LORD'S DAY, 19 April 2020 PANDAN NEWS WEEKLY Vol. 17 (46) No. 16

201 Pandan Gardens

Singapore 609337

Tel: 6560 3885

Fax: 6566 3806

Email: enquiry@calvarypandan.sg

Website: http://calvarypandan.sg Pastor: Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew

“NOT TO BE MINISTERED UNTO BUT TO MINISTER”

CALVARY PANDAN BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

THEME: "Once Not God's People!"

(Rom 9:25-26)

A very warm welcome to visitors and friends in the name ofour Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

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My dear readers,

What if it were today?

1 Thessalonians 5:2 “For yourselves know

perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh

as a thief in the night.”

Does the thought of the Rapture frighten or

strengthen you? The term Rapture is a Latin

translation of the phrase “caught up” found in

1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are

alive and remain shall be caught up together

with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the

air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

[Emphasis added]

The event is the second coming of Christ FOR

the church and not the second coming of Christ

WITH the church. In the former the Lord Jesus

Christ will come from heaven and meet

believers in the air: those who have died in

Christ will be resurrected and those who are

alive in Christ will be raptured. Then Christ will

bring all whom He has redeemed with His

precious blood before God’s throne of grace

and mercies. Christ the Saviour will come to

fulfil the climax of His salvation in His disciples’

lives by giving all of them glorified bodies.

The latter refers to Christ descending from the

clouds of heaven with myriads of His holy

angels and saints to fight the Devil, the

Antichrist and the false prophet at the battle of

Armageddon and defeat them once and for all

(cf. Revelation 19).

The focus in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is the former

and not the latter.

One of the signs before the Rapture is the rise

in power of the Antichrist, the one world ruler.

Before he is identified, the Rapture will take

place first. With the system of the world already

in place now for him to rule and control the

world, the Rapture could happen at any time.

This truth is taught in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-7

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming

of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering

together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken

in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by

word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day

of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you

by any means: for that day shall not come,

except there come a falling away first, and that

man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all

that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that

he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing

himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not,

that, when I was yet with you, I told you these

things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth

that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the

mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he

who now letteth will let, until he be taken out

of the way.”

Verses 1-2 clearly teach the doctrines of the

Rapture and the First Resurrection (which is

for believers only, from Adam to the present);

verse 1 talks about “our gathering together with

him.” This was Christ’s teaching in 1

Thessalonians 4 and 5. Apparently false

teachers had crept into the church in

Thessalonica and frightened some believers

into thinking that the Rapture had already taken

place and they missed it and had been left

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behind! This lie was refuted here by the Apostle

Paul. He calmed them by teaching that certain

signs must be fulfilled first before the Rapture

can occur. There must first be a falling away,

i.e. to turn apostate. This is a definite reference

to Christianity that will turn apostate. It has

happened already as the ecumenical movement

has given birth to the World Council of Churches

in 1948. It has enveloped the world today. The

Christianity of the 21st century is Christian in

name but no longer Christian in heart and soul.

Roman Catholicism, Charismatism and Neo-

evangelicalism control the voice and image of

Christianity today. Their voices dominate

because of their numbers which is close to two

billion members combined!

Following next is the revelation of the identity

of the “man of sin”, i.e. the Antichrist. He

cannot be revealed yet until “he be taken away.”

The word “letteth” in verse 7 is the same as

the word “withholdeth” in verse 6. The

difference is that in verse 6 it is a neuter gender

and verse 7 it is a masculine gender. Verse 6

refers to some power holding back the revelation

of the identity of the man of sin. Verse 7

describes the One behind the power that

prevents the identity of the Antichrist from being

revealed. Since the context is the Rapture and

the first resurrection of believers who have died

in Christ, the power here is the power of the

Rapture and the First Resurrection. The One

who wields this power is none other than God

Himself and God the Son and God the Holy

Spirit. In other words the event of the Rapture

and First Resurrection of believers is holding

back the revelation of the identity of the

Antichrist!

There is another passage that might help us

understand this truth from the perspective of

the revelation of the Antichrist. The passage is

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 “But of the times and

the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I

write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly

that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in

the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and

safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon

them, as travail upon a woman with child; and

they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are

not in darkness, that that day should overtake

you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light,

and the children of the day: we are not of the

night, nor of darkness.”

Believers need not know the exact time of the

Rapture or first resurrection but they need to

be ever ready when it takes place. The “day of

the Lord” in verse 2 refers to the Rapture and

the first resurrection and it will come very

suddenly like a thief coming to burglarize at

night. Of course the comparison here refers to

the suddenness and imminence of Christ’s return

for the church. When the world says peace and

safety, then sudden destruction will come upon

them like the pain of a woman about to give

birth! The world today is in great turmoil and

confusion. The thing it cries for the most is

peace and safety! The sudden cry from the

world for peace and safety means that peace

and safety will be taken away first. Covid-19 is

a global pandemic pestilence that has taken the

world by storm and every nation is feeling the

wind of its deadly breath! The world is

frightened and completely helpless. The powers

of princes and kings and presidents and prime

ministers are useless against this pestilence. It

is no respecter of persons in its affliction! What

the next few weeks or months bring is known

only to the LORD God!

If it culminates with the world saying “peace

and safety”, then the beginning of the seven

years of Great Tribulation will begin! This means

that the identity of the Antichrist will be revealed

to bring this “peace and safety”. Therefore the

Rapture and the first resurrection would have

come and gone! The LORD says that children

of light must not be caught sleeping but be ever

ready for the Rapture! Being ready in holiness

is the only way! Draw nigh unto the Lord daily

during this time as the Lord has given us precious

time with our family and loved ones like never

before. What if it were today? Will you be

ready? Amen.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service

Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew, Pastor

PANDAN FACTS & FIGURES

Ring Pastor Quek 6650 8489; Mobile - 9671 9310 any time; Email - suanyew@gmail.com

10.30 am Lord's Day

Today: (L/S) Speaker : Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew

Message : “Has God Shown Himself to You?” - John 14:22-26

(Live Stream: http://www.calvarypandan.sg/events/live-mws)

N/W: Speaker : Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew

Message : “Have You Received Christ’s Peace?” - John 14:27-31

Lord's Day Duties

19 April 26 April

Musicians Morning Rachel Han Esther Tan

SGH (6pm) Elizabeth Tan Joanne Khor

Elder’s Page - Elder Chew Chong Kiat

Activities for the Week (20 - 25 April)

Tues 8.15 pm BIBLE STUDY ON THE BOOK OF JAMES: i/c Pastor Quek Suan Yew

(Live Stream: http://www.calvarypandan.sg/events/live-bible-study)

News & Announcements

1. TABERNACLE BOOKROOM has a vacancy for a bookroom assistant. Please contact Dn

Yap Wai Ho at 92334763 for details

2. CALVARY PANDAN KINDERGARTEN is looking for a EL-Teacher with a Diploma in

Early Childhood Education. Please call the CPK office at 65603884 for more details. Thank you.

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SUNSET GOSPEL HOUR (SGH)

Theme: “Know the Prophets!”

19 Apr (6.00 pm) 26 Apr (6.00 pm)

Topic: “Samuel - How to Face “Samuel - Teaches the Good

Rejection”- 1 Samuel 8:1-9, 19-22 & Right Way”

- 1 Samuel 12:20-25

Preacher: Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew Preacher Joshua Yong

(Live Stream: http://www.calvarypandan.sg/events/live-sgh)

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BOE ANNOUNCEMENT (UPDATED 5 APRIL)

Closure of Church Office and Tabernacle Bookroom

Following the announcement by our government on 3 April regarding “Circuit Breaker” to mini-

mize the further spread of COVID-19, the CP church office and Tabernacle Bookroom will be

closed from 7 April to 4 May. During this period, please contact Dn Eric Lim at 9699 2162 for

enquiries.

Postponement of ACM and Election 2020 to 25 July 2020

In light of the new restrictions on movement, the BOE has decided that the ACM cum Triennial

Election of Session that was scheduled for 25 April will be postponed to 25 July 2020 @ 5 pm.

More details will be given at a later date when the COVID-19 situation improves, God willing.

Lord’s Supper via Internet

We are living in very unusual circumstances. When we can gather for worship like we used to is

known only to our LORD. We pray and hope that it will be soon, if the Lord tarries. In view of

the LORD’s teaching on the Lord’s Supper to keep it “as often as ye eat this bread and drink this

cup” (cf. 1Cor 11:26), the BOE has decided that we can observe this sacrament of the Lord via

live streaming.

Please note that this is an exception that does not replace the norm which is to gather together

for worship and participate in the sacraments of the Lord in person.

Tithes and Offerings

The giving of tithes and offerings is an integral part of worship service. It is an expression of

thanksgiving and gratitude to God by God’s children. During this period when worship services in

church are suspended, if believers are mindful to give the following are temporary ways to do so:

1. Lay your gift aside till we resume normal worship services.

2. Post your gift in cheque form, payable to “Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church”, to 201

Pandan Gardens, Singapore 609337.

3. Make a bank transfer to HSBC Bank code: 7232, Bank current account no.: 150-055911-001,

Account name: Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church.

4. Transfer via scanning a QR Code to CPBPC - the church has applied to the bank to get a QR

code. The QR Code will be available in about a week’s time.

God willing, tithes and offerings can be offered via the offering bags during worship services

very soon. God bless every cheerful giver.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

WORSHIP SERVICE, 10.30 AM

Speaker: Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew Date: 19 April 2020

Pianist: Rachel Han

“The Lord is in His Holy Temple”

Call to Worship: Psalm 29:1-4

Opening Hymn: RHC # 2 “O Worship the King”

Invocation

The LORD’s Prayer & Gloria Patri

Responsive Reading: John 14:22-31

Hymn: RHC # 190 “Alone”

Lord’s Supper:

Hymn: RHC # 199 “The Old Rugged Cross”

Pastoral Prayer

Message: “Has God Shown Himself to You?” – John 14:22-26

Closing Hymn: RHC # 348 “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”

Benediction

Announcements

“The Lord Bless You and Keep You”

Calvary Pandan B-P Church

Date: 19 April 2020

Topic: Has God Shown Himself to You?

- John 14:22-26

Speaker: Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew

My

own

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