by Clara B. Lawrence
SUNDAY
SCHOOL
LESSON
MRS. LAWRENCE
' SUBJECT: Assurance In Times of Stress
April 25, 1982
Jj***®n Scripture
The Communicating Christ Rev 11-6
The Curing of Christ Rev. 1.7,8
The Commissioning of Christ Rev. 1:9-11
• Background Scripture
Rev. 1:1-20; and 12:1-4
Lesson Background
The Book of Revelation is the great
prophetic masterpiece in the New Testa
ment; the crowning consumation of many
unfilled prophecies in the Old Testament.
The Greek name for this final book in the'
Bible is apocalypse, which means an “un
veiling”; the unveiling of Jesus Christ, once
clothed in a carpenter’s garb, then dis
figures in death, now revealed in glory.
Chapter onegivesa pictureoTthe^xalted
Christ; and chapters two and three contain
seven letters written by John from the Isle
of Patmus to seven'chufeheslirAsia Minor.
The name John mentioned in Revelation, is
the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the
brother of James. (Mk. 1:10-20; 15:40). This
John was originally a fisherman on the Sea
of Galilee. (Matt. 4:21). He is referred to
as “that disciple whom Jesus loved. Jn.
13:23; 20:2; 21:7, 20). Jesus entrusted the
care of His mother to him when He was near
{leath on the cross for our sins.
—__Lesson Explained
John the Apostrewas uswl by the Spirit of
God to write the “record of the Word of God
and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and all
things that he saw.” The purpose of his
writings this^ book was to show to the
servants of God in those days (and today)
^those things which must shortly come to
pass.” (vs. 1). All who know Christ person
ally as Savior are God’s servants. So these
three verses open with expectancy and a
ptord of hope; Christ is coming again. The
l&ords “at hand” mean near, which implies
a sense of urgency.
£ The Book of Revelation is structured like a
I^tter. These letters are addressed to “the
ffcflen churcher . V .L-*- "T*-—•" now
western xiuncy, of which Ephesus was me
rincipal city. We might ask why were only
even Churches—chosen-; -The number
seven” speaks of completion of perfec
on: God completed His work in cycles of
even; seven days constitute one week; at
le fall of Jericho there were seven priests,
Seven trumpets and on the seventh day
fjeople marched around the wall seven
Omes before their destruction; and there
tfrere seven sayings of the Savior from the
:8ross. Another question is why did Christ
•^choose these seven in preference to others''
.Lehman Straus in his “Book ot tteveia
;Jion,” says that although these churches
jjiiffered, but when combined, are repre
sentative of conditions in Christiandom
•from Pentecost to the end of the church age.
tfvs. 4).
3 Jesus IS described by three titles in verse
•$: the “faithful witness”; the first begotten
£‘of the dead” and “the prince of the Kings
;2>f the earth.” All titles were chosen in order
ilo reinforce the faith of all who undergo
trials and tribulations. The writer concludes
Ihis section with a doxology, “and hath
friade us kings and priests unto God and His
lather; to Him be glory and dominion for
.ever and ever, Amen.”.(vss. 5-6).
£ As John continues his record on the
[Coming of Christ, he reminds us that this
[kame Jesus is coming, “he cometh with
Clouds; The mention of “clouds” recalls
ihe scene at the ascension of Jesus when He
was received into Heaven in a cloud. (Acts
1'9). “Clouds” as a symbol of God’s
presence was used in the Old Testament.
John reports that everyone will witness and
or see His coming. God identifies Himself
by saying, “I am Alpha and Omega” (the
%st and last letters of the Greek alpha
ret). God then describes himself as “the
Almighty" Indicating His eternity; His
sovereign control over events, (vss. 7-8).
- In opening the statement on The Commis
khming of Christ, John identifies himself
with others of the suffering saints as
{heir “brother and companion in tribula
tions. As a prisoner, he was sent in chains to
ihe Isle of Patmus, off the coast of Asia
Minor.
Closing Summary
- The Book of Revelation begins with a
word from the Apostle John, exiled on the
'Isle of Patmus, given by Jesus Christ. It is a
word of authority and comfort for suffering
.Christians, because He is coming again,
;with clouds and great glory, and all will see
'Him. The message that John wrote was
given to him in a vision, to be sent to seven
:named churches in Asia Minor. Like John,
-God has called us to communicate through
CHim, the redemptive message of Jesus
Christ, and to be a brother to those who
— Vfer for His sake.
Dp. Clancy Leaves Prince Of Peace Lutheran Church
ay icrcia ourni
Poit Managing Editor
Dr. Bryant E. Clancy Jr.,
paator of Prince of Peace
Lutheran Church, 3001
Beattlea Ford Road, haa
accepted the poaitlon as
Executive for the South
eastern District Depart
ment of Congregational
Services located In Wash
ington, D.C.
The Congregational Ser
vices is one out of three
Southeastern District De
partments The other two
are the Department of
Mission Services and the
Department of Finance
and Support Services.
An executive of the Con
gregation Services Dr.
Clancy will administer
services and programs to
assist congregations in
their ministries as well as
various congregation ser
vices for 200 congregations
“1 accepted this position
because 1 felt it was the will
of the Lord that was mv
motivating reason," Dr.
‘Clancy commented. -
From 1962-64 Dr. Clancy
served as pastor of St.
Andrew’s Lutheran
Church, Mission Develop
er. In 1964 he began his
pastorate—of—PrincexiL.
Peace Lutheran Church.
The church has since
developed unto a talented
self-supporting'7 congrega
tion. For more than 10
i ■' I
^ _, THE^ _
CHARLOTTE
POST -
CHARLOTTES^
PRIDE AND
JOY -
Dr Bryant E Clancy Jr.
...Accepts new position
years Dr. Clancy also
served St. Peter's Luther
an Church in Concord.
He has served faithfully
for 20 years. April 30 will be
his last day as pastor of
Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church.
From a letter authored
by Nathaniel Edwards,
president, and Leroy Sell
era, vice president for
Prince of Peace, one feela
the love the congregation
and the Clancy family
share.
"We will not use the word
"dismissed" because we
know you will always be a
part of us...You leave us
with many, many fond
memories...." the letter
stated
Dr. Clancy is married to
the former Ela Neely, a
tenure mathematics teach
er in the Charlotte-Meck
lenburg School System
They have a son, Stephen, a
sixth grader; and a daugh
ter. Ami Paige, who is four
years old
A graduate of McCor
mick Theological Semin
ary, Chicago, 111., Dr
Clancy completed his
Doctor of Ministry in 1981.
Dr. Clancy has held
various district service
positions and has been
involved in many commun
ity services. More recently,
however, he was first vice
president of the Southeast
ern District; Chairman of
the Task Force on Pro
riHI GREATEST GOSPEL H
CONCERT EVER!
Charlotte Gospel Choir Celebration
-Starring
t
-Bev. James Cleveland
Special Guests' — —
Albertina Walker, Inez Andrews, The Greater
Charlotte Community Chorale. John Key and the
Combination Choir and other area choirs to be
announced.
Sunday, May 23
--*-p m fharlntto Coliseum_
Tickets: $7,$8&$9
Reserved Seating
Tickets on sale, at Cnlinonm rcnH nrypl ticket nntletc
For further information, call 372-3600.
1 An Entertainers of America Promotion-^^^—
fesslonal Growth and mem
ber of the Board of Direc
tors.
From 1978-82 he also
served his community as a
member of the Board of
Social Services for Meck
lenburg County, and in 1982
became president of the
Christian Ministers' Fel
lowship Association
tCMFAh
Ur Clancy will now have
to relinquish the position as
president of the CNFA.
Rev H S Diggs, pastor of
Mayfield Memorial Baptist
Church, will assume the
position
Many have expressed
that Charlotte is losing a
great man But the will of
the Lord will see to it that
Dr Clancy's works will
become just as potent in his
new dimension.
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