The lesson reviewed how people misunderstood prophecies and had preconceived notions about the Messiah, preventing them from recognizing Jesus at his first coming. It covered the three promises in Revelation: the “new song” teaching, Mount Zion as the promised temple/church, and the “faithful and wise servant” as the promised pastor. It explained the main Revelation events/people of betrayal, destruction, and salvation represented by real betrayers, destroyers, and saviors. The lesson highlighted how tests and trials prove our faith’s genuineness and encouraged preparing for an upcoming 15-question test assessing knowledge. Overall, it emphasized understanding prophecies, heeding God’s promises, and persevering through trials to reach Revelation’s promised salvation.

 

Study Guide SCJ Bible Study

God’s Work at the End Time

God’s Work at the End Time is the lesson we’re going to cover today. It’s a special lesson, and for the next couple of classes, we’ll be doing special lessons. This is because in the next class, a test is coming up.

As we’re transitioning into the next level and the test is approaching, we’ll be doing special lessons this week. These lessons are not just to avoid missing class, but to help you focus more on the test. You’ll notice that many of these special lessons will be somewhat review-oriented. This will assist you with the test and prepare you for the next level, which is Revelation.

Studying Revelation was actually the reason you wanted to join this class in the first place. By God’s grace, you’ve made it to this point. Please continue to pray that you’ll be able to progress further and that God and the angels will carry us on to finish the course we started.

Let me tell you about my day today. It was fun and eventful. A class actually finished today, completing all of Revelation, taking and passing all their tests. We had a big celebration for them, which I attended and spoke at. It was emotional – they were crying and laughing. Their class was on Zoom, so they were happy to see each other.

This made me think of you all, because soon enough, you’ll finish the class too. If you want to be part of that celebration, make sure you pass your test and do well in the next level. Many people, known and unknown to you, have been praying for you.

The class that just finished has started doing worship service on Mount Zion officially. They found the mountain, glory to God for that and for them. They’re worshiping on the mountain and were so excited about it. I can’t wait until you get to experience the same. I hope you’re looking forward to being on the mountain finally.

You’ve heard it so much, right? “Flee to the mountain.” So, let us in.

One day, very soon, you’ll be able to experience this too. I pray that God will carry you through the entire journey. The students I mentioned were crying and cheerful, enjoying good spiritual and physical food. We provided them with a special lunch event, which was a lot of fun. I can’t wait for you to have your own experience.

This class created a special video where students shared their testimonies about overcoming challenges while studying the word. In 7 months, many things can happen in your life, and there might be obstacles to overcome. One student’s story stood out. She initially didn’t want to take the class, thinking she was too busy for three sessions a week for 7 months.

Many of us felt the same way when we first heard about the commitment – three times a week, nine months, and tests. Even Evangelist Mary and I felt overwhelmed. When I studied this course, like you, I thought life was too demanding to handle three in-person classes a week, each lasting four hours.

However, this student’s perspective changed dramatically. Later, she felt that three times a week wasn’t enough. She wanted to study more every day, even reviewing when there was no class. This transformation is like Ephesians 4, becoming a new creation through the word.

I’m sure you’re going through a similar process, and I pray that all our hearts can be like that sister’s. We may start feeling too busy, but later, all we want to do is study the word.

Do you know what the Bible calls always wanting to do more for God? I’ll give you a hint: it’s something we experience physically too. Look at my screen – water. It’s hunger and thirst. When someone is hungry and thirsty, they always want more food and water.

Similarly, if we’re hungry and thirsty for righteousness, as Matthew 5:6 says, we’ll never have enough of studying the word. After one lesson, we ask for more, saying, “Teach me again. Teach me another one.”

I pray that this class will always remain hungry and thirsty for the word. Amen. Can you do it, or is it too difficult? I pray that we can all do it. Let’s go, as someone said. Let’s eat well spiritually today.

Special lesson, God’s Work at the End Time

This is exciting because we know the kind of God we serve. He’s not a God who just makes promises and then forgets about them. Instead, He’s a God who promises and then fulfills, even when people think it’s impossible. We’ll learn about God’s work of fulfillment at the second coming. As I mentioned, for some of you, this might seem like a review, but I hope that no matter how much food we get, we remain hungry and thirsty.

Let me highlight what we’re going to cover today:

1. Our faith in Jesus
2. Three important promises in Revelation by God and Jesus

   (This is a review of what we discussed in the previous lesson)

3. The three main events / people of Revelation
4. Conclusion

   (I’ll mention a little about the test we’ll have in the next class)

1.- Our Faith in Jesus

Why do you believe in Jesus?

I’ve heard many people answer this question by citing prophecy and fulfilment, which is indeed a great response. But why is it such a compelling answer? Well, many believe in Jesus because he died on the cross for our sins, and he certainly did. When I began my life of faith, this was one of the primary reasons for my belief in Jesus.

However, let’s consider the disciples who believed in Jesus before he bore the cross. Why was their faith so strong that they were willing to become martyrs and give their lives for Jesus? This is what we really want to examine. After all, who doesn’t aspire to have faith like the martyrs? I think all of us want to have faith as strong as theirs. It’s the kind of faith that God and Jesus truly acknowledge.

It’s important to note that everything Jesus did wasn’t simply because he wanted to do it. Rather, everything Jesus did was because it was promised according to the scriptures. His actions were the fulfilment of prophecy.

In these verses, the phrase “according to the scriptures” is repeated multiple times. This indicates that Jesus’ life and the events surrounding it were not random occurrences, but rather fulfillments of prophecy as written in the scriptures.

When considering which scriptures are being referred to, it’s important to note that 2,000 years ago, the New Testament as we know it today did not exist. It was a work in progress, being recorded at that time. The only scriptures available then were the Old Testament scriptures, as mentioned in John 5:39.

This prophecy in the Old Testament speaks about Bethlehem. It states that although Bethlehem is small among the clans of Judah, from it will come one who will be ruler over Israel. Who is this promised ruler? Jesus.

Jesus refers to these scriptures as testifying about him. They prophesy his coming. Understanding this concept makes it easier to grasp the other things we’ll learn today. We know this prophecy is about Jesus because it was fulfilled 2,000 years ago.

Imagine living in Micah’s time and hearing him speak. If Micah looked at you and said, “A ruler is going to come from Bethlehem,” how would you react? You might have questions like, “When is he going to come?” and “Who is this ruler?”

We might have our own thoughts about what kind of person God would send as this ruler. Would we think of someone born in a manger? Probably not. We might imagine a ruler born in a palace, well-educated. But God’s ways are often very different from our thoughts.

Why is this relevant today? We’ve all read the promises in the book of Revelation about Jesus’ second coming. We might make the same mistakes people made at the first coming, having our own ideas about how the fulfillment should take place.

At the first coming, people didn’t easily recognize or accept Jesus. Even those who believed in God and studied the scriptures diligently had a hard time. This could happen again, which is why we’re going through today’s lesson.

Let’s highlight some main points as to why people at the first coming, despite believing in God and studying scriptures, couldn’t recognize or believe in Jesus:

[The text ends here without providing the promised points]

Jesus said, “You diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me.”

When Jesus refers to “the scriptures” in this statement, he is talking about the Old Testament scriptures. This is because at that time, the New Testament as we know it today did not exist.

Jesus is explaining that the Old Testament scriptures testify or point to him. In fact, the main focus of many Old Testament prophecies was actually Jesus. For example, we can see this in Micah 5:2.

This prophecy in the Old Testament speaks about Bethlehem. It states that although Bethlehem is small among the clans of Judah, from it will come one who will be ruler over Israel. Who is this promised ruler? Jesus.

Jesus refers to these scriptures as testifying about him. They prophesy his coming. Understanding this concept makes it easier to grasp the other things we’ll learn today. We know this prophecy is about Jesus because it was fulfilled 2,000 years ago.

Imagine living in Micah’s time and hearing him speak. If Micah looked at you and said, “A ruler is going to come from Bethlehem,” how would you react? You might have questions like, “When is he going to come?” and “Who is this ruler?”

We might have our own thoughts about what kind of person God would send as this ruler. Would we think of someone born in a manger? Probably not. We might imagine a ruler born in a palace, well-educated. But God’s ways are often very different from our thoughts.

Why is this relevant today? We’ve all read the promises in the book of Revelation about Jesus’ second coming. We might make the same mistakes people made at the first coming, having our own ideas about how the fulfillment should take place.

At the first coming, people didn’t easily recognize or accept Jesus. Even those who believed in God and studied the scriptures diligently had a hard time. This could happen again, which is why we’re going through today’s lesson.

Let’s highlight some main points as to why people at the first coming, despite believing in God and studying scriptures, couldn’t recognize or believe in Jesus:

Here’s a few answers.

 

1.- Firstly, they failed to understand the prophecies, which led to their inability to recognize their fulfillment.

2.- Secondly, they could have argued that the name Jesus was not mentioned in the scriptures.

This is particularly interesting because today, believers commonly say they believe in Jesus’s name. However, 2,000 years ago, this was not easy at all, as his name couldn’t be found in the Old Testament. This would have been a significant challenge.

One could argue that because the name Jesus is not in the Old Testament, there was no reason to believe in him. This highlights why people struggled to recognize Jesus.

3.- The third point is that they had knowledge of the prophecies but misunderstood their true meaning.

4.- Fourthly, the Messiah that appeared was different from the Messiah they had envisioned in their minds. In other words, their own preconceptions hindered them.

Do you think any of these factors could affect you today?

Indeed, all of them are possible. We must be careful with all these points.

That’s why I’m highlighting them. So, let me ask everyone: Was Jesus a very handsome, well-educated king born in a prominent place?

No, quite the opposite, right?

This illustrates point number four – the Messiah that appeared was different from what they had imagined. If we were living at that time, we might have thought Jesus should have been handsome, well-educated, or born in Jerusalem in a prominent place, for example.

But that was not the case. It was actually very much the opposite. I’m going to show you a verse that’s very shocking, but it also holds true for believers today.

Misunderstanding about the true meaning

If we read it more carefully, it’s a very shocking verse. It says that the people of Jerusalem, the Israelites who believed in God, and their rulers didn’t recognize Jesus. By condemning Jesus, they fulfilled the words of the prophets that they read every Sabbath.

This situation was sad. Imagine reading Micah 5:2 about a ruler born in Bethlehem every Sabbath for a year. Then, that ruler appears right in front of you, and you help kill him. This was exactly what the people and rulers of Israel did 2,000 years ago. It’s shocking, but it shows that even with knowledge of the prophecies, they misunderstood their true meaning.

They couldn’t recognize who Jesus was, unable to connect that he was the ruler God promised in Micah 5:2. Why? Because what they expected and what actually appeared were different. Either they didn’t know the promise or misunderstood its true meaning.

Now, think about today. How many believers have read the prophecies about Jesus’ return Sunday after Sunday for years? Imagine doing that for 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, or 50 years, yet not knowing that the word is open today and that those promises are being fulfilled now.

What percentage of believers do you think have heard the open word today? Not many, which means many are reading and rereading the prophecies without knowing their true meaning, only following their own thoughts. To be frank, I was in that same situation before learning the open word.

Does anyone relate to this? Many of us were stuck in the same situation, but thank God and glory to God that somehow, even though we were busy and thought three times a week for seven months was long, we still said yes.

We’re just so thankful to God for giving us this opportunity. Anyway, back to our faith in Jesus.

Jesus was not the handsome, well-educated king born in a prominent place that people might have expected. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

From a human perspective, Jesus was the son of a carpenter and lacked formal education. As Isaiah 53 states, he had no beauty to attract us to him. 

Although Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he was raised in Nazareth, a despised place that no one would have anticipated as the home of the Messiah. He spent much of his time in Nazareth, leading people to recognize him as someone from that town.

What is the standard? Who should we listen to?

The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” Today, many people determine whether someone has the truth based on their educational degrees.

What if we applied that same standard 2,000 years ago? If you approached Jesus and asked, “Jesus, what school did you attend?” and he replied, “I didn’t,” would you have believed in him?

It’s a challenging situation. From the world’s perspective, Jesus wasn’t educated, but he possessed the truth he heard from God. He received the word from God.

Jesus also came from Nazareth, a despised place no one would expect. In John 1:46, one of Jesus’ disciples told Nathanael, “We found the one Moses wrote about in the law and the prophets – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael only focused on the word “Nazareth” and responded, “Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?”

That was Nazareth’s reputation. But if God is with someone, does their origin matter?

Imagine you were the only person on Earth with the truth, and someone refused to listen to you because you’re from Atlanta. That doesn’t make sense. Location isn’t a standard for discernment.

Today, we shouldn’t judge people based on where they’re from. If the truth is present, God is with them. If God is with them, we should open our ears and listen.

Let’s learn from past mistakes and not repeat them. When God fulfills his promise, the world often labels it as foolish.

Consider this scenario: Your neighbor with 10 acres of land suddenly starts building a giant boat. You ask why, and they say, “God told me to because a flood is coming.” How would you feel? From the world’s perspective, Noah’s actions seemed foolish.

The world often labels God’s work as foolish. We might do this by mistake too. For example, we might think reviewing is unnecessary, but it’s actually wise, not foolish.

Take extra time to understand something well.

God chooses the weak and the foolish

For example, 2000 years ago when Jesus came, people thought he was just the son of a carpenter, labeling him as foolish.

However, when God looks for people to work through, He doesn’t always choose the strong, mighty, and powerful. Instead, He chooses the weak and the foolish to shame the strong and the wise.

To illustrate this point, let’s consider our own situation. How many of us have a PhD in theology? None. How many of us own a church with over 10,000 members? That would be classified as medium to large. How many of us are millionaires? Definitely not me. How many of us are royalty, born of royal blood? None.

But how many of us are learning God’s secrets today? That’s where all our hands can be raised. Amen. No offense, but you see how God uses the foolish things that don’t seem like much in the world to shame the wise. It’s really only by God’s grace because it would make more sense for someone with a PhD in theology to be taught God’s secrets, but that’s not how God works.

Consider 2000 years ago. Why didn’t God just choose a Pharisee to give the word to? They might have become arrogant. Instead, He chose someone who was lowly and humble, not haughty or arrogant. This is how God works, not just at the first coming, but in every generation.

Another example is Moses. When you imagine someone going to Pharaoh and saying, “Let my people go,” what kind of person do you picture? Younger or older? Typically, he’s depicted as younger, but in Exodus 7:7, it says Moses was 80 years old when he spoke to Pharaoh. Without God’s strength, he couldn’t have done what he did at that age.

This means that until we reach 80 years old, we have no excuse not to study the word. Moses did it through God’s help, and we can do it too. And this is just study, right? We’re not confronting an Egyptian king. So we can do it too, by God’s grace. Amen.

Then, what about today, at the Second Coming?

We have examined numerous aspects, but the crucial question we must consider is: What about today, at the second coming?

Will we repeat the same mistakes? Will we have the same mindset?

Do we want to repeat these errors? Will people today have their own thoughts about God’s work? The answer is yes, but we should strive to be different.

We should be those who believe in God’s work as it is fulfilled, not according to how we thought it should have been fulfilled. Amen.

Let us be people who, when it comes to God and His work, are able and willing to change.

In relationships, one of the hardest things is getting the other person to change. They must be willing, right? They must love you very much to be willing to change.

Similarly, in our relationship with God and Jesus, the only way we’ll be able to change is if we’re willing. God can try repeatedly, but we also have to be willing to do it too. So let us be those who are willing to change and admit when we’re wrong.

Aren’t relationships and marriages easier when people can admit they’re wrong? And the wife said, Amen. Yes, it is much easier.

It’s the same with our relationship with God. It’s easier when, especially on our side, we can admit when we’re wrong. Because when is God wrong?

He’s not. That’s the issue for us, right? He’s never wrong.

It’s always us. So let us pray to God for a very soft, humble, and repentant heart. Amen.

2.- Three Important Promises in Revelation 

This section covers material from the previous lesson, so we’ll review it briefly. There are three important promises in the book of Revelation that we discussed earlier:

1.- The promised teaching, which is the new song (Rev 14:3)
2.- The promised temple or church, which is Mount Zion (Rev 14:1)
3.- The promised pastor, which is new John or the one who overcomes (Rev 1:1-3)

ONE – Promised Teaching = The “New Song” (Rev 14:3)

Can you use your hands to illustrate this process? It should be clear: from God to Jesus, angel to new John, then to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings, and finally to us.

The promised teaching is the words of the open scroll in Revelation, also called the new song in Revelation 14:3.

Why is it specifically called a “new” song? It’s new because it only appears when Revelation is fulfilled. Until then, nobody has heard it before. When people hear it for the first time, it’s new to them.

For many of us, hearing the parables explained or learning about Revelation’s fulfillment was new. We hadn’t heard it before. This is normal because it’s called the new song, as promised in Revelation 14:3, not an old or previous song.

It’s also new because Revelation 5 states that the scroll is sealed, and no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth could open or look inside it. This means no one can understand it until it’s opened. When it’s open, people are hearing that word for the first time, so it’s new to them.

It’s impossible to know the fulfillment before it happens. We can only understand the fulfillment after it occurs. The testimony of the fulfillment is the new song.

In other words, the new song is the teaching or theology promised in Revelation to appear at the time of the second coming.

Let’s examine how people reacted to Jesus’ teaching.

New Teaching

When people heard Jesus teach, they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching?” Indeed, it was new because they were accustomed to hearing only what the Pharisees taught. In Acts 13:27, we’re reminded that the people and rulers of Israel read prophecies every Sabbath.

However, when Jesus came, He wasn’t just reading prophecies; He was explaining their fulfillment. This was new for them at that time.

Similarly today, believers are used to hearing discussions about specific Bible chapters, sharing opinions, and brief sermons. Then, suddenly, they take this class and learn parable after parable. They discover that Revelation is being fulfilled and the word is open through this process in Revelation. It all feels new because we were so accustomed to hearing something else. But it’s normal. It’s a new song, not the previous one.

Many of us have felt that what we’re learning is really new, something we’ve never learned before. I felt that way often when studying because for years, I was used to hearing about how to live a good and prosperous life, how to ask for blessings, how to pray for them, and how to receive them. There were also many moral teachings. While moral teachings are good, you’ll find the purest milk in a place where there’s also solid food.

Let me repeat: You will find pure milk in a place where there’s also solid food. This means that if you’re in a place that cannot explain the prophecy and fulfillment of the book of Revelation, even many of the moral teachings could be incorrect. We might not be taking the proper actions we need to take today.

If you’re in a place where prophecy and fulfillment are being explained, then even their teachings about history and morality are valuable to listen to. You’re receiving a full meal – not just milk, but milk and solid food. You need both to become mature.

Yes, this is a new teaching that only appears at the time when Revelation is fulfilled.

TWO – Promised Tenple = Mount Zion (Rv 14:1)

 

When Revelation is fulfilled, the promised temple, which represents Mount Zion, appears.

It’s important to remember that God’s purpose is to return and dwell with humanity forever. He doesn’t intend to remain in the spiritual world, in heaven, eternally. Instead, as the prayer states, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

We’re waiting for God to come back, but He won’t return to just any place. His chosen location is Mount Zion.

As people, we have specific requirements for what we call home. Even on vacation, we long for our own beds and kitchens. Similarly, God is particular about where He stays.

God will only return to Mount Zion. In figurative language, a mountain represents a church. According to Isaiah 2:2, when God’s mountain appears, it becomes the chief among mountains. This means that before Mount Zion appears, many other churches already exist.

However, Mount Zion is the chief, the one everyone needs to go to. It’s the only one called God’s temple, implying that the others are not God’s, but Satan’s.

This is God’s promise for the second coming. Mount Zion is a temple or church that God and Jesus establish in the last days.

 

These verses are truly remarkable, aren’t they?

They state, “For the Lord has chosen Zion.” So, if you’ve discovered Mount Zion, where the new song is being sung, but you’re still attending a place in Babylon, what decision should you make? If God chose Zion, shouldn’t you choose to go there as well?

Indeed, if God chose it, we should follow suit. That’s where we should be heading, right? The verses continue, saying He has desired it for His dwelling. God wants Mount Zion as His residence.

In verse 14, God declares, “This is my resting place forever and ever.” This means He will never leave Mount Zion. He says, “I will sit enthroned for I have desired it.”

If God’s desire is to be on Mount Zion, shouldn’t that be our desire too? We should align our desires with His. Amen.

However, to be honest, students sometimes reach a crossroads. In almost every class, I encounter at least one student in this situation. I’m thinking of a specific instance from about four classes ago. This student requested a one-on-one meeting to discuss what she should do in her situation. It sounded serious.

She explained that she realized the church she was attending wasn’t Mount Zion. They didn’t have the open word, and her spirit wasn’t being nourished. She feared for her family because they all loved being there. But she knew a different spirit was at work there because God wasn’t present, and the word wasn’t there.

So she asked, “What do I do? How do I get out? Do I leave? Do I stay? Do I wait for my family?” She was truly conflicted about what to do. I’m sure many other students often feel the same way during the class.

If you ever find yourself in this situation, I’ll offer some advice now. But first, let’s look at Proverbs 20:18.

Seek Advice

Making plans by seeking advice is crucial, as demonstrated by the student I mentioned earlier. She took the right first step by not trying to figure things out alone or worrying endlessly. Instead, she asked for help, and importantly, she sought advice from the right person.

It wouldn’t have made sense for her to ask her brother for help in getting to Mount Zion, as he wasn’t even aware of its existence or its significance in the book of Revelation. While there’s nothing wrong with her brother, and she should love him, he simply couldn’t assist her in reaching Mount Zion.

When seeking advice, it’s essential to turn to those who are already on the mountain. In this case, there are about eight people who have been consistently urging you to “flee to the mountain.” They can only give this advice if they’ve been there themselves. Otherwise, they would be hypocrites.

So, if you’re going to make plans and seek advice, do it from those on the mountain, such as Evangelist Ana, Evangelist Dave, your Instructor, Evangelist Lisa, Evangelist Tom, Evangelist Mary, and Evangelist Don. They can help you develop a plan tailored to your situation, which can be challenging. These individuals possess wisdom from having once been in your position.

Let us make plans by seeking advice. This is how a war or battle is won, and this is very much a war between God and Satan. So, make plans by seeking advice from those who have experience and knowledge.

THREE – Promised Pastor = New John, the One Who Overcomes (Rev 1:1-3)

Jesus asks, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?” So, who’s the master? Jesus.

Why is it Jesus? Because it says this is the master who returns. The word “returns” is important. In Matthew 24, Jesus is talking about his return.

So the master or the Lord is Jesus who returns. Jesus promises there will be a faithful and wise servant in charge of giving food at the proper time to all the other servants. This is how God works throughout the eras.

How many people receive the open word first? It says servant, meaning one. There’s only one, and that one is put in charge of the other servants.

Complaining about the Food

What if somebody says, “I don’t like the faithful and wise servant”? Well, then you have a problem with the master, because the master put him in charge. It’s like if somebody goes to McDonald’s and throws their soda at the cashier. That person now has a problem with the manager. Similarly, if somebody has a problem with the faithful and wise servant today, they actually have a problem with Jesus, who put that servant in charge.

What if somebody hears the open word at the proper time and says, “Oh, I don’t like this food. It’s gross”? Does the food belong to the servant? No, it belongs to the master.

When Jesus comes back, there will be no more mourning, crying, or pain. When the kingdom of heaven comes down, it is promised that there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. But the servant has to be working, giving the food at the proper time before then. The servant must be found giving food at the proper time as the master returns.

Before heaven comes down, the servant is giving the food. If somebody receives it, hears the open word, and says, “Yuck, this is gross, I don’t like it,” or “This is different, I don’t like it,” they not only have a problem with the food but also with Jesus, who ultimately gave it.

Please reflect on these words of the Bible and honestly think about ourselves. Am I someone who has a problem with the promises Jesus made? The Pharisees did too. We don’t want to repeat the same mistakes. Let us look at these promises with a pure heart and realize that Jesus promised them, not I, this Class, or your Instructor.

We have to believe in the promises Jesus made if we’re believers. And I believe all of us are. We’re not doubters here; we’re believers. That’s what we call ourselves. So let us believe 100%. Amen?

3.- The Main Events / People of Revelation

The main events are betrayal, destruction, and salvation. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, especially verse 3, states that salvation will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

In Revelation, we must find betrayal, destruction, and salvation. Events involve people, so there must be betrayers, destroyers, and a savior.

Who are these people and where do they appear? Consider that 2,000 years ago, John the Baptist and the Pharisees were born to parents in Israel. They were real people living in that land.

Similarly today, when events of betrayal, destruction, and salvation occur, real people must appear as betrayers and destroyers. God and Jesus, being spirits, work through real people to carry out salvation. So, who are these people and where do they appear?

This is what you should fill in the blank.

“Do not go beyond what is written.” (1 Corinthians 4:6)

Parents, when you set boundaries for your children, is it to hinder their life or prevent fun? No, you set boundaries for their benefit, to keep them from making wrong turns and to help them turn out well.

Similarly, when God says, “Do not go beyond what is written,” He means exactly that. It’s tempting to seek answers about the Bible online for convenience, but 99.9% of the time, these answers are incorrect and go beyond what is written in the scriptures.

Consider how many pages of answers you get when you Google a Bible question. How many links will you click before realizing the information is false? Instead of sifting through 31,000 different links, go through the 31,000 verses of the Bible to find the answer there. Turn the pages of the Bible, and you can find the answers within it.

Do not go beyond what is written.

4.- Conclusion

 

To conclude, we have covered our faith in Jesus, three important promises in Revelation made by God and Jesus, and the main events and people of Revelation.

We also came to a conclusion. I want to briefly discuss the test for the next class. It will consist of 15 questions.

You might want to note this down. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, it states, “Examine yourselves and test yourselves. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Don’t you know that Christ is in you, unless, of course, you fail the test?”

There are different types of tests. We have tests of our faith, as mentioned in 1 Peter 1:6-7, and tests of our knowledge, which are exams to determine whether we are sealed or not.

The test you’ll take in the next class is a sealing exam, designed to assess our knowledge. However, let’s look at some of the tests of our faith that we might encounter. This will be our final portion.

In this passage, it is stated that you greatly rejoice, even though you may have to endure grief through various trials for a short time. These trials serve a purpose: to prove that your faith is genuine. This faith, which is considered more valuable than gold, may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

To determine if gold is authentic or fake, it must be tested. Our faith is described as even more precious than gold. Therefore, it makes sense that our faith should also be tested. God wants to verify if our faith is genuine.

Consider how many times God has been betrayed by people throughout history. It’s understandable that He needs to ensure that those who claim to believe in Him truly do so with sincerity.

Overcoming and Encouragement

In our lives, we often face difficult or inconvenient situations that can hinder us from studying the Word. These challenges can manifest in various ways.

For instance, today I attended a celebration for students who completed their class. I rode with someone who shared that their car had recently broken down. They were using a spare wheel and expressed that since studying the Word, their lives had become more challenging. They were experiencing various trials.

As one of the event organizers, they were nervous and concerned about not being able to attend. They had committed to God and felt they should be there. They were panicking, wondering what to do. They had asked a neighbor for help installing a spare tire on their car. This situation seemed very inconvenient.

However, from God’s perspective, it could be seen as a test to see if they would make the extra effort to overcome the obstacle or simply give up due to their circumstances.

Sometimes people face financial hardships while taking the class. I personally experienced this when I was a student. I had to attend in person, and using public transportation in Atlanta (MARTA) costs about $2.50 per trip. At one point, I had only $7 left to my name. On a class day, I had to choose between staying home and missing the class or using my last $7 to get to the classroom, not knowing how I’d return home. I decided to attend, and the class was great that day.

Interestingly, after class, a family member called and invited me to lunch. I accepted, as I had no way to get back home anyway. During lunch, they gave me a visa card with $100 on it. I was overwhelmed with emotion, as I had thought I might have to walk 6 hours to get home. I felt thankful to God for making a way for me to hear the Word and still be okay afterward.

This experience reminded me of the truth in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added unto you as well.” My prayer for everyone here is that you would experience this in your own lives.

Don’t let financial difficulties, relationship issues, or any other challenges prevent you from studying the Word. Put the Word first and watch God work and keep His promise. You can do it, class!

God believes in you. That’s why He chose you to hear His secrets. Stay humble, as we were chosen because we were foolish. However, we can confidently believe that God will fulfill His promise.

For your own blessing, just study and pass your test. That’s all I ask. You can do it by God’s grace; He’s with you. If Moses could confront an Egyptian king at 80 years old, you can study for a test and achieve a 90% score if God is with you.

Please pray often. You can do it, and I’ll keep you in my prayers as well. Amen.

Let’s Us Discern