SECOND QUARTER 2025
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #3
APRIL 19, 2025

 

This week’s study brings us several vignettes pointing us to Christ as the leader of His people, the church.  On Sunday, He is depicted as becoming "one flesh" with all of humanity.  This is more than an abstract or mystical identification.  To assume the husband's role, he joined the humanity that existed at the time and needed a “husband.”  A humanity that is “without strength…. ungodly…. (and His) … enemies”  (Romans 5:6-10). That is, the humanity that needed “righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

This was first given by promise, in the Old Testament, but now is a reality in the humanity of Christ  (1 Corinthians 15).  In Christ, God has given us a new “Adam.”  A husband, lover, the “captain of their salvation” and “a merciful and faithful High Priest” (Hebrews 2).

The lesson refers to this as “Christ’s bond to humanity.”  I am hardly a relationship expert, but I can grasp that this means much more than any of us can get our collective heads around.  The deep dive into the depths of becoming “one flesh” with fallen humanity requires a vulnerability on the part of the Godhead that cannot be overstated, taking the statement “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” to a whole new level.  (Hebrews 2:15, KJV)

The teacher’s comments, Part I adds: “The covenant between God and His people is thus understood in conjugal terms.  God ‘loves’His people (Deut. 7:8, NKJV), and Israel is supposed to ‘love’ God in return (Deut. 6:5).  The word ‘yada,’ ‘to know,’ that describes the sexual, intimate, and personal relationship between husband and wife (Gen. 4:1, Gen. 19:8, NKJV), is used to refer to the relationship between God and His people (Ps. 16:11; Jer. 2:2, 3; Ezek. 16:3-32).”

The metaphor of Christ as husband is built upon principles He established.  The Ellen G. White Notes for Sunday, April 13, “One Flesh” share this:

“They two shall be one flesh, and if Christ is abiding in the heart, they are one mind. The Lord [created] man, then the woman, that they should blend in the love and fear of God as one to glorify God in their mind, heart, soul, and strength—consulting together, praying together, searching the Scriptures together. The Lord knew how to carry forward His work in our world. 

“Man was [to] crave the love of woman and woman to feel that she is, in the Lord's plan, to have the affections of the man she has chosen and thus to bring into the life the beauty of a compact, wholly-conscious affection for each other.”  —Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, par 2, 3.

Does the Husband of the Church “crave” her love?  Does He seek Her “affections”?  Any decent man who desires this from his wifeand puts it out there for her and the world to see, would be devastated by her rejection.  Largely the lesson, and scripture, share that this is exactly what has happened.

From Monday’s lesson the author shares that God elevated His people from the most unattractive lot on the earth to “the talk of the nations—precisely because she was His bride.  God says that her beauty “‘was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you’  (Ezek. 16:14, NKJV).”    “…God showered His favor on her and made her… to appear beautiful.… covered in…. ‘the ‘righteousness of God’ Himself (2 Cor. 5:21).”

“When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 311.

The Husband had it all planned.  He would draw the whole world to Himself through the “splendor” He bestowed upon His Bride.  The nations far and wide would send their best students to learn of Him and His teachings on commerce, agriculture, finance, family, literature, mental, physical and spiritual health, etc.  Thus, the world would be prepared and welcome Messiah, the Bridegroom, when He arrived.

“But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it”  (Ezek. 16:15).

The lesson brings Hosea’s story to our attention: “…. God was using Hosea to help us understand, from His own perspective, the pain of human sin and rebellion…. God’s choice of words makes it seem obvious that He is not only trying to show us what we’ve done wrong but how it makes Him feel. Those who have been betrayed by a spouse can begin to grasp the feelings of devastation that our infidelity to Christ might stir in the courts of heaven.”

Generation after generation, the centuries go by.  The “(Husband) of sorrows” appeals to His Girl.  “You are Mine!” “Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 53:3; 43:1; 44:22). Until He experiences the ultimate rejection, “We will not have this (husband) to reign over us,” “we have no (husband) but Caesar!”  (Luke 19:14; John 19:15).

On Tuesday a question is posed: “In what ways has the church repeated the sins of the Old Testament?”  Our goal this quarter is “How to Study Bible Prophecy.”  It is interesting to point out that the Old Testament prophets identified with the movement as a whole.  None claimed to be above the rebellion of their or past generations.  

Notice how inspiration leads them to use “we” or “I,” not “they.” To demonstrate this point, I provide these sample statements: 

“We have sinned with our fathers,
We have committed iniquity,
We have done wickedly.”  Psalm 106:6

“And I said….

‘We lie down in our shame,
And our reproach covers us.
For we have sinned against the Lord our God,
We and our fathers,
From our youth even to this day,
And have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.’”  Jeremiah 3:19, 25

“So I said:

‘Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.’”  Isaiah 6:5.

“And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, ‘O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name….’”  Daniel 9:4-6.

^“And I said: ‘I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.’”  Nehemiah 1:5, 6.

Adventists have long seen themselves as a prophetic movement, the extension of the call to be espoused to Christ.  One such example:

“Another obligation, too often lightly regarded, —one that to the youth awakened to the claims of Christ needs to be made plain, —is the obligation of church relationship. 

“Very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and His church—He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He the head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ, then, involves connection with His church. 

“The church is organized for service; and in a life of service to Christ, connection with the church is one of the first steps. Loyalty to Christ demands the faithful performance of church duties. This is an important part of one's training; and in a church imbued with the Master's life, it will lead directly to effort for the world without.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 268.

As early as 1856, Adventists had come to see themselves as the Laodicean church of Revelation 3.  So, back to the question: “In what ways has the church repeated the sins of the Old Testament?”   

Scholars have debated for years whether there is a reference to the Song of Solomon in the New Testament, particularly in Revelation 3:20 where Christ says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock….”

The interplay found in Song of Solomon 5 has the “husband” lover returning after a long absence.  It’s late but he wants access to the “bride.”  Perhaps, as we read earlier from EGW, he “craves” her.  She is tucked away in bed and appears to be somewhat annoyed.  In his desire to get in he begins trying to unlock the latch from the outside but then decides against it.  By the time the woman is “zealous and repent(s),” the husband has disappeared.  In desperation, she looks everywhere for him, but he is gone.

Laodicea does not appear to be repeating the sin of harlotry towards Christ to the same extent that we find in the OT.  Her problem could be considered worse, as she “does not know” her true condition.  

“The Laodicean message applies to the people of God who profess to believe present truth. The greater part are lukewarm professors, having a name but no zeal…. They dare not give up wholly and run the risk of the unbeliever, yet they are unwilling to die to self and follow out closely the principles of their faith.”—Ellen G White, Testimonies for the Church, p. 87.

Imagine being in a committed relationship where you have demonstrated unending devotion and care.  You are eager to ride to the heights of a union together that will lead to deep intimacy and joy (Isaiah 58:14), only to be faced with the fact that the object of your desire wants to keep it light and comfortable.  He or she doesn’t want to run you off…. but isn’t mature enough to reciprocate.  What to do?

The True Witness comes on strong in an effort to bring her out of her avoidant mindset, counseling her to exchange her “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” condition for His “gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see”

To “see” would mean discerning the pain and embarrassment she has caused her “Beloved.”  This would require a “much more abounding grace” that only comes with adopting with the Apostle Paul, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation….” (Romans 1:18).

The future of Laodicea, the Bride, is beautiful and heartwarming as she “give(s) Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19 and 21).  Part of making “herself ready” will be a demonstration of the greatest expression of repentance the universe has ever seen.  It’s caught, prophetically, in Zechariah 12:10- 13:1: 

 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. “Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.  In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem…. And the land shall mourn, every family…. In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.”

If we recognize this as the love story that it is, it will impact us as much emotionally as intellectually.  When this prophecy meets it fulfillment, I do not believe there will be a dry eye in the whole of the cosmos.  The Lord leaves no doubt or controversy as to what brings this to pass.  

“At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 415.

It is the Laodicean message. 

“The message which the messengers (A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner) have been proclaiming is the message to the Laodicean church…. This message has not had the influence that it should have had upon the mind and heart of the believers. The true state of the church is to be presented before man, and they are to receive the Word of God not as something originating with men, but as the Word of God.

 “Many have treated the message to the Laodiceans as it has come to them, as the word of man. Both message and messenger have been held in doubt by those who should have been the first to discern and act upon it as the Word of God. Had they received the Word of God sent to them they would not now be in darkness…. 

“Those who name the name of Christ should adopt Christian maxims. They should fear to ridicule the message or the messenger. Let no man say that his conversation is in heaven, while he is manifestly groveling in the dust, and his thoughts and feelings are as far separated from God as the east from the west. The true Christian will fear to make light of God’s message, lest he may lay a stumbling block in the way of a soul who may see and imitate his example…. 

“The church of God is to shine as a light to the world, but Jesus is the illuminator, and He is represented as moving among His people. No one shines by his own light. The Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the lights thereof. 

“The message given us by A. T. Jones, and E. J. Waggoner is the message of God to the Laodicean church, and woe be unto any one who professes to believe the truth, and yet does not reflect to others the God-given rays.”  Ellen G White, Letters and Manuscripts, Volume 7 (1891-1892), Lt 24, 1892, par. 36.

What we have come to call “The 1888 Message” is prophetically destined to do the work God designed it to do.  May it be soon.  

 

~ Michael Clendenning