Aramaic?
"A number of Aramaic expressions in the New Testament show clearly

that it was the language of Jesus. `Talitha cumi' (Mark 5:41), and . . .Èloi,
Eloi, lama sabachthani?' (Mark 15:34) are some of Christ's expressions.
"The Bible was still read in Hebrew in the synagogue services in the time
of Christ, but many people, especially the women, could not understand it.
It had therefore become customary for the readers in the synagogues to
translate Scripture passages into Aramaic. Later on, written translations of
the Old Testament into Aramaic were made—the so-called Targums.
Contrary to Hebrew, which had become a dead language in pre-Christian
times, and has experienced only artificial revivals, Aramaic has been kept
alive continuously as a spoken language to the present day, and is still used
in certain parts of the Near East, where it is known as Syriac."—SDA Bible
Commentary, vol. 1, p. 30.
48
Tuesday February 2
NEW TESTAMENT GREEK (Acts 21:37-39; 22:2).
With the expansion of Alexander's empire in the fourth century B.C.,

Greek culture and language spread throughout most of the Mediterra-
nean area and the Middle East. Later, Greek was adopted by the
Roman Empire as its universal language. As far as can be determined,
all twenty-seven books of the New Testament were written in Greek.
However, many of the Greek terms had to be adapted to fit the
religious meaning expressed in the New Testament.
At the time of his arrest Paul surprised the Roman commander by

speaking Greek and impressed the mob by speaking Aramaic. Acts
21:37; 22:2. Why? What point was Paul making with each of these
usages? Acts 21:38, 39; 22:3.
The advantage of studying the Bible in the original languages.

It is not essential to be able to study the Bible in the original lan-
guages, especially when we have so many modern translations. But it
is helpful to be able to do so as an aid to understanding the original
intention expressed in the languages used to write any particular
portion of the Bible.
The following illustrations demonstrate how an acquaintance with
the Greek language helps us understand the meaning of the Bible text in
which it is found:
1 John 3:4—sin (Gr. hamartia) means to miss or fail to hit the
mark; in this context, to wander from or violate the moral law.
2 Cor. 7:9—repentance (Gr. metanoia) means a change of

mind, implying that the change is for the better and produces
good results.
Rom. 3:20—to be justified (Gr. dikaioo) means to set right; to

declare right; to treat as being righteous; the act by which a
person is brought into a right state in relation to God.
Eph. 4:22—conversation (Gr. anastrophe) means manner of

life, conduct, behavior. In this context it gives the idea that the
new nature is to be put on to replace the old nature.
Matt. 16:18—Peter (Gr. Petros) means a small stone as com-

pared to the Gr. petra, which is a large, immovable rock. A
small stone would make an impossible foundation for the build-
ing of the Church. Jesus, making a play on words, referred to
Himself as the Rock (see 1 Cor. 3:11; 10:4).
49
Wednesday February 3
WHAT ABOUT THE VERSIONS? (Rev. 22:18, 19).
How does God regard those who make deliberate changes to the
revelation He has given? Rev. 22:18, 19.
Although specifically referring to adding to and taking away from

the book of Revelation, the principle applies to making deliberate changes
in any book of the Bible. As the need arose for versions in different
languages and within languages because of their constantly changing
nature, the restriction found in the book of Revelation serves, among
other things, as a guide to keep translators from taking liberties with
God's Word.
In spite of God's warnings, some liberties have been taken. Ellen
White states: "I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible; yet
when copies of it were few, learned men had in some instances changed
the words, thinking that they were making it more plain, when in reality
they were mystifying that which was plain by causing it to lean to their
established views, which were governed by tradition. But I saw that the
Word of God, as a whole, is a perfect chain, one portion linking into and
explaining another."—Early Writings, pp. 220, 221. Even though
there may be some errors owing to human-made changes in any one
version, our interpretation is to rest on the weight of evidence as we
take into consideration all that the Bible has to say on a topic.
Variations in versions go back to the earliest. Because the Septuagint

(the earliest Greek version of the Old Testament) served as the Bible
of the New Testament writers, it is common to find some minor
variations in phraseology between texts quoted in the New Testament
and the texts being quoted as we find them in our Old Testament,
translated from the Hebrew text. Yet such minor variations do not
result in any differences in theology. To become familiar with these
differences, complete the exercise that follows:
Compare: Old Testament New Testament

Exod. 16:33 Heb. 9:4
Ps. 102:25-27 Heb. 1:10-12
Ps. 40:6 Heb. 10:5
Deut. 32:35, 36 Heb. 10:30
Even though the Bible is an ancient book, it has been pre-

served, and its use is widespread today, reaching many diverse
peoples in their own tongues. It is indeed for all the world and
for all times, meeting the deepest longings of the human heart.
50
Thursday February 4
WHAT ABOUT MODERN VERSIONS? (Acts 2:5-11; 2 Tim. 2:15).
According to 1995 statistics published by the American Bible Soci-

ety, the Bible or portions of it are now printed in 2,123 languages or
dialects. Although they estimate 6,528 languages and dialects exist,
many of them are used by very few people. Therefore, they estimate
that 90 percent of the world population has access to the Bible in their
spoken language. The current number of translations and versions is
constantly increasing.
The following comment and exercise have to do with an antiquated
English version of the Bible. This may not be useful to our non-English
readers, but they may wish to use a similar exercise relating to an old
Bible version in their own language.
Many who use the English version believe the King James Version is
the most authentic and has the greatest authority. Yet, the King James
Version contains many words no longer currently used. As evidence,
determine what the following words mean in the King James Version-
passages indicated: (Answers in Friday's section.)
1. Gal. 4:17—Affect (verb)

2. Job 20:3—Check (noun)
3. Joel 2:24; 3:13—Fat (noun)
4. Deut. 28:26—Fray (verb)
5. Isa. 43:13—Let (verb)
6. Exod. 28:11—Ouches (noun plural)
7. 1 Thess. 4:15—Prevent (verb)
8. Ezek. 35:6—Sith (conjunction)
In the light of what Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:15, how is his admoni-
tion helpful to us when we use the various versions?
Ellen White's use of versions. In the 1905 publication of The

Ministry of Healing, Ellen White used eight texts from the English
Revised Version and fifty-five from the American Revised Version. W.
C. White wrote: "When Testimonies for the Church, Volume Eight, was
printed and it seemed desirable to make some lengthy quotations from
the Psalms, it was pointed out to Sister White that the Revised Version
of these Psalms was preferable, . . . [She] gave the matter deliberate
consideration and instructed us to use the Revised Version."—E. G.
White Document File, No. 579; Ministry, April 1947, pp. 17, 18.
51
Friday February 5
FURTHER STUDY: As an aid to understanding the development of
Bible versions, look under "Versions" in a Bible dictionary, if avail-
able. Choose a Bible chapter and compare it carefully in whatever
versions or languages you have available. Notice: (1) variations in
wording, (2) other differences, (3) which readings are the most under-
standable. If you have access to the SDA Bible Commentary, look up
those passages on which you may have questions. What do you con-
clude about the use of Bible versions as a result of this exercise?
1. It is not difficult to understand why there should be transla-
tions in different languages, but why should there be so
many versions in any one language?
2. Do you know of or can you find other words in the King

James Version that have changed meaning since its publi-
cation?
A comment on Bible versions: From the standpoint of clarity and

understanding alone, modern versions can be helpful. For example,
Acts 2:47 in the King James Version reads "such as should be saved,"
whereas the Revised Standard Version translates it in harmony with the
Greek text, "those who were being saved."
For serious Bible study of doctrinal topics, the literal translations
closest to the original languages are recommended. In English such
versions are: the New King James Version (does not use the outdated
words in the King James Version), the Revised Standard Version (1946),
and the New American Standard Bible. For personal devotional study,
you may wish to read the version that brings the greatest spiritual
blessing to you. Keep in mind that paraphrases are not translations of
the Bible but reflect the intent and interpretation of the paraphrasers.
SUMMARY: The careful Bible student has the advantage today of

being able to study the Bible in its original languages and in many
modern translations and versions. Because these sources vary in accu-
racy, it is wise to become knowledgeable about using them.
Answers to the quiz on the meaning of KJV words:

1.Affect (verb) = to desire earnestly, to seek after
2. Check (noun) = reproof, rebuke
3. Fat (noun) = a vat, vessel
4. Fray (verb) = to frighten
5. Let (verb) = to hinder, to prevent
6. Ouches (noun plural) = sockets in which precious stones are set
7. Prevent (verb) = to do or come before, to anticipate
8. Sith (conjunction) = since
52
China Report
I am a student at a university in China. But I find ways to spread

the news of God's love to people who have never heard it before.
Many people in China are eager to know about God.
One of my teachers, Mr. Lu, began asking me questions about
the Bible. I answered with caution, because I did not know if he
was a secret spy. But he was sincere, and soon we began studying
the Bible behind tightly closed doors. Mr. Lu and his wife ac-
cepted Jesus as their Lord. Now he is eager to tell others about the
freedom found in Christ. Often he comes to ask for Bibles to give
to someone he has told about Christ.
But he must be careful. A few years ago Mr. Lu was accused of
criticizing the government. He was questioned by the university,
and his salary was reduced. He knows he is being watched.
Mr. Lu's brother and his family, who live in another province,
became Christians three years ago, but they cannot fellowship with
other Christians in the area. It is too dangerous. They have never
seen a Bible! The government is very strict there, and the family's
home has been searched twice for religious materials. Parcels
arriving from outside the area are searched, and even passengers
arriving from other areas are spot-searched for religious materials.
In spite of this danger, Mr. Lu plans to carry Bibles and literature
to his brother's family when he visits. Because he was born there,
he hopes that authorities will not search him. Pray for him!
I tutor 13 students on a private basis and study the Bible with
several others. Two students from inner Mongolia recently gave
their hearts to the Lord. It is precious to see these intelligent,
earnest young people choose to follow God so wholeheartedly!
Recently I spent my school holiday visiting former students. I
stayed in the home of Chin Le. Her family are new Christians, and
already they have won a number of others to God. These new believ-
ers came to Chin Le's home to study the Bible and find answers to
their questions. If it were discovered that a foreigner was teaching
them, the believers would face great hardships. So I hid in the house
and did not even peek out the door for a whole week!
These people have so much love for the Lord! Many were mem-
bers of a Sunday church whom Chin Le told about the Sabbath. Since
the group was formed four years ago, they have established at least
sixteen other congregations with more than two thousand worship-
ers—all without a pastor. Pray for our believers in China!
The author, whose name must remain a secret, lives and ministers in
a large city in China.

53
New Division!
For the very first time
the Northern Asia-Pacific Divi-
sion will receive the special
offering taken on the Thirteenth
Sabbath of this quarter. This divi-
sion, which covers the areas of
North and South Korea, Hong
Kong, Japan. Macao. Mongolia,
China, and Taiwan, was formed in
1997 when the area originally
known as the Far Eastern Division
was divided into two separate
divisions.
Evangelistic opportunities are
challenging in this region of the
world.* The division leadership
has requested assistance from the
world church family to establish a
Lay Training Center in South Ko-
rea and to help establish a greater
Adventist presence in East Asia
by the placing of new churches.
*Read Mission for more details.
54
CHRIST How You
SAW You CAn SEE Him
THERE . THElkE TOO.
Come, stand at the Cross. Join

those who watched Jesus die. See
through their eyes as they witness
the greatest event in human his-
tory.
The authors share thought-
provoking images of the closing
scenes of Jesus' life and the
impact of His final words. People
of all walks of life stood there and
listened. Some observers almost
believed, some had believed, and
some truly believed—at least
when it was over.
Which point of view would be
yours? Where would you stand?
Stand Those looking for hope and
at the courage will find them in the
Cross words and actions of Jesus that
day. Stand at the Cross —and be
E. Lonnie Melashenko and changed.
John Thomas McLarty Paper, 128 pages.
US $8.99, Cdn $12.99.
Prices subject to change
Pacific Press® Publishing Association

Available at your
Creating the Future of Adventist publishing local ABC. Call
Visit us at www.pacificpress.com
©1997 Pacific Press® Publishing Association 187/70590 1-800-765-6955.
Lesson 7 February 6-12
The Bible Its Own

Interpreter
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:15; John 7:17;
8:43, 44; 16:13-15; Isa. 28:9, 10; 1 Cor. 2:9-14.
MEMORY TEXT: "And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15).
KEY THOUGHT: The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the Bible to
record accurately God's revelations. Why, then, are there so many
different ideas about what the Bible teaches? The difficulty is not with
the Bible but with the way we interpret what we study. We must let the
Bible be its own interpreter.
HIDDEN TREASURE. A man by the name of Doc Noss claimed

to have found several million dollars' worth of gold bricks. He told
anyone who would listen that he found the gold at the bottom of a deep
cavern in the Umbrillo Basin area of New Mexico. Rumors of the gold
kept cropping up, but the United States Army, who owned the area,
refused explorers entry to the cavern. Finally, a group known as
Expedition Unlimited was able to obtain approval and searched thor-
oughly for the gold treasure. Using metal detectors, ground radar, and
other modern and sophisticated instruments, they discovered many
unknown tunnels and caverns—but no gold.
Those who search for earthly hidden treasure are often disap-
pointed, much as the group known as the Expedition Unlimited was.
But those who diligently search for the hidden treasure in the Word of
God will find eternal riches.
56
Sunday February 7
PRAY FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (John 16:13;
1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 12:2).
The finite mind, without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, cannot
possibly grasp the deep and meaningful truths revealed in the Bible. It
is, therefore, essential that the first step in any approach to Bible study
be prayer for guidance.
What promise should we claim as we open the Bible to study it?

John 16:13.
"Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening

its pages we should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it
will be given."—Steps to Christ, p. 91.
What do the texts that follow indicate about why it is impossible for
the human mind, unaided by the Holy Spirit, to grasp divine truth?
1 Cor. 2:9-14
2 Cor. 3:14
2 Cor 4.4
What change must take place in our minds before we can appreciate
truth as we should? Rom. 12:2.
"Some things cannot be fully understood unless they are experi-

enced—explanation is not enough. . . . One may be able to explain
what prayer is, but until he has learned to pray his concept of prayer
will be hazy.
"The Holy Spirit's work is twofold: to lead us to understanding, and
to lead us to experience. Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus said to His
disciples, 'When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into
all truth.' John 16:13. Early in His ministry the Master had spoken to
Nicodemus: 'Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' John 3:5, 6."—Jemison,
Christian Beliefs, pp. 43, 44.
For reflection: According to 1 Corinthians 2:14, the "natural

man does not receive the things of the Spirit . . . nor can he . . .
because they are spiritually discerned." In what ways can we be
more receptive to the Spirit's illumination?
57
Monday February 8
LET THE WRITER SAY WHAT HE WANTS TO SAY (John 8:43,
44).
Why are some in Jesus' audience not able to grasp His teaching?
John 8:43.
They are standing in Jesus' presence but will not hear what He is
attempting to communicate to them. Thus they completely misunder-
stand His message.
How does John 8:44 explain why they are not able to hear His
Word?
We must learn to let the authors say what they want to say, and we
must learn to listen to what they are saying. This is easy to agree with
but difficult to practice. This highlights the human problem inherent in
understanding what others are attempting to communicate, resulting
from our cherished ideas formed beforehand.
It is easy to fall into condemnation of others as being "blind" to what
the Bible really says. But isn't there a possibility that we, too, have our
blind spots? Even in early Christian times, with the apostles still living,
the church was beset by differences of opinion on some matters of
teaching and practice. Can we expect all Christians around the world,
with vast differences in culture and background, to follow exactly the
same practices and understand every teaching in exactly the same way?
Obviously there is room for some minor differences, even though
there is general agreement on basic principles and fundamental doc-
trines. Sometimes we may find ourselves unable to understand clearly
what a Bible writer is saying in a particular passage. That should not
discourage us but rather encourage us to pray and study more ear-
nestly so that the Holy Spirit may shed more light on His Word.
Moreover, if we want to be able to understand more fully what
biblical writers intend, we must allow them the right to say what they
want to say in their own way of saying it. We must try to understand
exactly what they said rather than reading into their words what we
think they should have said.
For reflection: "God intends that even in this life the truths of
His Word shall be ever unfolding to His people. There is only one
way in which this knowledge can be obtained. We can attain to an
understanding of God's Word only through the illumination of
that Spirit by which the Word was given. . . . And the Saviour's
promise to His followers was, 'When He, the Spirit of truth, is
come, He will guide you into all truth.' "—Steps to Christ, p. 109.
58
Tuesday February 9
STUDYING A SINGLE PASSAGE (2 Tim. 2:15).
How does Paul challenge us to careful, in-depth Bible study? 2

Tim. 2:15. What does he mean?
"One may read the whole Bible through and yet fail to see its beauty
or comprehend its deep and hidden meaning. One passage studied until
its significance is clear to the mind, and its relation to the plan of
salvation is evident, is of more value than the perusal of many chapters
with no definite purpose in view and no positive instruction gained."
—Steps to Christ, p. 90.
When we learn to take a single passage and find all that the Lord has
put there for us to understand, there will be a deepening of our spiritual
experience and a hunger for continued study. It's a blessing to listen to
someone who is well versed in Bible study explain the Scriptures, but
what greater blessing it is to personally experience the help of the Holy
Spirit in discovering the deep significance of a Bible passage for our-
selves. Yet, many Christians do not know how to do this and, therefore,
do not appreciate the thrill and challenge of this kind of study.
How do we go about studying a verse or a short Bible passage in a
way that will bring rich rewards? One such way is this: "We should
carefully study the Bible, asking God for the aid of the Holy Spirit, that
we may understand His word. We should take one verse, and concen-
trate the mind on the task of ascertaining the thought which God has
put in that verse for us. We should dwell upon the thought until it
becomes our own, and we know 'what saith the Lord.' "—The Desire
of Ages, p. 390.
Glean from the above statement possible steps to follow in studying

a Bible promise. Use the space below to write down such steps:
For study and reflection: Try to follow the above steps in your
consideration of this promise: "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" (Isa. 41:10, NKJV).
59
COMPARING SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE (Isa. 28:9, 10;
1 Cor. 2:13, 14).
The next step in careful attention to the text is to determine how the
context illuminates the passage. After that, find out what other Bible
texts contribute to our understanding of it.
What do Isaiah 28:9, 10 and 1 Corinthians 2:13, 14 say about

comparing scripture with scripture?
"The evidence of truth is in the Scripture itself. One scripture is the

key to unlock other scriptures. The rich and hidden meaning is unfolded
by the Holy Spirit of God, making plain the word to our understand-
ing."—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 390.
It is essential to find and compare all the scriptures on a topic in
order to grasp the entire scope of Bible teaching about it. (The use of a
Bible concordance is recommended.) The best commentary on Scrip-
ture is Scripture. First, discover all you can for yourself from the
Bible, then turn to other resources to aid you in your study.
Illustrate this next step by a study of Matthew 5:3. Commentar-

ies suggest that the "poor in spirit" are those who have learned that
they cannot possibly save themselves or perform any righteous act
that will save them. Contrary to the mistaken ideas of the Pharisees in
Christ's day, those desiring salvation are completely dependent on
what Christ can and will do for them.
The statement in Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, page 13, that
"throughout the Beatitudes is an advancing line of Christian experience"
gives us the key to understanding the Beatitudes. They are sequential
steps we take in becoming children of God. The first beatitude presents
the first step in becoming a son or daughter of God—recognition of our
need. How rich Matthew 5:3 becomes when we realize that the word
used for "poor" is not just meant in the ordinary sense in which we use
the word but one that designates the desperate and destitute. Thus Jesus
tells us how beggars can become kings. The position of the pronoun
theirs in the Greek text gives it particular emphasis. Only those who have
the kind of experience outlined in this passage—who realize their des-
perate need and turn to Christ to supply it—will receive the blessing.
Study the second beatitude by using the same method discussed

above, comparing scripture with scripture. How does the Bible
define mourning as it is meant in the Beatitudes? How does the act
of mourning serve as another step in becoming God's children?
60
Thursday February 11
A RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD TRUTH (John 7:17; Dan. 12:9,10;
Ps. 25:14; Luke 11:28).
What basic principle for understanding the Bible is presented

in John 7:17 and Luke 11:28? What do you think is the reason for
this condition?
Why would God make His will known to us if it were not intended to
guide us in our relationship to Him and those about us? The more light
we receive and put into practice, the more light we will receive.
What promise does Daniel give concerning those in the last days
who will diligently study and apply God's messages? Dan. 12:9, 10.
What does Psalm 25:14 add to our understanding of God's willing-

ness to share His special light with those who trust and obey Him?
The Hebrew in this text indicates that the word translated secret
means "confidential talk" or intimate, special friendship. When God's
people enjoy intimate, special friendship with Him, He reveals His
secrets to them. Commenting on the use of the same word secret in
Proverbs 3:32, the SDA Bible Commentary, volume 3, page 959, adds:
"God's secret is the revelation of Himself in His Word, in nature, and in
His providences. While the most prosperous unbeliever looks to a
vague and uncertain future and trembles at the thought of death, the
man who follows in the ways of God has an understanding of the
workings of providence that enables him to face wealth or woe, life or
death, with the same calm certainty."
Application: The old adage "We are what we eat" applies to both the
physical and spiritual aspects of life. If we feed only on the husks of the
commonplace and uninspired, our lives will become dwarfed and cheap-
ened. In contrast, when we make the Word of God our daily bread, we
grow. Paul states in Philippians 4:8,"Whatsoever things are true, what-
soever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, . . . think on these things."
For reflection: Do you know someone who, in the last few years,
has demonstrated striking Christian growth? If you check the rea-
son for it, you'll doubtless discover that daily and prayerful Bible
study underlies all such Christian development. How do you plan
to experience more spiritual growth in your life? (See 1 Pet. 2:2.)
61
Friday February 12
FURTHER STUDY: Reflect on 2 Peter 3:15, 16. What reasons can
you develop for people's "wresting" the Scriptures? How does Psalm
119 broaden your understanding of the relationship between being
willing to do God's will and better understanding the truths of God's
Word? Go through the familiar twenty-third psalm, noticing every
word and analyzing what it means in that passage. As you do so, keep
a record of your thoughts. What reasons can you think of for wanting
better to appreciate the truths of the Bible?
In studying a Bible verse or passage, it is helpful to keep in mind the
following points:
1. See the primacy and unity of the scripture.
2. Discern the centrality of Christ in the scripture.
3. Let the scripture explain itself.
4. Study what the text says, paying close attention to the correct
meaning of words.
5. Consider the context and historical background.
6. Ascertain the meaning of the text to those to whom it was ad-
dressed originally—and to us today.
7. Apply in your daily life the specific things the Holy Spirit has
taught you in the Bible study.
"If the people of God would appreciate His word, we should have a
heaven in the church here below. Christians would be eager, hungry, to
search the word. They would be anxious for time to compare scripture
with scripture and to meditate upon the word. . . . And as a result their
lives would be conformed to the principles and promises of the word.
Its instruction would be to them as the leaves of the tree of life."
—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 193.
1. What can you and your fellow members do in your local church
to foster "a heaven in the church here below" and enjoy the
"leaves of the tree of life" now?
2. After your study of this lesson, summarize your answer to the

question, Why are there so many different ideas about what the
Bible teaches?
WORD FOR REVIEW: Hermeneutics. Derived from the Greek word

hermeneuein, this word means to express, interpret, or explain. It also
means to seek to determine the principles for deriving the true meaning
of written texts, including biblical words or passages.
SUMMARY: Outline from reviewing this lesson some helpful points

that you can suggest to your class as a means of ensuring that your
study reflects more accurately the truths of God's revelation.
62
The Missing Money, Part 1
Told to Traci Lemon by Delores Thomas Morris
Delores glanced at her watch as the bus she was riding stopped
to pick up more passengers. She did not want to be late for work.
She had stopped at the bank to cash her paycheck so she could
give her birthday-thank offering on Sabbath. Just one more stop,
she thought. I should be on time. Thank You, Jesus, she prayed.
A young mother with a baby in one arm and several packages in
the other struggled to deposit her coins in the farebox. Delores set
her bags down and helped the woman, then returned to her seat.
As the bus slowed for Delores's stop, she grabbed her bags and
hurried toward the door. She stepped off the bus and started
toward her workplace, when suddenly she stopped. Something
was missing. She had left one bag behind—the bag containing her
passport and cash—two weeks' pay! She turned and watched the
bus round the corner.
"Jesus," she breathed, "help me get my bag back!" Delores did
not earn a lot at her part-time job, and she stretched every penny to
provide for herself and her two children. In addition, injuries
caused by a hit-and-run driver had left her with a large hospital bill
to pay.
Another bus pulled up to the bus stop, and Delores stepped on
board. She explained her plight to the driver, who let her ride free
to the bus station. She asked at the lost-and-found office, but the
driver of the bus in which she had ridden had not reported finding
anything on the bus. The station supervisor kindly warned Delores,
"You won't get your things back."
My God is able, Delores thought. I won't let the devil get the
best of me! I will give my thank offering, even if I have to borrow
the money!
Delores returned to work and explained her tardiness to her
boss. Word of her loss spread among her co-workers. Even some
of her Christian friends told her to forget ever seeing her money
again. God, she prayed, even i fI cannot get the money back, please
help me get my passport. I need my passport.
She felt confident that God would take care of her needs,
although she did not know how.
Delores Thomas Morris lives and works in Silver Spring,

Maryland. Traci Lemon is editorial assistant of Mission.
Produced by the (icneral Conference Office of \ lission A\\ areness

E-mail: gomission(a compuserve.com
63
The Uniqueness of the Gift

of Prophecy
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-
21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.
MEMORY TEXT: "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be

established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper" (2 Chronicles
20:20).
KEY THOUGHT: The gift of prophecy is an identifying mark of the

remnant church. Seventh-day Adventists believe that this gift was mani-
fested through Ellen G. White. Her writings are a continuing and authorita-
five source of truth, which provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and
correction for the church. She testifies that the Bible is the standard by
which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Based on Seventh-day
Adventists Believe . . . , p. 216, and Fundamental Belief, no. 17.)
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GIFT OF PROPHECY TO

THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH. A 1982 study in
one of the church divisions shows that Seventh-day Adventists who
study the writings of Ellen White regularly are more likely to exhibit
positive Christian attributes and behavior than members who do not
(Administry, July 1982, pp. 226, 227). Many other benefits that have
come to the church through the gift of prophecy could be listed. One
that is not usually considered is the advantage Seventh-day Adventists
have in receiving a contemporary example of how the gift of prophecy
works. We have the advantage of being able to know and experience
what a modern prophet may say and do.
64
Sunday February 14
THE UNIQUENESS OF THE GIFT (Jer. 20:7-9; Acts 21:9; 2 Pet.
1:21).
A study of the Bible records that about eighty people are known to
have received the genuine gift of prophecy. Eight of these were women.
Approximately forty wrote the sixty-six books of the Bible. This gift
is one of the rarest and, consequently, is unique among the spiritual
gifts.
Selection of the prophet is the only church appointment God

has kept strictly in His own hands. Prophecy comes not "by the will
of man" (2 Pet. 1:21). Prophets sometimes prophesied: (1) without
foreseeing that they would (see 1 Kings 13:20-22) and (2) when they
didn't want to. They could not always do what they wanted (see Num.
23:12, 20; 24:13).
The gift of prophecy often was a calling not desired by those God
called. Why? Exod. 4:1, 10-12; Jer. 20:7-9; Jon. 1:1-3.
Ellen White overwhelmed. Being a prophet is not easy. Com-

menting on the fact that Ellen White had to write out everything by
hand, her husband, James, reported her reaction to the new vision of
June 12, 1868: "Mrs. White has said more than twenty times since the
Rochester vision, December, 1865, upon which she has written sev-
eral thousands of pages, that in view of the responsibilities of her
work, if she could have her choice, to go into the grave or have
another vision, she should choose the grave. And since Sabbath evening
it has been with difficulty that she has been able to control her feelings
of disappointment and sadness in view of her new responsibilities."
—Review and Herald, June 16, 1868.
Women, as well as men, were called by God to the prophetic office in

Bible times. Review the following texts and identify some of those
called to be prophetesses:
Exod. 15:20, 21 Judg. 4:4, 5
Luke 2:36 Acts 21.9
Were these women given the same recognition as male proph-

ets? Note that in spite of the fact that Jeremiah (compare Jer. 1:2
with 2 Kings 22:3) and probably Habakkuk and Zephaniah were
recognized prophets in Josiah's time, Josiah's counselors sought
out Huldah the prophetess in order to discover the Lord's will.
65
Monday February 15
THE BIBLICAL BASIS OF THE LAST-DAY PROPHETIC GIFT
(Joel 2:28-32; Matt. 24:11, 24; Eph. 4:11-14; Rev. 12:17; 19:10).
How do the texts listed below support the expectation of a last-day

prophetic gift?
Joel 2:28-32—Partially fulfilled at Pentecost (see Acts 2:16-21),

but the major fulfillment takes place in the last days when the signs
mentioned in verses 30, 31 will be seen. The manifestation of the
Spirit at Pentecost involved tongues, whereas the last-day promise
involves prophecy.
Matthew 24:11, 24—Perhaps Jesus would not need to warn against
false prophets just before His coming unless the true gift of prophecy
was to be manifested.
Ephesians 4:11-14—This text seems to support the idea that there
are three different reasons for giving the gift, but actually there is one.
Verse 12 literally states: "With a view to the mending of the saints for
the purpose of the work of Christ unto the house building of the body
of Christ." The last-day gift of prophecy is essential to this purpose and
will be needed until we come into "the unity of the faith . . . unto the
measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (verse 13).
Revelation 12:17; 19:10—Note the similarities of Revelation 19:10
and 22:9: In both, John says he fell at the angel's feet to worship. In
both cases the angel said, "Don't." In both, the angel began his
message with the same words. By comparing the above three texts, we
see that the testimony of Jesus is equated with the person and the work
of the prophets.
Gift of prophecy given to Ellen G. White. Seventh-day Adventists

believe that the Bible prediction of a last-day gift of prophecy has been
fulfilled in a remarkable way through the Holy Spirit's work in the life
and ministry of Ellen G. White. Concerning her gift, Ellen White testi-
fies: "Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser
light to lead men and women to the greater light. Oh, how much good
would be accomplished if the books containing this light were read with
a determination to carry out the principles they contain!"—Colporteur
Ministry, p. 125.
The ministry of Ellen White. Her ministry extended over a period

of 70 years until her death in 1915. During that time she received
approximately 2,000 visions and wrote approximately 25 million words.
One of the most remarkable aspects of her ministry is the immense
variety of topics on which she wrote: education, health, prophecy—
just to mention a few.
66
Tuesday February 16
TESTING THE PROPHETIC GIFT (Deut. 18:21, 22; lsa. 8:20;
Matt. 7:20; 1 John 4:1-3).
Imagine a man receiving a letter that makes him so upset that he

bangs on the door of the post office demanding that the postal carrier
explain why he delivered such a frightening and allegedly unreasonable
letter. He loses his temper and gives the postal carrier a hard kick. That
wouldn't be either Christian or rational.
Yet, in recent years some have been kicking the postal carrier—Ellen
White—just because they don't like what she wrote. Of course, there's the
fact that she also is blamed for things that she never actually wrote.
Perhaps too many of us as youngsters were whipped into line by
authority figures who rested their case on the line "You can't do that
because Ellen White says you shouldn't." What a pleasant surprise it
is to learn how human, even fun-loving, Ellen White was. She was a
pleasant, happy person to be around. There were even times when she
almost rebelled against giving some of the straight messages God gave
her for people she knew and with whom she worshiped. She was urged
to pass them along no matter what personal pain it caused her. Overall,
her ministry was one of encouragment, pointing to the loving and
lovable Jesus, whom she always sought to represent faithfully.
The Lord powerfully used this godly woman for so many years to
guide and lead this church and its members heavenward. Regrettably,
some engage in subtle denials of the full inspiration of Ellen White's
writings. In order to meet these attacks, we must be aware of the Bible
tests of the true gift of prophecy.
Study the following Bible tests of a true prophet, applying them as

best you can to what you know about Ellen White's gift:
Test 1—Isa 8.20
Test 2—Matt. 7:20
Test 3—Jer. 28:9 (modified by the biblical principle of condi-

tional prophecy)
Test 4-1 John 4.2
The standard. "The word of God is the standard by which all teach-
ing and experience must be tested."—The Great Controversy, p. vii.
For reflection: Think of specific passages from Ellen White's

writings that have been a spiritual blessing to you. In what ways
have they been helpful, and why?
67
INSPIRATION AND REVELATION IN ELLEN WHITE'S
EXPERIENCE (1 Thess. 5:19-21; 2 Chron. 20:20).
Study 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21; then list three things that we can do

to help us accept a true claim to the gift of prophecy.
1.
2.
3
If God gave special messages through the prophets in past ages for
the encouragement and spiritual enlightenment of His people, why can
He not use someone that way in the twentieth century? Is God's power
to communicate with His people any less today than it was in the time of
Elijah or Jeremiah? Why should we accept the reality of miraculous
prophetic inspiration in earlier ages but deny it for our age? If we should
discover that the tests of a true prophet are fulfilled in the ministry of a
contemporary, how unwise we would be not to accept the messages as
coming from God! To reject the counsel of a true prophet is to insult the
Holy Spirit.
Ellen White's description of her writing process. A study of the

many passages in which Ellen White described her writing process is
informative. Here we'll select just two: "When I went to Colorado I was
so burdened for you that, in my weakness, I wrote many pages to be
read at your camp meeting. Weak and trembling, I arose at three o'clock
in the morning to write to you. God was speaking through clay. You
might say that this communication was only a letter. Yes, it was a letter,
but prompted by the Spirit of God, to bring before your minds things
that had been shown me. In these letters which I write, in the testimo-
nies I bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to
me. I do not write one article in the paper, expressing merely my own
ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision—the pre-
cious rays of light shining from the throne."—Selected Messages,
book 1, p. 27.
"I am just as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in relating or
writing a vision, as in having the vision. It is impossible for me to call up
things which have been shown me unless the Lord brings them before
me at the time that He is pleased to have me relate or write them."
—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 293.
For reflection: What are the advantages to the church and to

you personally in accepting Ellen White's messages? Give some
examples. (See 2 Chronicles 20:20, last part.)
68
THE FRUITAGE OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS (Matt. 7:20; 24:11,
24).
One of the major signs of the time of the end will be false prophets
whose main work is deception (see Matt. 24:4, 11, 24). Christ has given
His true followers spiritual discernment into what is true and what is
false: "By their fruit you will recognize them" (Matt. 7:20, NIV).
What did Ellen White claim for herself? "I have had no claims to
make, only that I am instructed that I am the Lord's messenger; that
He called me in my youth to be His messenger, to receive His word,
and to give a clear and decided message in the name of the Lord Jesus.
`Your work,' He instructed me, 'is to bear My word. . . . The messages
that I give shall be heard from one who has never learned in the
schools. My Spirit and My power shall be with you.
"`Be not afraid of man, for My shield shall protect you. It is not you
that speaketh: it is the Lord that giveth the messages of warning and
reproof. Never deviate from the truth under any circumstances. . . .'
"Why have I not claimed to be a prophet?—Because in these days
many who boldly claim that they are prophets are a reproach to the
cause of Christ; and because my work includes much more than the
word 'prophet' signifies."—Selected Messages, book 1, p. 32.
How do Ellen White's claims measure up to the tests of a true

prophet outlined in Isaiah 8:20 and Matthew 7:20?
The consistency of her writings with Scripture. Ellen White's

writings teach no doctrine that cannot be substantiated solely from
Scripture. Her writings lead us back to the Bible. Ellen White did not
teach that her writings should be used as another Bible, nor that they
should be added to the sacred canon: "I recommend to you, dear reader,
the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice. By that Word we
are to be judged. God has, in that Word, promised to give visions in the
`last days'; not for a new rule of faith, but for the comfort of His people,
and to correct those who err from Bible truth."—Early Writings, p. 78.
The fruitage of Ellen White's work. The noble Christian charac-

ter of Ellen White was affirmed by many of those who knew her. (If
available, see Arthur L. White's biography entitled Ellen G. White, 6
volumes. These volumes are a rich source of information regarding
the beginning and development of the Advent movement, as well as of
the work of Ellen White.)
The fruitage of Ellen White's work is demonstrated in two ways: (1) the
unique growth of the Seventh-day Adventist work and institutions around
the world and (2) the spiritual impact of her writings on millions of people.
69
Friday February 19
FURTHER STUDY: Study the ways in which later inspired prophets
served as authoritative interpreters of earlier prophets: Rom. 10:5-10
(compare Lev. 18:5; Ezek. 20:11, 13, 21; Neh. 9:29; Deut. 30:11-14);
Rom. 1:16, 17 (compare Heb. 2:4); 1 Cor. 9:9 (compare Deut. 25:4);
Gal. 4:22-24 (compare the Old Testament account of Gen. 15-17; 21);
Matt. 24:15 (compare Dan. 8:13; 9:27); Acts 2:17-21 (compare Joel
2:28-32); Acts 2:25-28 (compare Ps. 16:8-11).
Excerpts of Ellen White's testimony below tell us how the Holy Spirit
enabled her and the early pioneers to arrive at true doctrines:
"We are to be established in the faith, in the light of the truth given
us in our early experience. . . . We would search the Scriptures with
much prayer, and the Holy Spirit would bring the truth to our minds.
Sometimes whole nights would be devoted to searching the Scriptures,
and earnestly asking God for guidance. . . . The power of God would
come upon me, and I was enabled clearly to define what is truth and
what is error.
"As the points of our faith were thus established, our feet were placed
upon a solid foundation. We accepted the truth point by point, under the
demonstration of the Holy Spirit. I would be taken off in vision, and
explanations would be given me."—Gospel Workers, p. 302.
1. In the lesson it was mentioned that one of the most remarkable
aspects of Ellen White's writing ministry was the fact that she
wrote on an immense variety of topics. List some of those and
tell why or how they have been a blessing to the church.
2. In what ways can we share Ellen White's books with others who
would benefit by their special inspiration and guidance? Here is
a suggestion: Many find that the best way to share this truth
with others is the taste and see method. Share with someone a
book written by Ellen G. White, such as The Desire ofAges, The
Ministry of Healing, Christ's Object Lessons, Steps to Christ,
or whatever may be available where you live. When presenting
the book, give a warm, personal testimony as to the blessing you
have received by reading it and following its principles.
TERM FOR REVIEW: Spirit of Prophecy. This refers to the manifesta-

tion of the Holy Spirit in the gift that enables the prophets to speak and
write for God (see 1 Cor. 12:7-11).
SUMMARY: Seventh-day Adventists believe that the genuineness of a

professed prophet can be determined by the application of the tests
given in Scripture. When these tests are applied to Ellen White, she is
found to be an inspired modern prophet.
70
MO,
The Missing Money, Part 2
Told to Traci Lemon by Delores Thomas Morris
In her haste to arrive at work on time, Delores accidentally left a

bag on the bus—a bag containing her passport and two weeks'
wages! She tried to catch the bus but was too late. She took another
bus to the bus company's headquarters, where she checked in the
lost-and-found office, but no bag had been turned in. Even her
Christian co-workers warned her that she probably would never
see her money or passport again. But Delores felt confident that
God would provide according to His will, if only she had faith.
Delores returned home that evening, still praying that God would
watch over her passport and money. At 7:30 the phone rang. The
caller introduced himself as Larry. "I have your bag with your
money and your passport," he said. "Don't be afraid; the money is
all there."
Relief swept over Delores. Thank You, Jesus, she prayed si-
lently. I knew You could do it if it was in Your plan for me.
"But . . ." Larry interrupted her thoughts. "I need to tell
you"—the voice paused for a long moment before continuing. "I
was strongly tempted to spend your money. Four times I tried to
spend it, but every time the devil told me to spend it, Jesus told me
No. You must have a lot of faith," he said.
"I do," Delores answered. "And so can you. You mentioned
Jesus; are you a Christian?"
"Yes," Larry answered. "Two years ago God saved me from a
life of drug addiction. You name it, I used it. Jesus has been so
good to me. That's why I can't keep your money.
"Do you remember those stickers you have in your bag—the
ones that say 'I love Jesus'? When I saw them I knew you were a
Christian. I couldn't keep your money—not any of it. I can't mess
with Jesus. He kept reminding me how much He loves me. I
couldn't do this to Him—or to you."
"Yes," Delores answered. "God knew my money and my pass-
port would be in good hands with you."
Larry delivered the bag to Delores as he had promised. They
talked about the difference Jesus has made in their lives. Delores
invited Larry to worship in a Seventh-day Adventist church. Larry
now is attending church and has recommitted his life to God.
Delores Thomas Morris lives and works in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Traci Lemon is editorial assistant of Mission.

71
Guide for the Last Days
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Ps. 119; Isa. 50:4; 60:1-3;
Dan. 7-12; Eph. 6:17; Rev. 10:1, 2, 7.
MEMORY TEXT: "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).
KEY THOUGHT: Bible writers did not always comprehend the full
importance of the message given through them. Some things in the
Bible are reserved especially for readers living in the last days.
BIBLE STUDY INVOLVES COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOLY

SPIRIT. An attitude of humility, earnestness, diligence, and expect-
ancy greatly enhances our communion with God through the study of
His Word. His sure promise is that "you will seek Me and find Me,
when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jer. 29:13, NKJV).
Studying God's Word involves intimate communication with the Holy
Spirit, who promised to be with us and to guide our minds. Some may
shy away from any suggestion that we can be taught individually by
the Holy Spirit. But we can be. The same Holy Spirit who inspired the
Bible is always ready to help us grow strong in Christ and to guide us
"into all truth" (John 16:13).
WORD FOR THE WEEK: Illumination. Do not confuse this word

with inspiration. Although both of these words are the result of the
work of the Holy Spirit, illumination focuses on the light the Holy Spirit
sheds on the Inspired Writings to help us understand God's revealed
will for us all.
72
Sunday February 21
SOMETIMES THE PROPHETS DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEY WERE WRITING (Dan. 7-10).
The seventh chapter of Daniel presents a prophetic vision that

covers the major events of history in relationship to God's people from
the time of Daniel until the establishment of Christ's everlasting domin-
ion on earth.
What did Daniel do when he could not understand the vision? Dan.
7:15, 16.
Even though a more detailed explanation was given, verse 28 indi-

cates that Daniel still remained troubled. Two years later he was given
another vision. It was designed to increase his understanding of the
revelations that had been disturbing him. (See Daniel 8:17.) As a result
of this more detailed explanation, undoubtedly, Daniel understood
more fully what was to take place in the future. But the last verse of
chapter 8 relates that he was so astonished at the vision that he fainted
and was sick for several days.
What does chapter 9, which was written about thirteen years later,
demonstrate concerning Daniel's continuing difficulty with fully
understanding the visions?
Daniel's difficulty revolved around understanding the time factor

involved and its relationship to the seventy-year period of captivity
predicted by Jeremiah. He began to seek the answer by fasting and
prayer. While he was praying, the angel Gabriel stood by his side,
announcing that he was there to give Daniel "skill and understanding."
The angel particularly discussed Daniel's problem concerning the pe-
riod of time "determined" upon the Jewish people.
Three years later, Daniel remained so troubled about the length of
time involved that chapter 10 informs us he fasted three weeks because
of his lack of understanding. Once again he was given a vision in which
he was assured of Heaven's interest in helping him comprehend what
he needed to understand.
Why do you think an intelligent man like Daniel, gifted with

divine wisdom, was having so much difficulty with what Christ
and Gabriel were telling him regarding the visions? How do you
react when, in your Bible study, you find some things difficult to
understand? Why do you suppose you respond this way?
73
Monday February 22
DANIEL'S DIFFICULTY EXPLAINED (Dan. 11, 12).
Chapters 11 and 12 contain a brief outline of events from Daniel's

time to the second coming of Christ, particularly those events that the
text suggests are to be sealed till the "time of the end."
What do we find Daniel admitting in 12:8?
The understanding of these events was sealed until the time of the
end (verse 9), since it was impossible to grasp them fully until the last
days. Daniel was told, "Go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and
will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days" (verse 13, NKJV).
Instead of satisfying Daniel's request for complete understanding

of the visions, what words of encouragement does God offer to Daniel?
Dan. 12: 9-13.
There was no way Daniel could understand fully the events re-
vealed and recorded in the last six chapters of his book. But he was
encouraged to believe that the time would come "at the end of the
days" when the things he had been so troubled about would be un-
sealed and made meaningful to those who would be guided by the Holy
Spirit in understanding what he had written.
When was the prophecy "unsealed?" Rev. 10:1, 2, 7.
"Daniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days. John sees the
little book unsealed. Then Daniel's prophecies have their proper place
in the first, second, and third angels' messages to be given to the world.
The unsealing of the little book was the message in relation to time. The
books of Daniel and the Revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the
other a revelation; one a book sealed, the other a book opened."
—Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, vol 7, p. 971.
After doing everything possible to determine objectively what a
Bible author is trying to say, we need to realize that the Scriptures "are
written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come"
(1 Cor. 10:11).
The Holy Spirit sometimes intends a prophetic passage to have more
than one application. Jesus Himself had two applications in mind in
Matthew 24. Whenever a later inspired Bible writer is led by the Holy
Spirit to convey what God intended in the writings of an earlier inspired
Bible writer, we have clear authority for understanding it in this sense.
74
Tuesday February 23
HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT'S GUIDANCE PREVENTS US FROM
MISINTERPRETING THE SCRIPTURES (2 Tim. 2:15; Isa. 8:20).
The Holy Spirit is not given as a shortcut to eliminate the necessity

of careful and methodical Bible study. But when we apply ourselves as
a "workman that needeth not to be ashamed," the Holy Spirit helps us
to rightly divide, or properly understand, the Word of Truth. (See 2 Tim.
2:15.)
To approach the study of the Bible with the human mind unaided by
the Holy Spirit is to open the way for a spirit not of God to lead us
astray. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are inclined to
misinterpret the Scriptures. If the Word of God is opened without
reverence and prayer, the study of the Bible can lead to faulty under-
standing and to unbelief.
"A true knowledge of the Bible can be gained only through the aid of
that Spirit by whom the word was given. And in order to gain this
knowledge we must live by it. All that God's word commands, we are to
obey. All that it promises, we may claim. The life which it enjoins is the
life that, through its power, we are to live. Only as the Bible is thus
held can it be studied effectively."—Education, p. 189.
These two important factors must be kept in mind as we follow the
guidance of the Holy Spirit in applying biblical passages:
First, we must be able to distinguish between universal principles
and local applications of these principles. Certain portions of the Scrip-
tures were written to meet particular circumstances and specific in-
stances. The principles behind the specific applications expressed in
these portions are universal in their scope; that is, they apply in all
circumstances, for all time.
Second, we must be able to relate a particular Bible passage to times
and circumstances today. We need to be able to see the relationship of
truths or teachings in the passage to the Scriptures as a whole. Any one
passage may emphasize a certain portion of a Bible teaching without
giving all the other parts that must be understood to grasp the truth
being discussed in its wholeness. Before drawing definite conclusions
concerning the nature of a revealed truth, it is essential to study it in the
light of the entire Bible teaching on the subject. In doing so we must
recognize that the Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself.
What does the Bible tell us about new light that contradicts old
light? Isa. 8:20.
For reflection: How does the Holy Spirit safeguard your careful,
comparative Bible study against misinterpreting or misunderstanding
a Bible teaching? What valuable lessons has this taught you?
75
A LIGHT ON OUR PATH (Ps. 119:105, 130; John 14:24; 16:13; Isa.
50:4).
What does the Word of God do to enlighten our way in a world

darkened by sin? Ps. 119:105, 130.
"As we search its pages, light enters the heart, illuminating the mind.
By this light we see what we ought to be."—My Life Today, p. 27.
What part does the Holy Spirit play in this illumination? John
16:13.
"The Comforter is called 'the Spirit of truth.' His work is to define

and maintain the truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth,
and thus He becomes the Comforter. There is comfort and peace in the
truth, but no real peace or comfort can be found in falsehood. . . .
Through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind, and im-
presses truth upon the heart. Thus He exposes error, and expels it from
the soul."—The Desire of Ages, p. 671.
"No man can have insight into the Word of God without the illumina-
tion of the Holy Spirit. If we will but come into the right position before
God, His light will shine upon us in rich, clear rays."—Ellen G. White
Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1152.
What do the following texts reveal about Christ's communication of

Heaven's truth?
John 14:24
Isa. 50:4
How can we receive illumination from the Holy Spirit as Jesus did?
"From hours spent with God He came forth morning by morning, to

bring the light of heaven to men. Daily He received a fresh baptism of
the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened
Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with
grace, that He might impart to others."—Christ's Object Lessons, p.
139.
How is it possible in this hectic life to emulate our Lord's

example of daily receiving a "fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit"?
Share some helpful suggestions with your class.
76
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (Rev. 18:1; Matt. 5:14; Isa. 60:1-3).
Isaiah 60:1-3 indicates that, in these times, when "darkness shall

cover the earth and gross darkness the people," God's people will bring
the glorious light of the gospel of Christ to the entire world. (See
Matthew 5:14; Revelation 18:1.)
What two challenges does God give to His people? Isa. 60:1.
1. ARISE: What does that indicate? Many are caught up in a deadly

Laodicean sleeping sickness (see Rev. 3:17) and are not measuring up
to all that Christ makes possible.
2. SHINE: What does it mean for us to shine and for His glory to be
seen upon us? (Isa. 60:1, 2). We do not shine; Christ shines in and
through us. This means that we reflect the glorious light of His charac-
ter to those about us. The following illustration from a newly published
book, Martyrs: Contemporary Writers on Modern Lives of Faith, ed.
by Susan Bergman (San Francisco, Calif.: Harper) helps us understand
how God can work when people see the character of Christ shining in
our lives.
In 1995, Steve Saint moved to Ecuador with his wife and children to
establish an airport and hospital for the Huaroni people. Steve's father,
Nate, was one of five missionaries who was martyred in January of
1956 in his attempt to take the gospel to those who have commonly
been called the Auca Indians. Steve recently learned some of the
details of the fate of the five martyrs when he became a good friend of
the now-converted Indians who killed the missionaries.
The five attackers are Christians today. Knowing that they had
nothing to fear from Steve, they openly told him the story of the slaying
of the five missionaries. As they attacked with hardwood spears, the
Aucas were fearful that they would be killed, because the missionaries
had guns to protect themselves from wild animals. One of the mission-
aries did fire a pistol in the air when he realized what was happening, but
the five had agreed among themselves that they would rather be killed
than kill any of the Aucas. As the Indians discussed their raid with
Steve, they repeatedly asked, "Why didn't the men use their guns to
defend themselves?" This all-important question became the major
factor in later allowing missionary Elizabeth Elliot and Steve's aunt,
Rachel Saint, to come live with them, begin medical missionary work,
and finally convert them.
For reflection: Have you ever experienced a time when your witness
for Christ brought you loss by the world's standards or put you in
danger? How did your "loss" influence others to accept Jesus?
77
Friday February 26
FURTHER STUDY: Carefully and prayerfully study chapter 37 in
The Great Controversy entitled "The Scriptures a Safeguard." If you
do not have a copy of the book, the following texts progress through
the chapter: Isa. 8:20; Rev. 14:9-11; 2 Tim. 4:3; Prov. 3:13; 16:25;
Mark 12:24; John 7:17; Ps. 119:11, 18, 99, 104; Isa. 59:19; John
14:26; Eph. 5:14-16; Jer. 17:8.
Note: "A device of the enemy." "We are to pray for divine enlight-
enment, but at the same time we should be careful how we receive
everything termed new light. We must beware lest, under cover of
searching for new truth, Satan shall divert our minds from Christ and
the special truths for this time. I have been shown that it is the device
of the enemy to lead minds to dwell upon some obscure or unimpor-
tant point, something that is not fully revealed or is not essential to our
salvation. This is made the absorbing theme, the 'present truth,' when
all their investigations and suppositions only serve to make matters
more obscure than before, and to confuse the minds of some who
ought to be seeking for oneness through sanctification of the truth."
—Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 49.
1. What have you found in the lesson that outlines in a practical
way how to make sure that it is the Holy Spirit that illuminates
our study of the Bible?
2. What is the relationship between illumination and inspiration?

What is the difference?
3. What differences are there between the work of the Holy Spirit
in Old Testament times and His work in New Testament times?
4. What are some biblical passages that you consider particu-

larly helpful in facing Satan's last-day deceptions?
SUMMARY: Although some of the Bible writers were not able to

anticipate how their writings would apply to the last days, the Holy
Spirit guides us in making proper applications so we might be prepared
for Satan's great masterpiece of deception.
78
■111116.
Songs in the Dungeon
Thony Escotto
The days of Paul and Silas are not as far removed as we might I
think.
Julio and Carlos are two teenage boys living in Cuba. Like Paul
and Silas, they are not afraid to share their faith with others. The
boys often distribute Christian literature in their city, including
Bible lessons, church invitations, and program guides for the Spanish-
language Your Story Hour (Tu Historia Preferida), a half-hour
radio broadcast featuring dramatized Bible stories.
One day when they were about twelve years old, the boys were
passing out invitations to evangelistic meetings in their church
when two military police approached them and demanded to know
what they were doing. "We're giving away these brochures," the
boys said, showing the men their papers.
"Do you have government permission to pass out this subver-
sive material?" the soldiers demanded to know.
"No sir, we do not," the boys replied politely.
The men arrested the two boys, handcuffed them, and took them
to the police station, where they were locked in a cell to await
transport to a prison for young delinquents.
Meanwhile, the boys' parents began to worry about them. It
was time to go to church, and they were not home yet. Their
mother grew alarmed and began searching for the boys. She asked
people on the street if they had seen her sons. Finally someone who
had witnessed the boys' arrest told her where they were. But when
she arrived at the police station, her sons were not there. She was
sent from one precinct to another until finally she arrived at the
correctional prison for delinquents.
A guard led her down a long hallway. From the far end of the
hall she heard young voices singing a familiar song:
"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine . . ."
She rushed to the cell and found her sons still singing. She
hugged them and listened as they told her about their exciting day
that began with witnessing and ended in prison!
The boys' experience with prison did not dampen their enthusi-
asm for evangelism. As they walked out of the prison, they pulled
their pamphlets and invitations from their pockets and began pass-
ing them out again!
Thony Escotto is a writer and translator for Tu Historia Preferida, the

Spanish Your Story Hour, an independent, interfaith radio broadcast
originating in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Produced h\ the (iencral Lonlerence Olike or Mission Awareness

I: mail gornission a compu,cr\ c.eom V
79
Lesson 10 February 27—March 5
Principles of Prophetic
Interpretation
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Rev. 1:1-3; Matt.
24; Joel 2:28-32; Isa. 61:1-3; Zech. 3, 4; Dan. 2:44; 4:17; 5:21.
MEMORY TEXT: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy;

whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth
in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your
hearts" (2 Peter 1:19).
KEY THOUGHT: Prophecy is God's answer to our human questions

about the uncertain future. It demonstrates that the God who knows
the end from the beginning is in control in our world and in our lives.
But there are false prophecies and false interpretations of prophecy.
This lesson gives some guidelines for understanding prophecy and
applying it correctly.
UNDERSTANDING PROPHECY. "Surely the Lord God does

nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets"
(Amos 3:7, NKJV). But in giving the prophets insights that would be
appropriate to later times and to the present, and that would reflect the
different aspects of life today, it was necessary to use symbols and
figures that are sometimes difficult to understand. Frequently, the
Bible itself explains the meanings of the symbols used. There are keys
of interpretation that apply to prophecies, such as a day representing a
year (see Ezek. 4:6). The safest approach to prophetic interpretation is
to find the key to understanding in the writings of some other inspired
writer. "The Bible is its own expositor."—Education, 190.
80
Sunday February 28
INTERPRETING PROPHECY (2 Pet. 1:19-21; Matt. 24:11, 24; Joel
2:28-32; Isa. 61:1-3).
A general principle of Bible interpretation is that a passage must be

understood according to the plain, obvious, and literal meaning, unless
a figure or symbol clearly is used. Some prophetic sections of the Bible
employ symbolic and figurative descriptions that are an indication of
future applications. In such cases, there is a danger of distorting the
meaning of these passages.
What Bible rule makes it clear that prophecy should not be given
private interpretations? 2 Pet. 1:19-21.
"How can we know when a particular historical incident may rightly

be viewed as having a counterpart in a later event, or a prophetic
statement as having a dual application? The answer is: When an in-
spired writer makes such an application of it. To go beyond that which
is clearly set forth by Inspiration is to enter the realm of personal
opinion. . . . The safe rule in Biblical interpretation is to compare
scripture with scripture. In no other way can we be secure against the
fanciful, even grotesque, explanations that some have given to OT
prophecies."—SDA Bible Commentary, vol.1, pp. 1018, 1019.
How did Jesus warn about false prophets and distorted prophecies
in the last days? Matt. 24:11, 24.
Prophecies that have dual applications, such as Matthew 24, are

likely to be misunderstood and misapplied. One reason is that some
readers of the Word of God fail to recognize the principle of dual
application, thus focusing on one application and ignoring the other.
Illustrations of prophecies that have dual application:

Joel 2:28-32—Partially fulfilled in Acts 2:16-21, but points to
events that are still to take place in the final "day of the Lord" (Joel
2:1, 30, 31). (See also The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 54, 55.)
Isaiah 61:1-3—Applied by Jesus to His ministry in Luke 4:16-21.
Significantly, He left out the words "the day of vengeance of our God"
(Isa. 61:2, KJV), for those words pointed forward to a fulfillment just
before His second advent.
For reflection: What rule of interpetation and method of

studying the Bible will safeguard us from believing erroneous
explanations about Bible prophecy?
81
Monday March 1
INTERPRETING DANIEL (Dan. 1-12).
The book of Daniel is apocalyptic prophecy. The word apocalyptic

is derived from the Greek word apokalupsis, which means a "revela-
tion." Apocalyptic prophecy provides special revelations from God
based on inspired visions and dreams given to the prophet that employ
much symbolism. Symbols that represent reality depict events to occur
or messages to be given. The focus of apocalyptic prophecy is on the
end of time. An outline of history from the prophet's day until the end
often is provided, along with spiritual encouragement for God's people
in every era. But the main purpose is to concentrate our attention on
events at the end of human history, when earthly nations will be des-
troyed and the kingdom of Christ established for eternity.
What major truth is presented in Daniel? Dan. 2:44; 4:17; 5:21.
The true philosophy of history is that God is in control. "To under-

stand these things—to understand that 'righteousness exalteth a na-
tion;' that 'the throne is established by righteousness' and ùpholden
by mercy' (Proverbs 14:34; 16:12; 20:28); to recognize the outworking of
these principles in the manifestation of His power who `removeth kings,
and setteth up kings' (Daniel 2: 21)—this is to understand the philoso-
phy of history. In the word of God only is this clearly set forth. Here it is
shown that the strength of nations, as of individuals, is not found in the
opportunities or facilities that appear to make them invincible; it is not
found in their boasted greatness. It is measured by the fidelity with
which they fulfill God's purpose."—Education, p. 175.
What two major divisions are evident in the book of Daniel? What
are some differences and similarities that characterize each division?
a. Daniel 1-6
b. Daniel 7-12
The last section of Daniel focuses on outlining prophecies that

center in the final victory of Christ and His people over Satan in the
great controversy that has been raging since the inception of sin.
For reflection: How can you let God have more control in your life?
82
Tuesday March 2
INTERPRETING REVELATION: PART ONE (Rev. 1-22, An
Overview).
Revelation, like Daniel, is apocalyptic prophecy. Much of the book

of Revelation directs our attention beyond history to the end of time.
All Scripture comes to a focus in Revelation. The major prophetic,
doctrinal, and spiritual teachings of the Bible are brought together in
this book.
The theme of the book of Revelation centers in Christ. Kenneth

Strand expresses it as follows: "The theme of the book appears to be
twofold: the promise of Christ's coming in victory at the eschatological
climax, and an assurance of God's presence even now."—Interpreting
the Book of Revelation (Naples, Fla.: Ann Arbor Publishers, 1979), p. 43.
Ellen White, whose writings dwell on Revelation, urged Christians to

give their best attention to this book. "The solemn messages that have
been given in their order in the Revelation are to occupy the first place
in the minds of God's people. Nothing else is to be allowed to engross
our attention."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 302. "When we
as a people understand what this book means to us, there will be seen
among us a great revival. We do not understand fully the lessons that
it teaches."—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 113.
The structure of Revelation. The first half of the book parallels
the second half, in inverse order, as diagramed below:
A. Prologue-1:1-11
B. Church militant-1:12-3:22
C. 24 elders/4 living creatures praise God;
Preparation for judgment-4:1-8:1
HISTORY OF CHURCH D. Judgments; beasts attack-8:2-13:18
E. 144,000 sing a new song-14:1-5
F. 3 angels' messages of
warning-14:6-13
CENTRAL THEME OF REVELATION: CHRIST COMES TO EARTH
—14:14
F'. 3 angels' harvest message-
14:14-20
E'. 144,000 sing song of Moses and
Lamb-15:1-4
LAST DAY D'. 7 plagues, beasts judged-15:5-18:24
C'. 24 elders/living creatures praise God;
Final judgment-19:1-20:15
B'. Church triumphant-21:1-22:5
A'. Epilogue-22:6-21.
83
Wednesday March 3
INTERPRETING REVELATION: PART TWO (Rev. 1:3; 22:7,12, 20).
Several passages in the book itself give us special clues to under-

standing the book. That it is named "Revelation" indicates that God
wants us to study and understand it. In fact, Revelation 1:3 informs us
that God has placed special blessings on those who study this pro-
phetic book.
There are seven "beatitudes" in Revelation. Putting them together

gives us an overview of the book. Become familiar with these by
completing the following exercise. God especially blesses those who:
Rev. 1:3
Rev. 14:13
Rev. 16.15
Rev. 19.9
Rev. 20.6
Rev. 22:7
Rev. 22:14
The number seven appears frequently in Revelation. There are

seven spirits, stars, candlesticks, churches, horns, eyes, angels, seals,
trumpets, thunders, heads, crowns, plagues, golden vials, mountains,
and kings. Seven represents completeness. The seven blessings com-
prise the fullness of the grace God provides His people.
The series of seven churches in chapters two and three started with
seven literal churches in Asia Minor. These seven messages, then,
extended beyond these local churches to represent the period of church
history from the time of the apostles to the time when Jesus comes. The
seven seals are symbolic of God's sealing work through the history of
the church and the final sealing of God's people that takes place before
Jesus comes. The seven trumpets represent the judgments of God on
the powers of earth and end with three woes—the last of which
culminates in the final judgment (see Rev. 11:14-19).
Revelation 12 presents an overview of the great controversy that
began with the angels in heaven and describes Satan's final attack
upon God's remnant people. Chapters 13-19 largely focus on proph-
ecies yet to be fulfilled in the last moments of time. Revelation 20
leads us into the millennium, and chapters 21 and 22 climax with
God's people in the new earth.
For reflection: The last words of Jesus recorded in the Bible

are found in Revelation 22. What emphasis is repeated in verses
7, 12, and 20? Why is this message meaningful to you?
84
Thursday March 4
OTHER APOCALYPTIC PROPHECIES (Zech. 1-3; 14).
Although the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation form the major

apocalyptic passages in the Bible, they are not the only ones. Many
apocalyptic passages can be found in Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Zechariah,
Malachi, Matthew, 2 Thessalonians, and other books. Probably the
apocalyptic prophecies most neglected among Adventists are those
found in Zechariah. Much of what is recorded in the book pertains to
the last days as implied by such statements as the following: "Zechariah's
vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with peculiar force to the
experience of God's people in the closing scenes of the great day of
atonement. The remnant church will then be brought into great trial and
distress. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of
Jesus, will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts."—Prophets and
Kings, p. 587. Zechariah contains a wealth of instruction and encour-
agement for the church in the last days.
Study the following visions in Zechariah to find possible applica-

tions to our time:
1:8-17—compare with Revelation 6
2:1-13—compare with Revelation 11:1; 21:3
3:1-10—compare with Revelation 14:1-6
4:1-14—compare with Revelation 11:4-12
14:3, 4--compare with Revelation 20:8, 9; 21:2, 3
14:12—compare with Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10
Conditional prophecies. Many of the prophecies found in Zechariah,

as well as in other Old Testament books, were conditional upon Israel's
fulfillment of the requirements necessary to Christ's setting up His
Messianic kingdom in Jerusalem at the time of His first advent. "If the
[Jewish] nation had been faithful to its trust . . . the whole earth would have
awaited the coming of the Messiah with eager expectancy. He would have
come, He would have died, and would have risen again. Jerusalem would
have become a great missionary center (see Christ's Object Lessons, p. 232),
and the earth would have been set ablaze with the light of truth."—SDA Bible
Commentary, vol. 4, pp. 29, 30. Because the people never did accept Him in
the way that was necessary, "the predictions of national honor and glory . ..
could not be fulfilled. Yet, since God's purposes are immutable . . . success
must and will come—through Israel after the spirit."—SDA Bible Commen-
tary, vol. 4, p. 34.
85
Friday March 5
FURTHER STUDY: "Let Daniel speak, let the Revelation speak,
and tell what is truth. But whatever phase of the subject is presented,
uplift Jesus as the center of all hope."—Testimonies to Ministers, p.
118. Our study of last-day events is to be Christ-centered, not event-
centered. How would you go about finding Christ at the center of
Daniel 2 and Revelation 13?
"God's Spirit has illuminated every page of Holy Writ, but there are
those upon whom it makes little impression, because it is imperfectly
understood. When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false
theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting
sand. They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of
bitterness. . . . There is need of a much closer study of the word of God;
especially should Daniel and the Revelation have attention as never
before in the history of our work. . . . When the books of Daniel and
Revelation are better understood, believers will have an entirely differ-
ent religious experience. They will be given such glimpses of the open
gates of heaven that heart and mind will be impressed with the character
that all must develop in order to realize the blessedness which is to be
the reward of the pure in heart. . . . The perils of the last days are upon
us, and in our work we are to warn the people of the danger they are in.
Let not the solemn scenes which prophecy has revealed be left un-
touched."—Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 112-118.
1. Study Hosea 11:1 and Matthew 2:14, 15. Then discuss the
dual applications concerning God calling Israel, His son,
out of Egypt, and calling Jesus, His Son, out of Egypt as
well.
2. What two or three misapplications of prophecy in the Christian

world can you call to mind? What is the best way to reach
out to those who firmly believe these misapplications?
WORD FOR REVIEW: Eschatology. This word pertains to the

study of last things or last-day events as outlined in Bible prophecy.
SUMMARY: Prophecy is God's reassuring answer to us about our

troubled times and uncertain future. God is and will be in control of
our lives and the affairs of this world. Through the guidance of His
Spirit, He gives us helpful guidelines for understanding and applying
prophecy correctly so that we may not be deceived.
86
The Sabbath-keeping Donkey, Part 1
Rae Patterson
"You are not going to church today!" Ivan ordered. "You are
going to work with me in the garden!" He was determined to put a
stop to this Sabbath-keeping nonsense.
Lidia winced as she heard her husband's words. She had been
attending evangelistic meetings in the city of Dobritch, Bulgaria,
and was convinced that God wanted her to keep the Sabbath day
holy. For several weeks she had managed to slip away to church
without her husband noticing. But earlier that week Ivan had told
her that on Saturday they would go to his parents' house outside of
town to work in the garden.
All week Lidia had tried to reason with Ivan. She told him
about the blessing of keeping God's day holy, but he would not
listen. She prayed that something would happen so she would not
have to work on Saturday. But Saturday arrived, and Ivan urged
her to get ready to go.
"All right," Lidia answered calmly, "I will go to your parents'
house today, but I will not work in the garden."
"If you do not work, then you will not eat," Ivan growled. He
was sure that his parents could convince Lidia that her new beliefs
were foolish.
The couple rode the bus to the edge of town where they kept
their donkey and cart. They hitched up the donkey and set out for
Ivan's parents' home. It was almost noon when they arrived. As
Lidia helped her mother-in-law prepare lunch, Ivan told his par-
ents of Lidia's foolish new idea that God wanted people to waste a
good work day by resting on Saturday. When Ivan and his parents
sat down to eat, Lidia excused herself, knowing that if she ate she
would be expected to work.
Suddenly they heard a loud commotion outside. "Come quickly!"
a neighbor shouted. "Something has hap-
pened to your donkey!" Ivan ran to the
front door and looked out. He saw several
of his neighbors standing over his donkey,
which was lying in the middle of the road.
Rae Patterson is the assistant director of

the General Conference Office of Mission
Awareness.
Produced by the General Con f2rcncc Office of Nlission Awareness

E-mail: ,omission r compuserve.com
87
Lesson 11 March 6-12
Understanding Biblical
Literature
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Exod. 25; Ps. 19; 80:7-11;
Matt. 13:34, 44-46; Isa. 40:26; 2 Cor. 5:7, 9; 10:1-13; Heb. 9:1-9;
Rev. 6:1-8.
MEMORY TEXT: "They that seek the Lord understand all

things" (Proverbs 28:5).
KEY THOUGHT: Because literary style strongly affects interpreta-

tion, it is extremely helpful if the Bible student is aware of the principles
that apply to the interpretation of some of the literary devices such as
poetry, symbols, types, allegories (symbolic stories), and parables.
BE AWARE OF WHAT SYMBOLS MEANT TO THOSE USING

THEM. Biblical writers use symbols and expressions known to their
audiences, but in order to understand them, we need to become ac-
quainted with the meaning they attach to the language they use. Here
several principles of interpretation could be useful. First, the language
should be interpreted literally unless there is clear contextual evidence
that symbols are being used. The parable of the good Samaritan
mentions a donkey (Luke 10:34, NIV). In some parts of the Bible,
kings rode on donkeys. Does it mean that this man was a king? Of
course not! This was his means of transportation, and it does not have
any specific symbolic meaning in the story. Second, the meaning of a
symbol must be determined by the Bible itself. Third, one is to deter-
mine the central truth each parable or type intends to teach and avoid
giving a particular meaning to every detail of the story or narrative.
88
Sunday March 7
HEBREW POETRY (Ps. 19; 34:4; 37:21; 38:1; Isa. 40:26).
In the Scriptures "there is poetry which has called forth the wonder
and admiration of the world. In glowing beauty, in sublime and solemn
majesty, in touching pathos, it is unequaled by the most brilliant pro-
ductions of human genius."—Counsels to Teachers, p. 429.
For examples of beauty, nobility, and majesty in Hebrew

poetry, read Isaiah 40:26 and Psalm 19. What are some expres-
sions that catch your attention in these poems?
Hebrew poetry does not depend on regular accent and rhyme but on
the repetition of thoughts expressed in the verse. This is called paral-
lelism. There are three primary forms of parallelism found in the Bible:
1. Synonymous parallelism: The fundamental thought is repeated in

the second line of a couplet.
Line one— "0 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger,"
Line two— "or discipline me in your wrath" (Ps. 38:1, NIV).
Notice that rebuke is defined in the parallel line as a disciplinary
action. Both lines express the same thought in slightly different lan-
guage. Comparing the two lines makes the interpretation of the verse
easier.
2. Antithetical or contrasted parallelism: The thought of the first
line is explained by its contrast or reversal in the second line.
Line one—"The wicked borrow and do not repay,"
Line two—"but the righteous give generously" (Ps. 37:21). The con-
trast is between the wicked and the righteous and their different inner
dispositions toward others. Notice also that while the wicked have to
borrow, the righteous have enough to share generously with others.
3. Synthetic or constructive parallelism: The thought of the first
line is completed, enlarged, or intensified in the second line.
Line one—"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; "
Line two—"He delivered me from all my fears" (Ps. 34:4).
The first line describes the psalmist seeking the Lord and the Lord
listening to him but does not tell us what his concern is. This is done in
the second line: The psalmist is possessed by fear produced possibly
by the problems confronting him.
The Psalms show that the Lord cares for and protects us regardless
of the hardships that come our way. How do such hardships lead us to
a closer relationship with Him? Think of a character in the Bible who
experienced hardship and share with your class how the trials that he
or she faced actually brought this person closer to Christ.
89
Monday March 8
BIBLE TYPOLOGY (Dan. 8:13,14; Mal. 4:5; Matt. 11:12-14; 12:39,
40; 1 Cor. 5:7, 9; 10:1-13; Rev. 14:7).
Bible types are rooted in history yet applicable to the future. They
are realities that later Bible writers indicate apply to antitypes. For
example, see the following list of types and study the texts next to them
to discover how types meet antitypes.
Tie Antitypes
Exodus 1 Cor. 10:1-3
Elijah Mal. 4:5; Matt. 11:12-14
Passover 1 Cor. 5:7, 9
Jonah's release Matt. 12:39, 40
Day of Atonement Dan. 8:13, 14; Rev. 14:7
Interpreting Types. Not every type meets its full counterpart in the
New Testament. Some have later eschatological significance. Because
types do not apply in every detail to antitypes, it is important to take
into account the differences between the two. The only safe interpreta-
tion is to follow the lead of inspired writers. Antitypes usually are
broader in meaning and have a more vital and ultimate reality than do
types.
"Types frequently have spiritual meaning both for the times when
they were given and the future. Especially are the OT types important to
the interpretation of the NT, so that there is great loss in attempts to
separate the study of the NT from a careful exegetical and theological
exposition of the OT. Care must be exercised to differentiate between
type and prediction. Although a type has reference to the future, it is
not itself a prediction. Rather, it is recorded as historical fact without
evident reference to the future. The antitype proves to be the 'body' of
which the type was a foreshadowing."—W. G. C. Murdoch, "Interpre-
tation of Symbols, Types, Allegories, and Parables," in A Symposium
on Biblical Hermeneutics, ed. G. M. Hyde (Washington, D.C.: Re-
view and Herald, 1974), p. 214.
Of what was literal Israel a type? Rom. 2:28, 29.
"Israel was God's chosen people in the OT era. They were called to
do a special work, but failed their commission. In the NT God called
another people, who were free from ethnic restrictions. Their faith and
commitment centered in Christ. The OT promises are now fulfilled to
them who are Jews inwardly."—Murdoch, Symposium, p. 215.
90
Tuesday March 9
BIBLE SYMBOLS (Exod. 25; Heb. 9:1-9; Rev. 5:5; 6:1-8).
A religious symbol is a representation of an idea or an object that

helps an observer grasp a difficult truth. Often it teaches a particular
lesson as did the flaming sword at the Garden of Eden. There are
prophetic symbols such as those used in Daniel and Revelation and
New Testament symbols that supersede Old Testament ones such as
those used in the Communion service. Probably some of the most
fascinating prophetic symbols to Seventh-day Adventists are those
used in the earthly sanctuary service that symbolized events and serv-
ices that would take place in the heavenly sanctuary.
What do the following furnishings of the sanctuary symbolize?

Altar of Burnt Offering—Rom. 12:1
Laver—Titus 3:5, 6
Candlesticks—John 8:12
Table of Shewbread—John 6:48
Altar of Incense—Rev. 8:3, 4
Ark of the Covenant—Heb. 4:16
"The matchless splendor of the earthly tabernacle reflected to hu-

man vision the glories of that heavenly temple where Christ our fore-
runner ministers for us before the throne of God. The abiding place of
the King of kings, . . . filled with the glory of the eternal throne, where
seraphim, its shining guardians, veil their faces in adoration, could find,
in the most magnificent structure ever reared by human hands, but a
faint reflection of its vastness and glory. Yet important truths concern-
ing the heavenly sanctuary and the great work there carried forward for
man's redemption were taught by the earthly sanctuary and its serv-
ices."—The Great Controversy, p. 414.
Interpreting symbols. No symbol should ever be treated in such a

way that it is made to contradict the plain teachings of the Bible. In the
interpretation of symbols, some details may be incidental and of no
particular significance. In defining the meaning of a symbol, study all
other Bible passages that use the same symbol. There is a possibility
that a symbol could have more than one meaning. For example, both
Christ and Satan are referred to as "lions" (Rev. 5:5; 1 Pet. 5:8 ). In those
cases, the context determines the specific use of the symbol. When the
context or other inspired writers do not explain a symbol clearly, it is
best to keep silent rather than speculate as to its meaning.
91
Wednesday March 10
A PARABLE (Matt. 13:34, 44-46).
A parable is an illustration that indicates that something is like

something else. Often a common narrative or ordinary circumstance is
used to illustrate a truth. One of Jesus' favorite teaching devices was
the use of parables. (See Matt. 13:34.)
What major truth did Jesus illustrate in the parable of the hidden
treasure? Matt. 13:44.
This parable is based on a rather common occurrence in the Palestine

of Christ's day. It was a time when bank vaults did not exist. Thefts,
robberies, and invasions were frequent. Those who had valuables
worth trying to preserve often followed the custom of burying them in
their fields. If, however, the individual or individuals who knew where
the family treasure was hidden were slain or exiled, the place where the
treasure had been concealed might be forgotten.
In this parable a man was working his neighbor's field on shares.
One day he was plowing the field when, suddenly, the plow struck
something metallic. He stopped the oxen and found a small treasure
chest. As he broke it open, he recognized that it contained a fortune far
exceeding anything he ever hoped to own. But according to the laws of
that country, it wasn't his unless he owned the field. Covering it up, he
ran over to the owner's house and urged him to sell the field.
"I'm sorry, friend. It's not for sale. This property has been in my
family for generations, and I don't want to sell it." But the anxious
purchaser wouldn't take No for an answer. Finally the owner, in order to
get rid of him, placed a ridiculously high price on the field. "All right, I'll
buy it!" the discoverer of the treasure answered, rushing off to sell
everything he owned so he could complete the transaction.
Jesus did not tell the story to teach us how to take advantage of our
neighbors. The point is that when we find hidden treasure worth far
more than anything we ever expected to be ours, we joyfully give all we
have for it.
"This parable illustrates the value of the heavenly treasure, and the
effort that should be made to secure it. The finder of the treasure in the
field was ready to part with all that he had, ready to put forth untiring
labor, in order to secure the hidden riches. So the finder of heavenly
treasure will count no labor too great and no sacrifice too dear, in order
to gain the treasures of truth.
"In the parable the field containing the treasure represents the Holy
Scriptures. And the gospel is the treasure."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 104.
What is your "hidden treasure"?
92
Thursday March 11
UNDERSTANDING ALLEGORIES (Ps. 80:7-11; Gal. 4:21-31).
An allegory is a story or narrative in which several elements are

compared to and are practically equated with each other. It is usually
formed by a list of points that are easily identifiable. For example, in the
story of the Good Shepherd, the shepherd is Christ, the sheep are people
for whom He dies, and the flock represents those who follow Jesus (John
10:1-16; see A. B. Mickelsen, Interpreting the Bible [Grand Rapids,
Mich.: Eerdmans, 1963], pp. 230, 231). We have to allow the text itself
to identify the key points of the allegory that are relevant for the message
that is being communicated. Look at the following allegories:
In Psalm 80:7-11, Israel is likened to a vine transplanted from

Egypt that prospered in the Promised Land. List the different points of
comparison.
Galatians 4:21-31 illustrates the difference between the old and

new covenants. Identify the points used in the comparison.
Hagar represents the old covenant and Jerusalem; Sarah represents

the new covenant and the heavenly Jerusalem; Isaac is the son of the
promise, and Ishmael is the son of the flesh. The tension between the
two sons is the tension between justification by faith and legalism.
Paul is illustrating "the freedom Christians have in Christ's grace in
contrast to the bondage of trying to earn salvation by works. Isaac was
the child of faith, Ishmael the son of works. . . .
"In attempting to interpret an allegory we should [ 1 ] always bear in
mind the original hearers, [2] the author's reason for using the device,
and [3] the basic points of comparison stressed by him. Recognition of
the messages for the original and present readers is vital for the
interpreter."—Murdoch, Symposium, p. 218.
Understanding the Song of Solomon. This book has been con-

sidered by many commentators to be an allegory in which the basic
points of comparison would be the king/Christ and the bride/the Church.
The allegorical method of interpreting this book has resulted in specu-
lations of different types with little, if any, foundation based on the
biblical text; and here one must be very careful. We have here a beauti-
ful collection of love poems that illustrate in a very appropriate way
God's intention and will for husbands and wives. Of course, there are
many other spiritual lessons that we can learn by reading the book.
Ellen White applies Song of Solomon 6:10 to the church and 4:15 to
the Word of God (see Prophets and Kings, pp. 724, 725).
93
Friday March 12
FURTHER STUDY: Apply what you have learned in this lesson to
deciding the proper category for the following examples:
Category Exam le
A. Symbol Baptism
B. Type The vineyard in Isaiah 5
C. Allegory The Day of Atonement
D. Parable Rending of temple veil at the
time of Jesus' death
Marriage feast in Matthew 22:1-14
The marriage of a king in Psalm 45
The sacrificial lamb
(There can be honest differences of opinion as to that which is the

most appropriate category for these examples. Be prepared to give your
reasons for putting them in the category you chose.)
1. Think of biblical symbols in which color is significant. (See
Rev. 6:1-8.) What significance do they have?
2. Suppose you were teaching the parable of the lost sheep in a

country that has no sheep. What animal could you substi-
tute without violating the intent of the original?
3. After studying some of the poetic parallelisms found in the

psalms, try developing some of your own.
4. Identify the types of parallelism used in the following verses:

Prov. 15:17; Ps. 19:12; Josh. 10:12; Job 36:31; Prov. 28:13.
WORD FOR REVIEW: Parallelism. This is the most common type of

Hebrew poetry. As we learned this week, it arranges ideas in pairs in
order to explain or contrast them. (For biblical examples, see Sunday's
lesson.)
SUMMARY: Because most of the literary devices studied can be easily

misunderstood or misapplied, we must be careful to understand them in
the terms of what they meant to those who used them or to applications
made by later inspired writers. The Bible is to be understood as it plainly
reads, unless the context clearly indicates that literary devices such as
symbols and parables are involved. Although interpreting figurative
language involves careful and prayerful study, we should not pass up
the opportunity to gain the rich rewards that come from becoming
acquainted with Bible poetry and symbolism.
94
The Sabbath-keeping Donkey, Part 2
Rae Patterson
When Ivan told his wife, Lidia, that they were going to his
parents' home on Saturday to work in the garden, he hoped to put a
stop to her foolish new notion that God expected people to rest on
the Sabbath day. All week Lidia prayed that God would intervene
so she would not have to work on Sabbath. But by Sabbath morn-
ing nothing had happened to prevent their trip, and the couple
hitched their donkey to the cart and set out for the country.
While the family ate lunch, they heard a commotion outside.
Ivan ran to the front door to see what had happened. There he saw
his donkey lying in the middle of the road. Several neighbors stood
looking at the animal. "Something happened to your donkey," one
man told Ivan. "He just fell to the ground."
"How can that be?" Ivan said, examining the donkey. "He was
fine a little while ago." Ivan ordered the animal to stand, but the
donkey did not respond. Ivan jerked on the halter and shouted at
the donkey to get up, but the donkey did not move.
The neighbors pushed and tugged on the animal while Ivan
pulled at the harness. But still the donkey did not respond.
"I can't imagine what is wrong," Ivan said, shaking his head.
"We can't work in the garden without the donkey." Angry and
frustrated, Ivan finally returned to the house to finish his lunch and
mull over the problem. Lidia thanked God for providing a way to
keep the Sabbath but prayed for the donkey's safety as well.
Several times that afternoon Ivan tried to get the donkey to
stand, but nothing worked. Late in the afternoon Ivan gave up and
slumped on the front step. It would be dark soon; how would they
get back to town without the donkey?
At sunset the donkey stirred, then slowly stood to his feet.
Amazed, Ivan ran to see if the donkey was fine. Finding nothing
wrong, he hitched the cart to the donkey and called to Lidia that it
was time to go home.
Ivan had little to say as they rode home that evening. Finally
Lidia broke the silence. "I think that God made our donkey sleep
all day so that I could keep the Sabbath holy," she said.
Ivan would not admit it, but he wondered as he listened to the
donkey's brisk clip-clop on the road if Lidia might be right. Later
that week when Lidia told him that she wanted to be baptized into
the Adventist Church, he did not even try to change her mind.
Rae Patterson is the assistant director of the General Conference

Office of Mission Awareness.
Produced h\ the General Conference ( )tlice of Mission \ areness

E-mail: gomission(tt compuserve.com
95
The Great Controversy

Theme
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Gen. 3:15; Job 1, 2; Isa. 14:12-14;
Rom. 5:6-11; Phil. 2:5-11; Rev. 12.
MEMORY TEXT: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his
angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his
angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in
heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called
the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out
into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation
12:7-9).
KEY THOUGHT: A great cosmic controversy rages between

Christ and Satan over the character of God, His law, and His sover-
eignty in the universe. This conflict originated in heaven with Lucifer,
who became Satan, God's adversary. He introduced the spirit of rebel-
lion there and, later, into this world when he led Adam and Eve to sin.
This world became the theater of the universal conflict. This great
controversy between Christ and Satan and the final vindication of God
form the central theme of the Scriptures.
WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE? Why do

rosebuds exist with thorns? Why are innocent people killed in acci-
dents and natural disasters? Why do people in some parts of the world
have too much food while people in other parts are starving? Such
questions have been asked in a variety of forms ever since sin began.
Philosophers' answers have proved inadequate to provide meaningful
explanations. The question of why our world is afflicted with evil can be
adequately answered only by our acceptance of the worldview out-
lined in the Bible. Here the term worldview refers to the integrated
view of reality based on the Scriptures.
96
Sunday March 14
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY WORLDVIEW (Job 1, 2).
The grand central theme. Ellen White clearly sets forth the grand
central theme of the Bible and an analysis of how to focus on it: "[1] The
student should learn to view the word as a whole, and [2] to see the
relation of its parts. [3] He should gain a knowledge of its grand central
theme, of God's original purpose for the world, of the rise of the great
controversy, and of the work of redemption. [4] He should understand
the nature of the two principles that are contending for supremacy, and
should learn to trace their working through the records of history and
prophecy, to the great consummation. [5] He should see how this contro-
versy enters into every phase of human experience; how in every act of
life he himself reveals the one or the other of the two antagonistic
motives; and how, whether he will or not, he is even now deciding upon
which side of the controversy he will be found."—Education, p. 190
(bracketed numbers supplied).
Complete the chart below by applying the above five ways of

finding the great controversy theme to John 14:1-3.
Word as a whole
1. Don't be troubled—trust Me
Relation of its parts 2. I won't forget you—prepare
a place for you
3. I will come again—take you
Grand central theme
Two contending Troubled (result of sin)

principles Trust (result of grace)
How it enters into every

phase of human
experience
The true integrated view of reality as found in the Bible (see Job 1,
2) is centered in the great controversy theme. God would not have
created this world unless He already had worked out a solution to the
sin problem. Sin was allowed to run its course so the entire universe
might realize how devastating the cancer of sin is. At Calvary, God
gave all in order to be able to eradicate sin and its results from this
universe forever. When our world is restored to what God intended it
to be, no one will ever question God's goodness again.
97
Monday March 15
WHERE SIN BEGAN (Ezek. 28:15; Isa. 14:12-14; Rev. 12).
Before this world was created, evil originated mysteriously in the

heart of Lucifer, the most exalted of the angels in heaven. The fault was
not God's, for Lucifer was created perfect. (See Ezek. 28:15.)
Why was Lucifer dissatisfied with his status? Isa. 14:12-14.
Lucifer permitted envious thoughts to control him. He should have

recognized that as a created being he had no right to the respect and
worship accorded Deity. But instead, he harbored jealous thoughts,
even confiding them to his angel companions. He raised questions
designed to sow seeds of dissatisfaction. "Don't you think that heaven
is too tightly structured? Why do holy beings need laws? I don't think
God loves us as He claims. He's unjust and unfair."
These kinds of suggestions continued until one-third of the angels
were committed to Lucifer's rebellion. Misled by his sophistries, they
felt that he could set up a government superior to God's. With infinite
patience God attempted to explain His actions—to persuade Lucifer
and his sympathizers to abandon their disastrous course. He attempted
to make clear that heaven's laws, grounded in love, were essential to
happiness. But the rebels refused to accept God's explanations or to
respond to His entreaties. God did not at once destroy Lucifer and his
followers but gave them an opportunity to show whether their charges
against His character and law were justified. (See The Great Contro-
versy, pp. 495-499.)
What event then took place in heaven, and what happened to Satan
and the angels who followed him? What happened in connection with
the Cross? Rev. 12:7-9.
"John now presents briefly the history of the great controversy

between Satan and Christ in heaven, from its origin to the time of
Christ's victory at the cross (Rev. 12:7-9; Col. 2:14, 15), the final
casting out of Satan at that time to this earth (Rev. 12:10-12), and the
course of the controversy on earth down to the time of the end (Rev.
12:13-16; see Dan. 11:35). . . .
"Though the revelator is focusing primarily on the turning point of
the controversy reached at the time of the cross, it is proper to under-
stand the words, 'there was war in heaven,' as referring also to the time
prior to the creation of the earth, when the hostility of the dragon
began, and Lucifer aspired to be like God."—SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 7, p. 809.
98
Tuesday March 16
THE COSMIC CONFLICT EXTENDED TO EARTH (Gen. 2:16,
17; 3:15).
Following Satan's rebellion in heaven (see The Story of Redemption,

p. 19), God created Adam and Eve, placing them in the Garden of Eden.
What simple test of character did God set up through which Adam
and Eve could demonstrate their loyalty to Him? Gen. 2:16,17.
God warned our first parents that disobedience would bring death.
Satan saw this as an opportunity to tempt the first humans to eat the
forbidden fruit and join him in rebellion. Tragically and incredibly,
Adam and Eve yielded to Satan's temptation. In mercy, God spared their
lives so they might have opportunity to repent, but the results of
breaking God's law could not be reversed. Thus Christ determined to
come to this earth and die, taking the place of repentant sinners.
What happy ending did God promise to the continuing conflict

between good and evil? Gen. 3:15.
As time passed, the effects of sin became more and more evident, not
only in the human race but in all of nature. The principles promoted by
Satan bore a harvest of evil fruit. When Satan inspired human beings to
murder Jesus, the beings in other worlds saw clearly that God was right
and Satan was wrong. The inhabitants of heaven and the unfallen
worlds recognized as never before that God is love and that His law is
just and necessary.
"Now the guilt of Satan stood forth without excuse. He had revealed
his true character as a liar and a murderer . . .
"Satan's lying charges against the divine character and government
appeared in their true light. . . .
"All heaven saw His [God's] justice revealed, both in the condemna-
tion of Satan and in the redemption of man. . . ."—The Great Contro-
versy, p. 502. (See also pp. 501-504.)
As the drama nears its close, the Holy Spirit and the angels of
heaven are seeking to help us put love and loyalty to God and His truth
above life itself. The Bible makes it clear that the ultimate outcome will
be complete victory for God and the vindication of His character and
law.
For reflection: Do I realize how intently Christ and Satan are

contending for my eternal destiny? What must I do today, this
week, to be on Christ's side of the conflict?
99
Wednesday March 17
WHY DID JESUS COME? (Phil. 2:5-11; Rom. 5:6-21; John 12:31,
32).
What did Jesus give up, and what did He gain by coming to the
world and dying for us? Phil. 2:5-11.
The basic question answered by the biblical worldview is "Why

did Jesus come to this planet?" Seventh-day Adventists believe that
the cross of Jesus has universal, as well as earthly, significance. Jesus
came to live and die for our salvation. But He also came to answer
Satan's charges against the love and justice of God that were raised
before the creation of this world. After the Creation, Satan claimed that
it is impossible for created beings to keep God's law. One of the main
reasons why Jesus became a human being and lived in this world for
more than thirty years was to prove Satan wrong and to demonstrate
that human beings, by God's grace, can keep His law.
How was Satan's charge proved to be wrong? Rom. 5:17-21.
In order to demonstrate the possibility of living a life in harmony

with the will of God, Jesus had to live as a human being on earth. Satan
had no quarrel with the fact that God could keep His own law. Jesus
lived as a man, having emptied Himself of the use of His own divine
powers while here on earth. He was fully God but depended fully on
His Father. Seventh-day Adventists believe that created beings from
the unfallen populated planets, along with heaven's unfallen angels,
watched with intense interest as Jesus came to earth. They, too, had a
stake in His life and death. In Jesus, God would demonstrate to them
that He is just and that Satan's charge of injustice is false.
"The sacrifice to which infinte love impelled the Father and the Son,
that sinners might be redeemed, demonstrates to all the uni-
verse—what nothing less than this plan of atonement could have
sufficed to do—that justice and mercy are the foundation of the law
and government of God."—The Great Controversy, p. 503.
Why did Jesus die, and what does His risen life mean to us today?
Rom. 5:6-11; John 12:31, 32.
The real issue in the great controversy is whether created

beings can trust God to do what is best for them. Have you
resolved this issue in your life? Explain your answer. If you have
resolved it, how does that help you in your daily life?
100
Thursday March 18
THE COSMIC ISSUE (1 John 3:4; Matt. 5:17-19; 1 John 2:3-6).
How is the basic issue in the cosmic conflict explained in the

Scriptures? 1 John 3:4.
It is rooted in rejection of God, His government, and His laws that are
designed to protect and bless us. Rather than taking the blame for
lawlessness, Satan tries to blame God for giving His law. He challenges
the laws of God as not being in the best interests of created beings and
as being impossible to keep. But God's eternal law represents His
character. Those who oppose His law really oppose God. (See Matt.
5:17-19; 1 John 2:3-6.)
Insight into this issue is found throughout the Bible. The Gospels,
for example, tell how Christ and Satan came face to face. Satan invited
Christ, after His forty days' fast, to change stones into bread in order to
satisfy His hunger. Christ replied: "Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4, NIV).
As He did with Eve in Eden, Satan was urging Christ to act on His own
and not to depend on God's Word and will. Christ upheld God's Word
in every act of His life.
Read Revelation 12 in more than one Bible version, then match the
following:
The woman a. Persecution

The dragon b. Types and shadows of
The man child the Old Testament
The wilderness c. A sanctuary, protection
The sun d. Satan
The moon e. The apostles
The twelve stars f. Christ
The flood of waters g. Haven, Protestant lands
The earth h. The Church
i. The gospel
Focus on verses 7-16 until you are sure you understand their
meaning. Identify the "remnant" of verse 17, KJV.
Why is understanding the verses above significant to Seventh-

day Adventists? Why is it meaningful to you personally, and how
does it affect your daily life?
101
Friday March 19
FURTHER STUDY: Study Romans 1:19-32; 2 Peter 3:8-14;
1 Corinthians 4:9. We are soldiers in the greatest war ever fought. We
are actors in the greatest drama ever played. Our earth truly is the
battle zone and theater of the universe. Satan's studied strategy in this
great war is to make God look bad. He hopes that by heaping upon us
pain, violence, disease, and death he can incite us into blaming God
for our troubles—into giving God the credit for Satan's own diaboli-
cal doings. But for every lie Satan tells about God, Christ responds
with an even clearer revelation of God's love. Lies and love are the
contrasting weapons of the two adversaries in the war of the ages.
Read the chapter in Patriarchs and Prophets entitled "Why Was

Sin Permitted?" pp. 33-43.
1. In this lawless age—a time when absolutes are being thrown
to the winds—what will enable me to gain a proper perspec-
tive of the issues involved in the cosmic conflict?
2. What can I do to help others adopt a worldview that ad-

equately handles the problem of where sin came from, why
God allows it, and what He plans to do about it?
3. III continue to live my life as I am now, where will that place me

in the drama of the great controversy? Where do I want to be?
Knowing that life is fragile, what do I need to change in order to
reach my goal?
4. In what ways do I desire to be like God, and why?
5. What can I do this week to make practical what I have

learned?
TERM FOR REVIEW: Cosmic controversy. This term designates

the universal scope of the battle between Christ and Satan.
SUMMARY: Seventh-day Adventists have a cosmic worldview of

the great controversy that brought Christ on His costly but successful
mission to planet Earth. The sin problem involves Satan's rebellion,
his charge that God made a law that created beings cannot keep, and
Christ's coming to earth—in human form—to demonstrate that the
law can be lived. The truth as it is in Jesus is broader than many
Christians realize. We need to look beyond a humanity-centered,
planet-centered worldview to a biblical and universal worldview.
102
401•14 AM\
My Hands Are My Gods, Part 1
Andrejs Arinsh and Baldis Zilgalvis
Sofia is a new believer who lives in Latvia. She invited her

prayer and Bible-study group to meet in her home. Her husband,
who was not a Christian, came home and found the believers
praying. He did not want Christians in his home and threatened to
call the police.
"What kind of Christians are you?" he shouted angrily. "You
destroy families! My wife used to come with me to the theater, but
now she won't come; she goes only to church!"
The pastor invited the man to join the group and learn more
about God, but the man grew more heated. "I don't need your God.
Look at my hands!" he demanded, holding out his muscular arms.
"These are my gods. They provide everything I need!"
After the man stormed out of the room, the believers knelt and
prayed that the Holy Spirit would touch his heart and turn him
toward God. As the pastor prepared to leave, he reached for his
coat and felt something wet. He found the remnants of broken raw
eggs seeping from his coat pocket. He said nothing but walked to
his car. As he neared the car, he found that all four of his tires had
been slashed. He was certain that the person who had put eggs in
his pockets had slashed his tires.
With the help of some of the believers, the pastor repaired the
tires. As he drove off, he saw the angry husband watching him. He
smiled and waved a friendly farewell toward him. Something good
must have happened in that house, the pastor thought. Satan surely
is angry!
The believers said nothing about the confrontation at the man's
home but continued to pray for the angry husband. Several be-
lievers invited the angry husband to the church for an orchestra
concert and were delighted when he came. But still his dislike for
Christians did not mellow.
Then one day Sofia approached the pastor. "My husband is in
the hospital," she said. "His hands are paralyzed! At first he felt
pain when he tried to move his fingers, but now he cannot move
them at all. The doctors say he has nerve damage, and they want to
keep him in the hospital for treatment." The pastor could not help
but wonder if God had stricken the man's hands because of his
angry words.
Andrejs Arinsh is director of Global Mission in the Baltic Union, and

Baldis Zilgalvis is president of the Baltic Union.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Nlission Awareness

E-mail ,omission u compuserve.com
103
The Adventist Church and

Revelation
Sabbath Afternoon
READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Rev. 10; 12:17; 1 Thess.
2:13; 2 Pet. 1:2-4; Acts 20:27, 28; Jer. 31:10; Mark 16:15.
MEMORY TEXT: "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and
went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ"
(Revelation 12:17).
KEY THOUGHT: Although none of the founders of the Seventh-

day Adventist Church held advanced theological degrees, they were
keen students of the Bible. The doctrines formulated by the time the
church was organized in 1860 still are the basic fundamental doctrines
of the church. They have stood the test of time and the ever-advancing
understanding of how to interpret the Bible.
LAYING UP FOR THE TIME OF TROUBLE. Seventh-day Adventists

have been told: "The Lord has shown me in vision, repeatedly, that it is
contrary to the Bible to make any provision for our temporal wants in
the time of trouble."—Maranatha, p. 181. However, there are some
things of eternal value and consequence that must be laid up for the
time of trouble: "Now is the time to lay up treasure in heaven, and to set
our hearts in order, ready for the time of trouble.... I saw that the time
for Jesus to be in the most holy place was nearly finished, and that
time can last but a very little longer; and . . . time . . . should be spent
in searching the Bible."—A Sketch of the Christian Experience and
Views of Ellen G. White, p. 46.
104
Sunday March 21
A LOOK AT HISTORIC ADVENTIST INTERPRETATION (Rev.
10; John 12:44-50).
The impetus for the formation of what was to become the Seventh-
day Adventist Church was a keen interest in Bible prophecies concern-
ing the second advent of Christ. William Miller followed the traditional
historicist school of prophetic interpretation. His studies led him to
conclude that Christ would come when the heavenly sanctuary was to
be "cleansed" in about 1843 (later revised to 1844). Although his
understanding of the time was correct, he misinterpreted what was to
happen in 1844. This error led to the bitter disappointment predicted in
Revelation 10.
What was the little group that had been disappointed in 1844 to do in
furthering prophetic interpretation and the teaching of the Second
Coming? Rev. 10:11.
Just a little over the period of the following ten years (1844 to about
1855), the founders of what was to become the Seventh-day Adventist
Church conducted Bible-study groups and Bible conferences that led
them to a uniformity of belief based on the primacy of the Bible. Writing
in The Signs of the Times (Jan. 13, 1887), E. J. Waggoner outlined the
principles of interpretation followed by Adventists: "We noted first,
that the Bible is absolute truth and that anything that disagrees with it
in the slightest particular must be false. Second, that the Bible, though
composed of many books, is one Book with one Author; that there is
perfect harmony in all its parts. Third, that the Bible contains all truth,
because that by it a man may be 'thoroughly furnished unto all good
works;' and that therefore it must be its own interpreter. Fourth, that
one part of the Bible cannot be fully understood if taken out of its
connection, or without reference to the Bible as a whole."
"The great motive powers of the soul are faith, hope, and love; and it
is to these that Bible study, rightly pursued, appeals. The outward
beauty of imagery and expression, is but the setting, as it were, for its
real treasure—the beauty of holiness."—Education, p. 192.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church still upholds the position that
the Bible is the authoritative revelation of God's will, the true revealer of
doctrines, the trustworthy record of God's acts in history, and the
foreteller of last-day events centering in Christ's triumph soon to come.
On what basis will those who reject the clear revelations of

God through His Word be judged? What reason does Jesus give
as to why this will be so? John 12:44-50.
105
Monday March 22
THE SCRIPTURES OUR SAFEGUARD (Eph. 5:6; 1 Thess. 2:13;
2 Pet. 1:2-4).
Seventh-day Adventists need to study more carefully the Inspired

Word in order to be able to distinguish between the false and the true
during this time when Satan surrounds us with insidious and deceptive
teachings. For decades the world has been wrapped in materialism that
seeks to exclude religion from everyday life. Tremendous scientific
advances have caused a large number of people to think that they do
not need God or heaven. Then technology seems to have turned on us.
Such things as nuclear weapons, environmental pollution, and numer-
ous cancer-producing agents have left us with uncertainty and fear.
Because the old values largely have been thrown away, people are left
with no place to turn, and evil influences have filled the vacuum. This
is evident in the current popularity of the occult, the New Age move-
ment, astrology, and the rise of cults. We now are surrounded by a
growing bombardment of daily satanic lies.
It is truer than it ever has been that we need to search the Scriptures
daily that we may know the way of the Lord, and "that we be not
deceived by religious fallacies. The world is full of false theories and
seductive spiritualistic ideas, which tend to destroy clear spiritual per-
ception, and to lead away from truth and holiness. Especially at this
time we need to heed the warning, 'Let no man deceive you with vain
words' (Eph. 5:6).
"We must be careful lest we misinterpret the Scriptures. The plain
teachings of the Word of God are not to be so spiritualized that the
reality is lost sight of. . . . Take the Scriptures as they read. Avoid idle
speculation. . . ."—Selected Messages, book 1, p. 170.
What does 1 Thessalonians 2:13 indicate about the value of receiv-

ing the Word of God?
Many neglect to follow the example of the Thessalonians and to let

the Word of God work "effectually" in them.
List the precious promises given in the Scriptures to those who

take advantage of becoming better acquainted with God through Bible
study. 2 Pet. 1:2-4.
For reflection: If we apply ourselves to careful study, we can expect

the fulfillment of the promise that "He who opens the Scriptures, and
feeds upon the heavenly manna, becomes a partaker of the divine
nature."—Ellen White, Review and Herald, June 28, 1892.
106
Tuesday March 23
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS AND THE SCRIPTURES (2 Tim.
3:16, 17; Acts 20:27, 28).
Second Timothy 3:16, 17 tells us why God's Word is essential to

individual members. Scripture is given for (1) doctrine, (2) reproof, (3)
correction, and (4) instruction in righteousness. The ultimate objective
is "that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good
work" (RSV). When we realize that God's will, as expressed in His laws,
is designed to enable us to get the most out of life, our attitude toward
the Bible should change drastically—we'll long to search out His will
and delight in it.
What parting counsel did Paul share with the elders from Ephesus
that applies to the needs of the Church today? Acts 20:27, 28.
In addition to its role in enabling us to distinguish between truth and

error, the Bible must be the source of our faith and practice. It must
provide our ethical and moral values, as well as our understanding of
ourselves and the world around us. It also must serve as the determi-
nant of the mission and goal of the Church and its institutions. It is the
Bible and the Bible alone that justifies our existence as the remnant
church and teaches us how to live as sons and daughters of God in the
midst of a fallen and corrupt world.
Use of the Bible by church leaders. Seventh-day Adventist lead-

ers have been known as students of the Word. This was true of the
pioneers and still characterizes many leaders today who take time in
the midst of their heavy schedules to steep themselves in understand-
ing Bible principles. Adventist church leaders have a tremendous
responsibility not only to be deep students of the Word but to foster a
"back to the Bible" movement that will help prepare members for the
great tests ahead. Addressing church leaders, Ellen White says: "Those
who are ready to do service are those who feed most on Christ. Read
and study His word, drink in the inspiration of His Spirit, and receive
of His grace, not to hoard, but to give to others. In order to instruct
others, the teachers must first be learners of Christ. There are Marthas
in every church. They are intensely busy in religious activities, and
they do much good; but we need also Mary's side of character. The
most zealous workers need to learn at the feet of Jesus."—Testimonies
to Ministers, p. 346.
Do you find yourself to be a more diligent student of the Bible

now than last year? In what ways can your daily life become
more ordered around Bible principles?
107
Wednesday March 24
USE OF THE BIBLE IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST WORK:
PART ONE (Dent. 6:7; Isa. 54:13; Eph. 6:4; Jer. 31:10; Mark 16:15).
Analyze what Deuteronomy 6:7, Isaiah 54:13, and Ephesians

6:4 teach us about Adventist educational goals.
Seventh-day Adventist education is not perfect, but it does contrib-

ute significantly to students' developing a meaningful religious experi-
ence. However, we need to keep in mind that Christian education in the
home and in the church plays an important role in complementing our
schools. An encouraging study in one union conference in the early
1980s found that among Seventh-day Adventist families, students
who attended Seventh-day Adventist schools had a greater probability
of being baptized and a greater retention rate in remaining Seventh-
day Adventists. (See Parentline, Publication for Parents by Southern
College of Seventh-day Adventists, vol. 1, Nov. 1986, pp. 1, 2.)
The Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of education is based on such
revelations by Ellen White as: "The students in our schools are to regard
the knowledge of God as above everything else."—Counsels to Parents
and Teachers, p. 447. What is the source of such knowledge? "The Bible is
the great educator; for it is not possible prayerfully to study its sacred
pages without having the intellect disciplined, ennobled, purified, and
refined."—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 171.
Many encouraging things are happening in Seventh-day Adventist
schools around the world. On more than one Seventh-day Adventist
college campus there has been a spontaneous development of small
Bible-study groups and evangelistic outreach. In one place, college
students launched home visitation, contacting 4,000 homes in a nearby
nonentered community with a health-and-Bible-interest survey. They
received more than 700 responses. A church was started in that commu-
nity and continues to grow. They also began a student-led church
service that soon overflowed the capacity of the chapel in which they
were meeting, necessitating the use of a larger facility.
Literature work. One major challenge facing Adventists in these

last days is to make it possible for people everywhere to possess the
Bible and the literature containing God's message for today in their own
language (see Jer. 31:10; Mark 16:15). "In a large degree through our
publishing houses is to be accomplished the work of that other angel
who comes down from heaven with great power and who lightens the
earth with his glory."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 140.
Outline a plan of how you can help to scatter literature con-

taining God's message for today.
108
Thursday March 25
USE OF THE BIBLE IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST WORK:
PART TWO (Luke 4:18, 19; 2 Tim. 4:2).
What are the seven facets of Christ's ministry as recorded in

Luke 19?
Use of the Bible in medical institutions and offices. "If we are to go

to the expense of building sanitariums in order that we may work for the
salvation of the sick and afflicted . . . [then] we are to do all in our power
for the healing of the body; but we are to make the healing of the soul of
far greater importance."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 96.
"Every medical practitioner, whether he acknowledges it or not, is re-
sponsible for the souls as well as the bodies of his patients. . . . Every
physician should be a devoted, intelligent gospel medical missionary,
familiar with Heaven's remedy for the sin-sick soul as well as with the
science of healing bodily disease."—Medical Ministry, p. 31.
The operation of medical work today is far more complex and
involves many more problems in relating to government and commu-
nity agencies than when this counsel was given. But Adventists need
to take seriously the principles of medical work outlined in the Bible
and the Spirit of Prophecy.
Use of the Bible in pastoral work and preaching. When pastors

are strongly convinced regarding the authority and inspiration of the
Bible, then they can preach it with conviction and enthusiastically
lead their congregations to an understanding and acceptance of bibli-
cal authority.
What is the pastor's commission? 2 Tim. 4:2.
"Pastors are needed—faithful shepherds—who will not flatter God's

people, nor treat them harshly, but who will feed them with the bread of
life—men who in their lives feel daily the converting power of the Holy
Spirit, and who cherish a strong, unselfish love for those for whom they
labor." "The minister who makes the word of God his constant compan-
ion will continually bring forth truth of new beauty. ... The Holy Spirit
will fill his mind and heart with hope and courage and Bible imagery, and
all this will be communicated to those under his instruction."—Gospel
Workers, pp. 185, 253.
109
Friday March 26
FURTHER STUDY: Continuing priority must be given to revival and a
return to true godliness in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This is the
"greatest and most urgent of all our needs."—Selected Messages, book
1, p. 121. Another major need is the development of a strong appetite for
Bible study: "If the people of God would appreciate His word, we should
have a heaven in the church here below. Christians would be eager,
hungry, to search the word. They would be anxious for time to compare
scripture with scripture and to meditate upon the word.... Their greatest
desire would be to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God.
And, as a result, their lives would be conformed to the principles and
promises of the word. Its instruction would be to them as the leaves of
the tree of life."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 193.
God's heart broken by our neglect. When poet Elizabeth Barrett

married poet Robert Browning, her parents disowned her. When the
newly married couple settled far away in Florence, Italy, she loved her
parents so much that she wrote to them several times a month. Ten
years after she began that practice, Elizabeth finally received a pack-
age from home. Her joy turned to disappointment when she found the
package contained her letters returned unopened. They have been
called some of the most beautiful and expressive in all English litera-
ture. Her parents never read them. Actually, the most beautiful letters
of reconciliation ever written are the epistles of love that make up the
Bible. How disappointed God must be when His earthly children
neglect to read them.
1. How would you react if you spoke with a Seventh-day Adventist
who did not believe in or support the biblical and Seventh-day
Adventist position on revelation and inspiration?
2. What can you do to foster weekly Bible-study groups in your

local church?
3. As you view the past decade, do you think Seventh-day Adventists,

on the average, study the Bible more, or do they study it less?
Are they more or less acquainted with what it teaches? What is
your reaction, and why?
Review and application: Review the Key Thoughts and Summaries

for this quarter's guide. As you review each lesson, ask yourself, Have
I experienced the transforming power of the Word of God in my life?
Have I done something to put what I learned in this lesson to work in
my life and to share it with others? Develop a personal plan for doing
something about areas that need improvements.
110
My Hands Are My Gods, Part 2
Andrejs Arinsh and Baldis Zilgalvis
When Sofia joined the Adventist Church in Riga, Latvia, her

husband was angry that she no longer went to the theater with him
but spent her time studying the Bible. When the pastor invited the
man to join the Bible-study group, he answered, "My hands are my
gods. They provide everything I need!"
The angry husband had slashed the pastor's tires and put raw
eggs into his coat pocket, but the pastor and other believers treated
him with kindness and invited him to their gatherings.
Then suddenly his hands became paralyzed; any attempt to
move his fingers caused him great pain. He endured two months of
treatments, but nothing seemed to help. Finally the doctor told him
he would need surgery to cure the paralysis.
When the man asked the pastor to visit him, the pastor hurried
to his hospital room. There he found the once-angry husband now
humble. He listened as the man described his pain and paralysis.
Was the man asking for help from God? The pastor decided to
test him. "We will pray for you," he said, watching the man's face
for his reaction.
"I am ready for anything—anything," the man said in a subdued
tone.
The pastor organized prayer groups to meet every night and
pray for Sofia's husband. In his hospital room the man sat quietly
listening as the same group of believers whom he had tried to kick
out of his home prayed for him.
A week later the man told the pastor, "My hands are 30 percent
better already!" When he was released from the hospital, the pastor
invited him to a prayer meeting at church. He came. Then the
pastor invited him to pray aloud. He stumbled through his first
public prayer. He continued attending prayer meetings and began
attending church as well. As the believers continued to pray, the
man's hands continued to heal. His heart also showed signs of
God's healing touch. Soon he took his stand for Christ and pre-
pared for baptism. By the time he was baptized, his hands were
completely healed.
Among the people who had been in this man's house the day he
angrily announced that "My hands are my gods" were seven visi-
tors who had not yet made a commitment to Christ. In part because
of this man's experience, all seven also have joined the church.
Andrejs Arinsh is director of Global Mission in the Baltic Union;

Baldis Zilgalvis is president of the Baltic Union.
Produced 11\ the ( ieneral Conference Office of Mission AN\ areness

l: mail gornission(a compusen c.coiu
111
Bible Study Guide for Second Quarter, 1999
The second quarter adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, entitled
"Nature ofMan," focuses on studying the origins of humankind, as well
as its fall and restoration, as taught by the Bible.
Lesson I: Created in the Image of God

READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Gen. 1:26-31; 2:18-25.
MEMORY TEXT: Genesis 1:27.
KEY THOUGHT: What does it mean to be created in the image of

God?
OUTLINE:
Created to Look Like God (Gen. 1:26; Ps. 139:14).
Created to Think Like God (Job 38:1-7; Rom. 12:1, 2; Phil. 2:5-8).
Created to Reflect God (Lev. 11:44, 45; 1 Cor. 2:12-14; 1 Pet. 1:13-
16).
Created to Be Like God (Micah 6:8; Matt. 5:43-48; Acts 10:34, 35).
The Image Broken (Gen. 3:8-11; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:23).
Lesson 2: Our Physical Nature

READ FOR THIS WEEK'S STUDY: Ps. 8:1-9.
MEMORY TEXT: 1 Corinthians 6:19.
KEY THOUGHT: How is our physical well-being related to being

created in God's image?
OUTLINE:
Molded From Clay (Gen. 2:7; 3:17-19; Eccles. 3:19, 20).
Affected by Sin (Gen. 3:16-19).
None of These Diseases (Exod. 15:26).
Health and Healing (Ps. 103:1-5).
Body Temples (2 Cor. 6:16-18).
Bible Study Guide in Braille

The regular adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guides are available
free each month in Braille and 16 2/3 rpm records to blind and physically
handicapped persons who cannot read normal ink print. This includes
individuals who, because of arthritis, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, acci-
dent, old age, and so forth cannot hold or focus on normal ink-print
publications. Contact the Christian Record Services, Box 6097, Lincoln,
NE 68506.
112
oYou
geeaffy
13elleee
in
lirfracies.?
6 ure. You've read about them in the Bible. But what

about the ones that happened just yesterday, ones that are hap-
pening today, and more that'll happen tomorrow? Do you
believe that miracles even take place nowadays? Here's a book
that will renew your faith in 1998's miracles and beyond!
An Angel's Touch by Nathalie Ladner-Bischoff will never let
you forget God's marvelous guardians at work in your life. This
exciting book also reminds you of the importance of prayer and
God's never-ending presence and love! Filled with present-day
true stories of amazing divine interventions, this newly
released book will seize your interest and make angels more
real in your life. The inspiring stories in An Angel's Touch are
also great for special worships and for sharing with a friend.
Know that miracles still happen—even today. Paper, 128
pages. US$8.99, Cdn$12.99.
Available at your local ABC. Call 1-800-765-6955.
Pacific Press' Publishing Association
Creating the future of Adventist publishing
a Visit us at
www.pacificpress.com
01998 Pacific Press' Publishing Association 366/85590

Prices subject to change.
Mission Projects: Japan 125,819,000
Korea 69,625,000
Korea: Establish a lay training South China Island 28,472,000
center with a focus on preparing lay East Asia
workers to enter previously Association`
unentered areas. Totals July 30, 1997 3,164 396,475 1,523,916,000
'Figures for East Asia include churches and other congregations
China: Construct 15 churches.

Reveiation: Yrs Tra Ton

Uploaded by

Document Informationclick to expand document informationssl

Document Informationclick to expand document information

Copyright:

Available Formats

Reveiation: Yrs Tra Ton

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Reveiation: Yrs Tra Ton

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ell

".....1 ADULT SCHOOL

JAN FEB MAR 1999

The adult Sabbath School Bible

Check with your local Adventist Book Center

KEY THOUGHT: God's revelation tells and shows us that He is

GOD'S GOODNESS REVEALED. Jesus came to reveal the Father

Goodness is derived from the Old English g6dnes. Thus, it is

How did the psalmist outline the goodness of God?

Contemplate the familiar text 1 John 4:8, 16 in order to discover

The text makes it clear that it is God's nature to love. Love is

For reflection: Think of a time in your life when some terrible

Study the following lists of God's attributes and compare those

Analyze Jesus' statement to the rich young ruler in Mark 10:18 in

The relevance of Old Testament thought to the New Testament

Review God's kind of love as defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

WHAT GOD'S LOVE IS WHAT GOD'S LOVE IS NOT

When His kind of love is seen in us, God is revealed.

God's love is so great that it makes us sons and daughters in His

How is God's great love revealed to us in 1 John 3:1, 2? How does

In Christ, God adopts us as His sons and daughters. He is at work

For reflection: Is there a character quality in my life that is

In Job 11:7, Zophar asks the suffering patriarch, "Canst thou by

1. Earthly parents and/or others who have made a positive

Evidences of God's goodness. Katie was dying from cancer. She

In what ways have you been able to demonstrate the goodness

2. Are there any projects or activities our class could do that

"When men go forth to their daily toil, as when they engage in

SUMMARY: One powerful way our families, church members, friends,

The world should have looked wonderful to 22-year-old Biruthe

Biruthe Konciute of Lithuania (left).

Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Awareness

That We May Know Him

KEY THOUGHT: Because eternal life comes through knowing God,

WHAT WE CAN KNOW. The Bible makes no direct attempt to

TERM FOR THE WEEK: Theistic evolution. The speculation that

Read the following Bible passages and consider their context in

Acts 14:15-17. Under what circumstances was this given? How

Think it through: What helpful answer can you offer to what

Title of Creator What He did

When we accept the Bible as our guide to understanding the natura

In what ways has nature helped you to know, trust, and

Study 2 Peter 1:19-21. List some characteristics of God's pro-

Study 2 Kings 22 carefully to learn how God used the Written

Just as God spoke directly through the words of the book of

"The revelation of God in the OT . . pointed beyond itself to a future

The heart and sum of all God's revelation to us in the Scriptures

"Jesus said of the Old Testament Scriptures—and how much more

For reflection: How do some of our ways of studying the

1. God speaks through Providence (Ps. 107:31-43).

"In our circumstances and surroundings, in the changes daily tak-

2. God speaks through human relationships. The closest rela-

3. God speaks through the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-14). God

2. What characteristics of God are revealed by His knowledge of

3. Read chapter 10 in Steps to Christ, "A Knowledge of God," and

Note: We cannot expect either the Bible or our Christian experience to

As she searched for something to fill the aching emptiness in