LESSON IV.—SABBATH, APRIL 22, 1893
Suggestive Questions and Lesson Scriptures.
(a) What three points in the work of redemption have we considered? (b) How and when will the work of redemption be complete? (c) Give three texts that speak of the restored dominion. 2. When did Peter say the restoration of all things would take place? "And that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began." Acts 3: 20, 21. 3. Who does he say has spoken of this time? "Whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began." Acts 3: 21, last clause. 4. What promise was made to Abraham? "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." Gen. 17: 7, 8. 5. Who are heirs of this promise made to Abraham? "By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise." Heb. 11: 9. 6. Did they receive the promise while they were living? "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Heb. 11: 13. 7. For what did they look? "For he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God." "But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city." Heb. 11: 10, 16. 8. To what time did Job look for final deliverance? "But I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand up at the last upon the earth; and after my skin hath been thus destroyed, yet from my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. My reins are consumed within me." Job 19: 25-27. 9. What was revealed to Balaam when he was seeking to prophesy against Israel? "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not nigh; there shall come forth a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of tumult." "And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city." Num. 24: 17, 19. 10. What does the Psalmist say about the coming of the Lord? "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people; gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; for God is judge himself." Ps. 50: 3-6. "A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his adversaries round about. His lightnings lightened the world; the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people have seen his glory." Ps. 97: 3-6. "For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be; but the meek shall inherit the land; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." "The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever." Ps. 37: 10, 11, 29. 11. What warning is given by Zephaniah? "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: 3. 12. Why were they commanded to seek the Lord? "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." Zeph. 2: 1, 2. 13. To what point in the plan of redemption did all the prophets look? and why? See note 1. 14. What did Jesus say his people should do after they saw certain signs in the heavens? "But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21: 28. 15. What does Paul say of the coming of the Lord? "So Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation." Heb. 9: 28. 16. Why should the Bible writers say so much about the coming of the Lord, when he would not come for so many hundred years after they wrote? See note 2. 17. What admonition did Jesus leave for his people? "Watch therefore; for ye know not when the Lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cock crowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Mark 13: 35-37. 18. What effect should this theme have on all believers? 19. How can we comfort one another? "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh." Heb. 10: 25.