What is the "fine linen" in Revelation 19:8?

In "Biblical Perspective" R.E. Trotter writes:

It is not unusual for the bride to make her own wedding dress, and in a very real sense the wedding garment we will wear will be the work of our own hands. The fine linen is the righteousness or the “righteous acts” of the saints. We are saved and sanctified by faith, but “faith without works [acts of righteousness] is dead.” At the Great White Throne Judgment they were judged “according to their works” (20:12). At the judgment seat of Christ “every man's work shall be made manifest” (1 Cor. 3:13). In passing judgment on the seven churches Jesus said to each of them, “I know thy works” (Rev. 2, 3).

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 58.

2016-08-04T09:00:00+00:00August 4th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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How should we apply John's vision of the end times to our lives?

In Doctrinal Discussion, Don Englund answers this question, writing:

First, we should release ourselves from any hope that mere human government will bring lasting peace in this world. Second, we must be aware that the forces of Antichrist that deny Christ and seek to delude us are present and active in our world. As Satan in his anti-God ruse demands worship of himself, let's pray that our worship will be wholly focused on Christ, the Incarnation of the Father.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 55.

2016-07-30T09:00:00+00:00July 30th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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What do we sometimes miss about the Antichrist?

In "God's Word for Today" Steve Oliver writes:

We are given a significant amount of information about Antichrist in this passage. He is a powerful world ruler, deriving his authority from Satan, the ruler of this world. The “name of blasphemy” (13:1) points to an ingrained contempt for the things of God, and in keeping with this, his words are full of blasphemy. His mimicry of Christ, seen in seeming resurrection, is not surprising since this beast is attempting to take the place of God himself. What is surprising is that Antichrist can “make war with the saints, and . . . overcome them.” Throughout history, persecution has resulted in the spread of the gospel and widespread conversions; but here the persecution by Antichrist is more or less successful in stamping out Christianity. In the midst of this description of nearly limitless power and blasphemy, it is easy to miss a minor but crucial part of the description: Antichrist is merely a pawn in the ongoing war of Satan against God. He is permitted to have authority and to persecute the saints. But ultimately, God is in control even in these terrible circumstances, and Antichrist can do no more than God allows.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 52.

2016-07-29T09:00:00+00:00July 29th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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Who is the Antichrist?

In "God's Word for Today" Steve Oliver writes:

Antichrist is a much-studied and much-debated topic. There are some schools of thought that see him as only symbolic of human rebellion against God, and others who view Antichrist as a movement or religion rather than a per-son. Among those who think he is an individual, some peo-ple speculate wildly in their search for this future world ruler. Six-six-six becomes the key to a secret code, which will enable them to identify him before he is revealed. Others equate his mark with some element of culture, such as VISA® credit cards or Monster Energy® drinks.
One of the effects of this search for Antichrist can be that we lose sight of the most important things about him — his evil and his futile rebellion against God. Rather than trying to figure out how quickly this prophesied individual will appear, we need to understand his character and guard against emulating that.

Discussion: How can we avoid "missing the forest for the trees" as we study Revelation (and even other scripture passages)?
Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 51.

2016-07-28T09:00:00+00:00July 28th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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Preparing to Enjoy Heaven

In "God's Word for Today", Steve Oliver writes the following question:

Imagine that you are touring an art gallery filled with the greatest works of art in the world. Would you enjoy it? Now imagine that an art expert who has studied art his whole life is touring the same art gallery. Who would enjoy it more — you or the art expert?

Oliver suggests this answer:

The art expert has spent his life studying and preparing to understand the art, so he will certainly have a much greater appreciation for the art. And we can expect to have a much greater enjoyment of heaven if we have put much effort into preparing for it.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 47.

2016-07-23T09:00:00+00:00July 23rd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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How does edification work?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Don Englund writes:

Leaping out of the pages of the Bible is the spiritually-sounding word of edification — a word that comes from two Greek words meaning “house” and “to build.” …
But how does the process of edification work? First, the work of edifying — building up one another — must be intention-ally pursued. “Let us therefore follow after [pursue] the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Rom. 14:19). In addition, the ministry of edification needs the added ingredient of love. “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Cor. 8:1). And don't forget to add your spiitual gifts to the pursuit of building others up. Identify the gift, and then put it to work! “[While] ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church” (1 Cor. 14:12).
Finally, time in the Word of God is essential for building up others. A failure to spend time in God's Word will virtually guarantee that we will participate in tearing down others in our sarcastic, cynical world. “The word of his grace . . . is able to build you up” (Acts 20:32). As we are repaired and remodeled by His grace, we will be effective in building up others.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 49.

2016-07-22T09:00:00+00:00July 22nd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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How many times is Jesus referred to as a Lamb in Revelation?

"And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." (Revelation 7:10)

In "Biblical Perspective" R.E. Trotter writes:

Although the world is rocking and reeling and its very foundations are crumbling at the center of the universe, God's eternal throne is still as solid and secure as ever. God is sovereign, and the Lamb is still Savior, and everything is under perfect control. Whereas Jesus was referred to as a Lamb once in the Old Testament (Isa. 53:7), twice in the Gospels (John 1:29, 36), and once in the Epistles (1 Peter 1:19), He is referred to as the Lamb twenty-eight times in the Book of Revelation. We have to conclude that it is a book of salvation available to the very end.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 45.

2016-07-21T09:00:00+00:00July 21st, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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Do We Really Want Justice?

In "God's Word for Today", Steve Oliver writes:

Think back to when your children were small — or, for that matter, not so small. Did you ever hear, “That's not fair!”? What was the real problem that the child was protesting? Usually, it did not have anything to do with real fairness or justice. Rather, the problem was that the child didn't get what he or she wanted. Like children, adults tend to think of justice as “I get what I want” rather than what I actually deserve, but sometimes justice dictates that I get precisely what I do not want. Since God is just, He will always act in a just way, and justice includes giving punishment when it is deserved. In fact, when Christ took our sins, He had to endure the full weight of punishment for them.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 40.

2016-07-16T09:00:00+00:00July 16th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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When the Dam of God's Love Bursts

In "Biblical Perspective" R.E. Trotter writes:

Someone has said that God's wrath is God's love dammed up by man's disobedience, until finally the dam bursts, and it is poured out on the disobedient in righteous judgment. For myriads of people, the dam will burst after Jesus returns, and the tribulation will be a dreadful expression of His wrath and fury.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 42.

2016-07-15T09:00:00+00:00July 15th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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What lessons should we learn from the vision of martyrs and God's judgment in Revelation?

What lessons should we learn from the vision of martyrs and God's judgment in Revelation? In "Doctrinal Discussion" Don Englund suggests these conclusions:

What can this vast crowd of those “slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held” (Rev. 6:9) teach us? What can we learn from the outpouring of God's vengeance on a world that has rejected Him?
First, the martyrs teach us that the thing that matters most in life is faithfulness to God. These martyrs had not only been faithful to God but also to other human beings whom they had loved enough to testify to them of God's truth. … We may be repaid for our witness with death — and this is what happened to the souls John saw at the altar — but our love for others will impel us to speak up for the gospel. The martyrs in heaven are not taking care of the vengeance, but they are calling on God to handle it. …
Second, this passage teaches us that there will be an end of human history, and our Sovereign Lord will preside over this dramatic alteration of all things as we know them now. Just as the gospel is a leveler of men, the judgments at the end of the age will also be a leveler of mankind. Fake sources of security like money, power, nationality, influence, or freedom will carry no weight before God's judgment.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, pages 42-43.

2016-07-14T09:00:00+00:00July 14th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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