Articles | Understanding The Times

This page is divided into the following three sections: Series A - Issues of National Judgement Series B - Prophetic Hope in the Midst of Judgement Series C - Spiritual Equipment for Today Please click the link above to view the articles in each series.	Click to read Gives larger print version in your browser	Audio Left click to listen, right click to download	A4 Portrait Gives double sided format for printing	A4 Foldover Gives double sided format for a pamphlet that can be folded

Series A - Issues of National Judgement
The Contemporary Countdown to Chaos - The Ten Years Since 9/11
1. SETTING THE SCENE
This explains both the prophetic inspiration and the shape and sequence of the articles which follow. The articles show the similarity of the features of our decade since 9/11 with the main features of the years which followed after Amos prophesied the destruction of Israel. In Israel’s case they were a countdown to that judgement, and in our case seem the same.	Click to read	Audio
2. FUTILE FOREIGN ADVENTURES
This looks in some detail at the foreign military ventures involving the U.S. and the U.K. during the decade, showing the essential mishandling and futility of the ventures and the severe economic effects.They are a marked repetition of what happened in Israel after Amos prophesied.	Click to read	Audio
3. FINANCIAL FANTASY LAND
This looks at the appalling greed and corrupt practice which brought about the financial/economic chaos of 2008 and has brought the western nations to the brink of bankruptcy. They truly form a “descent into chaos”.	Click to read	Audio
4. CORRUPTION AND CONFLICT IN HIGH PLACES
This article exposes the corrupt behaviour in the leadership of the political and business worlds which was responsible for the military and economic chaos. The downturn has been associated at each point with personal ambition and greed.	Click to read	Audio
5. THE EXCLUSION OF GOD and SOCIAL DEGREGATION
This examines the underlying cause of the incompetence and corruption of the decade, namely the rejection of God. It shows how far we have strayed from our spiritual heritage. It shows how the rejection of God leads to moral collapse, especially in the world of sex and pleasure.	Click to read	Audio
6. CONCLUSION AND RESPONSE
This calls for an acceptance that we are moving in the same direction toward severe judgement as the Israel of Amos was. It makes a call for much more committed faith, much greater holiness of life and greater urgency for people to be brought to Jesus	Click to read	Audio
THE PROPHETS AND A NATION UNDER JUDGEMENT
1. LIVING IN “AMOS TIMES”
This examines the essential word which God gave through Amos to the nation of Israel, namely that he would not allow it to go on sinning any longer; he would now judge very severely. It is this word that is the key word for our generation. The comparison between Amos times and our own are made.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
2. “VANITY FAIR” -God and the Consumer Society
This fills in the details of the previous pamphlet, looking more closely at the times of prosperity and consumerism which the Jewish nation enjoyed, but drawing out more fully how God saw below the prosperity to a degenerated lifestyle. The degeneration was so bad that it called for judgement.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
3. COUNTDOWN TO CHAOS
This picks up from the word that Amos spoke to Israel warning of the cataclysmic disaster of exile. It examines what happened in the twenty years or so that lapsed between the time that Amos spoke his word and the exile actually took place. It describes the emerging and growing political and social chaos that characterised those years. The modern parallel is clear.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
4. A NATION BEYOND PRAYER?
This examines the experience of a number of prophets who had been praying that God would spare the nation, but who were all told those intercessions would no longer be heard. It traces how the prophets were forced to re-think how they were to pray in the light of a judgement that was coming.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover

THE PROPHETS AND THE PRINCIPLES OF JUDGEMENT
5. GOD and JUDGEMENT
This pamphlet majors on the truth that God is a God of judgement, that he cannot simply be seen as benignly condoning evil, but that he takes active steps to destroy what is evil. His judgement is seen to be based on the essential righteousness of his nature. It is a truth much needed today.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
6. GOD’S JUDGEMENTS and NATURAL DISASTERS
This sets out the biblical evidence from the prophets that natural disasters are clearly seen by the prophets as divine interventions in the life of humanity and nations. The evidence is taken from a number of prophets among whom there is unanimity of outlook on this issue.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
7. “TSUNAMI”
These are reflections on the 2004 Boxing Day disaster in Indonesia and other Asian countries. They reflect on God at work in natural disasters. It should be read alongside the biblical study “God and Natural disasters. What is said here could equally be applied to 9/11 or New Orleans etc.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
8. GOD and the NATIONS
This pamphlet draws out the fact that the prophets were not exclusively concerned with the Jewish people. God weighed all the contemporary nations in the balance and finding them wanting pronounced judgement on them on the basis of their inhumanity to man.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover

THE PROPHETS AND THE LOVE OF GOD AND JUDGEMENT
9. LOVE and JUDGEMENT
Much of the refusal to face God as one who brings judgements is based on the thought that God as God of love would not take such action. This pamphlet shows that the God of the prophets is intensely a God of love, who declared his love with weeping but, at the same time, had to judge.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
10. “NONE SO DEAF …” (Grace & Judgement)
This is a study of the “years of grace” that God gave to Judah under the combined ministry of the young king Josiah and the young prophet Jeremiah. It describes the battle against deeply rooted paganism, a battle of “revival” dimensions, but the ultimate refusal of the nation to take heed.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
11. FACING THE UNTHINKABLE (Justice & Judgement)
This examines how difficult and unthinkable it was even for an intercessor like Habakkuk to come to terms with the devastating judgements that God purposed for Judah and Jerusalem. Once he saw and accepted the inevitable he adopted an exemplary attitude to it.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover

THE PROPHETS AND FURTHER ASPECTS OF JUDGEMENT
12. RELIGION UNDER JUDGEMENT
This pamphlet deals with the degeneration of religion during the time of the prophets, showing how even the religion of Israel, though founded on the revelations given to Moses had become corrupt and was ripe for judgement. Idolatrous religion is also examined.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
13. THE NATION THAT LOST ITS SOUL
This shows how Israel and Judah started national life with God central, but gradually lost that central focus, and with it all integrity and uprightness. It shows how both nations emptied the worship of God of any real content and then went disasterously after idolatry.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
14. THE PLACE OF THE PROPHETS IN JEWISH HISTORY
Many prophets are referred to in the pamphlets, and their words of judgement are given in an historical situation. This pamphlet is written in order to help people follow the connection between individual prophets and crucial historical events. This is vital for clear understanding.	Click to read		A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
15. OPPOSITION TO THE PROPHETIC WORD - Jeremiah’s Bitter Experience
The opposition to the prophets was immense. No where is this more evident than in the ministry of Jeremiah. Looking at Jeremiah this pamphlet examines the nature of this opposition and what it took for a prophet to stand his ground against so much rejection.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover

NATIONAL JUDGEMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
16. NATIONAL JUDGEMENT - Facing the Facts
John and Jesus both brought a strong word of judgement to the Jewish nation of their day, which was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 This pamphlet shows how clearly they spoke in the same vein as their Old Testament counterparts and endorsed their outlook.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
17. CALLING A NATION TO REPENTANCE
“REPENT, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” is the key proclamation of both Jesus and John. What they actually meant by such a call is the subject of this pamphlet. This is a key issue for our time.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
18. JUDGEMENT and HOLY SPIRIT REVIVAL
Jesus and John not only brought proclamations of judgement but also powerful times of bringing people back to God through anointed preaching and ministry. This pamphlet shows that Holy Spirit revival is often very close alongside to judgement, and offers a window of hope.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover


Series B - Prophetic Hope in the Midst of Judgement
INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES	Click to read		A4 Portrait
JESUS IN ISAIAH, THE HOPE OF THE NATIONS
1. “GREAT LIGHT” and “MIGHTY GOD”
A study in Is. 9:1-7, showing first how the land of Galilee which was to be devastated by the Assyrians would become the very land that would witness the unsurpassed joy of the ministry of Jesus. Second,it reveals the divinty of Jesus.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
2. “SHOOT OF JESSE” - Anointed King and Banner for the People
A study in Is. 11:1-10 showing how out of the trunk of Judah’s kingship, decapitated by the Babylonians, would come a new shoot with an unparalleled anointing who would become a banner of salvation for the nations.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
3. “SERVANT OF THE LORD” - Light to the Gentiles
A study in Is. 42:1-7 & 49:1-7 showing that though Israel had failed as a servant to the nations and was bound for exile, a new servant would arise who, with an anointing of great love and gentleness would not fail but establish light and justice to the ends of the earth.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
4. “SERVANT OF THE LORD” - To Restore the tribes of Jacob
A further study in Is. 49:1-9 but this time revealing how the new servant would not only bring salvation to the gentiles but would also become God’s agent to restore the tribes of Israel both to himself and to their land.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
5. “SERVANT OF THE LORD” - A Guilt Offering
A study in Is. 50:4-9 and Is 52:13 - 53:12. This third study on the servant shows the means whereby he would bring light and salvation both to the Gentiles and the Jews - by his atoning death for sin. These passages form one of the clearest descriptions of the agony of Jesus and the reason for it.	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover

FURTHER PROPHETIC POINTERS TO JESUS
1. Jesus Sees Himself in the Old Testament Books	Click to read		A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
2. Jesus in the Sacrifices - Sin & Guilt Offerings	Click to read		A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
3. Jesus in the Sacrifices - Burnt Offering & Fellowship Offering	Click to read		A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
4. Jesus the Great High Priest	Click to read		A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover

THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL AND OF THE NATIONS
1. The Certainty of Israel's Restoration	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
2. Israel's Restoration from Babylon	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
3. Isaiah and Israel's "End Time" Restoration	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
4. Israel's Covenants - The Bedrock of Restoration	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
5. Did God Reject His People? - Prophetic Understanding in Paul	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
6. Jesus and an "End Time" Restoration of Israel	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover

REFLECTIONS ON PROPHECY AND JEWISH HISTORY
Introduction: God and History	Click to read		A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
1. The Chastisement of the Nation	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait
2. The Preservation of the Nation	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait
3. The Coming of the State of Israel - Part 1 - Anti-Semitism	Click to read		A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
4. The Coming of the State of Israel - Part 2 - Politics and the Providence of God	Click to read		A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
5. The Return of the Jews and the Hand of God	Click to read		A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover

SIGNS OF THE TIMES
1. SIGN OF THE TIMES - THE GENTILES	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover
2. SIGN OF THE TIMES - THE JEWS	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait	A4 Foldover

Series C -Spiritual Equipment for Today
SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS IN THE LIFE OF JESUS
1. Brief Intro. The Humanity of Jesus	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait
2. Man of the Spirit	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait
3. Man of the Word	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait
4. Man of Prayer	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait
SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS IN THE LIFE OF PAUL
5. A Revelation of Jesus	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait
6. A Call from Jesus	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait
7. The Spirit of Jesus	Click to read	Audio	A4 Portrait
THE HOLY SPIRIT - A Brief Introduction
8. The Holy Spirit - Who Is He?			A4 Portrait
9. The Holy Spirit - What Does He Do?			A4 Portrait
10. The Holy Spirit - His Gifts			A4 Portrait
SOME ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
11. Jesus and Spiritual Warfare			A4 Portrait
12. The Daily Battle			A4 Portrait
13. "Thorn in the Flesh"			A4 Portrait
14. Prayer Walking			A4 Portrait
15. "Spiritual Mapping"			A4 Portrait

This page is divided into the following three sections:

Series A - Issues of National Judgement

Series B - Prophetic Hope in the Midst of Judgement

Series C - Spiritual Equipment for Today

Please click the link above to view the articles in each series.

Series A - Issues of National Judgement

The Contemporary Countdown to Chaos - The Ten Years Since 9/11

THE PROPHETS AND A NATION UNDER JUDGEMENT

THE PROPHETS AND THE PRINCIPLES OF JUDGEMENT

THE PROPHETS AND THE LOVE OF GOD AND JUDGEMENT

THE PROPHETS AND FURTHER ASPECTS OF JUDGEMENT

NATIONAL JUDGEMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Series B - Prophetic Hope in the Midst of Judgement

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES

JESUS IN ISAIAH, THE HOPE OF THE NATIONS

FURTHER PROPHETIC POINTERS TO JESUS

THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL AND OF THE NATIONS

REFLECTIONS ON PROPHECY AND JEWISH HISTORY

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Series C -Spiritual Equipment for Today

SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS IN THE LIFE OF JESUS

SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS IN THE LIFE OF PAUL

THE HOLY SPIRIT - A Brief Introduction

SOME ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE