| Editorial: Mike Bain |
| Recently I received a short clip from a pastoral friend in Taumarunui of Dr David Jeremiah speaking about what he called “the Golden Age” — the era after Armageddon, the Millennial reign, when heaven descends to earth and Satan is bound. That truth sits in our Bibles, plain as day. Yet Jeremiah delivered it as if it were a startling revelation. Why does that feel like news to so many Christians? |
| For decades I’ve sat under pulpits that dodge Revelation. We get sermons about the Rapture, sensational headlines, and speculative timelines — but almost never clear teaching on how Revelation 20 actually unfolds. That avoidance is not humility; it’s cowardice. If pastors won’t preach the full counsel of Scripture because it’s “too hard,” they are failing their flocks. |
 Dr David Jeremiah |
| When I was a Bible student (and I remain one), Revelation 20 didn’t confuse me — it connected the whole story. From Genesis to Revelation the narrative is coherent: God’s original intent, the fall, redemption, and final restoration. Hebrews 11:1 isn’t a pious slogan; it’s the posture of anyone who reads Scripture honestly: faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. If you preach only the parts that comfort the crowd and avoid the parts that demand clarity, you are selling a truncated gospel. |
| Some pastors hide behind the excuse that Revelation is “mysterious.” That’s a convenient dodge. Mystery is not an invitation to silence; it’s an invitation to study, to teach, and to prepare people for the victory God promises. Former MP Alfred Ngaro once said he began reading the Bible from the back because he wanted a foundation of victory. That’s the right instinct. Start with the end and the rest of Scripture falls into place. |
| Let’s be blunt: the church needs fewer entertainers and more exegetes. We need leaders who will read Revelation aloud, explain it plainly, and help people live in light of the promised outcome. If your pastor refuses to go there, ask why. If your leaders prefer applause to accountability, call it out. Faith without teaching is superstition; teaching without courage is cowardice. |
| Seeing Dr Jeremiah now — older, frailer, still proclaiming the Word — was a reminder that faithful voices matter. There are many pastors who quietly, faithfully, and courageously preach truth without the spotlight. They are the coaches who push you to finish well. Don’t let the loud, flashy voices drown them out. Don’t let the culture of avoidance shape your theology. |
| Read Revelation. Read it again. Demand teaching that prepares you for the whole story, not just the comfortable chapters. If the church won’t teach the end, then the people will be left with fear, confusion, and a faith that cannot stand the test. |
| Hold fast. Be bold. Insist on truth. |
