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LESSON I.—APRIL 5.—THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM AND THE COMING OF THE LORD

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 19, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 12.

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THE SABBATH SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL SERIES
THE SABBATH SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL SERIES

LESSON I.—APRIL 5.—THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM AND THE COMING OF THE LORD.

NOTE.—This series of lessons is entitled, "Studies on the Gospel Message." For Introduction and excellent suggestions as to their study, we refer the student to the Lesson Quarterly.

SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY.

HOLD closely in your study to the line of thought suggested in the lesson. There are many other things taught in these texts, but they are used in this lesson to develop a special theme. Try to get such a grasp of the scriptures used in this lesson that they shall present to your mind a connected chain of thought concerning the nature of this Gospel of the kingdom and the message in which it is to be preached just before the coming of the Lord. When this is clearly seen, other scriptures will readily associate themselves with the theme and will broaden the view of the subject.
The coming of the Lord and the end of the world are inseparably connected (Matt. 24:3), and a definite work is to be done as the preparation for these events (verse 14). This is the Gospel of personal experience (Luke 17:20, 21), and involves the doing of God's will (Matt. 6:10). It gives to God His rightful place (Jer. 10:10), and recognizes the exalted position of Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 6:14, 15). It sets forth true humility as the basis of its citizenship (Matt. 18:3, 4), and makes service to be true worship (Matt. 4:10). It shows upon what the dominion is based (Heb. 1:8), and the worthy objects of man's desire (Matt. 6:33).
There is only one Gospel (Gal. 1:8), and this was preached to Abraham (Gal. 3:8), and involved the coming of Christ in the flesh as his seed (verse 16). Wherever the Gospel is mentioned, therefore, it is this same Gospel of the kingdom, the Gospel of righteousness by faith, the Gospel of the Son of God to the human family. See Rom. 1:1-4, 16, 17.
Just before the coming of the Lord this Gospel is to be preached to all the world (Rev. 14:6) in a threefold message, directing all to the worship of the Creator (verse 7) setting forth the result of turning from this true worship (verse 8), warning against the worship of the beast and his image (verses 9, 10), and showing the result of accepting this Gospel message (verse 12). When the Gospel of the kingdom, as set forth in these verses, has been preached in all the world, the Lord will come (verse 14), and the harvest of the earth will be reaped (verse 16; Matt. 13:39).

QUESTIONS.

  1. What two great events are associated? What makes this clear?
  2. What prepares the way for these events?
  3. What false idea did the Pharisees hold about the kingdom?
  4. With what statement did Jesus seek to correct this wrong view?
  5. What does praying for the coming of the kingdom include? How can each one co-operate in answering his own petition?
  6. What place does the Gospel of the kingdom assign to God? How extensive is His dominion?
  7. What titles show the place assigned to Jesus Christ?
  8. What is the condition of entrance into the kingdom?
  9. What is the measure of true greatness in this kingdom?
  10. What experience constitutes an essential part of real worship?
  11. Upon what basis is the government of this kingdom administered?
  12. What is to be the first aim in life? What necessary things are thus assured to us? What is the result of reversing this plan?
  13. What shows that there can be only one Gospel? What has your experience taught you concerning this?
  14. On what basis was the Gospel preached to Abraham? In what promise was it expressed?
  15. How is the coming of Christ in the flesh set forth in the promises to Abraham?
  16. Who is the theme of the Gospel? What teaches the fact of the union of humanity and divinity in Him?
  17. How extensively is this Gospel of the kingdom to be preached just before the coming of the Lord?
  18. What is the first thing commanded? What event is announced? Who is to be worshiped? How is He distinguished from the creature?
  19. What experience shows the result of rejecting the Gospel of the kingdom?
  20. What powers are evidently seeking for the worship which belongs to the Creator alone?
  21. What will be the result of yielding to this demand?
  22. What is evidently the real question at issue? How is this shown?
  23. What event is closely connected with the settlement of this question? What statement shows that the Son of Man comes as a king?
  24. What is the harvest of the earth?