A Journal for Seventh-Day Adventists in Military and Public Service IS THIS the END? by Ted N.C
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Issue 2 2020 A Journal for Seventh-day Adventists in Military and Public Service IS THIS THE END? By Ted N.C. Wilson, Ph.D. President, Seventh-day Adventist Church — General Conference or the past several months coming, and of the end of the age?” we have been at war with an (Matt. 24:3). F enemy—an invisible enemy Jesus responded, “Take heed that that has killed tens of thousands no one deceives you” (vs. 4). How across the globe and sickened many important it is that with so many more. This enemy, COVID-19, a rumors, conspiracy theories, and highly contagious virus, has brought strange ideas swirling around that rapid and extensive changes to we are anchored in the Word of nearly every area of life—work, God so that we are not deceived! We leisure, worship, travel, education, can only do this by taking time to and more have all been dramatically carefully study the Bible and pray. affected. The impact of the virus has How important it is to take time in been so rapid and extensive that it God’s Word! has caused many people to wonder— Jesus continued in His answer: “For is this the final crisis? Is this one of many will come in My name, saying, ‘I the seven last plagues? Is this the am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. beginning of the end? And you will hear of wars and rumors These are not new questions. On of wars. See that you are not troubled, the Mount of Olives two thousand for all these things must come to pass, years ago the disciples asked Jesus, but the end is not yet. For nation “Tell us, when will these things be? will rise against nation, and kingdom And what will be the sign of Your against kingdom. And there will be Table of 2 Perspective Contents 4 A Spirit of Power and Strong Mind 8 In These Final Days 12 From the Counselor’s Desk 16 I Surrender All 20 Taking a Stand for the Sabbath 26 God’s Final Victory 2 PERSPECTIVE These events remind us that now more than ever it is time to take courage in God’s Holy Word and in the prophetic understanding revealed to us in the Bible. famines, pestilences, and earthquakes now more than ever it is time to take in various places. All these are the courage in God’s Holy Word and in beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4- the prophetic understanding revealed 7, emphasis supplied). to us in the Bible. It is through this The word “pestilence,” is a understanding that we can have somewhat archaic word that knowledge, comfort, and peace. Jesus means “a contagious or infectious tells us in John 16:33, “These things epidemic disease that is virulent and I have spoken to you, that in Me you devastating.” While the world has may have peace. In the world you will certainly seen epidemic diseases in have tribulation; but be of good cheer, the past, COVID-19 seems to have I have overcome the world.” attracted an unusually high amount And more than this, God calls of global attention and concern. you, in whatever capacity you may Nevertheless, notice that Christ be serving, to offer calm through the said these things are “the beginning storm. We, as Seventh-day Adventists, of sorrows.” According to biblical understanding, this is not the final are to be anchors of stability and crisis. This is not one of the seven last pillars of hope in these times of crisis plagues, but it certainly is a precursor as we point people to the strong to what is coming. We can be assured foundation of Jesus Christ! We are that biblical prophecy will be fulfilled, living in the end of time. Whatever and that we are living in the last days opportunities God places before you of Earth’s history. in your work, be a strong witness for Although the coronavirus is not one Him through His power. May God be of the last plagues, it is certainly one with you as you witness and tell others of the many signs taking place right of Christ, His righteousness, His now showing that Christ’s coming Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation is near. These events remind us that 14, and His soon Second Coming. ADVENTISTSINUNIFORM.ORG WORLDSERVICEORGANIZATION.ORG 3 A SPIRIT OF POWER AND STRONG MIND By Thomas Lemon, M.Div., General Vice President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and Chair, World Service Organization Committee 4 he storm warning horns blared. Galilee. In their moment of greatest The clouds swirled. The media extremity, they remembered to call Tcontinuously reminded us that we on Jesus. They aroused Him from were under a tornado warning. I was slumber with shouts made even out in my front yard, watching the louder by their panic. clouds and sensing the wind. Growing All of that played out in my up in North America’s “Tornado mind as I watched with awe the Alley,” the situation was not all that storm developing around me. In the unusual to me. I was not afraid. disciples’ case, there was an instant Actually, living in America’s heartland miraculous subduing of the storm brings storms through our region on a by the commander whose authority more or less regular basis. Spring and is never questioned in the natural summer provide our friendly storm world. In my case, the main storm chasers with plenty of opportunities to passed a short distance north of us, do just that. and the threatened tornadoes never One of my goals in situations materialized. During those fleeting, like this is to make sure I keep but intense moments, I didn’t know calm and offer encouragement and that a friend of mine was flying a a faith response to what we don’t corporate jet over that same storm. He know to those around me. Prayer is posted some photos on social media a encouraged, and Bible promises are few hours later. brought readily to mind. Not in fear, When I looked up, I saw a powerful because fear accomplishes nothing. and angry charcoal-gray storm But in confidence that our Lord is system—the line stretched for many near at hand, and He is not aloof to miles across three states. When he our situation. looked down, he saw a powerful, yet As I watched the warring clouds, peaceful looking, bank of white puffy I recalled the story found in the clouds. Of course, he knew those final seven verses of Mark 4. You billowing white clouds disguised know the story. Jesus was tired after powerful air currents that could have a long, full day of ministry and after destroyed (or at minimum severely bidding His disciples to cross the damaged) his little jet had he chosen lake, He fell asleep in the stern of to drop down into them. But the the boat. A storm threatening fatal appearance from above compared with outcomes attacked the boat with a that from below could not have been fury those fisherman-disciples had of greater contrast. Same storm— never experienced in a generation on different vantage points and vastly One of my goals in situations like this is to make sure I keep calm and offer encouragement and a faith response to what we don’t know to those around me. 5 different impressions. it is little wonder that “men’s hearts As I write this, world cultures are failing them from fear...”1 Jesus are spinning headlong into and told us all this would happen down through a societal maelstrom of near the end of time. And we do still heretofore unknown and staggering have choices. Perhaps not as many as proportions. No place on our planet we did in times past, but ultimately, has been untouched by the pandemic we can again choose the pathway of brought about by a tiny virus that faith, or wring our hands in fear. only the best of microscopes can The disciples figured out that, after detect. With painful, debilitating, all, their struggle against the storm and unnerving illness bringing death and the panic their failure brought to nearly every community, all of us them, faith in Jesus was the better are bound together in a strange and way. It was a decision point they unplanned relationship that can be would have to face and re-confront difficult to sort through. Some of us throughout their time with Jesus and have lost loved ones and know first- beyond. But they did meet it, and by hand what that kind of storm feels the presence of the Holy Spirit, they like. Most of us have experienced did reach a point of victory over their significant economic reversals due fear. I find no trace of fear and no to governmental actions intended sense of panic anywhere in the book to provide a degree of safety for the of Acts. Those first followers of Jesus citizenry of the planet. Some of our never prayed for safety; on the other family members have lost employment, hand, they did pray for courage. others face significant downturns. And ultimately, that prayer must Adding to the problems with world become ours. Because the storms populations reeling from unforeseen crisscrossing our planet, be they health and economic challenges is the typhoons in the South Pacific, unrest, and yes, violence triggered hurricanes that plague the western by racist attitudes and other kinds of Atlantic, or tornadoes in the U.S. bigotry.