You also have to be careful not to be to strict or literal with the text like those who tempt fate with snakes and poison thinking they are immune yet not follow God.

Like the Vietnam war, they are turning America against any help for Israel to continue fighting, and even this last passage of support had a hard time to get through. Now Israel is becoming isolated as it tries to continue and get its hostages back, as for the Image of the Beast, I think this administration is the beginning..

In looking at the first six chapters of Daniel as a type of the National and Universal Sunday laws, certain aspects can be seen that help us to know with certainty what to expect. This applies in both the physical and spiritual realms.

In the spiritual realm there is often the question of when do we receive the seal of God. The Spirit of prophecy lets us know that we are not sealed when the first Sunday law test comes, as it 'is the great test for God?s people.'

"The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided? In Revelation 13 this subject is plainly presented;" (Revelation 13:11-17, quoted).

"This is the test that the people of God must have before they are sealed. All who prove their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah, and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of heavenly origin, and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast?" (15MR 15.1-3)

In another place she lets us know when we do receive the seal:

"About four months since, I had a vision of events, all in the future. And I saw the time of trouble, such as never was,--Jesus told me it was the time of Jacob's trouble, and that we should be delivered out of it by the voice of God. Just before we entered it (Jacob's time of trouble), we all received the seal of the living God." (DS, March 14, 1846 par. 2)

When the Sunday law has gone global, it is then that Michael stands up and human probation closes. Then God?s people are plunged into Jacob's time of trouble. (GC 615-616)

The same thing is shown in Daniel. As we saw in the quotes in the first part, the raising of the image in Daniel 3 represents the raising of the Sunday law in America. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego represent God's people who are standing under the three angels messages as the Sunday law is enacted. They are thrown into the fiery furnace because of their refusal to bow to the image. The Bible records that 'they fell down bound in the midst of the burning fiery furnace.' God's people are not sealed at this point, because it is the great test they must have before they are sealed.

Two things are destroyed as a result of this test. The mighty men that cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace, and the bands that bound them. The destruction of these two things represent the final victory over our inherited and cultivated defects of character. It is in the heat of the trial that these things will be destroyed. This trial will be significant, in that we will experience wholesale persecution, reproach, hatred and contempt. Martyrs will also be produced.

It is interesting to note that these men had to successfully pass through the testing trials of Daniel 1 and Daniel 2 before they could pass through the test of Daniel 3. The same principle applies to the three angels' messages and the sanctuary. It is always the first two that prepare for the survival of the third.

This can be shown in type with the two angels that visited Lot. It was because of the instruction of those two angels that Lot survived the destruction of Sodom. 'Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot? Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.' Luke 17:26-30

The same is true with the two spies, or messengers (Josh. 6:25) who came to Rahab in Jericho. Again, it was only because of the instruction given by these two men that she knew to gather her family into her home, and to place the scarlet line out the window, thus enabling them to survive the destruction of the city. The scarlet line is the same as the blood on the doorpost, representing the atonement and merits of Christ, which caused the destroying angel to pass over.

Daniel 1, 2, and 3, are identical with the three angels, and these three angels are in turn, identical with the Courtyard, Holy Place, and Most Holy Place. The three testing temptations of Christ in the wilderness are also the same as the three tests of Daniel 1-3. The first temptation and Daniel 1 are on appetite, the second temptation and Daniel 2 are on presumption and prophecy, and the third temptation and Daniel 3 are about worship.

Daniel 4 and 5 represent the completion of the mystery of Godliness and the mystery of iniquity in each of the two classes of people. As a result of the seven times that Nebuchadnezzar passed through, just as the three Hebrews passed through the furnace heated seven times hotter, he is represented as having excellent majesty added unto him. (Dan. 4:36) Belshazzar, on the other hand, knew what Nebuchadnezzar passed through, but failed the test, and judgment was pronounced against him. These two men represent two classes of people.

The first class receive the seal of God, and the latter receive the mark of the beast. Just as they are sandwiched between chapter 3 and 6, so the spiritual condition of the two classes of people are brought to completion simultaneously between the National and Universal Sunday laws. The one class now perfectly reflects the character of Christ, and the other perfectly reflects the character of Satan.

Daniel 6 represents God?s people as sealed. Daniel is found with 'an excellent spirit within him,' and as 'faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.' (Daniel 6:3-4) Each group now have either the seal or the mark, and are prepared for the final battle.

Wow!
This quarters lessons dig deep.
Notice at the bottom of each Sabbath day's page there is reference to chapters in Great Controversy that are being referenced.
The lessons then use the historical backgrounds to draw lessons for us in our Christian life.

The first lesson covered the origin of Sin --
A mighty, powerful, intelligent, beautiful angel challenges God and His government.
After all, aren't angels intelligent and fully capable of thought, reasoning and choosing what they want and don't want. Aren't they holy? They don't need God telling them what they can and can't do. So he worked, stealthfully at first then more openly to convince the angel's that God's laws are restrictive, and that he would offer them a more exalted existence, they could be like god, be their own god.

The question arises, if God knew one of His intelligent, beautiful angels would rebel against Him, why did He create that angel?

If it wouldn't have been that particular angel that rebelled, sooner or later another would have. The only way to avoid it would have been NOT to created thinking, reasoning beings who had the power of choice.
But God wants people, angels, to serve Him because they love and trust Him, not because they are programed to do so.

He could have wiped Lucifer out right then and there,,
What would that have accomplished?
All the other angels would have served out of fear and dread.

So God said, OK Satan, you cannot stay in heaven, for sin cannot live in heaven.
BUT, you can demonstrate your idea of a kingdom on one planet .

In the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve lived, there was one tree that had forbidden fruit.
Satan was allowed access to that one tree. He could not follow Adam and Eve around the garden, and Adam and Eve were warned concerning this enemy.
But if they ate of that one tree. They listened to his lies and the gates of sin were opened. Satan and his angels could roam the earth and plague the human race, teaching them to disregard God, and be their own "gods".

You won't die, (you are immortal) Satan told Eve on the fateful day, you will be like god! (Defining your own right and wrong)

And that has been his alluring lie to mankind ever since.
And most believe him.

Inspite of the death, misery and woe, Satan's reign has given mankind; so many still believe they've achieved a higher level of existence by operating independent of God.

And the present administration is stoking the flames so to speak, take a look...
"The White House on Friday announced "transgender day of visibility" for March 31, which this year falls on Easter Sunday.

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2024, as Transgender Day of Visibility," President Biden wrote in a Friday statement. "I call upon all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity."

And its being done purposely as a matter of policy...'Since its inception, the Biden administration has made LGBT activism a cornerstone of its policy priorities. Biden boasted in his statement that he appointed transgender leaders to his administration and ended the ban on transgender Americans serving openly in the military.'...MSN https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/b...ransgender-day-of-visibility/ar-BB1kNEHy

And we have even more from SOP:
'At the commencement of the holy Sabbath, January 5, 1849, we engaged in prayer with Brother Belden's family at Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and the Holy Ghost fell upon us. I was taken off in vision to the most holy place, where I saw Jesus still interceding for Israel. . . . Then I saw that Jesus would not leave the most holy place until every case was decided either for salvation or destruction.--EW, p. 36. {1BIO 154.6}

In quick succession last-day events were reviewed before her--the seven last plagues, the death decree, the deliverance at the voice of God, and then a scene she did not understand. {1BIO 155.1}

I asked my attending angel for an explanation of what I saw.
He told me that I could see no more then, but he would shortly show me what those things that I then saw meant.--Ibid., p. 37. {1BIO 155.2}

The explanation came the next afternoon in another vision. {1BIO 155.3}

I saw four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and were on their way to accomplish it. Jesus was clothed with priestly garments. He gazed in pity on the remnant, then raised His
hands, and with a voice of deep pity cried, "My blood, Father, My blood, My blood, My blood!" {1BIO 155.4}

Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from God, who sat upon the great white throne, and was shed all about Jesus. Then I saw an angel with a commission from Jesus, swiftly flying to the four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and waving something up and down in his hand, and crying with a loud voice, "Hold! Hold! Hold! Hold! until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads."--Ibid., p. 38. {1BIO 155.5}

Still perplexed as to the full significance of what was passing before her, she again made inquiry: {1BIO 155.6}

I asked my accompanying angel the meaning of what I heard, and what the four angels were about to do. He said to me that it was God that restrained the powers, and that He gave His angels charge over things on earth; that the four angels had power from God to hold the four winds, and they were about to let them go; but while their hands were loosening, and the four winds were about to blow, the merciful eye of Jesus gazed on the remnant that were not sealed, and He raised His hands to the Father and pleaded with Him that He had spilled His blood for them.

Then another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four angels and bid them hold, until the servants of God were sealed with the seal of the living God in their foreheads.--Ibid. {1BIO 155.7}

Like: Don't protest against the red army or they will kill you.

And don't forget that those plants breathe in Carbon Dioxide, therefore Carbon Dioxide is important to their survival, as Oxygen important to our own survival.

It's been awhile since we looked at this study.
There are still a few more verses in chapter five.
What do they mean for us????
5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?
5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one] that accuseth you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust.
5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

John chapter five is a gold mine for those wanting to understand the judgment!
Some of these gold nuggets have been brought forward in the studies on the previous verses, but they only scratch the surface.

What does "having the love of God in us" have to do with the judgment?
How does the "name" connect to judgment?
How does "the one we honor" relate to the judgment?
What does Moses have to do with judgment?

All these questions, have answers that lead to important concepts that fill in details of the judgment.

David and Goliath Part Two.

As we have seen, the story of David and Goliath can also be seen as a type of the battle between Christ and Satan. It also has a closer application to us as individuals regarding the nature of self. 'Self' is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but is rarely understood for what it is. This account also has to do with the correct use of the will, as two kings are involved, David and Saul. One king has the Spirit of God, and the other king does not.

"The will is the governing power in the nature of man. If the will is set right, all the rest of the being will come under its sway. The will is not the taste or the inclination, but it is the choice, the deciding power, the kingly power, which works in the children of men unto obedience to God or to disobedience." (ML 318.3)

This concept can be seen throughout in the books of the Kings and Chronicles in the Bible. When the king does right in the sight of the Lord, the people also do right; and when the king does evil, the people in turn do evil. The same is true with us as individuals, when the will is set correctly, the thoughts and actions follow correctly.


Setting the Stage

There are three main players in our story; David, Saul, and Goliath; and in this type, each represent a certain attribute that is inherent in the human mind.

The account details a seemingly lopsided battle between two men. Goliath, a giant of a man, a trained fighter from his youth, armed to the teeth with the most modern weaponry of his time; and accompanied by a man with a shield, whose purpose is to deflect the offensive weapons of the opponent, and also to participate in the battle. The armor bearer could be both a defensive and an offensive asset as needed.

David, on the other hand, is a simple shepherd, armed only with a staff and a slingshot, with some stones he picked up out of a creek.

There is a lot riding on this battle between these two men. Only one man will be left standing, and which ever one that is will determine which nation will be subjected to the other. That would be like the USA and Russia each sending its best man, and whoever won, that man?s country would rule. Wow!! Safe to say, there would be a pretty serious selection committee!


David's Opponent

1 Samuel 17:4-7
V4. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

V5. And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

V6. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

V7. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver?s beam; and his spear?s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and one bearing a shield went before him.

V33. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.


There are two significant things that stand out about Goliath. First of all, he is an extremely formidable opponent all by himself. Take away his body armor, weapons, and his armor bearer, and that still leaves a twelve-foot tall man (1SP370.1) who has been trained in the arts of war from his youth.

The other thing to notice is his weapons systems. It includes both an offensive and a defensive system. Even though he is tough and capable with up to date weapons, he is not so arrogant to think he will never face someone who could possibly hurt him. With that in mind, his strategy also includes a highly sophisticated defense system. The principle behind this system is to protect him from a lethal wound, and to enable him to maintain his ability to utilize the offensive weaponry he has.

Goliath as a fighter trained in war from his youth represents our inherited defects of character, and his weapons and defenses represent the acquired tendencies to evil in our character, or, our cultivated defects of character. Combined, they make up the part of us that we term as 'self'.

The first comes from the law of genetics, that is, the traits of character handed to us at our birth which we have no control over. Exodus 20:5, "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me."

These inherited defects of character are what starts us down the path of wrong thoughts and resulting behaviors. They begin to give shape to the walls which will confine us. Or put in a different way, they mar the lens through which we see and interact in life.

The second, the acquired tendencies, stems from the fact that in our ignorance or indifference of what we have inherited, we begin to defend our wrong thoughts and behaviors, and acquire new ones along the way. In other words, these are what add the strength to our walls, until they become an impregnable fortress, or more to the point, a prison of our own making.

Some of the defensive armor could include pride, fear, envy, doubt, guilt, bitterness, insecurities and so on. If you think about it, these kinds of emotions justify, or protect, our wrong thoughts and behaviors. When these behaviors are confronted, that same thing which lies within us called self, will then choose the appropriate offensive weapon to neutralize our perceived opponent. Instead of swords, spears, and daggers, our weapons take on the form of anger, deceit, silence, sarcasm, joking, etc. These perceived opponents are friends, loved ones, spouses, coworkers, inspired counsel, unfair treatment, circumstances, and the like.


The Challenge of Goliath

Verses 8-11 gives us the details of Goliath?s challenge:

V8. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? Am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

V9. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

V10. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

V11. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.


Who is Goliath Calling Out?

Is this just some generic challenge, hoping that anyone will take the bait? Or was it more specific?

Goliath was the biggest man in their camp. Who was the biggest man in Israel? In 1 Samuel 9:2 we are told that Saul "was a choice young man, and a goodly," and that "from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people."

So each man, Goliath and Saul, are the tallest men of their respective nations.

Goliath is calling king Saul out, and he realizes that if he gets the king he gets the people too.

The Bible says that Saul was afraid, and the people also. Saul and all of Israel knew full well that he was no match for Goliath.

Here in our case with poor Saul, a king represents the will. The Spirit of Prophecy defines the will as the governing, or kingly power. So, putting that into perspective, Goliath, representing our defects of character, is coming to Saul, who represents us with an unsanctified will, with the proposition that whoever wins will rule.

The Bible helps us to see this in Romans 6:16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

So this challenge is all about who is going to obey who. Does the will power win out, or self?


The Contrast Between David and Saul

In 1 Samuel 16:13-14, we read that "Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah."

"But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him."

One has the Spirit of the Lord, and the other doesn?t. It was when Saul was 'little in his own sight' that he was anointed king over Israel. But now, the Spirit has been withdrawn.

In Saul?s case, without the Spirit, he would represent an unsanctified will. David, with the Spirit, would represent a sanctified will; the governing power being under the power and supervision of the Holy Spirit.

An unsanctified will is no match for deeply rooted character defects, and Goliath knows that he can easily take Saul, but what he doesn?t realize, is that it will be David instead of Saul whom he will fight. He will be fighting against the real king of Israel who has been anointed with the Spirit of God! Not only that, he will be confronted with a weapons system which on the surface appears simple, yet as he will soon find out, is highly effective.

This same concept regarding the two wills can also be seen in the account of the two kings of Luke 14:28-33, and they are also shown in the account of Esau and Jacob.

David?s Choice of Weapons

V38. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

V39. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

As Saul compared David with Goliath, he faced the same problem that many of us have, that is, he could not think outside of the box. The point to make is that Saul saw Goliath as a man of war with all of his armor, and the only thing he knew was to fight him in the same way, with the same type of equipment. Saul did not know any other way to fight. It is the same concept as with Israel in Numbers 13:31-33, when the spies brought back their report of the giants in the land.

For us in the battle against self, our box can be preconceived ideas, church tradition, incorrect theology, education, personal bias, the list could go on, but these things can prevent us from truly experiencing the genuine article of righteousness by faith.

David could not use Saul?s armor, and as we have already seen, he relied instead on his sling and some well-chosen stones. They weren?t just any stones, but the Bible tells us that they were ?smooth? stones. They were worn smooth by the moving water, and when employed, they moved through the air with perfect accuracy. The water represents God?s Word, which is living and active in our lives, and these stones represent the promises that are contained in the Bible that enable us to defeat Satan in any form. These promises should also be worn smooth by our continued use, with confidence that they can never be worn out.

The Bible tells us that God?s Word will not return unto Him void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) In this case, the stone was sent straight to the mark, and did not fail to accomplish its purpose. So it was with Christ in His battle with Satan, and so it is with us.

"You will be in constant peril until you understand the true force of the will. You may believe and promise all things, but your promises and your faith are of no account until you put your will on the right side. If you will fight the fight of faith with your will power, there is no doubt that you will conquer.

"Your part is to put your will on the side of Christ. When you yield your will to His, He immediately takes possession of you, and works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. Your nature is brought under the control of His Spirit. Even your thoughts are subject to Him. If you cannot control your impulses, your emotions, as you may desire, you can control the will, and thus an entire change will be wrought in your life. When you yield up your will to Christ, your life is hid with Christ in God. It is allied to the power which is above all principalities and powers. You have a strength from God that holds you fast to His strength; and a new life, even the life of faith, is possible to you.

"You can never be successful in elevating yourself, unless your will is on the side of Christ, cooperating with the Spirit of God. Do not feel that you cannot; but say, "I can, I will." And God has pledged His Holy Spirit to help you in every decided effort." (ML 318.4-6)