1. Kledang Community Chapel 18-20 May, 2012 Thematic Studies on Fri. 18 May8.00p.m. – 10.00p.m. I. Basic Rules in Interpreting Scripture & Prophecy Sat. 19 May5.00p.m. – 6.45p.m. II. The Rapture in I Thessalonians Sun. 20 May 5.00p.m. – 6.30p.m. III. The Rapture and Revelation in I Thes. 8.00p.m. – 9.30p.m. IV. The Revelation in II Thessalonians Text: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ…Tit. 2:13 (11-15) T HE S ECOND C OMING OF C HRIST IN T HESSALONIANS

2. A STATEMENT OF FAITH IN OUR SCRIPTURES WE BELIEVE IN… A.T HE I NSPIRATION OF THE ORIGINAL S CRIPTURES B.T HE I NERRANCY OF THE ORIGINAL S CRIPTURES C.T HE I NTERPRETATION OF THE S CRIPTURES D.T HE I NTERPRETATION OF P ROPHECIES TO BE S PECIALLY - TREATED, RECOGNISING OTHER IMPORTANT BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES. II P ET. 1:20, 21

3. E. T HE P ANORAMA OF P ROPHECY. 1. Christ’s First Coming a. His Birth. b. His Life. c. His Death and Burial. d. His Resurrection. The Prophecies were literally fulfilled: Isa. 7:14; 9:6 cf. Mt. 1:21-23 Isa. 61:1, 2 cf. Lk. 4:17-21 Psa. 22:1ff; Mt. 27:46; Cf. Jn. 18:32; 19:24, 28, 36. Isa. 53:9 cf. Mt. 27:57-60 Psa. 16:10 cf. Acts 2:27-31

4. 2. Christ’s Second Coming. The Prophecies must therefore be literally fulfilled. a. His Return and Rapture of the Church. i. In Heaven: The Judgment Seat of Christ for the Church. ii. On Earth: The Great Tribulation for Israel and Gentiles. b. Return and Revelation of Christ after the Great Tribulation. The Prophetical Illustration: c. The Judgment of the Nations. Jn. 14:1-3; I Thes. 4:16, 17 II Cor. 5:8-10; Rom. 14:10-12 Mt. 24:21f; Rev. 7:9, 14 Mt. 24:29-31; II Thes. 1:7-10; {Isa. 66:7-9; {Rev. 12:5 Mt. 25:31, 32

5. 2. Christ’s Second Coming. The Prophecies must therefore be literally fulfilled. c.The Millennial Reign of Peace on Earth. (Satan bound for 1000 years.) d.The Release of Satan and the Rebellion of sinners. e.The Burning of the Old earth and heaven. f.The Judgment at the Great While Throne. g.The New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem and ETERNITY! Rev. 20:1-6 Rev. 20:7-10 II Pet. 3:10, 11 Rev. 20:11-15 Rev. 21:1, 2ff All the above will be possible as Christ has Resurrected and when Christ Returns.

6. Our Blessed Hope Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Tit. 2:13, 14

7. Recapitulation: I. THE RAPTURE A. IN I THESSALONIANS.

8. Recapitulation: I. THE RAPTURE A. I N I T HESSALONIANS 1. I Thes. 1:9, 10 2. I Thes. 2:19-20 a. The Anticipation of the Thessalonian believers. 2:19b b. The Apostles’ hope: to see them in the Presence of the Lord.2:19a, 20 3. I Thes. 3:11-13 a. Paul’s Personal address.I Thes. 3:11 b. Paul’s Prayer – for an increase in their loveI Thes. 3:12 cf. 1:3; 4:9 c. The Projected end.I Thes. 3:13

9. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST IN THESSALONIANS THE RAPTURE AND REVELATION IN I THESSALONIANS By K. C Ung I. THE RAPTURE A. In I Thes. 4. I Thes. 4:13-18 – Key Passage of THE RAPTURE a. The Proofs of the coming Resurrection and Rapture. i. The Death and resurrection of Christ Himself. ii. The Declaration of the Lord Himself. I Thes. 4:13-15 4:14 4:15

10. 4. I Thes. 4:13-18 a. The Proofs of the coming Resurrection and Rapture. 4:13-15 b.The Participants –4:13, 14 i.The Spirits and Souls of them… 4:14; which sleep in Jesus.Cf. Acts 7:60 ii.Those Sleeping in Jesus – them which are asleep… in Jesus. 4:13, 14 Not “soul-sleep”ct. Lk. 16:22ff iii. The Saints still living when Jesus comes – alive and remain.4:15 “we”

11. 4. I Thes. 4:13-18 a. The Proofs. 4:13-15 b. The Participants. 4:13, 14 c.The Person/s coming – 4:16, 14 i.The Living Lord Himself cf. this same Jesus. 4:16; Acts 1:11; Jn. 14:3 ii.The Souls and Spirits who Sleep in Jesus will God bring to unite with their bodies and resurrected. 4:14

12. 4. I Thes. 4:13-18 d. The Process:4:16, 17 i. The Proclamation: Shout; voice; trump! ii. The Resurrection of the dead – Selective, I Thes. 4:16 iii. The Transformation – Supernatural. I Cor. 15:51, 52 iv. The Translation – glorious “Sight” caught up cf. Acts 8:39;I Thes. 4:17 v. The Blessed Reunion –I Thes. 4:17 And so shall we ever be with the Lord. The ever-comforting Solace.I Thes. 1:18

13. 5. I Thes. 5:23, 24 – God Himself…sanctify you through and through. I Thes. 5:23, NIV a.The God of Peace Guarantees the Sanctification of the Whole Person b. Paul’s Prayer for Preservation. I Thes. 5:23 The Whole Person, i. e. … i. The Spirit (Spiritual) – to Communicate with God. ii. The Soul (Emotional)– to be Conscious of self. iii. The Body (Physical) – to be reCognised.

14. SUMMARY NOTES:  When a person dies, his body returns to the dust from which it was made. Gen. 3:19; Eccl. 3:20  While the spirit and soul go to be with the Lord (if a believer). II Cor. 5:6, 8  Until they return with God from heaven to unite with the body in resurrection. I Thes. 4:14, 16  To be raptured together with the living saints to meet Christ in the air. 4:16b, 17

15. SUMMARY NOTES:  And be reunited with the Lord in the Father’s Home above forevermore. 4:17b cf. Jn. 14:3  On the other hand, an unbeliever, goes to Hades Lk. 16:22b, 23a [NB: The believer goes to Paradise (Lk. 23:43) to be present with the Lord (II Cor. 5:8)]  To await future judgment at the Great White Throne when he will be sent to Hell – cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:15

16. Conclusion: Watch and Pray and be ye Ready: Cf. Mk. 13:33-37 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his Work, and commanded the porter to Watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

17. T HE R EVELATION IN I T HES. I. THE RAPTURE; II. THE REVELATION A. IN I THES. 5:1-3 1. The Day of the Lord – a Reference to the Revelation. Ct. the Rapture - yourselves ct. they. I Thes. 5:1, 2-4 a.The Prophetic Period: the day of the Lord, Cf. Isa. 13:9-11; Joel 2:28-32; Zech. 14:1-16-21 Period of Judgment, Justice and Blessing. b. World Conditions : Calm but suddenly turn Chaotic and Calamitous. I Thes. 5:3a c.The Signs can be Seen, but the exact moment will be Sudden.I Thes. 5:3b

18. II. THE REVELATION A. IN I THES. 5:1-3 1. The Day of the Lord.I Thes. 5:1-4 2. Darkness and Light contrasted.I Thes. 5:4-12 a.We in Christ are not in darkness to be Caught unprepared. Ye/We/Us are in the light.5:4, 5 b.Us (ct. they) should not Sleep 5:6, 8 (7) ct. 4:13,14 We/us should watch for the “Signs”. [Note: No signs for Rapture but there are signs for the Revelation!Cf. Mt. 24:3ff] c.We/us are not Destined unto God’s wrath – We/us will be saved from that Day. 5:9, 10 NRSV d.It is for this cause ye/yourselves can Encourage and Edify one another. 5:11

19. Conclusion: The Day of the Lord Ct. The Day of Grace Tit. 2:11-15 (1)The Period of Grace.2:11 (2)The Purpose of Grace – teaching us…2:12 (3)The Prospect of Grace – looking for that blessed HOPE… 2:13a (4)The Person of Grace – the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.2:13b

20. Conclusion: Cf. The Day of Grace Tit. 2:11-15 (5)The Propitiation of Grace – redeem us from all iniquity.2:14a (6)The Purification by Grace of a People – zealous of good works.2:14b (7)The Preaching of such Grace with all authority.2:15a (8)Be Proud of this Grace – Let no man despise thee.2:15b

21. I Pet. 3:15, 16, NIV But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

22. The Second Coming in the Thessalonians – IV. The Revelation in II Thessalonians 8.00p.m. – 9.30p.m.