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

First, we see how the Song of Solomon gives a beautiful picture of the Divine Romance between Christ and His Bride, especially of the Rapture. Then, we study Paul's teaching on the Rapture in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4-5, showing that he taught an imminent Pre-Tribulation Rapture.

After concluding his discussion of the Rapture in the Olivet Discourse, Derek shows from John 14:1-3 that the Rapture is a key moment of the Divine Romance, the coming of the Bridegroom for His Bride. He describes how Jesus fulfils all the Marriage Customs of the Bible to achieve His Eternal Purpose.

The Tribulation (End of the Age) is a time of Labour Pains, so the time leading up to the Tribulation is characterised by Braxton Hicks contractions. These started in 1914 with World War 1. The final sign before the Tribulation will be the disappearance of the believers into Christ, as in the days of Noah.

Jesus answered the 3rd Question of Matthew 24:3: "What are the Signs of the Tribulation (End of the Age)?" in Luke 21:28-33 and Matthew 24:32-35, by comparing the time before the Tribulation-Summer to Spring time when the Fig Tree and all the Trees put forth their leaves in preparation to bear fruit in the Summer.

The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Luke 21) is Jesus' great Prophecy of the end-times, answering 3 Questions (v3): (1) What is the Sign of the Temple's destruction (Luke 21:7, 20-24)?, (2) what are the Signs of His 2nd Coming? (Matthew 24:4-31), and (3) the Signs of the End of the Age or Tribulation (v32-44).

The 490 years form a Great Jubilee Cycle, but when Israel failed to enter into the fulfilment of her Jubilee, God gave her a second chance by cancelling the last 7 years (the 70th Week) to run them again after the Church Age as the Tribulation, by the end of which Israel will receive Christ and His Kingdom.

Jesus fulfilled Daniel's 70 Weeks right on time with His Atoning Death and Resurrection, providing amazing proof that He is the Messiah. We also show how He perfectly fulfilled Joel's Prophecy, including its 2 Signs in the Heavens (the Dark Sun & Blood Moon) at His Death at Passover AD 33.

The Tribulation is the Day of the Lord, a time of Divine Wrath, which begins with the Rapture of the Church and the revelation of antichrist, and continues until the 2nd Coming. It is a time of intensifying birth pains. We see how the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 24, Luke 21) and of Paul in Thessalonians agree.

After reviewing the Keys to understanding Prophecy, we study Paul's Revelation of the Mystery hidden in God but now revealed, which centres on the nature and function of the Church during this Age. The Mystery explains why prophecies suddenly jump over the Church Age (from the 1st to the 2nd Coming)

When Israel 's rejection of Messiah was becoming clear by their response to His Messianic Miracles (Matthew 12), Jesus started revealing the result of this rejection through Parables (Matthew 13) = the Mystery. The Messianic Kingdom would be postponed until the Mystery Kingdom (Church Age) ran its course.