Category Archives: Holy Bible

London area awakening: refiner’s fire testimony

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I’m honoured and grateful to Paul Marriott for having contacted me direct about his visit to Capstone Church, as told in the first half of the testimonies published by my friend Michael Marcel.  (I noted his confirming my impression of visiting that church as being like Toronto and reference to the burning bush, which featured in my meditations over several weeks.) Paul’s illuminating account of personal discipleship in giving the glory to God is published with his kind permission:

‘I came across your wonderful blog today and it blessed me greatly – thank you…

‘I wrote this testimony below on the 18th August. In the past 10 days my wife, daughter and myself have even been more profoundly affected by what is happening at Capstone and we could probably write several more pages of testimony. The Lord is moving in very deep and remarkable ways in the UK and He is using an extremely humble fellowship at the back-end of nowhere in Ilford, East London, to ignite the London Awakening, which is already having a profound affect across not only across London but also the nations of the UK and beyond into the Nations. I think the key to what is happening is humility – the Lord favours the humble – not so the proud. I hope this encourages you brother.’

MY REFINER’S FIRE TESTIMONY

‘The very top testimony below (ie. previous post) is mine from a week ago. What isn’t stated here is that it was the culmination of a significant period of private prayer where I asked the Lord to lead me through effective repentance of anything that put self above Him. As a result of a discussion with a dear friend whose faith-walk is a yardstick of integrity, I asked the Lord to cleanse me of all hindrances and blockages in me that would prevent me hearing His voice or understanding His word; I asked Him to purify me in His refiner’s fire of all the dross and impurities (the burning bush was not a consuming fire but it represented ‘holy ground’) and finally to make me a holy vessel fit to be poured out for His purposes.

‘On the day I went to Capstone Church Ilford, which I had never heard of before, I’d added a statement in my prayer group, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one could find a church where man completely took his hand off the service and allowed God to run it?” – to which several in that group responded with a resounding “Amen”. It seemed that no sooner had I uttered that and they had responded than the 2 prophecies mentioned below (ie previous) appeared in my facebook feed and the rest of the below became history.

‘Since then my passion for Jesus has grown exponentially, I am totally in love with Him; I have unspeakable love for my wife and family; Amanda and Sarah have been incredibly supportive. I dance like David danced in every time of worship, my love of the lost knows no ends and I am now daily leading people to Jesus or making Him known to them on a journey they are wanting to undertake. Talking of journeys every train and bus trip and high street walk and shop visit is a befriending-for-Jesus-time and even my hospital appointment today resulted in Him being made known to the waiting room in an utterly friendly way and in my praying for various people there to be healed.

‘In 12 days since I first attended Capstone I have been healed of a very painful post-viral knee condition (I laid claim to Isaiah 53:5d – by His wounds (stripes) we are healed); I feel like 26 and not 62; lost 14lbs in weight (1.5 stone over 3 weeks) – largely from “worshipping with all my being” which has now attained a remarkable prophetic edge (who me this previously demure 62-year-old Englishman?) and also within a week have attained an admittedly medically-aided blood-pressure reduction from 173/117 on Mon 7th August to 136/72 which I was told today…is the blood pressure of a healthy 17-year-old! I’ll have that. 1 Corinthians 1:31 says “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord”. Indeed I do and I give all the glory for this transformation to God

‘To my surprise even attempting to share such a testimony has led to numerous negative reactions (to the point where some will attempt to explain each part of the testimony away) but many spirit-filled encouragements too.

‘That however is another story. For now I’ll ‘just’ GIVE GOD THE GLORY.’

Paul Marriott, 18th August 2017

‘That was over 3 weeks ago now and it has not all been plain sailing as the Lord is doing a very deep work in me, showing me the effects of carnal thinking and convicting me of my sin nature and taking me through confession and deep anguish of repentance on my face before Him…a sobering, cleansing and releasing experience. I have discovered that fear of man is a snare that has caused compromise in my life…not pleasant to see where fear leads – but this is a direct as a result of praying and asking Him to make me a clean, pure & holy vessel fit for His purposes. I am learning too the importance of accountability and deeper submission to others (my wife especially!) in their exercise of wisdom & discernment. I have discovered that deep seated insecurities had affected a lot of my thinking and led to people-pleasing above God or family. I have been ‘addicted to doing’ out of guilt feelings rather than a true and deep love for the lost. All that has to go and the Lord is inviting me to take His yoke upon me instead, which, by comparison is light and easy. There is no going back to the religion of compromise – I have discovered that the journey out of bondage is not easy but I sense that the outcome and fruitfulness will be awesome.’

(12th September)

Selah!

UPDATE 21 Oct 2019

On Facebook’s Prophetic Releasers for UK Revival, Paul replies to my comment on his most encouraging personal news as follows:

“… You may recall that I attend Capstone Church whose primary campus is in Ilford. We hosted open meetings 5 nights a week and on Sunday mornings in 2017-18 in what became known as the London Awakening…Since then we have continued to experience the tangible Presence of God in every meeting at Ilford and Southall, while the husband and wife Senior Pastors have poured themselves into the church in multiple ways so that we can help pour out into other churches and nations.  Teaching on the prophetic is the most recent example of their serving the Body (the wife is commissioned as a prophet by HIM and has been conducting the excellent teaching).

On the significance of Monday’s total solar eclipse across USA

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Path of 2017 and 2024 total eclipses; credit NationalEclipse.com (tap for link)

A couple of sources of information on Monday’s total solar eclipse across the USA, of which the second greatly expands upon the first: eg. insights from Hebrew meaning of the ‘heavenly X’ across the States: Continue reading →

Sex-Synod & Parliamentarians in Jesus’ and St Paul’s End-times prophecies – #2

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The Ark Encounter, Ken Ham Facebook – click/tap for link

Continuing from #1 – for ease of reference, the prime prophetical point is unequivocally stated at 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 – ‘that Day (of the Lord) will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped…’

Re-reading that scripture upon learning of July’s Sex-Synod shenanigans something struck me from each its verses, namely:

  1. the CofE is in full-blown apostasy and thus will get at best a full-blown shaking down or, at worst, a deepening schism between orthodox and permissive clergy!
  2. someone will soon be on the world scene and manifest the antichrist spirit as ‘the son of perdition’, but is satan using the current situation as a ‘trial-run’ of what’s foretold by using ‘unwitting’ secular leaders as its mouthpiece??

Important to note that I’m NOT saying those people are demonic or demon-possessed. Disciples of Christ are only too aware of the nature of the spiritual battle being waged worldwide for everyone’s spirit, souls and minds – it’s influencing almost every aspect of our lives. The not-yet saved are thereby highly vulnerable and susceptible to satanic deceptions and all too easily fall prey to the enemy of our souls. It wants nothing less than our destruction, spiritual enslavement and eventual incarceration in hell.

PARLIAMENTARY IMPLICATIONS

In tandem with the General Synod’s formal declaration on banning Conversion Therapy, we see humanistic notions of equality, diversity,  rights and sexuality permeating ‘progressive liberal’ goals. John Bercow, long-standing LGBT activist and the Speaker of the House Commons, addressed Pink News at a reception in Parliament. Although speaking in an unofficial capacity, in view of that Parliamentary position his opinion may be deemed as being an ‘ex-officio’ statement. Premier quotes him as saying,

“We are marking 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality.

“There’s always a balance to be struck – we don’t want to behave as though it’s all over, that everything has been done. Nothing remains – because that isn’t true.

“I still feel that we can only really have equal marriage when you can b***** well get married in a church if you want to do so.”

‘When the law changed in 2013, churches were offered a protection that they wouldn’t be forced to host gay marriages in their building.” 

[Pink News reports: “‘I suppose in marriage terms there will only really be complete legal equality when it is permissible for a gay couple to marry as a matter of right in a church.” Referring to the Church of England’s clause, he added: “I always felt it was a pity when the same-sex marriage legislation went through that as a way of accommodating some of the church interests there was that compromise which detracted a little bit from the concept of complete equality”.’]

Blogger ‘Archbishop Cranmer’ takes on the case of Justine vs Justin: the ‘not yet’ and ‘never’ of same-sex marriage in the Church of England – his report merits reading in full but here’s its first paragraphs (emphases mine) – note the ‘sacred cow’ of ‘equality’:

Continue reading →

Sex-Synod & Parliamentarians in Jesus’ and St Paul’s End-times prophecies – #1

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14/85 sex-related questions: NONE on the Persecuted Church! Credit: Cranmer

We stay on the current topic to:
  • expand upon previous posts on apostasy
  • consider its direct relevance to the UK Parliament
  • examine two End-times prophecies and their context
  • review how satanic strategy is engineering a work-around.

I humbly submit this material as an outcome of the prophecy spoken over me soon after launching this blog, as at the close of Why Write/blog?  This is only the second time I’ve referred to that specific gifting and I offer this 2-part post for weighing by my brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ.:

THE DAY OF THE LORD

The issues are opened up in Synod Sides With satan – Risks Anglican Schism/Shaking and their import is outlined in re-published extract On The Great Apostasy & Deception; wherein I write about Apostle Paul’s letter informing the early church what’s destined to happen before The Day of The Lord and Jesus’ return to earth.

The prime prophetical point is unequivocally stated at 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 – ‘that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped…’

The Bible’s first reference to ‘The Day of The Lord’ was uttered circa 585 BC by prophet Obadiah in connection with the vengeance God would bring upon the Edomites in view of their hatred for their distant relatives and in aiding the Babylonian attack against them and desecrating Jerusalem and taking the Jewish people into captivity. This word of the Lord is soon fulfilled in Edom’s disappearance. Obadiah’s scroll is the shortest in the OT but its closing verses prophesy Israel’s final triumph in not only returning home but also in its eschatalogical significance for ‘the day of the Lord’; a season of divine justice and judgement of ALL nations around Israel, viz:

‘For the day of the LORD upon all nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. For as you drank on My holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually…and they shall be as though they had never existed.’ (Obadiah 15-16)

It’s important not to overlook the fact that in quoting Isaiah 61 as His ‘mission statement’ Jesus opened that synagogue scroll and quoted the first verse only, and then stopped (Luke 4:16-21). The Spirit of the Lord God was upon and anointed Him to preach the Good News, to heal the broken-hearted and bring release for those bound as though imprisoned. That was the purpose of His First Advent, but the subsequent verses allude to the anointing also continuing in His Second Advent, namely:

“To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God…”

ANGLICAN ‘SEX-SIN-NOD’

The above post offered my opinion that the apostate nature of July’s General Synod of the Church of England, especially the Archbishop of York’s actions, marked a tipping point of Anglican apostasy because of its authoritative role in that church’s legislative affairs. Also, it would engender schismatic action! Continue reading →

Rebels? In church? Just who’s rebelling??

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My friend and author of The Pursuit of Pleasure and Feasting on the Father, Revd William Smith, emailed me today in response to my last post’s reference to Gavin Ashenden leading a group of ‘rebel Anglicans’. I have Bill’s kind permission to publish his reaction:

Dear Richard,

REBELS?

Grace, mercy and peace to you both in our Beloved Saviour and King.

Following on from yesterdays “Watch” with the Gavin Ashenden article, I believe we have the wrong emphasis on this. (ie. in Christian Today article).

Gavin, GAFCON, and the open letter to York, are in no way rebellious. These precious faithful ones are simply that, faithful ones.

The rebels are all those who have abandoned biblical teaching in favour of contemporary ideas and unrighteous ways. It is Lambeth Palace, the Synod (in general), the supporters of “Pride” etc, who have left the truth and are in rebellion against God and His revealed ways for human behaviour.

I have said this elsewhere and feel very strongly that we should be declaring this unashamedly and unapologetically.

The rebels are those who have turned from God, not those who are walking faithfully with Him.

There is a pressing need for Anglicanism, and much of the rest of ‘the church’ to be made aware of this. To recognise the truth of what I have here written and for there to be a turning in support of these faithful ones in rejection of the others. It is being portrayed wrongly making the “rebels” (the faithful) to be those destroying the so called unity of the church, while all the time they are upholding its faithful following of The Lord Jesus. (Rant over)

I do believe we urgently need to redress the prevailing attitude and see Truth restored, the bible honoured, celebrated and followed, rather than being shamed as divisive.

For your thoughts.

Much blessing and encouragement as this battle intensifies as biblical truth is so under threat from within.

In Victorious King Jesus, I bless you both.

Bill, 31st July 2017

POSTSCRIPT

It’s worth noting today’s newspaper item on the Roman Catholic Bishop of Shrewsbury, Rt Revd Mark Davies that Christians could be treated as extremists in being targeted by the Government’s new counter-extremism measures. He’s not the first to have expressed deep reservations over these plans. (Digital version not available)

Queen’s former chaplain leads rebel Anglican group threatening to split Church over sexuality issues

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This re-blog and an Open Letter from a large PCC in the north that’s lost confidence in the Archbishop of York in ‘all things spiritual’ and thus requesting his repentance for what took place, are essential material in my coverage of the 2 Thess2:3 Apostasy.

gavinashenden's avatarGavin Ashenden

Christianity today.jpg

Press here for the article:-

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On The Great Apostasy and Deception

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This extract from a long piece blogged two years two weeks ago is reprinted as lead-in for the next post on how last week’s events in the Church of England and Parliament fulfill End-time prophecy of the soon return of Jesus Christ.

After writing about Humanism being the Forerunner of the Antichrist I looked at the spirit of Humanism’s offensive and its role in the Greece-EU crisis. A couple of letters to one of the first churches planted in Europe warn about its deceitful effects upon beliefs and values.:

EXTRACT from FUNDAMENTAL FLAW IN WESTERN SOCIETY…HUMANISM

APOSTASY and DECEPTION

The Book of Acts records that, whilst on a mission in Asia Minor, the apostle Paul was supernaturally called to visit Macedonia over in mainland Europe (Acts 16). In about 49 AD he arrived in the port of Philippi in northern Greece and planted a house church led by a business woman known as Lydia. From there he and his companion Silas went south to Salonika (Thessalonica), found the Jewish synagogue and preached there. A thriving church of devout Greeks and some Jews was established, but they helped Paul to escape from his violent opponents. Within a couple of years he wrote from Corinth two concise letters to those new believers to clarify points arising from his teaching.

One of those themes was upon the expected return of the Lord Jesus Christ and Paul’s second letter clarified the brief reference in the first, as follows (emphases added).

‘Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.’ (2 Thess 2 NKJV)

He proceeds at length to explain that the ‘mystery of lawlessness’ is already at work, but that someone who will be the very personification of evil will be revealed and come onto the world stage. Then the Lord will come from heaven and destroy him by the glory of His physical return to earth (2Thess 2:8)

Today – now – we’re well into that first stage, the ‘falling away’ from true faith in Jesus Christ, and which is also known as the ‘Great Apostasy’, as is so abundantly evident across the once-Christian Western world. (Eg. recent video clip on John Kilpatrick vision: ‘The United Apostates of America’.)  Paul proceeds,

‘The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.‘

This means that those who fall away from the fullness of faith as originally taught by the Apostles, will become so unrighteous in God’s sight that they will be wide open to being deceived by Satan and his agents. They bring a distortion and twisting of the Gospel to accommodate people’s preferences and desires instead of obeying God’s commands.

It is clear this deception is the consequential result of not loving the truth, who is the very Word of God in the person of Jesus Christ, and thus not desiring Him and the salvation He bought them by dying in their stead on the cross.

The next verse is extremely ominous. Paul explains that, because their attitude remains deliberately ungodly, the Almighty is not only allowing them to be strongly deceived but is sending an irresistible delusion, the consequences of which will condemn them:

‘And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.’

By way of a careful caveat we need to note that a number of believers too readily quote verse 9 about some people through whom miracles, signs and wonders are displayed. As in my recent post on the accuser of the brethren attacking prophecies such self-appointed inquisitors claim all such demonstrations are deception. But upon reading and understanding the chapter in its entirety (as here) we find their claims to be rather judgemental.

Verse 12 gives the game away! Only those who despise the truth of the Gospel will be misled and suffer the consequences.

The Daily Express reports General Synod:- “This runs completely counter to the Bible…the Christian guide book on sexuality, and Christian experience down the ages. “

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Previous post refers. Thank you for this Gavin, and other incisive articles on the Synod. UPDATE: read his excellent, thorough rebuttal of Steve Chalk’s latest claims.

gavinashenden's avatarGavin Ashenden

Article found here

“In Christian terms, reading the Bible, praying, going to confession, are all forms of ‘conversion therapy’.

“The arguments behind the motion have the effect of sending out the signal that the Church is happy to support the promotion or expression of same sex attraction as a priority for pastoral care; but that if anyone is struggling with a conflicted set of attractions, any move for help or support in the direction of heterosexual development is off limits and out of bounds.

“This runs completely counter to the Bible which is the Christian guide book on sexuality, and Christian experience down the ages.

“It turns the Church of England into a kind of secular religious body, keen to offer a little bit of superficial spirituality for those that way inclined, but giving up on the ambition to transform and free people up to live out the demanding ethics…

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The Rapture Parable — The Gospel In The End Times

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Did Jesus share a parable on multiple occasions in order to explain the Rapture? Is this “Rapture Parable” his most misunderstood parable? (This article was written in response to a request by a reader to explain the parable in Matt. 24:28) Our traditions sometimes determine what we think a biblical parable or illustration means. This even can…[continued in The Rapture Parable.]

Richard writes: My brief remark on the ‘Rapture’ in the post on The Shaking implies I have some reservations on that New Testament topic. Rather than rely on Paul’s letters alone, I prefer to start at what Jesus Himself says about that ‘in-gathering’, especially when we look at the original Greek rather than translations! (EG. see Fresh insights into Jesus’ role in Creation, covering implicit knowledge of the laws of quantum physics.)

Considerations of our prophesied ‘Rapture’ should not overlook Jesus’ explanation of the wheat & tares parable (Matt 13:40-43 ) and saying the Great Tribulation will be shortened for the sake of the elect (Matt 24:22). That is, they/we will go through it, even if protected (Rev 3:10).

Therefore, I highly recommend Nelson Walters’ blog and pursuant discussions of this fast approaching event to all my readers…

Brace for mighty tsunami wave of God’s glory and grace – Veronika West

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TELL MY PEOPLE TO BRACE FOR THERE IS COMING A MIGHTY TSUNAMI WAVE OF MY GLORY AND GRACE THAT WILL SHAKE, SHIFT AND SIFT THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH”!

Last night I had a powerful dream where I was caught up in the Spirit realm. In the dream I seemed to be standing between the earthly realm and the heavenly realm, when out of the heavens came a loud voice saying, “TELL MY PEOPLE TO BRACE FOR THERE IS COMING A MIGHTY TSUNAMI WAVE OF MY GLORY AND GRACE THAT WILL SHAKE, SHIFT AND SIFT THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH”, as I heard these words suddenly a strong rushing Wind began to blow round about me and then I saw a mighty Tsunami Wave of liquid gold coming out of the heavens and breaking forth upon the earth. As I stayed watching in the dream suddenly I saw a multitude of Angels dressed in garments of pure white light swiftly descending upon the earth, as I drew a little closer I saw that the Angels carried swords in one hand and sickles in the other and then I heard these words, “Watch! For Now a mighty Tsunami Wave of My Glory and Grace now breaks forth upon the Nations of the earth. Watch! For Angels of the Harvest are now gathering and scattering, gathering and scattering, gathering and scattering”!

Suddenly the dream shifted and I found myself standing upon the earth, and again just as before a strong rushing wind began to blow round about me, then I heard a voice speak from heaven saying, “The nations rumble on like the rumbling of many waters, But I the Lord will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like chaff in the mountains before the wind, Or like whirling dust before a gale.

At that very moment I woke up suddenly and I was praying fervently in the Spirit when the Holy Spirit spoke to me saying, “Now is the Time, Watch! for the Whirlwind of My Spirit comes to sift and Shift the Nations of the earth”, immediately the Spirit quickened to me Isaiah 17, which says, “Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city and will become a fallen ruin.
2 “The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks to lie down in, And there will be no one to frighten them.
3 “The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim,And sovereignty from Damascus. And the remnant of Aram; They will be like the glory of the sons of Israel,” Declares the LORD of hosts.
4 Now in that day the glory of Jacob will fade, And the fatness of his flesh will become lean.
5 It will be even like the reaper gathering the standing grain, As his arm harvests the ears, Or it will be like one gleaning ears of grain. In the valley of Rephaim.
6 Yet gleanings will be left in it like the shaking of an olive tree, Two or three olives on the topmost bough, Four or five on the branches of a fruitful tree, Declares the LORD, the God of Israel.
7 In that day man will have regard for his Maker. And his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel.
8 He will not have regard for the altars, the work of his hands, Nor will he look to that which his fingers have made, Even the Asherim and incense stands.
9 In that day their strong cities will be like forsaken places in the forest, Or like branches which they abandoned before the sons of Israel; And the land will be a desolation.
10 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation. And have not remembered the rock of your refuge. Therefore you plant delightful plants. And set them with vine slips of a strange god.
11 In the day that you plant it you carefully fence it in, And in the morning you bring your seed to blossom; But the harvest will be a heap. In a day of sickliness and incurable pain.
12 Alas, the uproar of many peoples Who roar like the roaring of the seas, And the rumbling of nations Who rush on like the rumbling of mighty waters!
13 The nations rumble on like the rumbling of many waters, But He will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like chaff in the mountains before the wind, Or like whirling dust before a gale.
14 At evening time, behold, there is terror! Before morning they are no more. Such will be the portion of those who plunder us. And the lot of those who pillage us.

Note; As I was praying concerning the dream shift where I found myself suddenly standing upon the earth the Holy Spirit showed me a mighty Tsunami Wave that is coming too in the natural realm, it will come as ‘suddenly and as swiftly and as unexpectedly as the Tsunami of His Glory and Grace. Furthermore I believe that it is no coincidence that Isaiah 17 should be quickened to me in the Year 2017, let us continue to Pray Always for Israel.

Veronika West, Ignite Ireland Ministry, 4th July 2017

Paws-4-thought: Britain-shaped cloud and Smith Wigglesworth’s vision

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A surprising 20 years-old memory got resurrected on musing over a scripture from a reader, itself arising from the impact of reading a prophetic word received about a cloud formation shaped like mainland Britain! So could the Lord have plugged them together?

Perhaps you too have been mulling over and seeking Him about that remarkable cloud and His alerting Chris Bennett that He’s “about to move as never before – cleansing and preparing for revival”.  If unfamiliar with that word you may wish to read it first and be in a better position to follow my musings:

When reading what Chris brought, one my friends far over the ‘Pond’ out in Tucson, Tony Puccio, had a vision of graves being opened!  His comment quotes Jesus’ well-known remark…

‘John 5:28
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice. Take this to prayer Richard but I saw as I was reading this graves being opened. Hence the above scripture reference to those in their graves hearing His voice.’

I replied that very promise of Jesus had been stressed in John Kilpatrick’s recent teaching upon Things You Need To Know About The Soon Coming Of Christ. However, in blogging Chris’ words I hadn’t had the luxury of digesting their content, so ran off a hard-copy to read over lunch. Only then did I take especial notice of its photo:

Credit: Glocar Matt, Huddersfield, taken in east Midlands.

I sensed a number of things from the photo. Supposing that Tony may have had picked up on that too, I reply, “…you probably had this impression of opening graves because the photo clearly depicts a great subterranean burst of power – as when Holy Spirit revived Jesus in the grave!”

However, Tony clarifies with, “I saw that but that is not, at least to my knowledge, what gave me the vision. I was seeing it as I was reading your posting“  (emphasis mine).

Therefore, I followed his recommendation of taking the verse and vision to the Lord and I contemplated the whole of the fifth chapter in the Gospel of John to get the verse into full context and thus put my mind into the scenario.

Jesus was being harassed by the Jewish leaders because He’d not only healed a man on a Sabbath but also instructed him to carry his mat, a forbidden activity on that day. Jesus told them He does only what He sees the Father doing and explained their relationship. Also, that it’s He himself who is the one in whom judgement is entrusted as everyone is expected to honour the Father and Jesus too, because the Father had sent Him to them.

It is a highly inspirational teaching and puts the words Chris Bennett received into a fresh light and that we’re not to marvel at such prophecy:

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, the time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned…” (John 5:24-29 NIV)

Further meditation directed me to the stark contrast between light and dark in that photo. It highlights and contrasts the demonic darkness in our land with the glory of God, as though it’s going to burst through and dissipate the deep evil that broods over and directs the rampant ungodliness and badness overflowing like open sewers across too many parts of our nation, especially from the mass-media.

I’m reminded of prophetical claims 15-20 years ago by church leaders across Reading that satanic opposition would arise against Christians, not as may be anticipated from jihadists but from humanistic secularists and politicians. In those days, if not earlier, I had a vivid dream of believers taking refuge within Greyfriars Church in the town centre. The doors were locked against huge demonic shapes rampaging outside.

AN OPEN VISION OF BRITAIN

Also, the central location of the sun’s corona behind that cloud, as though below ‘northern ‘England’ and its Pennines chain, speaks to me of the open vision I had in 2004 of the map of Britain and society being so rotten that the Lord could easily tear it – and it did tear!  But a huge rock (of Christ) emerged through ‘the backbone’ of Britain’. This is the location of the Pennines hills, stretching north of the Midlands all the way to Scotland (see Comments Upon The Collapse of Society). Is it ‘coincidental’ the above cloud photo was taken by a photographer from Huddersfield, Yorkshire, whilst in the east Midlands?

SMITH WIGGLESWORTH’S VISION OF BRITAIN IN REVIVAL

Smith-Wigglesworth (1859-1947)

Moreover, in musing upon the glory in that photo and the amazing outcome of that specific word about graves being opened I was suddenly reminded of the radiant glow I’d seen 20 years ago beaming from an 80 year-old’s face.  He’d been a prayer partner of Yorkshire’s renowned preacher and miracle-worker, Smith Wigglesworth (brief bio at Assemblies of God FPHC).

In 1997 Revd Norman James was stunned when blessed with an astonishing vision of Britain’s distant future and simply stuttered, “I’ve just seen what Wigglesworth saw…no wonder he wanted the Lord to keep him alive for it!” (Read Smith Wigglesworth 1947 & 1997(!) Visions + few related ones and more links).  I understood it’s of the Lord’s glory coming to Britain and being rocked by the Holy Spirit in true revival.

But now my musings stopped in their tracks. I paused as this revolutionary thought got dropped into my mind: “Did Norman see graves being opened across Britain???”

If not literal, as in John 5:28, it could perhaps be metaphorical in that most citizens are the ‘walking dead’ ie. dead to God in their spirits and souls. But is the Word of the Lord now about to come to them, if not already doing so, and causing them to awaken or revive from ‘the dead’? – and therefore hear Him and respond and thus become ‘born again’ into the fullness of everything our Father has for each one of us??

With all that in my mind and spirit, dare I expect that those times are now at the door?

That it is so, is implicit in those prophetic words brought by Chris Bennett:

“I am about to move in Great Britain as never before”…“Prepare your hearts for a visitation of My Glory. I am coming soon – in fact, I am on my way now!”

MARANATHA! – Come Lord Jesus!

[Furthermore, let’s not forget the leader of Goldhawk Baptist Church’s foresight last year of the possible significance of Wigglesworth’s vision (in the year of my birth) for 2017 – read Watching What’s Happening In The Church – Jean Darnell Vision #3.]

About the Bible.

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Biochemist Seymour Gart’s very amusing yet thought-provoking insight on how the Bible’s Author used (holy) ‘ghostwriters’! Many thanks Sy.

thebookofworks's avatarThe Book of Works

“You guys are kidding, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? You are collaborating on a book. One of you writes the first chapter, the other writes the second. And so on”

“Right. That’s what we did.”

“Great. But tell me something. Did either of you read what the other one wrote?”

The two authors looked at each other, and then back at the editor.

“Um, well, I mean… Not in, you know, detail,” said the first author (we will call him P). “But I thought he did a fine job.”

“Really? Interesting. You thought he did a fine job. You (pointing at P) talk about man being created “male and female, He created them” on Day 6, and your friend here (pointing at Mr. J) talks about some guy made of dust and a woman made from his rib. Did you happen to notice that the two…

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What’s the ‘Proper Time’?

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Time for my readers to get another update on how scientists view time (see Scripture & Science hub). Here, theoretical physicist Mekhi reminds us, “the theory of Special Relativity refutes (time’s) absolute existence”. NOW that fact has already been well-known from the days of Jesus Christ’s first followers because His lead-disciple Peter wrote, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8 NIV).
I submit, nevertheless, that the concepts of ‘proper time’ and its associated ‘world-line’, ‘world-sheet’ and world-volume’ could be a way into scientifically grasping how the scriptural equivalent of Newtonian, classical laws of action and reaction – ie. sowing and reaping (Gal 6:7-9 ‘rule of life’) – manifest spiritually as well as materially through generations. Also, events of modern history foretold in biblical prophecy may come into such a study. Mmm, most interesting Mekhi, thank you very much.

Mekhi Dhesi's avatarRationalising The Universe

Today’s post revisits one of my favourite themes in Theoretical Physics – time. In previous posts we’ve looked at the idea of the present and how the theory of Special Relativity refutes its absolute existence – and we’ll be drawing on this idea again here. Today I want to discuss the idea of ‘proper time’ and tell you what it is, alongside a deeper explanation of the geometry  of spacetime.

Back in the day it was believed by many, including the great Newton who put together the three laws of motion, that time was absolute. This meant that wherever you went in the universe, a clock at one end of the cosmos would be ticking in synchronisation with one at the other. As though, there was a universal time, running on an almighty clock in the sky and all other clocks in the cosmos would adhere to its pace…

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Luke 6 – the teaching of Jesus Christ is the foundation for life

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Although one of my many favorite verses, this reminds me to heed and apply Jesus’ wise guidance…and so timely (per next post). Thanks Richard

Matthew 4 – what is “The Gospel of the Kingdom”?

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Very appropriate follow-on to my recent 5-fold ‘God-incidental’ jigsaw pieces about the ‘violence’ of the Kingdom. (For a personal introduction to Richard’s work also read about peculiar events on the anniversary of his book ‘The Fellowship of the Secret’.)

Malachi – messenger of Yahweh

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How timely in view of my just-published post referring to Malachi! Richard, it’s fascinating that this prophet is the common denominator in our blogging today, and it’s long held a deep, personal relevance.

‘Violent’ Kingdom breakthrough, seizing God-given opportunities – part 1

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Hand and Puzzle Pieces by Anusorn P. Nachol, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net

The violence referred to in this post is not that of physical assaults upon and wars against individuals and people groups, as depicted daily in the media, but of human and natural processes of force, exertion and upheaval that bring about change and growth. It’s the kind of violence I learned about as a ‘newbie’ investigating Jesus Christ’s answer to a question about John the Baptist and the Kingdom of heaven.

This post was started a week ago and I inserted the above image but thought its quantity doesn’t match the data pieces I’m blogging about. Therefore, this morning I’m delighted to discover blogger RJ Dawson’s latest reply to his readers’ congratulations upon the 6th anniversary of Real Christianity. Without realising it, this goes direct to the very heart of my subject as one of those awaited pieces – thank you Lord!  RJ writes, with emphasis mine,

“The Lord gave us a picture one time of a morning sheepfold all crammed into close quarters for the night wanting to get out into the dewy field and into freedom. Once the shepherd opened the enclosure out they streamed. This is a picture of what must happen. Too many Christians have grown used to the protective safe space that certainly has its place in times of danger, and resist breaking out.”

I’m grateful for his expanding upon this in the Comments to this post, as below.

[To continue as drafted…] As intimated in my introduction to last Wednesday’s Lion Bite on ‘new boldness’ I wish to pick up on the previous week’s two posts on 2017 being a year of breakthrough.

Their re-posting was unplanned because I was simply checking matters upon return home and then continuing with my break from blogging. Nevertheless, I’d been impressed to post an extensive prophecy on 2017 from Cindy Jacobs’ team that had been languishing ready for publication – a quick task, BUT I just had to insert a short connective scripture!

Little did I know an appropriate message was going to be heard over that weekend on a similar topic; definitely not unusual, just another ‘piece’ of the Lord’s ‘invisible jigsaw’ dropping into place!

These are the relevant paragraphs of a fortnight ago today, starting with the sub-head:

APOSTOLIC COUNCIL OF PROPHETIC ELDERS’ WORD OF THE LORD FOR 2017 THE YEAR OF THE BREAKTHROUGH (click to read the whole paper)

2017: The Breakthrough Year

“The One who breaks open will come up before them; they will break out. Pass through the gate, And go out by it; their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head.”
Micah 2:13 (NKJV)

Immediately preceding that title and passage, and by way of introduction, I connected it into the New Testament with the following:

‘The opening verse is directly related to Mathew 11:12 on Jesus saying “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force”, according to David Bivin and Roy Blizzard in their Understanding The Difficult Words of Jesus (1983 page 123!). HA, on now checking the NKJV my bible opens right at the notes on that very verse headed, ‘Taking It By Force’!  The inescapable conclusion of this instance of ‘serendipity’ is: the ‘Author of the Bible’ is pointing His finger at both related verses!‘

Now, I’d add the Lord may want to point also to what was taught on the next Sunday too! (See Part 2.)

First, however, we should consider those verses and, with permission, I quote notes on verses and extract from ‘Kingdom Dynamics’ in Spirit-Filled Study Bible, editor Jack Hayward (emphases mine).:

vv11:12 – Though the Greek here is somewhat difficult to translate, the idea is that ‘the kingdom of heaven’, which Jesus set up as a powerful movement or reign among men (‘suffers violence’), requires of them an equally strong and radical reaction. ‘The violent’ who then take ‘it by force’ are people of keen enthusiasm and commitment who are willing to respond to and propagate with radical abandonment the message and dynamic of God’s reign (see Luke 16:16). This is an allusion to the messianic nature of Jesus’  ministry and to those who are participating in it…Jesus is likely recalling Micah 2:12-13 where the prophet speaks of the deliverance of the people from exile through the activity of the shepherd-like Messiah.

Taking It By Force, Conflict & the Kingdom – J.W.H. writes, “Jesus asserts the “violence” of the kingdom. The text’s unique grammatical construction doesn’t make it clear if the kingdom of God is the victim or if, as the kingdom advance sin victory, it does so through violent spiritual conflict and warfare. But the context does! Jesus’ references to the non-religious style of John and the confrontational, miraculous ministry of Elijah teach that the Kingdom of God makes its penetration by a kind of violent entry opposing the human status quo…The upheaval caused by the kingdom of God is not caused by political provocation or armed advance. It is the result of God’s order shaking relationships, households, cities and nations by the entry of Holy Spirit’s power working in people.’

Matt 11:12 ‘difficult’ common Greek translated literally reads, ‘the kingdom of-the heavens is-being-forced and the forceful-ones are-snatching her’. Note, Greek tense for ‘snatching’ is ‘harpazousin’, which reminds me of the renowned ‘rapture’ reference in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to believers being caught up to meet the Lord upon His return!  Therein, the Greek is ‘harpagesometha’ – literally, ‘shall-be-being-snatched’. In other words, ‘seized’.

Those ‘verses of violence’ seem to contradict the rest of Jesus’ teaching. In their thesis Bevin and Blizzard refer to a ‘midrash’ (old rabbinic interpretation) on Micah 12-13 that focuses upon the ‘breach-maker’ (poretz), who isn’t the same as the ‘king’ and ‘LORD’. They suggest Jesus was referring to that understanding and the translation of His words is better as “The Kingdom of Heaven is breaking forth [not ‘suffering violence’] and every person in it is breaking forth”…

‘Two tremendous things are now happening simultaneously: the Kingdom is bursting forth in to the world (like water from a broken dam) and individuals within the Kingdom are finding liberty and freedom’. John the Baptist is the breach-maker for he makes the breach in the rock-fence of the sheep pen (per Micah 2:12) is the Elijah of Micah 3:1 and 4:5-6 who goes before the Lord to prepare the way for Him. So, Jesus then follows John and leads His sheep through the gate – the iconic, powerful image of breakthrough.

Since then the Kingdom – the Lord and His sheep – has been breaking out. ‘Though Jesus does not refer directly to His own role as shepherd leading the sheep out, no listener could possibly misunderstand Jesus’ stunning assertion – I am the LORD’. The authors opinion, therefore, is that the Kingdom is not futuristic but has been in existence since that time!

So far, of the illustration’s five jigsaw pieces we have a sequence of four, viz:

  1. first of 2 posts published a fortnight ago today in between posts on my testimony into which I insert Matt 11:12 referring to a book influential to my walk, especially as post refers to ‘2:12’ (which related to a validation aspect of my personal testimony),
  2. second post on 2017 as year of breakthrough, this time for the United Kingdom,
  3. A week later whilst blogging on item 1, my bible falls open at the verse’s notes,
  4. Today I find R.J. Dawson’s prophetic picture relating to Micah 2:12-13.

In Part 2 we consider the fifth piece, but which preceded the fourth and like it and the first came from over ‘the Pond’ – seizing God-given opportunities.

The days OT prophet Joel foretold are coming again

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Thank you again to Chris Bennett and UK Prophetic Words for this latest encouragement:

THE DAYS OF JOEL ARE UPON YOU

“You are a chosen people!”, says the Lord. “I chose you before time began. I chose you to be My people, My chosen few who will show the world who I AM. I have placed before you a door which no-one can shut. I have opened the door and no-one is able to close it again until I tell them to close it.”

“John the Baptist first spoke to you of one who would baptise with My Holy Spirit and with fire. Many of you already know the truth of this. When My Spirit first came upon you, He came as a wind and carrying tongues of fire for each one of you. When those early believers prayed, the place in which they were praying was shaken!”

“SO SHALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN AGAIN!”, declares the Lord. “I am sending a fresh OUTPOURING of MY SPIRIT, and the places where you are praying WILL ONCE AGAIN BE SHAKEN!”

“I HAVE APPOINTED A SEASON FOR THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN SO THAT AS MANY AS WILL BE SAVED ARE SAVED. THE SHAKING HAS BEGUN – MY PEOPLE ARE BEING SHAKEN, THEIR PLACES OF PRAYER ARE BEING SHAKEN, AND THEIR WHOLE WORLD IS BEING SHAKEN. THOSE STILL TO BE SAVED ARE WATCHING, WAITING TO SEE MY LOVE BEING DISPLAYED AMONG MY PEOPLE. DID I NOT SAY THAT BY YOUR LOVE SHALL YOU BE KNOWN.”

“THE DAYS OF JOEL ARE UPON YOU.”

Hear the words of the prophet Joel, and what the Lord says today: “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; ” ALL FLESH – Everyone who seeks will receive. “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” – Not just prophesy, but lay hands on the sick, preach the Gospel, give words of wisdom and knowledge. Young people do not get a junior version of Holy Spirit; they get the same as everyone else. “Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

Oh – such dreams and visions as we cannot imagine! People yet to meet, those in need that we need to help, those in need of healing – words of knowledge given in a vision as well as visions for future events etc.

“And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”, says the Lord.

This is for EVERYONE. It’s not for a select few. Everyone from 5 to 95 and maybe those even younger and older – if you can walk and talk then you can receive power.

Pentecost – It’s all coming again – in greater power, in greater Fire, in greater anointing than we have ever known.

Pentecost 2017 will see the start of it all – of that I am convinced.

Chris Bennett 5th May’17

*******

Deuteronomy 14:2 For the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself.

Revelation 3:8 “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Joel 2:28-29 “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

NB: caveats to words of prophecy, as in covering introduction to Chris’ recent prediction Get Ready for Fresh,Powerful Move of the Holy Spirit

Zecharia affirms the OT understanding that Gentiles were to be enlightened by the Jews – not be incorporated within the Messianic community

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My namesake discloses profound points well worth mulling over. Thank you Richard…

The Bible’s Author opens it to answer my ‘newbie’ questions

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Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, ‘For I always pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), and [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when raising Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], far above all rule and authority and power dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come…. [Eph1:17-21, Amplified Bible – v17 is today’s Keep Praying & Bless decree: ‘I Am the Giver of All Revelation’. We decree that the blindness be removed from the eyes of all the peoples of this land so they may see Jesus Christ is Lord.]

The original version of this post continues my personal account of encountering the Lord Jesus’ saving grace, but was withheld pending the important posts on the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Revisiting it during Holy Week, however, I toyed with inserting details about my past relating to that centrality of the Cross. I’ve been very reticent to go into any depth of my bondage to satan but, in view of dangers arising out of today’s widespread spiritual ignorance, I had to reconsider. Also, a couple of visitors’ comments brought unexpected ‘confirmation’ (albeit unsuspected by them) that I should divulge more…

+  +  +

Awesome as my ‘rescue’ was, the dream-vision recounted in On A Trapdoor Into Hell did not make me want to rush off to church. That visitation’s effect and the ramifications upon my philosophy of life needed careful consideration. For example, I needed to check out widespread claims of the Bible having been compiled and modified by Church councils in the 4th Century after Christ), as well as learn about its history from authoritative sources. [Prof F.F. Bruce’s The Books and The Parchments (1991) was very helpful, especially about the ‘Muratorian Fragment’. Drawn up in late 2nd Century in the church at Rome, it lists practically all the canonical New Testament literature.]

So not only did I need to assess those personal implications, but also as possibly a new believer in Jesus Christ I wanted to find well-informed believers who took Jesus seriously. I soon did so but then I needed to put their claims of hearing direct from God to the test. After all, they believe we have a relationship with Him and so we have but to ask…

Months after the dream, I’d learned some members of Tilehurst Free Church (Baptist) that had invited me to hear Billy Graham met regularly in the school next door to my house! Later, I heard they’d given young Peter prayer backing for his discussions with me (as here). That is, they’d targeted me!  It seems God had answered their prayers by giving me a dream-vision on 13-14th September 1989.

CULTURE SHOCK

The first service I attended there in that familiar, small school hall was a culture shock! Before me stood a young man devoid of dog-collar but wearing an acoustic guitar! Then he led the meeting in song and spoke without any script or ritual whatsoever – he even engaged the congregation in discussion!  Some attendees testified to angelic protection in their lives: I’d thought this subject was lost to churchgoers. Starting the sermon, he said he’s going to look at the shortest gospel, that of Mark, and would continue doing so in the next weeks. In saying, “It’s action packed and full of urgency” he intrigued me, and this fitted in with my intention of checking out the Bible.

Therefore, I thought it might prove useful to come again. At the next session one thing he taught stuck in my mind: “In Mark, who was the first to recognise who Jesus really is?”  Answer: an unclean spirit (see Mark 1:24). I was thus reminded of that dream’s events – and of the exceptionally unsettling, very vivid one years earlier of a devouring monster of darkness (as in ‘Reality Revealed’ in Searching for Truth leads me into captivity).

[I was reminded of that scripture at a school of healing early this year (2017), where the teacher asked why would Jesus silence a demonic testimony of His identity? The answer: when coming from an unclean tainted source, even truth itself gets contaminated!  I know that’s been satan’s modus operandi since the Garden of Eden – the father of lies and half-truths. Moreover, this fact points out that being’s pretext for rebellion, and raises questions about the religiously sanctioned practice of ‘taqiya’, as in Islam.]

MOVING TOWARDS FREEDOM

Therefore, I came into a good place to build upon the message of that dream by learning about the Bible and, more importantly, by listening to God through His written word and to come into a close relationship with Him. As stated above, it was opportunity to test claims about discussing the Bible’s content with its Author without any priest as ‘intermediary’.

The first of many times this happened brought incredibly clear – and shocking! – proof that God really does speak from the Bible, as claimed by many believers in Jesus Christ.

1st Question:

I decided to re-view the teaching about Jesus as given by the occult brotherhood I’d been in. Two specific books on His ‘mystical life’ and ‘secret doctrines’ had attracted me at 20 years of age, and there were various claims in a massive mound of monographs as well as those of its sister brotherhood, which held doctrines from the dogmatic Kabbalah (a Jewish esoteric belief system based upon Creation;  eg. the ‘Sepher Yetzirah’).

Later that year I reviewed the occult teaching about Jesus in that brotherhood’s books on His ‘mystical life’ and ‘secret doctrines’. They’d attracted me at 20 years of age, and there were various claims in a massive mound of monographs, as well as teachings of its sister brotherhood based on the dogmatic Kabbalah (Jewish esoteric belief system based upon Creation;  eg. the ‘Sepher Yetzirah’).

Initiates of one of that Gnostic initiatory group’s highest degrees were styled as ‘veiled prophets’ on the spurious grounds of using 2 Peter 1:19.  Yet the Bible was very rarely discussed throughout my membership. Moreover, not only did this sole reference not quote the subsequent qualifying verse 20 (about the origin of all prophecy being in God’s Holy Spirit) but their practicum also failed to enable such initiates to prophesy! Hardly surprising…YET… After having checked all those specifics, I asked God for His guidance upon my membership and then opened my new, pocket-sized Bible.

I’ve never been able to repeat what happened next – it immediately fell open at the very same second chapter of Apostle Peter’s second letter.  Its first ten verses stood out with startling clarity (the rest were hazily out-of-focus) – they warn about false teachers who:

‘…secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying our sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful way and bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with the stories they have made up. Their condemnation has been long hanging over them and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell…to be held for judgement…then the Lord knows how to…hold the unrighteous for the day of judgement, while continuing their punishment. ‘ (2 Peter 2:1-9 NIV)

The emphases hit ‘bull’s eye’, and the subsequent verses explain that assessment and what happens to such teachers as ‘springs without water and mists driven by storm’. This answer to my question was startlingly exact!  It  was jaw-dropping and eye-popping, as well as being a chilling condemnation of the teachers I’d known – absolutely awesome!

The Holy Author of the Bible had used it to answer my own personal question (Paul’s letter may be read in full here).

Specifically, that occultic group claimed its information had come from the Essenes and early Christians. Members of that Qumran community by the Dead Sea and across Judea were supposed to have assisted at Jesus’ birth and crucifixion, and as a Roman warrant had supposedly been issued to release Jesus before death, those supporters and ‘secret disciples’ helped to resuscitate Jesus. Also, as God’s Holy Spirit had come upon Jesus during the baptism in the river Jordan and left during the crucifixion this supposedly indicated Jesus was human only, not one with Almighty God.

Furthermore, this group taught the necessity of acquiring initiatory knowledge to enable attainment of illumination and perfection of ourselves through reincarnation, and thus be one of the ‘ascended masters’ or world teachers, as claimed of Jesus the Christ.  That is, it had descended from the Gnostics and and continued their doctrines, together with many others within the Western esoteric tradition.

The Gnostics and other heretical false doctrines about Jesus had vied for dominance over the early Church, and later greatly influenced the founder of Islam. This is why Apostle John’s first letter speaks so adamantly under direct inspiration of the ‘Author of the Bible’ about the spirit of anti-Christ and its slithering into churches to contend against the One who’d destroyed satan’s authority over humanity:

‘Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone into the world. By this you may know (perceive and recognise) the Spirit of God; every spirit which acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ the Messiah) [actually] has become man and has come in the flesh is of God [has God as its source];

And every spirit which does not acknowledge and confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh [but would annul, destroy, severe, disunite Him] is not of God [does not proceed from Him]. This [non-confession] is the spirit of the antichrist, (of) which you heard that it was coming, and now it is already in the world.‘ (1 John 4:1-3 Amp Bible)

Therefore, that brotherhood denied the divinity of Jesus Christ and the centrality of His sacrificial death and resurrection – from actual death – to the salvation of human souls, and thereby reconciling us with God and enabling our right of entry – in this life and the next! – into His throne-room by the Blood of the Lamb.

Moreover, the Author of the Bible had pointed me to His truth about that group’s motives and its leaders’ dreadful destiny.

2nd Question:

Also, I reviewed my uncharitable views about the clergy. Readers may understand from my story how difficult it was for me to contemplate attending church, let alone with any regularity – not to mention being under the oversight of any clergy.  I wrongly suspected they couldn’t comprehend the dark situation I’d come from.

Once again I decided to put preachers’ claims about the Word of God to the test. I asked if God could let me know His opinion about clergy…

Again my Bible fell open to give the most apposite instruction, this time at Hebrews 13:17:

‘Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you’. (Emphases mine.)

That well and truly put me in my place and enabled me to make my mind up. Thank you Lord for answering and correcting me!

Consequently, I wanted to know lots more from the Living Lord God and His Son Jesus Christ.  It was a great blessing therefore to be directed to testimonials like mine (next).

Only upon revisiting this testimony many years later did I realise those passages in Peter and Hebrews starkly contrast both forms of leadership under which I’d served. The first was highly ungodly, and the latter is blessed by Father’s supreme protective cover for all His children.

[RETURN to overview: “Jesus Freed Me!”]