Easy Reading Edition

2
Genesis and Revelation
April 5–11

SABBATH—APRIL
SABBATH—DATE 5
READ FOR THIS WEEK’S LESSON: Isaiah 40:7, 8;
Genesis 22:1–13; Genesis 22:7, 8; Genesis 2:15–17;
Genesis 3:1–5.

MEMORY VERSE: “The next day John saw Jesus com-

ing toward him. John said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God. He
takes away [removes] the sins of the world [people]!’ ”
(John 1:29, ICB).

THE BOOK OF GENESIS helps us understand the book of

Revelation. Many modern Bible thinkers don’t understand
this important rule. John wrote the book of Revelation.
His writings show us that he knew a lot about the Old
Testament. John uses ideas from the Old Testament that
his readers knew very well.
In the Bible, we can find important verses that help
us understand the book of Revelation better than other
verses do. Many of these verses are found in the book of
Genesis. The book of Genesis helps us understand how
The book of Genesis
sin started on this earth. Almost every important idea in
helps us understand
how sin started the book of Revelation also appears in the first few chap-
on this earth. ters of the book of Genesis.
This week, we will study a few big topics from the book
of Revelation. The book of Genesis will help us understand
these topics from the book of Revelation better. Then we
will learn important lessons from the book of Revelation.
These lessons can teach us about ourselves, God, and the
worldwide war between good and evil.

12 GENESIS AND REVELATION

 SUNDAY—APRIL 6 Lesson 2
AN IMPORTANT RULE (Isaiah 40:7, 8)

In the book of Genesis, God introduces ideas that we will

read about later in other books of the Bible. The first time the
Bible talks about an idea or a symbol, we learn something
about it that will help us understand how to use it later.
This teaching helps us understand an important rule in
Bible study. God gives His children information a little at a
time. First, the Lord gives us a basic idea in the Bible. Then
He gives us more information about this idea over the years
in different parts of the Bible.

Read Isaiah 40:7, 8; Malachi 3:6; and Hebrews 13:8.

What important rule do you learn from these verses?
How does this rule help you in your study of the Bible’s
special messages about the future?

Many modern thinkers believe we can’t know the truth

about life. These thinkers say that truth is something that
can change over time.
But when God teaches us what the truth is, He
doesn’t change His mind about it. We can trust Jesus
when He starts teaching us the truth. New ideas about
the truth do not change the first meaning. New ideas
help us understand the meaning of the same old Bible
truths better. So, we should do our best to understand
the book of Genesis. In this book, you will find many
important ideas explained for the first time. Then you
will get a basic understanding of other ideas that you
will read about in the rest of the Bible. In the book of Genesis,
God introduces ideas
Why is it so important that we not let anyone, or that we will read about
anything, make our faith in the Bible and its teachings later in other books
become weak? What causes our faith in Bible truth to of the Bible.
become weak?

GENESIS AND REVELATION 13

 Lesson 2 MONDAY—APRIL 7
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S LOVE (Genesis 22:1–13)

When we understand the Bible truth about love, we

will better understand God’s special messages about the
future. An important topic in the worldwide war between
good and evil is God’s love. Many people do not understand
Bible truth about God’s love and mercy. Ellen G. White
talks about God’s love after the worldwide war between
good and evil is finished: “Everything in heaven and on
earth is clean. Everything God made is at peace and is
happy. God fills everything with life, light, and joy. From the
smallest thing God made to the biggest planet, everything
announces that God is love.”—The Great Controversy,
page 678, adapted.

Read Genesis 22:1–13. The first time we read about

“love” in the Bible is in Genesis 22:2. What does this
story teach us about God’s love?

The first time that Sometimes Bible students look for the first time that dif-
John writes about love ferent books of the Bible talk about the same topic. If our
in his gospel helps us topic is “love,” we may want to read what the Gospel writers
to understand God’s love say about it. The Gospel writers are Matthew, Mark, Luke,
better. John’s verse and John. The first time the Gospel writers talk about “love”
helps us remember is in Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; and John 3:16.
the story about Isaac The first time that John writes about love in his Gospel
on the altar
helps us to understand God’s love better. John’s verse helps
(Genesis 22:9).
us remember the story about Isaac on the altar (Genesis
22:9). Abraham’s faith in God was strong. Abraham believed
that God could wake up Isaac from the dead if Abraham
gave him as a burnt offering to God (Hebrews 11:19).
Abraham’s offering showed God’s love for humans. God
loves us so much “that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16,
ERV; also read Genesis 22:2, 12, 16). Then God woke
up His Son from the dead. So, we see, in Genesis 22, an
example of God’s love for us.

How do we feel the same love for other people that

God feels for us? Why does this love feel too hard for
most of us?

14 GENESIS AND REVELATION

TUESDAY—APRIL 8 Lesson 2
ISAAC’S QUESTION: WHERE IS THE LAMB?
(Genesis 22:7, 8)

The first time the Bible talks about a “seh” (the Hebrew
word for “a lamb”) is in the story in Genesis 22. As we saw
yesterday, this story is the same one that talks about love
for the first time, too, in the Bible. The lamb is one of the
most important symbols or word pictures in the book of
Revelation. In this book, Jesus is named “the Lamb” more
than twenty times. In one of the most powerful chapters in
the book of Revelation, we read about John’s visit to God’s
throne room in heaven (Revelation 4 and 5). The Lamb has
an important part in chapter 5.

Read Genesis 22:7, 8; Exodus 12:3–13; and Revelation

5:5–10. How does the story about Abraham offering
Isaac help us understand how Bible writers use lambs
as word pictures? How does Abraham and Isaac’s
story help explain what John sees in Revelation 5?

Again, the first time we read about a “seh [lamb]” in the

Bible is when Isaac asks, “Where is the lamb?” (Genesis
22:7, ERV). The rest of the Bible answers this question. The
other 38 books of the Old Testament answer this question
with more and more information. From the Old Testament
offerings to the stories about King David, we see Isaac’s
question get answered again and again. The Old Testament
also has special messages about the future Savior. In the
New Testament, Isaac’s question is answered when Jesus
comes to the earth to help His people and dies on the cross.
In the meantime, look at the first time John talks about
a Lamb in his story about Jesus. In John 1:29–34, John
writes about John the Baptist. John the Baptist personally The first time we read
answers Isaac’s question. In this story, sinners confess their about a “seh [lamb]”
in the Bible is when
sins. They get baptized. Baptism is a word picture for the Isaac asks, “Where is the
sinner’s spiritual death and the beginning of a new life in lamb?” (Genesis 22:7,
Jesus. Then Jesus, the Lamb of God, comes and the skies ERV). The rest of the Bible
open. A voice from heaven announces Jesus: “ ‘This is my answers this question.
Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with him’ ” (Matthew
3:17, ERV). Notice that a voice (the Angel of the Lord)
also announces from heaven the answer to Abraham and
Isaac’s problem (Genesis 22:11–14).
All these verses show that Jesus, the Lamb of God, is
our Substitute. This Bible truth helps us better understand
the Lamb in John’s dream (Revelation 5).

GENESIS AND REVELATION 15

 Lesson 2 WEDNESDAY—APRIL 9
THE EXPERIENCE OF DEATH (Genesis 2:15–17)

Death is an important topic in the Bible’s end-time mes-

sages. The first time the Bible talks about death helps us
understand the sin problem better. It also helps us better
understand how God will solve the sin problem.

The first time the Bible talks about someone dying is

in Genesis 4:8–15. The first time the Bible talks about
death is in Genesis 2:15–17. Also read 1 Corinthians
15:15–19; and Revelation 1:18. What do all these verses
tell us about why people die and what God thinks about
death? How will God solve the problem of death?

We often say that “death is just part of life.” That is a lie.

Death is completely different from life. Death was not meant
to be part of our experience here on earth. We are used to
death. But we fight against death strongly when we meet it.
We understand, as humans, that there is something very
wrong with death. As painful as death is, some deaths can
make us feel worse than other deaths. When a child dies,
we feel very sad. We expect parents to die before their chil-
The first death that we dren. So, when a child dies before his parents do, his death
read about in the Bible can be very painful to the ones who loved him.
is the death of Abel. The first death that we read about in the Bible is the
death of Abel. His parents, Adam and Eve, feel the pain of
losing their holy son after Cain, his evil brother, kills him.
Abel’s death was not fair.
Think about Jesus. Jesus was holy. Evil people killed
Jesus just as Cain killed Abel. Jesus’ death was not fair. How
does Abel’s death help us understand the death of Jesus on
the cross? How does Abel’s death help us understand what
Jesus means when He says, “ ‘I have power over death and
hell’ ” (Revelation 1:18, NLV)? What is God offering to us in
Jesus?

If the problem with sin isn’t solved, why would our

lives have no meaning? What does your answer teach
us about how thankful we should be for what Jesus did
for us on the cross?

16 GENESIS AND REVELATION

 THURSDAY—APRIL 10 Lesson 2
THE SNAKE (Genesis 3:1–5)

Worship is an important topic in the book of Revelation.

The dragon invented false worship (Revelation 13:2–4). The
dragon is a word picture for Satan. Satan also is named
Lucifer, a fallen angel. John compares Lucifer to a dragon.
This language helps us remember the snake in the Garden
of Eden. The snake convinced Adam and Eve to join him in
fighting against God.

Compare Genesis 3:1–5 with Revelation 12:1–9. What

are some of the same ideas in each story? How does the
story about the snake in Genesis help us understand
some of the reasons that led to the war in heaven that
the book of Revelation talks about?

Two stories in the Bible talk about how Satan lies to all the
people on the earth and leads them away from God. The first
story happens in Genesis at a time when Adam and Eve are
the only two people on earth. The second story is in Revelation
12 and 13, where John says Satan “fools all the people in the
world [on the earth]” (Revelation 12:9, WE). Satan gives power
to the sea beast (Revelation 13:2). Later, Satan uses the land
beast to cause everyone to worship the sea beast (Revelation
13:12). One of the most important end-time topics in the Bible
is the worldwide war between God and Satan. The war shows
that God’s love and His mercy don’t change. As long as the
devil is alive, he won’t change his plans, either. The devil won’t
quit his fight against God.
God always will be who He is. So will the devil. Satan
may hide who he really is from people. But the book of
Revelation and human history show us that Satan uses the
same plan he used in the Garden of Eden. God promised
us wisdom and understanding (James 1:5). Satan tricked John compares Lucifer
many people in the past. In the future, he will trick many to a dragon. This language
more. But the Bible will protect us from the devil’s lies. helps us remember
the snake in
Behavior and ideas that people accepted in the past the Garden of Eden.
aren’t accepted now. Behavior and ideas that people
didn’t accept before are now accepted. As Christians
who believe in the worldwide war between good and
evil, how should we live with people who often change
their ideas and beliefs? Satan told two lies in Eden: (1)
you won’t die, and (2) you will be gods. Where do you
find these lies being told today?

GENESIS AND REVELATION 17

 Lesson 2 FRIDAY—APRIL 11
ADDITIONAL THOUGHT: Read Ellen G. White, “The
Revelation,” pages 578–581, in The Acts of the Apostles.

Many religions today started from ideas. But the ideas

in the Christian religion come from real experiences that
happened in history. The Bible is the story about God’s rela-
tionship with people during human history. When we study
these relationships, we can learn much about God and His
love. God’s love doesn’t change.
Sometimes Christians complain that they are tired of
hearing the same things. Sometimes when a pastor is
preaching our message, we may think we have nothing
new to learn.
While our message doesn’t change, that doesn’t mean
that our message isn’t interesting. When you study the
information that God gives our church, you learn really fast
that you will never get to the end of a topic and know every-
thing there is to know about it.
One of the reasons Ellen G. White says that John wrote
the book of Revelation was to help the Christian church
know God’s plan for it. But “some of the younger workers
[at that time] . . . became tired of the Bible truths they often
heard. They wanted to hear something new. So they tried to
introduce new teachings.”—The Acts of the Apostles, page
580, adapted. As we see, the book of Revelation isn’t just
a book about the future. The book of Revelation is also a
book about the past. John wrote the book of Revelation to
help us understand our church history and the reasons for
our faith. When we do, we won’t let a wish for something
new control or destroy our faith.
John wrote the book
of Revelation to help us DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
understand our church
history and the reasons
for our faith.
1 The Bible always gives us new information and new under-
standing. Yes, we may want to learn something new. But why is it
important to continue to believe in the Bible truth that God already
gave us?

2 What if someone comes up with a new teaching about one of

the Bible’s special messages? Yes, there is always more to learn.
At the same time, how may we know if the new “light” is Bible truth
or another false teaching?

3 Why will our lives have no meaning if we never wake up

from the dead?

18 GENESIS AND REVELATION

 Story
THE MILK MIRACLE INSIDE
N o cow stood in the yard when Mother got home from
the market.
Mother looked around the yard. The cow was missing. She
by Andrew McChesney
knew her two small children waited for her in the house. Mother
started to cry. How could she tell her children that their cow
was stolen? The milk from the cow helped them earn money.
Without the cow, they will die.
Mother decided not to tell the children. She didn’t want them
to see her tears. Mother walked over to some bushes and knelt
down in them. There on her knees, she prayed to God. She
asked the Lord to remember her husband, who was a Seventh-
day Adventist pastor. He got arrested for keeping the Sabbath
and was made to serve for eight years doing hard work far
from their home. The family lived in Tajikistan, which at the time
of this story used to be under the control of the Soviet Union.
Mother thanked God for the stolen cow, whose milk she had
traded for flour, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and
cucumbers at the village market.
Mother cried. “What next, Lord? How can my children and I
live now without the cow?”
As Mother cried and prayed, she saw something stuck in the
branches of the bushes. Mother looked closer and saw that it
was some paper money. Mother prayed, “Thank You, God! You
sent money to buy another cow.”
Mother dried her tears and went back to the market to look
for another cow. But every seller wanted more money than she Soon, the cow made
as much milk
found in the bushes.
as two cows!
Finally, a man agreed to lower his price.
The man said, “I’ll give you my cow for your money.” His cow
was the smallest, skinniest cow in the market.
Mother gave the man the money and took the cow home.
Mother prayed, “God, this cow is in Your hands.”
At home, Mother fed the cow. Her two children played with
it. With food and love, the cow grew and grew. Soon, the cow
made as much milk as two cows!
Liubov Brunton is the granddaughter of the Mother in this
story. Liubov said, “God saved the lives of our family during this
hard time.
Liubov said the miracle with the milk is powerful proof that
God protects and cares for His Bible workers everywhere. The
story about the cow doesn’t end here. Liubov’s grandmother
was about to see another miracle. Read about it next week.
Thank you for your offerings that support our pastors and Liubov Brunton
Bible workers who share the Good News everywhere on earth.

Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School 19
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at AdventistMission.org.