RAPTURE (Part One)
Today’s Lesson
Prayer Point - Students should ask the Lord to prepare them for that great event when the saints shall be suddenly caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
Previous Knowledge - Students should mention what they benefited from the previous week's lesson.
1. Opening
A. BIBLE PASSAGE - I Thessalonians 4: 13-18
B. Memory Verse "Behold, I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed". I Corinthians 15:51
C. Lesson Introduction - The second coming of Christ prophesied by Daniel in Daniel7:13 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. May the Holy Spirit Himself guide us into all truth, in Jesus' name.
TEACHER’S DIARY
A. Lesson Aim - To study "how," "when" and "what" is rapture?
B. Teaching Objectives and Lesson Plan
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to discover what rapture is and the events which would surround it. To achieve these objectives, teacher explains what rapture is. Teacher also explains how and when rapture will take place. Teacher concludes by encouraging students to prepare for rapture.
C. Text Review -I Thessalonians 4: 13-18
Verse 16 stresses the fact that Jesus will come again and that it is certain that the dead in Him will rise. What is the hope of those that would be alive at His coming? Verse 17 says, "They will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air". What is the condition for this sudden "caught up". Verse 14 says it is faith in God. "If we believe that Jesus also died and rose again".
D. Teaching Method - Teacher should use question and answer teaching method.
E. Time Management - 15 minutes for Opening, 30 minutes for Lesson Outline, Summary, Conclusion and Assignment, 15 minutes for General Review.
i. LESSON OUTLINE 1 - WHAT IS RAPTURE?
i.) It is the sudden descent of the Lord from Heaven to receive to Himself His Church. ii.) It is the sudden "catching up" of the saints from the four wings of the earth to meet the Lord in the air. iii.) It is the translation or translocation of believers. iv.) It is described as a "thief in the night" and "in the twinkling of an eye." v.) Enoch and Elijah had the translocation experience.
NOTE - Teacher should fix the following scriptures appropriately. I Thess. 4: 1617; I Cor. 15:51-58; Gen. 5: 22-24; Heb. 11: 5, 2 Kings2:11 and I Cor. 15:52
ii. LESSON OUTLINE 2· WHEN IS THE RAPTURE?
i. The exact timing is not known.
ii. It shall, however, precede the Great Tribulation.
Teacher should fix the following scriptures: Matthew 24:42-44; Matt 25:13; I Thess. 5:6; I Thess. 1: 10, 5:9. 2 Thess. 2:12
Class Activity 1- Students should discuss those things they feel could prevent them from being raptured.
iii. LESSON OUTLINE 3· WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE RAPTURE?
i. The trumpet of God shall sound. I Cor. 15:52, I Thess. 4: 16
ii. The dead in Christ shall rise first. John 5:25, I Thess. 4: 16, I Cor.15:23
iii. The saints which are alive shall be caught up to meet with the Lord in the air. I Thess. 4:17, I Cor. 15:51
iv. The dead in Christ shall be transformed and shall put on immortal bodies and live forever. I Cor. 15: 52-54; Phil 3:20-21; CoI3:4; I John 3:2
v. There shall be extraordinary chaos on earth after rapture.2 Thess. 5: 23; Matt 24: 40-41
iv. LESSON OUTLINE 4 - HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?
i. It shall happen suddenly. I Cor. 15:52, I Thess. 5:3; Matt 24: 36-41.
ii. The power of God shall make the bodies of saints immortal. Phil 3:21
iii. Sudden vacancies produced by such disappearance shall lead to chaos.
Class Activity 2 - Class should discuss what they feel could be done to increase the number of people that will be raptured.
SUMMARY: Christ will surely come back for His saints.
CONCLUSION: Rapture is certain. Be prepared.
ASSIGNMENT: See assignment in the workbook.
RAPTURE (Part Two)
Today’s Lesson
Prayer Point - Class should pray for grace to inherit the heavenly mansion at last.
Previous Knowledge - Teacher should ask a student to review last week's lesson. Assistant teacher should mark the workbook.
1. Opening
A. BIBLE PASSAGE - I Corinthians 15: 50-53
B. Memory Verse - "In my father's house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where l am, there ye may be also." John 14: 2-3
C. Lesson Introduction - Our last lesson revealed the meaning of the word, rapture. We also discovered events surrounding the rapture as regards timing and other issues. Today's lesson will show us the reasons, the qualifications as well as fallacies surrounding the rapture. May the good Lord teach our hearts and bless our lives with His truth by His Spirit, in Jesus' name.
TEACHER'S DIARY
A. Lesson Aim - To study reasons and qualifications for rapture.
B. Teaching Objectives and Lesson Plan
i. At the end of the lesson, students should be able to enumerate reasons for rapture.
ii. They should also be able to mention the conditions for rapture and take appropriate action to satisfy the conditions.
iii. To achieve these objectives, teacher should enumerate reasons for rapture.
iv. Teacher should also mention condition for rapture.
v. Teacher should encourage students to be prepared for rapture.
C. Text Review - I Corinthians 15: 50-53
Verse 51 of today's text explains the mystery behind rapture. The momentary event will be heralded with the sound of the trumpet of God and both the dead and the living will be changed, starting with the dead.
Therefore, rapture has to do with changing of our mortal body to immortal, corruptible body to incorruptible and dead body to victorious body.
E. Teaching Method – Teacher should use lecture teaching method.
D. Time Management - 15 minutes for Opening, 30 minutes for Lesson Outline, Summary, Conclusion and Assignment, 15 minutes for General Review.
1.Lesson Outlines
2. LESSON OUTLINE 1 - WHY WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE?
i. To resurrect the just of all ages from among the dead.
ii. To take the saints out of the world before the tribulation.
iii. That He might present to Himself a church without spot or wrinkles.
iv. To transform or change the bodies of all faithful saints from mortality to immortality.
v. To assemble the saints at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. vi. To allow the revelation of the anti-Christ.
vii. To present saints to God the Father. viii. To make the saints whole in body, soul and spirit.
Teacher should fix the following scriptures. I Thess. 4: 13-17, Psalm 4: 1317; Psalm 50:1-6; Luke 21:34-36; 2 Thess. 7:8; I Thess. 1:10; Ephesians 5:27; John 14: 1-3; Phil. 3:20-21; I Cor. 15: 21-23; 42-44, 51-58. Rev. 19:1-10, 2 Thess. 2: 1-8, I Thess. 3: 13; Jude 24, I John 3: 2-3; Romans 8:22-23.
Class Activity 1 - Why do you think God decided to catch the saint up into the air suddenly?
ii. LESSON OUTLINE 2 - WHO WILL BE RAPTURED?
i. Those that are in Christ at His coming. John 1:12. 2Cor. 5:17
ii. Those who earnestly desire His appearance. Titus 2: 13; Phil 3:20.
iii. Those who love the Lord supremely. Phil 3:7-10; John 21: 15-17; John 14:15; Mark 16: 15-18; Luke 19: 12-13
iv. Those whose citizenship is in Heaven. Phil3: 20-21; Eph 2: 19
v. Those that will live holy even as He is holy. I Pet. 1: 16; Heb. 12: 14; I John 3:1-3
Class Activity 2- Mention those people that will not be raptured.
. SUMMARY: Be watchful so as not to miss the rapture because only those who are absolutely ready will be raptured.
CONCLUSION: Both teachers and students should do everything possible to be rapturable. These among others include: watchfulness, fellowshipping with brethren and the Holy Spirit and keeping the unity of faith. I Thess. 5:6, Heb 10:25; Ephesians 4:3.
ASSIGNMENT - See assignment in the workbook.
