RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL 4 AUGUST 2024

LESSON: FORTY NINE (49)
TOPIC: THE GREAT TRIBULATION

SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me
To rejoice at Thy birth.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds be black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?

OPENING PRAYER: Almighty Father, help us to hold on to You to the end in the name of Jesus

BIBLE PASSAGE: Mark 13:19-26 NKJV
[19] For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.
[20] And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
[21] “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it.
[22] For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
[23] But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
[24] “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
[25] the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
[26] Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

MEMORY VERSE: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be”. Matthew 24:21 (NKJV).

INTRODUCTION: The word, tribulation, means trouble. There are different kinds of tribulations mentioned in the Bible. These include tribulation because of obedience to God’s word (Matthew 13:21); the tribulation on the way to God’s kingdom (Acts 14:22); earthly tribulation that is common to all (Job 5:6-7); tribulation on evil doers (Romans 2:9) and the great tribulation. The focus of the lesson is the Great Tribulation. The hardship, distress, and perplexity that would be experienced in the days of the great tribulation are unprecedented. What is the great tribulation all about? When will it be? What are the events in the days of tribulation?

LESSON AIM: To study the meaning and events of the great tribulation.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
a. Understand the meaning of the great tribulation. b. Discover the events in the days of the great tribulation.

TEXT REVIEW: Mark 13:19-26.
The following shall characterise the days of the great tribulation.
i. Uncommon affliction. Mark 13:19.
ii. Confusion about the location of Christ. Mark 13:21.
iii. False Christs and prophets shall rise. V22.
iv. Fake wonders and seducing tendencies. V22.
The teacher should identify any other five strange happening that will characterise the period of the great tribulation from the passage.
i. ————————————————————–
ii. —————————————————————
iii. ————————————————————-
iv. ————————————————————-
v. —————————————————————

OUTLINES:
1. UNDERSTANDING THE GREAT TRIBULATION
2. EVENTS IN DAYS OF GREAT TRIBULATION

1. UNDERSTANDING THE GREAT TRIBULATION
i. The Great Tribulation is also called the time of Jacob’s (the nation-Israel) trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).
ii. The unbelieving Jews, the unsaved or backslidden Gentiles will be the candidates of the great tribulation.
iii. It will begin after the rapture of the Church and the revelation of the antichrist, the man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3-7).
iv. The time of the great tribulation is the “seventieth week” that is, the last week of the seventy weeks of Daniel.
v. The seventy weeks have three sections: the first seven weeks, the next sixty-two weeks, and the last week.
vi. There are seven days in one week. A day in the week represents one year. So the duration is seven years (Daniel 9:20-27).
vii. The first half of the last week (the first three and a half years) will be for the full physical manifestation of the antichrist, during which he shall make a covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27).
viii. The second half of the last week (the last three and half years) will be a time of unprecedented trouble. “During the week” the antichrist shall break the covenant with Israel and practice the “abomination of desolation” in the temple (Daniel 11:36; Matthew 24:15-16).
ix. The last three and half years of the great tribulation will culminate in the second coming of Christ to reign on earth (Mark.13:24-26; 2 Thessalonians 2:8).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should mention the key points about the great tribulation according to the first outline.

2. EVENTS IN DAYS OF GREAT TRIBULATION
The Great Tribulation will witness a series of significant but terrifying events.
These include:
1. Unprecedented religious persecution of those who missed the rapture (Matthew 24:21-22).
2. Unparalleled global religious deception (Matthew 24:24-28).
3. There shall be an untold global economic problem, in which only those who receive the mark of the Beast can buy or sell (Revelation 13:17-18).
4. Series of unrighteous and abominable religious practices (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4,10).
5. Intense temptation all over the world (Revelation 3:10).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Mention the identities of the great tribulation according to lesson outline two.

CONCLUSION: Those who have received Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour and keep themselves holy till He comes at rapture shall be delivered (through rapture) from the days of the Great Tribulation. However, sinners and backsliders are faced with the danger of the Great tribulation. Beloved, are you truly saved from sins? Examine yourself today and be sure!

EVALUATION: Mention the identities of the great tribulation according to lesson outline two.

CLOSING PRAYER: Almighty Father, please don’t let me witness the calamity of the great tribulation.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention ten (10) events of the great tribulation period. (1X10=10 Marks).