From:-
TORCH TRUST FOR THE BLIND, Torch House, Torch Way, Northampton Road, Market
Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9HL, U.K.
Telephone: (01858) 438260, Fax: (01858) 438275, email: info@torchtrust.org
Charity Number 1095904.
Studies in the Book of Revelation
How good are you at keeping appointments? Sometimes I’ve just clean forgotten about some quite important ones and felt very silly and careless afterwards!
Once a month at Torch we have a communion service together. Of course, we all have them at other times in our own churches, but there’s something precious about remembering the death and rising of our Lord Jesus within the Torch family.
“Have you brought our offering,” my husband whispered to me before the service got under way. Each month we collect money to share with other Christian workers who are serving the Lord. “Oh, no,” I whispered back, “We’ll have to put it in later.” Truth was, I’d completely forgotten it was our communion service.
This set me thinking. How is it that I can remember appointments such as meeting friends and relatives, going on journeys, attending boring meetings – yet I forgot an important meeting with our Lord Jesus? I felt challenged, and prayed that remembering Him through communion would become much more important to me than all those other appointments I manage to keep.
January’s an excellent time for sorting out our priorities and looking forward to the year ahead. May we give the Lord Jesus first place – every time.
God bless and keep you during 2006.
Sheila Armstrong and the editors
by Mike Townsend
Let me show you something really beautiful. “The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand,” (chapter 17 verse 4). John needed to take a closer look at this splendid woman. “I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns ... I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints ... When I saw her, I was greatly astonished” (chapter 17 verses 3 to 6). Closer inspection made John draw back with revulsion.
The woman has a name. “This title was written on her forehead: Mystery Babylon the Great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.” (verse 5). Babylon, today set amongst the destruction and terror of modern Iraq, was once a magnificent city. Its great tower, Babel, was built with pride to reach the heavens. But God resisted their pride and confused their language. (See Genesis 11). The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. As king Nebuchadnezzar strolled in these roof top gardens, “He said, ‘is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?’” (Daniel chapter 4 verse 30). Pride comes before a fall (see Proverbs 11 verse 2). God immediately took away Nebuchadnezzar’s mind, removing his kingly authority, and humbling him to grovel with the animals. Babylon was built on pride, and sustained by pride. But the first time we hear about it in Revelation is in chapter 14: “Fallen! fallen is Babylon the great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” (verse 8). Babylon is the proud mother of prostitutes and abominations. The golden cup was “filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.” (verse 4). Babylon is the essence of all that is immoral.
How can this beautiful woman be so flawed? It needed explanation. “Then the angel said to me: ‘Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.’” (verse 7). We have seen this beast before in chapter 13. It is one of Satan’s servants, the beast from the sea. That beast was the extreme of political power in all its violence and injustice. The woman of vice rides on the beast of violence! “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.” (verse 9). The political power in John’s time was Rome, a city set on seven hills. Rome’s power underpinned a culture of greed, sex and exploitation. John, in this passage, predicted the dramatic fall of Rome three hundred years before it happened: “The world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.” (verse 8).
When you live under tyranny, it seems impossible that it will end. “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” (verse 12). Political power is temporary, lasting for only one hour in the context of eternity. Thirty years ago, who would have thought that the Soviet Union would crumble to nothing. Many powerful dictators including Hitler, Idi Amin and Saddam Hussein have fallen. Jesus is the eternal King and we, His followers, will reign with Him. “They will make war against the lamb, but the lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.” (verse 14).
Earthly powers tend to destroy themselves. “The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin.” (verse 16). Often political authorities get sick through moral decline. Then the regime collapses. Jesus said, “every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined.” (Matthew chapter 12 verse 25). Are you oppressed by tyranny or gross immorality? Look to Jesus.
In chapter 18 we see Babylon’s sudden death, and look in on the funeral. “Fallen! fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.” (verse 2) The pre-announcement of chapter 14 is fulfilled. “Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” (verse 8). Sin and debauchery lead to the ruin of health. As I write, the death of one of the world’s greatest footballers is announced. George Best’s body gave out under the burden of drink and sex. Proud Babylon, afflicted by evil spirits and detestable birds, is completely overwhelmed by her plagues.
What has all this to do with us? I will take you back to the beginning of this study. We looked at a beautiful woman. She, Babylon, symbolizes worldly culture. There is much to be admired in our culture. But take a closer look. We learn a lot about our culture from the three groups of mourners.
“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.” (verse 9). Royalty has always been admired, but now we live in an age of celebrity. Life is empty without the latest scandal from famous and powerful people.
“The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no-one buys their cargoes any more – cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls” (verses 11 and 12). It is said that in the west, shopping is today’s religion. We even worship at the shelves on Sundays!
“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off.” (verse 17). I must admit, I love travelling and enjoy leisure activities. But that is the point of this section of Revelation. Much of our culture is excellent. But take a closer look! If celebrity, shopping, travel and leisure are all that life is about, then our lives are nothing. “They will weep and mourn and cry out: ‘woe! woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’” (verses 15 to 17).
This macabre funeral closes on a note of praise. As the mighty angel hurls the massive boulder into the sea, “‘Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.’” (verse 20). The people of God rejoice in God’s justice.
[Pastor Philip Dakori (as we fondly know him) is a visually impaired Christian pastor in Northern Ghana, and writes ... ]
By the amazing grace of our Lord and through prayer and Christian literature support, I have been a pastor for 36 years – the first seven years without a wife, and the next 29 with a beautiful, hard-working and faithful wife.
At present I am working with the Vagla Old Testament translation team. I do checking with them three days a week, using my braille Bible. It may take five more years to complete this difficult work.
Concerning my work amongst blind people, I have found both Christian and non-Christian blind people to be excited when they read the books. This encourages me to continue with the distribution of literature and Bibles to blind people.
With the help of church leaders in Tuna, I formed an association of the blind in May, 2002. There are 22 members, mostly Christian, a few Muslim. Only I and one other man can read and write braille.
I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Lord for the way He is blessing many physically blind people through the ministry of Torch Trust for the Blind. And I gratefully thank them very, very much for your faithfulness in sending the braille Bible booklets and The Torch magazine; they are a source of inspiration, heart-warming and encouraging to me.
May the undying love of Christ keep us united in living for Him and serving Him faithfully to the end, Amen.
by Mum Heath (co-founder of Torch Trust)
You may remember that in the last issue of The Torch I told you of the preparations Karen and Nathan were making for the arrival of their baby. We were reminded of the difference there was when God’s own Son was born – a poor cattle pen, with a feeding trough for a crib.
Well, our baby duly arrived, all eight and a half pounds of her. Leonie is a dear little scrap and much loved by her doting parents who are proud to show her to all their friends. But, all babies cry – it is their way of making a statement! However, when it is your own first new baby, it becomes a major crisis when the little one keeps crying.
“I don’t know what to do when she cries”, said Karen, “I wish I knew what was wrong. And why do they cry so much in the night? I’m just longing for a complete night’s sleep once more!” That is a question asked by many a tired young mum. Poor Karen was feeling the strain of it all.
Next day she cuddled little Leonie close, and said, “Oh Leonie, I don’t like it when you cry, but I love you just the same whatever you do!” Then she added, “Isn’t it strange, you feel so full of love, even when they are crying!”
I was a happy Great Gran when I heard that, because that is true mother love!
As I watched Leonie, cuddling close to her mother I remembered some of the words in the Bible about “mother love”. They are the words of the Lord Himself, and I find them very precious.
“As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you!” (Isaiah 66:13).
There are many people around today who feel abandoned. Some have been denied the love and care of a good home, and are suffering as a result. Sometimes, however, even when we have not had the traumas of being neglected in childhood we can feel abandoned, and wonder if the Lord has forgotten us. If we have come to the Saviour and committed our lives to His care, it is quite impossible for us to be abandoned by Him. God never forgets us, we are written on His heart, so great is His love for us.
As Karen wrapped Leonie in a comforting shawl and cuddled her, gently rocking her to hush her cries, I felt the comfort and warmth of my dear Lord around me. He never forgets us, never misunderstands us, for He knows fully what is troubling us. What is more, He has the answer to our every need. Draw close to this wonderful Saviour today. Tell Him everything – no secrets between you and your Lord. Then you too will enjoy the comfort, security, and the strength you need for every situation. It really works, for Jesus promised it would.
Post script: Leonie has passed the crying stage at nights now, and is a very happy little baby.
A new Torch Fellowship Group will be launched on January 19th 2006 at Torbay.
Bob Callender has been appointed North West Area Coordinator.
The Council meeting in Malawi on 26th November received a new member: Macdonald Tembo. He is a blind man and replaces Jonah Sichale who died earlier in the year.
Blessings continues to send out braille Scriptures and hymn books by post each week.
At the Government Teacher Training College in Blantyre, there are now 10 blind students. They plan to form a Torch Fellowship Group in the college.
by Gordon Temple
I always enjoy my visits to railway stations and airports, even if I am not going anywhere myself. I like to browse the destination boards, reading the names of far away places and imagining what it would be like to go there. When I hear planes go overhead I often wonder where they are headed.
It’s clear from the Bible that the direction we travel in is important to God.
The journey made by the children of Israel across the wilderness between Egypt and Palestine took forever (actually 40 years). They went all over the place but all the time they followed the pillar of cloud and fire as God set their direction of travel.
In the story of the prodigal son it was the change of direction that made all the difference. Once the son had turned his back on his self-serving lifestyle and made up his mind to return home he was on the right road. He didn’t have to complete the journey before he was embraced by his father who had rushed down the road to meet him.
At our annual thanksgiving service, Paul Lindsay challenged us, with words from Philippians, to “press on”: “... one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13‑14).
In the preceding verses Paul has been reflecting on his own life, so in encouraging us to “forget” he is not referring to memory. And we can look back on a past year of Torch’s ministry and celebrate our experience of God’s goodness. But what Paul is saying is that we can’t move forward looking backward. We need to release the past and shrug off its dragging claim on us so that we can press on with our heavenward journey.
As we move on, as we run the race, words from Hebrews tell us where we need to be looking, where we are headed: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
It’s not the distant glow of heaven we move towards but rather to the present reality of the risen Jesus. As Christians we are followers of Jesus – simply that. His incarnation “God with us” brings God up close – as He told His disciples to preach: “The kingdom of heaven is near”.
Many flowers track the sun; they turn their flowery heads so that they are fully illuminated by the sun’s rays. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes: “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit... . For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18 & 4:6).
It’s as if we come across a group gathered around a fire on a dark night. In their faces we see the brightness, the life, and the warmth of the fire towards which they are facing.
With Jesus in the centre, with faces turned towards Him we positively glow in the light of his glory. Surely this is the reflection of the glory of Christ to which Jesus refers as He sums up the parable of the wheat and the tares: “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:43).
So as one year passes and another begins lets grasp this, that in Christ we are people with a future. What’s important is the direction in which we are facing; that our journey is towards Jesus – that our faces are turned towards His – that we may shine with His glory.
Famous preacher D L Moody put it this way: “I am walking towards a bright light and the nearer I get the brighter it is”. However bad or good our past, our future with Jesus is bright.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
by Norman Hillyer
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (Psalm 121:1).
Most modern translations of the Bible take the opening verse of Psalm 121 to include one or even two questions. It may be so. There is no question mark in ancient Hebrew to make it clear.
If we do read the words as statements (as in the Authorised Version), they still have a lesson. If I “lift up mine eyes unto the hills”, where exactly do I look? Not to the foothills or slopes. My gaze goes straight to the top of the hills, to the point where earth and heaven meet.
Heaven is linked with earth’s concerns, and the way to facilitate the help needed is to recognise the meeting-point – the lifting up of the eyes.
by Winston Chidzambuyo (Administrator, Torch Trust, Malawi)
Before I was tested for my first pair of reading glasses in Leicester, UK in 1992, I thought I could see perfectly well – except for a probable need for reading glasses. However, a pair of glasses showed me just how little I could see without them!
When I was a pastor of an evangelical church in Blantyre, Malawi, I thought I was doing everything possible to fulfil the “mission of Christ”. However, it was when I became involved in the ministry of Torch Trust in the early 1990s that my eyes were opened, and I realised I had completely overlooked another part of the Lord’s flock: those with visual impairment.
Since becoming a Council member of Torch Trust, Malawi from 1992, my eyes have been opened to the Lord’s declaration that He came “so that the blind will see”. Realising this to refer to spiritual sight, I have come to see that those who are physically blind often have an extra special measure of spiritual sight; my life has been greatly blessed by the life and testimony of visually impaired Christians.
My present role is to visit and encourage Torch Fellowship Groups in different parts of Malawi, organising new ones where necessary. Our main aim with these Groups is to admonish them to be rooted in the Word of God. We also encourage pastors and church leaders to accommodate visually impaired and disabled people in their churches.
During the current severe food shortage in most of the countryside, we have been appalled to see how the visually impaired and disabled people are sidelined in the distribution of food relief aid. However, the government have now expressed their concern, and we trust this is the Lord’s answer to our prayers.
We congratulate the following people who have successfully completed Bible study correspondence courses:
Martin Bwabi (Kenya), Solomon Bugire Ndoyine (Ghana), Theophilus Odaudu (Ghana).
Stephen J Godwin (Tanzania), K K Valsan (India).
Josephat K Adagala (Kenya).
Olayinka Gbadamosi (Nigeria).
Peter Pandian (Malaysia).
Peter Pandian (Malaysia), Micah Shabi (Nigeria).
M M Mandala (Malawi).
M M Mandala (Malawi), Matthew O Omerigwe (Nigeria).
Here are 11 people who would like to correspond with others. You may like to braille a letter to this person. Introduce yourself by giving your name, your correct postal address, your age, and some information about yourself, your family and your country.
Anybody reading this who would like us to include their name and information in our next bulletin, send in your full name, postal address, age, and tell us about the things you enjoy doing. The aim of having a penfriend is to develop a friendship and exchange information and ideas.
OYEWALE OLAYEMI – Sabo Baptist Church, PO Box 243, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
He is 25 years old, a blind student in Nigeria Higher Institution of Learning. He enjoys listening to gospel music, reading the Bible, talking on the phone and reading novels.
REV ADELAIDE E WINK – 59 S Lee Street, Beverly Hills, Florida 34465-3640 USA.
Aged 61, totally blind, does a lot of crafts: knitting and plastic canvas-grid weaving. Open to new ideas in crafts. He loves to walk, sit outside and read and have quiet times with God in the fresh air. He has two dogs – chocolate Labrador retrievers. Enjoys eating out in restaurants.
CHRISTOPHER NALIMA – Malawi Telecommunications Limited, Stedium Exchange, Planning and Projects, PO Box 580, Blantyre.
Malawian by nationality but fluent in English, 21 years old, the oldest of two. He enjoys watching/playing soccer, meeting new friends, going to church and listening to music.
GLADYS MUUKA – c/o Mrs P M Phiri, Kamwala Basic School, PO Box 32298, Lusaka, Zambia.
She is Zambian, aged 21, and would like penfriends of both sexes.
FRANCIS CHARLES NACHIPPO – Chabbe Village, Cstoff Mambala LEA School, PO Box 9, Mambala, Chiringa, Phalombe, Malawi.
Aged 24, he enjoys listening to Torch Trust cassettes, spoken word ministries, radio. He also likes going to church, visiting different countries, playing football, writing letters to friends, reading the Bible and magazines and communicating by phone. He is also member of a choir.
RENJITH CG – Nalloor H Kumpazha, PO Pathanamthitte District Pin 689653, Kerala State, India.
A 22 year-old student, doing third year of a BA in history. She/he enjoys reading novels, the Bible, magazines and books, travelling, watching movies, writing letters, stories, prayer, songs, listening to music and radio, especially BBC World Service, and reggae-playing.
JAMES FRED – Maya Village, PO Box 80, Nchalo, Malawi.
He is 21, blind and has the Malawi School Certificate of Education, equivalent to GCSE. He enjoys playing the guitar, learning and studying, reading the Bible and listening to music. Letters requested to be in English – print would be welcomed.
INNOCENT NDILO YABOKA – Katukulu Village, Area Likolwa, Kankomba Primary School, PO Box 947021 Kaoma District, Zambia.
He is 21, the oldest of three, became blind when 6 years old. He enjoys gospel music and reading more of the word of the creator, and also playing draughts.
SANIPAL SINGH – Sanipal Suh Village Pandory, P-O Maseet-pal-cot. District, Hoshiarpur Punjab, India.
Aged 22, he is studying MA Music. He enjoys playing the guitar, tabla and harmonium, singing and listening to Ghazals and Indian classical music. He also enjoys playing cricket, writing letters, playing chess and reading poetry and books and articles of nationalism. He would like to study English literature.
KENNEDY INDIAZI KIVAYIRU – Chekalini Sec School, PO Box 17, Kipkaren River, Kenya.
Aged 21, likes playing football, writing Swahili and French poems, listening to the radio in general, and receiving letters from all over the world. He would like letters in English or French, and would prefer to correspond with people under 20 years.
GIFT BONNYFACE LUGU – Katete Boarding High School, PO Box 55018, Katete, Zambia.
Aged 20, enjoys listening to the radio, reading magazines and books, writing letters, listening to music and playing the guitar. Would like to correspond with someone 20 years old or younger.