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

In this episode, 'the River of Life,' Derek explores the profound biblical revelation that believers are the eternal Temple of God, designed to be filled with His presence and glory. Redeemed man in Christ is designed to be the eternal Temple of the Living God, indwelt by Him and shining forth His glory. Thus, redeemed man is the ultimate, eternal Temple of God (1Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19-20, 12:12, 2Cor 6:16, Ephesians 2:21-22, Rev 21:22-26). TEMPLES are designed to be dwelling places of God, and He introduced TEMPLES to reveal His ULTIMATE PURPOSE for mankind. He created MAN to be His TEMPLE, and now His plan is to redeem us, so that we might be the DWELLING PLACE of God, that God would dwell with us and IN US forever! This is God's ultimate purpose for man - that God might dwell in us and be glorified through us. All Temples of God are a blueprint of His ultimate Temple (Man), and so they describe our nature, design, purpose and operation - how God made us to function. The first clear design feature of God’s Temples is that they are all tripartite in structure. That is, they are comprised of 3 distinct parts, with 3 different levels of holiness, sometimes represented by different heights: (1) The HOLY of HOLIES, where God is enthroned, (2) the HOLY PLACE, and (3) the OUTER COURT. Likewise man is (1) SPIRIT, (2) SOUL & (3) BODY (1Thessalonians 5:23). The greatest Presence of God is in the Holy of Holies, where He is enthroned as King, and His Presence (Glory) radiates like light shining forth from the Holiest Place. One picture of this FLOW of LIFE is that His SPIRIT of GRACE flows down like RIVERS from the highest place (the Holy of Holies or Throne Room) to water the lower places. We see this RIVER of LIFE in the Heavenly Temple (Rev 22:1-2), in Eden (Genesis 2:10) and in the Millennial Temple (Joel 3:18, Zechariah 14:8-9, Ezekiel 47). Jesus was a fully functioning Temple of God, who came to make us into Temples of God, with the Holy Spirit dwelling in our born again spirit (John 14:16-17, Romans 5:5, John 4:10,14), and flowing out through our heart as rivers of living water (John 7:37-39). So, now in Christ, God, the Holy Spirit lives within our reborn spirit (where Christ is enthroned), from where He wants to flow down as rivers of life to fill our souls with His light and life, and then flow out through our bodies to the world, as we obey Him, by speaking His words and doing His works. We are Temples of the Living God, who wants to fill and empower us and be glorified through us. As we let His River of life and grace flow down from our high place (our spirit) through our soul, as we submit to Him and obey Him, the trees in the garden of our soul (our thoughts and emotions) will continually flourish and grow and be fruitful to the glory of God.

Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church as he explores the concept of the Temples of God in a special series. Discover how believers are considered living stones, forming a spiritual Temple with Christ as both the Foundation Stone and the Capstone. This episode delves into biblical passages that illustrate the significance of Christ's role in the Church and God's plan for unity among believers.

Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church as he explores the concept of the Temples of God, both heavenly and earthly. This episode delves into the idea that believers collectively form the ultimate Temple of God, united as the body and bride of Christ. Discover how the corporate Temple embodies greater glory than individual Temples and how Jesus Christ as the Foundation Stone and Capstone unites us all.

Derek Walker describes the Millennial Temple drawing from many scriptures in Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah & Zechariah. Discover how the concept of God's dwelling with man is central to biblical revelation, from the original earthly Temple in Eden to its ultimate fulfilment in the Millennial reign of Christ - the times of restoration of all things, when the Land of Israel will be restored to be like the original Eden. The Millennial Temple, at the peak of the Mountain of the Lord, in Israel, will be at the heart of the restoration of God's Kingdom on earth at Christ's Return. Christ will reign over the whole earth from its Holy of Holies, and a River of Life will flow from it into Jerusalem, and then divide into 2 rivers to the west and to the east. This episode provides God's vision for the climax of human history in the Messianic Kingdom and the greatest of the earthly Temples, the closest image of the heavenly Temple, which therefore also provides deep insights into the nature and operation of redeemed Man in Christ - God's ultimate, eternal Temple.

Derek Walker explores the significance of Temples, focusing on the first 3 Temples on the earthly Mount Zion, pointing out the connections between the heavenly and earthly Temples. After God moved into the Tabernacle, He promised He would lead them to a holy Mountain of His choosing where His Sanctuary would be established. God had already set apart Mount Moriah, later called Mount Zion, when Abraham offered up Isaac on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22) and God promised that He would offer up His Son in that place (v8,14). From that time Mt. Moriah was God's ordained place of Sacrifice. Later David establish his capital in Jerusalem, and God revealed to him the location and plans for the Temple, especially the Holy of Holies, and the Altar (on Ornan's threshing floor) on Mount Moriah, to the north and above the City of David (1Chronicles 21-22). Later Solomon build the Temple there (2Chronicles 23:1) and it was filled with God's glory at its Dedication. It was destroyed by the Babylonians 432 years later because of Israel's idolatry, and rebuilt 70 years later in the same place as the 2nd Temple, which was later beautified by Herod the Great. This was the Temple in the time of Jesus, but was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, because of Israel's rejection of Christ. There will also be a 3rd Temple of God on Mount Zion in the future (the Tribulation Temple), which God will use as a final outreach to Israel as well as the world, especially through the 2 witnesses. After 3.5 years the antichrist will desecrate it with the Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, 2Thessalonians 2, Revelation 11). There will also be a 4th Temple on Mount Zion in the Millennium (Isaiah 2:1-4, Ezekiel 40-48).

Join Pastor Derek Walker from the Oxford Bible Church as he continues his enlightening series on the Temples of God. In this episode, explore the spiritual significance of Mount Sinai and the Tabernacle, delving into their roles as divine dwellings and reflections of the heavenly Temple. We study how Mount Sinai was an earthly Temple of God for a year, before God's Presence moved into the Tabernacle (God's portable Temple).

Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church in this enlightening series exploring the concept of the Temples of God. Discover how Eden was the original earthly Temple, reflecting God's heavenly Temple, and learn about the restoration of God's Presence through biblical history. Delve into the symbolic significance of Temples across cultures and how they relate to God's ultimate plan for humanity. This episode highlights how God's original plan to establish His Kingdom and Presence over the whole earth, which He began in Eden (His original Temple), will be fulfilled in His Millennial Kingdom, when Christ will reign from His Millennial Temple on the top of Mountain of the Lord (Mount Zion) over the whole earth, and His glory will cover the earth, with Israel being the restored Garden of Eden.

Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church as he delves into the fascinating study of the Temples of God, exploring the concept of Eden as the original earthly temple. Discover how Eden, the Garden of God, was the sacred ground where God intended to dwell with man. This video examines biblical narratives, comparing Eden to the heavenly Jerusalem and revealing profound insights into the spiritual significance of these divine structures. Learn about the heavenly blueprint that influenced the creation of Eden and how it served as a sanctuary for mankind. This educational journey offers a deeper understanding of the spiritual connections between the earthly and heavenly temples.

Join Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church as he delves into the profound series on the Temples of God. In this episode, explore the concept of Eden as the first earthly Temple, mirroring the heavenly Eden. Discover the theological insights into the heavenly City, New Jerusalem, and its significance as the dwelling place of God. Learn about the symbolic structures of Temples and their relation to us as tripartite beings —spirit, soul, and body (1Thess 5:23). Uncover the biblical parallels between the Garden of Eden and the Heavenly Temple, reflecting God’s design and purpose for mankind.

Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church as he explores the profound theme of God's Temples throughout the Bible. This episode delves into the concept of the Heavenly Temple, the New Jerusalem, and how it serves as the everlasting dwelling Place of God, the blueprint for the temporary earthly Temples of God. Discover the significance of earthly temples as copies of their heavenly counterpart and the spiritual insights they offer into our identity as Temples of the living God (redeemed man being the ultimate Temple of God). Learn about the biblical blueprint for these sacred spaces and how they reflect God's divine order.