Oxford Bible Church - Living in the Last Days (audio)

We explore the background to the letter of Galatians and how it fits perfectly in with the Book of Acts. Being the first letter in the Bible that Paul wrote, it is appropriate that it deals with the fundamental truths of the Gospel of Grace. We see how Paul begins the letter by defending both his apostolic authority and his message - the Gospel of grace. The letter of Galatians has proven vital throughout Church history in delivering the Church from the false gospel of faith plus works. In fact, Galatians played an essential role in Martin Luther's life and in the Protestant Reformation.

Pastor Derek discusses with Anne Dawson the place of the UK in Bible Prophecy. Derek makes the case that the UK is Biblical Tarshish. He shows how the scriptures on Tarshish show she is the UK (not Spain). God used the Tarshish nations in the world wars, and to enable Israel's Rebirth. Also, the Tarshish prophecies require Brexit. This is a sign that God is raising the UK up again to fulfil her call and destiny. This is confirmed by the special mention of Tarshish and her young lions in Ezekiel 38:13, as opposing the invasion of Israel by Russia, Iran, Turkey and many other nations in the end times. Derek and Anne also discuss the upcoming and imminent end-time invasion of Israel, prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39

Pastor Derek discusses with Anne Dawson the issue of the 3 Days and 3 Nights between Christ's Death and Resurrection on Revelation TV's Speaker's Corner. Jesus rose 'on the 3rd day' 'and 'after 3 days & 3 nights.' How do we resolve this prophetic paradox? Derek gives proofs for the Crucifixion on Passover, Friday April 1st AD 33 (our calendar), and the Resurrection at Firstfruits, Sunday Dawn. But how can this be 3 days & 3 nights (Matthew 12:40)? See how God solved the paradox!

Pastor Derek discusses the issue of Lordship Salvation with Howard Condor on Revelation TV's Speaker's Corner. Is submission to Christ's Lordship necessary to receiving salvation.What is a true saving faith? Is it just believing in the Gospel? Can you receive and trust in Jesus as your Saviour without receiving and submitting to Him as your Lord? Since sin is rebellion against God, can we be saved without submitting to God? What is the repentance God requires for us to be saved?

"It is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1Corinthians 2:9).

One common objection to the claim that it is God’s will to heal His people is Paul’s THORN in the FLESH. Many say that it was a sickness that God gave Paul to keep him humble, and that when Paul asked to be healed God said 'No.' In this video, Derek proves that this interpretation is wrong. The key questions are: (1) what is Paul’s Thorn?, and (2) where did it come from - from God or the devil? The answers are made clear in God's Word. We also explore the significance of God's answer to Paul: "“My GRACE is sufficient for you, for My STRENGTH is made perfect in WEAKNESS.” We also see how this principle was demonstrated in Paul's life, when he was stoned to death.

Derek answers a number of questions, with a special emphasis on Bible Prophecy. His discussion with Howard Condor includes how Jesus fulfils the Feasts, why we are living in the End Times now, the New Birth, where believers go after death, what happened to the Old Testament saints, putting God first, eternal security, the antichrist's kingdom, overcoming sin, Day of the Lord, One Day is as 1000 years, the Ezekiel 38-39 invasion, God's resurrection program, Mansions in Heaven, the Bride of Christ, the nature of sin, the outpouring of God's Spirit, God's purpose for this life in relation to eternity, the Rapture, and salvation in the Tribulation for those who are left behind in the Rapture.

There are only 2 possible eternal destinies for every person - either (1) a state and place of everlasting life and blessedness in God’s Presence, for those who have received Christ as their Saviour and Lord, or (2) a state and place of everlasting punishment, for those who have rejected Christ and His offer of Salvation. Every man's final destiny is fixed by God at the time of his death, according to the condition of his soul in relation to God (Ecclesiastes 11:3). There is a HEAVEN to gain and a HELL to shun! Before the Death and Resurrection of Christ, at death both believers and unbelievers went down to a place called ‘Hades’ (in Greek) or ‘Sheol’ (in Hebrew), a place under the earth for departed spirits, but the believers and unbelievers went to 2 different compartments of Hades, separated by the Bottomless Pit. This is revealed by the true story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-26). Before the New Covenant it was impossible for anyone to be born again, and so it was impossible for their spirits to go into Heaven. But now through Christ's death and resurrection, the New Birth is available, which means that when believers die now, our spirits can go straight up to Heaven, because our spirits have been changed, born again, and made perfect in Christ. When Christ rose from the dead, He made the spirits of the Old Testament saints perfect by giving them the New Birth, and then took them to Heaven with Him, so they are there now. Jesus promised that believers in the Church Age would not go down to Hades, but up to Heaven for they are now in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 16:18, John 3:3-6). Derek gives a number of scriptures that prove that believers now go up ti Heaven when they die. On the other hand, unbelievers still go down to Torments in Hades, a temporary place of punishment for their soul, because they died in their sins and are guilty. They rejected the grace of God, the work of Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit. They must wait in this temporary holding-cell in Hades until they are resurrected at the end of time and made to stand before the Great White Throne for their final sentencing and dismissal into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20), which is their final and everlasting place of punishment, for both their body and their soul (Matthew 10:28).

God's eternal Judgment will determine each person's eternal destiny. God will ultimately divide all mankind into 2 groups with 2 very different eternal destinies, which is decided at death, when a permanent separation takes place between the righteous and unrighteous. This Judgment, which happens when we cross over the threshold from this life to the next, will be solely a judgment of that individual, and the decisions he has made in his life (Ezekiel 18:20). The Bible teaches that mankind generally goes through 3 Phases of Existence: (1) this life in a mortal body, (2) the INTERMEDIATE STATE, and (3) the ETERNAL STATE in an immortal body. After death the invisible part of man (his spirit- soul), will live on independently from his body. This is called the Immortality of the Soul (Matthew 10:28). Although the body is made from dust that dies, the spirit is made from God’s breath (spirit) and so cannot die. It continues to exist and live on after death (Genesis 2:7). Physical death is simply the separation of the spirit from the body, when the body is no longer able to house the spirit (James 2:26). The condition of each soul at death will determine its destiny for eternity (Ecclesiastes 11:3, Rev 22:11). The first Stage of man's Eternal Judgment happens immediately after his death (Hebrews 9:27). Stage 1 determines a man’s guilt or innocence. You will either die 'in your sins' (John 8:24) or 'in the Lord' (Rev 14:13). The righteous go up to Paradise, and the wicked go down to Hades, where both groups wait for the 2nd Stage of their Eternal Judgment, which is at their resurrection. After death a man enters the next phase of his existence, the Intermediate State (a temporary State, the time between his death and resurrection). After leaving his body, he continues to exist as a disembodied spirit. In Stage 2 of man’s Eternal Judgment, at his resurrection, he will appear before the Judge for sentencing. Believers will come before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged according to their works to determine their eternal rewards. *Unbelievers will stand before the Great White Throne for their final sentencing. They are judged according to their works to determine the degree of their eternal punishment. They are then dismissed to their final place of punishment, the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15). A major change took place through the Death and Resurrection of Christ, so Derek shows what happened in Old Testament times before the Cross (Luke 16), and the difference that Christ made possible for us by establishing the New Covenant and providing the perfecting of our spirits through the New Birth. Thus before the Resurrection, Heaven was not populated by man (John 3:13), but now in Christ, our spirits have been changed, born again, and made perfect. So now when believers die, they go straight up into Heaven.

In this short video, Derek completes his overview of the the 8 Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 - the heart attitudes that we need to develop to enable us to receive God's grace and blessing.