In the fifteenth century, the Piedmont valleys, high in the Alps of northern Italy, were home to the Waldenses, a people determined to stay faithful to their understanding of the Bible. As a result of their steadfast loyalty to Christ, they were fiercely persecuted. In a.d. 1488, the Waldenses in the Valley of Loyse were brutally murdered by the Roman Church for their faith.
Another wave of persecution came in the seventeenth century, when the Duke of Savoy sent an army of 8,000 into their territory and demanded that the local populace quarter his troops in their homes. They did as he requested, but this was a strategy to give the soldiers easy access to their victims. On April 24, 1655, at 4:00 a.m., a signal was given for the massacre to begin. This time, the death toll was more than 4,000.
History, unfortunately, is often repeated. The “mark of the beast” prophecy is about the final link in an ungodly chain of religious persecution that goes back through the ages. Like the persecutions of the past, it is...
Memory Text: “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God . . . ?” (2 Peter 3:11, 12, NKJV).
The book of Revelation fills the mind with scenes of the end. The epicenter of the book deals with the cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan. Satan has lost his legal hold over the earth, and now he pursues those who remain loyal to God. The book climaxes with Jesus’ return to deliver His children, both the living righteous and those faithful ones who have died since the fall of Adam and Eve. The book shows us, too, the destruction of Satan and the wicked by fire and Jesus’ establishment of His eternal kingdom on earth made new.
Students of Revelation enthusiastically explore and seek to identify the predicted signs and events that mark church history from the first century ad to our day in the end of time. They are right to do so, too.
However, in this quarter’s final lesson, we...
Memory Text: “ ‘I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth’ ” (Isa. 49:6, NRSV).
One of the most inspiring accounts of “cross-cultural ministry” in the Bible can be found in the book of Esther. A great deal has been written over the millennia about this book, and to this day many Jews celebrate the feast of Purim, based on Esther 9:26–31.
Esther and Mordecai, her cousin, were Jews living in the capital of the Persian Empire, Susa. For whatever reason, unlike other Jews who had returned to Judah, they, along with others, remained in the land of their captivity.
Then, through a series of providences, Esther becomes queen. “The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Esther 2:17, NKJV).
It was in this role that Esther, even if somewhat reluctantly, was able to play a major part in biblical ...
Memory Text: “Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Matthew 15:28, NKJV).
From the beginning, a loving God sought His lost children 3:9) reach the lost; and, to our day, this same loving God is still seeking to (see Rev. 14:6–12), including the lost in the cities. (Gen. In 2018, the United Nations published its latest findings, which say that 55 percent of the planet’s population lives in urban areas, and this will grow (if time should last) to 68 percent by 2050. We have no choice: we must witness to those in the cities.
Yet, many of God’s people act as Jonah did when called to witness to a city: for whatever reason, they flee from the task. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4, NKJV). That includes what was written about Jonah.
When here, Jesus ministered not only ...
LOVE ❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍 is the most abused word in the world. This four-letter word has been portrayed in movies, novels, politics, international organizations, synagogues/temples, arts and culture, and families. Fully-fledged Love is an amazing word. Love types Eros (passionate Love), Storge (familial Love), Ludus (playful Love), Mania (obsessive Love), Philia (deep friendship), Philautia (self-love), Pragma (Enduring Love), are inferior to Agape (universal/unconditional Love). Who is the epitome, architect, and source of Love? Many (kings, subjects, rich, poor, big, small, young, aged) have been conquered, ruled, and reigned by it. Others have triumphed through it. It seems to permeate all spheres of life. Charity is chastity! However, "the law of love is the foundation of the government of God." [Patriarchs & Prophets, pp. 34, 35]. Love is a gift from God.
Unfortunately, the social media, families, churches, governments, and entertainment industries, including sports personalities, movie makers,...
