Thessalonians 1&2 Lesson #11

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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
1 THESSALONIANS 4:17-18
LESSON #11
CONCLUDING DETAILS REGARDING THE RAPTURE AND YOURPREPARATION

v     MEMORY VERSE:  HEBREWS 10:25 

v     READ 1THE 4:17-18

Ø      “CAUGHT UP TOGETHER IN THE CLOUDS”

§         THE WORDS “CAUGHTUP” MEANS = TO GRASP HASTILY; SNATCH UP; LIFT UP; TRANSPORT; RAPTURE.

·        IT IS FROM THESE WORDS THAT WEGET THE NAME OF THE EVENT THAT WE CALL “THE RAPTURE”.

§         THE MECHANISM FOR THERAPTURE:

·        IT IS THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLYSPIRIT WITHIN THE BELIEVER THAT IS THE MECHANISM FOR THE RAPTURE. HOW DO WE KNOW THIS?

¨      READ ROM 8:9-11

Ø      WHAT THESE VERSES TELL US:

§         YOU CANNOT BELONG TO GODWITHOUT HAVING THE HOLY SPIRIT ALIVE IN YOU. (9)

§         YOU ARE ALIVE IN YOURSPIRIT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING IN YOU. (10)

§         THE HOLY SPIRIT RAISEDJESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD. (11)

§         THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU WILLRAISE YOU UP IN A NEW BODY IN THE SAME WAY THAT HE RAISED JESUS CHRIST. (11)

¨      REMEMBER WE STUDIED THE PARABLE OF THE 10VIRGINS IN MAT 25. WE LEARNED THAT THOSE WHO WERE READY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD HAD THEOIL THAT REPRESENTED THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

§         THE LOCATION OF THERAPTURE:

·        THE CHANGE FROM A MORTAL BODY TOAN IMMORTAL BODY OCCURS “IN THE CLOUDS” ON THE WAY TO HEAVEN.

¨      THE CHANGE OCCURS AT THE MEETING IN THE AIRWITH CHRIST.

Ø      THEREFORE, EVERYTHING MADE OF PHYSICAL MATTERWILL STAY ON EARTH. THAT INCLUDES FILLINGS IN YOUR TEETH, CLOTHES ON YOUR BODY, OR ASURGICAL PARTS ADDED TO YOUR BODY.

¨      THE CHANGE OCCURS FOR DEAD BELIEVERS FIRST.

Ø      THEIR SPIRIT AND SOUL THAT WENT TO HEAVEN THEMINUTE THEY DIED PHYSICALLY WILL BE UNITED WITH A NEW IMMORTAL BODY AT THE RAPTURE.

¨      THE CHANGE OCCURS FOR LIVING BELIEVERS NEXT.

Ø      OUR SPIRIT AND SOUL INSIDE OF OUR PHYSICALBODY WILL BE UNITED WITH A NEW IMMORTAL BODY. IN OTHER WORDS, OUR PHYSICAL BODY WILL BECHANGED TO A NEW IMMORTAL BODY.

§         NOTICE THAT CHRIST DOES NOTCOME TO EARTH IN THE RAPTURE. HE COMES “IN THE CLOUDS” TO RECEIVE ALLRESURRECTED NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS.

Ø      IF THE RAPTURE IS AN EVENT ONLY FORNEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS BOTH LIVING AND DEAD, THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERSLIKE ABRAHAM, DAVID, DANIEL, ETC.?

§         READ DAN 12:1-3

§         READ REV 20: 4-6

·        THESE VERSES TELL US THAT THEREIS A FINAL RESURRECTION FOR OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS AND OLD TESTAMENT NON-BELIEVERS.

·        THESE VERSES DO NOT SHOW US THETIME SEQUENCE.

¨      OFTEN IN BIBLE PROPHECY TWO DIFFERENT EVENTSTHAT OCCUR AT DIFFERENT TIMES WILL APPEAR IN THE SAME VERSE IN SCRIPTURE CAUSING MANY TOLINK THE TWO EVENTS TOGETHER IN TIME.

Ø      HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE, THE RESURRECTION OFOLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS OCCURS AT A DIFFERENT POINT IN TIME THAN THE RESURRECTION OF OLDTESTAMENT NON-BELIEVERS.

§         THE RESURRECTION OF OLDTESTAMENT NON-BELIEVERS OCCURS AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM AT THE FINAL GREAT WHITETHRONE JUDGMENT OF ALL NON-BELIEVERS FROM ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY.

·        THE TIMING OF THE RESURRECTION OFOLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS:

¨      BECAUSE GOD’S PROMISES TO ABRAHAM ANDDAVID INCLUDED BLESSINGS FOR A NATION AND A REIGNING KINGDOM ON EARTH, THESE OLD TESTAMENTSAINTS MUST BE PRESENT DURING THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST WHEN THOSE PROMISES AREFULFILLED.

Ø      THEREFORE, LOGICALLY SPEAKING, THERE MUST BEA RESURRECTION OF OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT OF THE SECONDCOMING OF CHRIST AND BEFORE THE MILLENNIUM.

v     WHY IS THE RAPTURE NECESSARY IN GOD’S PLAN?

Ø      THE REMOVAL OF CHRISTIANS FROM THIS EARTH INTHE RAPTURE IS NECESSARY FOR GOD TO PERMIT SIN TO REACH ITS ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT.

Ø      THE REMOVAL OF CHRISTIANS FROM THIS EARTH INTHE RAPTURE IS NECESSARY TO ALLOW THE ANTI-CHRIST TO ACHIEVE THE ULTIMATE LEVEL OF EVILAND SPIRITUAL DARKNESS ON EARTH.

§         GOD ACHIEVES PERMISSION FORTHIS ULTIMATE EVIL WHEN HE CASTS SATAN FROM HEAVEN TO THIS EARTH IN THE MIDDLE OF THETRIBULATION PERIOD..

Ø      THE REMOVAL OF CHRISTIANS FROM THIS EARTH INTHE RAPTURE IS NECESSARY FOR GOD TO POUR OUT HIS WRATH OF JUDGMENT ON ALL EVIL IN THEWORLD.

§         GOD’S WRATH ON THISFALLEN WORLD.

§         GOD’S WRATH ON THEANTI-CHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET.

§         GOD’S WRATH ON THEUNGODLY PEOPLES THAT REJECT CHRIST.

§         GOD’S WRATH ON SIN ANDEVIL.

§         GOD’S WRATH ON SATAN.

v     THE CHALLENGING QUESTION TO CONCLUDE OUR STUDY OFTHE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH:

Ø      HOW DO WE GET READY FOR THE RAPTURE THATCOULD OCCUR AT ANY MINUTE?

§         DISCUSSION:  HOW DO YOU THINK A PERSON SHOULD GET READY?

§         THERE ARE MANY SCRIPTURESTHAT TELL US TO “WATCH”. (1THE 5:6)

·        IF THERE ARE NO SIGNS LEADING UPTO THE RAPTURE, WHAT SHOULD WE WATCH FOR?

¨      WE MUST WATCH FOR “HIM”.

§         COL 3:1-4

·        SEEK HEAVENLY THINGS AND LOVEHEAVENLY THINGS.

§         ROM 10:9-10

·        BE SURE YOU ARE SAVED AND POSSESSTHE HOLY SPIRIT.

§         HEB 10:24-25

·        THE CLOSER WE GET TO THETRIBULATION PERIOD AND THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING, THE MORE IMPORTANT IT WILLBE TO STAY IN FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS. WHY?

¨      THERE WILL BE A GREAT APOSTASY (A FALLINGAWAY FROM CHRIST) AMONG BELIEVERS IN THE LAST DAYS WITH GREAT SPIRITUAL DECEPTION. THEONLY WAY TO MAKE SURE YOU REMAIN ON TRACK IS TO REMAIN IN FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS.

§         1COR 11:26

·        CONTINUE TO TAKE COMMUNION WITHOTHER BELIEVERS AND REPENTING OF YOUR SINS.

§         REV 21:7

·        CONTINUE TO TRUST IN CHRIST TOHELP YOU BECOME AN “OVERCOMER”.

§         MAT 25:13-30

·        USE YOUR TALENTS, GIFTS, ANDABILITIES FOR HIS KINGDOM.

§         1THE 3:12-13

·        GROW IN LOVE FOR OTHERS, ANDMATURE IN HOLINESS.

§         1COR 4:5

·        AVOID JUDGING OTHERS.

§         2TIM 4:1-2

·        PREACH AND TEACH THE WORD OF GOD.

§         JUDE 21-22

·        STAY IN FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST.

§         1THE 4:16-18

·        COMFORT FELLOW BELIEVERS WITHETERNAL HOPE.

§         1JOH 3:2-3

·        PRACTICE LIVING A PURE LIFE.

§         2THE 2:3

·        BE CAREFUL THAT YOU ARE NOTSPIRITUALLY DECEIVED.

§         JAM 5:8

·        BE PATIENT AND ESTABLISH YOURHEART IN CHRIST.

v     APPLICATION:

Ø      THE COMFORT OF THE RAPTURE:

§         NOTICE THAT 1THE 4:18 SAYSTHAT WE SHOULD COMFORT EACH OTHER WITH THE DOCTRINE OF THE RAPTURE.

·        KNOWING THAT CHRIST COULD COME ATANY MINUTE SHOULD ENCOURAGE US TO KEEP WORKING FOR HIM.

·        KNOWING THAT CHRIST COULD COME ATANY MINUTE SHOULD ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE TO MATURE FOR HIM.

·        KNOWING THAT CHRIST COULD COME ATANY MINUTE SHOULD ENCOURAGE US NOT TO GIVE UP, NO MATTER WHAT TRIALS OR PERSECUTIONS WE GOTHROUGH.

·        KNOWING THAT CHRIST COULD COME ATANY MINUTE SHOULD ENCOURAGE US TO BE PREPARED FOR HIS COMING.

Ø      FINAL QUESTION AND ANSWER DISCUSSION PERIODREGARDING THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.

HOMEWORK
1 THESSALONIANS 5

THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

v     APPLICATIONOF 1THE 4:17-18

Ø      REVIEW THE LIST OF THINGS THAT A PERSON MUSTDO TO BE READY FOR THE RAPTURE. WHICH ITEMS ON THE LIST NEED  THE GREATEST ATTENTION IN YOUR LIFE TODAY?

Ø      WHATWILL YOU DO THIS WEEK TO BETTER PREPARE YOURSELF FOR CHRIST’S COMING?

v     PREPARATIONFOR 1THE 5

Ø      READ1THE 5:1-28

§         WHAT DO YOU THINK THEPHRASE “DAY OF THE LORD” REFERS TO IN VERSE 2 THAT PAUL SAYS IT IS NOT NECESSARYTHAT HE SHOULD WRITE ABOUT IT?

§         MAKE A LIST OF PAUL’SFINAL COMMANDS IN THIS CHAPTER (VERSES 11-28) TO THE WATCHFUL CHRISTIAN.

v     MEMORY VERSE:  1 THESSALONIANS 5:9