Kledang Community Chapel 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) Sun. 20 MayLord’s Supper Ministry The Year of the Dragon T HE S ECOND C OMING OF C HRIST IN T HESSALONIANS

Introduction: Choice Gleanings for 31st August, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3 Hanging on the bedroom wall of an elderly woman in West Yorkshire, England are two tapestries made when she was a child. Each tapestry contains but two words. One says, “Perhaps today.” The other says, “Perhaps tomorrow.” As she rises in the morning she is reminded that this could be the day when our Lord will return. As she goes to bed at night she is reminded that He may come on the morrow. Do we live, night and day, in the light of this? Our Lord is coming again, perhaps sooner than we think! —John M. Clegg What is your understanding of our Lord is coming again?

A STATEMENT OF FAITH IN OUR SCRIPTURES. WE BELIEVE IN… A. THE INSPIRATION OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPTURES. W hat Is Inspiration? D efinition: Biblical inspiration may be defined as God's superintending of the human authors so that, using their own individual personalities (and even their writing styles), they composed and recorded without error His revelation to man in the words of the original autographs. Inspiration means that "the Holy Spirit of God superintended the human writers in the production of Scripture so that what they wrote was precisely what God wanted written."

A. THE INSPIRATION OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPTURES. 1.In the Old Testament – God’s Words in the mouth of the prophets. 2 Sam. 23:2, 3; Isa. 59:21; Jer. 1:9 2.In the New Testament – All Scripture is God-breathed. II Tim. 3:16, NIV II Pet. 1:20, 21 cf. I Tim. 5:18; II Pet. 3:15,16

WE BELIEVE IN… A. THE INSPIRATION OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPTURES B. THE INERRANCY OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPTURES 1. Definition: When applied to sacred writings, inerrancy is the belief that the words are God’s true revelations to mankind. An inerrant text is considered infallible, truthful, reliable, totally free of error and absolutely authoritative. Inerrancy is not restricted to moral and religious truth. It is normally applied to all statements of fact in the Bible: “scientific, historical, or geographical.”

a.Mt. 5:18 – For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. b.Mt. 24:35-37 – Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

WE BELIEVE IN… A. THE INSPIRATION OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPTURES B. THE INERRANCY OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPTURES 1.Definition. 2.Declarations: a.Claimed in the O.T. – Psa. 12:6; 119: 89; Pro. 30:5, 6 b.Confirmed in the N. T. – Lk. 18:31; 24:25-27, 44, 45 c.Cautioned against Corruption in Revelation – Rev. 22:18-19, 20

WE BELIEVE IN… A. THE INSPIRATION OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPTURES B. THE INERRANCY OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPTURES C. THE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURES NOT TO BE OF PRIVATE INTERPRETATION. 1.Consider the text in its Context. a.Exegete the text and not Eisegete. Jn. 6:53, 54 cf. 6:35 b.Literally, grammatically and historically; and figuratively when context demands it. 2.Be Consistent for prophetic and non-prophetic passages. Is the lion in Isa. 11: 6, 7; 35:1-9, 10 literal or figurative? Is the lion in I Pet. 5:8; Rev. 5:5; 13:2 literal or figurative? Is 1260 in Rev. 11:2, 3 literal or figurative?

The 1260 days Rev. 11:3 (12:6, 14) cf.11: 2; (13:5) And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth… Cf. …and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

C. T HE I NTERPRETATION OF S CRIPTURES 1. Consider the text in its Context. 2. Be Consistent. 3.Christ is the Central Figure in all Scriptures. Luke 24:26, 27, 44; John 5:39 a.There are Picture-types of Christ in the O.T. Num. 21:8, 9 cp. Jn. 3:14; cf. Tabernacle, 1:14 [www. beritabethelung.com] b. Messianic Prophecies point to Christ – i.His first coming – a literal fulfilment. Isa. 7:14 cf. Mt. 1:21-23 ii.His second coming – Zech. 14:1-4 literal?

WE BELIEVE IN… A. THE INSPIRATION OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPTURES B. THE INERRANCY OF THE ORIGINAL SCRIPTURES C. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE SCRIPTURES D.T HE I NTERPRETATION OF P ROPHECIES TO BE S PECIALLY - TREATED. II P ET. 1:20, 21. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 1.The General Principles (as above).

R ECAPITULATION : D. T HE I NTERPRETATION OF P ROPHECIES. 1. T HE G ENERAL P RINCIPLES. 2.The Special Principles: a.The Ethnic Principle of Prophecy in Scripture.I Cor. 10:32 i.The One Race. Gen ii.The Jewish Race (Gentiles in background; Gen. 12 –Gospels iii.The Church (Gentiles & Jews in background) Acts 2- Rev. 3 iv.The Jewish Race (Gentiles in the background; Church in heaven) Rev (1-10) iv.The One Race.Rev. 20, 21 b.The Gap Principle.I Pet. 1:10, 11; Isa. 9:6, 7 The Mystery of the Church – concealed in O.T., revealed in N.T, Eph. 3:3-11; 5:32; Col. 1:25, 27

2. The Special Principles: a. The Ethnic Principle b. The Gap Principle. c.The Figurative Principle. Dan. 7:3-8 Compare scripture with scripture. Dan. ch. 8 d.The Literal Principle – 1000 years. Rev. 20:2-7

E. T HE P RINCIPAL S CHOOLS IN INTERPRETING P ROPHECY re: The Second Coming of Christ Based on the interpretation of the Millennium. Rev. 20:2-7 (6 occ.) 1.The A-millennial School. 2.The Post-Millennial School. 3.The Pre-millennial School. a. Post-tribulational Premillennialism b. Mid-tribulational Premillennialism c. Pre-tribulational Premillennialism I saw an angel…laid hold on…Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit…till the thousand years should be fulfilled…and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus…and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection …they …shall reign with Him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison…

1. The A-millennial Interpretation and Tenets

2. The Post-millennial Interpretation and Tenets

3. The Pre-millennial Interpretation and Tenets Compare Post-Tribulation Rapturism Pre-Tribulation Rapturism

T HE G OLDEN R ULE OF I NTERPRETATION : When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate text, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, clearly indicate otherwise. -- Dr. David. L. Cooper

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

F. 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. Psa. 16:10 cf. Acts 2:27-31

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 in Heaven. ii. On Earth: The Great Tribulation for Israel and Gentiles. b. The Return and Revelation of Christ. The Judgment of the Nations. Jn. 14:1-3; I Thes. 4:16, 17 II Cor. 5:8-10 Mt. 24:21, 29; Rev. 7:14 II Thes. 1:7 Mt. 25:31, 32

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 White 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 when Christ Returns.

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