September 24-30, 2000
MEMORY VERSE: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14.
STUDY HELP: Christian Service, 266–275.
INTRODUCTION: “It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin). Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 69.
“To Make Ready a People”
1 What is the purpose of our witnessing? Luke 1:17.
NOTE: “…the end is right upon us, and is it reasonable to think that there is no message to make ready a people to stand in the day of God’s preparation? Why is there so little eyesight? So little deep, earnest, heartfelt labor? Why is there so much pulling back? Why is there such a continual cry of ‘peace and safety,’ and no going forward in obedience to the Lord’s command? Is the Third Angel’s Message to go out in darkness, or to lighten the whole earth with its glory? Is the light of God’s Spirit to be quenched, and the church to be left as destitute of the grace of Christ as the hills of Gilboa were of dew and rain?” Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 295.
2 What message is God’s people to give to the entire world? Revelation 14:6–12.
NOTE: “…in The Great Controversy, the last message of warning to the world is given more distinctly than in any of my other books.” Colporteur Ministry, 127.
See also Testimonies, vol. 6, 61 and Christ’s Object Lessons, 415, 416.
“The Sheep and the Goats”
3 What will be the outcome of the Gospel work? Matthew 13:30.
NOTE: “There are only two classes in the world today, and only two classes will be recognized in the Judgement,—those who violate God’s law, and those who keep His law. Two great opposing powers are revealed in the last great battle. On one side stands the Creator of heaven and earth. All on His side bear His signet. They are obedient to His commands. On the other side stands the Prince of darkness, with those who have chosen apostasy and rebellion.” Review and Herald, May 7, 1901.
See also Testimonies, vol. 6, 129.
4 How will the message of the Three Angels divide the people of the earth into these two groups? Revelation 14:9–12.
NOTE: See Testimonies, vol. 5, 455.
“His Wife Hath Made Herself Ready”
5 How are those described who are ready for the coming of Christ? Revelation 14:1–5. Compare Revelation 7:1–4.
NOTE: “One of the marked features in the representation of the 144,000 is that in their mouth there was found no guile. The Lord has said, ‘Blessed is the man…in whose spirit there is no guile.’ They profess to be children of God, and are represented as following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. They are prefigured before us as standing on Mount Zion, girt for holy service, clothed in white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints. But all who follow the Lamb in heaven will first have followed Him on earth, in trustful, loving, willing obedience, followed Him not fretfully and capriciously, but confidently, truthfully, as the flock follows the shepherd.” Selected Messages, book 3, 424.
See also Great Controversy, 425.
6 What picture of the church ready for Christ’s coming does Paul give? Ephesians 5:25–27.
NOTE: “One brother said to me, ‘Sister White, do you think the Lord will come in ten years?’ [I replied] ‘What difference does it make to you whether He shall come in two, four, or ten years?’ ‘Why,’ said he, ‘I think I would do differently in some things than I now do if I knew the Lord was to come in ten years.’ ‘What would you do?’ said I. ‘Why,’ said he, ‘I would sell my property and begin to search the Word of God and try to warn the people and get them to prepare for His coming, and I would plead with God that I might be ready to meet Him.’ ‘Then,’ said I, ‘If you knew that the Lord was not coming for twenty years would you live differently?’ Said he, ‘I think I would.’” Sermons and Talks, vol. 2, 28.
See also Christ’s Object Lessons, 325.
“Whom Shall I Send?”
7 What sort of people will give the final message? Isaiah 52:6–8.
NOTE: See Testimonies, vol. 9, 107.
8 What sort of person does God choose for His work and why? 1 Corinthians 1:26–28.
NOTE: “We have before us a great work,—the closing work of giving the last warning message to a sinful world. There are men who will be taken from the plow, from the vineyard, from various other branches of work, and sent forth by the Lord to give this message to the world.” Evangelism, 48.
“…the Lord Himself will call men, as of old He called the humble fishermen, and will Himself give them instruction regarding their field of labor and the methods they should follow. He will call men from the plow and from other occupations to give the last note of warning to perishing souls. There are many ways in which to work for the Master, and the Great Teacher will open the understanding of these workers, enabling them to see wondrous things in His word.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 170.
“Unexpected talent will be developed in those in the common walks of life. If men and women can only have the message of truth brought to them, many who hear will receive it. Those of every rank of life, high and low, rich and poor, will accept the truth for this time. Some who are regarded as uneducated will be called to the service of the Master, even as the humble, unlearned fishermen were called by the Saviour. Men will be called from the plow, as was Elisha, and will be moved to take up the work that God has appointed them. They will begin to labor in simplicity and quietness, reading and explaining the Scriptures to others. Their simple efforts will be successful. House-to-house work will be done by men and women who will realize that they can labor for the Lord because He has put His Spirit upon them. As they go forth in humble faith, Christ will impart to them grace that they will impart to others. The Lord will give them the same love for perishing souls that He gave to the disciples of old.” This Day With God, 115.
“Times of Refreshing”
9 What promise of divine power is given to those who follow the light they have been given? Hosea 6:3.
NOTE: See Great Controversy, 612.
10 What work must be done now in order to ensure a bountiful harvest? Psalms 126:5; 2 Corinthians 9:6.
NOTE: See Great Controversy, 612.
“It is true that some who buy the books will lay them on the shelf or place them on the parlor table and seldom look at them. Still God has a care for His truth, and the time will come when these books will be sought for and read. Sickness or misfortune may enter the home, and through the truth contained in the books God sends to troubled hearts peace and hope and rest. His love is revealed to them, and they understand the preciousness of the forgiveness of their sins. Thus the Lord cooperates with His self-denying workers.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 313, 314.
“The Harvest Truly is Plenteous”
11 What prayer does Jesus call upon us to pray? Matthew 9:37, 38. (See John 4:35.)
NOTE: “We are not, as a people, sufficiently aroused to the short time in which we have to work, and we do not understand the magnitude of the work for the time. The night soon cometh, in which no man can work. God calls for men and women to qualify themselves, by consecration to His will and earnest study of the Scriptures, to do His special work for these last days. He calls for men now who can work. As they engage in the work in sincerity and humility to do all they can, they will be obtaining a more thorough experience. They will have a better knowledge of the truth and better know how to reach souls and help them just where they need to be helped. Workmen are needed now, just now, to labor for God. The fields are already white for the harvest, and yet laborers are few.” Life Sketches (1915 edition), 211, 212.
12 What promise of ultimate success in the Lord’s harvest field are we given? Psalms 126:6; Romans 9:28.
NOTE: “We need now to awake out of sleep, and to labor earnestly to warn those in the highways and in the byways. Soon the work will be finished, and now is our time to labor with intense energy and untiring industry. The judgements of God are in the earth, and, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we must give the message of warning that He has entrusted to us. We must give this message quickly, line upon line, precept upon precept. Men will soon be forced to great decisions, and it is our duty to see that they are given an opportunity to understand the truth, that they may take their stand intelligently on the right side. The Lord calls upon His people to labor,—labor earnestly and wisely, while probation lingers.” Southern Watchman, April 16, 1907.
CLOSING WORDS:
“When the Third Angel’s Message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work. They have received ‘the latter rain,’ ‘the refreshing from the presence of the Lord,’ and they are prepared for the trying hour before them. Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven. An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received ‘the seal of the living God.’ Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says, ‘It is done;’ and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’ Revelation 22:11. Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The number of His subjects is made up; ‘the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven,’ is about to be given to the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.” Great Controversy, 613, 614.