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The Revealing

Of Babies and Dragons - An Apocalyptic Christmas

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Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Dwight Nelson served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University from 1983 to 2023. During his time at Pioneer he spoke on the “New Perceptions” telecast, taught at the theological seminary and has written books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.

Offering

Will it ever be forgotten that the face on the throne was the face of a baby? The baby is so that we will never forget that we are never forgotten.
Saturday, December 07, 2002

More In This Series

08/31/2002
Christ and the New Apocalypse
When you lose a loved one you never forget their face. The Apocalypse reveals Jesus' face and invites us never to forget it.
09/07/2002
Apocalypse Now
Americans are more than ever captivated by the apocalypse. But the apocalypse is not simply about the future, it reveals a Face. The closer we look, the more of it we see.
09/14/2002
Painted in Blood
Martyr. Victor. King. How can they all be the same face? How can they all bear the same mark? How is it that the scar bears our own imprint?
09/28/2002
The Face in the Clouds
He will return bearing the scar. How much of its formation resulted from physical trauma? Did we contribute to it? Do we still?
10/19/2002
A Smile Upon the Face of Death
The great emotion: Fear. The great unknown: Death. We fear what we don't know. He who holds the keys of death holds the solution to our fear.
10/26/2002
The Candlestick Face
Have any complaints about your church? Know of anyone in your church who's stopped attending because of them? In the Apocalypse, guess where Jesus shows up!
11/02/2002
The Other Face Upon the Throne
The great issue in the Great Controversy centers on worship. We're good at the where and the when of it. What about the larger issues of the who and the how of it?
11/09/2002
The Face of the Slaughtered Lamb
Lamb sacrifices: ancient, foreign, obsolete. But has the crimson cross that made them such become an ancient, foreign, obsolete relic to us?
11/16/2002
The Seven Faces of the Other God
When God left earth to take His throne, Another descended to be His presence with His people. The Holy Spirit. A view from the Apocalypse.
11/23/2002
An Apocalyptic Thanksgiving (Part1)
Feasting and family mark our Thanksgivings. As should gratitude, every day of the year, for a powerful reason.
11/30/2002
An Apocalyptic Thanksgiving (Part2)
Thank God for loss? Sound ridiculous? Except that new depths of God's grace and mercy often manifest themselves through pain, loss and failure.
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Offering for May 2, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

In 1987, Northwest Airlines Flight 225 tragically crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of 155 lives. Miraculously, a four-year-old girl named Cecelia was the sole survivor. Investigations revealed that during the plane's descent, Cecelia's mother, Paula Chican, unbuckled her own seatbelt, knelt in front of her daughter, and wrapped her arms and body around Cecelia to shield her from the impact. This selfless act of maternal love protected Cecelia, demonstrating the profound lengths to which a parent's love can go.

Oh my, the love of a mother, this is what God is telling us today, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15,
NIV). The local church should be a place where people feel that kind of love.

John 13:35 says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

As we celebrate Mother’s Day next week, let’s return our tithes and offerings with grateful hearts knowing that Christ’s love is even greater than the love of a mother. Let’s worship God today, and may we love Christ
deeply as we appreciate our mothers.

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Young Adult Mission Trip in Peru!

Maranatha Volunteers International invites young adults, ages 18-28, to join Catalyst, a service experience for their age group. Build a church for the Calapuja Adventist Church, operate medical clinics, and lead VBS programs. Learn more at Maranatha.org/volunteer or call 916-774-7700. 

ZOOM IN! Summer Camp 2026

 ZOOM IN! to God’s Amazing World at The Crayon Box Summer Camp, running June 1–August 20, 2026. Children entering Kindergarten through age 12 will enjoy a summer filled with nature, science, creativity, teamwork, and play as they explore how God’s hand is at work all around them. Each themed week encourages campers to notice the small wonders, big ideas, and amazing details of God’s creation. Located on the beautiful campus of Andrews University, The Crayon Box offers a safe, joyful, faith-centered place for children to spend their summer vacation with on-campus adventures, campus field trips, and visits from zoo and wildlife educators. Enrollment is open now at andrews.edu/services/crayonbox/summercamp. Space is limited. Forms are due May 18, 2026.