Author Topic: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 1--1st Quarter 2020--From Reading to Understanding  (Read 2274 times)

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Wally

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Daniel, Prophet of the End







Commentary in Navy                  Inspiration in Maroon









As the nineteenth century disappeared into the twentieth, a sense of optimism pervaded the West. Through science and technology, humanity was advancing toward a golden age, a future of wonderful possibilities when war, pestilence, poverty, and hunger would finally be ended. That was the hope, anyway.

Of course, the twentieth century proved this hope not only wrong but foolish and naïve. This helps explain why, when we entered the twenty-first century, it was with no great sense of optimism about a better future.

From a worldly perspective, the world still seems in pretty dismal shape and, worse, holds little prospect of improvement. Humans seem just as inclined toward greed, oppression, violence, conquest, exploitation, and self-destruction now as our ancestors were in ages past. Meanwhile, many of our great technological advances, though sometimes serving humanity well, have aided us in our greed, oppression, violence, conquest, exploitation, and self-destruction.

None of this should be surprising, of course, not with texts like “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9, NKJV) or “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Matt. 24:7, NKJV).

And yet, amid all this despair and calamity, we have the book of Daniel, our study for this quarter, a book that’s especially relevant for us who are living in the ayt qatz, “the time of the end” (Dan. 12:9). And that’s because in the sacred pages of Daniel we have powerful, rational, faith-affirming evidence not only for our belief in God but in the Lord Jesus Christ and His death on the cross, as well as the promise of His return and all that His return entails.

Think about it. All through Daniel (chapters 2, 7, 8, 11), we have been given, from various angles, the following sequence of empires: Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome, and God’s eternal kingdom after the Second Coming. From our perspective today, living when we do, we can see that all the worldly kingdoms have come and gone as predicted. Or, in the case of Rome, it came and remains, at least for now, just as Daniel wrote. It is depicted in the feet and toes of Daniel 2:33, 41, and is manifested in the still-divided nations of Europe as well as the Roman church itself. Thus, we have an affirmation of biblical prophecy as broad and as solid as the history of the world that someone living in the time of Babylon, or Greece, or even in the earlier days of Rome, could not have had.

Living where we are on the prophetic time scale, we also can see that Daniel was correct about all these kingdoms; thus, we have even more reasons to trust him regarding the only one yet to come: God’s eternal kingdom, after the Second Coming.

Yes, the book of Daniel remains a powerful, faith-affirming document, especially for Seventh-day Adventists, who find within its pages texts seminal to our church, especially Daniel 8:14: “And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed’” (NKJV). This text is parallel to Daniel 7:22, 26, 27, which shows that after the great heavenly judgment, given “in favor of the saints of the Most High”, God’s eternal kingdom will be established. In contrast to the fleeting, earthly empires, it will last forever.

And yet, alongside the “big-picture”, we see just how close Christ can be to us, individually. From King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel’s deliverance from the lions’ den, the book shows us God’s immanence, or His nearness to us; as Daniel told wicked King Belshazzar, He is the God “who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways” (Dan. 5:23, NKJV).

In short, the book of Daniel, our study for this quarter, remains what it was when penned thousands of years ago: a powerful revelation of the love and character of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Elias Brasil de Souza serves as director of the Biblical Research Institute at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists World Headquarters. He holds a PhD in Old Testament exegesis and theology from Andrews University.
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants:  we have done that which was our duty to do.  Luke 17:10

Wally

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 Lesson 1 December 28-January 3





From Reading to Understanding



Commentary in Navy                  Inspiration in Maroon







So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants:  we have done that which was our duty to do.  Luke 17:10

Richard Myers

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In short, the book of Daniel, our study for this quarter, remains what it was when penned thousands of years ago: a powerful revelation of the love and character of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, Daniel has as its center piece our Savior. It is His work that we see throughout the Book. We see the plan of salvation and as we combine the Book of Daniel with the Book of Revelation we find prophecies fulfilled and prophecies being fulfilled and prophecies soon to be fulfilled. We learn that God does not give up His justice in order to be merciful. Both mercy and justice met at the cross. We understand that Jesus is just about ready to finish His work in the Holy of Holies. We understand why Christians must go through a time of trouble such as never was, a time more vicious than the dark ages when millions of Christians who refused to give up their Bibles and their faith were tortured to death. We read that these faithful will not have a Mediator when they go through this time of trouble. And we read about the event that takes place just before Jesus "stands up" and walks out of the Most Holy Place, a time that is just before us.

As we read Daniel in the context of Revelation, we understand that America is no longer going to be protected by God, for she is no longer a Protestant nation and thus, we can expect more attacks from the Muslim world. America will lead the world to worship the beast. When Islam attacked Europe, it led to the success of the Protest Reformation, for the pope's army turned from going after the reformers to protect Rome from the Ottoman Empire.

The final steps will be rapid ones, we are on the edge of eternity. Let us carefully study the Book of Daniel and Revelation as we move forward in this new quarter. Heavenly Father, we need your Spirit that we might understand correctly what we read and we ask that the truth will take root in our hearts. We pray in the precious name of Jesus. Amen!
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 24:25-27; 2 Pet. 3:11-13; Jonah 3:3-10; Num. 14:34; Dan. 9:23; 10:11, 12.

Memory Text: “And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?” Acts 8:30

Our church was born from within the pages of the book of Daniel, our study for this quarter. As we begin, we should keep the following points in mind as a template to help guide us through our study.

First, we should always remember that Christ is the center of Daniel, as He is of the entire Bible.

Second, Daniel is organized in a way that shows literary beauty and helps us to understand its major focus.

Then we ought to study it in the KJV if we are seeking literary beauty, not to mention truth. And this comes from one who hated Shakespeare.


Third, we need to understand the difference between classical and apocalyptic prophecies. This will help us distinguish between the prophecies of Daniel and those of others such as Isaiah, Amos, and Jeremiah.

Fourth, as we study the time prophecies of Daniel, we should understand that the prophetic outlines of Daniel span long periods of time and are measured according to the year-day principle.

Fifth, we shall emphasize that the book of Daniel not only conveys prophetic information but is profoundly relevant to our personal life today.

And, will enlighten us as to the plan of salvation and how it is that God is going to place the universe on a sound foundation so that sin will never again enter the universe. Why is it that Christians who are holy and will remain holy will have to go through a time of trouble such as never was without a Mediator? Why is there is an investigative judgment? What happens when Jesus leaves the heavenly sanctuary? The Book of Daniel is a most important Book that those whom the ends of the world is come upon are blessed to have unsealed.

Sixth, we will advance in our understanding of Scripture and the times we live in if we study Daniel while studying the Book of Revelation at the same time. They are one Book speaking of the same things. "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." Vol 7, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, pg 971.


Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 4.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Sunday         December 29

Christ: The Center of Daniel

Read Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39; and 2 Corinthians 1:19, 20. In what ways is Christ the center of the Scriptures?

There is no question that Jesus is central to the Scriptures, and this includes Daniel as well. For example: Chapter 1 shows, although in a limited and imperfect way, that Daniel’s experience is analogous to that of Christ, who left heaven to live in this sinful world and confront the powers of darkness. Moreover, Daniel and his companions are endowed from above with Christ-like wisdom to face the challenges of the Babylonian culture.

Yes, God gave them wisdom, but there is an important lesson in chapter one that cannot go without mentioning. These young men were wise, but more so, they were faithful to follow what God had taught them. The true religion transforms character. Sinners become obedient saints when walking in the wisdom God gives them. Do we think that the king's food did not taste good? Yet, these "saints" refused even at the risk of death. Yes, God was at the center of chapter one.


Chapter 2 describes the figure of the end-time (eschatological) stone to indicate that the kingdom of Christ will eventually replace all the kingdoms of the world. Chapter 3 reveals Christ walking with His faithful servants within a furnace of fire. Chapter 4 shows God removing Nebuchadnezzar from his kingdom from for a period of time so that the king could understand that “Heaven rules” (Dan. 4:26, NKJV). The expression “Heaven rules” reminds us that Christ, as “the Son of Man” (Dan. 7:13, NKJV), receives the dominion and the kingdom, as depicted in Daniel 7. Chapter 5 shows the demise of King Belshazzar and the fall of Babylon to the Persians during a night of revelry and debauchery. This foreshadows the defeat of Satan and the obliteration of end-time Babylon by Christ and His angels. Chapter 6 shows the plot against Daniel in ways that resemble the false accusations voiced against Jesus by the chief priests. Moreover, as King Darius unsuccessfully tries to spare Daniel, Pilate unsuccessfully tries to spare Jesus (Matt. 27:17-24). Chapter 7 depicts Christ as the Son of man receiving the kingdom and reigning over His people. Chapter 8 shows Christ as a priest of the heavenly sanctuary. Chapter 9 portrays Christ as the sacrificial victim whose death reconfirms the covenant between God and His people. And chapters 10-12 present Christ as Michael, the commander-in-chief, who fights the forces of evil and victoriously rescues God’s people, even from the power of death.

So let us bear in mind that Christ is central to Daniel. At every chapter of the book there is some experience or idea that points to Christ.

Daniel had enemies. They wanted him dead. But, Daniel had a character where they could find no fault in him. Why? He maintained his connection with God. Why did he disobey the king's order and pray to God? Because he was dependent upon prayer to maintain his dependence upon God. He did not forget God, and God did not forget him. Yes, God is central the Book of Daniel because God was central in the life of Daniel.


Amid struggles, trials, or even times of great happiness and prosperity, how can we learn to keep Christ at the center of our lives? Why is it so important that we do so?

We come into this world with a fallen nature and can do no good thing for the right reason until we are born again of the Spirit. Then we are empowered to keep the law of God to the degree we understand it. And, when we surrender the whole heart, the Holy Spirit takes possession of it. We then are filled with the fruits of the Spirit, not one is missing. We may know the false from the truly converted by the fruit being manifested in the life. Good fruit cannot come from a bad (unconverted) tree. Nor can bad fruit come from a good tree. If we do not keep our eyes upon Jesus, if we loose our connection with Him, we will sin.

If we abide in Christ and He in us, we will not sin, for we shall not be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Monday         January 30

The Structure of Daniel

The arrangement of the Aramaic section of Daniel, chapters 2-7 (parts of Daniel were written in Hebrew and other parts in Aramaic), reveals the following structure, which helps reinforce a central message of that section, and of the book:


      A. Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of four kingdoms (Daniel 2)
         B. God delivers Daniel’s companions from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3)
            C. Judgment upon Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4)
            C'. Judgment upon Belshazzar (Daniel 5)
         B'. God delivers Daniel from the den of lions (Daniel 6)
      A'. Daniel’s vision of four kingdoms (Daniel 7)

This kind of literary arrangement serves to highlight the main point by placing it at the center of the structure, which in this case consists of C and C’ (Daniel 4 and 5): God removes the kingdom from Nebuchadnezzar (temporarily) and from Belshazzar (permanently). Therefore, the emphasis of chapters 2-7 is on God’s sovereignty over the kings of the earth as He establishes and removes them.

One of the most effective ways of conveying a message and making a point clear is by repetition. For example, God gives Pharaoh two dreams about the immediate future of Egypt (Gen. 41:1-7). In the first dream, seven fat cows are devoured by seven thin cows. In the second dream, seven ears of healthy grain are devoured by seven thin and blighted ears. Both dreams make the same point: seven years of prosperity will be followed by seven years of scarcity.

In the book of Daniel, God also uses repetition. There are four prophetic cycles, which are repetitions of an overall basic structure. In the end, this structure shows us the ultimate sovereignty of God. Although each major prophetic outline conveys a distinct perspective, together they cover the same historical period, extending from the time of the prophet to the end, as the following diagram shows:

Daniel 2                 Daniel 7                         Daniel 8, 9                 Daniel 10-12
Babylon                  Babylon       
Media-Persia        Media-Persia                 Media-Persia             Media-Persia
Greece                Greece                                 Greece                  Greece
Rome                 Rome                                    Rome                      Rome

God’s Kingdom   Heavenly Judgment
is Established       that Leads to                     Purification                Michael Stands Up
                              New Earth                  of the Sanctuary
                             
   

What great hope do these texts present regarding our long-term prospects? Dan. 2:44, Ps. 9:7-12, 2 Pet. 3:11-13.
   
2:44   And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 

 9:7   But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. 
 9:8   And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. 
 9:9   The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 
 9:10   And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 
 9:11   Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. 
 9:12   When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. 

 3:11   [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, 
 3:12   Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 
 3:13   Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 


While the kingdoms of this Earth rule over man, God has  been faithful in establishing His kingdom on Earth, and it will crush the kingdoms of this world in the end, in the times in which we live. When we are truly converted, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are that kingdom. And, we read that we who love God supremely have it in our power to hasten the soon coming of Jesus. We remain on this Earth, with wars since our birth as a church, because we have not done that which has been entrusted to us. When we have revival and reformation in His church, then Jesus kingdom will be able to go through a time of trouble  such as never was without a Mediator.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Tuesday         December 31

Apocalyptic Prophecies in Daniel

The prophetic visions recorded in the book of Daniel are of a different nature than most prophetic messages delivered by other Old Testament prophets. Daniel’s prophecies belong to the category of apocalyptic prophecy, whereas most of the other Old Testament prophecies belong to the category of classical prophecy. An understanding of the basic difference between these prophetic genres is crucial for a correct understanding of biblical prophecy.

    Apocalyptic prophecies display some peculiar features that differentiate them from the so-called classical prophecies:

    Visions and dreams. In apocalyptic prophecy God uses mainly dreams and visions to convey His message to the prophet. In classical prophecy, the prophet receives “the Word of the Lord”, — which can include visions — an expression that occurs with slight variations about 1600 times in the classical prophets.
    Composite symbolism. While in classical prophecy there is a limited amount of symbolism, mainly involving symbols that are true to life; in apocalyptic prophecy God shows symbols and imagery beyond the world of human reality, such as hybrid animals or monsters with wings and horns.
    Divine sovereignty and unconditionality. In contrast to classical prophecies, whose fulfillment is often dependent on human response in the context of God’s covenant with Israel, apocalyptic prophecies are unconditional. In apocalyptic prophecy God reveals the rise and fall of world empires from Daniel’s day to the end of time. This kind of prophecy rests on God’s foreknowledge and sovereignty and will happen regardless of human choices.

Read Jonah 3:3-10. Is this a classical or apocalyptic prophecy? Justify your answer. What about Daniel 7:6?

Knowing about broad prophetic genres such as classical and apocalyptic prophecy can be of great benefit. First, these genres show that God uses a variety of approaches to communicate prophetic truth (Heb. 1:1). Second, such knowledge helps us better appreciate the beauty and complexity of the Bible. Third, this knowledge also helps us to interpret biblical prophecies in ways that are consistent with the testimony of the entire Bible and rightly explain “the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

On the basis of passages such as Hosea 3:4, 5; Amos 8:11; and Zechariah 9:1; some Christians today expect the final events of world history to unfold in the Middle East. What is wrong with this interpretation? How can knowing the difference between apocalyptic and classical prophecies help us clarify this matter?

The final events of world history involve all nations. The two nations that are most involved are Rome and the United States. Jerusalem, in the Middle East, plays a part in the closing scenes. The fifth and sixth trumpets involved Islam and Rome. We have no reason to think that Islam is not involved in the seventh trumpet which is the third woe. The time of the end   began in 1798. In 1840 the Ottoman Empire came to its end. The Middle East and Europe were involved.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Wednesday         January 1

God’s Timescale

Another important concept that we need to keep in mind as we study the book of Daniel is the historicist approach to apocalyptic prophecies. This approach, also known as historicism, can be better understood if compared with the opposing views of preterism, futurism, and idealism.

    Preterism tends to view the prophetic events announced in Daniel as having occurred in the past.
    Futurism contends that the same prophecies still await a future fulfillment.
    Idealism, in turn, holds that apocalyptic prophecies are symbols of general spiritual realities without any specific historical referents.
    Historicism, in contrast, holds that in apocalyptic prophecy God reveals an unbroken sequence of history from the time of the prophet to the end of time. As we study the book of Daniel, we will see that each major vision in the book (Daniel 2, 7, 8, 11) repeats this historical outline from different perspectives and with new details. The Adventist pioneers, including Ellen G. White, understood the biblical prophecies of Daniel and Revelation from a historicist perspective.

Read Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:5, 6. In prophetic language what does a “day” usually represent?

As we study the book of Daniel, we should also keep in mind that prophetic time is measured according to the year-day principle. That is, a day in prophecy usually equals one year in actual historical time. Thus, for example, the prophecy of the 2,300 evenings and mornings should be understood as referring to 2,300 years (Dan. 8:14). Likewise, the prophecy of the 70 weeks should be understood to be 490 years (Dan. 9:24-27).

This time scale seems to be correct for some obvious reasons: (1) Since the visions are symbolic, the times indicated must also be symbolic. (2) As the events depicted in the visions unfold over long periods of time, even to the “time of the end” in some cases, the time spans related to these prophecies should be interpreted accordingly. (3) The year-day principle is confirmed by the book of Daniel. A clear example comes from the 70-week prophecy, which extended from the days of King Artaxerxes to the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. So the most obvious and correct way to make sense of the prophetic time periods given in the book of Daniel is to interpret them according to the year-day principle.

Some of these time prophecies cover hundreds, even thousands of years. What should this teach us about patience?

Patience regarding interpretation of Bible prophecies? If we want to correctly understand what it prophesied, why rush to a false interpretation? We want to know truth, what God has revealed, not what we think God has revealed. God is not happy when we teach things that are not so.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Thursday         January 2

Contemporary Relevance of Daniel

Although written more than 2,500 years ago, the book of Daniel remains profoundly relevant for God’s people in the 21st century. We shall note three areas in which Daniel can be relevant for us.

    God stands sovereign over our lives. Even when things go wrong, God stands sovereign and works through the whims of human actions to provide the best for His children. The experience of Daniel in Babylon resembles that of Joseph in Egypt and Esther in Persia. These three — young people were captives in foreign countries and under the overwhelming power of pagan nations. To the casual observer they may have seemed weak and God-forsaken. However, the Lord strengthened them and used them in powerful ways. When facing trials, sufferings, and opposition, we can look back to what God did for Daniel, Joseph, and Esther. We can rest assured that the Lord remains our Lord, and He has not abandoned us even amid our trials and temptations.

    God steers the course of history. At times we feel troubled by a confused and aimless world that is full of sin and violence. But the message of Daniel is that God stands in control. In every single chapter of Daniel, the message is hammered home that God steers the flow of history. As Ellen G. White says: “In the annals of human history the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as dependent on the will and prowess of man. The shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, behind, above, and through all the play and counterplay of human interests and power and passions, the agencies of the all-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will”. — Education, p. 173.

Amen!  Nothing happens in the universe that God does not allow to happen. All things that happen work for our good and God's glory as we abide in Christ.


    God provides a role model for His end-time people. Daniel and his friends serve as role models for life in a society that holds a worldview often at odds with that of the Bible. When pressed to compromise their faith and make concessions to the Babylonian system in areas that would deny their commitment to the Lord, they remain faithful to the Word of God. Their experience of faithfulness and absolute commitment to the Lord provides encouragement when we face opposition and even persecution for the sake of the gospel. At the same time, Daniel shows that it is possible to make a contribution to the state and society and remain committed to the Lord.

Read Daniel 9:23; Daniel 10:11, 12; and Matthew 10:29-31.

 9:23   At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show [thee]; for thou [art] greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 
 10:11   And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 
 10:12   Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 
 10:29   Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 
 10:30   But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 
 10:31   Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 


What do these verses say about God’s interest in our personal struggles?

God sent His innocent Son into this dark spot in the universe that we might know Him, be transformed, and eternally saved. Yes, God knows the number of hairs on our heads, He cares about all that we go through. He allows our struggles that we might grow in our character,
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Friday          January 3

Further Thought: “The Bible was designed to be a guide to all who wish to become acquainted with the will of their Maker. God gave to men the sure word of prophecy; angels and even Christ Himself came to make known to Daniel and John the things that must shortly come to pass. Those important matters that concern our salvation were not left involved in mystery. They were not revealed in such a way as to perplex and mislead the honest seeker after truth. Said the Lord by the prophet Habakkuk: ‘Write the vision, and make it plain, … that he may run that readeth it’. Habakkuk 2:2. The word of God is plain to all who study it with a prayerful heart. Every truly honest soul will come to the light of truth. ‘Light is sown for the righteous’. Psalm 97:11. And no church can advance in holiness unless its members are earnestly seeking for truth as for hid treasure”. — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 521, 522.

Amen! And we have so much treasure that if we study to know truth, we shall be as lights in a dark world.


“Study the history of Daniel and his fellows. Though living where they were, met on every side by the temptation to indulge self, they honored and glorified God in the daily life. They determined to avoid all evil. They refused to place themselves in the enemy’s path. And with rich blessings God rewarded their steadfast loyalty”. — Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases [No. 224], vol. 4, pp. 169, 170.

Amen! And so it may be with us if we will learn of God so that we see His great love and will surrender all unto Him!


Discussion Questions
:

    As we study the book of Daniel, one powerful point will come through. God is not only sovereign over all the nations but also intimately acquainted with each of us, at even the deepest level. For example, as we will see in Daniel 2, He was able to give a pagan king a dream. To be able to get into someone’s mind while that person is sleeping and implant a dream reveals a closeness that we cannot even begin to fathom. At the same time, as we will see, the nature of the dream reveals that God is ultimately in control even of the world’s vast empires and knows how everything is going to end. What comfort and hope can we draw from these depictions of reality? At the same time, how does it make you feel to know that the Lord is so close that He knows your very thoughts? In this context, why does the promise of the Cross become so important?

In the judgment which began in 1844, which Daniel told us of, we understand that God knows our motives and they are written down in the books in heaven. Then we only have one hope of heaven, that we be transformed by seeing God's grace continually. Where do we see this grace? On the cross. It was my sins that put Jesus on the cross, and it is by His stripes that ought to have been mine that I will be healed....if I spend a thoughtful hour each day contemplating His grace.


    In class, discuss the difference between classical and apocalyptic prophecy. What other examples of both can you find in the Bible?
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.