“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
Revelation 14:12.
The theme for the 2007 Week of Prayer is The Three Angels’ Messages and the Other Angel.
“Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God found that these were the truths presented in Revelation 14. The messages of this chapter constitute a threefold warning which is to prepare the inhabitants of the earth for the Lord’s second coming. The announcement, ‘The hour of His judgment is come,’ points to the closing work of Christ’s ministration for the salvation of men. It heralds a truth which must be proclaimed until the Saviour’s intercession shall cease and He shall return to the earth to take His people to Himself. The work of judgment which began in 1844 must continue until the cases of all are decided, both of the living and the dead; hence it will extend to the close of human probation. That men may be prepared to stand in the judgment, the message commands them to ‘fear God, and give glory to Him,’ ‘and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.’ The result of an acceptance of these messages is given in the word: ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ In order to be prepared for the judgment, it is necessary that men should keep the law of God. That law will be the standard of character in the judgment.” –The Great Controversy, p. 436.
During the Week of Prayer, take time to reflect on a personal, family, and community level about the year that is soon to end. Let us establish new spiritual goals and lift up our hearts to the Lord in prayer. Let us humiliate our souls before Jesus for vows unfulfilled, goals not reached, defects still undefeated, and our overall neglects. Finally, let us find consolation for our spirits in the loving arms of our tender Saviour, who bestows on us one more opportunity to grow into His image, to enjoy His love, to know His truth, to overcome evil with His power, and to impart to others His good news of salvation.
Let us commit ourselves to advance together in God’s cause, to help one another grow and gain more souls for His eternal kingdom. In this way, we will accomplish Acts 1:14—“These all continued with one accord in prayer.” The Spirit of Prophecy emphasizes the same thought: “The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ. Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship.…
“These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 37.
From the beginning of the Week of Prayer, the church elder or other local leader should announce the special offering to be collected on the last Sabbath of the readings. This offering is devoted entirely to the advancement of the work on a worldwide level. Remember that “spiritual prosperity is closely bound up with Christian liberality. The followers of Christ should rejoice in the privilege of revealing in their lives the beneficence of their Redeemer. As they give to the Lord they have the assurance that their treasure is going before them to the heavenly courts.” –Ibid., pp. 344, 345.
It should also be announced that the last Sabbath of the Week of Prayer is a special day of fasting.
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” Ephesians 3:20, 21.
–The brothers and sisters
of the General Conference