Memory Verse:

Memory Text: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” {1 Corinthians 2:9, NKJV}

Prayer Thought:

The purified new earth will be no place for the rebellious, the disobedient, the unthankful, ungrateful son or daughter. Unless such learn obedience and submission here, they will never learn the lesson hereafter; and the peace of the ransomed will never be marred by the disobedient, unruly, unsubmissive children. No commandment-breaker can inherit the kingdom of heaven. Will all the youth please read the fifth commandment spoken by Jehovah from Sinai, and engraven with his own finger upon tables of stone. "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." "Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord." {RH, March 30, 1886 par. 1}

I. Learning in the Hereafter:

And this development is gained through the constant unfolding to us of the character of God--the glory and the mystery of the written word. If it were possible for us to attain to a full understanding of God and His word, there would be for us no further discovery of truth, no greater knowledge, no further development. God would cease to be supreme, and man would cease to advance. Thank God, it is not so. {Ed 172.2}

A. How long will we keep learning?

“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:54)

1. Ever Searching and Ever Learning

Since God is infinite, and in Him are all the treasures of wisdom, we may to all eternity be ever searching, ever learning, yet never exhaust the riches of His wisdom, His goodness, or His power. {Ed 172.2}

2. Learning Lessons Fitness for Heaven

It is the privilege of parents to instill in their children the principles of Christ, and while thus doing they themselves are learning lessons that will fit them for heaven. These lessons will assist us to wear the yoke of Christ. We shall find it perfectly easy, and thus we may find an open door to heaven, and light will emanate and shine upon our pathway. Thus every mother can receive help to faithfully discharge her duty to her children. {3MR 72.1}

3. Last Great Work for Eternity

We are nearing the end; we are doing up the last great work for eternity; we are learning ourselves, and teaching others, that a people may be prepared to stand in the day of God's preparation. We cannot afford to work at random; we cannot afford to be doubleminded; we should now consecrate all our powers to God without reserve. {15MR 353.2}

— The last stage in our learning path will begin with our resurrection.

— In John 6:45, Jesus made the requirement for resurrection clear: eating His flesh and drinking His blood. That is, accepting His redeeming sacrifice on the cross (Juan 3:16).

— Now we have limited time in this life. Then, Jesus will give us unlimited time for limitless learning with Him.

II. The School in the Hereafter

Between the school established in Eden at the beginning and the school of the hereafter there lies the whole compass of this world's history--the history of human transgression and suffering, of divine sacrifice, and of victory over death and sin. Not all the conditions of that first school of Eden will be found in the school of the future life. No tree of knowledge of good and evil will afford opportunity for temptation. No tempter is there, no possibility of wrong. Every character has withstood the testing of evil, and none are longer susceptible to its power. {Ed 301.6}

A. Enrollment

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

1. Absolute and Eternal Eden School

"To him that overcometh," Christ says, "will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." Revelation 2:7. The giving of the tree of life in Eden was conditional, and it was finally withdrawn. But the gifts of the future life are absolute and eternal. {Ed 302.1}

2. Tuition Fees had been Paid

Each one must heed for himself the call, "Come unto me, . . . and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). . . . The Lord Jesus has paid your tuition fees. All that you have to do is to learn of Him. The Christlike politeness practiced in the higher school is to be practiced in this lower school, by both old and young believers. {TDG 339.2}

— God wants to reopen Eden’s school once this pause that sin caused ends for good. Everyone is encouraged to enroll (John 3:16).

— How can we enroll and get accepted into this school?

(1) Accept Jesus as our Savior by faith (Acts 16:13)

(2) Trust in His promises (Hebrews 10:23)

(3) Live up to the light that we have (James 1:21-22)

(4) Endure unto the end (Matthew 24:13)

C. The Teacher

“for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

(Revelation 7:17)

1. Jesus Ministry on Earth - He will Teach in heaven

Every right principle, every truth learned in an earthly school, will advance us just that much in the heavenly school. As Christ walked and talked with His disciples during His ministry on this earth, so will He teach us in the school above, leading us beside the river of living waters and revealing to us truths that in this life must remain hidden mysteries because of the limitations of the human mind, so marred by sin. {Mar 363.4}

2. Restored in Christ

My people shall know my name: ... they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. Isaiah 52:6. {Mar 364.1}

Restored to His presence, man will again, as at the beginning, be taught of God. {Mar 364.2}

— Jesus will still be our Teacher in our school in the hereafter. He will be our tutor and will lead us to better understand His character and His Creation (Isaiah 54:13).

— We’ll have unlimited time to learn, so God will gradually reveal to us more deeply and gloriously. The more we’ll learn about His character, the more we’ll admire Him and the more intense our songs of praise will be.

— Then, “From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, [will] declare that God is love.” (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 678).

From the Pen of Inspiration:

“There immortal minds will study with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love […] Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body.” {SR 432}