By Robert Richardson
Dearly beloved, one of the things I am deeply concerned about, and I must say, has been troubling me lately. So I thought I would lay it out before my Brothers and Sisters in the faith to gain a consensus of many minds and hearts regarding the topic of our Adult Sabbath School Lesson and the format which it has been operating for the past hundred years. It has worked well in the past, as far as I know.
But, at this point in time, during the “time of the end,” as the “False Prophet” and the “lamb-like beast” of Revelation 13 (USA) are speaking like a dragon more than in the past, and just as the “LITTLE HORN” is gaining prominence in our world, this generation cannot see with the sight of awareness the danger we are in. The world cannot see the new sinful dimension of the sixth head of the sea beast. All facets of our lives are under the control of the LITTLE HORN, the PAPAL SYSTEM OF WORLD CONTROL.
We need to rethink the reason for studying the Sabbath School Lesson. It is a fact that our study of the Sabbath School Lesson has been the means by which the WORLD CHURCH has kept its members informed about all aspects of the gospel, the life of the Godhead before creation, sin, and how it came to exist, the fall of our parents, the plan of redemption, the birth of our Redeemer, His life and death, and the GREAT FINALE, how fallen humanity can be restored to the SINLESS image of Christ. In the past, our study of the Sabbath School Lesson has worked well; but dear friends, we need to rethink the quotes from inspiration below.
“There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is ‘present truth’ that the flock needs now. I have seen the danger of the messengers running off from the important points of present truth, to dwell upon subjects that are not calculated to unite the flock and sanctify the soul. Satan will here take every possible advantage to injure the cause. But such subjects as the sanctuary, in connection with the 2300 days, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, are perfectly calculated to explain the past Advent movement and show what our present position is, establish the faith of the doubting, and give certainty to the glorious future. These, I have frequently seen, were the principal subjects on which the messengers should dwell” (Early Writings, p. 63).
Then back that quote up with the ones below.
“I saw that Satan was working through agents in a number of ways. He was at work through ministers who have rejected the truth and are given over to strong delusions to believe a lie that they might be damned. Satan was at work in these ways to distract, deceive, and draw away God’s people, just now in this sealing time. I saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were trembling, and their feet sliding, because they were not firmly planted on the truth, and the covering of Almighty God could not be drawn over them while they were thus trembling. Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were, until the sealing was past, until the covering was drawn over God’s people, and they left without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the seven last plagues. God has begun to draw this covering over His people, and it will soon be drawn over all who are to have a shelter in the day of slaughter. God will work in power for His people; and Satan will be permitted to work also.” (Early Writings, p. 44).
“We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our land; and, now that the movement is right upon us, we ask: Will our people do their duty in the matter? Can we not assist in lifting the standard and in calling to the front those who have a regard for their religious rights and privileges? The time is fast approaching when those who choose to obey God rather than man will be made to feel the hand of oppression. Shall we then dishonor God by keeping silent while His holy commandments are trodden underfoot? While the Protestant world is by her attitude making concessions to Rome, let us arouse to comprehend the situation and view the contest before us in its true bearings. Let the watchmen now lift up their voice and give the message which is present truth for this time. Let us show the people where we are in prophetic history and seek to arouse the spirit of true Protestantism, awaking the world to a sense of the value of the privileges of religious liberty so long enjoyed” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 716).
Dear ones, what the pen of inspiration is telling us is that the time is up for us to think that we have unlimited time left. We need to use every minute available and every program our Church has to keep our members around the world informed, to prepare for the Sealing, the Latter Rain, the coming persecution, the close of probation, the seven last plagues and the coming of the KING of Righteousness. But there is more, and this is the big one: overcoming sin, living without a mediator and getting to the point of keeping the law perfectly, by the power of God, without sinning.
I feel like changing the Sabbath School lesson, from what it has been teaching, to present truth. Helping the children of God to get ready for what’s ahead and how to stay ready is more important than learning historical information. The emergency facing the Church of God is now at hand. In light of the fact that many in leadership are compromising the pillars of truth and faith and our purpose to carry out the Reformation, our duty to expose the man of sin, our reason for existing; everything is being changed by the handshake and smile of Rome. Ecumenical soft-pedaling with the beast and its image will not wake anyone up, but only cause us to stumble forward with pride into apostasy.
By changing the purpose and content of our Sabbath School Lesson Study, we will be able to keep Seventh-day Adventists around the world aware of the times and seasons. The world church can then be informed about what lies ahead on the immediate horizon so that we can present the enemy a united front as soldiers in the Lord’s Army. Let me know your thoughts on how to best use our Sabbath School lesson in this critical hour of earth’s history.
Love and Blessings to all,
Robert Richardson
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Thank you for echoing sentiments that some of us have come to recognise even before the covid plandemic. While the lesson does have relevant topics, it lacks a present truth aspect, and the full truth of any given topic. I would have thought that the powers that be, (whoever compiles these lessons), would have released topics of study that gave the trumpet a certain sound. Meanwhile the leaders are playing a tune that all the SDA’s world over are dancing to. While there should be a tsunami warning from the leaders, we’re getting a message of ‘mostly calm with a possible breeze this afternoon’. I pray that there are not only 7000 that have not bowed the knee, but 144000 this time ‘that keep the commandments of God and have the faith OF Jesus!’
I totally agree, our church needs to be presenting present truth to its people even more so as we see the day of the Lord approaching.
Yes, bro Bob, everything is according to the devils play book. Keep the people engrossed in anything but definitely to not allow them time to know the Last day Message which will take them out of our hands, and make them ready for Christ to come, just a little longer and we will have them all. Paraphrased of course from Sister white.
Many do not know what they must know and make it part of their very being, head knowledge is not enough, true knowledge will give you perfect peace no need to worry for you know who owns you, you have been bought with a price. Any God who will pay that kind of price for me is not going to let me go, I have to give up, that can never be an option for any Adventist.
We need the former rain in all its power to prepare us for the latter rain, if you are looking for the latter rain only to prepare you for Christ’s return you will miss the Ark of Truth. God’s way is in the Sanctuary, before 1844 man was being prepared for death, after Jesus entered the Second apartment the Holy of Holies, he is preparing many for death but a very special group called 144,000 are being prepared for translation. From church militant to church triumphant, get ready, get ready.
When probation is closed, Christ Jesus Christ Yashuah will be our King!