(Daniel 11:35-39; Revelation 3:1-6; 11:1-18) Blog May. 05-11, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: PresentTruthLRI@gmail.com
REVIEW: We live in a world of conflict. Strife springs from within our hearts and can only be controlled by God’s Holy Spirit. Those who accept God’s salvation are the special objects of Satan’s attacks. During the Middle Ages this led to severe persecution by the predominant church.
For our video on the church of Sardis visit:
The Church of Sardis
1. When, with the sword of the Spirit, the Protestant Reformation dealt a deadly wound to the Papacy in the Middle Ages dividing Protestantism and Catholicism, what does Revelation call the period of church history that followed? Revelation refers to the post-Reformation church as Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6; See also Preface to KJV Par. 3).
2. For what is the church of Sardis known? The church of Sardis is known for having a good name but lacking corresponding piety (Rev. 3:1-2).
3. How does the description of the church of Sardis correspond to the post-Reformation church? The post-Reformation church was heavy on correct doctrine but grew lax on Christian living just as Jesus said that the works of Sardis were not perfect before God. Orthodoxy swallowed piety (Rev. 3:2).
4. How does Daniel 11 describe the anti-God power that arose at the end of Papal supremacy? Daniel 11 describes the post-Papal power as one that magnifies itself above every god, speaks against the true God, & gives no regard for Jesus (the Desire of women). It trusts in force & human reason rather than divine revelation (Dan. 11:36-39).
5. What does Revelation 11 call the power that rose when the Papacy was wounded? Revelation 11 calls the post-Papal power “the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit” (Rev. 11:7).
6. How does Revelation 17 describe the power that rose when the Papacy was wounded? Revelation 17 depicts the post-Papal power as the sixth world power (head or kingdom) on which the woman (false church) rides (Rev. 17:10).
For our video on the Daniel 11 part B visit:
For our video on the Revelation 17 visit:
The Two Witnesses
7. What does Revelation 11 say that the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit will do to God’s two witnesses? Revelation 11 says that that beast will war against, overcome, & kill God’s two witnesses (Rev. 11:7).
8. Who are God’s two witnesses? God established that two witnesses are required to confirm a matter, Isaiah wrote that the law & the testimony were these two witnesses, Moses who brought the law & Elijah the prophet are portrayed in Revelation 11, & Zechariah tells us that God’s Spirit comes to us from two olive trees that supply the golden oil for our lamps. These all picture the law & the prophets as the two witnesses & since the prophets give the testimony of Jesus, they can also refer to the Old & New Testament (Deut. 19:15; Isa. 8:20; Zech. 4:1-14; Rev. 11:3-6).
9. What had God’s two witnesses been doing before they were attacked by the beast from the bottomless pit? For a long period of time God’s two witnesses (Bible – OT & NT) have been preaching in obscurity yet powerfully (Rev. 11:3-6).
10. How are we to understand the time periods recorded in Revelation eleven? In Bible prophecy a day is a symbol for a year & a “time” is a year of 360 days. So, God’s true church was trodden under by unbelievers for 1260 years while the two witnesses prophesied in obscurity. This was the period of Papal supremacy recorded also in Daniel seven & Revelation twelve (Num. 14:34; Eze. 4:6; Dan. 7:25; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14).
11. How is the book of Revelation organized? Revelation in organized following the sanctuary pattern given to Moses. First it contains three parallel prophecies covering the Christian Era (Rev. 1-11 – the Holy Place). Then it concentrates on those involved in the marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 12-19 – the Most Holy Place) & ends with the Christ’s second coming, the Millennium, & the new earth (Rev. 19-22 – the Sabbatical Year & Jubilee) (Rev. 1-22).
12. After covering the sixth trumpet where does Revelation turn? Between the sixth & seventh trumpets there is a parenthesis giving more detail to the experience of God’s people following the deadly wound received by the Papacy (Rev. 10-11).
For our video on the Two Witnesses visit:
The Parenthesis
13. What does Revelation picture as taking place between the sixth & seventh trumpets? Revelation ten portrays God’s people intently studying the “little book” that Jesus opened (Daniel), mistakenly expecting that the marriage was Christ’s second coming. The account of their disappointment was followed by a command to measure God’s sanctuary & the story of the two witnesses (Rev. 10:1-11:12).
14. Knowing that the seven trumpets portray the power of prayer during the Christian Era and that the sixth trumpet frees the angel that announces the hour of God’s final judgment, what time period are we in when “the beast from the bottomless pit” attacks the two witnesses? We are after the time of Moslem torment & near the end of the 1260 years of Papal supremacy (Dan. 11:35-36. Rev. 10:13-16; 11:7).
15. What atheistic revolution near the end of Papal dominance attacked God’s Word and for three-and one-half years stomped on it? The French Revolution abolished religion, Bibles were burned, & bloodshed was rampant from November of 1793 until June of 1797. (Rev. 11:8-10).
16. What happened to God’s Word after 1797? Thousands of copies of the Bible were published & missionaries carried its message to the far corners of the earth, just as Jesus predicted (Rev. 11:11-12).
17. What does the Bible say would take place at the end of the trumpet parenthesis? Revelation says that between the sixth & seventh trumpets God’s final judgment (great earthquake) would begin (Rev. 11:13).18. When God’s people blow the seventh trumpet what is the result? The blowing of seventh trumpet ushers in Christ’s reign which brings the seven last plagues, the judgment of the wicked, & the rewards of the righteous (Rev. 11:15-18).
What belief most drastically separated the Reformation from Rome?
(Daniel 7 & 8; Romans 2 – 5; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 10:5-9) Blog Apr. 28 – May 3, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: <PresentTruthLRI@gmail.com>
REVIEW: The war that began in heaven came to this earthbringing continual conflict between good and evil. Those who accept God’s salvation are the special objects of Satan’s attacks. When persecution did not eliminate God’s church in the first centuries, Satan joined the church bringing impurity. This led to the formation of the Papacy.
The Reformers & the Bible
1. When the Papacy replaced three of Daniel’s ten divided nations what did she do next? The Papacy went about changing God’s Ten Commandment Law to not mention graven images. She taught the people to seek forgiveness of sins at a human confessional instead of from God in heaven & she taught that justification before God required not just faith but also works of love (Dan. 7:20-26; 8:9-12).
2. When true believers taught men contrary to Papal dogma what did the Papacy do? The church persecuted those who taught contrary to her doctrines, even to the point of torture & death at the stake (Dan. 7:7-10, 20-26; Rev. 13:4-8).
3. What happened when the Papacy was at the height of its glory? God raised up men & women who based their faith on the Bible alone & taught others to do the same (Dan. 8:9-12, 23-25).
4. Where in the Bible are we taught to base our faith on the Word of God alone? The Apostle Paul in Romans makes clear that only in Holy Scripture is the Gospel revealed, that it is the power of God unto salvation, & that faith comes by hearing that word. David wrote that God’s Word gives light & understanding, Isaiah said that the law & testimony of God was how to test light, Jesus said we are to live by every word of God, & Paul wrote to Timothy that Holy Scripture was a sufficient guide for faith & doctrine (Psa. 119:130; Isa. 8:20; Rom. 1:1-5; 10:17; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).
5. What was the attitude of the Papacy toward Holy Scripture? The Papacy taught that only the magisterium of the church could rightly interpret Scripture so kept the Bible in the Latin language chained in her edifices & (like the Pharisees) taught that tradition was equal with Scripture (Mark 7:5-13; Col. 2:8).
6. What was the attitude of the Reformers toward Holy Scripture? The Reformers taught that the Bible alone was a sufficient, authoritative guide for faith & practice & that the Holy Spirit (not church councils) was its proper Interpreter (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 1 John 2:20, 27).
7. How did the Protestant Reformers “rightly divide” the Word of God? The Reformers distinguished between “law” & “gospel.” In this way they trusted their salvation to a finished gospel while taking seriously the Bible commands to live holy lives (Isa. 8:20; Gal. 3:1-14; 2 Tim. 2:15).
The Reformers & Grace
8. Besides the idea of “the Bible only,” what other Reformation belief most drastically separated her from Rome? Sola Fide (by faith alone) was the other area of greatest contention with the Papacy for the Reformers taught that faith alone brought justification (Rom. 3:28; Eph. 2:8-9).
9. What Bible definition of “justification” did the Protestant Reformers rediscover? Using Romans 4 the Reformers rediscovered that “to justify” means to declare or account righteous & NOT “to make” righteous (Rom. 4:3-6).
10. How did the Protestant Reformers understand the relationship between grace, faith, and justification? The Reformers understood that by grace the Father gave us his Son, that the Spirit gives us faith in the Son, in whom is the righteousness by which we are justified (Rom. 3:21-25; Eph. 2:8-9).
11. What text summarizes the wonderful transaction called justification? Second Corinthians 5:21 states that Jesus became sin for us so that we might be counted the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor. 5:21).
12. What Reformation war cry did the Reformers find in Romans 5? In Romans 5 the Reformers saw that Jesus, all by himself, accomplished our salvation. Their war cry was “Solus Cristus” (Christ Alone) (Rom. 5:12-19).
The Reformers & the Law
13. With all their emphasis on grace, faith, and Jesus alone what place did the Reformers give to good works? The Reformers with their emphasis on the Bible as a rule for living, taught that good works are always the fruit of faith (Eph. 2:8-10; Col. 1:9-10).
14. What Scriptures must have inspired the Reformers to live and teach obedience to God’s will? First Samuel 15, Acts 5, Romans 6, & many other passages must have inspired the Reformers to obey God in the face of persecution, imprisonment & death (1 Sam. 15:22; Acts 5:29; Rom. 6:13-18).
15. How were the Reformers enabled to preach obedience to God’s law by distinguishing between law and gospel? By distinguishing between law and gospel the Reformers could emphatically proclaim God’s Law which demands perfect obedience while at the same time proclaiming Christ’s gospel as the perfect fulfillment of God’s Law (Matt. 5:17-20; Rom. 2:13; 7:12; Heb. 10:5-9).
16. What were the five war cries of the Reformation? The war cries were “Scripture alone,” “grace alone,” “Christ alone,” “faith alone,” & “Solo Deo gloria” (for God’s glory alone) (Luke 2:14; Rom. 16:27; Jude 1:25).
(Daniel 7:20 –25; 8:9-12; Matthew 24; Revelation 2, 6, 8) Blog Apr. 21-27, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: The war that began in heaven came to this earthbringing condemnation and corruption to every human being. Those who accept God’s salvation are the special objects of Satan’s attacks. Only by studying, believing, and living in harmony with God’s Word can they resist his attacks.
History in Advance
1. Where in the Bible can we find information about events that were to take place during the Christian Era? Apart from the stories recorded in the book of Acts we would need to look in Daniel, Revelation, & Jesus’ Olivet discourse to find information regarding the church in the Christian Era (Daniel; Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; Revelation).
2. What can we learn from Daniel 2 about the Christian Era? Daniel 2 describes a very strong & cruel Roman empire followed by ten divided nations of varying strength. In the days of these nations God will take over all & set up his eternal kingdom (Dan. 2:40-44).
3. What can we learn from Daniel 7 about the Christian Era? Daniel 7, after giving the same description of the Roman Empire, describes a religio-political power (the Papacy) that replaces three of the ten divided nations & tries to change times & laws while persecuting God’s people for 1260 years, followed by God’s final judgment (Dan. 7:7-10, 20-26).
4. What else can we learn about the Papacy from Daniel 8? Daniel 8 describes the Papacy as substituting Christ’s heavenly ministry with an earthly priesthood & having a “fierce countenance & understanding dark sentences” yet using political power to accomplish its persecution of God’s people (Dan. 8:9-12, 23-25).
5. What can we learn from Daniel 11 about the Christian Era? Daniel 11 describes in detail the progress of God’s church after the cross. Beginning with Pentecost (scatter the prey, spoil, & riches) it describes the Arian conflict in the church (speak lies at one table) the Barbarian conquerors of Rome (ships of Chittim), the institution of the confessional (place the abomination that maketh desolate), the persecution of the Middle Ages (they shall fall), the rise of atheism (magnify himself above every god), the rapid return of Papal power (come against him like a whirlwind), apostacy in the church (enter the glorious land), & the final conflict when God’s people receive the Latter Rain (tidings out of the east) (Dan. 11:23-44).
6. What picture of the Christian Era does Jesus give from the Mount of Olives? Jesus says that before his return there will be wars, famines, disease, earthquakes, persecutions, betrayals, & martyrdoms. He warns of false prophets, of losing love, & falling away. He explains that the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel will come, that there will be a great, long period of tribulation followed by signs in the heavens ushering in his return when the Gospel is proclaimed worldwide (Matt. 24:4-31; Mark 13:5-27; Luke 21:8-28).
7. How does the book of Revelation outline the Christian Era? In Revelation the Christian Era is portrayed by seven churches, seven seals, & seven trumpets. These parallel outlines depict Christ’s church as passing from a working stage to a persecuted stage, to an infiltrated stage, to a divided stage, to an orthodox stage, to a loving stage, & finally to a lukewarm stage. In each stage God works through his Spirit, his Word, & the prayers of his people to rescue a remnant of humanity for himself (Rev. 2-11).
The Early Church
8. After the First Century when all the Apostles were dead, what was Pagan Rome’s special means of attack against God’s church? Rome began a systematic persecution & slaughter of Christians. One example is that of pious Polycarp (Rev.2:8-11; 6:3-4; 8:8-9).
9. When persecution failed to extinguish God’s church what new approach did Satan try? Turning from persecution the Emperor Constantine joined the church & brought multitudes of unconverted pagans into it while giving little importance to the Word of God. This required God to test the bride’s devotion with wormwood. During this time faithful Waldo encouraged his followers to preserve the Word of God & covertly share it with others (Rev. 2:12-16; 6:5-6; 8:10-11).
10. What did Jesus foresee happening during the second phase of the Christian church? Jesus foresaw that when facing persecution for their faith, those claiming to be Christians (Jews) would leave the church, making it more pure (Rev. 2:9-10).
11. What two false doctrines did Jesus foresee existing in the third phase of the Christian church? Jesus foresaw the doctrine of Balaam & the doctrine of the Nicolaitans existing in the third phase of the Christian church (Rev. 2:14-15).
12. What is the doctrine of Balaam? Balaam’s desire for wealth & honor led him to devise a plan to corrupt God’s people seducing them to accept the religious practices & companionship of pagans. His name means “confounding the people.” During the Pergamos era of the church, pagans, pagan ideas, & pagan festivals were brought into God’s church (Num. 22:17; 31:16; 1 Cor. 8:9-13; 2 Pet. 2:10-19; Jude 1:11; Rev. 2:14).
13. What is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans? The name means “power to the laity” & refers to those who turned liberty into license, teaching that grace excuses immorality (Rev. 2:6, 14-15; Eph. 4:17-23; Jude 1:4).
Advancing with Courage
14. How did Jesus encourage those who would suffer persecution for his name? Jesus promised a crown of everlasting life to those who would suffer for him to the point of death (Rev. 2:10).
15. How was the truth of Scripture passed on through the centuries? The truth was preserved & passed on to future generations because faithful pastors like Timothy taught & committed it to younger faithful men who did the same for others. In the same way John Wycliffe & William Tyndale sought to make Bible truth available to the English people by translating it into their language (Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 4:11-14; 2 Tim. 2:1-2).
16. What Scriptures must have given comfort and courage to God’s people when facing persecution in early centuries of the church? The words of Jesus & those of John that proclaim eternal life to believers must have brought comfort & courage to persecuted believers (John 5:24; 11:25-26; 1 John 5:11-13).
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: <PresentTruthLRI@gmail.com>
REVIEW: The war that began in heaven came to this earth.Despite being warned of Lucifer’s rebellion, Adam and Eve freely chose to distrust God and to eat the forbidden fruit. This choice brought condemnation of death and a sinful nature to all their descendants. The selfishness that Lucifer originated in heaven springs forth in every human heart and only the love of God can reestablish in our hearts the original harmony with God and his Law that our first parents enjoyed in Eden.
Contrasts
1. What two characteristics of Satan find their opposites in Jesus? Satan was a liar & a murderer from the moment he allowed pride to control his actions, but Jesus does not use force or falsehood. He deals tenderly & honestly with all (Matt. 12:18-21; John 8:44; 14:6; Tit. 1:2).
2. How does the book of Revelation symbolize Satan as a liar and a murderer? Satan’s symbol as a dragon, pictures him as a murderer & that of a serpent, pictures him as a deceiver (Rev. 12:9).
3. When Jesus warned his disciples about what to expect in the future, what was his major concern? Jesus’ major concern for his disciples was that they be not deceived (Matt. 24:4, 5, 11, 24; Luke 21:8; Rev. 11:19).
4. Do we have in ourselves the ability to discern between right and wrong? No, for since the fall of man we are all born loving & speaking lies & don’t know how to direct our steps (Psa. 58:3; Prov. 14:12; 22:15; Jer. 10:23; Rom. 3:10-14).
5. How are God’s people to know what is true and what is false? The Word of God has been given to his people so that they can discern between truth & error (Psa. 119:42, 105, 160, 169; John 17:17; Heb. 4:12).
Warnings
6. Of what two sources of deception did Paul warn the early church? Paul warned of deception coming from outside the church in the form of grievous wolves & from inside the church in the form of false brethren (Acts 20:29-30).
7. Will it be easy to spot grievous wolves when they enter God’s church? No, for they generally come looking like sheep or shepherds & are not easily spotted (Matt. 7:15; Jude 4).
8. In what guise did Paul warn the early church that deceivers might come? Paul warned that deceivers might come as angels of light, like preachers of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:14-15).
9. Who were the most bitter opposers of the light that Jesus brought to this earth? It was the religious leaders of God’s true church who most strongly opposed Jesus while he was on earth (Matt. 23:13; 26:59; John 7:47-48).
10. What counsel did Paul give the early church elders so deception would not ruin the church? The elders were to continually study God’s Word (watch) remembering what Paul had already taught them & they were to feed the church (flock) that same Word so the deceivers from without & from within would be foiled (Acts 20:28, 31-32; 2 Tim.2:15).
11. Besides studying the Word, what else must accompany our study so we will properly understand the truth? We must love the Word, be accompanied by the Holy Spirit, & obey the Word if we are to understand the truth (John 7:17; 2 Thes. 2:10; Jam. 1:22; 1 John 2:20, 27).
12. What are some things that keep us from studying the Bible or rob us of its blessing? The cares of this world, the lack of understanding, tribulation, the deceitfulness of riches, overwork, drowsiness, & reading other things (Jer. 23:26-32; Matt. 13:18-23; 26:39-45).
13. What things are often placed above Scripture when trying to understand the Bible? Councils, human reason, personal experience, miracles, visions, & scholars are often placed over the Bible (Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23; Acts 5:29; 1 Cor. 1:27-28; 3:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:17-20; Rev. 13:14).
Deception
14. Where is deceit naturally found? Deceit is naturally found in all our hearts & under our tongues (Mark 7:20-23; Rom. 3:13).
15. What hope do we have of controlling the deceit that is under our tongues? Our only hope is to receive God’s Spirit that fights against our sinful flesh (Rom. 8:12-13; Gal. 5:17).
16. How are we to discern who are deceivers? Deceivers can be detected by examining their doctrines & their lifestyle. They must rightly divide law & gospel & must live pure, uncovetous, humble lives (Isa. 8:20; Matt. 7:22-23; John 7:18; Rom. 16:18; 2 Pet. 2:10, 14, 18, 19).
17. What do heresies in the church accomplish? Heresies in the church drive us to study the Bible & they reveal who are true believers. They can also cause members to depart (Isa. 28:7-10; 1 Cor. 11:19; 14:22; 1 Tim. 4:16; Tit. 1:7-9).
18. How are we to deal with heretics? We are to admonish a heretic a couple of times & if he doesn’t repent then reject him (Rom. 16:17; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; Tit. 3:10-11; 2 John 1:10).19. If we embrace the truth what will it do for us? The truth will free us from trying to save ourselves & it will progressively sanctify us (make us more holy) (Psa. 119:11; John 8:32; 17:17; Rom. 3:21-24).
(Luke 19:41-44; Hebrews 11:32-38 Revelation 2:1-6) Blog Apr. 07-13, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Before the creation of this earth, heaven’s highest angel thought to reform God’s government. Lucifer convinced one third of the angels to join him in rebellion against God’s rule and God cast them down to this earth. When God created Adam and Eve, he warned them of this rebellion while placing a prohibited tree in the middle of their Eden garden. Despite God’s warning they chose to eat the forbidden fruit, bringing the sentence of death upon them. Then God stepped in between them and death, offering a Savior. That hope inspired them (and us) to live in harmony with God’s governing laws.
1. After face-to-face communion between God and man was broken when Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden, how did God communicate with humanity? God used human prophets to communicate with humanity after the fall. He also spoke from Mount Sinai and at times sent holy angels to speak to people (Ex. 19:19; 20:19; Amos 3:7; Heb. 1:1).
2. Why did God continue to communicate with humanity after the fall? It is God’s nature & his Law to love. He had promised a Savior for humanity & he desired to bless them & rescue as many of them as possible, for only those that choose to return to loyalty to his government will have eternal life (2 Kings 17;13; 1 Chron. 20:20; 2 Chron. 24:19; 2 Pet. 3:9).
3. By nature what is our attitude toward God? By nature we hate God & side with Satan’s enmity against God’s Law for we don’t wish to be subject to God’s Law (Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:3; Jam. 4:4).
4. If we are naturally at enmity with God, how can God fulfill his promise to give us enmity against Satan? It is only by faith in God & repentance that we receive enmity against Satan & love for God & his Law. God desires to give this gift to all (Gen. 3:15; Rom. 8:1-11; Eph. 2:1-9).
Two Classes
5. How do those at enmity with God act? Those at enmity with God follow their own selfish desires (Isa. 1:4; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 John 2:15-16).
6. How do those who love God act? Those who love God love others & work for the good of others (John 14:15; 1 John 3:14; 4:20).
7. How do these two groups reflect what happened in heaven before the creation of this earth? In heaven God continually worked for the good of his creatures but Lucifer devised a system of working only for his own good & exaltation. Thus, are demonstrated the opposing attitudes of love & selfishness (Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28: 17; John 17:24; 1 Pet. 1:18-20).
8. What will be the end of those who refuse to accept God’s love demonstrated in the gift of his Son? They will be judged unworthy of eternal life & therefore remain under the condemnation brought by Adam’s free choice. They shall surely die together with the devil & his angels (John 3:36; 5:27-29, 40; Rom. 5:12; 2 Thes. 1:7-9).
9. What will be the end of those who accept God’s love demonstrated in the gift of his Son? They will be judged worthy of eternal life & live forever with Jesus who God gave as the payment for our sins (John 3:36; 5:29; Rom. 5:18; 1 Thes. 4:17; 1 John 2:2).
10. What is God’s desire for every human being? God is not willing that any should perish but rather that all should find eternal life in his Son (2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 5:11-12).
Jesus’ Attitude
11. When he was on earth what was Jesus’ attitude toward those who refused to believe in him? Jesus’ longing desire was to gather everyone to himself for salvation & he wept over those who refused for he would unselfishly give his life for them also (Matt. 23:27; Luke 19:41-42; 1 John 2:2).
12. How did Jesus prepare his people for the destruction of Jerusalem? Jesus told the eleven leaders of the early church that Jerusalem would be destroyed & gave them a sign as to when to depart & how to pray (Matt. 24:1-4, 14-22).
13. How did the early church thrive under the administration of the twelve apostles? The twelve apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke in a variety of languages, & mightily proclaimed the wonderful works of God. This brought in thousands of new members who had daily fellowship & continued in the faith (Acts 2:1-4, 11, 41-47).
14. How did Jesus describe the early church in Revelation? Jesus praised the early church for patiently working hard & for keeping herself pure by eliminating unbelievers & false teachers, but he also told her that she had lost her first love for him (Rev. 2:1-6).
15. How serious is it for God’s people to be lacking in love? Jesus told the early church that if she did not repent & return to her first love he would come in judgment & remove her from being his people. John reminds her that “to love” is a command from Jesus (John 13:35; 1 John 4:21; Rev. 2:4-5).
16. What does Paul in Hebrews tell believers that they can expect to experience? Paul tells believers that they can expect to experience what believers in the past experienced: subduing kingdoms, obtaining promises, great victories, but also torture, mockings, & bonds (Heb. 11:32-38).
17. What persecution of the early church is recorded in the Bible? James was beheaded, Peter & John were imprisoned & scourged, Stephen was stoned, & the church in Jerusalem was persecuted by Saul (who later was beaten & stoned & finally beheaded) & others who spread it around the empire (Acts 4:1-3; 5:17-18, 40; 7:58; 12:2; 14:19).18. What persecution of the second phase of the Christian church is foretold in Revelation? Jesus warned the church of Smyrna that they would suffer persecution & imprisonment especially for a period of ten prophetic days (probably pointing to the ten Diocletian persecuted the church around the turn of the second century (Rev. 2:10).
What would reformation of God’s government entail?
(Gen. 2:16-17; 3:15; Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:12-15; John 8:44; Rev. 12:7-9) Blog Mar. 31 – Apr. 6, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: <PresentTruthLRI@gmail.com>
INTRODUCTION: Our world is in chaos. Was it always this way? If not, what happened? This quarter we will search the Scriptures for answers to these questions.
War in Heaven
1. What does the Bible tell us about persons who existed before the creation of this earth? Holy Scripture makes clear that God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Lucifer, & angels all existed before the creation of this world (Gen. 1:1-3; Job 38:6-7; Prov. 8:1, 22-23; Eze. 28:14-15; John 1:1-2; 17:5).
2. What does the Bible tell us about events before the creation of this earth? Genesis tells us that the earth was without form & empty. Ezequiel tells us that heaven’s brightest angel led a rebellion in heaven & Revelation tells us that war followed & Lucifer, together with 1/3 of heaven’s angels, was cast down to this empty earth (Gen. 1:2; Eze. 28:11-16; Rev. 12:3-9).
3. For God to permit his creatures to start or join a rebellion what ability must God have created in them? God must have created his creatures with the ability to love: the freedom to serve him or to rebel (Gen. 2:15-17; 1 Kings 18:21; Josh. 24:15; Rev. 22:17).
4. What was Lucifer trying to accomplish in his rebellion? Lucifer desired to reform God’s government & place himself at its head (just like “the man of sin” does) (Isa. 14:13-14; Dan. 7:25; 2 Thes. 2:4).
5. What would reformation of God’s government entail? Reformation of God’s government would involve a change in God’s Law of love, for that is the basis of his government (Psa. 19:7-8; John 8:44; Eph. 2:3).
6. Why didn’t God destroy Lucifer immediately before taking his rebellion to this earth? For the universe to understand the nature & results of Lucifer’s rebellion it was necessary for God to allow it to fully demonstrate its principles so that rebellion would never arise again (Nah. 1:9; Matt. 7:17-20; Rom. 2:4).
7. How did God respond to Lucifer’s rebellion? By observing God’s dealing with Cain, we know that God spoke to Lucifer about his defection, that he warned him of where it would lead, & that he told him the remedy (Gen. 4:5-7; Deut. 32:4; Psa. 145:17).
8. When other methods failed to dissuade Lucifer, what course was God forced to take? When Lucifer decided to control heaven by force, God, in the Person of his Son was forced to fight against Lucifer and the angels that sided with him (Eze. 28:16; Rev. 12:7-9).
War on Earth
9. Of what did God warn Adam and Eve on the day they were created? God warned them of a tree whose fruit they should not eat, for if they did, they would experience not only good but evil, for Lucifer had access to that tree (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-3).
10. According to Jesus, what two weapons does Satan use which are unavailable to God? Satan uses falsehood & force to accomplish his goals, while these are foreign to God (Gen. 3:4; John 8:44).
11. How did Lucifer’s rebellion take root on this earth? When Adam, the federal head of humanity, ate the forbidden fruit, rebellion became a part of the human existence (Gen. 3:6; Psa. 58:3; Rom. 5:12-14).
12. What became Satan’s special object of attack after hearing God’s curse on him in Eden? Lucifer’s special object of attack became “the seed of the woman” from Abel’s day until Christ’s day (Gen. 3:15; 2 Kings 11:1-3; Matt. 2:13-16; Rev. 12:4).
13. According to Galatians, who was the promised “seed of the woman”? Jesus was the promised “Seed of the woman” (Gal. 3:16).
14. How did Jesus undue the curse of death on humanity? Jesus bore the sins of humanity on the cross & experienced the second death in the place of every human being (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:24).
15. How did Jesus’ life and death prove that Lucifer’s accusations against God’s government were false? By his perfect life Jesus proved that man, as created, could perfectly fulfill God’s Law & by his death Jesus proved that God’s Law could not be changed & that God was a God of unlimited love for he took humanity’s punishment upon himself (Isa. 53:4-6; Matt. 16:21; John 8:29; Heb. 9:22).
16. Why did Jesus have to die? God’s government required death for transgression, so if humanity was to be rescued there must be death in behalf of every sinner (only infinite God could do this for all the fallen) otherwise humanity would bare their own punishment & be forever lost (Psa. 49:7; Hos. 13:14; Rom. 6:23; 1 Tim. 2:6).
17. To whom did Jesus pay the ransom for humanity? Jesus paid humanity’s ransom to the government of God: to God himself, that his government might be maintained while saving humanity (Psa. 49:7-8; Matt. 5:17; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:22; 1 Tim. 2:6; Rev. 5:6).
A Future Hope
18. Since Jesus paid the ransom for every human being, will every human being be saved? No, for we are all born captives of Satan & unless we accept the purchased ransom, we will remain his subjects (destined for destruction) (Psa. 51:5; 58:3; John 3:36; 5:40; 20:31; Rom. 5:17)
19. Will everyone who accepts Jesus as their personal Savior be saved? No, only those who endure in faith unto the end will be saved, for salvation is the end of our faith, not its beginning when we first believe (Eze. 33:13; Matt. 24:13; John 15:6; Heb. 3:6; 1 Pet. 1:9).20. What help do believers in Jesus have in maintaining their faith unto the end? Believers have the indwelling Holy Spirit as a helper on earth, Jesus as their intercessor before the Father in heaven, & a Loving God who so loves us that he sacrificed heaven’s greatest treasure for our salvation. Besides these three persons believers have apostles, pastors, teachers, & fellow saints to encourage them to remain faithful (Luke 10:19; John 3:16; 14:16-17; Rom. 8:11, 26-34; Eph. 4:11-14; Heb. 4:14-16; 10:23-25).
