Lesson 9 (Feb 23-Mar 1), Satan and HIs Allies

The Beast From the Sea

1. In a narrative such as in apocalyptic literature, does everything have to have symbolic meaning? 
2. Are the numbers 7 and 10 to be understood literally or do they also have symbolic meaning? For example would Job have had seven sons and three daughters? Would Job's cattle have literally numbered seven thousand and three thousand, and five hundred and five hundred? Wouldn't the number have changed daily? Further, if those are symbolic, what about his 7 sons and 3 daughters? 
3. Why did John use mythological beasts? Could he have remained within the realm of natural ones?

The Activities of the Sea Beast

1. Is 42 months/1260 days/3 1/2 years a literal time period or could it be symbolic since 3 1/2 is half of seven? 
2. Is there anything good in Roman Catholicism? What about their worship? 
3. Could there ever be a "dark age" in our church or are we safe?

The Beast Arising Out of the Earth

1. How can a "mortal" wound heal?
2. What has caused the United States to change from the character of a lamb to that of the dragon? Can it ever become lamb-like again? Should true Christians try to regain the past, or is it impossible?

The Image of the Beast

1. Why do practically all Christians besides Adventists follow the Catholics in keeping Sunday holy?
2. How should we address Roman Catholic priests? Is it wrong to call him "Father . . . ?"
3. Which should we fear more, the beast, or the image to the beast?

The Mark of the Beast

1. What is the value of a mark if it is not visible?
2. Has the Seal of God ever been anything other than the Sabbath? Will there be people in heaven who have not known about the seventh-day sabbath?
3. What makes 6 a significant number? What are examples of 6 in everyday life? Why are there so many 6's all around us?

Lesson 8 (Feb 16-22), Satan, A Defeated Enemy

The Woman and the Dragon

1. How is a woman a better symbol than a man for God's church?
2. What makes the dragon an appropriate symbol for the devil? Why would a mythical creature be used rather than one from nature?

Satan Cast Down to Earth

1. Why do you think Satan was successful in winning so many angels (one third) to his side?
2. What was the nature of the war in heaven between Michael and Satan? Would killing the rebels have prevented a lot of evil and suffering in the universe?

The War on Earth

1. Why did God allow Satan access to heaven even after his expulsion?
2. Why did God allow such a long time for Satan's character to be proved? Wasn't it enough by the time Jesus came to earth?

War Against the Remnant

1. Of the two marks of the remnant in Rev 12:17 is one more important than the other?
2. Can one be saved without either of the two marks of the remnant? That is, will some be saved who have not kept all the commandments? Can one be saved who has not heard of Jesus? If yes, what then is the meaning of the marks of the remnant?

Satan's End-time Strategy

1. Could the miracles of healing seen on TV and in large meetings from be genuine?
2. Should there be more examples of healing by Adventist pastors and lay members? What is the reason there is so few? Why do pastors not call on people to rise up and walk in the name of Jesus?

Lesson 6 (Feb 2-9), The Sealed People of God

Restraining the Wind

1. On the whole does wind do more good or bad for humans? What would happen if winds were actually stopped by God?
2. Would we want the seal of God to be a visible seal on our foreheads? How visible is our witness for Sabbath-keeping? How public is our witness to being a Christian believer?

The Sealed People of God

1. Why is the number twelve so important to God?
2. Do we have to somehow associate with one of the twelve tribes of Israel in order to be saved? If you could choose which tribe you wished to belong to, what would be your choice? Why?

The Great Multitude

1. Is it desirable to be part of the 144,000 or is it better to be part of the multitude in heaven? What do the 144, 000 have to do be part of that number?
2. Would you like to go through the time of trouble or would you rather die before that?

Those Who Follow the Lamb

1. Why would the 144, 000 follow Jesus wherever He went? Would you like to follow Him everywhere, or would you like to go somewhere by yourself?
2. What does "first fruits" mean? Are they first in time or first in quality?

Salvation to Our God and the Lamb

1. Will the remnant awaiting translation eventually become sinless or will sin continue till Jesus comes?
2. What does spotless and blameless mean?
3. If someone were to ask you what Jesus is like, what would be your answer? Do you just know about Him, or do you know Him? How can I tell the difference?

Lesson 5 (Jan 26-Feb 1), The Seven Seals

The Opening of the First Seal

1. What did the apostles accomplish that makes the early church eligible for the description in the opening of the first seal? In what way did they fulfil symbolism of white as purity? Of aggression represented by a bow? And of victory a crown?
2. What did the early church do that can be labelled as conquering? What percentage of people converted would be expected to claim that a land was "conquered?"

The Second and Third Seals

1. Why is so much bloodshed associated with religions? Why do religious people kill each other instead of reasoning calmly?
2. Why does God allow His people to be killed?
3. Why is black associated with evil, death, and things negative? Is there anything in the world positive associated with black?
4. How does a kilo of wheat and three kilos of barley for a day's wages represent a famine?

The Scene of the Fourth Seal

1. Why does God allow death of innocent people by sword, famine, and wild animals?
2. If you had the keys of Hades and Death how would you use it? Whom would you want killed? What would that accomplish?
3. What were the reasons for the Dark Ages in history?

The Opening of the Fifth Seal

1. How is the killing in the fifth seal different from the killing in the fourth seal?
2. When are "saints" given white robes? 
3. Are good people ever expected to kill bad people, or are they to leave it to God?

The Opening of the Sixth Seal

1. Since there have been so many huge and destructive earthquakes, how do we know which one is a fulfilment of this prediction?
2. What might be the reasons why signs are given in one generation and the second coming happens several generations later?
3. Why do the wicked ask the rocks and mountains to fall on them?

Lesson 4 (Jan 19-25), Worthy is the Lamb

In the Heavenly Throne Room

1. How is one to know when the Bible is to be taken literally or metaphorically, when the language is to be understood as literal or symbolic?
2. Did Bible writers actually see a throne in heaven with God seated on it or is that just how they expressed it for our benefit?

The Heavenly Assembly in the Throne Room

1. Why does John not continue to explain the meaning of symbols as he did for the seven churches?
2. Does it make any difference what version of the Bible we use for the Book of Revelation?
3. Is the interpretation of numbers such as 4 and 24 valid because it is reasonable or because it is biblical?

The Sealed Scroll

1. What was in the sealed scroll that made it challenging to open?
2. God the Father is omnipotent, so why couldn't even He open the sealed scroll?

Worthy is the Lamb

1. Is the anthem "Blessing and honour glory and power be unto Him (the one on the throne) and unto the Lamb," evidence that the Lamb is equal to God the Father, or can it signify anything else?
2. How can so many people sing a new song in unison? What makes it new?

The Significance of Pentecost

1. Does the scene of Jesus at the right hand of the Father mean that He entered the Most Holy Place following His ascension?
2. What does it mean that Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and earth? To do what?

Lesson 3 (Jan 12-18), Jesus' Message to the Seven Churches

Christ's Message to Smyrna and Pergamom

1. Why do some people want to persecute others who do not worship as they do? Are they always convinced that the victims are followers of Satan?
2. Why does God allow his people to be persecuted even if for a few years or even at all?
3. Do we have Balaams today? What would we expect them to do in our churches?

Christ's Message to Thyatira

1. What works of charity, service and faith can my church be commended for?
2. Do we have Jezebels in our churches today? How would we expect them to behave in our churches?

Christ's Message to Sardis

1. Is my church more dead than alive? What are signs of life and death in my church?
2. Who are such people who have not defiled their garments and are in white?

Christ's Message to Philadelphia

1. What is involved in brotherly love? How much brotherly love is manifest in my church today?
2. When does God want to shut the door?  Doesn't he wish for everyone to be saved?

Christians in Laodecia

1. Why would any country, city or any individual refuse help, especially financial help in order to recover from any catastrophe?
2. Why is the last church a negative picture? Won't there be a final revival among God's people who will wait for his coming eagerly? 

Lesson 2 (Jan 5-11), Among the Lampstands

On Patmos

1. Why would the Romans place John on an island?
2. How was being in a place like Patmos conducive to the work God had for John?
3. What would life be like on an island like Patmos? How might the revelations that John had received bring him comfort?

On the Lord's Day

1. If John knew that the term "Lord's Day" would be interpreted as "Sunday" would he have plainly said "Sabbath instead?" Since God knew the future why didn't He tell John to write "Sabbath?"
2. Why would God give a vision on a Sabbath? 
3. Did John receive all of the book in one vision? If not why didn't he mention the other days he received visions?

John's Vision of Christ on Patmos

1. Does the use of symbolic language make things clearer or less clear than literal language, or both?
2. What does it mean for Christ to be walking around our church? What are the implications?
3. In what way is Jesus the "first" and the "last?

Christ's Messages for Then and Now

1. Why did God select the seven churches that He did for the book of Revelation?
2. How well do those churches describe the history of Christianity? 
3. Since those churches represent every age and every situation , how can we apply it to our situation?

Message to the Church in Ephesus

1. On what basis do we judge the extent of wickedness of any city? 
2. How is the level of faithfulness of church membership demonstrated?
3. Is there always hope to rekindle a lost love?