2. The Fall
Sabbath Afternoon
Prayer Thought
Inspiration says, "The fall of our first parents broke the golden chain of implicit obedience of the human will to the Divine. Obedience has no longer been deemed an absolute necessity. The human agents follow their own imaginations, which the Lord said of the inhabitants of the old world were evil and that continually. The Lord Jesus declares, “I have kept my Father’s commandments.” How? As a man. “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.” To the accusations of the Jews He stood forth in His pure, virtuous, holy character and challenged them, “Which of you convinceth me of sin?”. . . {CTr 25.5}
Memory Text
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. {Gen. 3:15}
This week's SS Lesson will describe and emerge into the cause of why men suffer diseases and even death. This includes the origin of sin and Satan's strategies to mar God's original plan with human response to the temptation and God's solution to the entrance of sin.
Outline of the Study
Sunday: The Strategy of the Serpent
Gen. 3:1; 2Cor. 11:3; Rev. 12:7-9; Isa. 27:1; Mat. 4:6
Monday: The Forbidden Fruit - Eve’s Reaction
Lk. Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:1-6; John 8:44
Tuesday: Hiding Before God - God’s Reaction
Gen. 3:7-13, 15; 1:7, 16, 25; 4:9; Ps. 8:5; 104:1, 2; Gal. 2:16; 2Kings 19:10; Isa. 37:10; Jer. 49:16
Wednesday: The Fate of the Serpent - Curse and Promise
Gen. 3:14, 15; Rom. 16:20; Heb. 2:14; Rev. 12:17; 20:10
Thursday: Human Destiny - Death and Hope
Gen. 3:14, 15-24; 1Tim. 2:14, 15
Friday: Further study and Meditation
Sunday: The Strategy of the Serpent
Gen. 3:1; 2Cor. 11:3; Rev. 12:7-9; Isa. 27:1; Mat. 4:6
“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? {Gen. 3:1}
The Serpent as Medium for Satan's Purpose of Deception
In order to accomplish his work unperceived, Satan chose to employ as his medium the serpent—a disguise well adapted for his purpose of deception. The serpent was then one of the wisest and most beautiful creatures on the earth. It had wings, and while flying through the air presented an appearance of dazzling brightness, having the color and brilliancy of burnished gold. Resting in the rich-laden branches of the forbidden tree and regaling itself with the delicious fruit, it was an object to arrest the attention and delight the eye of the beholder. Thus in the garden of peace lurked the destroyer, watching for his prey. {CTr 21.2}
The Lie of All Generation - "Ye Shall Not Surely Die"
Satan, the fallen prince, was jealous of God. He determined through subtlety, cunning, and deceit to defeat God’s purpose. He approached Eve, not in the form of an angel, but as a serpent, subtle, cunning, and deceitful. With a voice that appeared to proceed from the serpent, he spoke to her. . . . As Eve listened, the warnings God had given faded from her mind. She yielded to the temptation, and as she tempted Adam, he also forgot God’s warnings. He believed the words of the enemy of God. . . . {CTr 26.3}
The lie that Satan told Eve, “Ye shall not surely die,” has been sounding through the centuries from generation to generation. Thus Satan tempted our first parents, and thus he tempts us today. . . . {CTr 26.4}
The Tempter is Everywhere
Satan is represented by the serpent. The tempter is everywhere, on every side, and when God says ye shall not, what is the result? In many instances in the place of obeying the voice of warning, people listen to the tempter. And in the place of all the attractions that Satan presents they have woe and misery. . . . {CTr 207.3}
Consider the following
The serpent was known as a clever animal (although it couldn’t talk). Isaiah wrote about a “gliding serpent” that he identified as Leviathan and the Dragon (Isaiah 14:29; 27:1). In Revelation, John identified that Dragon as “the ancient serpent,” Satan (Revelation 20:2).
Satan showed up before Eve using that shape and ask her to explain the meaning of the Word of God. Eve was happy to answer the questions of the “serpent” (Genesis 3:2-3).
This allowed Satan to openly sow some doubts about God in Eve’s mind (Genesis 3:4-5).
Eve thought that the serpent's discourse was very wise, and that the prohibition of God was unjust. She looked with longing desire upon the tree laden with fruit which appeared very delicious. The serpent was eating it with apparent delight. She longed for this fruit above every other variety which God had given her a perfect right to use. {Con 14.1}
Monday: The Forbidden Fruit - Eve’s Reaction
Lk. Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:1-6; John 8:44
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6)
The Origin of the Chain of Sin Laid in Eden
The tempter assured Eve that as soon as she ate of the fruit she would receive a new and superior knowledge that would make her equal with God. He called her attention to himself. He ate freely of the tree and found it not only perfectly harmless but delicious and exhilarating, and told her that it was because of its wonderful properties to impart wisdom and power that God had prohibited them from tasting or even touching it, for He knew its wonderful qualities. He stated that his eating of the fruit of the tree forbidden to them was the reason he had attained the power of speech. He intimated that God would not carry out His word. It was merely a threat to intimidate them and keep them from great good. He further told them that they could not die. Had they not eaten of the tree of life which perpetuates immortality? He said that God was deceiving them to keep them from a higher state of felicity and more exalted happiness. The tempter plucked the fruit and passed it to Eve. She took it in her hand. Now, said the tempter, you were prohibited from even touching it lest you die. He told her that she would realize no more sense of evil and death in eating than in touching or handling the fruit. Eve was emboldened because she felt not the immediate signs of God's displeasure. She thought the words of the tempter all wise and correct. She ate, and was delighted with the fruit. It seemed delicious to her taste, and she imagined that she realized in herself the wonderful effects of the fruit. {SR 34.2}
Eve Becomes a Tempter
She then plucked for herself of the fruit and ate, and imagined she felt the quickening power of a new and elevated existence as the result of the exhilarating influence of the forbidden fruit. She was in a strange and unnatural excitement as she sought her husband with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit. She related to him the wise discourse of the serpent and wished to conduct him at once to the tree of knowledge. She told him she had eaten of the fruit, and instead of her feeling any sense of death, she realized a pleasing, exhilarating influence. As soon as Eve had disobeyed she became a powerful medium through which to occasion the fall of her husband. {SR 35.1}
I saw a sadness come over the countenance of Adam. He appeared afraid and astonished. A struggle appeared to be going on in his mind. He told Eve he was quite certain that this was the foe that they had been warned against, and if so, that she must die. She assured him she felt no ill effects but rather a very pleasant influence, and entreated him to eat. {SR 35.2}
Consider the following
In Genesis 3:1-5, Satan offered Eve something he couldn’t have, immortality and divinity (1 Timothy 6:15-16; Isaiah 14:14).
Eve thought that was achievable and desirable (Genesis 3:6). He believed in immortality and began acting like God.
Tuesday: Hiding Before God - God’s Reaction
Gen. 3:7-13, 15; 1:7, 16, 25; 4:9; Ps. 8:5; 104:1, 2; Gal. 2:16; 2Kings 19:10; Isa. 37:10; Jer. 49:16
“Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:9)
The Reason of Separation from God
The question may arise in some minds why we as a people are separated from the world into little companies. We answer, It is not because we choose to differ from those around us, but because we see the necessity of obeying all the requirements of God. If any feel that it is of no consequence whether we obey all his commandments or not, they have only to look back to Eden to see what dire results befell Adam and Eve because of disobedience. It is for us to choose whether we will go over the same ground as they in transgression, or whether we will walk in the light that has shone upon us, and be found of our heavenly Father in the path of humble obedience. His blessings and promises are for those who love and obey him. {HS 231.3}
Like the angels, the dwellers in Eden had been placed upon probation; their happy estate could be retained only on condition of fidelity to the Creator's law. They could obey and live, or disobey and perish. God had made them the recipients of rich blessings; but should they disregard His will, He who spared not the angels that sinned, could not spare them; transgression would forfeit His gifts and bring upon them misery and ruin. {PP 53.1}
Conformity to God's Ordained Commands
Our first parents were not left without a warning of the danger that threatened them. Heavenly messengers opened to them the history of Satan's fall and his plots for their destruction, unfolding more fully the nature of the divine government, which the prince of evil was trying to overthrow. It was by disobedience to the just commands of God that Satan and his host had fallen. How important, then, that Adam and Eve should honor that law by which alone it was possible for order and equity to be maintained. {PP 52.2}
The law of God is as sacred as God Himself. It is a revelation of His will, a transcript of His character, the expression of divine love and wisdom. The harmony of creation depends upon the perfect conformity of all beings, of everything, animate and inanimate, to the law of the Creator. God has ordained laws for the government, not only of living beings, but of all the operations of nature. Everything is under fixed laws, which cannot be disregarded. But while everything in nature is governed by natural laws, man alone, of all that inhabits the earth, is amenable to moral law. To man, the crowning work of creation, God has given power to understand His requirements, to comprehend the justice and beneficence of His law, and its sacred claims upon him; and of man unswerving obedience is required.
Consider the following
God asked Adam and Eve many questions (Genesis 3:9, 11, 13). Their answers were: trying to conceal their sin, self-justification, blaming others... Do them sound familiar to you?
Adam and Eve felt deceived. They had believed in false expectations. Their sin was separating them from God.
What was God’s intention? To redeem them. He wants us to acknowledge our sins so He can offer forgiveness and restoration.
Wednesday: The Fate of the Serpent - Curse and Promise
Gen. 3:14, 15; Rom. 16:20; Heb. 2:14; Rev. 12:17; 20:10
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
A VISION GIVEN TO MOSES.
He saw the second coming of Christ in glory, the righteous dead raised to immortal life, and the living saints translated without seeing death, and together ascending with songs of gladness to the City of God. {Hvn 78.2}
Still another scene opens to his view—the earth freed from the curse, lovelier than the fair Land of Promise so lately spread out before him. There is no sin, and death cannot enter. There the nations of the saved find their eternal home. With joy unutterable Moses looks upon the scene—the fulfillment of a more glorious deliverance than his brightest hopes have ever pictured. Their earthly wanderings forever past, the Israel of God have at last entered the goodly land.—PP 477. {Hvn 78.3}
EDEN SHALL BLOOM AGAIN - THE EARTH REDEEMED
When Eden shall bloom on earth AGAIN, God’s law of love will be obeyed by all beneath the sun.—MB 51. {Hvn 78.4}
The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back the world into God’s favor. All that was lost by sin is restored. Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thousand years Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. Now God’s original purpose in its creation is accomplished. “The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” Daniel 7:18. {Hvn 78.5}
“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3. “In that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one.” “And Jehovah shall be king over all the earth.” Zechariah 14:9. Says the Scripture, “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.” “All His commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever.” Psalm 119:89; 111:7, 8. The sacred statutes which Satan has hated and sought to destroy, will be honored throughout a sinless universe. And “as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations.” Isaiah 61:11.—PP 342. {Hvn 79.1}
Please visit this site for more studies about the Kingdom-Restored. Copy-paste to a browser to navigate this link:
Meat In Due Season - 5. Mighty Stone and the Great Image of Daniel 2 (google.com)
Meat In Due Season - 6. The Establishment of the Kingdom of Glory (google.com)
WHEN ADAM SEES EDEN AGAIN.
When the faithful dead shall be resurrected, and the king of glory shall open before them the gates of the city of God, and the nations who have kept the truth enter in, what beauty and glory will meet the astonished sight of those who have seen no greater beauties in the earth than that which they beheld in decaying nature after the threefold curse was upon the earth. {Hvn 79.2}
It is impossible to describe Adam’s transports of joy as he again beholds Paradise, the Garden of Eden, his once happy home, from which, because of his transgression, he had been so long separated. He beholds the lovely flowers and trees, of every description for fruit and beauty, every one of which to designate them he had named while in his innocence. He sees the luxuriant vines, which had once been his delight to train upon bowers and trees. {Hvn 79.3}
Consider the following
Satan was cursed by God through the serpent because he was the one responsible for the existence of evil (Genesis 3:14).
Then God made a promise with a threefold prophecy:
(1) The serpent and the woman: There would be constant hostility between Satan and the Church of God (Revelation 12:17).
(2) The offspring of the serpent and the woman’s: There would be constant hostility between believers and nonbelievers, between the children of God and the children of men (Genesis 6:2).
(3) The Seed and the serpent: Satan “bruised” Jesus by hanging Him on the cross, but Jesus will eventually destroy Satan (Romans 16:20; Hebrews 2:14)
Please visit this site for more studies about "The Woman and the Dragon". Copy-paste to a browser to navigate this link:
Meat In Due Season - 14. Rev 12: The Woman and the Dragon (google.com)
Thursday: Human Destiny - Death and Hope
Gen. 3:14, 15-24; 1Tim. 2:14, 15
“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.’” (Genesis 3:16)
Christ, A Conqueror - Kingdoms of the World will Finally Become His (Jesus)
In the wilderness of temptation the destiny of the human race had been at stake. Christ was then conqueror. Now the tempter had come for the last fearful struggle. For this he had been preparing during the three years of Christ’s ministry. Everything was at stake with him. If he failed here, his hope of mastery was lost; the kingdoms of the world would finally become Christ’s; he himself would be overthrown and cast out. But if Christ could be overcome, the earth would become Satan’s kingdom, and the human race would be forever in his power. With the issues of the conflict before Him, Christ’s soul was filled with dread of separation from God. . . . {CSA 32.6}
An Invitation was Given to Fix the Destiny of the Soul
Every human agent is merging his or her character under one of two heads—the Prince of Life or the prince of darkness. . . .If we serve sin we shall meet the reward of the transgressor of the law of Jehovah before the judgment seat of Christ. . . . All the invitations given by a gracious God—given, but slighted and refused and rejected—will be presented to every individual, and the sentence that will fix the destiny of the soul in eternal bliss or to be punished with the fiery element of the wrath of God, will close the history of the wicked forever. {CTr 102.2}
Christ says, "My Authority, My Work, My Mission as One Who Bears the Credentials of Heaven"
When all those who profess to be Christians are Christians in deed and in truth, the Sabbath school will be no longer a dry round of service. The teachers will then understand the lesson that Christ gave to Nicodemus, and will teach it in all its momentous bearing on human destiny. Jesus said to the ruler in Israel, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Except a man be born again, he cannot understand the character of the heavenly kingdom, or discern its spiritual nature. Christ was saying to Nicodemus in these words: {CSW 64.1}
"It is not learning you need so much as it is inward renovation. You need not to have your curiosity satisfied so much as to have a new heart, and until that change takes place, making all things new, it will result in no saving good to you for Me to discuss with you My authority, My work, My mission as One who bears the credentials of Heaven." {CSW 64.2}
Consider the following
Giving birth and rising children should’ve been something pleasant, but sin made it painful. The promised seed would come with work and suffering.
Adam was the head of the married couple, so he was held responsible for the consequences of their sin. The earth was cursed for his sake (Genesis 3:17), and he was cursed to come back to the dust he had come from (Genesis 3:19).
Death was certain, but Adam embraced the promised hope. He changed his wife’s name, from Isha (Genesis 2:23) to Eve (Genesis 3:20), the mother of the seed that would free them from death’s curse.
We will forever thank God because He has given us eternal life with His great sacrifice.
Friday: Further study and Meditation
The power of a higher, purer, nobler life is our great need. The world has too much of our thought, and the kingdom of heaven too little. {AA 478.1}
In his efforts to reach God's ideal for him, the Christian is to despair of nothing. Moral and spiritual perfection, through the grace and power of Christ, is promised to all. Jesus is the source of power, the fountain of life. He brings us to His word, and from the tree of life presents to us leaves for the healing of sin-sick souls. He leads us to the throne of God, and puts into our mouth a prayer through which we are brought into close contact with Himself. In our behalf He sets in operation the all-powerful agencies of heaven. At every step we touch His living power. {AA 478.2}
Questions to Ponder
Why does a good God allow sin to enter, then amidst this tragedy, He gave hope to humanity?
The first human in their perfect state had been deceived. How much more with us, when, we are prone and vulnerable to sin to sin than them? What will be our weapon against this matter?
Based on the passage above, our great need is a higher, purer and nobler life, how can we attain this end if we have the fallen nature of Adam? What's our hope?
Reflect on the statement in AA 478.2 - "Jesus is the Source of Power", How and When will it be finally given?
How is our reaction to sin related to Adam and Eve, when we realize our vulnerability to fall? What should be our first recourse when confronted with it?
After sin entered, why did God revealed the plan of Salvation and the "protoevangelism" - the first promise of the gospel was given?
What's the purpose of God in asking question to Adam and Eve where they were? and Why did they hide from God?
From the Pen of Inspiration
To man the first intimation of redemption was communicated in the sentence pronounced upon Satan in the garden […] Adam and Eve stood as criminals before the righteous Judge, awaiting the sentence which transgression had incurred; but before they heard of the life of toil and sorrow which must be their portion, or of the decree that they must return to dust, they listened to words that could not fail to give them hope. Though they must suffer from the power of their mighty foe, they could look forward to final victory.” E. G. W. (Patriarchs and Prophets, cp. 4, p. 65)
SSL-Q2-02-The-Fall.pdfSSL-Q2-02-The-Fall (1).docx