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

The Beatitudes (or Blessed Attitudes) are the heart attitudes that we need to develop to enable us to receive God's grace and blessing. By placing these Beatitudes at the start of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus places a great importance on these heart attitudes. They are foundational for a life of holiness and righteousness, pleasing to God. Derek describes all of these 8 Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12.

In this short video, Derek introduces 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.

Psalm 91 contains many wonderful promises of blessing and protection for those who dwell in the Secret Place of the Most High: "He who dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty" (v1). These promises include the promise of health and long life: “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation" (v16). In this study of Psalm 91, Derek explains its promises, and answers the questions: "What is the Secret Place of the Most High?, and "How can we enter into the Secret Place and enjoy the many benefits of dwelling there?" Psalm 91 describes both the blessings of abiding in the Secret Place, and the keys to entering into the Secret Place.

In this short video, Derek introduces Psalm 91 with a meditation on verse 1, which is a summary of the whole Psalm: "He who dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty (El Shaddai)."

Part 2 of Derek's interview with Christine Darg on the Rapture of the Church. We see that we should be looking, waiting and watching for Jesus' Coming, because the Rapture is imminent (Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28). We look at the relationship between Israel and the Church - that the Church (the one New Man) was a mystery hidden in God but now revealed. Once the fullness of the Church is gathered in at the Rapture, God will graft Israel back into the Olive Tree and by the end of the Tribulation "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11). We also discuss the many differences between the Rapture and the 2nd Coming. Finally, we address the issue of how the covid virus relates to the end-time scenario, and if the covid vaccine has anything to do with the mark of the beast.

Derek discusses the Pre-Tribulation Rapture with Christine Darg, explaining its purpose in terms of the Divine Romance, comparing it to the Jewish Wedding Customs. They point out why the Rapture is a different event to the 2nd Coming, revealing the differences between them. One reason the Rapture must be before the Tribulation is that we are promised Jesus will come for His Church to rescue us from the coming Wrath of the Day of the Lord (1Thessalonians 1:9-10, 5:2-3,8), and this time of God's Judgment-Wrath of God includes the whole Tribulation, starting with the breaking of the first 6 Seals in Revelation 6 and concluding with the 2nd Coming in Revelation 19. Moreover, Derek shares 4 clear contradictions that arise from the Post-Tribulation Rapture position, which says that the Rapture happens at the same time as the 2nd Coming. (1) The Rapture is signless and imminent, but the 2nd Coming is signposted and predictable for those living in the Tribulation. (2) Before the Rapture, normal life is going on ('peace and safety') as in the days of Noah, but before the 2nd coming all hell is breaking loose in the Great Tribulation, including the 7 Bowls of Wrath and Armageddon. (3) After the Rapture Jesus will take His Church to Heaven (John 14:1-3), but if the Rapture is at the 2nd Coming, we will not go to Heaven, but instead do a U-turn and return with Jesus to the earth. (4) If all believers are raptured at the 2nd Coming, then there will be no believers (sheep) left in their natural bodies to populate the earth in the Millennium. Moreover, since all the unbelievers (goats) will be removed from the earth by death at the 2nd Coming (Matthew 25), that will leave no one alive for the Millennium. This means that the Rapture of the Church must take place a significant time before the 2nd Coming. The Bible reveals that in fact the Rapture takes place at least 7 years before the 2nd Coming.

When is the Rapture of the Church (1Thessalonians 4) in relation to the 2nd Coming of Christ to establish His Kingdom on the earth (Revelation 19). Pastor Derek makes the case for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, which motivates us to look for Christ's imminent Return for us. This realisation will cause us to walk close to the Lord in holiness, serving Him faithfully, and being a witness to the world.

Pastor Derek answers: "What is Yom Kippur and why is it important?" He describes how Christ has already fulfilled His part of the Day of Atonement in His sacrificial death and resurrection, but that the complete fulfilment of this Feast awaits Israel's national repentance in the Tribulation, when all Israel will be saved, which will then provide the basis for the 2nd Coming of Christ, when He will fulfil the Feast of Tabernacles.

Pastor Derek answers the Questions: "How close are we to Jesus' Return?" and "How will it be that every eye will see Christ when He returns?"

Pastor Derek answers the Questions: "What do you do when you feel hopeless? What is the first thing we should do when we face mental health issues? Where should we turn?