YEA Lesson Library
Grab the Rope
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that Jesus will likely return on the Feast of Trumpets, rescuing us from this world.
Scriptures
Leviticus 23:23-25
Numbers 10:9-10
Psalm 81:1-4
Matthew 24:22
Matthew 24:29-31
John 3:17-19
I Corinthians 15:50-53
I Thes. 4:16-18
Revelation 8, 9
Words to Know
YEARN - to have a strong desire
RESCUE - to free from danger, save
COMMEMORATE - to serve as a memorial or reminder
The Lesson
A terrible flood came in a small Midwestern town. It rained so hard the creeks and rivers over- flowed their banks. The people were told to evacuate. The National Guard and local police force were marshaled to assist people in getting to dry land.
But Mr. Davis, an elderly gentleman, refused to go. He prayed and trusted that God would save him. As the water climbed higher and higher it made its way into the old gentleman’s house. A four-wheel- drive came to rescue him, but he wouldn’t leave his house. Then a row boat came and again he refused to go. Eventually the water rose all the way to the roof of his house. He stood on the roof and a helicopter came and threw him a rope. Again, he said he had prayed and trusted that God would save him.
This well-intentioned elderly gentleman died in that flood. As the story is told, the old man went to heaven. The first thing he asked God was, “Why didn’t you save me from the flood – after all, I prayed earnestly and I trusted you.” God said, “I heard your prayers and sent a four-wheel-drive, a row boat and a helicopter. Why did you send them away?” God is in the business of rescuing people. He has a rescue plan for us that is pictured in the Feast of Trumpets.
About four months after Israel celebrated the first Pentecost it was time for yet another festival. God told the Israelites, “When you arrive in the Promised Land and go to war against your enemies, God will hear you and save you from your enemies when you sound the alarm with these trumpets. Use the trumpets in times of gladness, too, blowing them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month to rejoice over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. And God will be reminded of his covenant with you. For I am Jehovah, your God” (Numbers I0:9-I0 TLB).
Every new moon in Israel began with a special celebration marked by blowing the trumpets. The trumpet sound echoed across the hills of Palestine. When the seventh trumpet sound was heard, the people knew it was the beginning of the new year. It was an important religious celebration. It was the Feast of Trumpets! Why should you celebrate the Feast of Trumpets?
The first reason is because God says that you should. “The LORD said to Moses, Say to the Israelites: On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the LORD by fire” (Leviticus 23:23-25).
Why is it called the Feast of Trumpets? The most obvious reason is because a trumpet was blown on that day. But more important, the seventh trumpet was blown on that day. The number seven is often used in the Bible to show completion. So what is God completing?
People often think of the Holy Days as being Jewish. But oddly enough, there is not a lot of information given in the Old Testament about the Feast of Trumpets. We have to go to the New Testament to see what God “completes” on the Feast of Trumpets. In I Corinthians 15:50-53 the Apostle Paul sheds some light on this. “I tell you this, my brothers: an earthly body made of flesh and blood cannot get into God’s kingdom. These perishable bodies of ours are not the right kind to live forever. But I am telling you this strange and wonderful secret: we shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies! It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky and all the Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never, never die and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies too. For our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die, must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish but will live forever” (TLB).
You’ve learned that the feast days are to be celebrated. You’ve heard about class reunions. You may have gone to a family reunion and seen cousins, aunts, uncles that you hadn’t seen for several years. Wasn’t that a very happy occasion – a celebration? When Christ returns, our grandparents, aunts, uncles, maybe even brothers or sisters who have died in Christ will be resurrected. They will get a new body. They will meet Christ in the air for a real celebration. Christians who are alive will join this reunion.
The Bible never says that Christ will return on the Feast of Trumpets. But we know that God has ap- pointed times and He honors those days. We also know that Christ will come when the last trumpet is blown and the seventh trumpet is the last trumpet.
Why will Christ return? The world will be so bad at that time. It will be on the brink of utter destruction. Christ’s return will be a rescue mission to save this world from the awful situation we have created. Christ will return with a shout and the sound of the trumpet. Just as the pilot of the helicopter threw down the rope to Mr. Davis, Christ is throwing us a rope to save us. Are you going to grab hold of that rope and meet Christ in the air at His return, or are you going to drown in this world’s pleasures as Mr. Davis drowned in the flood?
Next year, YEA will cover other interesting aspects of the Feast of Trumpets. In the meantime, grab onto the rope and celebrate the Feast of Trumpets in a big way. You may see something really great happen on that day. So, be prepared!
Student Prayer
Dear God Our Father and soon coming King,
Thank you that Jesus Christ will return to this earth to save us from utter destruction. Help me to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets in a way that will please you. Help me to yearn for your Kingdom to come so that your will be done.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Numbers 10:9-10
Monday - Leviticus 23:23-25
Tuesday - I Corinthians 15:50-53
Wednesday - I Thessalonians 4:16-18
Thursday - Psalm 81:1-4
Friday - Matthew 24:29-31
Saturday - John 3:17-19
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain that the Feast of Trumpets is the first day of the seventh month when the seventh trumpet is blown.
2. State that nowhere in the Bible does it say that Christ will come on the Feast of Trumpets, but it does say He will return when the seventh trumpet is blown.
3. Discuss that the Feast of Trumpets isn’t just a Jewish day to observe, but the New Testament has a lot to say about Christ returning at the seventh trumpet to rescue man from the mess on this earth.
4. Commit to “grabbing the rope” that Christ throws down to rescue them.
Topics & Themes
Feast of Trumpets
Holy Days, Feast of Trumpets
Jesus, Return of
New Moon
Resurrection
Trumpet
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students’ and Teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, songbook, butcher’s paper, marker pens
How to Teach This Lesson
Begin the class by going over the first three sections of the activity in the Students’ book. Allow the students to honestly state how they feel without being condemned or coerced.
Give each student a marker pen and ask them to prepare a timeline of the seven trumpets in Revelation 8, 9 and I Corinthians 15:50-53 on the butcher’s paper. Explain that a trumpet is blown at the beginning of the first six months and the Feast of Trumpets celebrates the blowing of the seventh trumpet. Depending on the size of your class, students can be assigned a section on which to work. Or the entire class can work together on all sections to complete the timeline.
Explain to the class that they are to read the verses and include what will happen when the angel blows that trumpet. They can either draw or write a description of what will happen when that trumpet is blown.
After they have finished the timeline, debrief by asking the following questions.
* How did you feel when you read what was to happen when each of the first six trumpets were blown?
* How did the timeline help you better understand what the Feast of Trumpets is all about?
* When does the Bible say we should celebrate the Feast of Trumpets?
* When you finished the timeline for the first six trumpets, did you come to any conclusions about what must happen? What were they? Our only hope will be in Christ returning to this earth to rescue us.
* Do you feel that you would want to be a part of the rescue mission or remain in this world with all of the horrible things that are going on? Why or why not?
* When does the Bible say that Christ will return? At the sound of the seventh trumpet. Then do we know when His return will be? Have a student read Matthew 25:13 aloud. What does that say?
* Will Christ return without any indication that His coming will be soon? Have one of the students read Matthew 24:32-33.
* Mr. Davis was on his rooftop watching the pilot throw the rope, but he drowned. What lesson can you learn about Christ’s return from Mr. Davis?
* What things should you do in your Christian life to “Grab the Rope”? Will there come a time, as it did for Mr. Davis, when it’s too late to “Grab the Rope”?
* What have you learned today that will make the Feast of Trumpets a great reason to celebrate?
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
Look up the word “cut short” and "shortened.” Write down the Greek word and its meaning. Why would Jesus have to come back sooner than originally planned? Then find three other Scriptures where this word is used. Write what you learn in your Bible notebook.
Where in the World?
Some people believe that they will be taken to a place of safety when things get really bad in this world before Jesus Christ returns. Other people believe that Jesus Christ is our hiding place; He can keep us safe right where we are. This is a topic which generates a lot of discussion. Survey several people in your church congregation about what they believe will happen before Christ returns. Ask them to show you the scriptures they use to support their belief. Look at all of the scriptures they use. What do you think? Write your thoughts in your Bible notebook along with questions you have that will need further research.
They Did What Back Then?
How were trumpets used in the Old Testament. Read Numbers 10:1-10 to find a few instances. Read Joshua 6. Then use the cross references in your Bible or a Bible concordance to find other times that trumpets were sounded. Write down what you discover in your Bible notebook.
Making It Mine
Many people will tell you that the holy days listed in Leviticus 23 are Jewish or that they don’t apply today. What do you think? Read 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, and Numbers 10:9. Do you think that the return of Jesus constitutes an event when God saves His people from their enemies? Write about the importance of Jesus saving us today.
Worldview Collisions
Other worldviews promote the idea that there are many ways to eternal life, heaven, nirvana, or your eternal reward. Many of them advocate a balance sheet; that is, as long as you do more good things than bad things, you’ll be fine. A Biblical worldview says that there is only one way to eternal life - salvation through Jesus Christ. Find five scriptures which support the Biblical worldview. Write them in your Bible notebook.
Questions
As you’re working through the YEA lesson, Daily Devotionals, doing the activity, or reading the Bible, be sure to write down any questions you have. That way you’ll remember to ask someone. Also remember to share the really interesting things you’re learning with family and friends.
Song
“When the Spirit Says Move” is on page 92 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and join hands. Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer thanking God for having a plan to rescue us when this world destroys itself. And ask God to help us be ready to Grab the Rope when He throws it down for us.
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