Sunday Bible School
August 3, 2025
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIX
August 3, 2025
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIX
Summary of the president’s message
The Sunday Bible School on August 3rd, 2025, was held live, directly from the Maranatha Christian Church Communications Center in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, with the participation of Pastors Alexandre Gueiros, Gilson Sousa, and Josias Junior
Message from pastor Gilson Sousa:
We greet all brothers and sisters with the peace of the Lord
Jesus! We are starting Sunday Bible School. The subject to be presented is the book of Revelation: the message of the Holy Spirit resonates within the Faithful Church, in relation to the prophetic markers that are being fulfilled in our days, in preparation for the rapture of the Church.
Pastor Gilson Sousa presented the answers given by various brethren to the questions asked, as well as various experiences and testimonies.
Question
Answered through video contribution
Reading Revelation, chapter 3, verse 17, identify the prophetic meaning of the following expressions:
a) “...I am rich...”
b) “...have become wealthy...”
c) “...have need of nothing...”
Answer:
a) “...I am rich...” – a church that claims to be rich in earthly goods, culture, philosophy, and theology.
b) “...have become wealthy...” –a church that claims to be full of resources that enrich it with secular power, good preachers, famous men, and biblical culture.
c) “...have need of nothing...” – a church that does not feel the need for revelation because it is self-sufficient
“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked -.” Revelation 3:17.
Question
Answered through video contribution
Reading Revelation, chapter 3,
Pr. Gilson Sousa conducting the Sunday Bible School
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIX
verse 17, identify the prophetic meaning of each of the characteristics of the church of Laodicea. Explain the prophetic meaning for the church today.
a) “...wretched...”
b) “...miserable...”
c) “...poor...”
d) “...blind...”
e) “...naked.”
Answer:
a) “..wretched...” – a church that has lost the grace that was in Philadelphia.
b) “...miserable...” – a church whose doctrine is based on a rational and literal interpretation of the Word.
c) “...poor...” – a church that has become poor because it no longer has the richness of the revealed Word, but only the Word in writing.
d) “...blind...” – a church that no
longer has prophecy, because it no longer has revelation from the Holy Spirit.
e) “...naked.” – a church without the garments of salvation and, therefore, without testimony to evangelize.
“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked -.” Revelation 3:17.
Message from Pastor Alexandre Gueiros:
The Bible School is an expression of the unity of the body of Christ. We are one body. We have one doctrine: the doctrine of the apostles. We thank God for the opportunity we have to belong to this body that is listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the church.
Pr. Alexandre Gueiros conducting the Sunday Bible School
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIX
We would like to add a few observations regarding the responses about Philadelphia (the church we identify with and belong to at this time) and Laodicea (the church that has emerged in recent times with a religious mentality).
If a church says, “I am rich, and have need of nothing” it is because it has no need for the revelation of the Holy Spirit, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, or the power of the blood of Jesus. Thus, it is identifying itself as Laodicea.
Everything written in the letters is intended to inspire in us the desire to live like Philadelphia. There is a need for the Holy Spirit to be working in our lives, with fear, so that we are not in the position of Laodicea.
Philadelphia means brotherly love (“phílos” - love and “adelphós” - brother). At the time when the Lord begins to
work in Philadelphia (a time that will last until the rapture), there is a preparation of the body of Christ for the rapture. The Lord will not come to rapture believers who isolate themselves (“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire...” Proverbs 18:1). The Lord is gathering and uniting the servants of God into one body, as referenced in the Gospel of John.
“Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.” John 11:51-52 (added emphasis)
How are we united in one body? When we listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. The Lord Jesus said:
“[...] and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and
one shepherd” John 10:16b
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever Ge hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-14
Click here or scan the QR Code below to watch the entire sunday bible school session.
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIX
In this last hour, above all, we have this emphasis: the need to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying. In Philadelphia, the Lord works through the spirit of knowledge or revelation. This is fundamental for the moment we are living in.
To unite us in one body, the Holy Spirit pours brotherly love (Philadelphia) into our hearts as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. How do we identify this love? Are you in doubt? It must be said that this love is clearly manifested in caring for our brethren. This care is expressed when we pray for them, when we suffer with them, when we bear one another's burdens, when we rejoice when they rejoice, regardless of sympathy for them. We must remember that God's love is far superior to sympathy.
This operation of brotherly love is revealed in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to unite those, who are scattered, into one body. When we lose this, we begin to suffer a process of spiritual death.
There is an important aspect: while the Holy Spirit, in Philadelphia, is preparing a body, uniting a people in this bond of perfection (which is love), in Laodicea a false imitation of the body of Christ arises, expressed by ecumenism.
In the parable of the dragnet, Jesus shows the net that is cast into the sea and catches both good and bad fish. But what does the Lord do? He throws the good fish into the basket (the Church, the body of Christ) and the bad fish are thrown
back into the sea (the world). While ecumenism preaches the union of all, the Lord shows the need for separation of the good fish and the bad fish, as seen in the parable. There is an operation of the Spirit of fear of the Lord at this time.
Many people want the blessing, but they don't want the commitment. They want Jesus for this life. But the Lord says to them:
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” I Corinthians 15:19.
These are the ones who want Jesus only for this life. What does the Lord say to them?
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you from my mouth” Revelation 3:15-16 (added emphasis)
It is the body that will reject it. Therefore, the necessary question for each of us must be: “Am I connected to the body of Christ?” Each of us must examine and look ar ourselves.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20 (added emphasis)
The Lord is at the door, and He is knocking.
The letter to Laodicea points to a church focused on worldly possessions: “I am rich.” It is within this prophetic period of Laodicea that the theology of prosperity will emerge. It says, “I lack nothing.”
In the letter, the Lord Jesus describes this church as wretched. Why? Because if we believe in Jesus Christ only for this life, we are the most wretched of all men. However, the wealth of the church is baptism with the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and the revealed Word.
Poor and wretched are not synonyms. The poor are those who have only for themselves. They manage to survive. The wretched person does not even have enough for himself. He lives on handouts, on the street. This is the difference between the two types of “believers.” The “poor believer” has something: he may even have an answered prayer, an experience, but he is poor. But the “wretched believer,” despite being labeled a Christian, has nothing for himself. [Pastor Marcelo Ferreira].
In Smyrna, believers lost everything. But the Lord says, “You are rich.”
“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” Revelation 2:9 (added emphasis)
This is the wealth that interests us. We do not want to be financially poor. However, what we need most is spiritual wealth, the work of the Holy Spirit, the power to live a life of sanctification, and a prophetic understanding of the Word of God.
May the Lord bless us
Pr. Alexandre Rubem Milito Gueiros President of the Maranata Christian Church
Sunday Bible School
August 3, 2025
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIX