Aunty Ellen & social justice The neglected focus of her prophetic role 16 Prime Minister opens Vanuatu’s 24th Session 5 Adventist Record | February 20, 2021 ISSN 0819-5633 GROW THE NEXT GENERATION OF DISCIPLES DONATE NOW $ ? Your gi of ANY AMOUNT will help share the Good News. DON’T MISS the next order of Godpods Donate before March 31 to help someone in a remote village hear the Word of God in their own language, and transform their identity. Online: adventistmedia.org.au/godpods Your Phone: (02) 9847 2222 Donation Counts! Cheque: (Payable to Adventist Media) Provides 1 Godpod Locked Bag 1115, Wahroonga NSW 2076 $40 $200 Provides 5 Godpods Proud Partners $1000 Provides 25 Godpods 2 Adventist Record | February 20, 2021 $5000 Provides 125 Godpods GROW THE NEXT A group of us were discussing the General Conference Mission Statement: “Make disciples of Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim GENERATION OF DISCIPLES to all people the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in prepara- tion for His soon return” (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Revelation 14:6-12). One person quipped, “Where is the everlasting gospel in the third angel’s message?” It is a very good question. The first angel’s message is the gospel going to every nation, tribe and language (Revelation 14:6). The second angel’s message says the city of Babylon—political, economic and religious entities—is fallen. Pointing out that Babylon had intoxicated and deceived the world, is good news. But what about the third angel? “And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the EDITOR’S NOTE: presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, God’s cuppa: these worshippers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name’” (Revelation 14:9-11, ESV). The third angel’s God is depicted as an angry despot rejoicing over the pain of His enemies, message giving them a cuppa that has more power than a triple shot coffee or pure liquor. The truth of what happens to those who back the powerful beast–the Glenn Townend end time false religious entity introduced in Revelation 13—is revealed. But is South Pacific Division president this good news? What is God angry about? /SPDpresident God is angry about sin, suffering and evil and how they destroy people. Consistently in the Bible, God pours out His cup of wrath against sin (Job 21:20, Isaiah 42:34,35, 51:17-22, Jeremiah 25:15,16, 51:17, Ezekiel 20:8, Habakkuk 2:15-17). Revelation repeats this symbolism (Revelation 6:16, 16:19, 19:15). God symbolically gives all sinners a cuppa of His anger against DONATE NOW all the evil they inflict on others and themselves. This cuppa is so potent it ultimately destroys them. Revelation is primarily the “revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1). Where is Jesus and the good news in this final and complete punishment? Right in the centre of the book, readers are told how to have victory over the devil and his powers in Babylon, including the beast and its image. Victory comes by the blood of the Lamb—His sacrificial death (Revelation 12:11). When Jesus was on earth, He knew He was about to endure a Roman cru- $ ? cifixion. Jesus led His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed, Where is Jesus and “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I Your gi of ANY will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39,42,44). This prayer time is intense; Jesus the good news prays the same prayer three times and Luke records that He sweated drops AMOUNT will help in this proposed of blood (Luke 22:42-44). Ellen White’s description highlights the enormity of share the Good the struggle and decision Jesus made there to save humanity (Desire of Ages, News. final and complete pp 686-694). But what was the “cup” He did not want to drink? There is no punishment? Right mention of a cup in the context of any of the Gospels retelling of this story! in the centre of the This is the “cup of God’s wrath”. Jesus takes the punishment humans DON’T MISS the next order of Godpods deserved for evil against others and themselves. The cross was God’s cuppa book . that Jesus drank. He died and drank the cup of God’s wrath or punishment on Donate before March 31 to help someone in a remote village hear our sin for you and me—all humans (Romans 5:9, Ephesians 2:1-7). God hates sin so much that He is willing to take it on Himself. What love! Now that is the the Word of God in their own language, and transform their identity. quintessential gospel. Indeed, good news! So, the third angel warns followers of the beast and its image; that their Online: adventistmedia.org.au/godpods Your defiance against Jesus means they take the deserved punishment alone. Jesus Phone: (02) 9847 2222 Donation Counts! can’t cover them because He respects their choice. The smoke and torment Cheque: (Payable to Adventist Media) are just imagery describing a final, complete destruction to nothingness (Gen- Provides 1 Godpod esis 19:28, Isaiah 34:9,10, Revelation 18:18, 19:3). Locked Bag 1115, Wahroonga NSW 2076 $40 $200 Provides 5 Godpods The third angel’s message clearly alludes to a God who is both just and Proud Partners gracious. This is the everlasting gospel. $1000 Provides 25 Godpods $5000 Provides 125 Godpods February 20, 2021 | Adventist Record 3 During COVID-19, children have had their lives and learning turned upside- down. At the very time they need to develop social skills, they’ve learned about social distancing and self-isolating. When churches were forced to close due to the pandemic, Sabbath school and church for many of our children became a non-existent or virtual experience. Some children lost the fellowship and learning opportunity of participating in person at a worship service. Offerings are one way children learn about a worship connection with God as the Creator and Provider. Children may serve as junior deacons which allows them to observe, learn and be part of returning tithes and offerings. Children see their parents and others at offering time as positive role models responding faithfully. Some parents encourage their children to put the family offering into the collec- tion. Now that offerings have become a virtual experience and potentially invisible to them, what do children lose as a learning experience? INSIGHT: For many children, COVID-19 has meant the loss of role models at offering time, and we are yet to see the long-term impact of that on their future giving. Including children in We need to make sure that COVID-19 does not rob our children of the chance to learn about giving and surrendering to God. Here are just a few ideas to teach the worship of giving children about giving during the pandemic and beyond: 1. Talk at home about tithes and offerings. Rodney Brady 2. Discuss with them your tithe and offerings, what you are doing and why. South Pacific Division CFO 3. Involve them in your family giving. Children love technology so let them interact with your electronic giving. 4. If your church provides a collection box for cash offerings or tithe envelopes, then have your children put their money in an offering jar at home, to be taken along to church when possible. The pandemic has disrupted many things, let us make sure that our children’s learning about honouring God with tithes and offerings does not become another casualty of COVID-19. Photo of the week by Wes Tolhurst “PNG children attend church on Sabbath, February 28.” 4 Adventist Record | February 20, 2021 Prime Minister opens Vanuatu’s 24th session Port Vila, Vanuatu | Maryellen Hacko Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Bob Lough- A highlight of the meeting was Pastor man congratulated the Seventh-day Timothy’s report, which stated that Adventist Church for training up national membership has grown to more than leaders in his opening address at the 29,000 members in VM. Church’s 24th quinquennial session at “It’s the biggest venue since the first Epauto Adventist Multipurpose Centre, session in 1924. The last session was Port Vila, on January 20. held at Aore Adventist Academy in Mr Loughman said his office is work- 2015,” read another Facebook post. ing with churches to address secularism Pastor Andric Tanghwa reported that Vanuatu Mission president Pastor Charlie Jimmy presenting Prime Minister Bob Loughman with in the country. in 2020, the “Year of Youth in Evange- two books. Newly-appointed Vanuatu Mission lism”, more than 2000 young people (VM) president Pastor Charlie Jimmy preached at 246 meeting sites, result- presented Mr Loughman with two ing in the baptism of 1700 people by books—a family Bible and Food As October. Medicine by Dr Sue Radd—as a token of At the session closing ceremony, appreciation for attending the session Prime Minister Loughman returned to opening.