HAVING THE COURAGE TO STAND
It takes courage to stand for what is right, especially when it means going against your friends, family, and those around you. How do you stand for the truth when facing strong opposition?
“Welcome back to what promises to be an epic journey through the unseen. We are looking at a saga, not of this world. It is the battle for our souls.
This is the 4th part of a 13-part series unlike any other.
We’re diving into the cosmic war beyond what we can not see, hear, or imagine.
It is a war between the forces of good and evil.
We’re digging deep into the heart of this cosmic battle, exploring the origins of sin, the nature of evil, and the ultimate showdown between God and Satan.
This series isn’t just about understanding the forces at play; it’s also about knowing our place within this universal struggle.
Every episode, every moment of this journey matters because, like it or not, this war touches us all.
It is about a God who loves us so much, and He is willing to fight for us.
Your view of the universe and our place within it is about to change forever. If you have not viewed the previous videos, view them at SabbathSchoolDaily.com.
Before diving into this conflict, let’s take a moment to invite God’s presence.
Inviting God’s Presence
Heavenly Father, grant us the courage to stand firm in Your truth, even when we face opposition. Strengthen our resolve to follow Your ways and guide our steps in righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Great Controversy
(Lesson 4)
Standing for the Truth
Part 1
“ ‘And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life’ ” (John 3:14-15).
This analogy of Moses lifting up the serpent and the Son of man being lifted up sets the stage and helps us better understand the value of faith, courage, and the ultimate sacrifice.
Smyrna, now modern-day Izmir in Turkey, is a place rich in history and steeped in stories of early Christian faith and courage.
In the first and second centuries, Smyrna was a busy, prosperous city with a population of around 100,000.
It is known for its fierce loyalty to Romans.
In fact, one of the city’s annual traditions commanded that all citizens burn incense as a tribute to the Roman gods. This act was considered both a civic duty and a religious offering.
Amidst this backdrop of pagan practice, there apparently was a strong Christian community and many who refused to comply with this annual government mandate.
Prominent was Polycarp, who, when faced with the ultimate test of faith, stood courageously in the city’s public square, refusing to renounce his faith in exchange for his life.
Even when urged to deny Christ for the sake of his life, he famously declared,
“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my King who saved me?”
His steadfast faith led to his death. He chose to be burned at the stake rather than put aside his allegiance to Jesus.
The legacy of Polycarp and many like him in Smyrna is not merely a historical note but a source of inspiration.
Throughout the centuries, men and women have been willing to experience a martyr’s death rather than give up their faith in Christ.
Their courage in the face of death should encourage us to hold fast to our faith under any and all circumstances.
In this study, we will explore the biblical principles and convictions that empowered early Christians to remain loyal to Jesus, even at the threat of death.
We will also look at what motivated early reformers, such as those known as the Waldenses, and Reformers, such as Huss and Jerome.
These reformers remained faithful to the Lord even when facing death.
They suffered under the same power that killed Polycarp: Roman Power. Polycarp was killed under the control of Civil Rome. The other suffered under the power of Papal Rome.
Rome became papal Rome when the bishop of Rome (the pope) gained power over the church. We will explore this further later.
Like these faithful and courageous Christians, we are called to carry the torch and stand even unto death.
The more we stand firm, the more Satan becomes enraged. The more enraged he becomes, the more severe the persecution. Where is victory in persecution? Continue to Part 2: Persecuted Yet Triumphant
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 4)
Standing for Truth
Part 2: Persecuted Yet Triumphant
In the prophetic texts of Daniel and Revelation, we are taken on a journey through time to periods marked by turbulence and persecution. It is also about divine protection and enduring faith.
Daniel 7:23–25 and Revelation 12:6, 14 describe a significant historical period when God’s people faced severe trials.
Using the word beast to symbolize kingdoms, notice what Daniel 7:23-25 says:
23 “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.
24 The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.
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 7:23-25)
Satan gets extremely angry when the people of God remain faithful to Him. His anger is followed by persecution. He often uses fellow humans to carry out his evil deeds.
When ancient Babylon was the world’s ruling power, Daniel foresaw that a future medieval church, specifically the Roman Catholic church, influence would extend beyond its religious power. Daniel 7:21 indicated that the medieval church would “make war against” and “persecute” God’s people.
Similarly, the prophet John in Revelation 12:6 and 14 depicts the church as a woman.
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.
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. (Revelation 12: 6 and 14)
This woman or church, flees to the wilderness for three and a half years.
This is a symbolic refuge where she is divinely kept safe in the midst of adversity.
For hundreds of years, the Church of Christ found refuge in secluded and hidden places.
Both Daniel in the Book of Daniel and John in the Book of Revelation describe the same period.
It was a time when God’s church was forced to flee into the wilderness, where she would be “nourished for a time and times and half a time,” as expressed in Revelation 12:14.
Revelation 12:6 adds, “The woman [the church] fled into the wilderness where she has a place prepared by God.”
During the church’s time in the wilderness, God provided for her. No, those provisions did not come in the form of manna but as spiritual nutrition through “Bible truth,” which strengthened and sustained His followers as the great controversy; the battle against good and evil continued during the long and dark period of papal domination in which the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrine position the Pope as having full, supreme, and universal power.
During life’s greatest trials, the people of God have found a “place prepared” for them by God.
Psalm 46 attests that during the greatest trials, God’s people find refuge in His love and care. (Split)
The Visigoths, Vandals, and Ostrogoths were barbarian tribes that believed in doctrines different from Rome’s official teaching.
The 1,260 days began when the last of these barbarian tribes, the Ostrogoths, a Germanic tribe that lived in the area around the Black Sea, were driven out of Rome in A.D. 538.
This began a period of spiritual darkness in which Papal Rome ruled. Papal Rome ruled for 1,260 years from 538 B.C. to A.D. 1798, when French general Berthier dethroned the pope, marking the end of papal supremacy.
We need to know that biblical prophecy is often written in symbols. So, the 1,260 days mentioned in Revelation are calculated by the “day-year rule.” in which a day in prophecy symbolizes a year of real historical events. (Split)
The 1,260 days and the time, times, and half a time in Revelation 12:6, 14 both refer to the same period (3½ times or years x 360 days per year = 1,260 days).
In the prophetic portions of Daniel and Revelation, one prophetic day equals one literal year. This day-year principle is found in Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6, which says:
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.
Ezekiel 4:6
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 4:6)
Bible interpreters have used this principle throughout the centuries.
Countless Christians were killed during this long period of the Dark Ages because they took a stand for the Word of God. But, even in death, they were victorious.
These accounts aren’t just historical narratives; their stand for truth is a reminder that their sacrifice is not the end but a rest from their labor until the resurrection at Jesus’ second coming.
Christ’s victory over Satan on the cross was their victory. Though they died, their death is only a rest until Christ returns.
Their lives should inspire us to stand steadfast in our convictions, confident in the knowledge that, like them, we are never forsaken.
God has always provided a sanctuary for His people, a place of safety amid the storms of persecution. If we should face death because of our faith, it does not mean defeat. It means we fulfilled God’s purpose. He has concern for both the destiny of nations and the destiny of His churh.
Therefore, with resilience and hope, supported by the promise that God is always with us, we can stand and be light bears in the darkest hours.
What is the benefit of bearing light in the darkness?
View the next segment of this video, Part 3: Light Vanquishes the Darkness.
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 4)
Standing for the Truth
Part 3: Light Vanquishes the Darkness
In the brief Book of Jude, written before A.D. 65. Jude in Jude 1:1 indicates that it was written to faithful Christians who were “sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:1)
In Jude, we find an urgent message for the early Christians and for us.
Jude in Jude 1:3 encourages believers to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3)
In Jude 1:4, Jude calls for the people of God to arm themselves against the subtle but dangerous threat of Satan.
4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4).
This early warning was extremely significate, particularly during the Middle or Dark Ages. During this period, the church faced a stream of false teachings that blended human traditions with the pure Word of God.
Jude’s cautions foreshadowed these challenges by highlighting the importance of being constantly vigilant in preserving the integrity of Bible truth.
Among those who heeded Jude’s call were the Waldenses. They were light bearers who stood as champions for the truths of God’s word in the midst of the spiritual darkness of the Dark Ages.
These believers held fast to their conviction that only Jesus could mediate between them and God, and they upheld the Bible as the ultimate authority in their lives.
Their stand against falsehood marks every age, for “In every age there have been witnesses for God—those who cherished faith in Christ as the only mediator between God and man, who held the Bible as the only rule of life, and hallowed the true Sabbath.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 61.
These individuals stood firm for the word of God, believing the promise of eternal reward for enduring faith vividly captured in Revelation 2:10, where Jesus assures the church at Smyrna and all who face persecution that a “crown of life” awaits those who remain faithful unto death.” (Split)
This promise was profoundly comforting to the Waldenses as they faced persecution and even death for their persistent faith.
The Church of Smyrna was strengthened by the assurance of this eternal crown at a time when one of the city’s patriotic gods was Dionysius, the god of festivity and fertility.
It is said that when the priests of Dionysius died, a crown was placed on their heads in their funeral procession.
John contrasts this earthly crown placed on the head at death with the crown of life placed on the heads of those who are victorious over the forces of evil.
The crown of life is presented to those who endured trials, difficulties, suffering, and death itself for Christ’s sake.
This “crown of life” is a living promise that extends to all believers facing trials today.
It is a reminder that, though our challenges may be great, and even perhaps death the reward for our faithfulness is greater still.
Just as the crown of life inspired the Waldenses through pain and persecution, knowing they would see Jesus one day and live with Him forever, it should inspire us when we face challenging times.
Let this assurance light our path and strengthen our resolve. As we navigate life’s difficulties, let us hold tight to the promise of the crown of life.
In trying times, we will need the courage to stand. How do we obtain that courage?
Continue to the next Segment of this video, Day 4: Courage to Stand.
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 4)
Standing for the Truth
Part 4: Courage to Stand
Christian history tells us that the Waldenses, like all the other Reformers, stood out as a beacon light of courage and absolute loyalty to the Word of God.
Rooted deeply in the word of God, they lived their lives by the Bible, considering it the ultimate rule of faith.
They worshiped Jesus directly, rejecting any earthly intermediary. Their commitment was to the supremacy of Christ and not the papacy.
They Aligned their lives with the stories of New Testament believers who stood with faith and courage for their belief in Christ.
Like Peter and the other apostles, they declared what Peter proclaimed in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men!”
This conviction was their cornerstone as they drew strength from Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 6:10,
“Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.”
They also heeded the call of John in Revelation 3:11,
“Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”
These scriptures formed the root of their resistance against the traditions imposed by the Roman Church.
They had the courage to stand for the truth, even when facing the possibility of imprisonment and death.
The Waldenses were one of the first groups to obtain the Bible in their own language.
Their dedication to scripture extended beyond personal study; they were pioneers in translating the Bible into their own language.
Jean Leger, a Waldensian, Bible copyist, provides firsthand information of their work, which included drawings.
Youth at an early age were instructed by their parents to memorize large portions of Scripture.
Teams of Bible copyists worked together to copy the Bible. Many of the Waldense young adults traveled throughout Europe as merchants. As they traveled, they quietly shared the Scriptures with others who were open to learning them.
Those enrolled in universities, as the opportunity permitted, shared portions of the Scriptures with their fellow students.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, when they sensed receptiveness in honest seekers, they gave away selected portions of their Scripture passages. And for many, their faithfulness and devotion cost their lives.
Although the Waldenses did not understand every Bible teaching clearly, they preserved the truth of God’s Word for centuries by sharing it with others and living their lives based on their exciting knowledge of the scriptures.
In other words, the Waldenses were committed to living and sharing the truths they knew and understood at the time.
Their efforts ensured that the light of Biblical truth continued to illuminate through the darkest ages of Christian persecution.
Proverbs 4:18 says,
18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)
Here, Solomon makes a comparison between the path by which God leads us to that of the sun that shines brighter and brighter.
During a time when darkness consumed the world for centuries, God raised up men and women, committed to His Word, and was willing to search for more light.
Let us draw inspiration from the Waldenses and let the light of Jesus shine forth in our lives and in our communities.
Like them, we can stand firm in our convictions, be inspired to share the enduring truths of the Bible boldly, and nurture their legacy of faith that, against all odds, refuses to grow dim.
The thing is: “Christ does not bid His followers strive to shine. He says, Let your light shine. If you have received the grace of God, the light is in you. Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 420.
Therefore, let’s carry the torch forward and go light the world with the truth and love of Jesus Christ.
If the Waldense were limited in their understanding of the Bible due to the Dark Ages when people were prohibited from reading it, how did we get to reformations? Read Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 119:140, Psalm 119:162, and Jeremiah 15:16 to find out what both David and Jeremiah believed about the Bible and reformation.
Then, view the next segment of this video: Part 5: The Morning Star of the Reformation.
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 4)
Standing for the Truth
Part 5: The Morning Star of the Reformation
David and Jeremiah were strong figures of the Old Testament; both cherished the Word of God, recognizing it as the very breath of God.
They had a deep reverence for God’s Word, describing it as perfect, righteous, and a joyous treasure.
Notice in the following scriptures what they say about the Word of God.
Psalms 119:140
140 Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it. (Psalms 119:140)
Psalms 119:162
162 I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. (Psalms 119:162)
Jeremiah 15:16
16 Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)
The sincere appreciation for Scripture laid the foundation for the Protestant Reformation centuries later.
One of the most significant shifts in the Reformation’s truths was the joy that studying the Scriptures brought.
No, Bible study was not a painstaking task, a legalistic exercise, or a rigid requirement.
As these reformers studied the Scriptures, they were transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, during the 1500s, a major shift occurred in Europe.
The Protestant Reformation challenged and ultimately reshaped the religious landscape. Pioneers like John Wycliffe, moved by the transformative power of the scriptures, began to question and reject the prevailing doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church that they found to be inconsistent with biblical teachings.
The changes they made led to the start of the Protestant Reformation and the formation of Protestant churches.
Wycliffe, educated by the Bible, became a catalyst for change. His life demonstrates that engagement with Scripture not only elevates one’s moral and spiritual life but also empowers and enlightens the intellect.
Ellen G. White, in the book, “The Great Controversy,” captures this beautifully, stating that
“The character of Wycliffe is a testimony to the educating, transforming power of the Holy Scriptures. It was the Bible that made him what he was. The effort to grasp the great truths of revelation imparts freshness and vigor to all the faculties. It expands the mind, sharpens the perceptions, and ripens the judgment. The study of the Bible will ennoble every thought, feeling, and aspiration as no other study can. It gives stability of purpose, patience, courage, and fortitude; it refines the character and sanctifies the soul.
An earnest, reverent study of the Scriptures, bringing the mind of the student in direct contact with the infinite mind, would give to the world men of stronger and more active intellect, as well as of nobler principle, than has ever resulted from the best training that human philosophy affords.”—The Great Controversy, p. 94.
Moreover, Paul’s advice to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1–3 further underscores the value of the scriptures and the importance of living them like a good soldier even under hardship. He says to Timothy.
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 2:1-3)
Thus, by the power and strength of the Holy Spirit, as believers, we are encouraged to share the truths we have learned.
The truth of God’s Word and the joy of salvation in Jesus Christ filled the Reformers’ hearts with a spirit of love, motivating them to share the knowledge they had.
In fact, led by the power of the Holy Spirit, Wycliffe dedicated his life to translating the Bible into English.
He had two reasons for doing this:
- His life had been changed through reading the scriptures and learning of the Living Savior, Jesus Christ.
- His love for Christ motivated him to share what he had learned with others.
Thus, his desire to make the Bible accessible was not just to fulfill an academic requirement, but it was a mission fueled by divine love.
Before Wycliffe, very little of the Bible existed in English, though he died before Rome could end his life.
The papacy did not stop; they had his body dug up, burned, and had his ashes thrown into a river.
However, just as the river carried his ashes, so did God’s Word flow. As a result of His work, the Bible, the water of life, spread far and wide.
Like David, Jeremiah, and the reformers, we are called to treasure the Bible, immerse ourselves in its truths, live its trues, and allow it to transform us.
Let their legacy inspire you to stand firm in your faith, commit to understanding God’s Word, and courageously share its transforming power.
In doing so, we can, too, be instruments of reformation wherever we are.
What is it that helps us stand in the face of horrible persecution?
Continue to the next segment of this video: Part 6: Cheered by Hope
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 4)
Standing for the Truth
Part 6: Cheered by Hope
During the awful Middle Ages, the stage was set for a dramatic and often brutal conflict. The cosmic war between good and evil, Christ and Satan, continued.
Loyal Christians, like the Waldenses and notable Protestant reformers such as John Huss, Jerome, Tyndale, and Latimer, found themselves at the heart of this battle, facing persecution and even death for their unwavering commitment to God’s truth.
Yet, these faithful men and women were fortified by a deep trust in God’s promises, particularly the reassuring words of Jesus in John 14:19.
Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19).
This intense belief in Christ’s resurrection—that He had overcome death itself—gave them unparalleled strength to face their ordeals with courage.
Despite facing the sword and the flame, they experienced joy, considering it an honor to suffer for the sake of their Lord.
Their faith served as a powerful testament to others. Amid their trials, these dedicated believers clung to the promises of eternal life and resurrection outlined in scriptures like John 5:24, John 11:25-26, and 1 John 5:11-13.
John 5:24
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24)
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
I John 5:11-13
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (I John 5:11-13)
These verses offered them a vision of hope beyond their present sufferings.
They contain the promise that life in Christ is everlasting and invincible against the powers of darkness.
Their confidence was further strengthened by the truth found in Hebrews 2:14-15, which proclaims that by His death, Jesus destroyed him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.
Having this knowledge freed those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14-15 was a cornerstone of their faith, providing profound comfort. It liberated them from the fear of death.
The story of John Huss is particularly exemplary of this era’s faithful resilience. John Huss would not falter in the face of imprisonment, injustice, and death itself.
He languished in prison for months. The cold, damp conditions brought on a fever that nearly ended his life. Nevertheless, “the grace of God sustained him. During the weeks of suffering that passed before his final sentence, heaven’s peace filled his soul. ‘I write this letter,’ he said to a friend, ‘in my prison, and with my fettered hand, expecting my sentence of death tomorrow. . . .
When, with the assistance of Jesus Christ, we shall again meet in the delicious peace of the future life, you will learn how merciful God has shown Himself toward me, how effectually He has supported me in the midst of my temptations and trials.’—Bonnechose, vol. 2, p. 67. In the gloom of his dungeon he foresaw the triumph of the true faith.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 107, 108.
These words not only comforted his contemporaries but continue to inspire those who seek to uphold faith amid adversity.
Today, as we face our own trials, the legacy of these Middle Ages believers reminds us to hold firmly to our faith, as echoed by the Apostle Paul in Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”
God’s unchanging promises sustained His people through the darkest of times in the past, and they continue to be our source of strength and courage today.
Let us embrace these truths, allowing them to anchor us in the present and guide us into the future, fortified by the certainty that in God, we, too, can stand. 9lera)
————————————————
Thank you for watching this video to be notified when my next video comes out, Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, Sabbath School Daily, by Dr. Brenda Ware Davis.
You also may obtain the free study guide at Sabbath.School or ssnet.org
If you enjoyed this video and want to make it available for your friends and family to watch, click Like…..then…..Share.
Thank you for Liking, Sharing, and Subscribing.
Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church
7902 Wheatly Street
Houston, TX 77088
Watch Past and Present Lessons at SabbathSchoolDaily.com
