Whilst singing the Noel Richards’ chorus “Come Lord Jesus” in a meeting, my wife was noticeably touched by the Holy Spirit and heard, “It’s sooner than you think!”. I submit, therefore, the importance of revisiting this blog’s strap-line ‘Looking for signs of Jesus’ return‘ and of being sure we really do know ‘how to look’ for Jesus’ Second Coming.
Another response to testing my ‘insight’ comes from Neil Mackereth, whose writings I’ve featured on this blog. Notably, he adds this PS to his reply: “I am having difficulty with formatting on this email, which has happened in the past, but only when I “go where angels fear to tread”.
Neil attaches this briefing to a follow-on email of 25th July:
‘Dear Richard, Very interesting and you certainly got me thinking! Here are my notes – I can see real relevance in the maRk and maSk insight you have had and will continue pondering on the significance!
THE MARK OF ‘IMMUNITY’ – or is it ‘ALLEGIANCE’?
‘As a result of an insight Richard Barker had from the Lord about the one (adjacent) letter change between maRk and maSk I started thinking about links between marks and masks. There are positive “marks” as well as negative “marks”:
Positive:
‘Ezekiel 9:4 “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”
‘Revelation 7:3-4 ““Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.”
‘Revelation 9:4 “They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.”
Negative:
‘Revelation 13:16-18 “It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[e] That number is 666.”
MASKS AND BEING AWARE
‘Thinking about being aware of the underlying significance behind receiving a mark, or the meaning being masked (hidden) to the recipient, put me in mind of Freemasonry and the initiation ceremony, where the candidate is masked. The French for mask is ‘masque’, from which we get masquerade. Pretence and deception, as expressed by Paul in 2:13-15 “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
‘Revelation 13:14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honour of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
‘I believe the mark mentioned at Revelation 13:16 is a sign of allegiance to the Anti-Christ but, as in Freemasonry, its true meaning may be masked. I also believe that the allegiance (which may be unwittingly given) is expressed by a symbolic mark relating to a disfigurement.
‘Revelation 13:3 “One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.”
‘Zechariah 11:16-17 “For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hooves.
“Woe to the worthless shepherd,
who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his arm and his right eye!
May his arm be completely withered,
his right eye totally blinded!”
HOW MIGHT WE BE HOODWINKED?
‘There will be a vaccine and, for seemingly very sensible reasons, people will be encouraged to have an identifying mark (like a tattoo) to show their immunity.
‘In the early stages of “normalisation”, retail outlets (shops, pubs, restaurants etc.) will be able to relax social distancing and mask restrictions, for those who can show that they have been vaccinated (i.e. have the mark of immunity). It will be very difficult to have different rules for the relatively few people (the unreasonable ones) who have declined to have the vaccination, and/or the identifying mark.
‘By a series of ostensibly very reasonable steps, it will become well-nigh impossible for the “unreasonable ones” to shop, travel on any form of public transport (planes, buses, boats and trains), use the NHS, and so on.
‘If being vaccinated is conditional on having some sort of mark, great care will be needed in assessing the appropriateness, in light of God’s guidance on the subject (Revelation 13).
CONCLUSION
‘I am convinced that Richard Barker’s insight aligns with the growing wealth of End-Times information and indicators that the Lord is graciously providing. We must do our utmost to encourage awareness of the significance of the events in relation to Biblical End-Times prophecy.’
================
3rd Reviewer
Another respected author responds, “I’m taken with the imagery you have presented of masks as they relate to the forehead in conjunction with the requirement for cashless payment in these times. This is strikingly symbolic of the future harsh reality of the mark of the beast in the Tribulation and is another symbol (like the pestilence of Covid) which is a sign in the ‘beginning of sorrows’ of Matthew 24:7 which point towards a future time in the Tribulation when the anti-type of these signs will be much worse. (eg. a mask and a contactless credit card is nothing like as bad as the future ‘mark of the beast’)”
He can follow the symbolism in the piece and wisely advises me to find a firmer anchor in scripture. In my available time and with the theological principle of 1st mention in scripture in mind I consulted Strongs’ Concordance. First mention of ‘mark’ is at Gen 4:17 where the Lord puts a mark on Cain to protect him from revenge attack. It wasn’t easy to find ‘mask’ in Strong’s as it uses the King James Bible, but ‘covering’ appears in Gen 8:13 where Noah removes the covering over the ark after the rains have ceased.
Then along came Neil’s thoughts, and another reviewer kindly drew my attention to an in-depth analysis by someone familiar with Hebrew, and which is republished here.
This latest from the Lord through Veronika is another great encouragement about the ripening of the ‘wheat and tares’ (Matt 13) AND confirms the main thrust of my posts on satan’s strategy and its attempt to destroy the holy harvest.
IT’S TIME…DESTINY’S CLOCK IS TICKING..!
I hear the spirit say,
“Beloved why do you fear and fret about the future?…Why is your heart so heavy?…Why are you so troubled by the turmoil and despair that threatens to overtake the Nations?…My Beloved, have I not said, that darkness will increase in these days…and that the hearts of many will wax cold?…Yes!! for surely these things must and will take place in order that My Word be fulfilled…But listen! For I tell you the truth…that though the works of the wicked will certainly increase in the days ahead….Know this!!!….The light of my Glory shall arise upon the nations and the darkness of the devourer will be extinguished and the powers and principalities of the prince of the air will be pushed back…and like a mighty battering ram the gavel of My Righteousness and Justice shall come down to smash to pieces the false idols and demonic strongholds of the enemy that have been established in the nations…,Who can stop what I have decreed and who can stand against what I predetermined and predestined before the foundations of the earth?…
“Beloved..do you hear it??…it’s the sound of the ticking of a clock…tick, tock, tick, tock…Look!! for the hordes of hell are being tormented by the sound of Destiny’s Clock…for they know their end and they know that the time is short…
“Beloved!! Come up higher…Open your eyes and See!…For the demons of deception, perversion, infirmity and death have been unleashed upon the earth…and their eyes are firmly fixed upon the harvest fields…and their assignment is to steal, kill and destroy…,But Fear not!!! For a Righteous and Radiant Remnant clothed in the light of My Glory is now rising in the midst of the mayhem and satanic madness…
“Watch! For now an Army of Radical Reformers will Arise and Advance across the Nations…See! for they have been made into threshing sledges, new and sharp, with many teeth…and they will thresh the mountains and crush them…and they will reduce the hills to chaff…and they will take My Kingdom by force…So Stay Watching and Praying in these days…,as the Winnowing Winds of My Spirit now blow upon the threshing floor of the Nations…Listen and Pay close attention!…tick, tock, tick, tock…the sound of Destinies’ clock can be heard in the realm of the spirit….Do you hear it??…Are you ready?
“Are you aligned and rightly positioned?,….Are you walking in time with My Spirit?…Beloved…See! for this is a kiaros time..,an appointed time in the earth…a time of divine Shifting, Sifting, Scattering and Separation has surely begun…for the Nations at a divine tipping point are now being Shifted, the wheat and the tares are now being Sifted…Yes!…and the demons of hell are now being Scattered and the goats and sheep Nations are now being Separated…Watch! As the Winnowing Winds of My Spirit now blow forth upon the Harvest fields of the Nations…Beloved, Get ready!! For it’s a time of Supernatural Acceleration and Kingdom Advancement in the Nations of the earth”...says the Spirit of the Living God.
This topic is rarely covered because I despise the enemy of our souls and its demonic influences. Hence, my not blogging on this for 5 years 5 months since the mini-series that began with musing upon a devilish plot to avoid the Lake of Fire. Now, another inkling dropped into mind last week and which I submitted to a few friends for weighing. I was surprised, therefore, to receive unexpected confirmation from other sources in UK, USA and New Zealand (reader Alex’s comment), as posted on Saturday.
Therefore, this isn’t for Britain alone, as I’d thought, but is globally relevant too. So let me expand upon the brief outline given in my personal appeal; Wake Up Church!
NB: In all this please note I’m NOT saying or implying any of the Prime Minister’s or government’s decisions are directed by the demonic; only that they may be to satan’s advantage and thus benefit its ultimate agenda.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father I ask you to protect each one of my brethren in Jesus Christ reading this by His holy sinless blood; also that access rights the demonic may have are thus rendered null and void. (I’d prepared this for publication a few days ago but awoke with excruciating hip pain on Tuesday that necessitates resting. A prophetical pastor who’s praying for me confirmed my suspicion of it being a demonic attack.)
MASK / MARK OF THE BEAST
Trying to return to sleep after waking early on Saturday 18th July I was suddenly struck by: “WE’RE ONLY 1 LETTER AWAY FROM THE MARK OF THE BEAST – WAKE UP CHURCH!” (maSk…maRk)
That is, we need to realise that compulsory wearing of masks in public is a trial-run, or testing, the progress and outcome of which will inform and lead into the imposition of the infamous Mark of the Beast. It is a softening up and preparing the global population for such an eventuality, as foretold in the Book of Revelation. Therefore, it is increasingly important for Christian leaders to teach about being prepared for the End-Times.
Click to read ScriptureForAll Hebrew Interlinear Bible
[‘He – the Beast from the Sea – causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.’ NKJV Rev 13:16-17]
Upon recalling the gist of Revelation chapter 13, it dawned upon me we’re not only ‘one letter’ but also ‘one inch’ away from carrying the full marking, or ‘carved-effect’ (original Greek). The new legal requirement from last Friday imposes a mandatory restriction upon anyone wanting to go shopping and buy anything that focuses not only upon a person’s mask, thereby highlighting their forehead and eyes – its edge being on the bridge of their nose, is an inch below the forehead – but also upon waving a hand in order to buy without handing over cash or cheque, or tapping one’s own private code.
Hence, the significance of events focusing upon the effects of everyone’s breathing!!!! AND the poison spewed out in mainstream media headlines and opinions that curses the nation!
Next, it occurred to me this is the 7th instance of this topic cropping up recently through unconnected events.
And they appeared as two lots of triplets! The first 3 centered on a Friday, as told in End-Times Briefing 13; the second 3 arrived on a Monday (government’s muddle, data from White House author, top Hong Kong lab’s whistle-blower). Moreover, I came under a Jezebelic attack, which the Lord countered by more data. You may recall this blog gives copious examples of ‘invisible jigsaw pieces’ arriving like ‘GPS’ (global prophecy signals). The two confirmations mentioned above are the latest example.
Theological Perspectives
I ask that we lay aside any personal, doctrinal preferences when reading Revelation because there’s EIGHT theological interpretations of this profound book, as summarised in my study Bible. Let’s not, therefore, be too dogmatic in assessing my remarks. In my humble opinion, the Lord may permit the imprecision in order to ‘play His cards close to His chest’, keeping the adversary in the dark. Therefore, if we adhere to a dogmatic ‘timetable’ then satan’s strategy could blindside us by imposing the Mark by nefarious means and catch us in its snare unawares.
Our adversary would want to prevent any possibility of a global Revival and harvesting of souls by getting peoples’ unwitting allegiance to its schemes and thus consequential damnation! Heaven’s reaping would rob hell of its harvest of humans!!
With reference to my recent Briefings, Jane H asks: “Regarding the mark of the beast surely this will not proceed revival will it? How can we spread the gospel to anyone having the mark?”
Clearly, Jane has Rev 14:9-11 in mind and which clearly implies those with this Mark are owned by satan, and thus share in its decreed doom. These dread scriptures foretell no possibility of changing allegiance away from satan in this event. However, it may be possible for those who didn’t take the Mark to be saved during an individual’s ‘revival’.
Some may argue the Mark of the Beast won’t apply to the Church because we will have been raptured into heaven (‘snatched up’ – 1 Thess 4:17) before its introduction: ie. the Mark is imposed during the 7-year Great Tribulation. I find, however, scripture does not unequivocally support that view – for example:
Dr David Pawson’s Opinion
In his overview of the epic story of God’s relationship with His people, world-renowned Bible teacher David Pawson ‘unlocks’ The Apocalypse in 200 pages distilled from a ‘lifetime’s worth of insights’.:
Chapters 6-16…’are relevant to all believers, whatever their contemporary situation…The main motive for preparing to be faithful under pressure is to be able to face Him without shame. Perhaps that explains the reminder inserted between the 6th and 7th bowls of wrath (incidentally, confirming some Christians will still be on earth at the time): “Behold I come like a thief!…” (Rev 16:15…)
An Informed Reaction:
One reviewer’s response:
“The LORD has set you as a voice, to blow the trumpet and get The WORD out. Absolutely; we are seeing the governmental systems and structure of the beast trying to shape out in a more vicious form in the earth. Many political leaders of nations do not know what they stand against; some decisions that they implement are not theirs; if the grounds are lost in the spirit by The Church and the enemy gains a right to impose a sentence; the governments over nations can wield little or no power of resistance. We must realize that when we also pray and gain victories in the spirit; the leadership of nations will have the power to resist the already established victories in heaven. Things are shaping out; the direction of the dance moves that policies reflect shows us what grounds must be contended for to be regained in the spirit. The antichrist is more than a person taking up an office; it’s major stronghold will be the system it sets up; rather than who becomes the figurehead”
Another friend reports encountering email gremlins when replying to me, as in part 2.
This morning Chris republished on Facebook a highly suitable follow-on to my recent End-Times Briefings and personal appeal to all Christians to “Wake up!”:
SIGNS OF THE TIMES – July 2018!!! EVEN CLOSER NOW !!!!
There’s some things going down at the moment that we should ALL note and pray about. SIGNS OF THE TIMES have never been so obvious. Never before in such plain sight.
Earthquakes, fires, drought and flood, evil being called good, and good being persecuted as evil. The list goes on and we haven’t even started on wars, rumours of wars, swamp draining, and political shenanigans.
I really have only one message today – WAKE UP !!!
WAKE UP CHURCH
WAKE UP PEOPLE OF GOD
WAKE UP CHRISTIANS
The SIGNS OF THE TIMES say that the LORD IS COMING SOON. Hear the words of the Lord for today.
“IT IS TIME FOR JOY!! I AM COMING SOON!”, says the Lord.
“IT IS TIME FOR ALL MY PEOPLE TO PREPARE. PERSECUTION MAY COME – BE JOYFUL. WARS, FLOODS, FIRES, AND EARTHQUAKES MAY COME – BE JOYFUL BECAUSE THE TIME OF MY COMING IS SOON. I HAVE PLANTED SEEDS FOR THIS SEASON. SEEDS OF REJOICING, SEEDS OF COMPASSION, SEEDS OF LOVE. BUT MOST OF ALL I HAVE PLANTED SEEDS OF HUNGER – SEEDS THAT WILL BURST INTO LIFE AS SOON AS THEY ARE WATERED BY MY PRESENCE.”
“BE PREPARED!”, says the Lord, “FOR I COME WITH JOYFUL CELEBRATION. DANCING AND SINGING SHALL BE A SIGN FOR YOU. THEN SHALL COME MIRACLES, HEALING, AND RELEASE. ALL THIS SHALL BE FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF WEEPING, JOYFUL WEEPING IN MY PRESENCE, AS MY GLORY FALLS ON YOUR MEETINGS – IN CHURCH AND ON THE STREETS!” says the Lord.
“I AM COMING SOON!” says the Lord God Almighty
CGB 2020
The close of the previous post refers to an extremely unusual ‘coincidence’ concerning Mabel Boyd, a sister at The Gate, Reading, and whom I knew years ago during my attendance there. As she says, “It’s so good that God knows our names!”
Upon returning to my desk last Monday I found an unexpected tranche of messages in the working group for setting up last February’s One Voice Prophecy conference. They begin with Mabel’s copying the text of her pastor Yinka Oyekan’s prophetic vision from four years ago. I asked about the reason for raising it and she replies:
“The prophetic vision came up on my facebook. I decided to take the time to re-read the post. I was deeply moved by the contents. I sometimes look at older prophetic words to see if they speak of what is happening in our nation now. I see this vision as prophetic in contents. I believe this word is active at the moment.”
Upon reading Yinka’s vision I realised it needs republishing as a development upon mine of 2004 – but then got bowled over when Mabel’s name popped up unexpectedly, when about to publish that post!! SO, the Lord’s confirmed it’s TRULY ‘ACTIVE’ and a ‘NOW’ WORD!!!
In its first publication on this blog I mused upon it being what the Pentecostal preacher-healer Smith-Wigglesworth and, 50 years later, his prayer partner Norman James may have seen of Britain in full Revival Glory (as told here):
A PROPHETIC VISION OF THE UK
There is a shaking coming to this nation unlike any that has been seen in a generation. A fulfilment of many prophetic words. God is about to move in ways that will cause the foundations of Hell to shake and the pulpits of the churches to rattle and some to be replaced. The normal acquiescence to what are considered cultural norms are about to shift.
I saw in a vision Father and He had stood up and was calling out the names of His sons and daughters, and pointing to the Cross and they came running to Him. On the streets of the UK, scales were falling off their eyes and many had a change in their countenance as they heard His voice and stood in His presence. They were transformed into courageous prophetic individuals fearless and willing to hold leaders and brothers and sisters to account.
I saw that it is not just political organisations that will be shaken in this season. I saw ecclesiastical structures and organisations being shaken. I saw crowns falling and thrones being removed. A grass-roots call for the church to return to the word of God and its foundational truth will take hold as believers become desperate for a Christianity that is authentic whilst embracing, kind but honest, pure but forgiving, reflecting of true holiness and unwilling to betray the Blood of Jesus Christ.
I saw city after city in a revival of a love for Jesus as the Glory cloud descends. I saw in the vision intercessors suddenly burning brighter, as if the Lord had turned the dimmer switch to its brightest setting, they became like glowing ones, like the angels. I saw in this vision flames of fire raging through the heavens as the tongues of prophets became like tongues of fire, a holy fire.
I see a deep conviction coming upon the church about its moral laxity and complacency, and I see the bride of Christ released from her constraints as Father’s love descends and takes a hold of this United Kingdom. And then I saw the streets filled with multitudes worshiping God with tears and with hands raised in exultation as the orphan spirit over the nation was broken and the nation turned once more to her Father in heaven.
“When Lord?” I said when I saw the vision and He said,
“Soon son, soon. Tell My people to prepare their hearts so that on the day of My visitation they will stand, and tell her leaders I want My church back, and tell My sheep in this outpouring that started in Reading, it’s them and their sons and daughters I wish to empower. So come to the waters and drink.”
Prince Yinka Oyekan, 16th July 2016
For more see Revival in Reading: 1,200 People Turn to Christ in Just 3 Weeks
Upon visiting Yinka’s Facebook and church website The Gate, I noticed they meet in the building previously used by Tilehurst Free Church (Baptist), which was planted by Carey Baptist in central Reading. I attended TFC from 1990, was baptised by Revd Barry Kirk and stayed until marrying my dear Nina in 2002, thereby moving to East Hants.
This reminded me of a vivid ‘flash image’ I had in a service at Meadway in the mid-90’s of a nuclear explosion but in reverse! It was about the time most Reading churches started praying together. I understood the image to mean the Lord’s power would unexpectedly explode but it would come inwards to the town and thereby get concentrated.
Let it be so Lord…
Click image for Facebook and previous declarations
CHURCH
“As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (James 5:11 AMP)
We thank You and praise You for the work of Your Spirit in our lives through this season, we thank You for the new mantles You have given and for every new desire, method and strategy You are releasing from Heaven. We speak the release of every ministry into their God-appointed place and position – and we declare in this day: God’s people will live out of the fullness of the blessings received through Jesus Christ.
We come into agreement with Your word in Joshua 1, “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses,” and we call God’s people into a new season of walking the land. We call forth those who pray for the streets and the communities, we call forth those called to bring healing to the land and we call forth those called to reopen past wells of revival and transformation. We declare the fullness of the Father’s love and His Kingdom’s purpose of peace and righteousness will be released across the land.
As Lockdown eases and the ‘new normality’ begins, we thank Him for the greatness of the plans and purposes He has for individuals to partner with Him to bring awakening to this nation. We stand in our true identity as the children of God and we decree and declare the power of the resurrection life of Jesus will overcome every work of the enemy seeking to delay, rob or destroy. In the Name of Jesus, we declare over individuals, ministries, businesses and churches: this is the season of re-set, restoration and restitution, and we decree new levels of faith and hope will arise upon His people.
We declare His grace is sufficient, and we speak the release of finances, resources, strategies, and connections that every Kingdom plan and purpose will be fulfilled.
NB: We have posted some new videos onto our YouTube channel. I would particularly like to recommend one called – A Legacy Key – which is a useful aid in understanding the Christian heritage within our nation, and a set of three – A Tale of Two Systems. This set looks at the fundamental differences between the worlds systems and the Kingdom of God.
Suzanne Ferrett, Thursday 23rd July, 2020 – Passion for the Nation
THERE HAS TO BE AN END BEFORE A BEGINNING
Whether it is a new beginning, new day, or new season many are sensing, or wanting something new to happen. If we are in a pause there must be a reason, because it won’t last forever. Could it be that God is saying things to us about need to change, or at least be open to change? Perhaps it’s more an interruption than a hesitation, and it has pushed us out of whatever we think normal is. Many of us have been stressed, disturbed, shaken and stirred; we don’t know whether we are we coming or going.
New words have appeared such as Zoom, which many of us have used in our communicating to others, even to other parts of the world. A dear friend of mine living in New Zealand spoke by Zoom to a church group in Cyprus and had some join from Scotland, England and France. That wouldn’t have happened before Covid-19, because most of us had never heard of Zoom!
We do have a propensity to stay where we are with what we have in the old and the traditional, or it could be that in moving forward we attempt to bring a few things with us that should stay in the old, but letting go of ‘things’ for many of us is difficult. Yet God is saying, “I’m going to bring good out of this, and do a new thing.” The response by the religious leaders in Jesus’ day was, “We’ve always done it this way!”, but that statement contributed to His death. They didn’t like change; they didn’t want change, so they resisted the purposes of God.
When the Church began in an upper room with a tornado suddenly appearing inside the room, and if that wasn’t enough flames of fire landed on the peoples heads, with every one speaking in languages they had not known before sounds quite bizarre, but it was the magnificent manifest presence of God doing a new thing. These wonders of God were a sign, that pointed to Jesus and thousands came into the Kingdom through the ‘New’ Birth. If that kind of manifestation happened at the beginning of the church, what is going to happen to us in these days? I say, “Lord do what you think is necessary to fulfil your purposes.”
When Jesus said, “It is finished”, He meant it. We want to go into the new, subtly or stubbornly hanging onto the old. New means new, which says to me, ‘you’d better let go of that which will only hinder and undermine the new.’ What John was writing about in chapter One of his Gospel was a New Creation. The old had gone, the new had come. God came down incarnate in Jesus to be with us. The New Age, the Kingdom of God was announced; it was a new beginning!
There has to be an end before a beginning. That could mean us finally dealing with ongoing issues in our lives, the stuff that has hung around afflicting and condemning us.
When Jesus cried out on the cross “It is finished!”, He meant it, for everything concerning Him was accomplished, including the fulfilment of the hundreds of prophecies that spoke about Him. What was finished in the past, is still finished in the present, and it will remain finished in the future! Not only can we live in His finished work, but we can also live in the new beginning of the His resurrection, because it is this, that makes Christianity so different from religion, for we worship a real, living person not just a few dead principles to live by. God is preparing us, and changing us, so that we will respond and cope with whatever He brings to fulfil His purpose. I’ve come to far to look back. x
Steve Hepden, Sunday 19th July, 2020
Rather than read longish blogs, papers and articles on-screen I prefer to print a hard-copy to peruse at leisure over coffee – the better ones’ getting their important points daubed over with a highlighter pen and mulled over (as with Thomas Harry’s directive from the Lord, An Urgent Word for the Global Church). John Barber’s linked below is one such blog, which I read a few weeks ago and tick-marked much of what he writes. I hope you, too, will appreciate this item for I’m pleased to find we almost see eye-to-eye, and so this serves as an introduction to John’s writings:
Are there prophets today and does it matter if there are?
Read at Are there prophets today and does it matter if there are? — JRB Publications
Further to references in my End-Times series to the Old Testament prophet Daniel (sign 10 in Briefing 3, Bible codes in Briefing 7, dates and visions in Briefing 8 refer), readers wanting to know more about his life and book will get a good grounding in John Barber’s article linked below:
Prophets of the Bible – Daniel
Click to read John’s next chapter of Prophets of the Bible – Daniel — JRB Publications
I’m grateful to CTNTP for posting another prophetic word with solid teaching on this topic. (My readers may recall the sound of holy blessing brought medically verified accelerated healing.)
We are excited to have become aware of this prophetic word, which was published on July 3rd on the Elijah List web site, which resonates with the vision we had, reflected by our web page we created two years ago – Releasing a Sound – click here to view Here is the word, introduced by […]
Continue reading at In One Accord, You Will Hear the Release of a Heavenly Chord! — Call The Nation To Prayer
In his third annexure to Simplicity, Neil Mackereth asks and points out:
WHY IS THE BOOK OF REVELATION SO IMPORTANT?
10 KEY POINTS
1. It is the Culmination of The Bible Story. The denouement.
Could you imagine the Bible ending with the one-chapter book of Jude?
2. It Shows Jesus in His glory – As King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So awesome that even His close friend John fell on his face as if dead when he saw Jesus. We know Jesus as prophet, teacher, priest, healer and so on – but here we see Him in all His glory.
3. It Provides Knowledge: to Defeat Misinformation. A challenge to false prophets and false doctrine.
4. It Provides Knowledge: to Help us Understand World Events. Revelation shows that God foreknew, He is in control, and His plan will not be thwarted.
Current events: Israel, 1948 and following; moves towards a new world order – a world economic system and a world governmental system.
5. It Provides Knowledge: to help us be pathfinder guides and watchmen for Israel.
6. It is a Basis for Evangelism.
It is my contention that the incredible significance and glorious wonder of so much fulfilled prophecy in the Bible, is so “undersold” that it indicates the church has been duped into veiling parts of the Word of God Any other prophetic book that was so absolutely accurate over so many events over such a long period of time, would be hailed and revered in awe and wonder by the secular world.
7. An antidote to complacency.
We now know enough to not be caught unawares.
8. Future Focus: it prepares us for what lies ahead.
Revelation tells us more about our eternal home and condition, rather than our current temporary state – more about the significance and urgency of the choice we, and all people, need to make.
9. Worship.
A book full of worship, and how to worship – 11 major songs that have inspired a multitude of hymns and choral works, songs etc.
10. Because God tells us it is Special!
It is the only book in the Bible that blesses the reader and the hearer (Rev 1:3) John wrote it as he saw it and heard it, which may account for its unusual style – he was continually being reminded to write down what he saw and heard, and then told not to change it! – Reveleation 22:18-19.
Neil Mackereth 21 May 2020
Briefing 11’s Introduction to the Book of Revelation draws to a close by its author, Neil Mackereth, stating “Apocalyptic works seek to inform the reader about aspects of an End-Times drama. The grand climax of the Bible is imminent — that is to say, it could happen at any moment…” He reminds us, “The Bible explains that two absolute powers or principles operate in the universe…In the book of Revelation (and the whole Bible), God himself is the ultimate source of all that is good; Satan and his followers refuse to submit to God and are the ultimate source of evil. This ethical dichotomy underlies the conflict within the book of Revelation”.:
OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION
The Prologue provides essential information for understanding the meaning and structure of the Book of Revelation. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.” (Rev. 1:1–2).
Apostle John conveys to his first-century readers the unveiling of Jesus. It’s something like the showing of a video of a Monarch and his court. The Book of Revelation is written for Christians who understand the language of a faith unique to Christian experience. But given the complexity of the metaphors and images, even “insiders” have difficulty understanding Revelation. However, anyone can grasp the basic message: Jesus is going to return to earth, overthrow Satan’s evil empire, reward his faithful followers, punish those who reject his Lordship, and create a new heaven and a new earth.
From the very start, it is abundantly clear that God holds the Book of Revelation to be of paramount importance.
Revelation continues with 7 letters dictated by Jesus to John for distribution to the churches at: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. The letters, which summarise positive and negative aspects of these representative churches, have stood the test of time. They were written over 1,900 years ago but signpost conditions and circumstances that continue to exist in churches today.
The pattern of the letters is fairly consistent. Each is addressed to a specific church, followed by a particular characteristic of Jesus. Then comes positive comments (none for Sardis or Laodicea) and negative comments (none for Smyrna or Philadelphia), and advice to each. The letters close with an entreaty that the readers will open their ears and hear, and with a promise to ‘overcomers’, which is different for each church.
These letters are relatively straightforward and understandable (which is not to say that we shouldn’t look for help to “unpack” their full meaning!).
From chapter 4 onwards we move into an altogether more challenging series of visions that are filled with symbolism, allegories, metaphors, imagery and other such figures of speech and apocryphal language: to try to interpret the Book literally would be to miss its meaning. Some scholars argue that there are seven visions each of which is linked to a matching day in the seven days of creation in Genesis (ie. that the order of events links the beginning with the end).
The timing and sequence of events can be difficult to follow. This is in part because the very act of writing things down gives them an order that may not be intended. Some of the actions recorded are clearly happening simultaneously.
I have the impression that John (Jesus’ scribe) is seeing visions on a huge scale (like vast paintings) and trying to scribble down what catches his eye, without necessarily having time to arrange and classify the information. It is clear that there are two or three sections that are digressions or parentheses from the central narrative.
Furthermore, the unusual style, which is not in character with John’s other writings, may have remained ‘unedited’ because of the very strong warning against alteration given in Rev. 22: 18-19. These verses show us again that Revelation is both unique and of huge significance: no other book of the Bible has such a ‘health warning’!
In simple terms, Revelation shows that:
JESUS WINS!
Neil Mackereth 21 May 2020
Continue End-Times Briefings.
We continue Annex A to Simplicity and examine some items in earlier Briefings:
KEY END-TIME (or SECOND ADVENT) SIGNS and PROPHECIES
An awareness of End-Time signs will help us to see if any world events, as they unfold in the weeks, months and years ahead, can honestly be described as fulfilling Biblical prophecy. Analysis of world events in relation to prophecy requires care and integrity, both to ensure genuine spiritual significance, and to avoid “false news”, conspiracy theories and the pronouncements of false prophets. It will be exceedingly hard to convince a sceptical world that prophecy is being fulfilled!
Some prophecies in the Bible seem particularly significant, in light of current world events, especially in the Middle-East. The following prophecies are worth bearing in mind, especially by those who are intentional about marrying historic prophecies with contemporary occurrences. They are, in short, signs of the End-Times: Continue reading
Annex A to Neil Mackereth’s paper Simplicity goes deeper into Matthew 24 signs than earlier Briefings 2: the ‘When?’ and 3: the ‘What?’ of Watching [cross-references to the book of Daniel are mine]:
1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
THE CENTRE LINE OF END-TIME PROPHECY – WHERE ARE WE NOW?
At the start of Matthew 24 the disciples are seeking Jesus’ acknowledgement that the Temple is a beautiful building. They were shocked by His response, that the Temple would be utterly destroyed, not one stone left on another. This startling prophetic statement leads them to ask two very significant questions:
“When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Jesus responds to this as two questions, the second having two parts)
Before answering these questions, Jesus warns the disciples against being deceived by people falsely claiming to be Christ. This thread of potential deception by false prophets continues throughout the chapter. Continue reading
I’m grateful to my good friend Neil Mackereth for this paper. I’ve known him since his stimulating summer-time evening courses several years ago in Winchester Vineyard Church. The appendices to this will follow in my series of End-Times Briefings.
SIMPLICITY
Jesus said: “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” John 12:32 NIV (other versions say “I, if I be lifted up ……..”) Continue reading
Late yesterday afternoon Veronika posted this on her ministry Facebook. Upon reading it Neil Mackereth, author of SIGNS: The Significance of Bible Prophecy reacted,
“That is very powerful indeed…I also had clear direction that the time of allowing the wheat and the tares to grow together is about to end – the harvest of separation is about to begin.”
I reminded him of my hearing “This is ALL about to be fulfilled!” upon opening my Bible to re-read Matthew 13’s parable of the wheat and tares harvest – see Briefing 1, Why? and The End-game Is Now In Play (we were soon to become good friends).
Here’s Veronika’s Facebook version and this published on His Kingdom Prophecy:
AN URGENCY OF TIME; THE GOLDEN REVOLVING DOOR OF THE AGES and of ETERNAL DESTINY — THE HOURGLASS of the END-TIME HARVEST!
Last night I had a powerful dream that I would like to share for the purpose of Prayer.
This dream was incredibly complex and so I will do my best to describe what I saw, heard and felt in the dream. So please bare with me as I try to share and interpret what I saw, and what I believe The LORD is revealing.
As I woke from the dream in the early hours of the morning, I immediately began to draw what I saw in the dream (see pictures below). Continue reading
Now we examine one of the sparkling gems, a radiant diamond, found in the treasure trove of Unlocking the Biblical Watch of Messiah’s Return. First a brief recap:
The Invisible Hand, Victor Dunstan (Megiddo Press 1984)
As at the close of Briefing 7, Victor Dunstan’s reference to three dates, or Time periods of differing length, given in the 12th chapter of Daniel point to 1917, 1948 and 1992, is derived from Dr Grattan Guinness’ mathematical work. Subsequently, three ‘interlude’ posts tell how Jonathan R Hill has taken that work further in two books. Amongst a veritable plethora of biblical topics and scriptures he examines in-depth the role of ‘The Wonderful Numberer’ – Daniel’s chief supra-natural informant.
In his ‘Introduction’ to Unlocking the Biblical Watch of Messiah’s Return, Jonathan echoes Chuck Missler’s frustration, as quoted in Briefing 5, by noting:
“So many in the Body of Christ are ambivalent towards the Lord’s mandate to watch, but the Lord wants the church to awake! Messiah’s words to the sleeping Peter are the Lord’s words to His living body, who are currently on the earth at the end of this age: “Could you not watch with Me for one hour?” (Matt 26:40 NKJV)
This is followed by, and I’m grateful to Jonathan for his kindly permitting publication (emphases mine):
‘DANIEL’S VISIONS
‘Daniel was privileged to receive extraordinary visions which were sealed until the ‘time of the end’ when many will run ‘to and fro’ and knowledge will increase. An apt description of our current world when knowledge and data are readily available via the internet.
Daniel 12:4 (NKJV) – “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
‘The prophetic words of the Book of Daniel were sealed until the ‘time of the end’ – confirmed again later in the same chapter (Daniel 12):
Daniel 12:9-10 (NKJV) – And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed ’til the time of the end”. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
‘Daniel’s ‘time of the end’ is now.
‘Earlier in the Book of Daniel a ‘when’ question was asked, regarding the desolation of the Temple in Jerusalem. The question was asked to someone called the ‘Wonderful Numberer’ [19]. The questioner (the ‘holy one’) clearly knew that the ‘Wonderful Numberer’ had the answer to the ‘when’ question.
Daniel 8:13 (YLT) – “And I hear a certain holy one speaking, and a certain holy one said to the wonderful numberer who is speaking: ‘Until when [is] the vision of the continual [sacrifice], and of the transgression, an astonishment, to make both sanctuary and host a treading down?’”
‘As will be seen [20], the wisdom of the ‘Wonderful Numberer’, who answered the ‘when’ question, is part of the ‘understanding’ sealed until the ‘time of the end’, when the ‘wise’ will understand. Moreover, the ‘Wonderful Numberer’ will be shown to hold the ‘Key of David’ [21] – the significance of which will be examined in detail [22].’
‘[19] The Hebrew word for ‘Wonderful Numberer’ in Daniel 8:13 is ‘Palmoni’ (Hebrew ‘לפלמוני’ – Strong’s number 6422) and is only found once in all scripture . It is a ‘contracted’ word and contains the elements of two Hebrew words. The first is ‘pele’ and the other is ‘ma-na’. The Hebrew word ‘pele’ means ‘wonderful’ (see Isaiah 9:6) and the word ‘ma-na’ means ‘numbered’ (see Daniel 5:25-26). So, this contracted Hebrew word ‘Palmoni’ literally means ‘Wonderful Numberer’”. Taken from F.C. Gilbert’s book, Practical Lessons for the Church of Today, pp. 606-608, published by The Review in 1902.
Gill’s Exposition states: ‘another angel said to him that spoke, whose name is unknown, only called such a one, or ‘Palmoni’, which some render ‘the wonderful numberer’ or ‘the numberer of secrets’ or ‘that has all secrets numbered’; and apply it to Christ, whose name is ‘Pele’, wonderful; the eternal Word of God, that is in the bosom of the Father, and knows all secrets, and the number of times and seasons, how long they will last; what created angels know not, he does; and therefore they apply to him for instruction and knowledge in hidden things.
The ‘Wonderful Numberer’ is found in few translations yet many commentaries acknowledge this translation including Albert Barne’s Commentary, John Gill’s Exposition, Geneva Study Bible, Calvin’s Commentary, John Trapp’s Complete Commentary, Matthew Poole’s Annotations, Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and E. W. Bullinger’s Companion Notes. (See StudyLight.org Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary Daniel 8:13)
‘[20] See chapter ‘Numbers, Triangles and Pyramids in Scripture’ and section ‘The ‘Wonderful Numberer’ as the Seventh Pyramid’.
‘[21] See chapter ‘Tools of the Watch’ and section ‘The Key of David’.
‘[22] See chapter ‘Tools of the Watch’ and section ‘The ‘Wonderful Numberer’ Holds the Key of David’.’ [Isaiah 22:22 << THAT NUMBER AGAIN! – RB]
Daniel 8:13-21 [Scripture For All Interlinear OT Hebrew]
NB: reference at note 19 to Jesus as knowing hidden things, ie ‘mysteries’, per recent post Kingdom Mysteries – Jesus Points to Mathematics (originally posted 6 April 2018).
Now let’s take a peek at some of my many tabbed pages: Continue reading
[First posted 6 April 2018 as A Post-Resurrection Miracle as a ‘Mystery’ Now Revealed]
His disciples came to Jesus and said, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” and He replied, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him (and her) more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand…” (Matthew 13:10-13 NKJV)
Definition: ‘Mystery’, Greek musterion (moos-tay-ree-on; Strongs #3466). From mueo, “to initiate into the mysteries”, hence a secret known only to the initiated, something hidden requiring special revelation. In the NT the word denotes something that people could never know by their own understanding and that demands a revelation from God. The secret thoughts, plans and dispensations of God remain hidden from unregenerate mankind, but are revealed to all believers. In non-biblical Greek musterion is knowledge withheld, concealed or silenced. In biblical Greek it is truth revealed (Col 1:26). NT musterion focuses upon Christ’s sinless life, atoning death, powerful resurrection and dynamic ascension.’ [New Spirit-Filled Study Bible]
The above, ancient meaning of ‘mystery’ is rarely understood and appreciated, even by those solidly grounded in scripture. As told in my testimony, my pre-Christian life got immersed in that esoteric knowledge, and so I’m experienced in this matter and can attest that the difference between that discipline and holy revelations from the Almighty is like the contrast between His Light and the devil’s darkness.
Although occasionally I ‘bang on’ about the ‘British Brainwashing Cult’, a.k.a. ‘Brussels’ Broadcasting Club’, I’ve been wary of wasting my time on so-called conspiracy theories – some of which do make valid arguments. However, since hearing the Lord’s reply to my asking about the origin of Covid-19 (“It is man-made”), I’m more keenly aware of the increase in diabolical schemes to prevent what the Lord’s doing prior to His Return.
Wanda’s stark warning wisely points to the course church leaders should now be taking to enable the Bride of Christ prepare for ruling and reigning with Him.
We are divided. We may all love God, hold fast to scriptural integrity, and have compassion for the lost, but we are still divided as the Church. But it’s not because of our theological bents or doctrinal differences. It’s because we’re being lied to, and many sincere believers are falling for the bait. The issues…
continue at WE ARE BEING LIED TO – ARE YOU WATCHING THE SPIRIT OR THE SCREEN? — wandaalger.me
Richard's Watch 