ALERT: MP threatens Christian teachers with anti-terror laws

Posted on Tuesday, 4 August, 2015 by Richard Barker

In 2009 the previous director of MI5, Dame Stella Rimington, warned that “Britain is sleepwalking into a police state”.

This fact was one of several to which I referred in my first email alerting church leaders upon biblical End-times: The Endgame is now in play. (Upon checking that material I notice the news report no longer has that phrase, either as a ‘strap-line’ or quotation! But readers’ letters clearly refer to the remark, as here.)

Today’s news features a Member of Parliament threatening the suppression of Godly free-speech in the teaching profession! This MP thinks that new Extremism Disruption Orders “would apply to a situation where a teacher was specifically teaching that gay marriage is wrong.”!

John Bingham reports,

‘Mark Spencer called for those who use their position in the classroom to teach traditionalist views on marriage to be subject to “Extremism Disruption Orders” (EDOs), tough new restrictions planned by David Cameron and Theresa May to curb radicalisation by jihadists.

In a letter to a constituent, Mr Spencer, the MP for Sherwood in Nottinghamshire, insisted that Christian teachers were still “perfectly entitled” to express their views on same-sex marriage – but only “in some situations”.

I strongly recommend my readers carefully consider this development, which is more fully outlined in Archbishop Cranmer’s blog, Anti-Terror Legislation Will Be Used Against Teachers Who Oppose Same-Sex Marriage, of which I quote only a part and with emphases added:

‘Obeying the law is no longer to be a guarantee of freedom from government surveillance or police harassment.

‘And now Conservative MP Mark Spencer has written to a constituent:

“I believe that everybody in society has a right to free speech and to express their views without fear of persecution. The EDOs will not serve to limit but rather to guarantee it:…(eg) one which lots of constituents have been writing about – talking about gay marriage in schools.

“The new legislation specifically targets hate speech, so teachers will still be free to express their understanding of the term ‘marriage’, and their moral opposition to its use in some situations without breaking the new laws. The EDOs, in this case, would apply to a situation where a teacher was specifically teaching that gay marriage is wrong.”

‘If that is the understanding on the backbenches of the provisions of the Extremism Bill, we should be fearful – very fearful – of the Government’s intentions. John Bingham’s Telegraph piece quotes Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of the Christian Institute, who says:

“I am genuinely shocked that we have an MP supporting the idea of teachers being branded extremists for teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman. This is exactly the kind of thing we’ve been warning about. The Government says we’ve got nothing to worry about from their new extremism laws, but here is one of its own MPs writing to a constituent saying EDOs would stop teachers teaching mainstream Christian beliefs. EDOs will be a gross infringement of free speech and undermine the very British values they claim to protect.”

‘And Keith Porteous Wood, Executive Director of the National Secular Society:

“If EDOs really could be used to prevent teachers from talking about same-sex marriage, unless they are inciting violence, they are an even greater threat to freedom of expression than I had feared. To suggest that EDOs guarantee freedom of expression (as Mark Spencer suggests) is not just inaccurate, it is the opposite of the truth; they are the largest threat to freedom of expression I have ever seen in Britain.”

The Christian Institute added to this under ‘New Orthodoxy’ by referring to Claire Fox, head of think-tank the Institute of Ideas, who last week ‘accused the Government of using extremism rhetoric to impose a new orthodoxy of thinking.

‘She said: “When you break it down you then see that they’re actually betraying the civil liberties, the rule of law, they’re actually dictating what teachers teach in schools.

“When they say ‘we want to prevent extremism getting out in schools’ it’s so ironic” because “the kind of schools that have been done over are Catholic schools because of, for example, their views on homosexuality”.

‘Fox concluded, “Apparently a British value now is a positive acceptance of what the Government has told you it is”.’

Let us be prepared to stand on the Rock…

[Houses of Parliament by Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net]

U.S. officially blocks Christian testimony of Islamist persecution

Posted on Wednesday, 29 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

An article quoted in the previous post on the violent persecution of believers asks, “Is this the end of Christianity in the Middle-East?” In his answer, Joel Rosenberg reminds us of Bible passages foretelling this predicament in the lead-up to the return of Jesus Christ, and the ensuing, extensive evangelisation across that region.

A couple of hours later the Middle-East Forum sent an excerpt from Raymond Ibrahim’s monthly update on the endemic persecution of Christians in Muslim states around the world. As one of the expert sources I introduced in my earliest blogs and have since quoted, his site is featured on my ‘blog-roll’ of Links. Born of Egyptian Coptic parents, Raymond explores the intersection of Christianity and Islam. Author of The Al-Qaeda Reader and of Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War of Christians, he translates pertinent Arabic and Egyptian news that never reaches the West.

Read his full article here about how the U.S. State Department blocked the issue of visas to Christian nuns and leaders from Iraq, Nigeria and Syria thereby preventing their telling America about the violent persecution in those nations by Islamists. Without any shadow of a doubt, this is the fruit of the Obama administration’s anti-Christian bias.

Ever since expressing reservations over Obama’s Cairo Speech to the Muslim world in 2009, and subsequent espousal of the Muslim Brotherhood and appointment of several of it members within his administration, I’ve noticed POTUS’ deep reluctance to stand up for Christians – plus his misunderstanding of the Gospel and scripture, as well as activities contrary to decisions of the Church’s first council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:20).

In that email I queried several times, “If he really were a Christian…”, eg. after quoting his “As a student of history”, I noted: ‘If Obama really were a well-informed Christian and student of history then he would have told the truth about the founding of Israel…’

Six years later, I again refer to Rick Joyner’s Discerning the Times, the prophetic validity of which will be recognised by those in the real church of Jesus Christ:

This new unity in the church is being driven because of foreboding created by the demeanor and laws being passed by the Obama Administration, which seem to be specifically designed to open doors for persecuting the church. Even though it is very sad to see this happening in our nation, which was begun and built by those seeking freedom, especially religious freedom, nevertheless these present trends are working to strengthen and galvanize the church like possibly nothing has ever done before. (Emphasis RB)

May the peace of the Lord be with us in these days…

With ISIS on the rampage, “is this the end of Christianity in the Middle East?”

Posted on Tuesday, 28 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

In reviewing NY Times’ article Joel urges believers not to be discouraged but to note what’s happening is as prophesied in scripture. Therefore, we are not at the ‘end of Christianity’ in its heartland. Read also A devilish plot to avoid the ‘Lake of Fire’ and mini-series Global satanic strategy on this blog.

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

(source: New York Times)

(Denver, Colorado) — In my recent novel, The Third Target, a New York Times reporter criss-crosses the Middle East, trying to understand and explain to the world the rise of the Islamic State and the objectives of its leaders. Among the questions my fictional character — J.B. Collins — is trying to answer:

Why are ISIS jihadists are so blood-thirsty?
Why do ISIS leaders want to establish an Islamic kingdom or caliphate?
Are ISIS leaders are really serious about slaughtering and/or enslaving all of the Christians of the region, in addition to annihilating Jews and all Muslims who don’t subscribe to their theology or eschatology?

What he discovers is evil beyond his worst nightmares — a Satanic movement determined to rob, kill and destroy everyone in its path, and particularly Christians.

Now, in real life, a must-read feature story has been published in the New…

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Monday ‘Matins’ – a prayer to kick-start the week

Posted on Monday, 27 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

(Author unknown; Lord please bless him/her as well as those in this prayer – including all visitors and regular readers of this blog.)

Dear Lord,

Every single evening, as I’m lying here in bed,

This tiny little prayer keeps running through my head:

God bless all my family – wherever they may be,

Keep them warm and safe from harm, for they’re so close to me.

And God, there is one more thing I wish that you could do;

Hope you don’t mind me asking –

Please bless my computer too.

Now I know that it’s unusual to bless a motherboard,

But listen just a second while I explain it to you, Lord.

You see, that little metal box holds more than odds and ends;

Inside those small compartments rest so many of my friends.

I know so much about them by the kindness that they give,

And this little scrap of metal takes me in to where they live.

By faith is how I know them, much the same as you.

We share in what life brings us and from that, our friendships grew.

Please take an extra minute, from your duties up above,

To bless those in my address book, that’s filled with so much love.

Wherever else this prayer may reach, to each and every friend,

Bless each e-mail inbox and each person who hits ‘send’.

When you update your Heavenly List, on your own Great CD-ROM,

Bless everyone who says this prayer, sent up to GOD.Com.

Amen.

Readers may like to read about the lesson the Lord gave me whilst re-building this pc. If so click And now a PC Gospel?

Digital Globe by Cooldesign, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net

Fundamental flaw in Western society – re. Greece-Europe crisis, Humanism

Posted on Wednesday, 15 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

“What qualifies you to comment on such a technically complex politico-economic topic?” you may ask. You could well think a hunch or mere coincidences, as in the preamble, to be just mere conjecture or insubstantial supposition.

Question Answered by Prophetic Word

More than being an informed observer, I humbly submit a qualification additional to that of being a biblical student of history. Admittedly, it’s of an immaterial nature: a Holy Spirit gifting! Six years ago Isabel Allum, the well-known teacher of prophecy, discerned it and thereby validated my decision 3 months earlier to write regularly because of an insight on the Bible (The ‘Endgame’ is now in play).

Forgive me for being so personal. It’s the first time of publicly sharing this, not to boast but to answer the above kind of question which readers’ may rightly entertain. In part, the prophetic insight Isabel brought us was as follows (with her emphases):

“…And I heard the Lord saying brother, you are a man of wisdom…He’s coming to release a new level of wisdom in you that far surpasses the wisdom of man and He’s going to make you a man of…

“And I heard the Lord say, an impartation like Daniel had is going to come into you and you will start understanding the ‘riddles’ of the Lord in a different way – the gift of interpretation itself as Daniel and Joseph had is going to come to you and God is going to open up your understanding to hear from heaven, not necessarily to understand the way men do but you will see; like Joseph said, interpreting dreams is God’s business not man’s business and dreams from the Lord cannot be interpreted through symbolism or analysis, only through revelation.

“And the Lord is going to give you the real thing and you will bring it and you will answer the questions of many. But I also heard the Lord saying He’s going to open up nations for you…”

Hence, my many references to sensing ‘God-incidents’ / ‘Invisible jigsaw’!

With that said, let’s turn our attention to the matter in hand:

A Niggling Notion

As stated in the preamble, this matter wouldn’t go away last week – it kept tapping within my spirit. Then along came inspiration in material hidden away ‘upstairs’. That post’s sandwich-style format applies here too: black text for first thoughts already drafted, as below; blue text relating to later ‘God-incidental’ finds; and black again for the conclusion, now expanded.

(Additionally, after writing both drafts yet another ‘confirmation’ came from the same source, but this time in a mailed letter!!)

Here are some brief thoughts on the financial collapse of Greece from a scriptural and spiritual perspective. In view of the direct historical relationship, this also applies to the pinnacle of Western civilisation in its supposedly advanced forms in Europe and North America.

The foundations of European and American civilisations are built upon ancient Greece, not on the later Roman Empire. All our scholastic, intellectual, scientific, literary and political history and institutions are modeled upon those of the ancient Greeks’ patterns of thought. And most importantly, our free, democratic self-government is styled upon the example set by ancient Greece.

Traditional and reformed churches so admired those ancient philosophers that theology got skewed away from the original, Hebraic foundations of our Christian faith. Greek ideas of the human constitution as being composed only of body and soul omitted the third part which, according to a Hebraic understanding, is our personal human spirit. We have a triune nature because we’re created in the Almighty’s image.

Hence, the importance of the discovery of notes from 2012 inserted into the preamble’s ‘taster’ on ‘Intellect or Revelation?’!!

The following quotations come from a paper I’d referred to during online discussion on Greek philosophy in December 2012 and ‘coincidentally’ found in our loft last week. It’s apposite to insert them in blue text (as explained above) into my remarks, between the drafted introduction and conclusion.

Humanism – Forerunner for Antichrist

As a consequence of the pre-reformation and reformed Church’s and the subsequent Enlightenment’s interest in ancient Greece, a subtle, misleading influence upon Western culture and religion developed through the introduction of humanism and its associated agnosticism and atheism.

Derek Prince was a fellow of King’s College Cambridge and a senior research student who specialised in the philosophy of Plato. Although highly qualified to comment upon the ancient Greeks and their subsequent influence, he had a life-changing encounter with the author of the Bible after being called up into military service in the Second World War. Derek was ‘born-again’ and became an very influential Christian teacher

Decades later, in 1993-4, he was given an insight into developments in USA and Israel and the conflict spanning both heaven and earth, as follows:

“The governments and the armies of this world, operating solely on the natural plane, have no understanding of the conflict and no power to deal with the satanic forces in the heavenlies. On the contrary, without realizing it, they themselves are manipulated and controlled by those forces. One essential requirement for victory is to identify the nature of the forces that are at work in any given situation.

“In recent months [in early 1990s] as I have been meditating on developments in the world—especially in the U.S.A. and Israel—and I believe that God has shown me the identity of the evil, deceptive power that Satan plans to use to consummate his purposes for the end of this age. It is HUMANISM.”

Derek had always thought humanism was “a comparatively harmless error” but upon consulting a dictionary he was taken aback by its definition, viz:

“…the denial of any power or moral value superior to that of humanity; the rejection of religion in favour of a belief in the advancement of humanity by its own efforts.

“I realized that humanism is not spiritually neutral. On the contrary, it is a deliberate denial and rejection of God’s power and authority. It is an anti-religious religion. For this reason, it can be—and often is—taught in educational systems, such as that of the USA, which prohibit the teaching of religion in its usual sense.” (Emphases added.)

In tracing this Greek concept back in time he noted its direct linkage in the dream image of Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in chapter two of the Book of Daniel:

“I realised that it was Greece – more than any of the other empires – which, through its philosophy, reproduced itself in subsequent cultures“.

Beginning with their earliest philosopher they asserted that man is the highest authority in the universe and idolized the human mind, Derek writes,

“Aristotle’s concept of God was a perfect mind contemplating itself—because nothing less was worthy of its contemplation. Out of this the whole philosophy of rationalism has developed”.

With this idolatry came glorification of the male body and, “the Greeks also tended to downgrade the marriage relationship between a man and a woman, and to view a homosexual relationship between two men as being more “intellectually fulfilling”.

Derek continues by pointing out that the “so-called ‘gods’ of Greece exhibited all the moral failings of humanity…a complete absence, in fact, of any binding moral code. This left man free to be his own god, and to establish his own moral code. After all, no people can be expected to live above the level of its own gods“.

Spirit of Humanism’s Offensive

“In 1992 the spirit of humanism launched a major new offensive against both the USA and Israel. Almost simultaneously, a cloud of dense spiritual darkness descended upon both nations.

“In their national elections that year the spiritual force that brought to power both the Clinton administration in the USA and the Labor Coalition in Israel was blatant, undiluted humanism. Both administrations represent an open and deliberate rejection of God’s righteous laws and of the covenants He made with man, first through Moses and then through Jesus Christ. They have demonstrated that, carried to its ultimate, humanism will believe anything but the truth and will tolerate anything but righteousness.

“This exaltation of man is the force which will finally give rise to the Antichrist, whose name is the number of man (Rev. 13:18), the man of lawlessness, who opposes and exalts himself above everything that is called God or is worshiped, and even sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thess 2:3–4).

With this he heads into a magnificent conclusion:

“Before this final period of tribulation, however, God still has tremendous purposes to work out for both Israel and the Church. A harvest of mercy will precede the harvest of judgment. God’s preparation for this is revealed in Zechariah 9:13: “I will raise up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece…” The “sons of Greece” are those who embrace the deception of humanism. The “sons of Zion” are those who take their stand upon the infallible Word of God, embracing both its promises and its covenants.”

It’s fascinating to dig this paper out of old folders for insertion herein only to find Derek’s conclusion is the same as that which was already in my mind! But a republished letter on its way to me from his ministry has him adding an incisive scripture. More soon…

[Quotations from Humanism: Forerunner for Antichrist pdf, by courtesy of Derek Prince Ministries. Also read brief biography, About Derek Prince.]

The Current Crisis

Several times the elected leaders of Greece have rejected legitimate demands for debt repayment by the nation’s European and IMF creditors. There’s been a massive run on the banks and the nation is completely bankrupt.

Telegraph Business front page today refers to a leaked IMF report saying “Greece will need drastic debt forgiveness” and warns that “Europe’s leaders must contemplate breaking EU treaty law to provide “Deep up-front haircuts” on Greece’s debt mountain”.

In IMF stuns Europe with call for massive debt relief, the leading financial journalist Ambrose Evans-Pritchard writes about the revolutionary nature of this report,

‘The International Monetary Fund has set off a political earthquake in Europe, warning that Greece may need a full moratorium on debt payments for 30 years and perhaps even long-term subsidies to claw its way out of depression.

“The dramatic deterioration in debt sustainability points to the need for debt relief on a scale that would need to go well beyond what has been under consideration to date,” said the IMF in a confidential report…

‘The findings are explosive. The document amounts to a warning that the IMF will not take part in any EMU-led rescue package for Greece unless Germany and the EMU creditor powers finally agree to sweeping debt relief…’

All this is especially interesting with 2014-2016 being Shemitah and Jubilee years, when ancient Israel cancelled all debts (see Wikipedia).

In tandem with financial turmoil, we’re also witnessing widespread rebellion in Europe and America against the moral and spiritual standards ordained by the Almighty. Those who once set the motto ‘In God We Trust’ (which is treated like a mascot!) have leaders who allow His commands to be treated with greatest contempt! That nation born out of Europe proudly claimed ‘exceptionalism’, when in fact it’s no longer exceptional but apostate!

And the state named after its warrior leader and first president, George Washington, has been experiencing unusual temperatures consistently over 100 degrees Fahrenheit!

To my mind, these combined events speak strongly about the state of our ‘evolved’ Western society and civilisation – its beginning and its end.

Hopefully, it’s a warning that both ends of Euro-American civilisation are bankrupt – one the ancient historic root, the other its modern descendants – one financially, the other morally and spiritually, with all the attendant consequences!!

Now it just so happens a couple of letters to one of the first churches planted in Europe are very instructive on this matter:

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 made in the first, as follows.

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, ²not 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. ³Let 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, ⁴who 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 Thessalonians 2 NKJV per BibleGateway.com – Emphasis RB]

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, ¹⁰and 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, ¹²that 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. Only a few years later Paul gave a full exposition on God’s wrath on unrighteousness in the early verses of his letter to the church in Rome – see Romans 1:18-32. (This too was written in Corinth, Greece.)

Conclusion

In my humble opinion this momentous economic crisis in the nation and continent which are the very roots of western civilisation is highly significant. It is not only a warning of economic but also of spiritual shaking.

Our leaders and fellow citizens who have chosen to rebel against the Holy One of Israel and His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, are now being warned of the consequences.

Soon there will no longer be any grace covering and blessing for reprobate, unrepentant hearts. Once they’re following the deceiver in his various guises, the Holy One Himself will let them stay deluded by their own lies and salvation will no longer be available! A truly terrible personal place!

In all these musings it is significant, therefore, to re-discover the above quoted paper by Derek Prince. Equally amazing is the fact that as I was drafting both posts last week, a copy of his teaching letter Taking God Seriously was on its way in the post from his ministry!

This letter opens,

…If a person speaks to us, but we ignore — or even reject — much of what he says to us, we certainly are not taking him seriously. In fact, we are guilty of disrespect.

The same applies to God. If we ignore or reject much of what He says to us through the scriptures, we are not taking Him seriously. We are, in fact, treating Him with disrespect.

Yet this is how many Christians are relating to God. They treat His Word like a smorgasbord, picking out those portions that appeal to their taste and passing the others by.

Also, it concludes in the same vein as my preceding thesis by focussing upon the above verses 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10.

If we consider chapter two of the second letter to ‘Salonika’ in a reverse sequence, like reading an email thread, it helps me to gain a clear understanding of what the Lord is allowing and why – and then what will happen. I submit to you, this may bring a different focus from a usual reading and helps us to see things from the Lord’s perspective.

Undoubtedly, we’re now in ‘The Great Apostasy’ and Paul’s letter to the early church in Greece tells us what’s happening, what’s coming and why – and what the end will be!

May the Lord bless you and keep you…

NB: see Addendum of prophetic words brought in April 2010 relating to this subject.

The Books are being opened

Posted on Tuesday, 7 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

Hope this re-blog’s opening remark strikes a chord with readers. It echoed what I’d been mulling over for a few days: the explosive revelation that kick-started my writing about prophecy! (Email Feb ’09 refers – the scripture cropped up in Sunday’s service!)

Sons of Issachar

Mike Parsons
with Jeremy Westcott

Progressive revelation

How many of us have suddenly seen something in a scripture that we have never seen before? How many of us believe differently to what we used to believe a few years ago? This is the time Daniel wrote of, when the books are being opened and fresh revelation is coming to the church.

Looking again at this passage:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world…

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What are the implications of the Supreme Court’s marriage decision? Four key things to consider.

Posted on Thursday, 2 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

NB: strong correlation between graph’s 2005-2015 ‘X’ (ie. error, wrong) and the rapid descent since 2009 in US’ credibility-influence and rise in contempt for America in the Middle-East & N Africa! (Eg. today’s US blocks plan to fight ISIL – other Western nations too: Our Arab allies are being hung out to dry in the fight against ISIL. See older posts: May 2009 Today’s importance in history; Feb 2011, Deep US-Saudi rift emerges.)

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

The latest polls show nearly 60% of Americans support the legalization of same-sex marriage. (graphic credit: Five-Thirty-Eight)

(Washington, D.C.) — What are the implications of the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision on Friday to make same-sex marriage a Constitutionally-protected civil right? Is the Court’s decision to change the definition of marriage really such a big deal, or are Christians hyperventilating over the issue for nothing?

Unfortunately, yes, this is a very big deal, and it puts America on a perilous path. Unless we change course soon, this could accelerate the nation’s judgment andimplosion.

Let me walk through four key things Christians ought consider at this critical time.

First, the Supreme Court is overreaching its Constitutional authority, and is thus undermining its own legitimacy and pouring gasoline on a highly-politicized issue that will deeply divide Americans for years to come.

If the Constitution even mentioned the word “marriage,” the Court might theoretically have the right to address the subject. But the word is…

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John Kilpatrick vision: ‘The United Apostates of America’ (+ updates)

Posted on Wednesday, 1 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

We listened intently when pastor Kilpatrick interrupted taking up the offering on Sunday to announce the Lord had given him a vision that morning.

He said, “I’m not given to having visions for the Lord usually speaks to me, but the Lord gave me a vision this morning and I’m going to share that in just a few minutes.
“This shook me up when the Lord showed it me. I didn’t see any pictures – it was just words that I saw.”

After welcoming Holy Spirit, he mentioned that He’d broken out on Friday at Perry Stone’s conference. There the Holy Spirit baptised a United Methodist pastor after John taught on the Leviathan spirit and how its scales are so tight it prevents pastors from allowing Holy Spirit to move.

As soon as John received his invitation to preach on 26th June he asked the Lord what He wanted him to bring. But the Lord’s response caused a sharp intake of breath,

“Oh Lord please not that one. Not that one – please! So I cringed and so I thought between now and then I’d talk the Lord out of it!”

He much preferred to bring a refreshing message but it was to be something difficult. The Lord was steadfast over this and remained so, even when John checked at 4 am on the day. He was to use a message he’d delivered to Church of his Presence over 2012-2013 entitled, Leviathan, the King who Rules over the Children of Pride!

In this John quoted Ezekiel 16:49-50 in the Bible, as shown on the gathering’s overhead screen:

“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread and idleness was in her and her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and the needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before me: therefore, I took them away as I saw good.” (KJV)

That was the scripture he was reading about the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, when Perry interrupted saying he’d heard, “The Supreme Court’s just passed the equality of marriage law”!

Disquieted he continued preaching, but afterwards John asked the Lord to be shown how He views this grave matter. John received nothing until about to brush his teeth on Sunday morning when these words appeared by a vision in his spirit:

THE UNITED APOSTATES OF AMERICA

Hear what happened next as John listened to the Lord about this startling new name:

After John spoke upon this, the congregation interceded for the nation and for revival. Watch in full from the 46 minute-mark in this Church of His Presence video to hear his thoughts on the vision’s relevance to, and consequences of the SCOTUS’ decision for, this highly significant year.

UPDATE 1: Could This Be A September To Remember?

In a specially convened meeting on 28th August, John asked and attempted to answer the above question in depth. (Click Update header for the service; his message starts at 1:27:45.) John offers no specific, revelatory insights in this in-depth teaching other than his observations upon the signs of the times, a summary of which appears in this video:

UPDATE 2: Is America in Bible Prophecy?

On 13th September, John stressed his deeply patriotic nature in carefully considering a number of scriptures describing the location and nature of the modern equivalent of the ancient Babylonian empire as foreseen by OT prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. Their term for this futuristic, end-times version of the nation with which they were well acquainted is, ‘mystery Babylon’. John asks and makes well-informed observations that suggest it is one and the same as present-day USA. (Click following image or Update header for the service; John’s message starts at 1:02:00.)

NB: Pastor Kilpatrick has been blessed with hosting two revivals; the repentance revival at Brownsville/Pensecola in 1995 and a healing one in Bay of the Holy Spirit Revival in 2010. (See this blog’s 2-part Prophecies fulfilled 3 and The Bay tag.)

Lion Bites: Changed Prayer & Fresh Fire

Posted on Thursday, 25 June, 2015 by Richard Barker

I trust these words of yesterday and today from Glasgow Prophetic Centre may be a personal exhortation for you too:

CHANGED PRAYER

These are the days when we need to amend what and how we pray, because the Lord is doing brand new things in the earth that have not been seen in previous times. Heed the Holy Spirit today,

“Amend your prayer! Change your perspective and allow me to show you a higher plane of my glory as you do.”

Many of us have become ‘stuck’ in a place because of our own prayers – they hold us in a stationary place of waiting, which prevents us from moving forward. It is time to renew our minds and come out of this! It is time to distinguish and understand what the Spirit of the Lord is guiding us to in prayer and come away from our repetitive, self-focused and habitual ‘list prayers’, where these have become dry, faithless and religious in our mouths.

In the moment of agreement with God’s word to amend our prayer life we are catapulted forward into a new realm of God’s glory, where there is an ease and a flow of prayer language and breakthrough. It’s as simple as agreeing with God and saying, ‘yes’ to applying this change.

There are areas, regions and nations for you to pray over which you never dared to imagine; areas which God has given you authority and influence over, in the Spirit and in the natural. It is there for the taking in your prayer life!

So let us be those who come up higher, transformed by another degree of God’s glory, as we access His realms through our amended prayer life. Forgive us Lord where we have become stuck with repetitive, pedestrian prayer and kept our heads down, rather than looking up to join with your prayers in the realms of your glory. We choose to come into the place of your glory-realm prayer!

PRAYER
Shake up my prayer life God as I choose to amend my prayers, for I desire to enter into the realm of glory that you have invited me into, and there access those prayers that are prayed in Heaven.

Psalm 54:2
Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.

FRESH FIRE

Credit Iris Global (aka Iris Ministries, Mozambique). Click for website.

Fresh fire from heaven is ready to fall like lightning on those who will receive it. Our God of fire is looking for those who have their hands raised in expectation and desire; those who have positioned themselves to be lightning conductors wherever they stand on the earth.

“Get ready for the new spark”, says the Lord, “Those who are like a dry kindling and highly flammable are those who are ready to be ignited. I am seeking those who do not pay attention to the shifting sands around them but who are feeling the atmosphere of heaven and are ready to be conductors for my fresh fire. I am coming to set my people on fire. Look to me. It is not about where you stand but instead it is about what you are standing under. Be ready to receive my fresh fire from above!”

Matthew 3:11
I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

ALERT: suppression of free speech in UK and USA

Posted on Thursday, 25 June, 2015 by Richard Barker

Hand with News icon - Watcharakun THREE emails await me this morning on this subject!

Does this indicate the suppression of freedom to think and speak for oneself, especially in proclaiming Biblical truths, is being ramped up?

Only on Monday had I had occasion too refer to that when inserting a reference to Rev Dr Mike Ovey’s well-informed warning into the copy from Wilberforce Publications’ on Magna Carta Unravelled.

His concern is now repeated by the Coalition for Marriage. (C4M is an umbrella group of many individuals and organisations supporting traditional marriage and opposed to its redefinition. Click link for more details.)

In his email circular of Tuesday their campaign director Colin Hart writes,

NEW LAW COULD BRAND MARRIAGE SUPPORTERS AS ‘EXTREMISTS’!

Since the introduction of same-sex marriage we have drawn attention to ordinary people around the UK who have found their reputations and livelihoods attacked for standing by their beliefs.

Sadly the Government is about to make the situation much worse. The Home Secretary is seeking sweeping new powers to silence ‘extremists’ and disrupt their activities. We strongly support the Government’s fight against terrorism, but we don’t support plans which put basic free speech in jeopardy.

Vague laws will catch law-abiding people

The proposed Extremism Disruption Orders (EDOs) are set to be contained in the new counter-extremism Bill.

We back stopping jihadists, but these vague EDOs appear to be so broadly defined that even supporters of traditional marriage could be branded ‘extremists’. See our short briefing for more information.

Conservative MPs Dominic Grieve and David Davis have voiced alarm about the plans.

Before he became Justice Minister, Dominic Raab MP also said: “The public should certainly expect the security services to track terrorists online, but the broad powers of proposed Extremism Disruption Orders (EDO) could be abused. Those engaged in passionate debates – such as Christians objecting to gay marriage – could find themselves slapped down.”

Home Secretary Theresa May was recently challenged on just this point when the BBC’s John Humphrys asked her whether the “woolly” plans would still allow people to say that gay marriage was damaging to society. We’re not convinced by her answer.

Free speech under threat

People can call us bigots and extremists for believing in traditional marriage – that’s their point of view. But they must not be given power to use the force of law against us.

We have good reason to be concerned. We will be asking you to make your views known to your MP.

Yours sincerely,

Colin Hart

As an aside, look at what I learned a month ago:

THE LESSON OF TUDOR HISTORY

A series of high-profile cases in recent years, where Christians have been penalised for expressing and living out their beliefs in public discussion, led a top judge, Sir Michael Tugenhadt, to compare secularists to ‘Tudor tyrants’. He commented as follows,

“Those who are hostile to belief in a superhuman being or to religious practices, I am afraid, sometimes exhibit an attitude to freedom of religion and freedom of speech which is as restrictive of that of Elizabeth I or Burghley.

“They seek to limit those freedoms to the private sphere, but that is a denial of the rights that these freedoms enshrine.

“The terrible story of the Tudor-Stuart religious divisions should be a reminder that freedom which is confined entirely to the privacy of a person’s home is a form of oppression.” (Emphases added)

He added: “The fact that states recognise human rights and natural rights and even the fact that they may enshrine them in their laws doesn’t mean they always respect them”.

Sir Michael retired from the High Court last year and reminisced about the beginning of his professional career when, “Lawsuits involving religion were absolutely unknown”. In respect of the past 10 to 15 years, however, “they had become increasingly frequent”.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The second email on this matter covers US Supreme Court’s rulings in America. In writing for The Legal Project, Johanna Markind outlines recent cases that potentially affect the right to discuss Islam openly and freely in The US Supreme Court, Speech Regulation and Islam.

The third email, Muting American Speech Through Politicised Television Theatre, was a brief note of RJ Dawson’s blog in which he lambasts TV broadcasters for brainwashing audiences into the fear of having or expressing an opinion, in contravention of the 1st Amendment.

His review of changes since the 60’s is informative for all who, in those days, were only twinkles in their mother’s (or grandmother’s) eyes. On this side of ‘the pond’, American TV was regarded as a very inferior product. RJ’s views make interesting reading and it’s noteworthy how our once, world-renowned but now Broadly Biased Corporation (BBC) has since descended to the moronic depths and spews out PC indoctrination.

So, RJ Dawson’s opinion is valid for Britain as well as the United States.

The ‘one-eyed god’ once resided in a box in the corner of the room but is now a window on a wall as well as a mirror on our knees, or even a spy in our pockets! It should come with a mental and spiritual health warning. So beware!

How to counter it will be covered in the next post…

[Hand With News Icon, credit Watcharakun at Freedigitalphotos.net]

“He will baptise with the Holy Spirit – and fire!”

Posted on Tuesday, 9 June, 2015 by Richard Barker

Dr Luke records in his well-researched account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that the Jewish people were in great expectation of an anointed leader sent to them by God. Chapter 3 of modern copies of that scroll reports the Jews thought the one who was baptising them in the river Jordan may be their eagerly anticipated messiah. But John answered them by saying,

“I indeed baptise you with water; but one mightier than I is coming whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16 NKJV)

Or, as Eugene Peterson’s The Message paraphrases John:

The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.

With that in mind I invite you to listen to this petitionary prayer we frequently play, Set a Fire. Having known of this cry for some years we were pleased to find this video of the live recording of our CD:

I’d also recommend a more upbeat version introduced by Rob Cox 13 minutes into a recent morning service at Church of His Presence, as on this video. (You may like to hang in with them as they start to take off in the Spirit with Great Are You Lord…!!)

It was problematic getting connected to CHP’s live session and when the server kicked in one worship song was ending and then Rob led into this one about the ‘fire’ of God. Its occurrence soon after my mid-week blog Wake up and be set on fire was particularly pertinent in view of comments about holy fire in that post and in London’s Burning.

Be thoroughly blessed as you join in…

Picking up a golden thread in the Lord’s tapestry

Posted on Thursday, 4 June, 2015 by Richard Barker

In weighing words that prophesy heavenly waves, tides, tsunami and tornado coming to earth, let’s pick up a golden thread that’s also been brought by many – that of God’s glory!

We continue weighing those words with a couple of scriptures:

Arise, shine; for your light has come and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1-2 NKVJ)

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. (John 2:11 NKJV)

And how do we ‘weigh’ His glory. According to my New Spirit-filled Life Study Bible’s notes for those verses, the Hebrew provides an excellent clue. On Isaiah 60:1 it reads:

‘Glory, chabod (Strong’s#3519): Weightiness; that which is substantial or heavy; glory, honor, splendor, power, wealth, authority…etc. The root chabad, “to be heavy, glorious, notable” or “to be renowned”. In the OT, “heaviness” represented honor and substance, whereas “lightness” was equated with vanity, instability, temporariness, emptiness.’

On John 2:11 the ‘Word Wealth’ note reads:

‘Glory, doxa (Strong’s #1391) Compare “doxology”, “paradox”, “orthodoxy”. Originally an opinion or estimation in which one is held. Then the word came to denote the reputation, good standing and esteem given to a person. The NT doxa becomes splendor, radiance and majesty centered in Jesus. Here (2:1) doxa is the majestic, absolute perfection residing in Christ and evidenced in the miracles He performed.’

The latter concept is the one that probably springs into mind whenever we read or hear of ‘glory’. Yet when the Lord’s holy presence comes into a meeting, a sudden sensation of a weighty atmosphere can be tangibly felt. Very often, those gathered can no longer remain standing but sway or bend, even fall to the floor and remain there for a long time – some refer to it as “being ‘slain’ in the Spirit”.

Recap

In finding yesterday (Wed), then arranging in a seemingly right sequence, three prophetic words for the UK > four waves > tsunami and tornado > the nation will turn, a few things popped into mind as I wrote.

One of them related to having seen in a night vision the brilliance and awesome powerful effect of God’s glory upon heaven opening, rather than referring to the very few occasions it’s fallen on me in meetings.

Simon Braker speaks of a third wave that “swept across the nation and washed the nation clean to the point that it shone!”

Graham Brown reports, “I saw a window opening in heaven and it was gradually going back further and further and further. And then I could hear voices from glory, with the glory of God shining down, upon the tornado and the tsunami.”

The third person, Amanda Wells from Queensland, refers to England “coming into a time of amazing wonders, or supernatural phenomena, and miracles. This is going to manifest in an amazing release of glory breaking out all around you, everywhere you go.”

I’d searched for some information on each person and the words attributed to them. At the last of the three, I went to her website and learned about Amanda’s experience in the Glory during her recent visit to Europe. Her account on 12th March reads as follows (emphases mine):

“YOU’VE DECLARED IT; AND I’VE ESTABLISHED IT!”

‘I have just returned from a ministry trip to the UK and Germany and while I was there had an amazing encounter with God that has totally changed my life. The words ‘You’ve Declared It; and I’ve Established It,’ resounded in my spirit for the 3 weeks I was there!

‘This generation is at a pivotal time. Things are shifting. The heavens are leaning in and angels are watching and showing up…. God is moving and shifting things in ways we’ve never anticipated or expected. Are we ready?

‘Hope for tomorrow and strength for today is found in Jesus. It is entirely, completely and always found in Him. His love is unending and faithful. His grace and mercy always true. Through the years He’s always been there and He will always be. The single greatest tragedy in the people of this generation is a lack of encounter with Him. [Nathan Morris often stresses this point. RB] We are continually trying to push forward, without stopping to connect with heaven so as to download what we see and hear onto the earth. For the past four years when I pray before I preach, I have sensed to say the same thing, ‘ Your kingdom come today, let Heaven be on earth today and signs and wonders follow the Word’.

‘After declaring this in the first meeting in the UK, just 4 hours after a long 28-hour flight, I heard the Lord say, “You’ve declared it, and I have now established it”. Suddenly God broke out in amazing healings, but also ‘wonders’, that had everyone astounded. Pastors struck dumb, young teens struck dumb, some frozen in the one position for hours, older people in their late 70’s – 80’s seeing and hearing the angelic realm, to name a few occurrences that happened.

‘God gave me a word that has laid heavily on me for the few weeks, for the United Kingdom and for Australia. It came out of Isaiah 8 v 18 (a) ‘Behold, I and the children, whom the Lord hath given me, are for signs and for wonders… This is the time of wonders, outstanding signs and wonders. England is coming into a time of amazing wonders, supernatural phenomena in an unprecedented outpouring, where the River is being poured out like we have never seen before.

‘During this trip God gave me a message that I have never preached or looked at before, about the Glory. I saw a picture of myself in darkness yet ascending up a mountain and as I was on top I saw God’s glory in a cloud descending upon me. The Lord then showed me how the Glory, isn’t for us to just enjoy but it is His invitation to marriage, and the bedchamber. The cloud or as the Hebrews call it ‘a huppah’ is where the bridegroom sends out an incredible invitation, He calls, ‘will you marry Me.’ Is it any wonder the Israelites were in mortal fear as they heard not just One voice but a voice that thundered from the Heavens, ‘will you marry Me?’

‘The Hebrew for thunder and lightenings is ‘glorified voices of fire’. Can you imagine back in that day, hearing God cry ‘”Will you marry Me?”. Only one responded, Moses! (You can purchase the MP3 ‘the cloud of Glory, please contact me) ‘Christ in us, the Hope of Glory’.

‘Our link to heaven and our intimacy with the King is the hope for the world. How we connect with Jesus, and how through that connection we live THROUGH Him and not just for Him will result in revival. Great is His faithfulness. We can’t perform on Sunday our way forward; we can’t make the things of heaven happen here on earth, apart from Him. We declare it and He establishes it, but as He establishes, we have to believe and receive His signs and wonders! The signs and the wonders are released, when we lean in.

‘When we press in. When we lay aside our best plans and rise up in all that He is through us. He’s always been here, and He is leaning toward us today. I made a fresh commitment in the UK to lean in more, to encounter more, to ‘wait on the Lord’ longer, and to live in the presence of heaven. In all I do: in life, ministry and business, I want to live in heaven and see it manifest on earth. I want to partner with heaven.

‘I want to live in a prophetic realm where angels dance and sing and all the answers I could ever need and they are poured out like a waterfall, ever flowing, from His River, always available.

‘Champions, who are brave enough to stand and live in freedom, need to live in prayer, presence and worship leading to a constant encounter!

‘The world needs a revival. They need refreshing. They’re struggling, groping and seeking for something to change…for something to shift. We are their shifting point, we are the alignment they need, and we are the conduits that heaven uses to download into the earth.

‘This is a pivotal time and all of heaven stands waiting. Will you join me? Will you lean into an encounter with Him and be the manifestation that all creation is crying out for?’

Amanda Wells

Thank you Lord – and Amanda, as well as Kingdom Vision for posting her on their site. Oh Lord, let this be time for your Glory, as seen on Norman James’ face 20 years ago when he was blessed with the same vision of Britain his prayer-partner Wigglesworth had (as here). Amen, and again amen.

To conclude, we have very encouraging words from the Lord to our prophetically gifted brethren and which we’re obliged to weigh carefully. Also, I think we’ve come across yet more pieces to the ‘Invisible Jigsaw’!

Note: Mentoring Day part 2 outlines principles of prophetic decrees and declarations.

[Featured image credit: St Takla Haymanout Coptic Orthodox church, Alexandria]

PS: legal-eagle’s opinion post-election

Posted on Friday, 29 May, 2015 by Richard Barker

As ever, learned lawyer-cum-blogger Frank Cranmer offers stimulating opinion on the General Election and Christians in Law and Religion UK and in Archbishop Cranmer. NB: see correction from Frank in comments below.

For your enlightenment, here are opening/closing remarks to three of his latest blogs, to which I’ve added a few emphases.

Images are courtesy of his blog. Please click them for links to the full articles.:

1. A British Bill of Rights is wholly contingent upon Britain leaving the EU

Noteworthy how the Human Rights Act is now coming into focus in view of the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta (see previous post). His Grace Cranmer opens:

‘(Yesterday’s) Queen’s Speech is the first to be delivered on behalf of a majority Conservative government since 1996, when John Major was Prime Minister and ‘Europe’ was tearing his party asunder…..

[Closes:] ‘A British ‘Bill of Rights’ is supposed to embrace British values. These would include the foundational principle of the Common Law, which is antithetical to the EU Napoleonic model of law, Corpus Juris. It has been found by experience that Common Law is the bulwark against state tyranny and the best guarantor of our liberties.

‘So, as the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor summon their commission of consultation, could they ensure that it includes those voices which may define what British values are or ought to be included in a British ‘Bill of Rights’? And, having done that, might they explain how this new British ‘Bill of Rights’ might justify Anglican Establishment in an age of moral relativism and religious equality? And, having done that, could they please clarify how the Bill might be consistent with the Prime Minister’s stated preference for remaining a full and participating member of the political institutions of the European Union?’

2. The Christian Deception about Conservatives and Human Rights

Reference to foundational Magna Carta and its subsequent importance in English history is implicit. Cranmer opens:

‘There is a lie permeating the Christian social-media detachment that the Conservative quest to repeal New Labour’s Human Rights Act amounts to an assault upon fundamental human rights; that somehow Tories are inherently opposed to limitations on the state and to the basic protections and assurances of justice and liberty which have been set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights – the ‘Human Rights Charter’ – which the UK helped to draft in the aftermath of World War II. No doubt the Church of England (or, rather, certain anti-Conservative bishops and clergy) will be vocal in their opposition to repeal, insisting (erroneously, not to say misleadingly) that the Government’s intention to replace the Human Rights Act 1998 with a British ‘Bill of Rights’ constitutes an immoral political degradation, if not a grave social evil.

‘Michael Gove is the new Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor. The role is not quite as it was when Sir Thomas More kept the Great Seal with “like place, pre-eminence, jurisdiction, execution of laws, and all other customs, commodities, and advantages”. But like More, Gove is a lay churchman of great intellect and integrity with a profound understanding of theology, ecclesiology, social philosophy and jurisprudence…

[Closes:] ‘And those Christians who spread the lie that to oppose Labour’s Human Rights Act is to oppose the very notion of human rights need to consider the temporal repercussions of perpetuating grave injustice, as well as the eternal consequences of spreading such disinformation. Michael Gove may not be a man for all seasons, but he is the Queen’s good servant, if not God’s first.’

3. Tim Farron ‘clarifies’ his Christian convictions in pursuit of LibDem leadership

Cranmer opens (emphases added):

‘There is no doubt that Christian representation in Parliament came out well in this General Election. A handful of prominent Christians including Simon Hughes, Douglas Alexander and Jim Murphy lost their seats, but this was more than compensated for by an influx of new Christians across the political spectrum. Ed Miliband failed to become this country’s first atheist Prime Minister and David Cameron is back in power with a Cabinet full of Christian ministers.

‘Now that we are moving into the traditional phase of post-election leadership contests, there is a very real chance that for both Labour and the LibDems their new leaders could well end up being Christians, too….

[Closes:] ‘The LibDems have traditionally had a sizeable Christian presence in Parliament, but also have a strong and vocal LGBT and pro-abortion contingent. Any leader of a party needs to hold the views of its members in tension, but Farron’s desire to reach the top would appear to be leading him to pander to certain groups. In his essay, he writes: “To be a Christian is to submit to ultimate truth, fairness and goodness – some of which will jar with our current state of socialisation.” Sometimes that means sticking up for certain values even if it makes you unpopular and draws criticism. For a Christian, submission to God should always come before submission to man.

‘There is a belief among many Christians that party politics and faith can never really mix. To have a party leader with a sound grasp of the gospel and who is fully committed to his or her faith – to the point of demonstrating it in the voting choices they make – would go a long way to disproving this view. Tim Farron has that chance and he carries the hopes of many Christians and non-Christians both within and outside of the Liberal Democrats. This could be an opportunity for him to forge ahead with a leadership built on personal integrity and strong moral conviction. He has many fine qualities that will serve him well should he win, but, as it stands – certainly on recent evidence – the indication is that when it comes to political ambition and Christian conviction, there is only one winner.’

It’s said that, when in power in the previous coalition, the LibDems pushed for same-sex marriage. So their loss of almost all MPs is poignant.

Conclusion

I trust this will enable us to gain a handle on what’s happening, especially in regard to the continuing need to pray for our leaders as Apostle Paul urged in 1Timothy 2:1-2.

Wake up and be set on fire!

Posted on Wednesday, 27 May, 2015 by Richard Barker

A loud noise from builders outside awoke me with a start! It’s the first time in a long time I’d overslept! The alarm had gone off early for Nina to get up (I’d already been up with the dawn). I jumped up as I’d just over half an hour to ‘break fast’, get ready and get out with her before the local crowds descended in town.

An hour later at my desk this Lion Bites email was near the top of my in-tray: L.O.L.!

WAKE UP AND BE SET ON FIRE!

“I heard the Holy Spirit repeat the same phrase three times:

“Wake up and be set on fire!”
“Wake up and be set on fire!”
“Wake up and be set on fire!”

“As these words were decreed, I ‘saw’ the phrase shooting out over all lands, all nations and, ultimately, landing on all His people.

“To those who chose to listen to the wake-up call from Heaven there is an encounter with the fire of God that will equip you to fulfill His coming purposes. In your response to the call to rise up from your slumber there is a whole new wave of power coming into your midst, to equip you to bring Kingdom transformation.

“Respond to this wake-up call from the Lord! Allow Him to come into your midst, right now, to wake you up in areas that you have been sleeping and allow Him to set you on fire for the sake of His name.

Ephesians 5:14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you

Confirmation of the vision

The WORLDWIDE vision referred to above is similar to, but more extensive than, Jean Darnall’s 50 years ago of multiple fires being lit across Britain (see Prophecies fulfilled 1).

However and moreover, it reminds me of what I’d sensed a week ago yesterday and which was God-incidentally confirmed the same day by Angela Jeff. She commented early the next morning on my post about Nathan Morris’ prophetic outburst, “London’s Burning”, as follows:

“Yesterday I was reading a wonderful book by James A. Stewart, called “God’s New Thing” – all about Revival. It says this “The two symbols of Pentecost are WIND and FIRE . There is no set program for a cyclone or a prairie fire. A great revival is like a forest fire”. I began to think about the fact that wind conditions have a HUGE impact on the spread of a WILDFIRE.
“The Great Fire of London sprang to mind…and so I googled it and began to do some research…there are some very interesting spiritual parallels that I believe God wanted to remind me of:
“In London in 1666, conditions for the blaze were perfect. A long hot summer had left London DRY and drought had depleted water reserves (does this not sound a bit like the spiritual condition of London today – a dry and thirsty land where there is no water?!) This, coupled with a STRONG EAST WIND meant that all that was required was a SPARK! That SPARK began in a bakery (house of bread) and boom! Suddenly that SPARK became the “consuming fire” that had so often been predicted.
“Cindy Jacobs spoke of a coming “marriage of wind and fire” and Julie Meyers UK prophecy speaks of a move of God like a WILDFIRE!! I feel so stirred that God is calling us to press into these things in prayer. I believe that a second “Great Fire of London” is coming! Another interesting factor which is food for thought is that the Great Fire followed the dreadful plague which had gripped London in 1665. Some say that the fire, as dreadful as it was, was God’s mercy on the city because it purged the city of the plague. Oh how we need that burning cleansing flame to sweep through our capital city! Let’s pray for London!!”

I especially thanked Angela, saying that only yesterday I’d had a strong sense of a likely coming spiritual fire. It may have been specifically for the chapel and establishment we were gathered in for a service for healing.

After communion, I’d gazed at piles of logs on the lawn outside that had been gathered from the small wood around the premises. Right away I recalled a photo taken by Gary Beaton at a similar scenario. It showed two ‘angels of fire’! (I blogged on this a year ago this month in Sighting of angels in a fire.)

Also, I took the opportunity to refer to the “unstoppable firestorm” word brought by Bobby Conner 7 years ago this month.

Angela refers to Julie Meyer’s well-known song “The Bridegroom Cometh” reference to “wildfire”. Delivered at Voice of the Apostles conference in Pennsylvania on 20 October 2012 it prophesies revival coming to Great Britain and Europe. So I replied that Johnny Enlow had brought something in a similar vein 7 days earlier in Windsor UK. (Read my notes on him in Visitors notice heavens more open in England – posted last May! 🙂

Yes Angela, let us all agree to press in prayer for this revival.

[Aurora from the International Space Station – image credit The Telegraph]

Smith Wigglesworth’s vision for UK and Cindy Jacob’s word from the Lord

Posted on Tuesday, 26 May, 2015 by Richard Barker

What I’d planned doing last week went wrong! Not badly so, but even so…

I was trying to download a brain blog-jam of prophetical aspects of the general election. But as I wrote more came – but I quickly got diverted by the ‘tsunami’ of what was coming from the Lord. So I couldn’t turn from or escape it but had to give a new post priority – and what a blessing it brought, as emailed privately by a few readers! Thank you Lord.

My vain plan was to schedule that election post for automatic publication in two parts on Friday at the start of our week away. The first part being the main body would be quickly followed by a word from the Lord delivered by Cindy Jacobs. However, I realised in the early hours there was more for the main bit, and so it would be better that it be delayed and Cindy’s published first (as here).

In my busy-ness I’d not really taken in that prophetic word’s immensity – and importance of priority. It ‘sat well’ with my spirit and I knew to get it ‘re-blogged’. Then, having a hard copy for Nina and I to read, I wondered if it may connect into the open vision I had in 2004 of the Rock that is Christ arising from the land – and with what I learned 20 years ago from Norman James about his renowned prayer partner Smith Wigglesworth’s vision of revival in the UK.

Also, two highly contrasting comments were soon submitted after it was published. One was highly critical and not in a Godly spirit and, thus, unable to assess the word. Yet the other, emailed privately from David Robinson stirred my spirit. He’s kindly allowed me to publish his following remarks:

“Richard, I especially resonated with Cindy’s word. PTL that we are on the verge in the UK of a great move of the Lord. I have sensed for sometime in common with many words I read, doors opening and a new move of His Spirit. We are indeed in the year of the Open Door.

“For me, I have sensed a real call to step out more and that’s just what I have been doing for several months on the streets of Banbury, my local town. I am ‘retired’ now but there is no such thing as retirement in the Kingdom :). The Lord has called me out onto the streets to share His love through prayer and healing with people He leads to me. I have also felt called to open the door to bring together Churches and launch a Healing on the Streets (HOTS) Banbury ecumenically. He has certainly opened many hearts locally. We will be launching with His help on the street at the end of June. I can’t wait to continue to see what God is doing as I really sense an alignment with Cindy’s word – it’s time for us to step out, be bold and courageous and speak healing into the atmosphere by our very presence and carrying the Holy Spirit within us. Additionally our new MP is a committed Christian and we are praying for her that she will continue to be a much-needed strong voice for Christian values in the House.

“What further excited me was two readings (God incidences?) that caught my attention today also. In Friday’s (Fri May 22) Elijahlist posting Jeff Janson spoke of a 4.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred near Kalamazoo and he spoke of Malachi 4.2 “The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in His wings” and the new roar of the Lion of Judah – see http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=14741. And today BBC also reported a 4.2 earthquake in Kent – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32840579. Coincidence? [RB emphasis added.]

“I searched for Kent, or Britain, on Richards Watch and I came across this word: https://richards-watch.org/2014/05/15/keep-your-eyes-on-britain-is-the-time-now/

“These events seem significant to me and I wonder if you have heard from others in the coming days? Pentecost is here and the Lion could roar this May (2015!).”

Over the Pentecost/Bank Holiday (which used to be called ‘Whitsun-tide’) I read this email and recalled having been with a group of charismatic Baptists, Independents and Catholics led by a Spirit-filled Anglican in 1997. We’d gathered in Leicestershire to pray and commemorate the Welsh Revival and were blessed by the company of 80 years-old Rev Norman James, who’d known Wigglesworth personally. (Moriah Chapel website states Evan Roberts retired after the long gruelling schedule of meetings to the home of William and Jessie Penn-Lewis in Leicestershire in Spring 1906. By 1907 he had recovered his health and became a prayer intercessor, spending up to 18 hours a day in prayer. His close and constant communion with God gave him great authority when he was moved to speak or counsel.)

In Revival – 2: prophetic word I recounted why that prayer meeting was v. remarkable:

“When this small group stood in a close circle to pray, Norman was less than a yard right in front of me. As he was quite short, my eyes opened to gaze fully into his face and I couldn’t help but notice his eyes alight with excitement. A huge, beaming smile – he was radiant!

“Norman could hardly speak, save to whisper with intense awe, “I’ve just seen what Wigglesworth saw – Britain in revival – on fire for the Lord!”

“Ever so briefly he explained that in Wigglesworth’s 88th year the Lord had given him a vision of a future revival in Britain. He knew it would happen decades ahead but he so desperately desired to see such days. Thus Norman confided, “No wonder he wanted the Lord to keep him alive!“. But he couldn’t find the words to describe its wonder.”

Later this weekend my friend Mark Maddock emailed:

Two Words from Wigglesworth:

A recent word via Cindy Jacobs reminded me of these two words from Smith Wigglesworth, with my emphasis [ie. Mark’s]:

1. Smith Wigglesworth’s 1947 rare prophetic word about the coming move of the Holy Spirit:

“During the next few decades there will be two distinct moves of the Holy Spirit across the church in Great Britain. The first move will affect every church that is open to receive it and will be characterized by a restoration of the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The second move of the Holy Spirit will result in people leaving historic churches and planting new churches. In the duration of each of these moves, the people who are involved will say ‘This is the great revival’. But the Lord says ‘No, neither is this the great revival but both are steps towards it.

“When the new church phase is on the wane, there will be evidenced in the churches something that has not been seen before: a coming together of those with an emphasis on the Word and those with an emphasis on the Spirit. (I think we need to be actively involved in this process now – MM) [RB: a few years ago the Baptist Union, so I was told by a Baptist minister with a marked prophetic gifting, formally agreed to such a balance! PTL!]

“When the Word and the Spirit come together, there will be the biggest movement of the Holy Spirit that the nation, and indeed the world, has ever seen. It will mark the beginning of a revival that will eclipse anything that has been witnessed within these shores, even the Wesleyan and the Welsh revivals of former years. The outpouring of God’s Spirit will flow over from the UK to the mainland of Europe, and from there will begin a missionary move to the ends of the earth.”

2. This account of Wigglesworth’s End Times vision comes from Lester Sumrall’s book (pgs. 168-169), “Pioneers of Faith”:

‘Shutting his eyes again, he said, “I see the greatest revival in the history of mankind coming to planet earth, maybe as never before. And I see every form of disease healed. I see whole hospitals emptied with no one there. Even the doctors are running down the streets shouting.”

‘He told me that there would be untold numbers of uncountable multitudes that would be saved. No man will say ‘so many, so many,’ because nobody will be able to count those who come to Jesus. No disease will be able to stand before God’s people… “It will be a worldwide situation, not local,” he said, “a worldwide thrust of God’s power and God’s anointing upon mankind.” Then he opened his eyes and looked at me and said, “I will not see it, but you shall see it. The Lord says that I must go on to my reward, but that you will see the mighty works that He will do upon the earth in the last days.”

‘… The idea that I would get to see this revival was almost overwhelming. And in the last decade or so, I believe we have seen this revival begin to sweep the earth. We have seen amazing moves of God in Africa… Recently, I was in China and met with the underground church. I was told there are at least forty-five million Full Gospel Christians in China. (Now over 100 million – MM). I discovered a depth of prayer and integrity there that I have not felt anywhere else in the world…

‘So I believe we are seeing Wigglesworth’s prophecy begin to be fulfilled. We are seeing the first stages of it.’ (Lester wrote this in 1995… MM)

David and Mark, I thank you and bless you for your valuable contributions.

Revival breaks out in Gloucester

Posted on Thursday, 7 May, 2015 by Richard Barker

Praise You Lord!

Have just received news of revival having broken out two months ago at Clearspring Church in the city of Gloucester, as announced here:

The church’s website succinctly refers to it as follows:

On Sunday March 1st, 2015 spontaneous worship broke at Clearspring church, Gloucester. With it, wave upon wave of the Holy Spirit’s power began to fall on the members of this small church.

Since that time, God’s power has intensified week on week. Traditional church services have been set aside, and the fire of God continues to fall.

Remarkable scenes are occurring. Christ is being exalted.

(Thank you Suzanne Payne. Personally, I’m ‘God-smacked’ after having blogged about ‘turning the tide’ specifically with River Severn’s tidal bore in mind. Whilst checking out the website on the Bore I went to Locations and noticed Gloucester is on the Severn. So if you’re unsure about where it is in England, then open that location’s map.)

George Washington’s warning to modern Washington

Posted on Wednesday, 6 May, 2015 by Richard Barker

Last weekend author Jonathan Cahn came to my attention in connection with an event a week ago today in Washington, Wednesday 29 April.

And it so happens to involve someone whose work I’d been revisiting that same day in preparing changes to this blog’s menu – plus another personally relevant contact!

Many will be familiar with Jonathan’s bestseller The Harbinger, and The Mystery of the Shemitah. (See Prophetic points on 9/11 and Holy Shemitah Bible cycle...)

As usual, small regard is paid in Britain to events over ‘the pond’, especially in view of tomorrow’s general election. My awareness comes mainly from Christian correspondent Bill and various blogs rather than mainline media. I didn’t know about last Wednesday’s Washington: Man of Prayer event to commemorate the 226th anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration as first president of the United Sates of America.

This event on Capitol Hill was attended by Members of Congress and church leaders. Many Members ‘delivered special and anointed prayers’, but when Jonathan took the speaker’s podium the stern warnings became loud and clear.

I learned about this from Friday’s Koenig’s Eye View from the White House and of Bill’s conversation with messianic rabbi Cahn. He links it to World Net Daily’s report Follow Baal and go to Hell, which notes Jonathan,

…smacked down the Supreme Court’s assumption that it has the authority to redefine marriage. Cahn’s comments followed by only about 24 hours the hearing in the august courtroom where the justices heard arguments on whether or not the U.S. government would mandate recognition of homosexual “marriage” across the country.

“The justices of the Supreme Court took up their seats [in a hearing] on whether they should strike down the biblical and historic definition of marriage,” he said. “That the event should even take place is a sign this is America of [George] Washington’s warning … a nation at war against its own foundation.”

Washington warned the smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation “that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which heaven itself hath ordained”.

He noted the Supreme Court opens sessions with the words, “God save the United States and this honorable court.”

“If this court should overrule the word of God and strike down the eternal rules of order and right that heaven itself ordained, how then will God save it?” he asked. “Justices, can you judge the ways of God? There is another court and there another judge, where all men and all judges will give account.

“If a nation’s high court should pass judgment on the Almighty, should you then be surprised God will pass judgment on the court and that nation? We are doing that which Israel did on the altars of Baal,” he said.

“We are exchanging our light for darkness.”

WND reports Jonathan went on to challenge President Obama: He questioned what happens when a leader places his left hand on the Bible to assume to highest office in the land, but with his right hand “enacts laws that violate the laws of God”.

Emphases above are mine. To read WND’s full article and watch Jonathan’s stirring 9 minute message click here. The full two hours may be watched here.

‘Connecting the Dots’

William Koenig closes his 12-page weekly report with notes on meeting Jonathan at the event. They shared thoughts about some of the big decisions on upcoming events that we’re all watching. They’ve known one another eleven years since Bill first heard the harbinger warning of judgement and call to repentance and salvation in Jesus.

I especially noted the reference to Obama having lied about his position on same-sex marriage in order to become president, as revealed by his former campaign manager, David Axelrod. This and several related serious issues show what a mess our cousins over the pond are facing.

Additionally, in this connection his report reprints one from 7 years ago (20 May 2008) referring to the “Babylonian Talmud” – the book of rabbis’ interpretation of the scriptures 1,000 years before Christ. This book can correlate present days with those recorded in Genesis. After interviewing Dr Jeffrey Satinover, Janet Porter quotes him on the Talmud statement about the only time in past history when men were given in marriage to men, and women given in marriage to women.

No, it wasn’t in Sodom and Gomorrah, or ancient Greece, Rome or Babylon but during the days of Noah. That’s what the “Babylonian Talmud” attributes as the final straw that led to the Flood and Janet states ‘America’s Rabbi’, Aryeh Spero, confirms that claim.

A personal enquiry

Also a week ago today, I received an enquiry from Minnesota in response to re-blogging Mark Davidson on a possible economic crash. Thinking I live in the States, ‘T’ asked if I could give any advice on preparing for such an eventuality. Unable to suggest anything more specific than basic measures, I felt I should include:

Also, you may wish to read John Kilpatrick’s ‘Blessing for this Shemitah Year’, as listed in http://churchofhispresence.org/media/downloads/. He says it came from the Holy Spirit during a conference hosted with Jonathan Cahn, Mark Biltz & Bill Salus.

I got a quick response that The Harbinger has ‘T’ in it and something special from the Lord was received at Ground Zero. T was privileged to have been the only one chosen out of a multitude by the fire chief to be allowed into that area very soon after 9/11.

I can but draw this inescapable conclusion: these ‘coincidental’ actions happening on two specific days on one subject – Jonathan Cahn – serve to validate his message.

[Note: for Washington’s and A.A. Allen’s prophecies for the USA see Tony Puccio’s comment below.]

Hillary Clinton wants Christians to give up their Biblical beliefs

Posted on Wednesday, 29 April, 2015 by Richard Barker

The following brief report from Bible Prophecy Blog comes as no surprise to those watching the signs of the times: Hillary Clinton Wants Christians to Give Up on Bible Beliefs.

No doubt our American brothers and sisters have already decided who is unworthy of their votes?

Killing Christians: persecution is worse than ever, so why is the Church growing?

Posted on Tuesday, 14 April, 2015 by Richard Barker

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

>> Join me for a discussion of Christian persecution in the Mideast during a special simulcast on April 19th.

We are living in a time of unprecedented persecution of Christians in the Middle East and around the world. The Lord Jesus warned His disciples that they would be persecuted, and that persecution would intensify as the time of His return drew near. Today, we are seeing His prophecies come to pass as never before.

Recently, my friend, Tom Doyle, published an important book titled, Killing Christians: Living The Faith Where It’s Not Safe ToBelieve. Tom not only describes the general wave of brutality against Christ-followers worldwide; he also tells specific, personal stories of believers boldly standing for their Savior — and courageously proclaiming the Gospel of forgiveness and eternal life — amidst such persecution.

This is one of the most intriguing conundrums of our time: the Church is actually growing amidst martyrdom. More and…

View original post 1,167 more words

Kingdom Invasion Tour UK – attend the Shamp’s tour if possible

Posted on Wednesday, 8 April, 2015 by Richard Barker

As you may expect from the previous, illustrated post about Charlie Shamp’s visit to Guildford, I can recommend your making the effort to attend, if at all possible.

Those who travelled from south and central Hampshire. London and north Kent were blessed to receive healing. And others came from several hours away, even Ireland.

Those wanting fresh insights into scripture will not be disappointed – but be prepared to be challenged! For example, rather than ‘doom and gloom’, Charlie brought uplifting thoughts and revelation from the Book of Joel on the ‘blood moon tetrad’. As in my covering note to the re-blog of Justin Abraham’s announcement, I was blessed many times, especially by confirmations of recent insights!

Here’s the itinerary for the tour. For details see Destiny Encounters Events, except for one-night in Romford which is as below, by courtesy of Jane Almond.

Norwich, England: April 10 – 19

Reading, England: April 24 – 26

Cumbria, England: May 1 – 3

Dumfries, Scotland: May 8 – 10

Romford, England: May 14 only (see below)

Belfast, Ireland May 15 – 19

(Location postcode RM1 4PJ)

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Richard's Watch

Looking for the signs of Jesus' return

Category Archives: Christianity

ALERT: MP threatens Christian teachers with anti-terror laws

U.S. officially blocks Christian testimony of Islamist persecution

With ISIS on the rampage, “is this the end of Christianity in the Middle East?”

Monday ‘Matins’ – a prayer to kick-start the week

Fundamental flaw in Western society – re. Greece-Europe crisis, Humanism

The Books are being opened

Progressive revelation

What are the implications of the Supreme Court’s marriage decision? Four key things to consider.

John Kilpatrick vision: ‘The United Apostates of America’ (+ updates)

Lion Bites: Changed Prayer & Fresh Fire

ALERT: suppression of free speech in UK and USA

Vague laws will catch law-abiding people

“He will baptise with the Holy Spirit – and fire!”

Picking up a golden thread in the Lord’s tapestry

PS: legal-eagle’s opinion post-election

Wake up and be set on fire!

Smith Wigglesworth’s vision for UK and Cindy Jacob’s word from the Lord

Revival breaks out in Gloucester

George Washington’s warning to modern Washington

Hillary Clinton wants Christians to give up their Biblical beliefs

Killing Christians: persecution is worse than ever, so why is the Church growing?

Kingdom Invasion Tour UK – attend the Shamp’s tour if possible

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Vague laws will catch law-abiding people

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