Sunday Bible School
September 29, 2024
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part XIX
September 29, 2024
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part XIX
Summary of the presidents message
The Sunday School on September 29, 2024 was held live from the Communications Center of the Maranatha Christian Church in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, with the participation of pastors Gedelti Gueiros, Gilson Sousa and Josias Junior.
Message from pastor Gilson Souza:
We greet all the brethren with the peace of the Lord Jesus!
We are starting the Sunday Bible School. The topic to be dis-
cussed is the message of the Holy Spirit resonates among the Faithful Church, in relation to the prophetic markers that are being fulfilled in our days, in preparation for the Church’s rapture.
Pastor Gilson Sousa presented responses from various brethren to the questions posed, and several experiences and testimonies related to the Sunday Bible School.
Message from pastor Gedelti Gueiros:
I greet you all with the peace of the Lord. Let’s answer the questions posed.
Question
[Answered by video]
Reading Revelation chapter 2 verses 1 to 11, which refers to the Churches of Ephesus and Smyrna, what was the reason for the persecution that came upon the Apostolic Church, from the year 33 to the year 100 (Ephesus period), and from that period onward (Smyrna)? Against whom was this persecution in these two periods?
Answer:
• Reason for persecution in Ephesus: opposition to the Word.
• Reason for persecution in Smyrna: opposition to the Body (church).
• The persecution in the Ephesus period was against those who preached the doctrine.
• The persecution in Smyrna was against those who died for the doctrine.
Question
[Answered by video]
Reading Revelation chapter 2 verses 1 to 11, what was the behavior of the Faithful Church in the first two letters? Make
Pr. Gilson Sousa conducting the Sunday Bible School
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part XIX
the prophetic application for the Church of our days.
Answer:
Ephesus: Revelation 2:2-3work, patience and suffering - Church of sowing. Prophetic application: evangelization requires: work, patience and suffering.
Smyrna: Revelation 2:9 - tribulation, poverty and death. Prophetic application: dying with Christ was the certainty of resurrecting with Him.
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.” Revelation 2:2-3
“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)...” Revelation 2:9
Question
[Answered by video]
Considering the same text, what is the identification of the Trinity in the letters to the Churches of Ephesus and Smyrna?
Answer:
Ephesus: Revelation 2:1 - “...to the angel of the church...” - The Holy Spirit. “...These things says
He who...” - The Father “...walks in the midst of the seven lampstands...” - The Son.
Smyrna: Revelation 2:8 - “...to the angel of the church...” - The Holy Spirit. “...the First and the Last...” - The Father “...who was dead, and came to life...” - The Son.
Question
[Answered by video]
Pr. Gedelti Gueiros leading the summary of the Sunday Bible School
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part XIX
In the same text, what is the emphasis of the operation of the Holy Spirit in each of the letters (Ephesus and Smyrna), comparing with what is written in Isaiah, chapter 11, verse 2? Quote the texts.
Answer:
Ephesus: the Spirit of the Lord - Revelation 2:1 - “These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:”
Smyrna: the Spirit of WisdomRevelation 2:8 - “These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:”
Question
[Answered by video]
Still in this text, what is the prophetic meaning of each period? Quote the texts.
Answer:
Ephesus: Acceptable / pleasing
- Revelation 2:2 - “I know your works, your labor, your patience...”
Smyrna: Myrrh, suffering, perfume - Revelation 2:9 - “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)...”
Question
[Answered by video]
What are the Lord’s promises found in the first two letters? Identify the reason for each promise.
Answer:
Ephesus: Revelation 2:7 - “...To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life...”.
Reason: the church (good soil) that received the Word and bore fruit: 100, 60 and 30.
Smyrna: Revelation 2:10-11 - 10 - “I will give you the crown of life”. 11 - “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death”.
Reason: the reward to the one who was faithful unto death: the crown of life and for those who died with Christ, eternal life.
Question
[Answered by video]
What are the Lord’s Judg-
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The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part XIX
ments found in the first two letters? Make the prophetic application.
Answer:
Ephesus: remove your lampstand from its place, if they do not repent - Prophetic application: remove the revelation.
Smyrna: judgment of approval - “I will give you the crown of life”. Prophetic application: victory for the one who is faithful unto death.
“...or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Revelation 2:5b
“...I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10b
Question
[Answered by video]
Where is the operation of the Spirit of fear in the first two letters?
Answer:
Ephesus: “...I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
Smyrna: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer...”
The comments we want to make are quick. It is necessary to remember that the figures exposed in the letters, written by John, have a meaning. In the first letter, we see the meaning of the fruits and the way the church would walk over the centuries. The parable of the sower shows the struggle of the one who plants. The work consisted of sowing the seed, caring for it and having patience in waiting for the fruits. Patience manifests itself throughout the history of the church. Pa-
tience generates the hope of seeing the result of the fruits.
Jesus’ whole desire for the church is that it produces fruit. Why? Because He comes to harvest the fruits.
In the last letter (Laodicea) the correlated parable is that of the net cast into the sea. What does He want? Good fish. The bad fish return to the sea. That’s why we need to situate ourselves at all moments of the church’s life to see what is happening to us. We have to wait for what is to come. The world wants everything immediately, but we don’t.
“[...] For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” II Timothy 1:12
In the first letter, the Lord refers to the lampstand, the light, the revelation. The necessary revelations had already been established in the primitive church. It was what would be the need of the church throughout the centuries. Jesus would be present throughout the history of the church. His presence would manifest itself in various ways, because He is alive
In the second parable, we see the struggles of the church. In the letter to Smyrna, what catches our attention is the word myrrh. It was suffering. It was the exhalation of the perfume of myrrh. In its struggle, the church produces the result which is the Holy Spirit, who works throughout its suffering. While the church suffered, the perfume exhaled, that is, there was a wonderful action of the Holy Spirit.
A few months ago, the Lord granted a vision where there
was a coin. This coin was turned. At certain times, signs come suddenly. A few years ago, the Lord gave a vision: “Change direction”. And the Lord showed that we were surrounding the mountain of Esau. And the Lord said: “Turn to the north”. The mountain of Esau was the end of Israel’s journey. Israel wanted to keep circling that mountain. It was a figure of tradition. We were facing another moment. It was necessary to cross the Jordan.
Now, the Lord tells us: “turn the coin sideways”. The Lord began to give us the understanding of the vision. What we are seeing in the churches is that the side of the coin has turned. It is the experience that each one is having with the Word.
The world has no fix. There’s no point in worrying about the world anymore. We are announcing that Jesus saves. We have to understand that the side of the coin has changed. It is no longer the face of people, the face of the coin owner. The importance is not in who is preaching, but in the content of the message. The value of the message is related to the announcement of the church of the last hour: “Jesus is coming back!”
There are no leaders in this Work. Don’t mirror yourself in preachers. Accept the Gospel as it is, in your personal communion with the Lord. Love your pastors, those who govern over you.
May the Lord bless us.
Pr. Gedelti
Gueiros
President of the Maranata Christian Church