Coming up is the church's annual week of prayer and fasting - this year April 6-10, just before Resurrection Sunday. For those who haven't been involved before, and as a refresher for those who have, Rory gives a historical and scriptural basis for fasting, a Christian discipline that has been neglected by many. For this episode, examples from the Old Testament were given. In the next episode, Rory will look at the New Testament.
From a pre-millennial standpoint, with conviction and humility, Rory teaches that after the battle of Armageddon, Satan is captured and cast into the bottomless pit, or abyss, for 1,000 years. During this time the earth is restored to its former, created glory. There will be peace among all, and no more war. While the faithful throughout the ages will judge, the "tribulation survivors" will still seek out evil, even though Satan is bound. Then, Satan is released for a little while to deceive the...
An angel gathers all the birds for a great supper, while the beast and all the kings and armies gather together to defeat the returned Jesus. The battle of Armageddon rages for all of an instant (don't blink, you'll miss it), and the beast and the false prophet are captured and cast into the lake of fire where they will remain by themselves for 1,000 years, later to be joined by the condemned on earth. The warring armies are all killed and fed on by the birds, who have their fill. We get to choo...
Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, returns to earth on a white horse, followed by the armies of the saints and angels, also on white horses. He is crowned with many crowns, His eyes are like fire and He has a sword in His mouth to strike the nations. Judgment has come to the earth.
After the Transfiguration, the three disciples - Peter, James and John - come down the mountain with Jesus, who told them not to say a thing to anyone. Why did He say this? It was perhaps so they would treasure this thing in their hearts and then after being filled with the Holy Spirit, they could use this experience to provide credibility to their testimonies. They also questioned that if Jesus had come, why hadn't Elijah as was prophesied? There are various interpretations, such as John the Ba...
Babylon has been destroyed, Heaven exults and God is worshipped. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Pastor Rob Verdeyen teaches on prayer: why we pray and why we need to keep on praying. He uses examples from Calvary Corvallis showing how important it is to pray, how the more you pray the more your will becomes aligned with the Lord's, and that nothing of value is accomplished without prayer.
Jesus is transfigured in front of the disciples showing a vision of heaven and that he is, indeed, God. Moses and Elijah appear as well, representing the Law and the prophets, both of which pointed to Jesus. However, when Peter wants to make tabernacles for all three, that is, worship all three, God rebukes him. "This is my Son. Listen to Him." Jesus is the only one we worship.
Babylon the Great falls and with it, all its wealth and pleasures, partaken of by those who chose the things of this world over the things of God. Utterly destroyed in an hour, it became a place of demons and unclean birds. This was judgment and retribution for the saints, apostles and prophets she killed.
John sees a vision of a red woman on a red beast. The woman is Babylon, the great harlot, which also represents the world. All of us are born to serve the world and are only saved through Jesus. However, we need to be constantly diligent that we don't chase after false gods and other things in the world that take our love from Jesus.
Jesus heals a blind man and people are given what they seek - a miracle. But what they really need is to know who Jesus is. Just like people who go to a doctor to get a pill, but don't want to change their lifestyle, people seek instant relief through miracles, but instead, what they (and we) need is a heart change.
A teaching on Christ's love by guest speaker Wayne Taylor, from Calvary Chapel Seattle
Once again Jesus feeds a hungry multitude and is challenged by the Pharisees. Leaving the site in a boat, the disciples realized they forgot bread and were worried. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of understanding. Do we still lack understanding? We need to remember Jesus' continuing faithfulness.
Seven different judgments utterly destroy the earth: men are inflicted with loathsome sores, the sea turns to blood, the rivers turn to blood, men are scorched, there is darkness and pain, the Euphrates dries up, and the earth is utterly shaken.
Jesus ministers to the Gentiles and heals a demon-possessed child. Although a Gentile, the mother trusted Jesus and her faith caused her to seek him for the child's healing. We need to trust in God's timing and not ours.
Four current topics - the Big Bang theory, the origin of life, miracles, the empty tomb - are best explained from a Christian perspective.
Angels, at the direction of the Son of Man, harvest clusters of grapes (those on the earth who have rejected God) and put them in a winepress, where they are crushed, and blood flows deep on the face of the earth.
Local contractor Scott Graham details his journey from being a successful contractor to giving it up to serve Jesus in other nations. Associated with and trained through a ministry called Respect the Corners, he and his wife have served in Nepal and will soon be going to South Africa where they will minister through Crossfit coaching.
The 144,000 redeemed Jews sing a new song to the Lamb, and follow him wherever He goes. Three angels proclaim throughout the earth: one preaches the Gospel; one declares that Babylon has fallen; the third warns that those who worship the beast are doomed to eternal punishment.
With only a few loaves and fish, Jesus feeds 5,000 men (maybe up to 20,000 considering women and children. This shows compassion that results in action, as opposed to just sitting back in sympathy. Jesus used this moment to show His greatness, something our sinful nature can't understand., but His grace is far more powerful than our ignorance. What would you have me do, Lord? Be ready to ask, and when He fills your basket, go serve.
The Church is like a Lego structure: no matter our size there is a place for each of us, and we won't be complete unless everyone finds their "fit." We all have our unique part to play in edifying the Body of Christ.
The second beast, the false prophet, rises from the earth and deceives the elect through sign and wonders. He gives breath to an image of the antichrist and forces all to either worship it or die. Those who worship receive the mark of the beast.
Jesus sends out his disciples two-by-two, with instructions to take nothing and to stay where they are received. They were given power over unclean spirits and the power to heal. They preached repentance, cast out demons and healed those who were sick. This is followed by the account of how John the Baptist died at the hands of Herod, after Herod promised his wife's daughter anything she wanted, and the wife asked for John's head on a platter. This shows that there is a cost to being sent.
The beast arises from the sea, given power by the dragon (Satan), who the world begins to worship.
A vision of a woman (Israel) giving birth (Jesus) who then escapes the Dragon (Satan). The Dragon then makes war against the earth, Israel, and the redeemed.
As the second half of a "parenthetical revelation" between the judgments, John sees the two witnesses in Jerusalem, as well as other signs and wonders ushering in the end of times.
As almost an "aside" between the trumpet judgments, John sees an angel with a "little book," and is told that "there should be delay no longer."
Jesus uses parables to explain the Kingdom of God. He uses things that are mundane, common and ordinary to us and shows that the Kingdom of God doesn't come about by our ingenuity. It starts out tiny but grows large in our lives if we stop trusting in ourselves and instead, trust in Him. Only then can He work. Hearing is an important first step.
Aaron Mapes teaches on the Great Commission, specifically related to what the Lord has done in his family and their new direction in ministry.
The podcast of Calvary Prineville contains the latest sermons from Pastor Rory Rodgers, and occasionally live recordings of the latest worship service.
