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Sunday 31st August 2025 : The Glory of Heaven – Revelation 21 The Book of Revelation was written as a series of visions given to the Apostle John to encourage the persecuted church, its main theme being, ‘Do not fear, take courage, Christ the Victorious King is coming!’ And these visions have been revealing God’s work of salvation in our history, culminating in Satan’s and evil’s total defeat and the judgement of being cast into the Lake of Fire and Sulphur, never, ever, to rise again. In Chapter 21, the coming of the King has Come! John’s vision now focuses on the glory of heaven. Firstly, that there will be a Renewed heaven & Renewed earth as the old order of things has passed away, with the Church beautifully dressed as the Bride of Christ, with no stain or hint of sin whatsoever. There will no longer be any sea (a symbol of unrest and conflict); rather there will Peace, God’s Shalom, where God is there in the fullness of His presence. Secondly, we will enter into the ‘glory of heaven’, where God will dwell with His people face to face as their God – fulfilling the Promises to Abraham, “I will be your God, and you, and your descendants after you, will be My people”. In the glory of heaven is the ultimate, complete fulfilment of that Promise – all the promises of redemption as the Lord takes up residence in the presence of His people. Thirdly, we get some idea of this glory of heaven when John describes the awesomeness of the Holy City, which symbolises God’s people as a Covenant Community, seen in the twelve gates, foundations and single pearl gates. The overwhelming splendour and beauty of it all is because God is present in all His glory. Fourthly, the ‘glory of the Lord’ will light up the whole city – God and man in perfect harmony and unity. And that fantastic brilliant Holy City is you and I. It pictures the glorified church, the beautiful Bride of Christ. The Brilliant, Flawless, Precious City describes how you and I will be as the Body of Christ in glory. How do we know that this is true and not a fantasy or fairytale? In verses 5-6, God gives a declaration of authenticity: ‘Behold, I am making everything new… It is Done! I am the Alpha and Omega!’ This is the first time the Lord God speaks in the Book of Revelation, and while there is this Declaration of God, there is also this challenge for us in verses 7-8. Have you conquered by believing in Jesus and so rightfully claim this glorious inheritance? Or, are you one of the cowardly to be cast into the Lake of Fire? What you and I believe today will dictate what heaven will be (or will not be) for you tomorrow. Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 24th August 2025 : Judgement Day! – Revelation 20 The Book of Revelation shows us why the world is like it is, on the background of the battle between the kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of God. The Apostle John was given a series of visions to encourage the church that was being sorely tried and persecuted by the hand of Rome. The first encouragement and comfort is that Satan is bound by the victorious power of Jesus; he can only go as far as Jesus permits him. Jesus, in His Death, Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, thoroughly defeated Satan, casting him out of heaven so that he is now under the sovereign power of Jesus (Revelation 12) and is unable to accuse the saints. Jesus sovereignly rules as King! The second encouragement and comfort is that in heaven we are not simply waiting in a second class state, but with the martyrs under the Throne we reign with Jesus. We have a place of privilege and honour in heaven; therefore, salvation is much more than escaping this evil world – it is a going into glory! The third encouragement and comfort is that Satan will be brought to judgement. His hatred and enmity will be thoroughly defeated, fully exposed and judged, being thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur, into eternal hell, never, ever, ever to arise again. What an encouragement to know that this suffering in a sin-infested and corrupted evil world is only for a set time. The fourth encouragement and comfort in Chapter 20 is that the final day of Judgement is coming. In the Second Resurrection, Jesus will return at the end of time, and all the dead will be raised and stand before the Great White Throne. The Books of Life and Judgement will be opened and the names read out. Those in unrepentant rebellion and sin will be parted off to the left and be cast into the lake of fire. Those who are Repentant and believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour will be parted to the right and invited to enter into the inheritance of the Kingdom prepared from before the foundation of the world. The chaos, suffering, evil and depravity of this present world will come to an end. The full glory of heaven awaits, and it is all guaranteed in Jesus Christ! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 20th July 2025 : Heavenly Hallelujahs – Revelation 19 We live in a world that is full of chaos and confusion, violence and abuse, lies and spin. Objective analysis seems to have given way to media bias. We are getting taxed domestically for income that does not actually exist, tariffed by countries we have a free trade agreement with. There is a housing shortage and our children are ‘not safe’ in child care centres. The world seems to be mad about wars and sabre rattling, with power games between nations. It is a crazy and uncertain world. In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John is writing to the churches to encourage them to resist the wiles of the Devil – the intimidating violence of persecution, deceptive false doctrines, and the allure of riches. He encourages them to stand firm, for Jesus the King is coming! In Revelation Chapter 19:1-10 we get a glimpse into heaven as it rejoices at the downfall of Babylon under the awesome and permanent judgement of the Lord. The Day of Liberation has come! It’s the time when sin and its curse will be banished forever, as we see that the smoke goes up from Babylon forever and ever. The Choir of Angels singing are rejoicing in three things: because salvation, power and glory belong to our God; His judgments are just and true; and sin and its consequences are finished – gone forever! The Twenty-four Elders, overwhelmed with praise and thanksgiving, fall down in worship before the Throne of God, and the soloist calls for all creation to sing praise to our God. It is a huge symphony of praise! Our attention is now drawn from the praise and joy at the fall of Babylon to the rejoicing and praise of the power of God revealed in the coming Marriage Supper of the Lamb – the glory of heaven in all its fulness. The invitation into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is by faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. This vision gives a preview of the future, and it invigorates us with a sense of anticipation of the Coming of Jesus at the end of time. Therefore, let us live in courage and good hope, for Jesus the Bridegroom is coming to fetch us, His Bride – the Church – and it will happen! Stand firm. Jesus is coming! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 17th August 2025 : Babylon is Fallen! – Revelation 18 There are times in life when we are confronted by what is really important. You know, we are busy with life and can’t fit anymore in, but then receive a phone call that our child has been in a bad accident, and then suddenly the busyness of life is not really that important. We drop everything and go. Or, your spouse is dying of cancer and you are spending these last days with them. The nurses in the corridor are loud and laughing, and you feel like screaming at them, “Do you not have any heart? How can you laugh and joke when my wife is dying in here?” As Christians we can also have the same experience. The night club and pub scene, recreation and having a ‘good time’ – the ways of the (sinful) world – become cheap, trashy, and remarkably trite. Revelation Chapters 17 & 18 teach us to understand the true identity of the (sinful) world with its extreme materialism, greed, the lust for more, the pursuit of pleasure and luxury, and the ceaseless sex appeal. And we see that even today, where our politicians are often at the forefront, promoting the ways of the (sinful) world as being good and just. Think of legislation passed – things like abortion, prostitution, and same-sex marriage, which are all blatantly against God’s Law and the created order of God. Think how the (sinful) world constantly attempts to seduce the Believer from the ways of the Lord. Revelation Chapters 17 & 18 also teach us to understand the final destiny of the (sinful) world. The aim of the world is to make war against the Lamb. It is Satan’s self-set agenda to spoil and destroy all the good things of God. But the Lamb will overcome, because He is the LORD of lords and the KING of kings. In His sacrifice on the Cross, Jesus has decisively conquered, and reigns sovereignly over the Prostitute and all those flocking to her. Chapter 18 describes how completely, irrevocably and totally Babylon will be destroyed in God’s judgement on her for despising the Lord and persecuting His people, and there is the call to God’s people intentionally and deliberately to come out of the world – lest we share in her plagues. Finally, Revelation Chapters 17 & 18 teach us that there is ANOTHER world, ANOTHER destiny: the way of the Lamb, which is holy and pure and leads to eternal glory; which we experience here and now, today; where our real pleasure is in glorifying the Lord, our real love is in being restored to the Father, and our real Feasting is in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb which we experience symbolically in the Lord’s Supper. Why would you spend time on chasing the trinkets of the world, chasing what is immediate and then gone, rather than that which is eternal? Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 10th August 2025 : The Woman Riding the Beast – Revelation 17 As we look at the media, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the devastation, cruelty and depravity that there is in the world around us – the starving in Gaza as a war strategy; the ongoing displacement of the Rohingya people from Myanmar; the Afghanistan refugees being sent back into Afghanistan from Tajikistan; displaced peoples in Republic of Congo and Sudan; Christians being persecuted; children forced into slavery; Russia continuing the war of attrition on Ukraine. There is corruption, cruelty and terrible suffering all around the world, let alone the effects of natural disasters. The Apostle John had a similar feeling. The city of Jerusalem had been ransacked by the Romans, with the Jews (including Christians) dispersed throughout the Empire. The churches which started with a blaze of glory at Pentecost were in decline (see the letter to the Churches). John himself had been exiled to the Island of Patmos, the Roman empire was in the heights of depravity, pleasure mad and living in pure self-indulgence, watching Christians being torn apart at lion circuses as a new form of amusement. What was going on? Was Christ returning soon? The vision of Revelation Chapter 17 helps us to understand what is going on as the angel explains the battle of the kingdoms against the backdrop of history, and how that battle breaks through in everyday life. Babylon represents the sinful forces and its seduction and effects in the world. The Beast represents anti-Christian persecution throughout history. These forces bring terrible times! But note this, The Lord God is in charge of history! He brings down empires when they have reached the fulness of their wickedness according to His plan and purpose. The forces of evil will never be able to band together in one powerful force because they have an inbuilt conflict and hostility. Therefore, we are not to live in fear of these various powers. Ultimately, we see that the Lamb (Jesus) will conquer them, for He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. So, do not fear! The Victorious King is coming! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 20th October 2024 : The Seven Golden Bowls – Revelation 16 In the face of death, the comfort we have as Followers of Jesus is the hope of the Resurrection and the glory to come. The hope of those struggling with debilitating health issues is the hope of the new, immortal, Resurrected body that will be ours in Christ when He appears. Our hope in the face of wars escalating in the Middle East, the threat of nuclear war from Russia, and the civil uprisings and unrest around the world is hope that the end to all wars is coming in the Return of Christ. The hope of those who suffer terrible abuse and violence and injustice is that the Lord hears the prayers of His people and is coming in the Final Judgement. Revelation Chapter 16 teaches us about the coming to an end of God’s patient forbearance with sin in the world; “Enough is Enough!” In order for salvation to come in the fullness of its glory in the New Heaven and the New Earth, and in glorious holy fellowship with the Lord for eternity, Justice has to be executed, with sin and evil destroyed never to come up again. The details of the Final Judgement revealed in Revelation Chapter 16 have been interpreted in various ways, from a literal, physical fulfilment with a great war at Armageddon, through to it being symbolic, explained in earthly terms to reveal the depth, reality and utter seriousness of God’s judgement. The climax of Revelation Chapter 16 is the loud voice coming out of the Temple declaring, “IT IS DONE!!!” Satan and his demons, the dragon and his beasts, and sin and evil have been judged and sentenced – they are done, never, ever to rise up again and spoil God’s good gifts and corrupt His people and creation. “It is Finished!” was the cry of Jesus on the Cross; He had completed the work of salvation the Father has sent Him to do: God’s justice satisfied, Sins forgiven, Guilt removed, relationship reconciled, new hearts and lives created, the gift of the Holy Spirit granted, the power of Satan, evil and death thoroughly defeated, the promise of the Resurrection a reality. So now there is a second declaration: “It is Done!”, and this is the fulfilment – all that is promised in Christ is now a reality; salvation has come in all its fullness. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away and all things made in Christ have come in their fullness of glory. Now that is a hope worth living in and for! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 13th October 2024 : The Marvellous Sign in Heaven – Revelation 15 The war in the Middle East seems to be escalating. There seems to be no end to the Russia/Ukraine conflict. The atrocities in Myanmar continue. People are starving in Africa because of the civil wars. Protests in our own streets seem to be more aggressive and even violent. It is not hard to feel overwhelmed and very discouraged. It seems that our golden age of the ‘lucky country’ might be coming to an end. The Apostle John and the church of that time were also discouraged and despairing. Jesus gives John the visions of the Book of Revelation to encourage the saints. In Revelation 15, we see the Seven Angels with Seven Golden Bowls of God’s wrath. These are the last and final judgements of God to be poured out on the earth. These Seven Golden Bowls of God’s wrath are His gracious and just response to the Seven Golden Bowls of the prayers of His suffering saints. In Revelation 6, we saw the martyrs under the altar crying out, “How long O Lord, before You will judge and avenge the blood on those who dwell on the earth?” These prayers were poured out on the Altar in Chapter 8, where the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints rose in smoke before God. The Seven Golden Bowls, filled with the Prayers of the Saints, now become the Seven Golden Bowls filled with the Wrath of God, because God has heard the cries and prayers of His people and responds with holy justice! God responds with His own Holy Smoke, as in Revelation 15:8 we see the temple filled with smoke from God’s glory and power; the smoke of Judgement. The smoke of prayers ascends into heaven, and in response God’s smoke fills the Temple from which the Seven Golden Bowls of wrath come out in Judgement. God hears the cry of His people and responds to the cries of His saints. Here this is expressed in the ultimate form of the Final Judgement! Therefore, do not live in fear. Do not be overwhelmed by evil, corruption and depravity. These things have been predicted as part of the Battle of the Kingdoms. Stand firm in the Faith, for we will stand on the Sea of Glass in the Throne Room of the Lord God, singing the Songs of Victory – Jesus the Victorious King has Triumphed! Now that is a guaranteed hope to look forward to and be encouraged by! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 15th September 2024 : The Comfort of the Judgement – Revelation 14:6-20 We have an inbuilt sense of justice, a sense of right and wrong. Little children have a strong sense of justice as they cry, “It’s not fair!”, and let us know about it through crying and tantrums. Regularly, we see on the news people unhappy with the term of a jail sentence meted out by the courts. There are groups protesting for all sorts of causes. But ironically, this sense of justice seems to be absent when it comes to the Gospel! God is supposed to be a loving God, a compassionate Father, One Who stops bad things from happening. Even Christians have trouble with the Biblical teaching of Hell and Judgement. We wriggle in our seats when the minister speaks about Hell… The Gospel is about the Love of God after all. Yes, it is indeed! But is that the whole story? Is not the Gospel a doubled-edged sword – declaring salvation for those who repent and believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, but also His wrath and Judgement on those who reject the Christ? You see, God created the whole universe for His own glory, and by virtue of its existence the whole world is called to worship God, and God alone. God is Holy and He will not share His glory with another. For the sake of His own glory, God in his love came to save His own through the death and resurrection of His Son for the forgiveness of sins and restoration to fellowship with Him, but for those who reject His Son and the call to repentance, He will bring His Judgement. In fact, He will judge to their destruction those who destroy His people and blaspheme His Name. These are the Two Sides of the Good News: Salvation and Judgement. And this is what the visions of Revelation Chapter 14 teach us: The Comfort of the Judgement. Satan in his fury and rage is attacking the Church of God, seeking her demise and destruction. The Dragon and the Two Beasts seek to spoil all God’s good gifts in the world, and to pervert and corrupt the Church. God in His holiness and glory cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to that. He will defend and protect His people. But He will also bring justice to bear on those who do not honour and worship Him alone. They will receive the consequences. This brings comfort to God’s people; Satan will not and cannot win, and he, with all his followers, will face the Judgement – ultimately the Lake of Fire. While we do not like to talk about hell, remember there is no Gospel if there is no hell; no salvation if there is no damnation, because God would no longer be the Holy God Who avenges His Name. We all want justice; otherwise there would be no protests. So, let’s see the whole Big Picture of the Gospel and find comfort in the Holiness of God who comes in love and judgement. Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 8th September 2024 : The Lamb & 144,000 – Revelation 14:1-5 When you turn on the news, you can feel a little overwhelmed by the wars, violence, protests and tensions going on in our country and around the world. For example, the world is looking on to see if Israel and Hamas can finally come to a ceasefire and peace treaty. Russia continues its war of attrition on Ukraine, each country sabre rattling in an attempt to get world sympathy. The Dragon and the Beasts are hard at work influencing Governments and powers to corruption and perversion. There is little recognition of the existence of God and His holy ways. Satan is written off as inconsequential – the red man with a trident and tail, used as a figurehead in advertising. Hell is an old religious myth. Enjoy the moment; live, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die. We live in a culture where Christianity has a less and less place. It is easy to feel overwhelmed! So too the church in Rome when they read Revelation Chapter 12 & 13, where the Apostle John describes the whole world worshipping the Beast, with Christians not able to ‘buy or sell’, or being held captive and put to the death because they refuse to have the mark of the beast. But you know, whenever John puts forward how tough things can get for the church, Jesus provides an interlude that is deeply encouraging. Chapter 14 is the interlude of encouragement after Chapters 12 & 13. In contrast to the power and work of the Dragon and two Beasts, we see the Lamb on Mount Zion, the place where God dwells with His people, the earthly centre of God’s power, reminding us that God is really in charge here. The world has underestimated God and His power, that He really does exist! Read Psalm 2! With the Lamb on Mount Zion were the 144,000 who had the Lamb and Fathers’ Name on their foreheads; God’s elect, each of whom He knows by name. The promise is that Christ is in charge and he will ensure not one of His people will be lost. There is a mighty sound in heaven as the New Song of Redemption is sung, the Song of God’s grace and mercy in Salvation. These 144,000 were faithful and obedient to God, not following the ways of the beasts. Rather they worshipped God alone. These 144,000 were purchased by the Father through the Son in His death on the Cross, redeeming a people for Himself, and presenting them as the first-fruits of salvation. What a joy and comfort to know that in the face of a world gone mad, in the face of corruption and perversion, in face of persecution and opposition, we will not fail to gain the victory in Jesus Christ, that we too will be there in heaven singing the New Song of Salvation, because Jesus is holding on to us as He has promised; No one can snatch you from My hand! Therefore, be of good courage and good hope – the Lamb has triumphed. Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 25th August 2024 : The Two Beasts – Revelation 13 In Revelation Chapter 12, we saw that in the face of the fury of the Dragon (Satan), the Lord will unleash all the resources and power needed to protect His Church and equip the saints to stand firm in the battle. In Chapter 13, we see the battle being fought in a little more detail through the Two Beasts. The Dragon is found standing on the seashore; being spirit, Satan needs human agency to fight on his behalf. The First Beast rises out of the sea – symbolizing the power of Satan through the governments of the world. This Beast has one mouth that utters blasphemies against God. We see this with the Roman Emperor who declared himself to be divine and called the people to worship him as a god. People had to register at the temples as being worshippers of Caesar! The Second Beast rose rises from the earth – symbolizing all the false prophets. He mimics the prophets of God performing great and miraculous acts. He orders the people to make a statue in the honour of the First Beast and makes the image to speak in order to ‘wow’ the people. Those who did not bow down and worship the Image were slain. This Second Beast takes the good gifts of God’s creation and distorts and perverts them through false religion. Finally, the Second Beast forces total allegiance by marking the people on the forehead or hand. This mark of the Beast is ‘666’. If anyone did not bear this mark, they would not be able to buy or sell – in other words they would be ostracized and persecuted. This mark of the Beast is a poor imitation of the Old Testament ‘Shema’ of Deuteronomy 6: the call to love the Lord with all your heart soul, strength and mind, and to bind His Law as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes – that is, total allegiance of action and mind. Or, in the New Testament, in Revelation 7, we see the sealing of the 144,000 – God’s elect, those who belonged to the Lamb by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Far from being a threat, the ‘666’ mark brings great comfort to the Believer, because it is the number of man, always falling short of 7, which the number of perfection and the number of victory. ‘666’ as the mark of the Beast is the mark of failure – it is the guarantee the Beasts will fail and fall! Therefore, we can stand firm, endure, and overcome because Jesus is the Victorious King! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 18th August 2024 : The Woman and the Dragon – Revelation 12 When you turn on the news, most of what we hear about is wars, civil unrest and violence. Our everyday life and history are the stage on which the battle of the kingdoms is being fought. As the Apostle Paul teaches us in Ephesians 6 regarding putting on the armour of God, there is a spiritual battle going on, “… against the rulers, against the authorities, against cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Revelation 12 reveals this battle from the perspective of Satan’s activities. It reveals three scenes of this spiritual battle. First is the ‘Scene of Hatred’. We see a magnificent woman (the Church) give birth to her child (Jesus), and the Dragon (Satan) is standing before the woman to devour the child when it is born. Satan hates the Church and Jesus so much that his constant focus is kill and destroy. Satan is enraged at the power and majesty of Jesus the King. He hates the renewal and transformation that Jesus brings in salvation. He despises the honour and worship of Jesus as King, and this activity of hatred and destruction has been going on all through history as Satan seeks to destroy the “Seed of the Woman”. Second is the ‘Scene of War’. There was a war in heaven between Satan and the Archangel Michael. Satan is dismissed and hurled out of heaven. That happened when God’s Kingdom came in power with the ministry of Jesus: His Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension – when He came as the Victorious King! Because of Jesus’ victory and payment for sin, Satan no longer has the power to accuse the people of God. As the Apostle Paul declares in Romans 8:1, ‘There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’. When Satan accuses our consciences of sin, we rest in the finished work of Jesus. Third is the ‘Scene of Fury’. Satan has been cast down from heaven and can no longer bring accusation before God, and in fury makes war against the offspring of the woman – the New Testament Church today. He pours water out of his mouth to sweep the woman away in a flood, in an attempt to demoralise, distract and lead us away from Jesus; to make the church irrelevant. But the earth opens up and swallows the flood! In other words, God will use all means and power to preserve His church, whether it be empires or even nature itself. Therefore, we can stand firm in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we are attacked personally. Satan cannot accuse us because Jesus has paid the price (in full) for our sins. Satan cannot discourage us because we have the power of the Gospel – nothing can separate us from the love of God. And Satan cannot frighten us – not even with death, because Jesus has transformed death into a doorway to the glory of heaven. So Christian be encouraged, stand firm and overcome the wiles and schemes of the evil one, because Jesus is Lord and King! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 14th July 2024 : The Seventh Trumpet – Revelation 11:14-19 Sometimes you wonder, ‘What’s the world coming to?’ There are wars and ongoing civil unrest all over the world, severe flooding, landslides and tornadoes. Our Prime Minister and his family’s safety has been threatened, the President of the United States mental competency is being publicly questioned, violence of all forms seems to be on the rise in our country. The world seems to be heading for some kind of big crash! But that is probably how each generation has felt, and certainly the Apostle John would have felt that. The Book of Revelation answers the question, ‘What is the World coming to?’, because it reveals God’s plan in reclaiming the world through salvation in Jesus Christ. History, though cyclic, is marching to a definite goal and end. In Revelation we see Jesus ministering to the churches as He walks among the lamp stands. The seven letters to the churches help us to understand the struggle of the church in the world. The breaking of the seals helps the church to understand the world events in light of God’s plan. The Six Trumpets sound the warning, with the call to repent because the great judgement is coming! In Revelation Chapter 11:14-19, the Seventh Trumpet of Judgement is sounded. But instead of describing the Judgement, which will come in the later chapters (from Chapter 15 on), John sees a vision of the curtain of heaven parted and the glory of heaven after the Judgement. In this interlude of comfort and joy, we see the end before the beginning. Firstly, we see praise to God for His sovereignty. This song of praise is a shout of victory! The heavenly hosts declare the victory of Jesus as the Sovereign King! Secondly, our glimpse through the parted curtain into the throne room of heaven reveals God’s plan of Judgement; His holy wrath against the nations who rage against Him and His Servant King Jesus. Justice will be done! And thirdly, the Promise of Communion with the Lord God is revealed; God’s temple in heaven is opened and the Ark of the Covenant seen by all. This imagery shows us that God’s Covenant with His people has now come in its fullness. God throws open the Holies of Holies and draws His people into communion with Him. This is what awaits the Church of Christ. Yes, the terrible times of Judgement are coming, but there is a glorious end! The New Heaven and the New Earth are coming, where God will dwell with His people with no more death, sin, dying, mourning or pain. The glorious end is in sight, therefore stand firm, be encouraged, live with Hope. Jesus the Victorious King is coming soon! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 23rd June 2024 : The Two Witnesses – Revelation 11:7-13 It feels like we live in a time and context where western society is becoming increasingly hostile to the Church and Biblical values, where society is not simply becoming anti-Christian, but also anti-creation order, with things like the denying of distinct male and female genders. As Followers of Christ, how are we to react to all this? What if persecution and oppression increase in our land? Well, Jesus said (John 15:20) that, “…if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you!” Therefore, we are to expect it. Revelation 11 shows us the history of the church, where God symbolically measures the Temple, claiming a people for Himself, and how the Church, symbolised by the Two Witnesses, would testify to the power of the Gospel that divides the Believers from the Non-Believers; those under God’s favour from those under God’s judgement. When her task is finished, the Church will be killed by her enemies. The organised Church will appear to be dead. The world will rejoice over her death and will hold a party of celebration – the Beast has defeated the Church! But their rejoicing will be short-lived! While it ‘looks like’ the Church has been defeated by the world, her suffering will only be short, and then will be the glorious Resurrection from the Dead as the Church is taken into heaven, when Christ Returns on the Clouds. Notice the depth of the hatred, as the bodies of the two witnesses are left to be gazed upon and decompose without the dignity of a burial. A body left in the open without a burial is the highest expression of humiliation, shame and dishonour. Why the intensity of the hatred? Because the Gospel confronts people with their sin before God. The GOSPEL, truly preached, has always challenged the powerful in the world. John the Baptist threatened Herod, and lost his head; Jesus challenged the Pharisees and was crucified; Christians cried, “Jesus is Lord!” when Caesar claimed that he was ‘lord’, and they were martyred. We see here how the Church follows in the footsteps of her Saviour:- When He had finished His work of redemption on earth, He was killed. 2. On the third day He arose to life again.
- And then, He ascended into heaven – into glory.
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Sunday 16th June 2024 : The Temple Measured – Revelation 11:1-6 What is the place of the Church in the world? Israel was to be light to the nations to draw them into a right relationship with Yahweh, the Lord God. Jesus has called us as the New Testament Church to shine our light before men so that they may see your good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven, and to be a salting salt, a godly influence on our society. But what if the Church is so similar to the society in which she lives that she is no longer relevant? What if the Church has become so tolerant and accepting and inoffensive, that she is no longer really any different? What if we are so busy being ecumenical, at being ‘one’ with all faiths, that we have lost the unique Gospel message? The Apostle John has a vision in Revelation Chapter 11, where he is called to measure the Temple. The measuring stick is the Gospel, and he is measuring the full number of Believers in Jesus Christ. This shows that God knows who are His own. He knows who is in the inner sanctuary by repentance and faith, and who is in the outer court by mere religiosity. It also clearly outlines who will have the Lord’s protection and who will be under His Judgement! The “Two Witnesses” are the Church, and as the Church we have the power of the Gospel, which opens the Kingdom of God through Repentance and Faith, but also closes the kingdom in Judgement to those who rebel and reject Jesus. The task of the Church is to give testimony to the Gospel, to state what we know to be true about God and His Son Jesus Christ. It is not our job to be popular and inoffensive, tolerant and totally accepting; rather it is to bring the Gospel in love and truth, to be sad about sin and so give the call to repentance, but also to declare Judgement upon those who reject the Christ. As the Church, awaiting the Return of Christ, we are to be wearing sackcloth – clothes of sorrow and humility. In the Old Testament, when people wanted to repent they would clothe themselves with sackcloth and ashes, with an attitude of sorrow and humility. Oppression and the Judgement are coming. The Church will also suffer persecution, hardship and trials, for there is a spiritual battle going on, and we are to put on the spiritual armour of God that we may stand up to the schemes of the Evil One. The Church will be oppressed, indeed! God calls for the measuring of the Temple to show His special care and protection over His people, revealing that God has it contained; the terrible times will only be as long as He has determined it – for He is in control! And that is our comfort and strength. Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 28th April 2024 : The Mighty Angel and the Little Scroll – Revelation 10 The Apostle John is exiled on the Island of Patmos, the other Apostles have been killed, Jerusalem and the Temple have been destroyed with the Jewish people dispersed throughout the Roman Empire, and the church is under severe persecution. The Apostle John is left wondering what was Jesus all about? Was Christianity just a “flash in the pan”? You can imagine, he is at the point of despair. Jesus, however, comes and provides a series of visions that are written in this Book of Revelation to encourage him and the Christian church throughout the ages. The Book of Revelation helps us to understand why the world is like it is, and what God is doing about it! Last Sunday we considered the 6 Trumpet Calls and the ‘Warning of Judgement’ that they sounded. The world is like it is as God hands the wicked over to the consequences of their wickedness (Romans 1:18-32). The thing is however, that as the Church we also suffer under the effects of these Trumpet calls. We battle with the very things of the world that has brought these Trumpet Calls into being: lovers of things, lovers of pleasure and lovers of money. As the Church we struggle with sexual abuse, struggles for power and a lack of care for the poor and downtrodden. Like the Apostle Paul, with a sense of despair we can struggle and exclaim, “Oh what a wretched man I am!” Into this struggle, Jesus gives words of Reassurance. The Church will be given the strength to go through the trials and temptations, reminding them that God is still sovereign, that they are still His people, and that Hell will not triumph! This reassurance is given in this interlude of Chapter 10. The Mighty Angel towers over creation showing that ‘the Lord is in control and is calling the shots’. He, and only He, will decide when the time has come for the Final Judgement, the time when there will be no more delay, the Mystery of God will be revealed and all His people called in. John is instructed to eat the Little Scroll so he will be prepared to prophesy about the Final Judgement. Yes. The Final Judgement is coming and it will be terrible! But we need not fear, for we will overcome by the blood of the Lamb. The Final Judgement is necessary so that the kingdom of Heaven may come in all its glory and fullness. In the despair of Judgement, Revelation 10 brings a word of hope! Therefore, stand firm; Christ, the Victorious, is coming! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 21st April 2024 : The “Trumpet Calls” – Revelation 8 & 9 When we look around the world, we see that it is full of wars and civil unrest. You would think that as we grow in knowledge and technology that we would also grow in peace and cooperation, but more sophisticated technology and weapons just adds another layer of complexity to the fighting. However, as Christians, we should know that there will never be world peace on earth – the Book of Revelation tells us so! In Revelation chapters 8 & 9, we see the 6 Trumpet calls; the first four have to do with our environment and the next two the effect of the spiritual-demon world. The breaking of the seals in Chapter 6 speaks about world events, of God’s unfolding plan in Christ through history from the perspective of the Church, and how the church will suffer in the battle of the kingdoms, the comfort being that Jesus holds the Scroll! The Trumpet calls, however, show the same event from the perspective of the Non-Believer, and the suffering that they experience as they continue to reject the Lord. The Lord’s restrained Judgement is on them, causing them to suffer the consequences of their choices – and yet their suffering is God’s mercy in the call to repent. These are strong and terrible warnings to repent.- Revelation Chapters 8 & 9 helps us to understand why the world is like it is. There are no quick fixes or peace talks that will solve the problems because it is first of all a matter of the heart which (without Christ) is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things.
- These Trumpet calls help us to understand that the suffering in the world is not only a consequence of the rejection of God, but also the Trumpet calls sound God’s call to repent. This adds a sense of urgency to the Gospel. Jesus is the only answer to a renewed heart and transformed minds.
- These Trumpet calls also remind us of the comfort and reassurance that we have in belonging to Jesus. All those who are sealed by the Blood of the Lamb are safe; the glories of heaven await us; Justice will be done; God’s Kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven. Therefore, stand firm and be of good courage, for the victorious King is coming! Pastor Alan
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Sunday 18th February 2024 : Who can Stand? – Revelation 7 Revelation Chapter 6, after the terrifying vision of God’s judgement, ends with a confronting question, “Who can stand?” At the fullness of time when Jesus Returns and the Day of Judgement comes, “Who CAN stand?” It is a confronting question, even for us as Christians as we wrestle with our sinfulness, failures and inadequacies. Recently, someone shared that they felt they were not good enough to be a Christian, that the Lord would be ashamed of their life even after trying as hard as they could. The Psalmist in Psalm 130 confesses, “If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?” And, the immediate answer is, “No-one!” The Apostle John is exiled on the island of Patmos, all the other Apostles have been martyred and the Church seems to be falling apart – even the seven letters of Jesus seem to show the hopelessness of the church. What hope is there? Where is all this going to end up? Jesus gives the Apostle John these visions of Revelation to encourage the church and show that she is safe and secure in Him. After the vision of terrible judgement in Revelation 6, in chapter 7 John has another vision of the glory of heaven, this time before that judgement. This vision comforts the church that she is safe and secure. The riders cannot go out until the servants of the Lord are ‘sealed’ on their foreheads; that is, they receive the mark that they are under the care and protection of the Lamb that was slain – they belong to Him! What is that seal? It is the gift of the Holy Spirit. As Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.” The Holy Spirit applies the salvation of Jesus to our lives. He is the SEAL of God upon us. He is the guarantee of our inheritance as He unites us with Christ. It is by His indwelling and power that we remain in Christ. Therefore, no matter what happens, we cannot be separated from the Love of God in Christ Jesus – because the Holy Spirit is holding on to us and protecting us. The second scene in Chapter 7 shows the great multitude before the Throne and the Lamb in the glory of Heaven. And who is there praising God before the Throne? The Great Multitude who had been sealed with the Holy Spirit, having been washed in the blood of the Lamb. God’s people are sealed with the Holy Spirit before the four horsemen bring the following Judgement, and then there they are after the Judgement, praising the Lord in the glory of heaven, safe and secure, sealed by the Holy Spirit and washed in the blood of the Lamb, salvation guaranteed! In these visions Jesus comforts His Church. Hallelujah! What a Saviour! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 11th February 2024 : The Day of the Lord – Revelation 6:9-17 We all desire justice – from whatever perspective we hold. Pro-Palestinians believe justice is to drive out the Israelis from the land. Israeli justice is to destroy Hamas. President Putin’s justice is to reclaim Ukraine for the Empire. For some, Aboriginal justice is being recognised as traditional owners of the Land, being recompensed for past wrongs and self-determination. We find in Revelation Chapter 6 that the ‘Martyred Saints’ under the Altar, who had been sacrificed for the sake of the Kingdom because they stuck faithfully to living and preaching the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, also cried for justice, “How long before you will judge and avenge the blood on those who dwell on the earth?!” Note that their cry is not a prayer for revenge; it is not personal vendetta, nor a thirst for personal reprisal. Rather, it is a PRAYER for God’s Honour! It’s a prayer for the end of evil and the destruction of Satan and his kingdom, and that in this, God will bring Justice! And that is what we also are praying for when we pray “Maranatha, Lord Jesus come quickly”, as we desire that Jesus would Return and bring us into the full glory of heaven. That’s the ‘positive side’. The ‘negative side’ is that when Jesus Returns as Lord, it will also be as Judge. And that is the opening of the sixth seal, where the Lord will come in His Holy Wrath to judge the nations and bring His Justice to bear, punishing every evil act and putting right every wrong that’s been perpetrated. As Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the Living God!” The Gospel is a double-edged sword. It brings the message of salvation for all who repent and believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, but it also condemns people to Hell if they do not follow Jesus! On the one hand, Believers are drawn into the love and fellowship of God through Jesus, but on the other hand, the Lord withdraws His love and fellowship from unbelievers, and so they are left under His wrath and judgement… forever. The Lord answers the Martyred Saints: Be patient a little while longer until all those the Father has chosen would be called into repentance and faith. Justice is coming! It’s when the time of grace is fulfilled. Of note is that while the ‘Day of the Lord’ strikes terror into the heart of the unbeliever in the face of the coming judgement of the wrath of God upon them, for the Believer the coming of the ‘Day of Christ’ brings an excited sense of anticipation, as we will be embraced fully into the love and fellowship of God in glory. That is why we sing, “Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly!” Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 19th November 2023 : The Four Horsemen – Revelation 6:1-8 The Book of Revelation is about standing firm and overcoming because the Kingdom of God is coming in Christ the King. Revelation describes the coming of the Kingdom in history. Jesus holds the Scroll detailing God’s will and purposes in claiming back His Kingdom from the powers of Satan. In the beginning, when Adam sinned against the Lord, God declared War in Genesis 3: 15: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head and you shall strike His heel.” This promise of enmity is nothing less than drawing the battle line between Satan and Christ. And so, the world, our history, is played out on the backdrop of the battle of these Two Powers. There are two powers but only one world: The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan are battling it out over this one world. Now in Revelation, the Seven Seals, Bowls and Trumpets reveal to us HOW the battle is fought, HOW God is reclaiming the World from the powers of Satan. Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by world events, and ask what is the world coming to? Things just seem to be galloping out of control! Consider RUSSIA invading Ukraine; the US pulling out of AFGHANISTAN and letting it back into the hands of extremists; HAMAS inflicting a horrifying terrorist attack in Israel and Israel retaliating in Gaza. And sometimes you wonder if we are on the verge of World War III? Revelation 6:1-8 depicts the release of four horsemen in the world. 1. A White Horse depicting The Kingdom of Christ advancing in the world in victory. 2. A Red Horse symbolising slaughter and bloodshed as the rider removes peace from the world. 3. A Black Horse that represents famine, natural disasters and economic hardship. And finally, 4. A Pale Horse symbolising Death, swinging his awful sword in his powerful fist, followed behind by Hades to swallow up the victims that may fall in his path. When we put all four horsemen together, we get a pretty overwhelming picture! But here is the KEY: The history of the world is about Jesus Christ and the coming of His Kingdom. Consequently, ‘these things must happen’ as Jesus advances the Kingdom, and Satan violently opposes it. However, we need not live in fear! Wars, famines, injustices and death are all part of the Coming of the Kingdom. And they will go no further than Christ the King allows to achieve His redemptive purposes, as God uses His restraining Judgement to keep evil from triumphing! Do not fear, the King is Coming! Pastor Alan————————————
Sunday 29th October 2023 : Worthy is the Lamb! – Revelation 5:6-14 Do you find the worship service boring? Or do you find it invigorating? What makes the difference? Last Wednesday at the prayer meeting we considered Psalm 73. In light of the prosperity and carefreeness of the wicked, the psalmist was ready to throw out his faith in his envy and bitterness for what he felt he was not getting as a Believer. His lack of prosperity compared to the wicked didn’t align with God’s Covenant promises! However, it all changed when he entered into the Sanctuary of God and saw life from God’s perspective! The wicked will get what they deserve, and the righteous will be kept by the Lord. God’s promises are being fulfilled! We see a similar thing with the Apostle John. He is exiled on the Isle of Patmos and is not in a good headspace. He is considering what will become of the Church of Christ? After the initial establishment years, it looks like it is all ‘turning to custard’! The Jews are scattered; the church is under severe persecution; all the other Apostles have been martyred. What hope is there for the future? King Jesus, in compassion and kindness, gives John a vision of revelation – a peep into the Throne Room of Heaven. There John sees the Lamb that was slain and the confirmation that all that the church has ever been promised through the Scriptures and all that we have ever prayed for is now about to come to pass. He sees the Lamb of God receiving the singing of a New Song of Praise by the choir of Cherubim, Elders and angels, and all creatures on earth praising the Lamb as being worthy to open the scroll and bring to completion the work of Redemption, when all things will be made new and all evil dealt with once-for-all time. John is comforted and exhilarated. God has it in hand. Worship is where we find the encouragement, refreshment and enlightenment of God’s plan of Redemption and His working it out in our history. Our worship on earth is an echo of the worship and praise in heaven. It is invigorating, inspiring and comforting as it lifts us up out of our bubble of wants, desires and troubles of this life, and focuses our eyes to heaven where God is sitting on the Throne, and Jesus the Lamb is breaking open the seals of the scroll. It calls us to heart-felt praise! Now that is a wonderful perspective to worship – is it not? Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 22nd October 2023 : Who is Worthy? – Revelation 5:1-5 I don’t know about you, but I have always wondered about how the scroll and the seven seals in the Book of Revelation worked – not the meaning so much, but what this scroll might have looked like for the seven seals to be opened one at a time and how things start happening when they were opened. The Scroll is typical of Roman Title Deeds and official documents. The seal indicated the importance of the documents and that only authorised people could open it. In Revelation Chapter 5, the Mighty Angel gave a very loud cry looking for who was worthy to open the scroll in God’s right hand. No-one in all creation could be found. John wept deeply because if the scroll of God’s plan for Redemption could not be opened, then the Kingdom would not come. However, one of the Elders comforts John. Yes, there is One who is worthy; the Lion Who was first the Lamb – Jesus Christ the Lord’s anointed Messiah-King. It is Jesus Who brings God’s plan of redemption into action and to its completion. Heaven is real; the Kingdom will come in all its glory and fullness in Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 15th October 2023 : God is on His Throne! – Revelation 4 In the Old Testament (2 Kings 6:8-23) there is the event involving the Prophet Elisha and the King of Aram. As the Lord’s Prophet, Elisha kept warning the King of Israel of the King of Aram’s plans. The King of Aram was furious and instructed his men to find Elisha, and upon finding Elisha at Dothan, he sent his army of horses and chariots to surround the city. When Elisha’s attendant got up in the morning, he saw the entire city surrounded by horses and chariots. In panic he cries out to Elisha, “My Lord what shall we do?” To which Elisha replies, “Do not fear; the Aramean army is not an army. Look to the hills; now this is an army!” The mountains were ablaze with horses and chariots of fire all around them. The point is, as we see in Revelation Chapter 4, God is sitting on the Throne! He is ruling with power, might and splendour, with all glory and majesty. Therefore, we are called not to fear! Nothing will, or even can, happen outside the Lord’s will and purpose. The Apostle John is exiled on the island of Patmos, and was utterly discouraged. Jerusalem had been destroyed in 70 A.D. with the Jews massacred and scattered. The new church was being severely persecuted and there was no king to defend them on earth or to redeem Israel. What did the future hold? Who is really in charge? The Lord Jesus gives John the vision of the Book of Revelation to reassure him that God is sitting on His Throne! He is in charge of the earth and of history, and will bring it to His appointed Redemptive end. We have the same question today. “Who is really in charge here?” What will the future bring as Hamas instigates a concerted terrorist attack on Israel, as Russia has invaded Ukraine, as civil wars continue on around the world (Sudan, Africa, Myanmar and the list goes on), as there are earthquakes and floods and fires, and as our country goes to the Referendum and we wonder what the future will bring (whatever the result). The Lord Jesus comforts John and us; See, God is on the Throne! He’s got this under control! Just rest in Him – the Power of His might and the comfort of His promises. Therefore, in a chaotic world and the struggles of life, there is this comfort, reassurance and hope for the future. God is on His Throne! Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 10th September 2023 : Laodicea – A Nauseating Church! – Revelation 3:14-22 Some of us had the privilege of attending a presentation by Rev. Victor Atallah (Director of MERF) last Thursday evening. One of the highlights was hearing how the Gospel is spreading in the Middle East and African countries. A question was asked about the decline of Christianity in the Western World, and it is a good question to consider, because Europe was where the fire of the REFORMATION swept through: France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland and England. It changed the face of Europe economically, in civil law, and in terms of how society lived. The Reformation brought Democracy and ‘broke the back’ of the Monarchs. That was quite a transformation! And now? The church in Europe is small, weak and defeated. In the up-and-coming Liberal Theology (influenced by Darwinian Evolution) the authenticity of the Bible was questioned, Jesus as both God and Man was attacked and the Gospel was made irrelevant as the tenets of the Social Gospel were adopted. In many ways the churches have become merely a humanitarian organisation, bringing a social Gospel, priding itself for its work of social relief. Many reasons could be considered for the decline of the church in the West, but the church in Laodicea gives us a good clue for one of those considerations: finding security in riches. As the era of reason grew and technology advanced and the information explosion hit, mankind simply didn’t need God anymore. In fact, there has been movement to push God right out the picture altogether! Evolution doesn’t need God to explain the world and how it came about. The Climate Change movement has put humans in charge of our environmental destiny. Religion is considered to be but a crutch for weak-minded people. You can be who you want to be, what you want to be and how you want to be – the world is your oyster; your destiny is in your hands! The Church in Laodicea was so rich that they didn’t need God; they thought that they were independent and well off. But Jesus gives a scathing assessment – they were wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. Their riches and independence had made them blind to the reality of sin and their need for the Gospel, that in their sin they stood as wretched sinners, naked in their sin and shame before the Holy God. And yet, Jesus knocks on the door of His own church, inviting them to return in fellowship with Him through repentance and faith. Oh, the Glory of the Gospel, with its ongoing call to repent and return to the Lord! Let’s not lose sight of the fact that the riches of the Kingdom in eating at the Banquet Table of the King and sitting with Him in the Throne Room are a far greater glory of riches than anything earth can offer. Let him who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 20th August 2023 : Philadelphia: Weak and yet Strong! – Revelation 3:7-13 Many of you may remember the illustration that if you light one match, it is easy to blow out. But if you light several matches together, they are a lot harder to blow out. The idea is that there is strength in numbers when Christians stick together. On the one hand there is merit to that idea, as Hebrews calls us to ‘Hold fast the confession of our Hope’, and ‘not to neglect meeting together but to stir one another to love and good works’ (Hebrews 10:23-25). This indeed encourages group effort; functioning together adds to the Body of Christ. However, on the other hand our strength is not in numbers but in the Lord. Churches with a big membership are not necessarily ‘stronger’ than little churches. We see this with the Church of Philadelphia in Revelation Chapter 3. It was a wee, little church and the Lord commends her for her faithfulness, obedience, loyalty and endurance, even though the Jews were persecuting them because they claimed to be the people of God (Children of Abraham – John 8:33), and how dare the Philadelphian church declare that in Christ Jesus, they are the people of God! Jesus encourages them to ‘Hold fast what you have’ for I (Jesus) hold the key of David! I am the One Who opens and shuts the door to the Kingdom of God. I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Yes, even the Jews with the lineage of Abraham, they too can only come to the Father through Me. The Jews may accuse you of blasphemy, but I accept you in love. In My death on the Cross and my Resurrection from the Dead and Ascension into heaven, I hold the keys even to Death and Hades. So don’t worry! Be strong! I give you My Word and Reward; your salvation is assured in Me, Jesus the Holy and True One. The comfort is that even as small churches our strength is in Christ Jesus. I can think of at least two churches in our denomination who have seriously considered closing their doors because of ‘not being viable’, of ‘not being able to support a minister’. But they simply went on faithfully as the church of God and today are thriving churches who can fully support their minister. Our strength is not so much our numbers and what action we take, as in faithfully being about the business of the Gospel – nothing is hopeless with the Gospel. As a small church, let us not look at what we don’t have. Rather let us look at what we do have in Christ Jesus, and rejoice in His goodness and grace, and simply live for Jesus! Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 13th August 2023 : Sardis: Alive and yet Dead! – Revelation 3:1-6 Sardis was a very successful church. In today’s terms it was a mega-church on steroids. Great programmes, phenomenal band and (recording) singing ministry, high powered worship services, employing heaps of people for various ministries, growing in numbers – just the place to be! Jesus said that Sardis had the reputation of being alive. And then comes the ‘clanger’ – But…you…are…DEAD. Alive but dead? How does that work? Well, basically the church had been hijacked to build personal empires using religious means. It was no longer about Jesus and the Gospel. Consider the Pharisees. They were a group that came to prominence in the inter-testimonial period, where there was no prophecy for four hundred years and people were starting to go their own ways. They were a separatist group that stood on the commitment to the Scriptures as the Word of God, with a demanding, strict, legalistic lifestyle, so that only a few people chose to live according to its standard. It seems there were no more than about 6,000 Pharisees. Now, it started out as a noble cause by noble men: to hold to the Scriptures and live by them. But over time it degenerated into teaching that you were saved by adherence to the Law of Moses (surrounded by about 900 hundred extra rules); the better you kept the Law the closer you were to heaven. The Pharisees enslaved the Israelites by the letter of the Law, instead of the Law being the means of relationship with the Lord God through repentance and faith, to such an extent that the Pharisees denied Jesus as the Messiah and were instrumental in having Him crucified to preserve their authority and place in society. They had built an ‘empire’ for themselves using the Law of God. This also happens with churches today using religion to further personal empires and causes. We start with the noblest of intentions but get swept up with success and power so that the Gospel is lost – like it appears to have happened with Hillsong. But the Gospel always provides a way back! We are to repent and go back to Gospel basics and then hold on to the Gospel that has been entrusted to our care! And Jesus gives a promise. To him who overcomes, who remains faithful to the Gospel in his love for Jesus above all things, there is assurance of salvation. When you believe in Jesus and strive to live for Him, your salvation is guaranteed. You are clothed with His Righteousness, your name is written in the Book of Life by His Blood and Jesus as High Priest confesses your name (intercedes) before the Father. What joy and comfort are ours in Christ! He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 30th July 2023 : Thyatira – A Corrupt Church! – Revelation 2:18-29 The church in Thyatira was a warm and growing church. There were volunteers to fill all the ministry positions, and nothing was too much to ask for. People felt welcome and accepted as the church embraced differing views in love. It would be a very popular church today! But then Jesus severely rebukes the church in Thyatira! They had become so loving and embracing that they were accepting the teaching of a self-proclaimed prophetess called Jezebel, who had seduced the church to sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. How did she manage that? Consider this. If two Christian businessmen met for lunch to make a business deal, they might pray grace before the meal, and when the business agreement was reached, again pray and ask God’s blessing on the deal – as Christians our faith is active in every area of our lives. Well, Thyatira was a city known for its trade guilds (unions), and you couldn’t really do business without belonging to a Guild. However, these Guilds were somewhat religious in nature (like the Free Masons today who have a network within businesses and a form of religion with rituals). Whilst the Christian businessmen would pray and acknowledge God in their work, the Guilds would participate in a form of religious rituals that included eating food offered to idols and sexual religious rites. Now Jezebel was teaching that it was okay to participate in these religious rites to do business. It was ‘just business’ after all, and you had to make a living. God would understand and accept this was how it was in Thyatira. This would be akin to doing a business deal over dinner, then going on to a strip club, getting drunk and indulging with prostitutes in order to ‘seal the deal’, and then saying God would understand and accept that this was simply part of ‘just doing business’. The problem was that the church at Thyatira was accepting this as okay – it’s just business. How many sinful practices have Christians indulged in under the guise of ‘it’s just business?’ The contradiction is that Jesus died on the Cross to sanctify for Himself a Bride (the Church) who is Holy and Blameless, without stain or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27). If our Lord laid down His life to make us Holy, then He will not accept His church having an easy-going and tolerant attitude to sin that cost Him His life through suffering in Hell! Consequently, Jesus severely rebukes the church of Thyatira. He calls her to repentance and declares judgement on her if she does not repent. We are called to be Holy as the Bride of Christ. Let us be discerning about the lures and wiles of the world, and prayerfully and intentionally strive to be holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 16th July 2023 : Pergamum – A Compromising Church! – Revelation 2:12-17 Pergamum was a ‘you beaut’ church, and the Lord Jesus commends them for standing firm in the faith in the face of persecution. The church of Pergamum was in a city full of idol worship and a stronghold of false religions. When confronted directly by persecution, they stood firm! But then Jesus rebukes the church because some had been influenced by these false religions and were in danger of denying their faith. After failing in a frontal attack of persecution, Satan now comes in from the side by distraction. One of these influences was the teaching of Balaam, who advised King Balak to use the women of Moab to seduce the men of Israel and lead them into Baal worship. The women formed relations with the Israelite men, inviting them to meetings with them and making them feel very welcome (basically the Israelite men married unbelievers and were drawn into their religion). Soon the men became Baal worshippers – which resulted in the Lord sending a plague killing 24,000 Israelites. Jesus also rebukes the church because others were following the teaching of the Nicolaitans. They taught that you are saved by grace so it didn’t matter what you did in the body, and so encouraged a life style of promiscuity, depravity and perversion. Sound familiar? What would Jesus say to the churches today when 1. Christians encourage other Christians to get divorced, letting Satan spoil God’s wonderful gift rather than encouraging them to let Jesus redeem it (Matthew 19:4-6); or when 2. churches marry same-gender couples as an act of love and acceptance, rather than, in love, supporting them to follow God’s creation order of one man and one woman in a public love commitment for life called marriage (Genesis 2:24); or when 3. Sunday, God’s gift of rest and fellowship with Him, looks no different than the other six days of the week Exodus 20:9-11); or when 4. our thoughts, our feelings, our rights are promoted rather than intentionally imitating Jesus by being of one mind and serving the interests of others (Philippians 2:1-4)? Do we love Jesus? Absolutely! Do we desire to follow in His blessed ways? You betcha! Then why do these corruptions enter into the church? It happens when we allow the world to influence our thinking and do not let the Word of God speak plainly anymore. And then, we re-interpret the Bible to suit our new values. But there is always a way back. Jesus calls the church in Pergamum to repent and return to the teachings of the Bible as the Holy Spirit has given it. Otherwise, the Bible will condemn them! And it is serious – look at the Lord’s plague on Israel for worshipping Baal. However, if we repent and conquer, we will be vindicated and go into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Let us not be seduced by the ways of the world but keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and follow His Word, for in this is victory and glory. Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 9th July 2023 : Smyrna – A Persecuted Church! – Revelation 2:8-11 Open Doors writes about a new online database in China where pastors and parishioners (of all religions) have to sign in on a government “Smart Religion App”, including their name, permanent residence, phone no., government ID no., occupation, and date of birth before they can make a reservation to attend church meetings. Some Christians have chosen to meet illegally. Lately we have been hearing about the persecution in Manipur State, Northeast India, where over 350 churches have been set ablaze, vandalised, and destroyed. Thousands of houses and properties of Christians have been burned and demolished, more than 100 Christians have been killed in the violence, and more than 30,000 Christians from the mainly Christian Kuki people, as well as Christians from the mainly Hindu Meitei people have been displaced and are taking shelter in neighbouring states or in camps, schools, colleges and community centres in the tribal land. Persecution of the church is real throughout the world today, and the rumbling of persecution is beginning in Australia, with the increasing antagonism against Christianity and the rising of God-rejecting ideology. The question confronting us as God’s people is, “Are we ready to endure it when it comes?” The Church in Smyrna was under severe persecution, and Jesus gives words of comfort and encouragement: Jesus is Lord and all things are under His rule; persecution is the work of the evil one; it may call us to death (but it is only a physical death); it will only be for a time determined by the Lord Jesus. Also, remember the promise of the glory of heaven to come: “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.” We need to remember that there is a spiritual battle going on! It is a battle for which the Apostle Paul urges us to put on the whole armour of God. In 1 Peter 3, we are called not to be surprised or troubled, nor fear persecutors, but be ready to give a defence of our faith so that our behaviour in Christ may put them to shame. While the world persecutes Christians, the church of Christ is growing! This is also what happened in the Book of Acts. Persecution scattered the church throughout the Roman Empire and spread the Gospel with it. Do not fear, do not despair – Jesus, the Lord of the Church and over all creation is ruling over all for His saving purposes, and is calling us to be part of it. Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 25th June 2023 : First Love – Revelation 2:1-7 The further you move from the flame the cooler you get – unless you re-kindle the flame. As a church, Ephesus started off with a huge ‘hiss and a bang’. Acts 19 shows that there was a great power encounter as the Gospel upended a whole city steeped in corruption and depravity. Even Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons held healing power as they were carried away to the sick, healing them and exorcising evil spirits (Acts 19:11-12). What a sight that would have been to witness the bonfire burning thousands of dollars’ worth of magic arts books as a show of repentance! What power! What excitement! Now Ephesus is forty years or so down the track – the buzz and excitement of the beginning has now passed, the next generation who was not privy to that time probably thinking that it’s merely Mum & Dad’s story. The church was very faithful in its ministries, but it had lost its spark and passion. Things had become routine, and maybe the reason for doing things the way they did in the beginning had become lost. So, while they were a ‘you beaut’ functioning church organisationally, spiritually they had become stale. Jesus severely rebukes them for having lost their ‘first love’. It is so serious that He threatens to take away their lampstand, that is, to close them down as a church. That is a radical step to take! So why was it so serious? Because they had slipped into being religious instead of being righteous. They had lost the focus and foundation of the Gospel by investing in the programmes instead of relationships. Sadly, it follows a typical decline of the church. 1. We become so busy with DOING the church that we forget to BE the Church. 2. Consequently we lose the focus of the Gospel and concentrate on programmes and success. 3. Which leads to compromise (if it works, we will do it). 4. Which leads further to corruption: egos (success) are now at the centre of things rather than Jesus (the Gospel). The Church is now a religious organisation of someone’s empire, with the Gospel compromised and lost. But Jesus gives a way back! To re-kindle the flame of the Gospel through Remembering (the Gospel), Repenting (from sin) and Renewing (in faith). And Jesus promises to him who overcomes, who remains steadfast, they will eat from the tree of life, which is to enter into the Paradise of Heaven. Let us heed the call to stand firm in the Faith, for the King is Coming to bring us into the glory of heaven. Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 18th June 2023 : The Glorified Christ with His Church – Revelation 1:9-20 The Apostle John was the last surviving Apostle; all the other Apostles had been martyred. John had lived through the destruction of Jerusalem that saw the city turned to rubble, some 985 towns ransacked, with some million Jews slaughtered. With Emperor Domitian raging against the Christians, the church was under severe persecution, and here sat John upon the barren rock of Patmos. The future of the church looked very bleak, and it raised the question: What had become of the Messiah and the Kingdom? It seems that all had been lost after all. But then heaven opens up as John is given a series of visions that make up the Book of Revelation. In the first of the visions, John sees that Jesus is the exalted Son of Man, the Supreme King Who rules over all the nations. Emperor Domitian may have exiled John to Patmos in persecution, but King Jesus purposed it for John to receive these visions about heaven and the Lord’s plan of salvation. John sees that Jesus is King! He is the All-powerful, Almighty One, ruling over the earth. Jesus has the keys to Death and Hades, and so Jesus has the POWER to be the Supreme King! Jesus as the “Son of Man” is seen standing in the middle of the seven golden lampstands; that is, He is moving and actively ministering among His churches. Jesus is busy Building, Interceding, Purifying, Commanding, Controlling, Protecting and Evangelising through His Church – then and also today! What a tremendous comfort this brings to the church and to each one of us as Followers of Jesus, when we read about the Christians being persecuted in Manipur, India, with some 80 believers killed and 10,000 homeless as a result of persecution in Manipur state. The Hindu violence directed against Christians continues to escalate, as many hundreds are injured and now 40,000 have fled and are living as refugees. There is massive property damage to churches and homes. In light of this, what a comfort it is to know that King Jesus is walking among the seven lampstands, actively ministering to His church. Let us be prepared to face persecution in the times to come, resting in the knowledge that Jesus is working out His plan even through the schemes of the evil one. Pastor Alan————————————-
Sunday 11th June 2023 : Parting the Curtain – Revelation 1:1-8 The Apostle John was the last surviving apostle, an old man in exile on the small barren island of Patmos. The Roman authorities had banished him there because he wouldn’t stop preaching the Gospel. The Roman Empire has just been renamed “The Eternal Empire!”, and the Emperor “The Eternal King!” The emperor wanted to be worshipped as a god, and here was the Church bowing the knee to King Jesus! As a result, the Christian Church was going through a hard time of persecution. In the Book of Revelation we find John writing letters to the Seven Churches in Asia, the churches so dear to his heart. John writes a message of HOPE and mighty comfort by relating the visions he has seen – that which God has passed on to him. Using symbolic language to protect the churches in persecution, John shows how God the Father is working out for His people His Plan of Salvation that will come to pass in Jesus, the Lamb of God, and that the persecution is part of the Battle of the Kingdoms: The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. But do not fear! Jesus is the victorious King. The Battle is under His control; just stand firm in faith. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3). What a blessing and comfort for us as we live in an increasingly chaotic world! What is happening around us is all within the Lord’s plan, and is how He is dealing with the forces of Satan in the world and our history. All evil will be brought to account, judged and justice brought to bear. Knowing the Lord is in control, bringing salvation through Jesus the Lamb of God, we are encouraged to have ears to hear the Lord’s message and so to stand firm in the faith! Note the re-occurring theme: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!” The Blessedness comes from hearing, and in hearing to be able to stand firm! One of the biggest issues today is that people are so wrapped up in themselves and their causes that they are not hearing! That is the clever tactic of the evil one – to distract us from the Word of God. Beloved, be comforted, stand firm in the faith even in this chaotic world. Jesus has won the battle of the Kingdoms at the Cross, and He is coming back at the end of time as determined by the Father to bring that victory in all its fullness! So, stand firm! Christ the King is Coming! Pastor Alan————————————-
