Matthew's whole Gospel is his proof that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the long-promised Messiah, the Saviour of God's people. He continues to build the evidence for this as he tells us the events leading up to the birth of the Lord Jesus. Before the Messiah even arrives he is turning people's lives upside down.

Three times in the conclusion of Revelation - the conclusion of the whole Bible - Jesus repeats his promise that he is coming soon. How are we to prepare for his arrival?

Some of the best cities in the world have the best city centres - maybe beautiful architecture or a well-kept green space. Revelation has been giving us a guided tour of the city of New Jerusalem. Here we consider the glorious centre of Heaven, where the Lamb dwells with his people, and His glory fills the earth!

Matthew was a Jewish Christian who wrote his gospel to reassure others from his nation that Jesus of Nazareth really was and is the Son of David - the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Beginning his gospel with a long list of names may seem a strange way to do that for us, but for his first readers this "family tree" is among the strongest proof Matthew could provide of Jesus' credentials as Messiah. A closer look at the names here reminds us that God Keeps His Promises, and that His Grace Finds All Kinds of People.

In virtually every chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus speaks of "life"; here he declares that he came so that people could have "abundant" life. In a world of death, this is good news indeed!

1. God's Covenant Fulfilled
2. God's People Refreshed
3. God's Enemies Punished

1. God's World Made New
2. God's Removal of Pain and Suffering

The one thousand years concludes with the release of Satan "for a little while". In fact it is his last stand. He will deceive the nations one more time, inciting them against the Church - but then Christ will return. Satan will face the same judgment as his beast and false prophet: the lake of fire. The same eternal punishment waits for anyone who is not united by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. There is hardly a more solemn passage in the whole of Scripture than this.