1. THE SITUATION OF THE CHURCHES Sunday November 28

a. What condition is prevalent in the churches before the close of probation? Revelation 18:2. “This scripture [Revelation 18:1, 2] points forward to a time when the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel of Revelation 14 (verse 8), is to be repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the various organizations that constitute Babylon, since that message was first given, in the summer of 1844.” –The Great Controversy, p. 603.“[Revelation 18:1–5 quoted.] Thus the substance of the second angel’s message is again given to the world by that other angel who lightens the earth with his glory. These messages all blend in one, to come before the people in the closing days of this earth’s history.” –Selected Messages, book 2, p. 116. b. How does prophecy depict the state of the churches in these last days? Isaiah 4:1; Revelation 17:5; 18:5. “With every rejection of truth the minds of the people will become darker, their hearts more stubborn, until they are entrenched in an infidel hardihood. In defiance of the warnings which God has given, they will continue to trample upon one of the precepts of the Decalogue, until they are led to persecute those who hold it sacred. Christ is set at nought in the contempt placed upon His word and His people.” –The Great Controversy, p. 603.

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2. “ALL WILL BE UNMASKED” Monday November 29

a. Besides the present work for the church, what other work–especially under the latter rain–must the angel of Revelation 18 do for those who are still in darkness? Revelation 18:4. “God still has a people in Babylon; and before the visitation of His judgments these faithful ones must be called out, that they partake not of her sins and ‘receive not of her plagues’ (Revelation 18:4). Hence the movement symbolized by the angel coming down from heaven, lightening the earth with his glory and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon. In connection with his message the call is heard: ‘Come out of her, My people.’ ” –The Great Controversy, p. 604. b. What evils will be unmasked under the work of that other angel? What crime of Babylon will then be revealed? Revelation 18:3, 24. “As the time comes for the loud cry to be given, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. . . . Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of a union of church and state, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power–all will be unmasked.” –The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, p. 424.

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3. SIGNS AND WONDERS Tuesday November 30

a. What signs attended the work of the early disciples and will again be revealed in the last phase of the closing work? Mark 16:17, 18, 20. “Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great Day of Pentecost. Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seemed to be lightened with the heavenly influence.” –Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 126.“Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers.” –The Great Controversy, p. 612. b. What signs will also be wrought by the power of Satan? Matthew 24:24. “Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand.” –The Great Controversy, p. 612.

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4. FAITHFUL SERVANTS Wednesday December 1

a. What kind of men will go from door to door in the time of the loud cry? James 2:5; 1 Corinthians 1:26–28. “The Lord says, I will take illiterate men, obscure men, and move upon them by My Spirit to carry out My purposes in the work of saving souls. The last message of mercy will be given by a people who love and fear Me. ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit’ (Zechariah 4:6). We should give willing, devoted men every possible encouragement to go forward and in their humble way reveal their loyalty to principle and their integrity to God. Let them visit the people at their homes, and talk and pray with the unwarned regarding the soon-coming Saviour. Let them take a personal interest in those whom they meet. Christ took a personal interest in men and women while He lived on this earth. He was a true missionary everywhere He went. His followers are to go about doing good, even as He did. By personal efforts to meet the people where they are, coarse and rough though some of these people may be, humble house-to-house missionaries and colporteurs may win the hearts of many to Christ. In their unpretentious way they can reach a class that ministers generally cannot touch.” –The Review and Herald, September 21, 1905.“Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view.” –Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 80, 81. b. Under what circumstances will the faithful servants of God give the final warning? Matthew 24:12; Luke 6:22. “The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most discouraging, forbidding circumstances. The warnings that worldly conformity has silenced or withheld must be given under the fiercest opposition from enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial, conservative class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress of the work, will renounce the faith and take their stand with its avowed enemies, toward whom their sympathies have long been tending. These apostates will then manifest the most bitter enmity, doing all in their power to oppress and malign their former brethren and to excite indignation against them. This day is just before us. The members of the church will individually be tested and proved. They will be placed in circumstances where they will be forced to bear witness for the truth. Many will be called to speak before councils and in courts of justice, perhaps separately and alone. The experience which would have helped them in this emergency they have neglected to obtain, and their souls are burdened with remorse for wasted opportunities and neglected privileges.” –Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 463.

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5. OUR GREAT CONCERN Thursday December 2

a. What should be our great concern while the door of probation is open? John 9:4. “The end is near, stealing upon us stealthily, imperceptibly, like the noiseless approach of a thief in the night. May the Lord grant that we shall no longer sleep as do others, but that we shall watch and be sober. The truth is soon to triumph gloriously, and all who now choose to be laborers together with God will triumph with it. The time is short; the night soon cometh when no man can work.” –Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 135. b. What will be the most important factor in our effort to warn the world? Matthew 5:16. “The world can only be warned by seeing those who believe the truth sanctified through the truth, acting upon high and holy principles, showing in a high, elevated sense, the line of demarcation between those who keep the commandments of God and those who trample them under their feet.” –The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 980.“It is the privilege of every soul to be a living channel through which God can communicate to the world the treasures of His grace, the unsearchable riches of Christ. There is nothing that Christ desires so much as agents who will represent to the world His Spirit and character. There is nothing that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Saviour’s love. All heaven is waiting for channels through which can be poured the holy oil to be a joy and blessing to human hearts.“Christ has made every provision that His church shall be a transformed body, illumined with the Light of the world, possessing the glory of Emmanuel. It is His purpose that every Christian shall be surrounded with a spiritual atmosphere of light and peace. He desires that we shall reveal His own joy in our lives.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 419.

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS Friday December 3

1. Describe the external work of the angel of Revelation 18. 2. What will be unmasked under the loud cry? 3. Why must we be cautious regarding the signs and wonders to occur? 4. Point out some details about the people who will give the loud cry. 5. What will be the most important factor in giving the final warning?