1. THE DISEASE AND THE REMEDY Sunday November 7

a. Explain what is meant by the Laodicean poverty, wretchedness, and nakedness. Revelation 3:17 (compare Lamentations 1:8; Isaiah 64:6). “What is the shame of this nakedness and poverty? It is the shame of clothing ourselves with self-righteousness, and of separating ourselves from God, when He has made ample provision for all to receive His blessing.”–The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 965.“What is it that constitutes the wretchedness, the nakedness of those who feel rich and increased with goods?–It is the want of the righteousness of Christ. In their own righteousness they are represented as clothed with filthy rags, and yet in this condition they flatter themselves that they are clothed upon with Christ’s righteousness. Could deception be greater?” –The Review and Herald, August 7, 1894. b. What does Christ offer us in order to heal our spiritual disease and restore our relationship with God? Revelation 3:18. “The gold that Jesus would have us buy of Him is gold tried in the fire; it is the gold of faith and love, that has no defiling substance mingled with it. The white raiment is the righteousness of Christ, the wedding garment which Christ alone can give. The eyesalve is the true spiritual discernment that is so wanting among us, for spiritual things must be spiritually discerned.” –The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 965.

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2. THE NEGATIVE REACTION Monday November 8

a. How was the message of Christ’s righteousness received in 1888? What example of unwillingness was repeated? John 7:48; 2 Timothy 3:5, 7. “An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth, lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at Minneapolis against the Lord’s message through Brethren [E. J.] Waggoner and [A.T.] Jones. By exciting that opposition Satan succeeded in shutting away from our people, in a great measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit that God longed to impart to them. The enemy prevented them from obtaining that efficiency which might have been theirs in carrying the truth to the world, as the apostles proclaimed it after the day of Pentecost. The light that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the action of our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the world.” –Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 234, 235.“I wish to plead with our brethren who shall assemble at the General Conference to heed the message given to the Laodiceans. What a condition of blindness is theirs! This subject [the message of 1888] has been brought to your notice again and again, but your dissatisfaction with your spiritual condition has not been deep and painful enough to work reform. [Revelation 3:17 quoted.] The guilt of self-deception is upon our churches. The religious life of many is a lie.” –Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, p. 108 (1892). b. Why is the counsel of the True Witness often rejected by believers in the threefold message? Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:19, 20. “Very many feel impatient and jealous because they are frequently disturbed with warnings and reproofs which keep their sins before them. Says the True Witness: ‘I know thy works’ (Revelation 3:15). The motives, the purposes, the unbelief, the suspicions and jealousies may be hid from men, but not from Christ.” –Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 256.“The people slumber on in their sins. They continue to declare themselves rich and having need of nothing. Many inquire: Why are all these reproofs given? Why do the Testimonies continually charge us with backsliding and with grievous sins? We love the truth; we are prospering; we are in no need of these testimonies of warning and reproof. But let these murmurers see their hearts and compare their lives with the practical teachings of the Bible, let them humble their souls before God, let the grace of God illuminate the darkness, and the scales will fall from their eyes, and they will realize their true spiritual poverty and wretchedness.”–Ibid., p. 254.

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3. THE POSITIVE REACTION Tuesday November 9

a. What is the Laodicean message designed to accomplish among those who accept it? Acts 3:19. “[The message to the Laodiceans] is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel.” –Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 186.“Here are ‘the times of refreshing’ to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said, ‘Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out [in the investigative Judgment], when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus.’ ” –The Great Controversy, p. 611 (1888 edition). b. How does God lead, step by step, those who accept the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans? Revelation 3:20. “God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. Said the angel: ‘God will bring His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people.’ Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus. . . . If any will not be purified through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride, and evil passions, the angels of God have the charge: ‘They are joined to their idols, let them alone,’ and they pass on to their work, leaving these with their sinful traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.”–Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 187.

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4. REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION Wednesday November 10

a. What is our most urgent need? Hosea 12:6; Revelation 3:19; Psalm 51:10–13. What is repentance and what is conversion? What is the work of the Holy Spirit? “Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation. There must be decided changes in the life; everything offensive to God must be put away. This will be the result of genuine sorrow for sin.”– Steps to Christ, p. 39.“When a man is filled with the Spirit, the more severely he is tested and tried, the more clearly he proves that he is a representative of Christ. The peace that dwells in the soul is seen on the countenance. The words and actions express the love of the Saviour. There is no striving for the highest place. Self is renounced. The name of Jesus is written on all that is said and done.”–The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1117. b. How does Christ teach that, without repentance and conversion, there is no hope for us? Luke 13:5; Matthew 18:3; John 3:3. What is the difference between revival and reformation? “A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.”–Selected Messages, book 1, p. 128.

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5. PREPARATION FOR THE LATTER RAIN Thursday November 11

a. What work should be seen among us before the latter rain is poured out and before the judgments of God (the seven last plagues) begin to fall upon the earth? Joel 2:12, 13, 15–17. “Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and His word.” –The Great Controversy, p. 464. b. What will be the evidence that our repentance and conversion are accepted? Joel 2:28. “Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.” –Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 214.

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS Friday November 12

1. Why does Revelation 3:17, 18 apply to two classes of Laodicean believers? 2. What must we realize before the 1888 message may bring a reformation? 3. What step-by-step process takes place in the converted soul? 4. Explain what is meant by revival and by reformation. 5. What is necessary for us to receive the latter rain?