"The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 11:15).

"Those who make a covenant with God by sacrifice now will soon be gathered home to share a rich reward and possess the new kingdom forever and ever."–Early Writings, p. 47.

Suggested Readings: Steps to Christ, pp. 115—126.
Evangelism, pp. 706, 707.

Sunday July 22

1. THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD IS OPENED

a. When the temple of God was opened in heaven, what did the people of God see? Revelation 11:19; Hebrews 9:3, 4.

"‘The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament’ (Revelation 11:19). The ark of God’s testament is in the holy of holies, the second apartment of the sanctuary. In the ministration of the earthly tabernacle, which served ‘unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,’ this apartment was opened only upon the great Day of Atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary. Therefore the announcement that the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of His testament was seen points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement. Those who by faith followed their great High Priest as He entered upon His ministry in the most holy place, beheld the ark of His testament. As they had studied the subject of the sanctuary they had come to understand the Saviour’s change of ministration, and they saw that He was now officiating before the ark of God, pleading His blood in behalf of sinners."–The Great Controversy, p. 433.

Monday July 23

2. THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGEMENT

a. From the opening of the temple in heaven, what work has been going on? Revelation 11:1, 2 (first part); James 2:12.

"The grand judgment is taking place, and has been going on for some time. Now the Lord says, Measure the temple and the worshipers thereof. Remember when you are walking the streets about your business, God is measuring you; when you are attending your household duties, when you engage in conversation, God is measuring you. Remember that your words and actions are being daguerreotyped [photographed] in the books of heaven, as the face is reproduced by the artist on the polished plate."–The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 972.

"In 1844 our great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to begin the work of the investigative judgment. The cases of the righteous dead have been passing in review before God. When that work shall be completed, judgment is to be pronounced upon the living. How precious, how important are these solemn moments!"–Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 125.

b. Since we are living in the time of the investigative judgment, what should our attitude be? Hebrews 4:14—16.

"Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth."–The Great Controversy, p. 425.

"Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour’s mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God."–Ibid., p. 488.

Tuesday July 24

3. THE ANGER OF THE NATIONS

a. As Satan sees that he has lost his usurped dominion of this world’s kingdoms, what is he doing among the nations? Revelation 11:18 (first part).

"I saw that the anger of the nations, the wrath of God, and the time to judge the dead were separate and distinct, one following the other, also that Michael had not stood up, and that the time of trouble, such as never was, had not yet commenced. The nations are now [written in 1849] getting angry, but when our High Priest has finished His work in the sanctuary, He will stand up, put on the garments of vengeance, and then the seven last plagues will be poured out."–Early Writings, p. 36.

"Satan delights in war, for it excites the worst passions of the soul and then sweeps into eternity its victims steeped in vice and blood. It is his object to incite the nations to war against one another, for he can thus divert the minds of the people from the work of preparation to stand in the day of God."–The Great Controversy, p. 589.

b. In beholding this scene, what should we also remember? Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:1, 2.

"Amid this glory, Christ does not lose sight of His toiling, struggling ones upon earth. . . . And today Christ, glorified, and yet our brother, is our Advocate in the courts of heaven."–The Signs of the Times, May 10, 1899.

c. As John heard that the kingdoms of this world would be restored to Jesus, how did the elders acknowledge this promise? Revelation 11:16, 17.

"The heavenly host prostrate themselves before [Christ], and raise their song of triumph and joy. Glory encircles the King of heaven, and was beheld by all the heavenly intelligences. No words can describe the scene which took place as the Son of God was publicly reinstated in the place of honor and glory which He voluntarily left when He became a man."–The Signs of the Times, May 10, 1899.

Wednesday July 25

4. THE KINGDOM RESTORED

a. To whom will all the kingdoms of this world be given? Revelation 11:15; Daniel 7:14.

"About His coming cluster the glories of that ‘restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began’ (Acts 3:21). Then the long-continued rule of evil shall be broken; ‘the kingdoms of this world’ will become ‘the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever’ (Revelation 11:15). ‘The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.’ ‘The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.’ He shall be ‘for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of His people’ (Isaiah 40:5; 61:11; 28:5)."–The Great Controversy, p. 301.

"They who suffer with [Jesus] on earth must finally reign with Him in His kingdom. In the most explicit manner Christ pleaded for His church, identifying His interest with theirs, and advocating, with love and constancy stronger than death, their rights and titles gained through Him."–The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1150.

b. When will the people of God inherit the kingdom that shall have no end? Matthew 25:31—34; Daniel 7:27.

"Those who make a covenant with God by sacrifice now will soon be gathered home to share a rich reward and possess the new kingdom forever and ever."–Early Writings, p. 47.

"The great work before us all, as Christians, is to extend Christ’s kingdom as rapidly as possible, in accordance with the divine commission. The gospel is to advance from conquest to conquest, from victory to victory. The greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, and they shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever and ever."–Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 219.

Thursday July 26

5. THE TIME FOR THE REWARD

a. At the end of the seventh trumpet, what should the servants of God expect? Revelation 11:18 (middle part); 22:12.

"Before the final reward is given, it must be decided who are fitted to share the inheritance of the righteous. This decision must be made prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; for when He comes, His reward is with Him, ‘to give every man according as his work shall be’ (Revelation 22:12). Before His coming, then, the character of every man’s work will have been determined, and to every one of Christ’s followers the reward will have been apportioned according to his deeds."–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 310.

b. What is the present condition of this earth, and what will the Lord do with those who are destroying it? Isaiah 24:4, 5; Revelation 11:18 (last part).

"The Lord God will soon arise in His wrath, and pour out His judgments upon those who are repeating the sins of the inhabitants of the Noachic world. Those whose hearts are fully set in them to do evil, as were the hearts of the inhabitants of Sodom, will like them be destroyed. The fact that God had long forbearance, patience and mercy, the fact that His judgments have been long delayed, will not make the punishment any less severe when it does come."–The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 4, p. 1144.

"Troublous times are before us. The judgments of God are abroad in the land. Calamities follow one another in rapid succession."–Gospel Workers, p. 264.

Friday July 27

1. When was the temple of God opened?
2. What work began when the temple of God was opened?
3. For what purpose does Satan make the nations angry?
4. To whom do the kingdoms of this world truly belong?
5. What reward is promised to the faithful?

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