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The Sabbath-School

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 27, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 33.

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The Sabbath-School.

LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—SEPT. 19.

Prophecy, Its Use and Importance.

1. How did God talk with man before the fall? It is evident that before the fall God talked with man face to face. Gen. 1:28; 2:16, 17 speak of God talking to man in a familiar manner, but do not say that it was face to face. But our Saviour says that the pure in heart shall see God (Matt. 5:8), and since our first parents were then pure and upright, we must conclude that they also saw God. Since the fall, however, no man has been able to look upon God, and when God has spoken, it has been from a cloud, or from thick darkness. Deut. 5:22. The priests in the sanctuary were not able to look upon the glory of God, but had to be protected from the sight.
2. What is one result of sin? "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isa. 59:2.
3. After man had sinned, what effect would the immediate presence of God have upon him? "And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me, and live." Ex. 33:20.
4. What instance have we where God spoke direct to the children of Israel? "And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." Ex. 20:1, 2.
5. Why did they desire Moses to speak the word of the Lord to them? "And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." Ex. 20:19.
6. What is one medium through which God can make known his will to sinful man? "And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." Num. 12:6.
7. How much of what God proposes to do will he reveal to his prophets? "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7.
8. Name examples of visions given for the benefit of generations to come. "But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days." Dan. 2:28. "Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for yet the vision is for many days." Dan. 10:14. "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Dan. 12:4.
9. How were they preserved for the benefit of mankind? "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed; then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters." Dan. 7:1. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Rom. 15:4.
10. What does David say of God's word? "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Ps. 119:105.
11. What especially gives it the character of a lamp? "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 daystar arise in your hearts." 2 Pet. 1:19.
12. How are we exhorted in this verse to give attention to prophecy?
13. What is prophecy? Ans.—"A declaration of something to come; a foretelling; a prediction; especially, an inspired prediction."—Webster.
14. Have we a right to study prophecy? "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deut. 29:29.
15. Show that the man of God cannot be fully equipped without a knowledge of the prophetic word. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
16. Give instances where Christ referred to prophecies concerning himself and his mission. "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." Luke 24:27. See also Luke 4:16-21.
17. How did he rebuke the unbelieving disciples? "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." Luke 24:25.
18. What two books are largely composed of prophecies for the last days? Daniel and Revelation.
19. What is the inspired title of the last book of the Bible? "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John." Rev. 1:1.
20. What is a revelation? That which is revealed.
21. How are we encouraged to become acquainted with the contents of the revelation? "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand." Rev. 1:3.
22. What curse is pronounced on those who shall interfere with the prophecy of this book? "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Rev. 22:18, 19.
23. What shows that the book of Daniel would not all be understood from the first? "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." "And I heard, but I understood not; then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Dan. 12:4, 8-10.
24. When may we expect it to be understood? Verses 4, 9.
25. Who will understand it? Verse 10.