Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15
4th Quarter: On Death, Dying, and the Future Hope
God created human beings to enjoy eternity in a loving relationship with Him and His creation. But this relationship was distorted by the mysterious appearance of sin within the heavenly courts and the subsequent fall of Adam and Eve. Tragically, death engulfed not only the entire human race but also all of nature. Expressions of death can be seen today in the leaves that fall from the trees, the flowers that fade in our vases, our innocent pets who die in agony, and our beloved ones who are taken from us so brutally. Our world is full of suffering and unwiped tears.
This quarter we study the subject of the great controversy between good and evil from the perspective of two major themes. One is the origin and ongoing existence of sin and death. The other theme is God’s enduring work to solve these problems and bring the world back to its original perfect condition. We will explore the painful subject of death but through the lens of the hope offered us through Jesus!
Lesson 1: Rebellion in a Perfect Universe
*September 24–30
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 John 4:8, 16; 1 John 4:7–16; Ezek. 28:12–19; Isa. 14:12–15; Revelation 12.
Memory Text: “ ‘How you have fallen from heaven, you star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who defeated the nations!’ ” (Isa. 14:12, NASB).
