LESSON 5 - THE EARTH CORRUPTED

February 4, 1888.

SIDE LIGHTS. - “Great Controversy,” Vol. 1 Chap. 7.

  1. When men became very numerous on the earth, what did they do? Gen. 6:1, 2.
  2. What commandment, then, was specially disregarded? Ans. - The seventh.
  3. In pursuing this wicked course, what good influence were they resisting? Gen. 6:3.
  4. What is the special office of the Spirit in connection with sinners? John 16:8.
  5. By what means does the Spirit reprove the world of sin? Eph. 6:17.
  6. What two things always necessarily work together in producing a perfect character? 2 Thess. 2:13, last clause; 1 Peter 1:22.
  7. Then how must the Lord have striven with the antediluvians by his Spirit? Ans. - By keeping continually before them the right way.
  8. By whom was the right way presented to them? 2 Peter 2:5.
  9. How long did God say that he would bear with them? Gen. 6:3.
  10. At the end of that time, how great wast he wickedness of men? Verse 5.
  11. What was the condition of the whole earth? Verse 12.
  12. With what was it filled in consequence? Verse 11.
  13. What was the only consistent thing that God could then do? Verse 13.
  14. Upon whom alone did the Lord look with favor? Verse 8.
  15. Why did the Lord regard Noah with special favor? Verse 9; chap. 7:1.
  16. Upon what alone does the Lord look in his estimation of men? 1 Sam. 16:7.
  17. How was it possible for Noah to remain upright in the midst of the universal corruption? Gen. 6:9, last clause.
  18. What is the extent of God’s requirement of man? Micah 6:8.
  19. What effect did Noah’s godly life have upon the world? Heb. 11:7.”

NOTES

“AND they took them wives of all which they chose.” This indicates the utmost looseness in the marriage relation. It was just the same state of things that a certain class of Spiritualists express a desire for, and to which Spiritualism naturally tends. This was expressed recently by a correspondent of Lucifer, a Spiritualist paper of an advanced type. Said he: “In my estimation, the way out of marriage should be as easy as the way in. Mutual consent to part should be as lawful as mutual consent to live together.” It is through the spread of Spiritualism that the world will be just before the coming of Christ “as it was in the days of Noah.” See 2 Tim. 3:1-8.

NO MAN ever lived on this earth with whom the Spirit of God did not at some time strive. All men, however ignorant, have some knowledge of right and wrong, and upon this knowledge the Spirit works to convince them of sin. Says John:”That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9. Men may not have the written word, nevertheless it is true that the Spirit works by means of the word, which is its sword; for some of the light of the word is implanted in the heart of every man. See Rom. 2:14.

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