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: [email protected]
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 - [email protected]
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
notes