Overall Questions: What part does hope play in the Christian life? What gives us that hope?

Memory Text: 1 Peter 3:15 NIV “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

Sunday – Hope Amid Our World
Luke 21:25-26 NRSV “25 "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Luke 21:28 CEV “When all of this starts happening, stand up straight and be brave. You will soon be set free.”

Monday – Hope Here and Now
John 5:24 ESV “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE Death is the country where every Christless soul lives. The man who knows not God lives a dying life, or a living death; but he who believes in the Son of God passes over from the empire of death, to the empire of life.
John 10:10 ESV “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES It would be vast mercy to keep men merely from annihilation or hell; but Jesus will give them eternal joy, peace, the society of the blessed, and all those exalted means of felicity [or happiness] which are prepared for them in the world of glory.

Tuesday – Hope Beyond the Grave
1 Corinthians 15:20-26 NKJV “20 ¶ But now Christ is risen from the dead, [and] has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man [came] death, by Man also [came] the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those [who are] Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then [comes] the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy [that] will be destroyed [is] death.”
1 Corinthians 15:50-55 NKJV “50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 ¶ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where [is] your sting? O Hades, where [is] your victory?"”
1 Corinthians 15:55 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE We have often seen a personification of death in ancient paintings-a skeleton crowned, with a dart in his hand; probably taken from the apostle's description. The Jews represent the angel of death as having a sword, from which deadly drops of gall fall into the mouths of all men.
1 Peter 1:3 NKJV “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
1 Thessalonians 4:14 MKJV “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.”

Wednesday – Eternal Hope
1 Corinthians 15:42-43 God’s Word to the Nations “42 That is how it will be when the dead come back to life. When the body is planted, it decays. When it comes back to life, it cannot decay. 43 When the body is planted, it doesn’t have any splendor and is weak. When it comes back to life, it has splendor and is strong.”
1 Corinthians 15:43 COMMENTARY BY BARNES It shall not be prostrate by sickness, nor overcome by fatigue. It shall be capable of the service of God without weariness and languor; it shall need no rest as it does here, (Re 7:15; 22:5;) but it shall be in a world where there shall be no fatigue, lassitude, disease; but where there shall be ample power to engage in the service of God for ever.
1 Corinthians 15:52 God’s Word to the Nations “It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever.”
Revelation 21 God’s Word to the Nations “1 ¶ I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone. 2 Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, dressed like a bride ready for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "God lives with humans! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won’t be any more death. There won’t be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared." 5 The one sitting on the throne said, "I am making everything new." He said, "Write this: ‘These words are faithful and true.’" 6 He said to me, "It has happened! I am the A and the Z, the beginning and the end. I will give a drink from the fountain filled with the water of life to anyone who is thirsty. It won’t cost anything. 7 Everyone who wins the victory will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my children. 8 But cowardly, unfaithful, and detestable people, murderers, sexual sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." 9 ¶ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues came to me and said, "Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb." 10 He carried me by his power away to a large, high mountain. He showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. 11 It had the glory of God. Its light was like a valuable gem, like gray quartz, as clear as crystal. 12 It had a large, high wall with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The wall of the city had 12 foundations. The 12 names of the 12 apostles of the lamb were written on them. 15 The angel who was talking to me had a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city was square. It was as wide as it was long. He measured the city with the stick. It was 12,000 stadia long. Its length, width, and height were the same. 17 He measured its wall. According to human measurement, which the angel was using, it was 144 cubits. 18 Its wall was made of gray quartz. The city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the city wall were beautifully decorated with all kinds of gems: The first foundation was gray quartz, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth red quartz, the seventh yellow quartz, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth green quartz, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The 12 gates were 12 pearls. Each gate was made of one pearl. The street of the city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass. 22 I did not see any temple in it, because the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are its temple. 23 The city doesn’t need any sun or moon to give it light because the glory of God gave it light. The lamb was its lamp. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will be open all day. They will never close because there won’t be any night there. 26 They will bring the glory and wealth of the nations into the holy city. 27 Nothing unclean, no one who does anything detestable, and no liars will ever enter it. Only those whose names are written in the lamb’s Book of Life will enter it.”
Revelation 21:5 COMMENTARY BY WILLIAM BURKITT Behold I make all things new; a good argument to encourage us to go unto Christ by prayer for renewing grace. Surely he that makes new heavens can make new hearts, he that renews an old world, can renew us in the spirit of our minds, and make old things pass away, and cause all things to become new.
Revelation 21:9 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY One of the plague-bearing angels had already shown John the judgment of the great harlot (see ch. 17:1). Now, one of them (possibly the same angel, as some suggest) directs John’s attention to the New Jerusalem, the center and seat of the eternal kingdom. It is of interest to note that in the first instance it was a plague-bearing angel that presented mystical Babylon to the prophet, whereas now it is one of them who shows him the New Jerusalem. Historically, ancient Babylon and Jerusalem were traditional enemies, and figuratively they represent the two sides of the great controversy between evil and good. The one is represented as a fallen woman (ch. 17:5), the other as an honorable woman (chs. 19:7; 21:2).

Thursday – Christ Our Hope
Revelation 22:7 CEV “Remember, I am coming soon! God will bless everyone who pays attention to the message of this book.”
Revelation 22:10-12 CEV “10 Don’t keep the prophecies in this book a secret. These things will happen soon. 11 Evil people will keep on being evil, and everyone who is dirty-minded will still be dirty-minded. But good people will keep on doing right, and God’s people will always be holy. 12 Then I was told: I am coming soon! And when I come, I will reward everyone for what they have done.”
Revelation 22:20 CEV “The one who has spoken these things says, "I am coming soon!" So, Lord Jesus, please come soon!”
2 Peter 3:8-9 ESV “8 ¶ But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 ¶ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 PEOPLE’S NT COMMENTARY If the day of the Lord seems delayed, it is not due to slackness. It is rather because God is long-suffering and is giving time to call the world to repentance.

Friday – Further Study
Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 44 – “As the earth came forth from the hand of its Maker, it was exceedingly beautiful. Its surface was diversified with mountains, hills, and plains, interspersed with noble rivers and lovely lakes; but the hills and mountains were not abrupt and rugged, abounding in terrific steeps and frightful chasms, as they now do; the sharp, ragged edges of earth’s rocky framework were buried beneath the fruitful soil, which everywhere produced a luxuriant growth of verdure. There were no loathsome swamps or barren deserts. Graceful shrubs and delicate flowers greeted the eye at every turn. The heights were crowned with trees more majestic than any that now exist. The air, untainted by foul miasma, was clear and healthful. The entire landscape outvied in beauty the decorated grounds of the proudest palace.”