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Advent HOPE Sabbath School

Carissa Vitorovic

When Michael Stands Up

I remember the transition that occurred from 2020 to 2021.

We're like, yes, the new year, no more crazy COVID and all the restrictions of life.

And now, as we are better informed, we seem to enter into 2022 like gingerly stepping.

This morning, our topic is entitled, When Michael Stands Up.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico.

All right, a few to represent in back there.

It is an absolutely beautiful place and we were running an evangelistic seminar there, not just 1 actually, I think we had 6 or 7 that were running simultaneously with our AFCO graduates, our AFCO students.

And they were working so hard, preaching at a seminar every night, doing children's programs, doing health talks, and they were exhausted.

And we decided, well, let's take a day off.

1 of the elders at a local church said, hey, I have a boat, why don't I take you all out to an island?

And of course that sounded amazing, but 1 thing we failed to note.

In the weeks following, we checked to see where this island was located on the map.

And yes indeed, it was just, I believe, west of an island by the name of Gilligan.

As the boat was small, we took multiple trips to get over to this small island, and there our group of 32 were going to enjoy a few hours basking in the sun.

I was in the last boat ride that came over to the island, and I got off and was enjoying the beautiful clear waters and the warm sand and the sunshine, and I walked over to the other side of the island, which was quite small, and there I finally got into the water, and I'm just soaking up the beauty of the moment.

When I hear someone scream, you lift your head out from the water and you're trying to figure out what's going on.

And as I hear them continue to yell, I'm not sure if they're yelling that the boat is leaving or the boat is sinking.

Neither of those options sounded too great.

I quickly got out of the water and began to race over to the other side of the island, and sure enough, the latter was true.

The elder and 2 of our AFCO students were on the boat at the time, and there we watch from the shore as they are trying their best to swim to shore, trying to get off the boat as it is literally sinking.

And they did struggle for some time and ultimately were able to get help and were able to reach the island.

And here you are, stranded on an island with 32 people.

And what is the first thing that you think of?

All of my students got on and were snapping pictures and updating their status.

So while they're thinking of Facebook, I'm thinking of my boss, who I quickly try to reach.

By the way, just in case you see any updates on Facebook, everyone's fine, not a problem.

Yeah, I think most, just like 2 or 3 that can't.

And the winds had really struck up by this point, and the waves, of course.

And so the police boat didn't want to come too close to the island.

Some of our team went out and swam out, grabbed the rope, and now we're holding it on the shore so that 1 by 1, our team members can swim out the boat holding this rope as they swim through the waves to reach the safety.

And there I was, and you know, it's interesting to watch as people react to a crisis.

And there are some people that freeze, some people that run around like a headless chicken, you know, there's all these responses that occur.

And so I promise people, just go, we'll get your supplies there, just go.

And then of course I end up with all the supplies.

So I'm swimming, holding onto this rope with like hiking boots in 1 hand and someone's backpack with snorkel gear on my back, and we make it to shore and all, thankfully, do survive.

The next day, there were multiple newspapers that somehow heard of our story, And there we were as the headline.

Now as you know, headlines are not always the most reflective of accurate details.

And therefore at least 1 newspaper surmised 32 illegal immigrants capsized their boat trying to reach Puerto Rico.

Regardless of what the articles say, thankfully, we did ultimately reach the shore.

You know, sometimes our life feels a little bit like that boat tour.

We might think it's a three-hour tour and it turns into quite an unforgettable experience.

Maybe in the last year and maybe in the time to come, Maybe there's been times where you feel like you're on that boat, or maybe you're the 1 that can't swim and you're holding on the rope trying to get to that boat as the water piles over your head.

We know what it feels like to be in that boat.

Would you bow your heads with me as we pray?

Heavenly Father God, Lord today as we continue to open your word, as we continue to explore, as we continue to seek to understand it, God, we want to grow more and more like you.

Father, we want to see your face, to understand your character, to live in your grace, Lord.

Father, I pray again that only you may be lifted up and that you may be revealed.

We thank you and we pray for your Holy Spirit in Jesus' name, amen.

1 of my favorite passages in the Bible is found in Daniel chapter 12.

I love the the book of Daniel and the depth of the stories that are told and their prophetic implications as well as the prophecies and the repetitive pattern that we're going to explore today.

At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people.

And there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.

And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.

Verse 2, And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

Though we will not spend much time today exploring this character of Michael, I just want to briefly note that the Bible shares that Michael is in fact Jesus Christ and if you'd like to look at some of the supporting evidence for that you can look at Revelation chapter 12 or at Jude, there's only 1 chapter, so Jude verse 9, as it again shows that Michael, the archangel, is Jesus Christ, the great prince that is represented here.

Now this is not the first time that Daniel has an encounter with Michael.

In fact, as we read in Daniel chapter 9, there is this great prophetic scene that occurs.

And as Daniel learns about this 70-week prophecy and about this Messiah that is to be ushered in, what is his response as recorded in Daniel 10?

There he is, the Bible says, in mourning.

3 full weeks in mourning and he's fasting and he's crying out to God.

Now a lot of Daniel's fear is his concern, wait God are you saying that we're not going to be rescued for Babylon for the years to come?

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When Michael Stands Up

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