What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 88 - 07/11/25

Led by Martin Rogers

Tonight, we continue with our study of the seven churches of Revelation - The church of Thyatira.

1️⃣ The Church at Thyatira – a small town with a big message.

Though it was the smallest and most obscure of the seven churches, Thyatira received the longest letter from Christ—showing that even the least significant church in worldly eyes can carry deep spiritual lessons.

2️⃣ Christ reveals Himself as the Son of God with eyes like fire.

This unique title—used nowhere else in Revelation—shows His penetrating vision and refining judgment. Nothing escapes His sight; He sees every heart and motive within His church.

3️⃣ Faith, love, and service that outgrew their beginnings.

Thyatira was commended for its love, faith, service, and patient endurance. Their later works were greater than their first, reminding us that true discipleship is a life of continual growth and increasing fruitfulness.

4️⃣ The danger of tolerance and compromise.

Despite their strengths, the church was rebuked for allowing “Jezebel” to teach immorality and idolatry. Her influence symbolised false teaching and moral compromise—showing how spiritual corruption can arise within the church itself.

5️⃣ A call to daily, reasonable service and sacrificial living.

Romans 12:1–2 was central to the discussion: offering ourselves as living sacrifices, not conformed to the world but transformed by renewing our minds. True worship is seen in humble, everyday obedience.

6️⃣ Christ’s mercy and His warning of judgment.

Even Jezebel was given time to repent, yet she refused. The Lord’s patience reveals His mercy—but His discipline shows that He will not tolerate sin in His people. Judgment begins with the house of God.

7️⃣ Hold fast until He comes.

To the faithful who resisted false teaching, Jesus placed no further burden but promised reward: authority with Him and the gift of the Morning Star. The call remains—stand firm, stay pure, and serve faithfully until His return.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 88 - 24/10/25

Led by Akin George

Tonight, we continue with our study of the seven churches of Revelation - The church of Pergamum.

Pergamum was a stronghold of idolatry and spiritual darkness, with temples to many false gods and pressure to worship Caesar; yet Christ commends believers there for holding fast His name and not denying the faith even under threat of death, as seen in the martyrdom of Antipas.

Jesus reveals Himself to this church as the One who possesses the sharp two-edged sword, underscoring that only the Word of God can discern truth, expose sin, and sustain believers in hostile environments.

Though faithful in persecution, some in Pergamum embraced compromise: tolerating those who taught the doctrine of Balaam, encouraging fellowship with idolatry and participation in sexual immorality as a way to avoid social and political pressure.

The study links Balaam’s strategy in Numbers—tempting Israel to sin through forbidden union and idolatrous feasts—to the subtle infiltration of worldly practices and moral laxity in the church, showing that Satan often attacks from within when he cannot destroy from without.

Scripture highlights that God’s people are called to be separate, a distinct people who dwell apart; therefore compromise with pagan culture, whether ancient or modern, erodes holiness and invites divine discipline.

Christ calls the church to repentance, warning that He will fight against compromise with the sword of His mouth; believers must deal decisively with sin and false teaching in their midst, holding fast to Scripture and refusing to “blend in” with the culture.

To the overcomer, Jesus promises hidden manna—His sustaining presence—and a white stone with a new name known only to the one who receives it, symbolising intimate acceptance and eternal blessing for those who remain faithful in a world hostile to the truth.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 87 - 10/10/25

Led by Akin George

Tonight, we continue with our study of the seven churches of Revelation - The church of Smyrna.

1) Christ the First and the Last—Lord of Life and Death

Jesus identifies Himself as “the First and the Last, who was dead and has come to life” (Rev 2:8). He alone is eternal, sovereign over history, and victorious over death (Isa 44:6; Rev 1:17-18). His words remind believers that every beginning and ending—our birth, suffering, and even death—are in His hands. Those who trust the risen Lord have nothing finally to fear (John 11:25-26).

2) Christ Knows Our Tribulation and Poverty

The Lord’s words, “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)” (Rev 2:9), reveal His intimate awareness of His people’s suffering. Smyrna’s believers were poor because faithfulness to Christ cost them their livelihoods and status. Yet heaven counted them rich, for true wealth is measured in spiritual faithfulness, not possessions (Luke 12:15; James 2:5). God sees every unseen act of endurance and service.

3) Faithfulness in Persecution Is True Riches

Smyrna’s Christians were despised and slandered, yet Christ called them rich. The poor widow who gave her two coins (Mark 12:43-44) and the joyful sufferers in Hebrews 10:34 show that earthly loss often proves spiritual gain. When believers lose comfort, position, or freedom for Christ, they display the surpassing worth of knowing Him (Phil 3:8-10).

4) The Source of Persecution Is Spiritual

Jesus names their persecutors “a synagogue of Satan” (Rev 2:9). Though hostility came through people, its true origin was the devil (Eph 6:12). Christians must discern that opposition to truth is ultimately spiritual, resisting darkness with prayer, love, and the armour of God (Eph 6:13-18). Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of deception that oppose Christ.

5) Do Not Fear: Testing Refines Faith

The Lord forewarns, “The devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested… be faithful unto death” (Rev 2:10). Testing is not to destroy but to purify faith (1 Pet 1:6-7; Jas 1:2-4). Fear is the enemy’s weapon, but perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Christ prepares His church beforehand so that when trials come, we may stand firm, knowing our suffering is brief compared to eternal glory (2 Cor 4:17-18).

6) Be Faithful unto Death—Christ Rewards Endurance

Smyrna’s believers were promised “the crown of life.” Crowns in Scripture symbolise victory and eternal reward (2 Tim 4:8; Jas 1:12). Faithfulness is not mere endurance but trustful obedience sustained by the Spirit. Like Polycarp, who said, “Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong,” believers are called to steadfast loyalty even when it costs everything.

7) Overcoming Leads to Eternal Life

“He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death” (Rev 2:11). The first death ends earthly life; the second death is eternal separation from God (Rev 20:14-15). Those born again through faith in Christ die only once, but those who reject Him die twice. Overcoming means remaining in Christ to the end, conquering fear, compromise, and self through His strength (Rom 8:37; 1 John 5:4-5). The promise of resurrection life gives courage to persevere.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

Episode 85 - 26/09/25

Led by Martin Rogers

This week we start our study on the seven churches in earnest, beginning with the church of Ephesus.

Ephesus Context

Ephesus was a wealthy, pagan and imperial city—temples, emperor worship, sexual immorality, and the incense test at the agora—where a faithful church nevertheless took root under Paul, John and Timothy (Acts 19; Rev 2:1).

Christ’s Commendation

Jesus commends their hard work, endurance, doctrinal vigilance and rejection of false apostles and the Nicolaitans; they had not grown weary in bearing His name (Rev 2:2–3, 6).

Christ’s Rebuke

Yet He indicts them for abandoning their first love—works remained, wonder waned; He commands, “Remember…repent…and do the first works,” warning that otherwise He will remove their lampstand (Rev 2:4–5).

Promise to Overcomers

To those who heed and overcome, Jesus promises access to the tree of life in the paradise of God—a truer life than Artemis ever offered (Rev 2:7; cf. Gen 2:9).

Spiritual Warfare and Witness

Ministry in Ephesus showed power and conflict: daily reasoning in the hall of Tyrannus, costly repentance (magic books burned), demonic showdowns, and city-wide upheaval—so the word prevailed while believers wrestled not against flesh and blood (Acts 19:8–20; Eph 6:12).

Guardrails Against Drift

The cure for loveless duty is relational devotion expressed in obedience: keep Word and Spirit central, practice repentant self-examination, pursue fellowship and mutual correction, and let love (agapē) animate service (Luke 10:27; 1 Cor 13:1–3; Rom 2:29).

Corporate Application

Churches can defend truth yet grow inward and sterile; Christ calls congregations to recover zeal for Him that overflows in mercy, holiness and disciple-making, so their light is not removed but shines before men (Matt 5:14–16; Rev 2:5).

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

Episode 85 - 12/09/25

Tonight we begin our new study series looking at the seven churches of revelation.

1) Setting & aim.

This study opens a new series on the seven churches of Revelation by first grounding us in Revelation 1. The aim is to let the introduction frame the whole series: who speaks (the risen Christ), to whom He speaks (His churches), and why He speaks (to reveal and ready His servants).

2) The prologue & context.

Revelation is “the revelation of Jesus Christ…to show His servants what must soon take place” (Rev 1:1). The study highlights the pastoral weight of the titles in 1:4–8—“the Alpha and the Omega,” “who is and who was and who is to come”—spoken to a persecuted church under Rome. John, “your brother and companion in the tribulation,” writes from exile on Patmos “for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 1:9).

3) The vision of the Son of Man.

John beholds the glorified Christ walking “in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” with blazing eyes, a voice like many waters, and a sharp two-edged sword from His mouth (Rev 1:12–16). The lampstands are the churches; the seven stars are “the angels of the seven churches” (Rev 1:20). Some take these as angelic messengers, others as human leaders, but the central comfort stands: Jesus holds His church in His right hand and dwells among her. Against every imperial claim, the confession remains: Jesus triumphs.

4) Idolatry then & now; Christian identity.

Surrounded by altars “to an unknown god,” the first-century world embodies pervasive paganism (Acts 17:22–31). The gospel confronts it, and the church lives as a faithful minority. Believers are not “of the world,” yet are sent into it (John 17:14–18); friendship with the world is enmity with God (cf. 1 John 2:15; James 4:4). Hope fixed on eternity marks Christian identity, while tangible love makes the witness compelling (John 13:34–35).

5) What kind of book is this?

Revelation stands as apocalyptic prophecy—an unveiling—rich with symbols and Old Testament echoes (Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Zechariah). Four lenses help: preterist (past), historicist (across the church age), idealist (timeless spiritual realities), and futurist (yet to be fulfilled). Rather than absolutising one view, the study affirms Scripture’s patterned fulfilment: the seven churches are literal first-century assemblies, perennial church types, plausible epochs in church history, and profiles that appear at the end.

6) Key verses & pastoral applications.

Rev 1:1–3 teaches that God knows and reveals the future (Amos 3:7; Dan 2:28). A distinct blessing rests on those who read, hear, and keep this prophecy. “The time is near” stands true redemptive-historically (the last days begin with Christ’s death and resurrection; Heb 1:1–2) and personally (our own end may be nearer than we think; therefore be ready—Matt 25:1–13). Rev 1:7 anchors hope: He comes with the clouds and every eye sees Him (Dan 7:13; Matt 24:30; Zech 12:10). Rev 1:17–18 anchors courage: “Fear not… I am the first and the last… I am alive forevermore.”

7) Christ among the lampstands.

The risen Lord stands among His churches—even mixed congregations He must both commend and correct (Rev 2–3). This guards us from pride and sectarianism, calls us to discernment and charity, and keeps us centred on the Word that reforms and revives. As we behold His glory, we are changed (2 Cor 3:18); as we suffer, we endure with Him (Rev 1:9). Revelation’s heartbeat remains profoundly pastoral: Jesus reigns, Jesus returns, and therefore the saints read, hear, keep, and “patiently endure” in holiness and hope (Rev 1:3; 13:10; 14:12).

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

Episode 84 - 29/08/25

This week we look at conspiracies and conspiracy theories.

This study doesn’t chase headlines; it asks how disciples should respond. Isaiah 8:11–13 sets the keynote: “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear… regard the LORD as holy.” Fear and fascination both distort focus. We resist anxiety and “insider” pride by fixing our hearts on the Lord.

Scripture acknowledges real conspiracies. Joseph’s brothers plotted (Gen 37:18–19). Absalom’s quiet coup spread by “secret messengers” (2 Sam 15:10–14). Jezebel staged false witnesses (1 Kgs 21). Plots rose against Jeremiah (Jer 11:9, 18–19) and Daniel through “lawfare” (Dan 6:1–9). In the New Testament, leaders plotted to kill Jesus (John 11:45–53) and swore to murder Paul (Acts 23:12–15). Common threads: secrecy, slander, power-seeking, and targeting the righteous.

Psalm 2 interprets the pattern: nations rage, rulers take counsel “against the LORD and His Anointed” (Ps 2:1–3). Hostility can be coordinated and visceral, yet God enthrones His King (Ps 2:6). Like Daniel, believers choose faithful, visible obedience over self-preservation (Dan 6:10), bearing witness without panic.

Jesus forewarned rising deception: “many will come… and mislead many,” and “many false prophets will arise” (Matt 24:5, 11, 25–26). The danger is not only worldly plots but counterfeit spirituality within the church. So we test the spirits (1 John 4:1) and imitate the Bereans who “examined the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11). Truth is measured by the Word and the true Christ, not by charisma or crowd size.

God equips us for clarity, not fear. He gives “power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7). With renewed, sober judgment (Rom 12:2–3), we refuse captivity to “philosophy and empty deceit” (Col 2:8), casting down arguments against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:3–5). Prideful “special knowledge” is a snare; humility and disciplined thinking keep us steady.

Practically, we draw holy boundaries. We reject occult avenues (Deut 18:9–14) and speculative numerology. Deuteronomy 29:29 is a guardrail: “The secret things belong to the LORD… but the things revealed belong to us… that we may do all the words of this law.” Our lane is obeying Scripture, trusting providence, praying for authorities, and guarding fellowship (Prov 3:5–7).

Bottom line: real conspiracies exist and deception will increase, but Christ reigns. Fix your eyes on Him, weigh everything by Scripture, keep a sound mind, and watch over one another in love (Gal 6:1–2). As we head into Revelation’s seven churches, these disciplines—fear of the Lord, discernment, and steadfast witness—will help us hear what the Spirit says and conquer by faithful obedience to Jesus.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

Episode 83 - 15/08/25

This week we conclude the study on the feasts of Israel.

1. Introduction to the Autumn Feasts

The Bible describes three autumn feasts in Leviticus 23: the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Just as the spring feasts were fulfilled in Christ’s first coming, it is understood that these autumn feasts point forward to His second coming. These feasts are a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal, and they serve as prophetic pictures of God’s plan for Israel and the nations.

2. The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)

Held on the first day of the seventh month (Lev. 23:23–25; Num. 29:1–6), this feast is marked by the blowing of the shofar as a call to repentance and a reminder of God’s coming judgment. Spiritually, it is associated with the “last trumpet” that signals the Lord’s return (1 Thess. 4:13–18; 1 Cor. 15:52). The trumpet in Scripture is often linked with God’s voice (Exod. 19:16–19; Rev. 1:10). Typologically, it points to Christ coming for His bride, echoing the Jewish wedding custom where the trumpet announced the arrival of the groom.

3. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

Ten days after the Feast of Trumpets comes the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27; Lev. 16). On this day, Israel was commanded to fast and repent while the high priest offered sacrifices. Two goats were central: one sacrificed, its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat, and the other—the scapegoat—sent into the wilderness, bearing the people’s sins (Lev. 16:20–22). This prefigures Christ’s atoning work: His blood cleanses us, and our sins are removed “as far as the east is from the west” (Ps. 103:12; Heb. 7:27; Heb. 10:17). Yet the ultimate fulfilment will come when Israel looks upon the One they pierced (Zech. 12:10; Rev. 1:7).

4. Typology of Atonement

The imagery of the two goats foreshadows Jesus and Barabbas at the crucifixion—one released, the other sacrificed. Jesus is the true scapegoat who carries away sin, and at the same time the final sacrifice whose blood brings complete atonement (Isa. 53:5–6). Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant, His offering is once for all (Heb. 10:10–14). Believers today live in the “already but not yet”: Christ has paid for sin, yet the full consummation of redemption will be realized at His return, when sanctification gives way to glorification (Rom. 5:9; 1 John 3:2).

5. The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)

Beginning on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, this feast lasts seven days and commemorates Israel’s forty years of wilderness wanderings (Lev. 23:33–43). Families lived in temporary booths to remember God’s provision. It is both a harvest festival and a time of rejoicing—the only feast where joy is commanded. Jesus connected Himself to this feast when He declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37–38), showing that He is the source of the living water symbolized in the ceremonies.

6. Prophetic Fulfilment of Tabernacles

Tabernacles points forward to God dwelling with His people. John wrote that “the Word became flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us” (John 1:14). Ultimately, it foreshadows the time when Christ will reign from Jerusalem and nations will go up yearly to celebrate this feast (Zech. 14:16). Revelation 7:9–17 portrays its heavenly fulfilment—God’s redeemed, from every nation, worshiping before His throne with palm branches, sheltered under His tabernacle presence.

7. The Eternal Hope in Christ

Together, these autumn feasts reveal God’s redemptive plan: the trumpet announcing Christ’s return, the atonement completed in Him, and the eternal joy of dwelling with God in His kingdom. They also teach that salvation is past, present, and future—we have been saved, we are being sanctified, and we will be glorified. The law was given to reveal sin (Rom. 7:7), but Christ has fulfilled its demands and provided a better covenant (Jer. 31:31–34; Heb. 8:6). The feasts remind us that though this life is temporary, the word of the Lord endures forever, and one day He will tabernacle with His people forever (Rev. 21:3–4).

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

Episode 82 - 01/08/25

In this week's study we begin to look at the topic of the Jewish feasts.

1. Biblical prophecy is not man-made; it is the Spirit-inspired revelation of God’s redemptive plan.

True prophecy never originates from human imagination or desire but comes as men are moved by the Holy Spirit to speak God’s word (2 Peter 1:20–21). It must align fully with Scripture and be tested by it. As God said in Deuteronomy 18:20–22, a prophet who speaks presumptuously or whose words do not come to pass is false. The group emphasised the danger of modern "soothsayers" who preach comfortable, flattering messages rather than the truth, and reminded each other to be discerning and rooted in Scripture when evaluating what is called prophecy today.

2. The feasts in Leviticus 23 form a divine calendar, prophetically revealing God’s plan through Christ.

These seven appointed times were not merely Jewish traditions but holy convocations commanded by God for remembrance, worship, and prophetic fulfilment. Leviticus 23 outlines them like a spiritual year planner—three in spring, one at summer, and three in autumn—each pointing forward to key moments in the gospel. Just as God established the lights in the heavens to mark seasons and days (Genesis 1:14), so He set these feasts in place to teach, remind, and prepare His people for the Messiah.

3. The Feast of Passover is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our perfect and sacrificial Lamb.

As Israel once marked their doorposts with lamb’s blood to be spared from death (Exodus 12:5–13), so we are saved from judgment by the blood of Christ, who is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus was crucified at the same time the Passover lambs were being offered in the temple (Mark 14:12), fulfilling the prophetic picture in perfect detail. His sinless life and willing sacrifice were foreshadowed in the Exodus and foretold in prophecy (1 Peter 1:19). Just as the blood delivered Israel from Egypt, so His blood sets us free from the bondage of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

4. The Feast of Unleavened Bread teaches us about holiness, repentance, and the sinlessness of Christ.

For seven days following Passover, Israel was to remove all leaven—symbolic of sin—from their homes and eat only unleavened bread (Leviticus 23:6–8; Exodus 12:15). Leaven puffs up by fermentation, which spiritually represents pride and corruption. Jesus, the sinless one, is the true Bread of Life (John 6:35), the fulfilment of this feast. Just as Israel cleansed their homes, we are called to cleanse our lives through repentance and walk in holiness. This feast illustrates that salvation is not only about being delivered, but also about being sanctified.

5. The Feast of Firstfruits foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection as the guarantee of ours.

Taking place on the Sunday after Passover, this feast involved waving the first sheaf of the harvest before the Lord as a declaration of the harvest to come (Leviticus 23:10–11). At the same time that the high priest was presenting the first fruits, Jesus was rising from the dead. He is the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20), the proof and promise that all who are in Him will likewise be raised. This feast points not backward, but forward in hope—a thanksgiving for what God is about to do, fulfilled perfectly in the resurrection.

6. The Feast of Pentecost marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church.

Also called the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot, Pentecost came fifty days after Firstfruits and celebrated the completion of the wheat harvest (Leviticus 23:15–16). On this day, the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers in Jerusalem, empowering them to proclaim the gospel and bringing in a harvest of 3,000 souls (Acts 2:1–4, 41). Pentecost thus fulfils the picture of spiritual harvest, just as the earlier feasts marked deliverance and new life. As Jesus promised, the Spirit came as our Helper and indwelling presence (John 14:16–17), sanctifying and equipping the Church for its mission.

7. These spring feasts are typological prophecies—shadows of Christ that are fulfilled precisely and meaningfully.

A typological prophecy points forward through historical events and institutions to their ultimate realisation in Jesus. Each spring feast—Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost—was fulfilled on its exact calendar day in the life, death, resurrection, and empowering of Christ. As Colossians 2:16–17 states, these feasts were shadows, but the substance belongs to Christ. The study concluded by noting that the autumn feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles) remain yet to be fulfilled, likely in the same precise manner. Just as Jesus came once to fulfil the spring feasts, He will return to fulfil the rest.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

Episode 81 - 18/07/25

In this week's study we revisit the topic of discipleship.

1. Defining Discipleship: A Life of Love and Commitment

The study began with a reflection on the foundational question: What is a disciple? Drawing from John 13:35, it was established that love for one another is the primary outward sign of being Christ’s disciple. Participants explored how modern Western thinking tends to treat "disciple" as a label rather than a calling, and they emphasised that discipleship is deeply personal, not merely historical. The Greek root of “disciple” (μαθητής, mathētēs) implies a learner or follower under discipline—suggesting that discipleship involves intentional training, obedience, and transformation.

2. Old Testament Roots and the Rabbinical Model

Though the specific term "disciple" isn't used in the Old Testament, the concept is evident in the mentor-student relationships of figures like Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, and Jeremiah and Baruch. These examples provide a foundation for the New Testament model of discipleship. The rabbinic tradition of Jesus’ day—with followers emulating their teacher’s life and doctrine—was firmly rooted in Jewish culture, and Jesus adopted and transformed this model, calling people not just to learn, but to live in radical obedience to Him (cf. Matthew 4:19).

3. The Cost of Discipleship

The study explored Jesus’ stark demands, such as in Luke 14:33: “Whoever does not give up all he has cannot be my disciple.” This verse led to a discussion about the true cost of following Christ. It was emphasised that discipleship may involve surrendering status, possessions, or relationships. Yet this surrender is not necessarily about literal abandonment, but rather about no longer claiming ownership over anything—recognising God as the source and steward of all (cf. Matthew 16:24). This truth challenges comfortable Christianity and invites believers to examine whether they truly follow Christ or merely profess belief.

4. Discipleship Requires Ongoing Surrender

Discipleship was portrayed as a continual process of surrender and transformation. Several testified to life-altering experiences where they gave everything to God and witnessed both loss and restoration. This echoed Romans 12:1–2, which calls believers to present their lives as living sacrifices and not be conformed to the world. The parable in Luke 14:28–30 about counting the cost before building a tower was highlighted as a warning against superficial commitments to Christ. A key insight was that the depth of one’s surrender is often only revealed under testing.

5. Core Characteristics of a Disciple

A comprehensive list of scriptural characteristics was presented, identifying key traits of a disciple: imitation of Christ (Ephesians 5:1), love and compassion (John 3:16), obedience (1 John 2:5–6), humility (Philippians 2:3–8), prayer (Philippians 1:9–11), evangelism (Matthew 28:19–20), fellowship (Psalm 133:1), spiritual fruitfulness (Psalm 1:1–3), seeking God (Jeremiah 29:13), grace and forgiveness (Colossians 3:12–13), stewardship (1 Peter 4:10), and steadfastness (1 Corinthians 15:58). These were not merely ideals but goals to prayerfully pursue.

6. Discipleship vs. Cultural Christianity

Concerns were raised about how the modern church presents the gospel, often omitting the cost of discipleship and promoting “cheap grace.” Some lamented that discipleship has been reduced to a consumer-friendly message, lacking the reverence and awe due to God (Hebrews 12:28–29). The group discussed how this misrepresentation can lead to shallow conversions, as seen in John 6:66, where many stopped following Jesus when His teachings became too hard. A disciple must not only believe but also abide in Christ’s word (John 8:31–32).

7. The Call to Examine and Embrace True Discipleship

The session closed with a self-reflective call: Are we truly Christ’s disciples? Have we given everything? Do we walk in obedience, humility, and love toward one another? Discipleship is not about perfection but direction—a daily choosing to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus. The participants were encouraged to let the Holy Spirit examine areas of weakness and invite God to work transformation. Ultimately, discipleship is about becoming more like Christ, for His glory and the building up of His church (Romans 8:29; Matthew 5:16).

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

Episode 80 - 04/07/25

This week we look at What the Bible Says About Jericho's Mini Apocalypse and how it relates to the past, present and future.

1. Jericho: Gateway to Inheritance and Judgment

Jericho, a strategically vital city with natural springs and trade routes, was the first Canaanite stronghold the Israelites encountered upon entering the Promised Land (Num. 22:1). Its geographical position “opposite Jericho” repeatedly marks key moments in Israel’s journey (Deut. 32:48–50). Moses viewed the Promised Land from Mount Nebo, opposite Jericho, but could not enter. The city's destruction was not random—it was the appointed threshold through which Israel stepped into God’s inheritance, and its fall was a picture of divine judgment and redemption.

2. The Crossing of the Jordan: A Miraculous Entry

The crossing of the Jordan mirrored the Red Sea event but signified new beginnings. The Ark of the Covenant led the way, stopping the waters so Israel could cross on dry ground (Josh. 3:14–17). Opposite Jericho, they entered the land—a symbolic act marking the beginning of a new covenant chapter. The priests stood firm, and twelve stones were set up as a memorial (Josh. 4:11–13), emphasising God’s faithfulness. The people of Jericho, seeing the miracle, were filled with fear, foreshadowing their coming judgment.

3. Rahab the Harlot: A Testimony of Faith and Salvation

Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, showed remarkable faith by hiding the Israelite spies and acknowledging Yahweh as “God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Josh. 2:11). She used the covenant name of God (YHWH) multiple times, indicating genuine understanding. Her faith and obedience led to her salvation and inclusion in Israel. The scarlet cord she hung in her window (Josh. 2:18) symbolized the blood of the lamb in the Passover (Exod. 12:13), pointing prophetically to Christ’s atonement. Rahab later became an ancestor of Jesus (Matt. 1:5), a testimony to God’s redeeming grace.

4. Divine Timing: The Fall of Jericho and the Feast of Firstfruits

The Israelites celebrated Passover at Gilgal near Jericho (Josh. 5:10–12), and on the day after, they ate the produce of the land. The manna ceased—a sign they had entered God’s provision. Remarkably, this was the third day after Passover, aligning with the Feast of Firstfruits (Lev. 23:10–11), the day Jesus rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20). On that day, Joshua encountered a divine figure—the “Commander of the Lord’s Army” (Josh. 5:13–15), whom many see as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, affirming that the coming battle belonged to the Lord.

5. Seven Days of Silence and the Trumpets of Judgment

The Lord instructed Joshua to march around Jericho once a day for six days, and seven times on the seventh day, led by seven priests blowing seven trumpets before the ark (Josh. 6:1–5). This silence followed by trumpets and a shout draws strong parallels with Revelation, where seven seals are opened, leading to seven trumpets (Rev. 8:1–2). Silence in heaven precedes judgment (Rev. 8:1), just as silence surrounded Jericho before its collapse. God’s presence—symbolised by the ark—was central in both the procession and the judgment.

6. Judgment, Rescue, and the Scarlet Thread of Redemption

As Israel shouted and the trumpets sounded, Jericho’s walls collapsed—except for Rahab’s house (Josh. 6:17–25). Rahab and her family were rescued because they were inside, marked by the scarlet cord. Her deliverance is a type of the Church’s rescue before judgment, just as Lot was taken out of Sodom (Gen. 19:15–17) and Noah entered the ark before the flood (Gen. 7:7). God’s wrath is real, but salvation precedes judgment for those who take refuge in His covenant. Rahab’s home—though built into the doomed wall—stood firm, a symbol of divine preservation.

7. Jericho as a Type of the Final Judgment

The story culminates in Revelation. Jesus, the Lamb, opens seven seals (Rev. 6:1), seven trumpets sound (Rev. 8:2), and a shout declares, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev. 11:15). The parallel is clear: Jericho is a “mini-apocalypse,” a shadow of the final judgment to come. Rahab represents the gentile Church, rescued and grafted into the people of God (Rom. 11:17). Her salvation illustrates the gospel call: destruction is coming, but there is a scarlet cord—Christ’s blood—that saves (Rev. 7:14; Heb. 11:30–31). The message is binary: judgment or redemption. The time is now.