Lesson-18

"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries

Lesson 18

GOD’S PEOPLE IDENTIFIED

Introduction: Throughout history God has had a special people with a special message. In this lesson we will discover who are God’s special people in this age.

1. Who did God say were His people? Eze. 34:30,31; Heb. 8:10.

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2. Is God, then, dependent upon literal descendants of Abraham to have a people? Matt. 3:9,10; 21:43.

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3. In God’s sight, are all of Abraham’s descendants a part of the true “house of Israel?” Rom. 9:6, 24-26; 2:28,29; John 8:39,44.

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4. How can we become part of God’s true Israel? Gal. 3:7,8,14,26-29; Col. 2:10-13.

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5. Is there any hope for Gentiles (those who are not God’s people) who refuse to become true Israelites through Jesus Christ? Eph. 2:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:6,9,10.

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6. Besides “Israel,” by what other terms does the Bible refer to God’s people? Eph. 1:22,23; Col. 1:24.

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7. In Greek the word “angel” means God’s “messenger” and often refers to God’s church when used symbolically in prophecy. How far will God’s people take His message in the last days? Rev. 14:6,7; Matt. 24:14.

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8. What other symbol does the Bible use to represent Israel (or Zion) in prophecy? Jer. 6:2; Eph. 5:23; Rev. 19:7.

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9. What will the dragon do to God’s last-day church, as symbolized by a woman? Rev. 12:17, first part; Eph. 6:12.

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10. Besides being world-wide, as noted in question 7, what other identifying marks does God give to help us recognize His true people symbolized by a woman? Rev. 12:17, last part; 14:12.

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11. Thus, God’s last day people will keep all the commandments, including the Sabbath commandment. They also will have “the testimony of Jesus Christ.” What is “the testimony of Jesus Christ?” Rev. 19:10.

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12. In summary, God’s last-day church will be a (1)Christian, (2)world-wide, (3) commandment-keeping church (4) that has the gift of prophecy. Does it necessarily have to be a specifically organized and named church?

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Note: The Bible was originally given to the Jews, but now it has been given to the whole world. The writers are accepted as prophets by the whole world. In 1844 God gave a prophet to His scattered people, who eventually gathered together and formed the Seventh-day Adventist Church. But most of the messages of this prophet are for the benefit of the whole world. They do not contradict the Bible but shed light on it, making it more easily understood. Like the Jews, Seventh-day Adventists have been a special people, but God’s true people are everywhere and not really any particular church or denomination. And also like the Jews, the Seventh-day Adventist church has refused to follow God’s will, and He has rejected them as His last day people. So who are God’s true people today and how can we identify them? They are those who keep all God’s commandments, and believe and follow the whole Bible and the writings of God’s prophet for the last day. Christ is their only leader. “Wherefore by their fruits (not by their name) ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:20.

13. After two men, one after another, refused to be God’s messenger, He chose 17-year old Ellen G. Harmon ( or, after she married, Ellen G. White). She continued her inspired, prophetic ministry until she died in 1915. What Bible examples are there of women being called by God to be His prophets? Judges 4:4; Luke 2:36; Ex. 15:20; 2 Kings 22:14; Joel 2:28; Acts 21:9.

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14. Ellen White had only a limited, formal education, yet she wrote profound truths about Jesus, the Scriptures, education, health, marriage, administration, prophecy, and latter-day events that we are seeing happening today. What kind of human instrument does God often choose to do His work? 1 Cor. 1:27-29; Zech. 4:6.

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15. Who inspires prophets to write, speak, or act God’s messages? 2 Pet. 1:21; Hosea 12:13; Luke 1:70.

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16. What is one way God leads His church? 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11-14.

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TESTS OF A TRUE PROPHET

1. Deut. 18:21,22; Jer. 28:9 Prophecies must come to pass.

2. Num. 12:6 God speaks to them in visions and dreams.

3. Num. 24:4,16 Fall into trance with eyes open.

4. Dan. 10:17 No strength at first and no breath.

5. Dan. 10:18 Then strengthened.

6. 2 Pet. 1:21 Moved and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

7. 1 Cor. 14:3 Messages edify, exhort, or comfort.

8. Isa. 8:19,20 To the law and the testimony, must agree with the Bible.

9. 1 John 4:1-3 Believe and confess Jesus came in human flesh.

10. Matt. 7:15,16,20 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Other texts for further study: Amos 3:7; Matt. 24:24; Acts 2:17; 1 Thess. 5:19-21.


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Bible Studies Lesson 18 GOD’S PEOPLE IDENTIFIED Introduction: Throughout history God has had a special people with a special message. In this lesson we will discover who are God’s special people in this age. 1. Who did God say were His people? Eze. 34:30,31; Heb. 8:10. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Is God, then, dependent upon literal descendants of Abraham to have a people? Matt. 3:9,10; 21:43. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. In God’s sight, are all of Abraham’s descendants a part of the true “house of Israel?” Rom. 9:6, 24-26; 2:28,29; John 8:39,44. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 4. How can we become part of God’s true Israel? Gal. 3:7,8,14,26-29; Col. 2:10-13. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Is there any hope for Gentiles (those who are not God’s people) who refuse to become true Israelites through Jesus Christ? Eph. 2:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:6,9,10. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Besides “Israel,” by what other terms does the Bible refer to God’s people? Eph. 1:22,23; Col. 1:24. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. In Greek the word “angel” means God’s “messenger” and often refers to God’s church when used symbolically in prophecy. How far will God’s people take His message in the last days? Rev. 14:6,7; Matt. 24:14. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 8. What other symbol does the Bible use to represent Israel (or Zion) in prophecy? Jer. 6:2; Eph. 5:23; Rev. 19:7. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 9. What will the dragon do to God’s last-day church, as symbolized by a woman? Rev. 12:17, first part; Eph. 6:12. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Besides being world-wide, as noted in question 7, what other identifying marks does God give to help us recognize His true people symbolized by a woman? Rev. 12:17, last part; 14:12. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 11. Thus, God’s last day people will keep all the commandments, including the Sabbath commandment. They also will have “the testimony of Jesus Christ.” What is “the testimony of Jesus Christ?” Rev. 19:10. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 12. In summary, God’s last-day church will be a (1)Christian, (2)world-wide, (3) commandment-keeping church (4) that has the gift of prophecy. Does it necessarily have to be a specifically organized and named church? ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: The Bible was originally given to the Jews, but now it has been given to the whole world. The writers are accepted as prophets by the whole world. In 1844 God gave a prophet to His scattered people, who eventually gathered together and formed the Seventh-day Adventist Church. But most of the messages of this prophet are for the benefit of the whole world. They do not contradict the Bible but shed light on it, making it more easily understood. Like the Jews, Seventh-day Adventists have been a special people, but God’s true people are everywhere and not really any particular church or denomination. And also like the Jews, the Seventh-day Adventist church has refused to follow God’s will, and He has rejected them as His last day people. So who are God’s true people today and how can we identify them? They are those who keep all God’s commandments, and believe and follow the whole Bible and the writings of God’s prophet for the last day. Christ is their only leader. “Wherefore by their fruits (not by their name) ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:20. 13. After two men, one after another, refused to be God’s messenger, He chose 17-year old Ellen G. Harmon ( or, after she married, Ellen G. White). She continued her inspired, prophetic ministry until she died in 1915. What Bible examples are there of women being called by God to be His prophets? Judges 4:4; Luke 2:36; Ex. 15:20; 2 Kings 22:14; Joel 2:28; Acts 21:9. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 14. Ellen White had only a limited, formal education, yet she wrote profound truths about Jesus, the Scriptures, education, health, marriage, administration, prophecy, and latter-day events that we are seeing happening today. What kind of human instrument does God often choose to do His work? 1 Cor. 1:27-29; Zech. 4:6. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 15. Who inspires prophets to write, speak, or act God’s messages? 2 Pet. 1:21; Hosea 12:13; Luke 1:70. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 16. What is one way God leads His church? 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11-14. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ TESTS OF A TRUE PROPHET 1. Deut. 18:21,22; Jer. 28:9 Prophecies must come to pass. 2. Num. 12:6 God speaks to them in visions and dreams. 3. Num. 24:4,16 Fall into trance with eyes open. 4. Dan. 10:17 No strength at first and no breath. 5. Dan. 10:18 Then strengthened. 6. 2 Pet. 1:21 Moved and inspired by the Holy Spirit. 7. 1 Cor. 14:3 Messages edify, exhort, or comfort. 8. Isa. 8:19,20 To the law and the testimony, must agree with the Bible. 9. 1 John 4:1-3 Believe and confess Jesus came in human flesh. 10. Matt. 7:15,16,20 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Other texts for further study: Amos 3:7; Matt. 24:24; Acts 2:17; 1 Thess. 5:19-21.