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A Tale of Two Women
A
hush fell over the royal judgment hall, and all eyes were fixed on King
Solomon. His servants wondered how the young monarch would resolve this
perplexing case.
Two single mothers were sharing a room, and each gave birth to a baby
boy at about the same time. During the night, one of the mothers had
accidentally turned over and smothered her son. When she awoke early and
saw her child was cold and still, the distraught woman took her
roommate's sleeping baby to herself and laid her dead baby in its place.
Later the other mother awoke, saw the dead baby, and began to wail with
grief. But after examining the infant, she quickly realized that it was
not her child. Across the room, she could see her roommate tightly
clutching her baby.
Now both women stood before the king, tugging for possession of the
living infant. "This child is mine!" one shouted.
"No, the dead baby was yours!" the other countered.
How would the king determine which was the true mother? Solomon
interrupted their debate and told a guard to take a sword and divide the
living infant in two. At first the soldier thought the king was jesting,
but Solomon began to glare at the guard's hesitation. Slowly he drew his
sharp, gleaming sword and made his way toward the woman holding the
baby. Suddenly the true mother threw herself at the king's feet and
pleaded,?"Let her have the child, but please do not slay it!" But the
other woman said, "Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it." Now
Solomon knew without a doubt who was the true mother.
In prophecy, a woman is a symbol of a church (Jeremiah 6:2). With so
many churches in the last days, how can we distinguish the true,
last-day church that has the living Son from the counterfeits? Like
Solomon, we must use the sword of God's Word (Hebrews 4:12)!
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 1. How
does Revelation picture God's true church?
Revelation
12:1, 2, 5 . A _______ clothed with the sun, and the moon under her
feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with
child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. ...
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a
rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his
throne.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: In
Bible prophecy, God's church is symbolized by a pure woman (Jeremiah
6:2). In Revelation 12, this woman is clothed with the sun, moon, and
stars--the natural light of God's creation. Jesus told the church, "Ye
are the light of the world." Matthew 5:14. The sun represents the
light of Jesus (Psalms 84:11; Malachi 4:2). The moon under her feet
represents the types and shadows of the Old Testament sacrificial
system. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so the sacrificial
system was helpful because it reflected the light of the Messiah to
come (Colossians 2:16, 17; Hebrews 10:1). The 12 stars above her head
symbolize the leadership of the
church--12 tribes in the Old Testament and 12 apostles in the New
Testament. The one who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron is
Jesus (Psalms 2:7-9; Revelation 19:13-16).
 2. Who
is the "great red dragon," and what does he try to do?
Revelation
12:9 . And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called
the devil, and _______.
Revelation 12:4 The dragon stood before the woman which was
ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it
was born.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: The
dragon is Satan, who at the time of Jesus' birth was working through
the pagan Roman Empire. Satan influenced Herod, a ruler under Rome, to
try to murder baby Jesus by killing all the infants in Bethlehem
(Matthew 2:16).
 3. What
happens after Satan fails to destroy Jesus?
Revelation
12:5 . And her child was caught __ unto God, and to his
throne.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: After
His resurrection, Jesus ascended up to heaven and to God's throne
(Acts 1:9-11), where He was beyond the reach of Satan.
 4. After
Jesus was caught up to heaven, what did Satan do to the church?
Revelation
12:13 . When the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he
________ the woman which brought forth the man child.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: When
Satan could no longer vent his hatred on Jesus, he decided to hurt
Jesus by turning his fury against the church.
 5. Where
did the woman go during this terrifying period of persecution? How
long did it last?
Revelation
12:6 . And the woman fled into the _________, where she hath a place
prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two
hundred and threescore days.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: The
woman (God's church) fled into the wilderness (the remote places of
earth) to hide from her enemies. It is a well-known historical fact
that during the Dark Ages, God's people fled to the caves and solitary
places of earth, including the shores of America, to seek religious
freedom and protection from papal persecution. The 1,260 days (also
described in the Bible as 42 months or as three and a half years)
refers to the terrible 1,260-year period of persecution during which
millions died for their faith. During this time period, God's church
was alive but was not identifiable as an official, visible
organization. (See the supplement entitled "Years of Persecution.")
 6. What
are two other identifying marks of God's true church?
Revelation
12:17 . And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make
war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the ____________ of God,
and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: God's
remnant church, into which He is calling all His people, will keep
God's Ten Commandments (including the Sabbath). It will also have the
testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit, or gift, of prophecy
(Revelation 19:10). God calls His end-time church "the remnant,"
because it is identical in doctrine and characteristics to the
apostolic church. A "remnant" is the last remaining portion of a bolt
of cloth. It is exactly like the first piece from the same bolt.
 7. How
did Jesus say that we demonstrate our love for Him?
John 14:15
. If ye love me, _____ my commandments.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: In
our opening story, Solomon was able to identify the true mother by her
genuine display of love. In the same way, God's true church will be
recognized by its sacrificial love and its willingness to obey His
commandments.
 8. What
three angelic messages will God's end-time church be preaching?
Revelation
14:7 . Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his
___________ is come: and worship him that made heaven, and
earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying,
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she
made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Revelation 14:9, 10 And the third angel followed them, saying
with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image,
and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same
shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: These
three angelic statements represent the three urgent messages that
God's church will preach before Jesus returns.
 9. To
whom will God's church preach these messages?
Revelation
14:6 . Having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell
on the earth, and to _____ nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: God's
end-time church will preach this great three-point message to every
nation on earth.
 10. What
specifications has God given in His Word to help us positively
identify His end-time church?
Revelation
12:17 . And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make
war with the ______ of her seed, which keep the commandments of God,
and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
1. It will appear and do its visible work after it emerges from
the wilderness in 1798 (Revelation 12:6, 13-17).
2. It will teach the same truths the apostles taught, and all
of its teachings will agree with the Bible (Revelation 12:17).
3. It will keep the Ten Commandments, including the Bible
Sabbath (Revelation 12:17).
4. It will have the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 12:17;
19:10).
5. It will proclaim God's three end-time messages with a loud
voice (Revelation 14:6-14).
6. It will be a worldwide movement (Revelation 14:6).
7. It will teach the everlasting gospel, which is salvation
through Jesus Christ alone (Revelation 14:6).
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Many
lovely Christians are members of churches that do not meet the above
seven specifications. However, no such church can be God's remnant
into which He is calling all His sincere children, because His
end-time church must meet all seven specifications.
 11. Jesus
gives you these seven prophetic identification points and then says,
"Go and find My church." What does He promise regarding your search?
Luke 11:9
. Seek, and ye shall ______.
Answer:
___________________________
 12. How
many church organizations in the world will fit these seven points?
Ephesians
4:5 . One Lord, one _____, one baptism.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Only
one church in the entire world fits all of these specifications--the
Seventh-day Adventist church, which is bringing you these seminar
messages. It is right now preaching the great three angels' messages
of Revelation 14:6-12 all over the world. Millions are responding.
 13. Many
denominations call themselves Christian. Does that make them God's
true church?
Isaiah 4:1
. And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We
will eat our own _______ and wear our own apparel: only let us
be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Bread
is a symbol of the Word of God (John 6:35, 51, 52, 63), and apparel is
a symbol of righteousness (Revelation 19:8). The seven women in this
prophecy have their own bread (concept of truth) and want to keep
their own clothing (righteousness). They do not want the spotless
robes of Christ's righteousness. All they want is to take the name of
Jesus, probably because the Bible says, "There is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.
 14. Once
a person discovers God's true end-time church, is it necessary to
become a member?
Acts 2:47
. And the Lord _____ to the church daily such as should be
saved.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Yes,
membership in God's end-time church is imperative. Notice how clearly
God answers this question about membership:
--We are all called into one body (Colossians 3:15).
--That body is the church (Colossians 1:18).
--We enter that body by baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13).
It is just as imperative to enter God's church today as it was to
enter the ark in Noah's day. The Lord says, "Come thou and all thy
house into the ark." Genesis 7:1.
 15. How
many ways of escape were there in Noah's day?
Hebrews
11:7 . By faith Noah ... prepared an ___ to the saving of his house.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Jesus
says that the time just before His second coming will be like Noah's
day (Luke 17:26). There will be only one way of escape, just as there
was only one ark in Noah's day.
 16. Since
there are many faithful Christians in other churches and since God has
only one true remnant, what will happen to these sincere Christians?
John 10:16
. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I
must bring, and they shall _____ my voice; and there shall be
one fold, and one shepherd.
Revelation 18:2, 4 Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. ...
come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of
her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Jesus
will call all of His faithful, honest followers to come out of
Babylon. They will hear His voice, respond, and enter His one true,
end-time church.
 17. Jesus
is calling you today to enter the safety of His great end-time church.
You are very precious to Him. Will you respond now to His call?
.
Answer:
___________________________
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