WHEN HARD TIMES COME! What do you do when hard times come? When hard times come, we can easily become discouraged and give up. But remember, there is a place of refuge even in our toughest times when we put our trust in God.
Our march orders for the present day are found in the three angels’ message of Revelation chapter 14.
Their message makes up the core of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Their messages are the present truth for our time.
Thus, we are studying the messages surrounding these three angels as it relates to the gospel and present truth, truth as it relates to us.
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Seeking God’s Protective Care
Father, we depend on you in these tough times. You have promised to supply all our needs. Thus, we look to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
God has protected his faithful followers down through the ages. His presence and protection are guaranteed to every believer. Therefore, the weakest may depend on his protective care.
This we find is the case of Revelations 12:6, 14-16, when the woman is attacked by Satan.
Revelation 12:6
6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. (Revelation 12:6)
Revelation 12:14–16.
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.
16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. (Revelation 12:14-16)
These verses talk about Satan’s attack on a woman. The woman symbolizes God’s people, God’s church. (Split) Revelations 12:6 and 12:14 are parallel times that tell us how long Satan attacked the people of God. (Split)
Many Bible scholars believe the 1,260 days symbolize 1,260 years. So Revelation 12:6 lets us know that God took care of this “woman” for 1,260 years. The 1,260 days in Revelation are the same as the three-and-a-half years in Revelation 12:14. This same time period is described in Daniel 7:25,
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)
Revelation 11:2, 3,
2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:2-3)
and Revelation 13:5.
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. (Revelation 13:5)
We can see that this woman in Revelation 12 with wings in the wilderness is not a real woman. In other words, a literal woman with wings did not go into the wilderness. Thus, it is evident that this woman is a prophetic symbol. We can also see that the times in the verses in Daniel and Revelation are also prophetic symbols, as well. Based on Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:4–6, the day-year principle is applied to the prophetic time found in Revelation 12:6 and 14.
Numbers 14:34
34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. (Numbers 14:34)
Ezekiel 4:4-6
4 “Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity.
5 For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.
6 And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year. (Ezekiel 4:4-6)
The day-year principle helps us understand that a day is the same as a year in prophecy.
The Andrews Study Bible points out that historically, many Bible scholars believed the 1,260 days represent 1,260 years. The 1,260 years is believed to have started in a.d. 538 and ended in 1798. (Andrews Study Bible, p 1,673, comments on Revelation 11:2)
During the 1,260 years, instigated by Satan, a corrupt church combined with a corrupt state oppressed, persecuted, and at times put to death God’s faithful people.
The church in the Middle Ages worked together with the kings and queens of Europe to persecute the people of God. The attacks against God’s people during the 1,260 years were part of the worldwide war between God and Satan. This fierce, satanic attack on God’s people was an extension of the great war between good and evil. But Jesus wins. Satan is a loser,
Though some lost their lives, during these tough times, people started to study the Bible for themselves. They found that the church was not really following the Bible.
Therefore, Men and women were faced with making a choice to obey and follow God’s commands or obey and follow man’s commands. Would they accept God’s word in the Bible? Or would they accept the false teachings of man? Many people chose to be faithful to God and to his Word, while others, because of the persecution, chose to yield to the doctrines and teachings of men. History bears out that, again, the truth of God wins, and Satan loses. God’s people remain faithful to Him even in the face of fierce persecution.
The point is that Revelation 12 shows us how much God cares for His people.
Revelation 12:6 lets us know that God makes a safe place for the woman. Then, Revelation 12:14 says that God takes care of her in the wilderness.
And Revelation 12:16 tells us that “the earth helped the woman”
You see, the presence of God is guaranteed to the true believers in Christ. He is their Rock of faith. He stands before God on our behalf. (Split)
Therefore, the weakest may depend upon it. However, those who think of themselves as strong, except they learn to depend on Christ, will fall as many did during the period of persecution. Jesus is the Solid Rock upon whom we can successfully stand. All other ground is sinking sand.
In times of severe persecution, God took care of His people. He provided for His church. Just as He did then, He will do the same for His end-time people, those who depend on Christ the Solid Rock. He is watching over us. We are safe and secure under his protection.
During this persecution, there were many who yielded under the pressures of Satan. Our world is headed to a major crisis; how can we avoid giving up and joining Satan’s army? Find out on Day 6: God’s End-time Remnant
Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church
7902 Wheatly Street
Houston, TX 77088
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