Sabbath School Lessons 2017 (First Half) – The Platform of Truth

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ssl 2017 first half – the platform of truth

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Greetings to all students of the Sabbath School in fellowship with Pilgrims of the Seventh-day Adventist Message.

As we edge ever closer to the day in which we will be forced to answer for our faith in the courts of the land in which we live, we need to understand the evidences of our faith.

“I have been shown that many who profess to have a knowledge of present truth know not what they believe. They do not understand the evidences of their faith. They have no just appreciation of the work for the present time. When the time of trial shall come, there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason. Until thus tested they knew not their great ignorance. And there are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe; but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth.” –Testimonies for the Church Vol. 5, p. 707.

We see the veracity of this quote in the multiplicity of confused ideas being circulated by the various ministries claiming to represent true Adventism today. Every wind of doctrine has been introduced to confuse minds as to what constitutes original Advent teaching and practice. It is the purpose of this lesson to furnish the student with information by which he may identify the establishment of the platform of truth erected by the pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Having been so informed as to what the platform is, we then enter into a research of scriptural proof text evidences to help the student understand the evidences of the faith of true Adventists.

It will be well for all to study these lessons diligently and keep them ever as a reference when questions arise as to the truth of the Seventh-day Adventist doctrines. And by prayerful study may the knowledge thus acquired serve to prepare us to be able to stand in defense of our faith when challenged by the enemies of truth when arraigned before the courts as revealed in the book Great Controversy.

“As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God’s downtrodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavour to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is: “Show us from the word of God our error”–the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths.” –The Great Controversy, p. 607.

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