The sermon for July 30th 2017 is now available on the New Life web-site.
In this sermon, which is based on Matthew 13:31-35, 44-51 and Isaiah 60, I talk about God’s decisive victory. I refer to some graphs and other data taken from http://worldrevivalnetwork.blogspot.com/2015/08/why-you-have-been-duped-into-believing.html
Click here to listen in your browser, here to download the mp3
Who is the Beast of the Book of Revelation? There are many fanciful and wrong ideas about this, but many Bible scholars are now pointing to the Roman Emperor Nero.
J.D. King writes in the World Revival Network blog:
Who The ‘Beast of Revelation’ Really Is
As far back as I can remember people have been speculating about the “Antichrist,” an evil figure referenced in portions of the New Testament.
After President Ronald Wilson Reagan was shot and miraculously recovered in 1981, people made the ridiculous assertion that he was the prophesied evil figure of “end-times.” It didn’t help that his first, middle, and last name all had six letters (666).
At that same time, others argued that the Antichrist was Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev or Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. Less than a decade later Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians were insisting that the “Man of sin” was actually Iraqi Saddam Hussein in the land once known as Babylon.
Later, I learned that previous generations believed that the Antichrist was Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister of Italy or Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany. The actual listing of individuals identified with this role is quite long and ludicrous. Whatever nation happens to be the current enemy of America (or Israel) usually supplies us with the current candidates for the antichrist.[1]
Obviously there’s a lot of misunderstanding and misapplication here. Many of our collective anxieties and fears are coloring our readings of the Bible. We’re bringing into the text things Scripture never actually articulates. Much of this happens because of our confusion about the Bible and ignorance of the apocalyptic genre. We don’t comprehend its intended meaning or its use of fierce imagery and symbols.
Read the full article here
JD King writes:
The Rapture’s In 1988? What Can Be Learned From Failed End-Times Predictions
Over the last season I’ve been pressing into worship and enjoying more of the presence of the Lord. I’ve also been having wonderful outings with my beautiful wife and children. I keep thinking, how can I bring more encouragement and assist in the expansion of the Kingdom of God in this hour?
Yet, every time things begin to advance, feet start dragging and someone “slams on the brakes.” Bible-believing Christians are supposed to be talking about “doing life together” and growing in the purposes of God. Yet, most are continually distracted by politics, fear, and apocalyptic end-time scenarios.
I sincerely desire to laugh, love, and leave a legacy, but it can be extremely difficult. Many so-called “prophets” are talking about societal breakdown and catastrophe. In their sensationalist best-sellers, they claim to have witnessed the “signs of the times.”
This is so prominent that a message of “good news” and hope is extremely difficult to find these days (and sometimes it’s even rejected).
You probably already know this, but this isn’t the only generation that has made these claims. In fact, over the last century there have been countless assertions about “harbingers” and “signs of the apocalypse.” Leaders in previous eras also insisted they deciphered the Book of Revelation and understood the alarming headlines.
So, the pessimistic, cataclysmic claims aren’t new. They’re actually part of the lengthy tradition of anxiety and failed prognostications. In fact, speculative predictions about the end have characterized American Christianity for at least three generations. One would like to think that this madness would ultimately cease, but it never really does.
I’ve found that people keep making these kinds of end-time assertions. Yet, an honest analysis would show the “track record” isn’t good. Thousands of “undeniable” claims in previous decades were proven to be wrong.
Let me remind you of some of the things affirmed in the past.
New Life Narrabri 