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1 THESSALONIANS 4:16
LESSON #10
THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL AND THE LAST TRUMP OF GOD
v MEMORY VERSE: MATTHEW 25:13
v READ 1THE 4:16
Ø THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROMHEAVEN WITH A SHOUT (1THE 4:16)
§ THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCHIS SO IMPORTANT THAT THE LORD WILL NOT SEND ANGELS TO DO THE JOB. HE WILL COME HIMSELF TOTAKE THE CHURCH TO HEAVEN.
· THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITEDSTATES DOES NOT DO EVERY JOB HIMSELF. HE SENDS THOSE WHO WILL REPRESENT THE COUNTRY ANDTHE PRESIDENTS OFFICE. HE PERSONALLY ATTENDS ONLY TO THOSE JOBS THAT REQUIRE THEPERSONAL TOUCH OF THE PRESIDENT.
¨ THE SAME IS TRUE WITH GOD. THIS IS WHY WE CANSAY THAT THE RAPTURE IS ONE OF THOSE VERY IMPORTANT JOBS THAT CHRIST ALONE WILL COME TODO.
Ø WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL(1THE 4:16)
§ WHO IS THE ARCHANGEL? MICHAEL
· MICHAELS NAME MEANS =WHO IS AS GOD.
· MICHAEL IS THE ONLY ANGEL WHO HASTHE TITLE OF ARCHANGEL IN THE BIBLE (JUDE 9). HE IS ONE OF OTHER ARCHANGELS (DAN 10:13).THEREFORE, IT IS ASSUMED THAT GABRIEL IS ALSO AN ARCHANGEL, ALTHOUGH THE BIBLE DOES NOTCALL HIM AN ARCHANGEL.
¨ MICHAEL IS THE GUARDIAN ANGEL RELATED TO THENATION OF ISRAEL.
Ø BECAUSE MICHAEL, THE ANGEL FOR ISRAEL, ISINVOLVED IN THE RAPTURE, THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CHURCH, IT SEEMS TO BE AN ANNOUNCEMENTTHAT AT THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, GOD WILL AGAIN DEAL WITH THE JEWS.
§ IT IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OFTHE END OF THE CHURCH AGE AND THE BEGINNING OF A NEW PERIOD OF TIME.
Ø WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD (1THE 4:16)
§ READ 1COR 15:51-52 THE LAST TRUMP OF GOD
· THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH ISASSOCIATED WITH THE LAST TRUMP OF GOD.
¨ PERHAPS WE COULD UNDERSTAND THIS LAST TRUMPBETTER IF WE EXAMINE THE OTHER TRUMPETS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE.
§ BIBLICAL TRUMPETS:
· THE FIRST TRUMP OF GOD EXO19:3-6, 16, 19
¨ THIS WAS THE VOICE OF GOD THAT THE PEOPLEHEARD AT MT. SINAI. IT WAS NOT A MAN-MADE TRUMPET, BUT THE BIBLE REFERS TO GODSVOICE AS THE TRUMPET.
· THE TRUMPET OF JUBILEE LEV25:8-10
¨ THEY WERE TO BLEW THIS MAN-MADE TRUMPET TOINITIATE LIBERTY TO A PEOPLE IN BONDAGE EVERY 50 YEARS.
Ø THE 2 SILVER TRUMPETS NUM 10:1-10
§ THIS WAS THE COMMUNICATIONSYSTEM GOD INITIATED. GOD TOLD MOSES TO MAKE TWO SILVER TRUMPETS TO CALL THE PEOPLE TOASSEMBLY AND TO CALL THEM TO WAR. THIS IS NOT THE LAST TRUMP OF GOD.
· THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS NUM29:1
¨ A SPECIAL OCCASION ANNOUNCED BY THE SILVERTRUMPETS.
· THE TRUMPET OF RAMS HORN JOS 6:2-5
¨ A MAN-MADE TRUMPET USED IN BATTLE TO RALLYTROOPS.
· HEAVENLY TRUMPETS OF JUDGMENT REV 4:1 REV 8:2
¨ THESE ARE THE HEAVENLY VOICES OF 7 ANGELS,NOT THE VOICE OF GOD, THAT ANNOUNCE JUDGMENTS DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
Ø THERE ARE 7 TRUMPET JUDGMENTS.
§ THERE ARE SOME CHRISTIANSWHO BELIEVE THAT THE SEVENTH TRUMPET JUDGMENT IS THE LAST TRUMP OF GOD, AND THEREFORE,THEY PLACE THE RAPTURE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD AFTER THESE SPECIFICJUDGMENTS. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS INTERPRETATION IS THAT IT DOES NOT MATCH THECHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIRST TRUMP OF GOD. THE FIRST TRUMPET OF GOD ISGODS VOICE. THESE TRUMPETS OF JUDGMENT ARE THE VOICES OF ANGELS.
· THE RALLYING TRUMPET FOR ISRAELAND ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST AT CHRISTS SECOND COMING MAT 24:31 ISA 27:13 ZEC9:14
¨ THIS TRUMPET IS THE VOICE OF ANGELS.
¨ THIS IS NOT THE LAST TRUMP OF GODAT THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH. INSTEAD IT IS GODS CALL OF ISRAEL TO THEIR MESSIAH,JESUS CHRIST, AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, AND GODS CALL TO PREVIOUSLYRAPTURED BELIEVERS TO PREPARE TO COME BACK WITH CHRIST AT THE EVENT OF THE SECONDCOMING.
· THE LAST TRUMP OF GOD AT THERAPTURE PSA 47
¨ PSA 47 IS THE PSALM OF THE SECOND COMING. ITINCLUDES THE LAST TRUMP OF GOD IN VERSE 5 WHERE THE CHURCH IS CAUGHT UP TOHEAVEN WITH CHRIST WHO GOES UP WITH A SHOUT.
Ø IT IS THE VOICE OF GOD CALLING BELIEVERS TOBE PHYSICALLY WITH CHRIST IN A NEW BODY.
§ THIS LAST TRUMP IS LIKE NOOTHER IN THE BIBLE, BUT IT IS SIMILAR TO THE FIRST TRUMP IN THAT BOTH ARE THE VOICE OFGOD.
Ø THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISEFIRST (1THE 4:16)
§ IN 1THE 4:15 WE WERE TOLDTHAT THE LIVING BELIEVERS WHO GO UP TO HEAVEN IN THE RAPTURE SHALL NOT PREVENT THEMWHICH ARE ASLEEP.
· THE WORD PREVENT HEREMEANS = TO GO BEFORE.
· REMEMBER THAT THE WORDSLEEP MEANS = PHYSICAL DEATH.
· IN OTHER WORDS, BOTH 1THE 4:15AND 16 TELLS US THAT THE DEAD BELIEVERS GO IN THE RAPTURE FIRST. WHY?
¨ SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING LONGER.
§ THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALLRISE FIRST.
· THE WORD RISE REFERSTO THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY.
¨ THEREFORE, IT IS AT THE RAPTURE THATBELIEVERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AGE RECEIVE THEIR NEW RESURRECTED BODY THAT WEDISCUSSED IN LESSON #08.
Ø THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY FOR ALL THECHURCH AGE BELIEVERS, WHETHER DEAD OR ALIVE AT THE TIME OF THE RAPTURE, OCCURS IN THETWINKLING OF AN EYE.
v READ MAT 25:1-13 THE PARABLE OF THE VIRGINS
Ø THE NEW TESTAMENT CALLS THE CHURCH, THE BRIDEOF CHRIST. THE OLD TESTAMENT CALLS ISRAEL, THE WIFE OF GOD. THEREFORE, THE JEWISH WEDDINGITSELF AND THE PARABLE OF THE VIRGINS ARE GOOD ILLUSTRATIONS OF GODS AGENDA FOR BOTHISRAEL AND THE CHURCH.
§ VIRGINS IN THE BIBLEREPRESENT BOTH ISRAEL AND THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE. (ISA 23:12 ISA 37:22 JER14:17 EPH 5:27)
Ø THE PARABLE OF THE VIRGINS WAS SPOKEN TO THEJEWS JUST LIKE MAT 24.
§ THIS PARABLE ILLUSTRATESTHE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST WHEN THE DOOR IS FINALLY SHUT AND NO ONEELSE CAN ENTER AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
· THE OIL IN THE PARABLE REPRESENTSTHE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE HEART OF THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER.
· A LAMP REPRESENTS ABELIEVERS LIFE TESTIMONY.
¨ THE VIRGINS COULD NOT SHARE THEIR OIL WITHTHOSE WHO HAD NO OIL, BECAUSE IT IS GOD WHO GIVES THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THEHEART OF MAN, AND NOT OTHER BELIEVERS.
Ø THEREFORE, A JEWISH WEDDING ILLUSTRATES STEPBY STEP THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH AGE, AND THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, WHILETHE PARABLE OF THE 10 VIRGINS ILLUSTRATES THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
§ DISCUSSION: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MESSAGE OF THE PARABLE OFTHE VIRGINS?
Ø THE JEWISH WEDDING:
§ THE GROOMS FATHERSELECTS THE BRIDE, JUST AS GOD CHOOSES THOSE WHO COME TO CHRIST.
§ IN THE BETROTHAL STAGE, ITIS THE GROOM WHO GOES TO THE BRIDES HOUSE AS A SUITOR, JUST AS CHRIST CAME TO EARTHIN HIS FIRST COMING.
§ AT THE BRIDES HOUSE,THE GROOM PROPOSES MARRIAGE, PAYS A DOWRY, SIGNS A COVENANT, AND SEALS THE AGREEMENT WITHA CUP OF WINE. AT THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST, JESUS GAVE US THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A DOWRY,SIGNED A NEW COVENANT WITH HIS BLOOD, AND SEALED IT AT THE LAST SUPPER WITH A CUP OF WINE.
§ THE BRIDE IS SET APART ASINELIGIBLE TO OTHER MEN. SHE SPENDS HER TIME PREPARING FOR HER MARRIAGE. THE BELIEVER, ASTHE BRIDE OF CHRIST, IS SET APART UNTO GOD AND IS TO PREPARE HERSELF IN SANCTIFICATIONWAITING FOR THE GROOMS RETURN.
§ MEANWHILE, THE GROOMRETURNS TO HIS FATHERS HOUSE TO PREPARE A LIVING SPACE IN HIS FATHERS HOUSEFOR HIS NEW BRIDE. IN THE SAME WAY, CHRIST HAS RETURNED TO HEAVEN DURING THIS AGE OF THECHURCH. BEFORE HE LEFT, JESUS SAID IN JOHN 14:2 THAT HE WOULD GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FORUS.
§ WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, THEGROOM RETURNS TO THE BRIDES HOUSE WITHOUT WARNING. HE GATHERS HIS FRIENDS ON THEWAY. AS HE APPROACHES THE BRIDES HOUSE, HE GIVES A SHOUT. IN THE SAME WAY, CHRISTWILL RETURN IN THE RAPTURE FOR HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH,WITH A SHOUT.
§ THE PRESENTATION STAGEBEGINS: THE BRIDE IS VEILED AND TAKEN FROM HER HOUSE WITH ALL THE THINGS SHE PREPARED FORHER MARRIAGE. IN THE SAME WAY, AT THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, THE BELIEVER RECEIVES A NEWBODY AND IS TAKEN FROM THIS EARTH WITH ALL THE NEW CHARACTER QUALITIES DEVELOPED SINCEBECOMING A CHRISTIAN.
§ THE BRIDE AND GROOM Return TO THE HOUSE OF THE GROOMS FATHER WITH THE ESCORTS. THE MARRIAGE IS ANNOUNCED,PERFORMED, AND CONSUMATED. LIKEWISE, THE BELIEVER IS TAKEN TO HEAVEN BY CHRIST ANDPRESENTED TO GOD.
§ THE CELEBRATION STAGEBEGINS: THERE IS A GREAT WEDDING FEAST THATLASTS 7 DAYS. AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, THERE IS THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMBTHAT LASTS 7 YEARS IN HEAVEN (DURING THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD ON EARTH).
§ AFTER THE 7 DAY FEAST, THEBRIDE AND GROOM BEGIN THEIR LIFE TOGETHER. AFTER THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB, CHRISTRETURNS TO EARTH AT THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING ALONG WITH HIS BRIDE TOESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH.
v APPLICATION:
Ø FROM THE PARABLE OF THE VIRGINS AND THEJEWISH WEDDING, WE SEE THAT THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH IS IMINENT AND COULD OCCUR AT ANYMINUTE. THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS AN IMPORTANT CHALLENGE TO BE READY FOR THE LORDSCOMING EVERY DAY.
HOMEWORK
1 THESSALONIANS 4:17
v APPLICATION OF 1THE 4:16
Ø ARE YOU READY FOR THE RAPTURE? WHY OR WHY NOT?
v PREPARATION FOR 1THE 4:17-18
Ø READ 1THE 4:17-18
§ READ THE FOLLOWINGSCRIPTURES AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:
· HOW SHOULD A PERSON GET READY FORTHE RAPTURE?
¨ 1THE 5:6
¨ COL 3:1-4
¨ ROM 10:9-10
¨ HEB 10:24-25
¨ 1COR 11:26
¨ REV 21:7
¨ MAT 25:13-30
¨ 1THE 3:12-13
¨ 1COR 4:5
¨ 2TIM 4:1-2
¨ JUDE 21-22
¨ 1THE 4:16-18
¨ 1JOH 3:2-3
¨ 2THE 2:3
¨ JAM 5:8
v MEMORY VERSE: HEBREWS 10:25
