Monday 21 July 2014

20th July 2014.

Geoff is our speaker today speaking from John 5:1-18 and looking at the third of seven signs record in John as part of the “Jesus and the prophets” series. Entitled “Tipping point” he looks at the switch from hesitation to outright opposition and persecution of Jesus and why that was. He ends with some questions to ponder:
(i) What are the basis of our belief that gives us the courage to be different?
(ii) Jesus did not apparently discriminate between the deserving and the undeserving. Should we do the same?
Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

Saturday 19 July 2014


13th July 2014 

Revelation 14:14 – 15:8. The Harvest at the end of the world and preparing the plagues.
Seeing the Revelation should enable us to look at the earth in a very different light. Julia Ward Howe’s amazingly awful prophetic hymn My eyes have seen the light of the coming of the Lord, he is trampling… is based on this passage. John, like her, sees the harvesting at the end of the world and the plagues of judgement – like the ancient plagues of Egypt. Two angels are seen: one uses a sickle for the “general harvest” and another who uses a sickle to harvest the symbolic grapes which are thrown into God’s winepress. Jane sought to show that Jesus our substitute, who took Gods wrath instead of us, endured the press of Gethsemane and was crucified outside the city wall for us. As the plagues are prepared an amazing choir is heard to sing The Song of Moses and the Lamb which declares that God acts justly and so is to be honoured.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website


6th July 2014.

Revelation 14: 1- 13. The Lamb and God’s people (+ Judgement).
The prevailing threat of John’s day was the Roman Empire and the challenge to God’s people is to be faithful and to endure. Another refreshing interlude with a vision of the Lamb is seen – this time standing on Mount Zion – Jesus in final triumph. (Reminiscent of the prophetic Psalm 2: 6) An amazing voice is heard from heaven. From the throne come 3 messengers of Grace, Doom and Warning. Judgement is a necessary part of the Gospel – the Good News. The “wine of God’s fury” is spoken of. An outcome for those who have identified with the Beast of Babylon. But the Voice affirms: blessed are those who die in the service of the Lord.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.


29th June 2014

Revelation 12 and 13. The woman, the child and the red dragon:
This is not a children’s story but a revelation to God’s children. John sees “signs” in the sky; the ages long battle between the Serpent and the children born of woman is seen. The woman is seen to represent Israel labouring to give birth to the Messiah and later in the chapter the woman represents the Church – tortured and labouring for its faith. The Dragon and its 3 allies are introduced. The warfare of heaven spills over into the earth. Endurance and faith is called for from God’s people in every generation. The famous 666 mark of the beast – a Hebrew cryptogram for “Nero Caesar”. Get the interpretation right or be deceived by every latter day self styled prophet or preacher.
Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.


Revelation 11: 1-14. The 2 witnesses and 15 – 19 the last trumpet.

The first part of this chapter is particularly difficult to interpret. The Lamb is still central to the vision: he alone is worthy to release future history. John’s task is to measure the symbolic temple and altar. The 2 witnesses representing Moses and Elijah appear. The beast appears and the 2 witnesses are slaughtered. The prophetic witnesses of God are often slain but here we consider the important role of the church to be prophetic even if martyred. Why does the Christian church if faithful call down persecution? We move in this talk towards the time when the time will come to destroy those who destroy the earth.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website