Sabbath school lesson 1, 1st quarter of 2016

Sabbath school lesson 1, 1st quarter of 2016

• 1.
  Lesson 1 forJanuary 2, 2016 Revelation 7:10 “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
• 2.
  This quarter we’regoing to study the consequences of Satan’s rebellion, and how God counteracted it with the Plan of Salvation. This week we studied the origin and the development of the war between good and evil. The Rebellion 1. From Lucifer to Satan 2. The prince of this world Redemption 1. War in heaven 2. War at the Cross 3. Current War
• 3.
  FROM LUCIFER TOSATAN “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!” (Isaiah 14:12) Isaiah 14:4-23 and Ezekiel 28:1-19 tell the story of the origin and destiny of Satan in a prophecy that was initially write for the kings of Babylon and Tyre. Satan is described as a “morning star”, beautiful and perfect. How did sin entered that perfect being? He thought he deserved to be treated like God because of his beauty. He wanted to be exalted above Him (Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:17). The Bible doesn’t explain the origin of sin, It just recounts it: “You were perfect… till iniquity was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:15).
• 4.
  E.G.W. (The GreatControversy, cp. 29, pg. 492)
• 5.
  THE PRINCE OFTHIS WORLD “I will no longer talk much with you, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” (John 14:30) How did Satan become the “prince of this world”? God made Adam and Eve rulers of this world. Satan usurped that position when he deceived them (Genesis 1:28; 3:4-6). Satan arrogated the right to represent the Earth in Heaven council meetings to himself for some time (Job 1:6-7). Nevertheless, the prince was defeated by the King at the Cross. Now we are waiting for God to give us back the domain over the Earth. That will happen when “the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:21).
• 6.
  “And war brokeout in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought.”(Revelation 12:7) There was a war in Heaven. God and the faithful angels defeated Satan (the dragon) and his angels. They were thrown out of Heaven and war continued on Earth. Satan tried to kill Jesus when He was a baby (v. 4). He used the pagan Rome to persecute the early Church (v. 13). He “flooded” the Church with unconverted people and tried to destroy It for 1,260 years (v. 14-16). He is currently trying to destroy a faithful remnant (v. 17).Some of the battles in that war are told in Revelation 12. WAR IN HEAVEN
• 7.
  “And He saidto them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’” (Luke 10:18) Satan’s kingdom began to fall as the 70 preached the Kingdom of God. Jesus gained our victory when He died. He “disarmed principalities and powers… triumphing over them in it [the cross].” (Colossians 2:15). This is an important point. Victory is not ours, but Jesus’. He can be victorious over Stan only if we hold on to Jesus.
• 8.
  “These things Ihave spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The devil is defeated, although he still “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus clearly explained it: we’ll suffer affliction as long as we live here because of sin. If you feel downhearted, remember Paul’s words; there’s a “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) that have already overcame: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab… (Hebrews 11). We can also overcome as they did; we just need to keep “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2).
• 9.
  E.G.W. (Steps toChrist, cp. 8, pg. 72)