Bible Readings for the Home Circle—1914 - A New You Ministry

BIBLE READINGS
NOTES.— “The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage
they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the [Catholic]
church.” Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today,” page 218.
The conscientious observance of Sunday as the Sabbath on the
part of those who hitherto have supposed it to be the Sabbath, has,
without doubt, been accepted of God as Sabbath-keeping. It is only
when light comes that sin is imputed. John 9:41; 15:22; Acts l7:30. See
page 700.
26. What does Christ say about our duty to the state
“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and
unto God the things that are God’s.” Matt. 22:21.
NOTE.— The Sabbath belongs to God. Its observance, therefore. should
be rendered only to Him.
27. What special miracle is finally to be performed to deceive men,
and fasten them in deception
“And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from
heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” Rev. 13:13.
NOTE.— In the time of Elijah, in the controversy over Baal-worship, this
was the test as to who was the true God,—the God that answered by
fire. 1 Kings 18:24. Now, as a counterfeit test, fire will be made to come
down from heaven to confirm men in an idolatrous and false worship.
28. To what length will this effort to enforce the worship of the image
of the beast be carried
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the
image of the beast should both speak, and cause [decree] that as many as
would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Verse 15.
29. What deliverance will God finally bring to His people in this controversy
“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that
had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his
mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having
the harps of God.” Rev. 15:2.
30. What song will they sing
“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of
the Lamb.” Verse 3.
31. What was the song of Moses
A song of deliverance from oppression. See Exodus 15.
THE SEVEN CHURCHES
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1. WHAT title is given the last book of the Bible
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 1:1.
2. To whom do those things which are revealed belong
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which
are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.” Deut. 29:29.
3. For what purpose was the Revelation given
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show
unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass.” Rev. 1:1.
4. What great event, according to this book, is imminent
“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and
they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because
of Him.” Verse 7.
NOTE.— This book not only opens and closes with the subject of
Christ’s second coming, but its eight lines of prophecy all reach down
to this as the great culminating event to the church and the world.
5. What encouragement is given to study this book
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of {281
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this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the
time is at hand.” Verse 3.
6. To whom was the book dedicated
“John to the seven churches which are in Asia.” Verse 4.
7. What were the names of these seven churches
“What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches
which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos,
and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea.” Verse 11.
NOTE.— These seven churches, and the messages addressed to them,
apply to seven periods or states of the church reaching from the first
to the second advent of Christ. “Under this emblematical representation
of the seven churches of Asia,” says Vitringa, in the “Comprehensive
Commentary,” “the Holy Spirit has delineated seven different
states of the Christian church , which would appear in succession,
extending to the coming of our Lord and the consummation of all
things.” Their good qualities and their defects are pointed out, with
admonitions, exhortations, and warnings suitable for each, all of which
are also applicable to individual Christian experience.
8. By what title is the first state of the church distinguished