Bible Study from October 15th, 2022
Vision One — The Glorious Throne of God
This week’s Lesson Sermon Subject: Doctrine of Atonement
Click here to play the audio as you read:
Bible Study Questions and Readings
“The Bible consists of that which came to man from God recorded down through the ages. Therefore, it would be permissible to call whatever came to man from God, the Bible. It is for this very reason that Mrs. Eddy was justified in linking Science and Health with the Bible, because the former is the present-day revelation of God to man. Science and Health is like a spade, which, when thrust into the garden of the Bible, breaks up the crust that has been formed down through the centuries, and enables it once more to put forth the rich spiritual fruitage that it is capable of growing.
“The Bible has a background of centuries of human history, but its pith and essence is its spiritual teaching, apart from any history. It is the Science of God and man, which was revealed to man. Thus, each student has his chance to continue the unbroken chain of the Bible and to contribute to it, since it is necessary to record that God is talking to His children in every age.”
From Precepts, by Gilbert Carpenter
Topic:God is Talking to His Children.
Moderator: Thomas from NY
Revelation Interpreted, by Rev. G. A. Kratzer, 2nd edition
Download or read “The Seven Churches”: From The Christian Science Journal, October 1917 by Caroline Getty
King James Bible: Bible.PlainfieldCS.com
Science and Health: Chapter 16 “Apocalypse” by Mary Baker Eddy
Revelation of Saint John An Open Book: by Irving Tomlinson
Download or read Study Notes on Revelation here: Compiled by Thomas
Questions:
- What is the lesson of Vision One? (Rev. 4:1 – 5:10; Tomlinson, pages 139-149)
- What is the lesson of Vision Two? (Rev. 5:11 – 8:1; Tomlinson, pages 150-166)
Notes from the Discussion
Three times a day, I retire to seek the divine blessing on the sick and sorrowing, with my face toward the Jerusalem of Love and Truth, in silent prayer to the Father which “seeth in secret,” and with childlike confidence that He will reward “openly.” In the midst of depressing care and labor I turn constantly to divine Love for guidance, and find rest. It affords me great joy to be able to attest to the truth of Jesus’ words. Love makes all burdens light, it giveth a peace that passeth understanding, and with “signs following.”
From Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 133
Prophet and apostle have glorified God in secret prayer, and He has rewarded them openly. Prayer can neither change God, nor bring His designs into mortal modes; but it can and does change our modes and our false sense of Life, Love, and Truth, uplifting us to Him. Such prayer humiliates, purifies, and quickens activity, in the direction that is unerring.
True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection. Prayer is the utilization of the love wherewith He loves us. Prayer begets an awakened desire to be and do good. It makes new and scientific discoveries of God, of His goodness and power. It shows us more clearly than we saw before, what we already have and are; and most of all, it shows us what God is. Advancing in this light, we reflect it; and this light reveals the pure Mind-pictures, in silent prayer, even as photography grasps the solar light to portray the face of pleasant thought. What but silent prayer can meet the demand, “Pray without ceasing”?
— from No and Yes by Mary Baker Eddy, page 39 : 17-18
Chapter 7: “Pond and Purpose”, from Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page 203
Click here to play the audio as you read “Recapitulation”: — Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, Pages 465-497
183 —WATCH lest, through a false conception of the purpose of the Bible and Science and Health, you give an- imal magnetism a chance to work through you, in becoming a deterrent rather than a help to your growth. The time never comes when it is not necessary to study these textbooks, yet the advancing student must watch lest he accept the suggestion that they are ends, rather than means to an end, that they are salvation, rather than the means to salvation.
The purpose of the instruction contained in these books is to lead one to divine Mind, where through reflection he may gain for himself the same inspiration that they contain. In Christian Science the primary goal is not to attain a knowledge of truth that others have reflected. All study in Science has for its goal the development of spiritual sense, through which one reflects inspiration directly from God.
It can be said that secondhand truth from any source gradually loses its inspirational nature to one who is content to stagnate with it. The Bible and Science and Health are inspired books. Their ultimate purpose is to lead students to dig for the spiritual and underlying meaning of their teaching, since in this way students not only gain understanding, but develop spiritual sense, which in turn enables them to gain their own inspiration directly from God.
— from 500 Watching Points by Gilbert Carpenter
Jesus came announcing Truth, and saying not only “the kingdom of God is at hand,” but “the kingdom of God is within you.” Hence there is no sin, for God’s kingdom is everywhere and supreme, and it follows that the human kingdom is nowhere, and must be unreal.
— from No and Yes by Mary Baker Eddy, page 35
Let us rejoice that the bow of omnipotence already spans the moral heavens with light, and that the more spiritual idea of good and Truth meets the old material thought like a promise upon the cloud, while it inscribes on the thoughts of men at this period a more metaphysical religion founded upon Christian Science.
— from The People’s Idea of God by Mary Baker Eddy, page 3:14
Excerpts from Bible Commentaries, for Revlation 4, shared during the Bible Study:
Our text says they all cast their crowns before the throne. There are no divided opinions in heaven, no sects and parties, no schisms there. They are all in perfect harmony and sweet accord. What one does, all do. They cast their crowns, without exception, before the throne. Let us begin to practice that unanimity here. As fellow Christians, let us get rid of everything that would divide us from each other, or separate us from our Lord. I do not read that there was a single elder who envied his brother’s crown, and said, ‘Ah, I wish I were such an one as he is, and had his crown.’ I do not read that one of them began to find fault with his brother’s crown, and said, ‘Ah, his jewels may be bright, but mine have a peculiar tint in them, and are of greater excellence.’ I do not read ought of dissension; they were all unanimous in casting their crowns at Jesus’ feet. They were all unanimous in glorifying God.
— Charles Spurgeon Commentary
And One sat on the throne: The throne is not empty. There is some One who sits on this great heavenly throne. The throne is a powerful declaration of not merely God’s presence, but of His sovereign, rightful reign, and His prerogative to judge. We can’t think rightly about much of anything until we settle in our mind that there is an occupied throne in heaven, and the God of the Bible rules from the throne.
— Morgan’s Exposition on the Whole Bible
And behold, a throne: This throne was what first impressed John, and it is the centerpiece of this vision. John was fixated on the occupied throne, and everything else is described in relation to this throne. The bottom line of atheism or materialism is that there is no throne, there is no seat of authority or power that the entire universe must answer to. The bottom line of humanism is that there is a throne, but man sits upon it. Essentially, man cannot live without the concept of a throne, a supreme ruler. So if man de-thrones God, he will inescapably place himself or some other man upon the throne, perhaps a political leader, as was the case with the dictators Lenin, Stalin, and Mao.
— David Guzik
Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. “The word is to us a crystal glass, giving us a clear sight of God and of ourselves, 2 Corinthians 3:18; James 1:23.”
— John Trapp Complete Commentary
The greatest dreamer this world ever saw was Jesus. He was no local prophet or parochial schoolmaster, much less was he a mere visionary or fanatic, but he was the prophet of humanity and Saviour of the world, who saw sanely into the heart of time and eternity. He had a vision of redeemed humanity compared with which all human dreams of conquest and empire, education and art, democracy and socialism, are petty programs and futile schemes. He had a vision of a kingdom wide as the horizon, long as the centuries, lofty as the stars, white as the holiness and strong as the omnipotence of God. This vision is now winning its victory over the world. It has come down through the ages, unhinging empires and throwing the stream of the centuries into new channels, uprooting slavery, undermining political despotism and putting the people into power, giving liberty of thought, and unshackling religion and giving freedom of worship. It is stopping war, breaking down international barriers of prejudice, and drawing and binding the nations into universal peace and brotherhood. It is ever penetrating more deeply our Christian civilization and healing its sores and solving its problems, and it is sending its light and life out over the world to dissipate its ignorance and superstition, cure its sins, answer its cry for the Father, and build all its kingdoms into the kingdom of our God and of His Christ. This ideal is the grandest and noblest vision that can touch our eyes with light and kindle our minds and hearts with aspiration and enthusiasm. Men may regard it as a fine fancy or foolish fanaticism, but it has in it the omnipotence of God, the stars in their courses are fighting for it; it is even now overcoming the world, and this vision will come to its final and glorious victory when the redeemed return to the heavenly city with songs and everlasting joy. Let us now share in the vision that we may also triumph in the victory.
— From Our Exchanges, Christian Science Sentinel, (1908), with contributions from James L. Snowden, Roland D. Sawyer, Harriet Russell, James L. Snowden, D.D., in New York Observer
Christ above me….. Ends with – (Christ in the hearts of everyone who thimks of me)
One can never go up, until one has gone down in his own esteem. Humility is lens and prism to the understanding of Mind-healing; it must be had to understand our textbook; it is indispensable to personal growth, and points out the chart of its divine Principle and rule of practice.
— from Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page 356 : 24-25
“The Sermon on the Mount”, The Book of Matthew in the King James Bible, chapters 5 through 7