Foundations for Prophecy
OVERVIEW
Prophets see God's glory and receive His message
SATURDAY - Introduction
God reveals Himself in glory
Memory Text
Isaiah 6:8 – Send me!
SUNDAY - Here I Am, Send Me
Isaiah’s cleansing and calling
MONDAY - The Two Cherubim
God’s throne and heavenly worship
TUESDAY - Like Burning Coals of Fire
Ezekiel’s fiery vision
WEDNESDAY - God Among His People
God's glory in the sanctuary
THURSDAY - The Fall of Lucifer
The beginning of rebellion
FRIDAY - Further Thought
God’s call is still for us today
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Talk and reflect
LESSON SUMMARY
God calls us to speak for Him
Foundations for Prophecy
OVERVIEW
This week’s lesson explores how God calls prophets. It’s not always gentle or quiet. Isaiah, Ezekiel, and others saw powerful visions of God’s glory. These moments filled them with awe and changed their lives forever. Prophets were chosen not because they were perfect but because they were willing to go where God sent them and share His truth.
SATURDAY - Introduction
Memory Text
Isaiah 6:8
KJV
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
CEV
8 After this, I heard the Lord ask, “Is there anyone I can send? Will someone speak for us?” “I'll go,” I answered. “Send me!”
Read the following:
Isaiah 6:1-8
KJV
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
CEV
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I had a vision of the Lord. He was on his throne high above, and his robe filled the temple.
2 Flaming creatures with six wings each were flying over him. They covered their faces with two of their wings and their bodies with two more. They used the other two wings for flying,
3 as they shouted, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord All-Powerful! The earth is filled with your glory.”
4 As they shouted, the doorposts of the temple shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 Then I cried out, “I'm doomed! Everything I say is sinful, and so are the words of everyone around me. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord All-Powerful.”
6 One of the flaming creatures flew over to me with a burning coal that it had taken from the altar with a pair of metal tongs.
7 It touched my lips with the hot coal and said, “This has touched your lips. Your sins are forgiven, and you are no longer guilty.”
8 After this, I heard the Lord ask, “Is there anyone I can send? Will someone speak for us?” “I'll go,” I answered. “Send me!”
Ezekiel 1:1-14
KJV
1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
2 In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,
3 The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.
4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
7 And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
11 Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
CEV
1
1-3 I am Ezekiel — a priest and the son of Buzi. Five years after King Jehoiachin of Judah had been led away as a prisoner to Babylonia, I was living near the Chebar River among those who had been taken there with him. Then on the fifth day of the fourth month of the thirtieth year, the heavens suddenly opened. The Lord placed his hand upon me and showed me some visions.
4 I saw a windstorm blowing in from the north. Lightning flashed from a huge cloud and lit up the whole sky with a dazzling brightness. The fiery center of the cloud was as shiny as polished metal,
5 and in that center I saw what looked like four living creatures. They were somewhat like humans,
6 except that each one had four faces and four wings.
7 Their legs were straight, but their feet looked like the hoofs of calves and sparkled like bronze.
8 Under each of their wings, these creatures had a human hand.
9 The four creatures were standing back to back with the tips of their wings touching. They moved together in every direction, without turning their bodies.
10 Each creature had the face of a human in front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of a bull on the left, and the face of an eagle in back.
11 Two wings of each creature were spread out and touched the wings of the creatures on either side. The other two wings of each creature were folded against its body.
12 The four living creatures went wherever the Spirit led them, and they moved together without turning their bodies, because each creature faced straight ahead.
13 The creatures were glowing like hot coals, and I saw something like a flaming torch moving back and forth among them. Lightning flashed from the torch every time its flame blazed up.
14 The creatures themselves moved as quickly as sparks jumping from a fire.
Summary:
Prophets in the Bible didn’t just get quiet thoughts. Many were shown amazing, powerful visions of God — full of light, fire, thunder, and angels. These experiences gave them a deep understanding of who God is and why His message must be shared.
This week we look at how God called people like Isaiah and Ezekiel. They didn’t feel worthy. But after seeing God’s holiness and grace, they said, “Send me!” God doesn’t call perfect people. He calls willing ones.
Ellen White Notes:
Ellen White says God gives visions and dreams to reach people’s hearts. These moments show God's greatness and our need for Him. But He also fills us with peace and courage to share His truth.
Reflection
Why did God reveal Himself in powerful visions to the prophets?
What do the prophets’ reactions teach us about answering God's call?
SUNDAY - Here I Am, Send Me
Read the following:
Isaiah 6:1-8
KJV
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
CEV
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I had a vision of the Lord. He was on his throne high above, and his robe filled the temple.
2 Flaming creatures with six wings each were flying over him. They covered their faces with two of their wings and their bodies with two more. They used the other two wings for flying,
3 as they shouted, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord All-Powerful! The earth is filled with your glory.”
4 As they shouted, the doorposts of the temple shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 Then I cried out, “I'm doomed! Everything I say is sinful, and so are the words of everyone around me. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord All-Powerful.”
6 One of the flaming creatures flew over to me with a burning coal that it had taken from the altar with a pair of metal tongs.
7 It touched my lips with the hot coal and said, “This has touched your lips. Your sins are forgiven, and you are no longer guilty.”
8 After this, I heard the Lord ask, “Is there anyone I can send? Will someone speak for us?” “I'll go,” I answered. “Send me!”
Summary:
Isaiah saw God sitting on a throne, high and holy. Angels were flying around Him, singing, “Holy, holy, holy.” When Isaiah saw this, he felt unworthy. But then, a coal from the altar touched his lips, and God forgave him.
After that, God asked, “Who will go for us?” Isaiah said, “Here I am. Send me.” When God forgives us and fills us with His Spirit, we can do anything He asks — even if we were scared before.
Ellen White Notes:
Ellen White says Isaiah’s vision shows what happens when people see God's glory — they become humble and ready. God wants to clean our hearts so we can serve Him fully.
Reflection
How did Isaiah respond when he saw God’s holiness?
What does this story teach us about being used by God?
MONDAY - The Two Cherubim
Read the following:
Exodus 25:17-22
KJV
17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
CEV
17 Make the lid of the chest out of pure gold.
18-19 Then hammer out two winged creatures of pure gold and fasten them to the lid at the ends of the chest.
20 The creatures must face each other with their wings spread over the chest.
21 Inside it place the two flat stones with the Ten Commandments on them and put the gold lid on top of the chest.
22 I will meet you there between the two creatures and tell you what my people must do and what they must not do.
Hebrews 9:3-5
KJV
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
CEV
3 Behind the curtain was the most holy place.
4 The gold altar for burning incense was in this holy place. The gold-covered sacred chest was also there, and inside it were three things. First, there was a gold jar filled with manna. Then there was Aaron's walking stick that sprouted. Finally, there were the flat stones with the Ten Commandments written on them.
5 On top of the chest were the glorious creatures with wings opened out above the place of mercy. Now isn't the time to go into detail about these things.
Summary:
In the sanctuary, there were two golden angels (cherubim) on top of the Ark of the Covenant. This was called the mercy seat — where God's presence was said to dwell. The angels showed that God’s throne is surrounded by worship and glory.
These two cherubim remind us that heaven is full of worship. God is holy, but He also wants to live among His people and forgive their sins. His mercy and justice meet at His throne.
Ellen White Notes:
Ellen White says the sanctuary on earth was like a small copy of what’s in heaven. The mercy seat showed that God rules with love and fairness. Even though He is powerful, He wants to forgive and be close to His people.
Reflection
What do the two cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant represent?
What do we learn about God’s character from His throne in the sanctuary?
TUESDAY - Like Burning Coals of Fire
Read the following:
Ezekiel 1:1-14
KJV
1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
2 In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,
3 The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.
4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
7 And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
11 Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
CEV
1
1-3 I am Ezekiel — a priest and the son of Buzi. Five years after King Jehoiachin of Judah had been led away as a prisoner to Babylonia, I was living near the Chebar River among those who had been taken there with him. Then on the fifth day of the fourth month of the thirtieth year, the heavens suddenly opened. The Lord placed his hand upon me and showed me some visions.
4 I saw a windstorm blowing in from the north. Lightning flashed from a huge cloud and lit up the whole sky with a dazzling brightness. The fiery center of the cloud was as shiny as polished metal,
5 and in that center I saw what looked like four living creatures. They were somewhat like humans,
6 except that each one had four faces and four wings.
7 Their legs were straight, but their feet looked like the hoofs of calves and sparkled like bronze.
8 Under each of their wings, these creatures had a human hand.
9 The four creatures were standing back to back with the tips of their wings touching. They moved together in every direction, without turning their bodies.
10 Each creature had the face of a human in front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of a bull on the left, and the face of an eagle in back.
11 Two wings of each creature were spread out and touched the wings of the creatures on either side. The other two wings of each creature were folded against its body.
12 The four living creatures went wherever the Spirit led them, and they moved together without turning their bodies, because each creature faced straight ahead.
13 The creatures were glowing like hot coals, and I saw something like a flaming torch moving back and forth among them. Lightning flashed from the torch every time its flame blazed up.
14 The creatures themselves moved as quickly as sparks jumping from a fire.
Daniel 7:9-10
KJV
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
CEV
Daniel wrote:
9 Thrones were set up while I was watching, and the Eternal God took his place. His clothing and his hair were white as snow. His throne was a blazing fire with fiery wheels,
10 and flames were dashing out from all around him. Countless thousands were standing there to serve him. The time of judgment began, and the books were opened.
Summary:
Ezekiel saw a wild and beautiful vision: wheels within wheels, flashing lightning, and four living creatures with wings and glowing faces. Fire burned among them like coals. This vision showed that God’s glory is beyond human understanding.
The fire represented God’s purity and power. Even though the vision seemed scary, it also showed that God was still with His people — even in exile. Ezekiel’s message would be hard, but God’s power would go with him.
Ellen White Notes:
Ellen White explains that God gives bold and strong messages when times are hard. Ezekiel’s vision was full of energy and light to show that God still ruled, even when everything seemed broken.
Reflection
Why did God show Ezekiel such a powerful, fiery vision?
What did the burning coals and wheels represent?
WEDNESDAY - God Among His People
Read the following:
Ezekiel 10:1-5
KJV
1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
4 Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory.
5 And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
CEV
1 I saw the dome that was above the four winged creatures, and on it was the sapphire throne.
2 The Lord said to the man in the linen robe, “Walk among the four wheels beside the creatures and pick up as many hot coals as you can carry. Then scatter them over the city of Jerusalem.” I watched him as he followed the Lord's instructions.
3 The winged creatures were standing south of the temple when the man walked among them. A cloud filled the inner courtyard,
4 and the brightness of the Lord's glory moved from above the creatures and stopped at the entrance of the temple. The entire temple was filled with his glory, and the courtyard was dazzling bright.
5 The sound of the creatures' wings was as loud as the voice of God All-Powerful and could even be heard in the outer courtyard.
Exodus 40:34-38
KJV
34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
CEV
34 Suddenly the sacred tent was covered by a thick cloud and filled with the glory of the Lord.
35 And so, Moses could not enter the tent.
36 Whenever the cloud moved from the tent, the people would break camp and follow;
37 then they would set up camp and stay there, until it moved again.
38 No matter where the people traveled, the Lord was with them. Each day his cloud was over the tent, and each night a fire could be seen in the cloud.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
KJV
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
CEV
16 All of you surely know you are God's temple and his Spirit lives in you.
17 Together you are God's holy temple, and God will destroy anyone who destroys his temple.
Summary:
Even though Israel had disobeyed many times, God showed Ezekiel a vision of His glory filling the temple. This was a sign that He still wanted to live among His people. God’s presence is not limited to a building — it goes wherever His people are.
In the Bible, God's glory is often described as bright light, fire, and a cloud. It shows that He is close, powerful, and holy. When God fills our hearts and homes, we become part of His temple.
Ellen White Notes:
Ellen White writes that God's greatest desire is to be with His people. He fills humble hearts with His Spirit and turns us into walking temples — places where His love and power are seen.
Reflection
What did it mean when God’s glory filled the temple in Ezekiel’s vision?
How can we become part of God’s living temple today?
THURSDAY - The Fall of Lucifer
Read the following:
Isaiah 14:12-14
KJV
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
CEV
12 You, the bright morning star, have fallen from the sky! You brought down other nations; now you are brought down.
13 You said to yourself, “I'll climb to heaven and place my throne above the highest stars. I'll sit there with the gods far away in the north.
14 I'll be above the clouds, just like God Most High.”
Ezekiel 28:12-17
KJV
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
CEV
12 Ezekiel, son of man, sing a funeral song for the king of Tyre and tell him I am saying: At one time, you were perfect, intelligent, and good-looking.
13 You lived in the garden of Eden and wore jewelry made of brightly colored gems and precious stones. They were all set in gold and were ready for you on the day you were born.
14 I appointed a winged creature to guard your home on my holy mountain, where you walked among gems that dazzled like fire.
15 You were truly good from the time of your birth, but later you started doing wicked things.
16 You traded with other nations and became more and more cruel and evil. So I forced you to leave my mountain, and the creature that had been your protector now chased you away from the jewels.
17 It was your good looks that made you arrogant, and you were so famous that you started acting like a fool. That's why I threw you to the ground and let other kings sneer at you.
Revelation 12:7-9
KJV
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
CEV
7 A war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels were fighting against the dragon and its angels.
8 But the dragon lost the battle. It and its angels were forced out of their places in heaven
9 and were thrown down to the earth. Yes, that old snake and his angels were thrown out of heaven! That snake, who fools everyone on earth, is known as the devil and Satan.
Summary:
Before sin entered earth, it started in heaven. Lucifer was a beautiful angel who lived near God’s throne. But he became proud and wanted to be like God. Because of this pride, he rebelled and was thrown out of heaven.
This story helps us understand why God’s prophets often saw angels, thrones, and worship in their visions. It also reminds us that even perfect places can be spoiled by selfishness — but God will win in the end.
Ellen White Notes:
Ellen White teaches that sin began with pride and selfish desire. Lucifer’s fall shows what happens when love is replaced with self. But God’s plan is to restore everything through Jesus.
Reflection
What caused Lucifer to fall from heaven?
How does this story help us understand what God’s prophets saw in visions?
FRIDAY - Further Thought
Read the following:
Amos 3:7
KJV
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
CEV
7 Whatever the Lord God plans to do, he tells his servants, the prophets.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
KJV
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
CEV
6 The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.
7 We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.
Revelation 1:12-18
KJV
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
CEV
12 When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands.
13 There with the lampstands was someone who seemed to be the Son of Man. He was wearing a robe that reached down to his feet, and a gold cloth was wrapped around his chest.
14 His head and his hair were white as wool or snow, and his eyes looked like flames of fire.
15 His feet were glowing like bronze being heated in a furnace, and his voice sounded like the roar of a waterfall.
16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword was coming from his mouth. His face was shining as bright as the sun at noon.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead person. But he put his right hand on me and said: Don't be afraid! I am the first, the last,
18 and the living one. I died, but now I am alive forever, and I have the keys to death and the world of the dead.
Summary:
God called Isaiah, Ezekiel, and others through amazing visions — not to entertain them, but to send them on missions. These prophets felt weak and unworthy, but they trusted God. Their stories show that even today, God wants to call people who will say, “Here I am! Send me!”
Whether or not we see visions, God still speaks through the Bible and the Holy Spirit. He is looking for people who will speak truth with love and be His voice in the world.
Ellen White Notes:
Ellen White says that God still gives dreams, impressions, and callings. He calls young and old, rich and poor. The only thing He needs is a willing heart.
Reflection
What do all the prophets we studied this week have in common?
How can you be ready to answer when God calls you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Why do you think God uses such strong and strange visions to call prophets?
How does seeing God’s glory change a person’s heart?
What would it look like to say “Here I am, send me” in your life today?
LESSON SUMMARY
Foundations for Prophecy
This week we saw how God calls prophets. They often saw amazing visions — full of light, angels, and thrones. These experiences changed their lives. Even when they felt weak, God forgave them and sent them. Today, God still wants to use people who are willing to say, “Send me.” When we trust Him, He gives us the strength to be His voice in the world.