TOPIC: Rapture Described [RCCG Sunday School Manual 22nd July, 2018]
OPENING PRAYER: Father, make me fit to make heaven at last by all means. (Scroll down for RCCG Sunday School Manual 22nd July, 2018 Hymn)
BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual July 22, 2018)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
MEMORY VERSE: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,” – 1 Corinthians 15:51
Also Read: Open Heavens 22 July 2018 Sunday — You Need A Partner!
INTRODUCTION:
The second coming of Christ prophesied by Daniel in Daniel 7:13 is a sound biblical fact. This return shall be in two stages. The first,”being like a thief in the night” to receive unto Himself His Church. This is popularly called the rapture. The second stage is His return the Saints to reign on earth. Our focus in today’s lesson is the rapture.
TEXT REVIEW: 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18
i. One sure and lasting comfort awaits believers who keep their faith to the very end or who had kept their faith in Christ before they died.
ii. The book of 1 Thess. 4:18 directed the believers to comfort one another with these words. Which words you may ask?
a. Word that the Lord will descend from heaven to raise the dead in Christ first. Therefore, there is hope for the dead.
1Thess. 4:16
b. Word that we that are living too will be caught up with them in the air. 1Thess 4:17
Hear this, the greatest meeting of the saints is on the way. When all the dead saints will meet all the living saints.(who would have been changed to a form incorruptible). 1Cor. 15:53. The meeting would be chaired by Christ Himself with excellent orderliness. 1Thess. 4:14
c. The word that would end sorrow is near.
1Thess. 4:13. It is beyond dispute to say that the world is full of sorrows and pains.
That is why Christ would have to wipe away tears from eyes of the saints because
pain causing factors like death will be no more. There would also be no more crying. Hallelujah. Revelation 21:4.
d. The comfort that the Lord will be with the saints forever. Rev. 21:5 and I Thess. 4:18
LESSON OUTLINES
1. What and when is the rapture?
2. What will happen at rapture and how?
WHAT AND WHEN IS THE RAPTURE?
A. What Is Rapture?
i. It is the sudden catching up or disappearance of Holy and faithful saints from the earth to meet with our Lord and Saviour in the air. 1Thess. 4:17.
ii. It is translation or translocation of believers. 1Cor. 15:51-58
iii. Rapture shall be sudden as the twinkling of an eye. 1Cor. 15:52
B. When Is Rapture?
i. The time of rapture is not known by man.
Matt. 24:42, 44; Matt. 25:13; 1Thess. 5:6.
ii. Only God knows the secret time.
Matt. 24:36.
iii. However, the biblical clue indicates that it shall precede the tribulation.
1Thess. 1:10, 1Thess. 5:9, 2Thess. 2:12
C. Examples of Rapture
i. Enoch – Gen. 5:22-24, Hebrew 11:5
ii. Elijah – 11kings 2:11
CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Describe various kinds of confusion a moment after the rapture.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT RAPTURE AND HOW?
The following are to be expected at the rapture.
i. The trumpet of God shall sound.
1Cor. 15:52, 1Thess 4:16.
ii. The dead in Christ shall rise first.
John 5:25, 1Thess 4:16
iii. Saints which are alive shall be “caught up” to meet our Lord in the air. 1Thess. 4:17
1Cor 15:51
iv. The dead in Christ and saints who are left shall have glorified or immortal bodies and live forever. 1Cor. 15:51-54,
Phil. 3:20-21
v. There shall be extraordinary chaos on earth. 1Thess. 5:2-3, Matt. 24:40-41. The sudden “vacancies” produced by such disappearance shall give birth to the chaos.
CLASS ACTIVITY 2
Describe what you feel would happen in the Church, School, University and Hospital where activities are on-going and the leader has just been ruptured.
SUMMARY
Rapture is sure.
CONCLUSION
The greatest calamity that could befall anyone who claims to be a believer is to be on earth a second after rapture. The one who is coming back for His own “suddenly”, warned us to be prepared at least six times in different parables. Are you ready? Mark 13:32-37, 1 Thess. 5:6
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, do not let any of my family members go to hell.
ASSIGNMENT
Identify the consequences of rapture under the following condition on the one leading or performing the act had just been raptured.
Read previous RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual Here
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN – RCCG Sunday School Manual 22nd July, 2018
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
