[Note to the Student.—These lessons are not designed to be exhaustive, but suggestive. In references to the “Desire of Ages,” in the lessons, the subscription edition is referred to. Those who have only the trade edition will find the matter in chapters 1, 4, 11, 27, 71, 77, 78; also read “Patriarchs and Prophets,” chapters 5 and 30. “Christ Our Advocate,” Bible Students’ Library No. 120 (price, 10 cents), and “Looking unto Jesus” (price, $1.00) will be found a great help. The Signs of the Times will have an article on the subject of each lesson this quarter by J. O. Corliss. Read these articles in connection with the study of the lesson. We have not space to print all the scriptures. Let the student study them carefully from the Bible. Those printed are from the Revised Version.]
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. When the work of the investigative judgment is over, what decree goes forth? “He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still; and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still; and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.” Rev. 22:11. Note .
2. Will the world know when this event takes place? “And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.” Matt. 24:37-39. Note .
3. What are God’s people exhorted to do before this decree goes forth? “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation that hath no shame; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” Zeph. 2:1-3.
4. What event takes place in close connection with the going forth of this decree? “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Dan. 12:1. (Dan. 7:13, 14.) Note .
5. What constitutes this time of trouble to the nations? “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God.” Rev. 15:1. (Rev. 16:2.)
6. How long a time will be occupied in the pouring out of the plagues? “Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God which judged her.” Rev. 18:8.
8. What will be the experience of the foolish virgins at this time? “Afterward come also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” Matt. 25:11, 12. (Matt. 7:21-23.)
9. What will be the result of their not having kept God’s Word when they had it? “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” Amos 8:11, 12.
10. By what will they still swear? What will be the result? “In that day shall the fair virgins and the young men faint for thirst. They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, As thy God, O Dan, liveth; and, As the way of Beer-sheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.” Verses 13, 14. Note .
11. What is the time of trouble to God’s people called? What will be the result in the end? “For thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child: wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bands; and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him; but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.” Jer. 30:5-9.
12. When the prophet Habakkuk saw this time of trouble, what did he desire? “Thou wentest forth for the salvation of Thy people, for the salvation of Thine anointed; Thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, laying bare the foundation even unto the neck. Thou didst pierce with his own staves the head of his warriors; they came as a whirlwind to scatter me; their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. Thou didst tread the sea with Thine horses, the heap of mighty waters. I heard, and my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice; rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in my place; that I should rest in the day of trouble, when it cometh up against the people which invadeth him in troops.” Hab. 3:13-16.
13. What is said of those who die in the Lord just before that time? “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.” Rev. 14:13.
14. What causes this time of distress to God’s people? “And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead; and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.” Rev. 13:15-17.
15. What will this lead the saints to do? “And shall not God avenge His elect, which cry to Him day and night, and He is long-suffering over them? I say unto you, that He will avenge them speedily. Howbeit when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:7, 8.
16. Where will they go for safety? What promises will they live upon? “He shall dwell on high; his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks; his bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty; they shall behold a far-stretching land.” Isa. 33:16, 17. (Isa. 41:17, 18.)
17. What words of faith will they utter? “For though the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength, and He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and will make me to walk upon mine high places.” Hab. 3:17-19.
