Sunday Bible School
June 15, 2025
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIII
June 15, 2025
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIII
Summary of the president’s message
The Sunday Bible School on June 15th, 2025, was held live, directly from the Mahanaim in Domingos Martins, Espírito Santo, with the participation of pastors Gilson Sousa, Josias Junior and other pastors who took part in a live stream
Message from pastor Gilson Sousa:
We greet all our 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 in the midst of the Faithful Church, in relation tothe prophetic markers that are being fulfilled in our day, in the preparation of the Church for the rapture.Pastor Gilson Sousa presented the answers given by various brothers to the questions posed, as well as various experiences and testimonies.
Question
Answered through video contribution
Reading Revelation, chapter 3, verses 8 and 9, what is the dif-
ference between reason and revelation, considering the operation of the Spirit of Knowledge or Revelation?
Answer: Revelation: “I have set before you an open door”. Revelation is of the Work of Redemption. Reason: “who say they are Jews and are not, but lie.” Reason is from the Work of Creation.
“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Revelation 3:8
“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie –indeedI will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.”Revelation 3:9
Question
Answered through video contribution
Reading Revelation, chapter 3, verse 9, compared to Revelation, chapter 2, verse 9, how similar are the actions of the synagogue of Satan in Smyrna and Philadelphia?
Answer: The false doctrine of salvation by works as opposed
Pr. Gilson Sousa conducting the Sunday Bible School
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIII
to the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith.
“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie –indeedI will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” Revelation 3:9
“[...] the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”Revelation 2:9
Question
Answered through video contribution
Reading Revelation, chapter 3, verse 8b, what characterized the faith of the church in Philadelphia? How can apply this in our days
Answer: Faith in the Philadelphia period was characterized by dependence on the Lord and the working of the Holy Spirit. Even with little strength, the church kept the Word and confessed the name of Jesus.
“[...] for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have denied My name.” Revelation3:8b
Youtube Live
The approach of the book of Revelation is aimed at achieving what is prophetic and preparing the church for the rapture. The moment
we are living in is very well described in the book of Revelation:
“And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” and let him who hear say, “Come!” and let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation22:17.
The book of Revelation, as it
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIII
was written, presents what is prophetic. There are some expressions that we use, such as “prophetic markers”, which comprise didactic (instructive) language, in order to facilitate the teaching of the Word.
When we talk about the rapture of the church, we are talking about a moment that the church is living in these last days. We are therefore facing a prophetic moment that precedes the rapture.
So, when we look at the Word, we understand the time we are living in. There was a whole prophetic preparation for the first coming of the Lord Jesus. Today, we are living in a moment that characterizes the time of the last church. There is a people who are living in this
time. We are the last church, the church of the prophetic markers that show the time of the rapture. [Pastor Amadeu]
When we say that we are the church of the final days, we are referring to a time prophesied in the book of Revelation:
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the Whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
Revelation 3:10
This is the time when the Lord wants to preserve the church that keeps what is prophetic. We are thus entering a time that marks a special moment for the church. It is a time
when we discern prophecy and know that the day of the Lord is near. When the Lord Jesus made this promise to Philadelphia, he presented a
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The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIII
time when all things would happen very quickly, it wolld be ike labor pains, until the birth of the child. At this time,we know that the church will be raptured and will mark the end of this dispensation, so the church is keeping the Word. But the world is going to entergreattribulation. This is clear when we look at chapter 8 of Revelation and the sounding of the fourth trumpet. Because the faithful church will be raptured at the fourth trumpet.
However, after the fourth trumpet, there is a judgment for the other trumpets. There are three judgments corresponding to the three woes.
“And I looked, and I heard and angel flying through the midstof heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”” Revelation8:13
The first “woe” is for the faithful church that will remain. The other “woes” are for Israel and the world. Thus, the faithful church will not go through the great tribulation. [Pastor Gilson].
In the letter to Philadelphia, the Lord Jesus says:
“I know your works. See, I have set before you anopen, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Revelation3:8.
On the other hand, in chapter 4, the Lord says:
“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking to me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this”.” Revelation4:1.
The Lord made John ascend to heaven, through a vision, and in chapter seven, the moment when the Lord is presented on a throne is shown.
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, people, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands...” Revelation7:9.
There is a very important historical and prophetic fact. In heaven, John sees the saved from every nation and language. At a certain point in this vision, John is asked: Do you know who they are who are dressed in white? And the elder replies: They are those who have come from great tribulation (and not out of the great tribulation). John sees those who did not go through the great tribulation. And we see that the death of martyrs like Antipas was not in vain. Throughouthistory we see many who died and did not deny the faith. Finally, the church of the last days is going through the beginning of sorrows, as described in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. Those who have passed through and have not denied the faith await eternal glory. [Pastor Edson Iahn]
and Philadelphia, we are seeing a new moment in the history of
the church, a moment when the rapture is approaching. A door has been opened at this time. We are the faithful church,and we are moving towards the goal. Mary didn't recognize Jesus at the tomb. In the same way, the two disciples didn't recognize Jesus on the road to Emmaus. If they didn't recognize Jesus a few days after his death, how can man know this Jesus two thousand years later?It is only when Jesus reveals himself that it is possible to know Jesus. That's why this open door represents the operation of Jesus' revelation. The church sees Jesus revealed in its midst. [Pastor Júlio].
We are the generation that will experience the rapture of the faithful church. In Sardis and Philadelphia, preparations are beginning for this wonderful moment. But there is opposition to this project. One of the oppositions is relativism, when the truth is distorted, leading man down thepath of darkness. [Pastor Thiago].
The absolute truth comes from God. It comes through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said: I am the way, the truth and the life. So, the absolute truth can only be found in Jesus. When Jesus stood before Pilate, he asked: what is truth? Pilate was used to relative truth. But Jesus answered:
“[...] Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 8:37
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIII
He who is of the truth hears my Word. We are of the truth because we were begotten by the Word. We have the experience of what is true: spiritual gifts, the revealed Word, the baptism with the Holy Spirit. [Pastor Jerônimo].
I would like to conclude by saying that the four trumpets are prophetic markers of a time. Look at what science says about these moments. The fifth, sixth and seventh trumpet are judgments (woe, woe, woe), but the church will be preserved. The fifth trumpet is for the church that remains because it does not have the mark of God. This mark is the Word and the blood. [Pastor Amadeu].
“And they overcame him by theblood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Revelation12:11.
May the Lord bless us
Pr. Gedelti Gueiros President of the Maranata Christian Church
Sunday Bible School
June 15, 2025
The Preparation of the Church for the Rapture - Revelation - Part LIII