Special September #2 – a Kingdom 5th anniversary today

Five years ago this morning I awoke from a most unusual visit to central London. And that weekend’s events were to prove decisive in my starting this blog.

Two days earlier on Thursday 1st September 2011 the Revival Alliance, an apostolic team of leaders who’d been closely involved with the Toronto Outpouring and later events, met hundreds of other revivalist leaders for a long-weekend in Emmanuel Church in Marsham Street, Westminster.

Hand and puzzle pieces - Anusorn p Nachol

So now, five years later, I’m surprised to be reminded of it – but things of the Lord are no longer so unusual.  We could say He’s running a paper-chase and leaving a trail for us to follow and catch Him! However, more often than not so little effort is needed because He doesn’t scatter His data indiscriminately but drops them like pieces of a puzzle into our hands. We should, therefore, ‘grasp’ what they are and fit them into a vast, unseen jigsaw puzzle.

220px-Paul_Revere's_rideThe latest piece depicts Paul Revere’s historic ride before the opening battles in the American Revolution to alert citizens that troops of British king George III are about to attack (more here). Readers of my recent post on the spiritual link between UK and USA will have read at its close how a reminder of the event had unexpectedly cropped up.  Had I completed that post when I drafted it last week then I doubt this would have happened. That is, I could well have missed an insight into what happened back in 2011 and its relevance to what the Lord’s now doing in the UK.

Ruminating over and repeatedly blogging about the prophetic word Lydia Marrow brought two months ago yesterday, and its very personal connection with what Nina had seen at 11th June’s traditional royal ceremony, may have stirred my memory – but it’s far more likely the Lord engineered the timing to point to it as being special.

To return to the gathering five years ago, a few days later when writing to Christen Forster, who’d had a prophetic word relating to Ezra 4 about building the house of the Lord and thus desired to convene a meeting of the Revival Alliance in the UK, I learnt about other sources of inspiration at its inception meeting in November 2010. This extract from that meeting’s Report refers to Paul Revere’s ride:

Paul Revere Refc

Tim’s remark about that spreading of vision and creation of a network may be regarded not only as meaning RA-related events alone but, in my humble opinion, could also imply that digital networks be developed and expanded to inform and update Christians on prophetic and intercessory matters.

In this connection and for readers who may not have had opportunity to follow the links in that previous post, let me now relate what happened five years ago today, on Saturday 3rd September 2011. I had a most unusual dream as reported to Christen and to the leaders of Winchester Vineyard Church during their de-briefing meeting and emailed them, as later published in one of my earliest blogs (20 December 2011, as linked below):

‘YOUR KINGDOM COME

‘I’m in an open-plan, modern office environment overlooking a town centre. Upon glancing out of one side’s extensive windows I’m amazed to see a large white cube flying very low over nearby buildings! (It’s about the size of a Hercules transport plane.) Watching, I see a few more similar cubes follow and fan out in different directions.

‘Then I look from a different quarter’s aspect to see where they’re coming from and notice this view is from a much higher floor and over a different location! Then, a couple of cubes hover and discharge some cargo, which floats down to settle on the ground – rather as furniture vans deposit items outside a house.

‘However, I’m seeing into a room being set up, as though the building itself is invisible! A large wooden table and its several chairs are already there as white porcelain bathroom furnishings descend, but remain hanging in space!

‘In a flash I understand what’s happening and, without thinking, hear myself comment aloud, “They’re setting up The Kingdom!”

‘Someone else watching disparagingly quips, “Oh, that’s your perspective”.

‘Again I’m surprised by my immediate, unconscious retort, “I studied perception at Uni!” (ie. in physics and in psychology, and am thus making a well-informed comment.)

‘A sudden urgency comes upon me to dash home with this news. Jumping into a car I find my normal route out of the building diverted and a huge vehicle tries to collide with me. Dodging that I drive up a slip road onto a choked road but find this very basic car becomes seriously under-powered.

‘So I get out to walk yet find all hard paving has turned into lush green grass of wide-open meadows. The congested road’s gone and I’m sliding down a well-worn grass slide to then run, or move, much faster than I can really run across an extensive area. I head a few dozen feet above the land, as though in a glider, and some very large object or person rushes from the left to block my path. Totally unfazed, I deliberately collide into it and it smashes into oblivion without halting or affecting my movement.

‘On the nearby horizon an unusual low building looms into view but, as I approach this destination, the alarm clock goes off!!

‘An initial interpretation came with great excitement in view of several revival meetings this month. I believe the Lord gave the above heading for my note of this lucid dream.

‘All this needed weighing BUT I didn’t expect confirmation and more insights not only in connection with the Gathering itself but also with the prophetic word reported at the Gathering’s Inception Meeting in Nov 2010!…’

This continues with details of three subsequent days’ events, as revealed in Father Let Your Kingdom Come.  There, you will read why and how that dream’s location directly tied in with the RA gathering’s venue. It was only much later upon reading an account of the event that I received confirmation of my declaration “They’re setting up the Kingdom!” in its echoing the idea behind what Californian Bill Johnson offered there in London:

“We would look back at 1st September 2011 as the day things changed in the UK.”

David Edward Pike, a Welsh delegate, noted that Bill went to say it might take time for the impact of this day to be seen and felt across the nation, but gradually it would come. Chris Welch of Hampshire also noted him as saying,

“There’s something about September 1st. I believe you can write it down…‘Everything changed September 1st 2011’….understand that a Kingdom perspective sees the oak tree as an acorn…I feel like it’s a prophetic word over this country: September 1st everything’s different.”

Of course we need a spiritually-minded historian’s take on events, but we do have a few things to ponder over with the Lord in connection with current events…Bill’s reference to growth from an acorn is particularly relevant to Christian ministry too.

As a personal consequence, that first week of September 2011 marked the tipping point in my decision to start blogging because, as indicated in that dream, the news of increasing Kingdom developments needed to be broadcast far more widely – and in public – than by private circulation of emails to my inter-church friends and leaders.

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

Brexit – God’s mercy triumphs over judgement

Thank you to UK Prophetic Words for this from Stuart Wentworth published today. Its second part reminds me of the ‘ditch-digger’ youth team of 1990s across churches in Reading (one member of which had a vision of what’s happening there this year as blogged here):

BREXIT – MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT

1. In the week leading up to the 23rd June I had a strong sense of spiritual travail, I was aware of being in labour is about the only way to describe it.

2. Following the result on hearing the furore from the Remain side I had a strong sense that the Lord had come down and placed his feet on the UK, in particular the financial square mile of London to deal with a root issue in the nation, that of greed, love of money, covetousness (which is idolatry) and hedonism. What happened on the 24th June was that the voice of Great Britain went round the earth and shook every financial institution in the world. I believe this was a prophetic statement as to how the voice of the church in the UK will again be heard in the earth and will deal with spiritual principalities and powers.

3. In the aftermath, a few weeks ago in a worship time in a meeting in Southampton I had a ‘video vision’ in which I saw the UK just after WW2 and it was in light. I sensed I saw the Lord looking at the nation but turning away in sadness. He seemed to say ‘I have to go away, defend until I come’. As the video ran over the years the light over the Nation began to dim. There were occasions when it seemed that light had shone again, eg. 1950s Billy Graham crusades, 1960s and 1970s with the charismatic renewal, 1990s with Toronto, but the overall trend was always downwards with increasing darkness. As the darkness grew I began to see small lights appearing over the land which slowly increased especially in the last 25 years or so. These I understood to be people interceding and crying out for God to move. This included many who came from overseas lands who received the Gospel from this land and came to stand with the church in this nation.

What I sensed overall was that ‘under the radar’ the Lord has been preparing a remnant and digging ditches of relationship across the UK. I believe the intercessory prayer, the praise and worship has been ascending to heaven and filling the bowl and that this bowl has now been filled. What I understood was that we have passed through an ‘exile’ period of 70 years, this has been our judgement. We have thought it was something that was coming to us but we have been in it for this period. I believe this exile time has now finished and that the Lord has drawn a line and said ‘enough’, the bowl is full. Now he has turned his face towards us and now is the time as it were to return to re-build the altar and foundations as in Ezra. Mercy and grace have triumphed over judgement. This is for his Name’s sake not ours. He remembers his purposes for this nation and in particular he remembers those over the last 200 years who have left to proclaim the Gospel in other lands and many who laid down their lives for him.

As the church begins to recover I sense we will yet pass through a time of opposition because the nation will still be going downwards and the enemy will resist all attempts at recovery. But now God is on our side as our Father even if he still needs to bring correction to us as his children it will be in love so that we might share his holiness.

Stuart Wentworth, 6th August 2016

Veronika West on Sons and Daughters and the opening of ancient gates

Thank you to UK Prophetic Words for this received over the weekend and which was first published on Tuesday 9th August and may be read via this title:

YOU WILL BE A WONDROUS SIGN

This morning Papa whispered to me “Daughter, Signs of Wonder will begin to Arise”, immediately I saw the Sons and Daughters of God walking as living sign posts of His Glory and Wonder upon the Earth. They were hosts of His Power and Presence, they were carriers of Radical Hope and Restoration in the land, they were the “sent out ones”, trained and proved by Fire, unmovable in their Faith, fuelled and driven by Holy passion, their hearts were set ablaze with the Fires of Revival and Reformation. From their bellies flowed mighty rivers of living waters, and from their mouths went forth the two edged sword that was sharp, quick and penetrating. These were Holy light bearers, the powers of darkness fled at the very sight of them. Continue reading

On visions, maps, timing and God’s jigsaw of harvest of souls in New Britain

Hands Holding World by TwobeePrediction, prophetic words and visions are pieces of God’s invisible jigsaw puzzle. The spirit of wisdom taught Solomon ‘It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings’ (Prov 25:2).

Moreover, as mature sons and daughters of The King, His Holy Spirit may enable us to discern pieces and aspects of the immense invisible jigsaw He’s laying down – and it seems to be of the harvest foretold in scripture.

We need to consider some recent, related events first:

Yinka Oyekan’s vision of the coming harvest of souls in New Britain isn’t the only one to have been received by Christians. His, however, connects into a developing one that came to me before and after the EU Referendum.

Yinka posted on Facebook 4th August about angelic armies, areas being newly blessed and the harvest. The next day Veronika West brought A Now Word for the UK. which opens by referring to the ongoing spiritual battle that I’ve covered elsewhere, and then goes on,

‘Listen!…Listen! Heaven heralds new hope, new life and UNPRECEDENTED HARVEST IN THIS HOUR“! I see battle lines drawn in the spirit…’

I quote extracts from this magnificently heartening word but,  to gain a proper appreciation of the outcome, I strongly recommend your reading it in full from the above-titled link:

HARVEST FIELDS!

‘I wanted quickly share something with you all, this morning in my prayer time, I had a short vision, and in this vision I was shown what looked like a LARGE FIELD OF CORN, THE HARVEST LOOKED READY. AS I LOOKED UPON THE FIELD I COULD SEE WHAT APPEARED TO BE WARRING ANGELS STANDING IN THE FIELD, AS I LOOKED AT THEM, EACH ANGEL PERFECTLY AND STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED, SOME FACED THE EAST, SOME FACED THE WEST, SOME FACED THE SOUTH AND THE NORTH…

‘My interpretation the HARVEST IS READY, AND HELL IS NOT HAPPY!!! I submit Satan has assigned His demonic cohorts to the fields that are READY for Harvest. There is battle over the United Kingdom that is raging in the heavens in this hour for this ETERNAL HARVEST…’

Personally, this is exceptionally encouraging because the parable Jesus taught about the harvest in the ‘Gospel According to an Inland Revenue Tax-collector’ (see Matthew 13:) prompted my starting to write with ‘The End-game is Now in Play’. [If you’re new here you may like to check this out at 7th Anniversary of Writing, which gives a useful introduction to personal themes that sometimes pop up, as now: ‘God-incidents & Jigsaws’.]

NOW, get ready to find out how eight pieces of an invisible jigsaw came together:

Teamwork - prophetic pieces come together

Bringing prophetic pieces together

Lead-in to EU-Refendum 

The day I blogged about previous Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s prediction of popular opinion about the European Union along the lines what prophet Daniel foresaw (see Daniel chapter 7) we went to Winchester for an evening meeting of intercessors. Our friend Neil Mackereth, whose summary Stay or Leave? was one of the first of many blogs on the EU membership referendum, had mentioned that gathering and we thought it appropriate to attend.

That day I published Vision of Spiritual Battle for Britain’s Birthright in which Veronika West claims to have seen mighty warrior angels in a fierce battle and tug of war over the future destiny and sovereignty of the UK, wherein she saw:

“A Mighty Guardian Angel stood hundreds of feet tall and with eyes of blazing fire: he stood with a raised sword and shield which completely overshadowed the whole Nation of Britain”.

At the evening’s inter-church intercession a couple of folk brought scripture and prayers about our spiritual birthright. Towards the close I referred in passing to the vision of UK’s Guardian Angel but, at the very mention, a couple of sisters were affected so strongly in their spirits they immediately reacted physically. (Like when the Lord spoke to Nina during Trooping of the Colour and she saw the scrolling text: This is MY country!)

Winchester – 1st jigsaw piece

Other than with Neil and convener Caroline, I haven’t yet shared what I’d ‘seen’ throughout the meeting in Winchester Vineyard church. Here’s my email to her:

‘Whilst we stood in a rough circle I kept getting the impression of a huge outline of Britain hazily hovering a foot or so off the floor between us. It was as though we were standing as giants all around and looking down on Britain with our backs turned towards Europe and Scandinavia…

‘I was positioned by the ‘Isle of Wight’ and, after Neil read about Jesus telling Satan to get behind him, I was moved to declare that S in Europe get behind and away from Britain.

‘Also, I saw a huge tear through the ‘map’ and emerge over a larger area (ie North Downs to Scottish borders?) then when I saw a similar but very clear open vision 12 years ago  (https://richards-watch.org/2011/08/18/comments-on-sharon-stone-collapse-of-society/ refers)

This latest was a faint yet persistent, transparent outline of the English, Scottish and Welsh coastline. I noticed it was as though on a large map-table in a ‘situation’ or war-room and we could perhaps be engaged in strategic planning.

At the close of the meeting it suddenly ripped open, as though an immense and invisible tin-opener had pierced and prized open most of the land. I saw torn parts of metal curling upwards along the length of the country north of Salisbury Plain and across from Swindon area to west of London. The colour of the land that was ‘visible’ was an orange-sand all over – how peculiar, thought I.

Referendum Polling Day

In the late 1970’s ‘Sandra’ was blessed with a vision of Britain lighting up, similar to that of Jean Darnall but without knowing about her until later. The Lord directed ‘Sandra’ to keep praying since 2002 because “the tide has turned” and told her it would look as though He’s not answering prayers, “But I am, in my own time and in My own way”. On 23rd June she was able to observe remarkable events at a polling station and informs me:

“I watched God’s miracles unfold – incredible even though I’d prayed for this for many years. There was 80% turnout…queuing at the door before 7am determined to vote as soon as polls opened. All day they came, old people and 1st-time voters, and many in between. Some did not know how to vote but they were determined anyway. I know God would have influenced them in their choice. Some had great physical disabilities and could hardly walk or some had other impairments but they got themselves there somehow. There wasn’t any time for staff to take lunch. It was truly amazing. In the end, whether they acknowledge him or not, all people will serve their Creator. “Your Kingdom’s coming – Salvation Day – a time of breakthrough – the Lord is on His way. Only our God is strong to save. Only our God will save us.” Thank God that we will never completely know the horrors from which we have been saved had the country voted the other way. Thank God that He will, in time, help Europe too.”

All that’s especially so in view of polling day’s unusually heavy storms and flooding!

Peterborough – 2nd, 3rd & 4th jigsaw pieces

Shake the Nations Legacy Conference in Peterborough (covered briefly here) brought developments upon that Winchester vision. During the elevating, prolonged worship of the first evening I sensed a golden-yellow light radiating towards East Anglia and out over the North Sea. (The 2nd piece.)

Funnily enough it was directional and not a full circle – just like we see on radar screens depicting where the radar beam is sweeping. Again it was another map image.

A couple of worship sessions later I had a distinct impression of a map of the UK main-land and again it was like a bright orange sandy beach but this time it was all over, for the huge gap that I’d seen previously had disappeared! Furthermore, I saw a giant hand moving all around the land gently smoothing and patting it. Any signs of ‘cataclysmic’ tear across the nation had been folded back, repaired and healed and covered by what appeared to be a nation-wide field of colour void of any habitations or forestry. (The 3rd piece.)

Then I realised the entire land looks just like an immense field ripe for harvest: all the way from Lands’ End in Cornwall to John O’Groat’s at the top of Scotland and across from the Welsh peninsulars to the eastern coast abutting the North Sea!  It must surely signify all  Britain will soon be harvested for souls coming into the Kingdom of God – their personal salvation! Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord that His will will be done on earth – in Britain – as it is in heaven!

This new vision was soon to be confirmed. On the morning STN staff shared their vision for further global evangelism worship leader Lydia Marrow from Alabama suddenly burst into prophetic flow about many towns in the UK erupting with heavenly rivers – the 4th piece!  Also, she called for “Redcoats” (Yankee term for 18th Century British army) to come, which must relate somehow to what the Lord was indicating when Nina saw the Coldstream Guards marching down the Mall for Trooping The Colour. [UPDATE: video and transcript now available.]

aurora-uk_2192580k_Image credit Telegraph

I’d drafted most of the preceding paragraphs as soon as I could on Wednesday morning. As I was doing so yet more pieces to the jigsaw puzzle appeared via my PC. Whyever not?  Many times as I blog relevant email, news or songs have turned up ‘coincidentally’ . After all, the Lord taught me a deep lesson whilst building it (see And Now A PC Gospel?)

Angels in Peterborough – 5th & 6th jigsaw pieces

Now for an excellent example of the Lord’s timing, or ‘God-incidence’. Soon after I started writing about Winchester an email arrived from a couple with whom I’m only occasionally in touch. We’d met Peter and Rosamund D at the gathering of early 2012 mentioned in the post about the new PM’s mission fulfilling a 2005 prophecy (see Fulfilled Prophecies #9).  [‘Weirdly’ enough the distance to that venue in Torquay was another validation of my encounter with the Lord in 1989 as well as of prophecies for 2012, as recounted here.]

Their email is headed ‘Vision on 3rd August 2016 at Faith Camp Peterborough (!!) during the prophetic worship’ and is the 5th piece. It reads:

‘Immediately the prophetic worship started on Wednesday evening, I had an awesome vision.

‘My husband and I both heard a “creaking” sound!  The Lord said, “I have opened the ancient gates to the nation!”  Then I saw millions upon millions of warrior angels arrive through these ancient gates.  They were all dressed for battle and close together in formation.  Then I saw a great light, as the Lord Himself arrived.’

Immediately I stopped blogging and, in view of the 6th piece – a dream I’d had that very morning (Wednesday), I could confirm their vision and replied as follows:

‘Had an awesomely powerful dream that woke me up wide-awake. It was multi-level symbolism and conscious learning with continual and intense praying and prophesying in tongues for UK. In essence, I think it means the Lord is empowering intercessors…to declare and prophesy Godly changes into our leaders and situations, thereby taking our heavenly rulership so that His will will now be done on earth as it is in heaven; ie. for and in Britain. He even gave me an understanding of how His purpose for Britain inspired Henry VIII’s building a naval fleet, thereby preparing for our great maritime power in evangelising globally and building a Christian empire.
‘…the most powerful part was when I saw swing-doors/gates closing against what was coming from the heavenly realm YET the power from heaven continued to pour through mightily!!’

Peter replied, “We are encountering one divine set-up after another!”

Therefore, intercessors may want to note those principles of prophetic declarations. [For more see Mentoring Day parts 1 & 2 and Apostolic, Prophetic Decrees Over The UK.]

Prophetic Word from Oz – 7th jigsaw piece

Taking a break later that day I mulled over hard-copies of long prophetic words that I only have time for quickly scanning on-screen. One was Word for the Nations, including UK from Amanda Wells, now shown in Thursday’s post.

It confirmed that insight into Henry VIII’s fleet by Amanda’s referring to August trade winds having “enabled the European empire to expand into the Americas and trade routes to become established across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans…Historically trade routes were the avenue were the avenue where religion, trade and technology spread across regions…many became paths for great revivals also…”

The ‘Now Word’ for UK – 8th jigsaw piece

Today (Thursday) I decided to scroll through Veronika West’s site as my Facebook blog-page doesn’t get any automatic feeds from those I’m interested in. So I caught up with her post of 5th August, as above, wherein she describes seeing “A large field of corn – the harvest looked ready”, rather like the UK-wide golden ripe field in my third map vision described above.

All of this relates back to 2009 when I had to tell friends and church leaders about Matt 13 parable of wheat and tares and that I’d heard, “This is ALL about to be fulfilled!”

Conclusion

To those personal eight pieces we could add the original that ‘kick started’ them, the vision of a spiritual battle given to Veronika and that to Yinka of regional awakening and harvest.

Could our heavenly Father like doing jigsaw puzzles with us? Has He got a jigsaw box ‘Souls Harvest’ and does He want us to help Him solve it and put it all together?  Events and evidence suggest that’s what He’s got and would like us to do – so we thank and praise our Heavenly Father in revealing His plans to His sons and daughters.

Credits:
  • Thank you to my quoted contributors and for permission to quote
  • Hands Holding World by Twobee, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net
  • Teamwork by Franky242, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net
  • Aurora from International Space Station, courtesy Telegraph

Revealing the Sons of God

Thank you Mike for such a good reminder of a vital part of our following in Jesus’ footsteps. It is timely too in tandem with this morning’s dream that awoke me into being fully alert, because it was one of the most awesome and powerful dreams I’ve had since He rescued me from satan’s domain. And it enables me to confirm Mike’s remarks on heavenly realms per Galatians 4

Freedom ARC's avatarSons of Issachar

Mike Parsons

RevealingWe are all on a journey from slavery to sonship, and those two conditions are very different. Slavery breeds a poverty spirit, fear and lack of identity; sonship breeds faith, identity, resources and responsibility.

Empower a slave and it leads to rebellion, betrayal and treason, as with Israel in the wilderness. They were given freedom and responsibility, but they showed no loyalty to God or to Moses because they still had a mindset of slavery (see Exodus 15-17, 32, Numbers 21). On the other hand, restrict a son and it will hinder creativity. When someone knows who they are, God can inspire them to release their own creativity into His creation.

So we have to be careful not to empower people who don’t know who they are nor to restrict those who do. We need to put things in place which will help sons come into the…

View original post 1,111 more words

A vision over this new nation

In view of its importance, as well as confirming other visions, please see this posting from Yinka Oyekan’s facebook via UK Prophetic Words received today :

A Vision Over the Nation

As I drove into Liverpool to preach at Frontline the Lord gave me this revelation:….

“Have you not understood it is time for harvest and so I have placed Theresa in a position of prominence, her name means harvester and she will, for a time of reaping is at hand. It is my will and good pleasure to bless this land and so, get ready to reap. I am releasing an army of evangelists in the United Kingdom; can’t you see it? I will sweep though this land”.

I saw Liverpool rising from the ashes looking like a bride adorned. And I heard the Lord say, Continue reading

Britain and Brexit: a word on the why and wherefore – Awakening!

Thank you to UK Prophetic Words for this significant confirmatory word from Heidi Mitchell received today:

BRITAIN AND BREXIT

God’s been speaking to me a lot about Brexit, which I knew nothing about before I came to the UK. And He gave me a Word, He said

“This has been by My Sovereign hand that the vote went the way it did, I am safeguarding Britain for when Europe falls. Europe is being shaken, and will fall. It will fall, says God, but Britain has separated itself, and because of this vote, the UK will not fall. It will be like in the days when Joseph was in Egypt. Like Egypt was to the world, so Britain will become to the world in years to come. Once again Britain will become the Bread Basket to many countries, and a place of safety, and a place of provision. And it’s been an answer to the call of My Saints, who have prayed faithfully and said ‘Lord protect us and save us’.”

That’s why it happened. There were people who cried out and said Lord would you heal Britain, would you hear our cry, and He did. So even though it goes beyond some people’s understanding, God says He is safeguarding Britain through this vote. God is asking a people of faith to get behind this. Believe that He’s answered a cry of prayer. And even though it can’t be understood fully right now, God is going to show His great hand and what He’s done, and we’re going to thank Him and praise Him for this, because there’s a victory that has come out of this and is coming. He’s establishing Britain as a leader once again. He’s awakening the sleepers, the ones who’ve been asleep spiritually He’s awakening. The army is rising up, God is raising up His body in this nation, with power. (Emphasis RB)

Heidi Mitchell 29 July 2016

Puzzle - Jannoon028

UPDATE – see Japan Times Future of Globalism Stands at a Crossroads

Notes:
  • Along with email notification of this word this morning’s in-tray also included a couple from this blog of comments from Sally and Angela about sensing over the past few months that a ‘sleeping giant’ has woken up and is about to arise! (see Visions of New Britain’s Natural and Spiritual Revival – 1).
  • These are strongly reminiscent of a picture a friend shared at the 2012 Torquay conference referred to in the previous post. It is included in this blog’s Library and although not directly relevant to the EU Referendum it plainly speaks of the Lord’s action and plans directly associated with ‘Brexit’. Lyn F described it as follows:
  • “When in Cornwall had very strong  impression as if I was positioned at the south-west of Cornwall looking at the land mass of England, Scotland and Wales from the air.  In a moment I saw rising up from Scotland first, like the lid of a container with the hinge being at the extreme end of Cornwall, the “Body of Christ”.  Impressed that the ‘Body’ is everywhere and there are people ‘hidden’ who are so much part of it. I was then taken aback by the thought that it appeared to be like a sleeping giant rising up powerfully and suddenly.  The experience left me with hope and anticipation for what God would do in spite of how things appeared.” 
  • In this connection also see Tommy Hicks’ vision 1961.
  • See NEW Library collection: Prophecies of ‘Brexit’: the UK Leaving the EU.

[Image credit: Puzzle by Jannoon028, courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net]

‘God-incidental’ teaching on Holy Spirit’s anointing

Detail of cover to Ladies of Gold by James Maloney

ONE Saturday in mid-May the Lord inspired and enabled two people known to one another to teach, unbeknown to the other, upon His Glory and in such a way that encourages us to focus upon it personally and daily. This has since become very appropriate in view of the prophesied changes that are about to happen here. Continue reading

Fulfilled prophecy #8: part 3 – timing, purpose and outcome of Britain’s spiritual battle

Another piece of The Invisible Jigsaw is put into place

The prophecy in question is the one opening Part 1 (PM resigns in battle for Britain) and which is dated 2013 – BUT it’s just one portion of an ‘incredible prophecy’, as so titled by The Elijah List. And that was from just one prophet way beyond the far side of the ‘Pond’! Another prophet on this side was soon to receive specific timing of fulfillment from the Lord, as revealed below.

To recap, that portion of the first prophecy amazingly predicts changes – even falls – within governments; as happened here last month!

In Part 2 (Warning of fierce spiritual battle) we considered a new revelation upon our enemy’s strategy to block application of ‘EU-get-out-clause’ Article 50, as received by a prolific third prophet, Veronika West.

The three are undoubtedly the most profoundly pertinent prophecies it’s been my privilege to write about, and I’m sure you can grasp the enormity of the situation!

THE CLOCK KEPT TICKING

The material in Parts 1 and 2 kept buzzing around in my mind two weekends ago. But I needed to dig into some background upon the long-standing spiritual battle. In checking by ‘happen-chance’ earlier material on this blog I found a link no longer worked – but I didn’t have time to correct it. But I got nudged into doing so – and then it was as though the Lord handed me a jigsaw piece! And it’s one I immediately knew referred to what was politically happening that very day – Monday 11th July 2016. I was ‘God-smacked’!

And so I quoted that espied paragraph as the Part 1’s tantalising opening. In that first draft I’d started writing about the early background but then omitted it from publication in order to focus upon the startling part. I’d written the following:

chuckpierce[1]‘Prophetic groups and intercessors learned about a symbolic vision of swords in the sky seen over London by Chuck Pierce on 29th May 2005 (see page 2 here). He distinctly heard before the July 2005 bomb outrages on London Transport from the Lord about “A season of war”!

‘This spiritual warfare footing has continued and was referred to by Dr Sharon Stone when bringing a clarion call to England for 2014-16 not to miss the time of our Visitation. This would clearly include the present situation of leaving the EU and where Britain is heading…’

I was then going to dig into that 3-part post on Britain and quote Sharon’s prophecy on the present battle BUT got waylaid by breaking news about the new Prime Minister Mrs May being a strong supporter of Israel. So that got priority for my circulating the news by email.

Upon returning to my task with that missing link I was given the ‘jigsaw piece’ in a new link to that prophetic word Chuck Pierce brought. Although apparently about the USA it does, in fact, accurately describe the past month’s events in the UK (as told in Part 1).

As linked in this blog’s Library, the first part of the word came in June 2013, followed by more on 7th Sept 2013 – but its present relevance hit me on Monday 11th July 2016. It reads as below (emphases as original but text relating to 2016 shown red – click title for The Elijah List version):

Clock from 4Signposts

“Hear The Clock Ticking! You’ve Been Catapulted into the Three Years Ahead!”

‘I know that so many of you have enjoyed watching the webcast replays from our Head of the Year 5774. Below is some of the prophetic revelation that came forth during our gatherings. Let this be a time you are propelled into your future and press through every gate of destiny!

The Kingdoms of this Earth Are Becoming My Kingdoms!

“Hear the clock ticking, for I have now catapulted you into the three years ahead.

“This month [September], the dearest of My months, I am moving you against gates that have never been moved against before. I am causing these gates that have withstood you in the past to come loose and open in days ahead! Move strategically day-by-day and month-by-month until the gate that has held back your blessing opens up. If you will move now, within the next three years the land you find yourself in will be producing great treasures.

In the third year, the War of the Kingdoms will begin, and Kingdom will rise against kingdoms. The kingdoms of this world will also come into great conflict. I have a Kingdom that I am preparing. I will remember this Kingdom and the Seed and the Seed’s seed of this Kingdom. I have a Kingdom that will triumph!

Shout that the kingdoms of this earth are becoming My Kingdoms! Decree that the prisoners will be let go and they will come back to My house; this is a season when My altar will be filled! I’m going to open your eyes to those around you, and you’re going to say, ‘They’re of a different kingdom.’ And I will say to you, ‘They are Mine! Bring them in now!’

“Beyond the gates, I am opening up new highways. I am beginning a highway out of Egypt! I will redo the highway that you’re presently walking on.

“The demons that have been trafficking and even creating trafficking throughout the earth, I Am now going to un-nest their headquarters. That which the enemy meant to destroy through trafficking, I will raise up as an unstoppable army in the days ahead, for that generation will be My generation! I call you, ‘My Army that is Unstoppable!’ I call you, ‘My Kingdom Swarm,’ and you shall invade the kingdoms of the earth. You shall extract that which is needed and you will bring it into My Kingdom.

“I will surprise you with the leaders of nations. I have ways to cause leaders that have been promoted to bow their knees. You will think they’re going one way, but you watch Me knock the feet out from under them; you watch them see Me in a way they’ve never seen Me before! (The ‘jigsaw piece’ used in Part 1 – all emphasis mine.)

Make ‘favor’ with those that come onto your highway. Many of you will say, ‘But they have evil character.’ Just remember, I can cause every Pharaoh in this land and the lands that you’re a part of to favor you in days ahead!

“You’ll hear of shakings from north to west! You’ll hear that I have come from Alaska to Maine to shake. But know this: I will shake the center of this nation called the United States of America. I will cause that which has been hidden and controlling the forces of this land to shake down!

“A new baptism I’ll give you, and My very finger I will place in My people’s keeping. When you point your finger, demons will flee!

“In this year of honey, I will cause a new hunger to arise throughout the lands for My Word. And where you have known My Word in the past, you will taste and see My Word in a different way!”

NB: the ‘THIRD YEAR’, or ‘THREE YEARS LATER’, is 2016!  Therefore, let’s consider the more specific dating from the other prophet as given here in the UK:

PROPHETIC WORDS FOR 2014 – 2016

Note very carefully what Revd Dr Sharon Stone brought for Britain, which may seem to be an addendum to Chuck’s for she was expressing consensus of prophetical agreement. In closing her clarion call of early October 2013, Sharon continued hearing from the Lord:

Rev Dr Sharon Stone, courtesy CIE“Now God says the battles are going to be in Great Britain. Let me tell you why I believe its going to be here: where there are great battles there are great victories!

“So God’s not saying: I’m choosing you as a place of war, I’m choosing you as a place of conflict because I don’t like you – No! The Lord says,

“I’M CHOOSING YOU AS A PLACE FOR VICTORY SO THAT THE VICTORY WON HERE HAS AN ABILITY TO BE A VICTORY THAT AFFECTS OTHER NATIONS!”

“Do you hear this? Not just for England, or for Great Britain. So what God is doing is He’s setting up His own agenda that we might have a victory here that releases us to deliver other nations, and puts us back into a functioning position of where our true identity is.

“And we’re not talking about something that takes ten years to come to pass any more (as with other things), but we’re talking about the next two-and-a-half to three years! Those who have ears let them hear!”

[For complete transcript see Prophetic Words for 2014-2016 for UK and Ireland.]

That is, Sharon prophesied in October 2013 about serious issues during April to October THIS year – the latter month is when a decision upon activating Article 50 is expected!

Selah!

When transcribing Sharon’s message three years ago I wondered what may be coming and confronting us. Would it be the serious threat of terrorist attacks or/and the antichrist spirit that empowers humanism – especially its vanguard units within the European Union monster?

Her prediction’s timing is remarkable in clearly relating the ‘battle’ as being with the British government’s ‘project fear’ and deep hostility from others to the EU referendum’s result, and now the possibility of preventing Article 50’s application for leaving the EU.

Moreover, it’s yet another prophetic reason for affirming that Brexit is an ‘Act of God’, and one that seriously challenges established churches and clergy mindsets!

Therefore, let’s ponder afresh both prophetic statements in the light of recent events and praise the Lord in leading and sharing his plans with His servants the prophets…

[Hand Holding Puzzle Piece by Ponsulak, courtesy of Freedigital photos.net]

Encouraging ‘coincidental’ news on KP&B Days 1 and 2

It was most encouraging to receive the following email from friends in the coastal area of south Devon to Monday’s Keep Praying and Bless for Plymouth and area (followed by Exeter). I’m grateful for their permission to publish the following:

‘How amazing; I was just hearing that people from all over the world are coming to Plymouth in the expectation of something very special about to happen. Devon is rocking! A Devon Awake conference last week, and some significant prayer over Dartmoor last Thursday, in which we were involved, all led to a big shift in the spiritual atmosphere (and) there has been a significant reconciliation of people from different walks of Christian life in a spiritually significant place – who would have thought it!

‘The plans for the Mayflower anniversary in 2020 are really bringing the town alive, and a programme of regeneration is visible to all; Plymouth is firmly on the UK map as a great centre for business after many years in the doldrums; this is all verifiable and of course is the outworking of what is happening in the spiritual realms. I have contacts from one of the churches in Plymouth, but have heard the same stories from several local people …’

[Exactly two years ago I published a few posts about a celebration and prophetic words on Plymouth and its spiritual significance. It so happens that Yinka Oyekan of The Gate, Reading was a guest at last week’s Devon Awake (‘Five days of crying out to God for awakening’), as told in his and River Church Exeter’s Facebook entries for 13 July – my late father’s birthday!]

This email news is most welcome confirmation of my going out on a limb to commit myself to copy that daily prayer for 10 weeks in a busy schedule. At least its a relatively simple task of copy-pasting, a little editing and setting an auto-schedule for publication.

Dart QuayAfter that ‘drunken dream’, however, it seems the Lord wants me to do this. Having done so I then realised it fits in with an impression I had a couple of months ago of how the Lord may want me to take a new tack in blogging and using maps! That unusual dream’s scenario reminded me of the kiosks and buffet-station (although light-green in the dream) on the river Dart’s quay beside Dartmouth’s main square, as in my accompanying photo.

There’s hardly a dull moment when following the Living God and His Son Jesus Christ. Thank and praise you Lord…

What a week of prayer decrees and declarations!

Today’s decree, according to our progress through Keep Praying and Bless (outlined in UK/EU in/out #10: Prayer of Protection for Britain), brings a most appropriate decree and blessing to the first official day of New Britain’s new Prime Minister, Theresa May:

I AM THE RESTORER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS He prays to God and finds favour with Him, he sees God’s face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state.’ (Job 33:26)

“We decree, ‘God is the restorer of righteousness, justice and integrity to a nation!’

“We bless communities of the British Isles with being restored by God to righteousness, justice and integrity.”

Yesterday David Cameron tendered his resignation to the Queen, who then invited Mrs May to form a government. Our starting script for yesterday was wonderfully apposite in view of Nina having seen “This is MY country” during Trooping The Colour.:

I AM FATHER TO THESE ISLANDS – ‘You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.’ (Isaiah 63:16)

“We decree, ‘Lord, you are Father to these islands and that you are our Redeemer from everlasting!’

“We bless the church in the British Isles with knowing the unconditional, super-abundant love of God the Father, a love that never fails, that always honours, always forgives and always blesses.”

In using the original schedule for cleansing prayer throughout the Olympic flame’s country-wide tour in 2012, those above prayers were specifically for Ealing and for Haringey. The next two days are especially fitting. Perhaps you’d join in and ‘rubber-stamp’ AMEN?

Day 69 – Westminster (residents, workers and government):

I AM THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES – ‘Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Phil 2: 9-11)

“We decree ‘Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, and that His name is above every other name. At His name every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God. We decree that the government of the British Isles is on His shoulders’.”

“We bless the nations and islands of the British Isles with knowing and believing that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father, and we bless them with bowing the knee to the name of Jesus.”

Day 70 – The Olympic Park (we replace by ‘The City of London’):

I AM THE EXALTED HEAD OVER ALL ‘Yours, O LORD is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom O LORD and You are exalted as head over all.” (1 Chron 29:11)

“We decree that ‘You, O God, are the exalted head over all the British Isles and every nation of the world, that Yours is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty’.”.

“We bless the British Isles with knowing that Jesus is the exalted head over all, that He is Almighty God and that His is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty. We bless the people of the British Isles with the joy of knowing Jesus as their personal Saviour.”

Prayer of Protection:

uk

“Almighty Father, we come to You in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, and in that mighty Name we break the power of every strategy and assignment sent against the British Isles and Ireland – and against ourselves and…. We pray the mighty covering of the Living Blood of Jesus Christ over our villages, towns and cities; over our coastlands, seaports and airports; over our roadways, railways and waterways and traffic thereon – as well as over ourselves and….

“We ask that You release the angelic host to protect us from every terrorist attack and lift each citizen above every circumstance and crisis. We affirm the finished work of Christ over all demonic forces and decree: no weapon formed against the plans and purposes for the British Isles and Ireland will prosper. We also decree: no longer will violence be heard in our land, or destruction within or at our borders. We bless the atmosphere to be charged with peace and order.    Amen.” (Isaiah 54:17 & 60:18) 

Note:

Keep Praying and Bless prayer guide has been compiled by Caroline Anderson (The Well www.houseofglorynetwork.com), Jill Gower and Robbie Bain (Call to Prayer
http://www.call2prayer.co.uk)
Neighbourhood Prayer Network has adapted the guide for use in neighbourhoods with kind permission of Caroline Anderson, Jill Gower and Robbie Bain.
http://www.neighbourhoodprayer.net
It can be downloaded from these websites, and is also available in a format suitable for smartphones. To access this, point your smartphone browser at http://www.call2prayer.co.uk/mobileweb/op.html
There is no copyright so please feel free to copy and forward to others.
Please forward any testimonies you have to admin@call2prayer.co.uk

Putin crosses a line – bans Russians from preaching the Gospel outside churches. Here’s the latest.

This comes with today’s news of Russia becoming the first world power outside the Middle-East to recognise and take military action against the trans-national Islamist peril (Debkafile Russian anti-Isis war from Syria to Caucasus).

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

Putin-doorway-Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin has just crossed a very dangerous line. He has just signed a law making it illegal for Russian followers of Jesus Christ to share or preach the Gospel anywhere outside the walls of their church, or even email their family and friends to invite them to church. What’s more, he has done so under the guise of preventing “terrorism.”

As I have been warning for a decade (see here, here, hereand in my 2006 book, Epicenter), Putin — who is fashioning himself as a rising Czar — is an increasingly dangerous despot. He continues to centralize government power and control to himself. He is trampling over human rights, the media, and NGOs. He is rebuilding the Russian military. He has invaded neighboring Georgia and Ukraine. He is arming and building alliances with Radical Islamic countries, particularly Iran.

Now, Putin is positioning himself as an enemy of Christ and His Church. If he doesn’t not…

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Is Brexit an ‘Act of God’? Yes, but it challenges churches!

Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7 NKJV )

Prophetic cloud over Windsor 2011

Cloud seen over Windsor, June 2011. Credit: Alan May

“We now need to recognise the outcome as an act of God – but so much of the future now depends upon the Church’s response”. (Revd Dr Clifford Hill: Deliverance Day!)

A vicar in Liphook, East Hants, spoke about God moving in Reading and said someone who definitely wanted the UK to remain in the EU woke up Thursday morning and heard the Lord tell them to vote ‘Leave’!

Insurance companies class the uninsured perils of that day’s floods as an ‘act of God’. The previous day, Brietbart News predicted a major ‘Act of God’ storm would upset billionaire speculator, hedge-fund player George Soros’ closing play of scaring undecided voters into the ‘Remain’ camp (see Brexit: Soros Defeated by Act of God).

[UPDATE Feb 2018: Soros connivance continues with “secret plot to thwart Brexit” – see Fulfilled Prophecy #26 – Exposed: ‘coup’ threats against Brexit and Trump.]

As you know, that night saw an awesome turnabout. Pollsters were expecting ‘Remain’ to take a lead to victory throughout the night’s results. And so it seemed as the first result was declared and Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independent Party, conceded defeat. But a sudden and against-the-odds unexpected swing in the morning hours led to ‘Leave’ becoming the people’s decision. At over 17 million it was the largest majority ever seen in British electoral history.

As a leading politico-religious blogger remarks in Independence Day UK: Resurgence of Democracy; Restoration of Sovereignty:

‘The whole entrenched elite Establishment – Monarchy, Parliament, Government and Church – has been confronted by an epoch-making movement of ordinary people, including humble, devout and sincere Christians who have been tarnished with the whiff of sin and smeared with racism, all because they believe in democracy, national self-determination, and the ability to sack those who make their laws’.

Credit: Ton Snoei – link to Prophecy Today UK editorial

So what’s a secular, democratic decision got to do with God??  Readers of this blog will know the essential political points as well as spiritual and prophetical case for getting out of the EU, as listed in ‘EU In God’s Face’ (re-titled EU & Brexit).

However, as an intercessor friend witnessed at a weekend event, many churchgoers are very confused over the whole EU-issue and our future!  It begs many questions, the main one: why are church leaders woefully ignorant of the essentials?

Probably the main reason is that most of us are focused upon God’s Kingdom and prefer not to consider – even disdain – earthy politics and its distasteful reputation.

Nevertheless, the turmoil of this deeply divisive referendum presents church leaders not only with an opportunity for ministry and evangelism, but also and especially in the major challenge of why didn’t THEY know the Lord’s heart on this matter!!

For example, Anglican archbishops and theologians stood on and then fell off the wrong side of the fence. Justin Welby is reputed to have said he doesn’t have a direct line to God – why not?  Ordinary believers can and do hear clearly from our Lord, so why doesn’t he? – especially upon such an important issue!

The fact that many gave a clear prophetic direction of proven accuracy for the nation must now provoke leaders and members of all churches to start taking prophetic gifting far more seriously than before. Also, the office of prophet needs to be recognised and re-stored, as well as the extensive teaching, encouraging and manifesting Holy Spirit’s many gifts for the benefit of those not yet saved.

Churches should, therefore, now move powerfully in evangelism by telling how God told His servants a ‘taster’ preview of the EU-Referendum’s outcome – His purpose being to bring millions into the salvation HE purchased for them in His own Son’s blood. That is, it demonstrates God is real and loves them immensely, not wanting any to perish.

Prophetic Words Supportive of ‘Brexit’

So, let’s refresh our minds with a sample of prophetic words supporting ‘Brexit’ as an act of God; that He’s behind, directing and changing our alliance with Europe.:

  • 2005 Vision of Great Britain – Wendy Alec: extensive foliage and deep roots from Brussels overshadow, extract and erode faith and shackle people to ungodliness. The Lord wants us to restore our glorious destiny and awaken the lion’s heart.
  • 2012 Significance of Hurricane Sandy – Dr Sharon Stone: The Lord says,“Parts of these winds that are blowing, part of these winds that are bringing a re-arranging, are blowing away what has confused nations of their identity. We’re not the only nation that has been in an identity crisis. I believe that many of our nations have had skewed identity and the Lord is saying; I will bring you out of what you have designed by your own thinking and by your own hands – listen to that! – that I may redesign it by My thoughts and My plans”. (Emphases added)
  • Nov 2015 Prophetic Warning Urges “Come Out”  David Noakes
  • Dec 2015 Nations Shall Be Shaken, But Kingdoms Jolted – John Kilpatrick: the Lord admonished him not to exclude the latter half, because he “will see” it happen!
  • April 2016 Prophetic word & Picture of Britannia – Ray & Ruth Scorey: “Leave! Why? Because of the advance of the spirit of antichrist in the European union and…
  • June: Prophecies for UK’s Critical Time – ‘This is MY country’, The Lion Free to Roar, ‘Hang Him on It’.
  • June: Vision of Battle for Britain’s Birthright –  Veronika West, with many other prophetic visions and words of encouragements, especially The Violent Take the Kingdom by Force on voting day 23 June.
  • June: ‘Declaration of outcome in heaven’ plus words and visions to the network of Prophetic Releasers for UK Revival and Winchester intercessors; eg. here – here.
  • 21st June – ‘We felt the Lord powerfully upon us as I sensed Him say, “Thursday will be a NEW DAY for Great Britain”…’ – Ginny Cryer, Culture Changers.
  • [See fuller listing Prophecies on Brexit; attendee’s Polling Day observations here.]

In arguing my case for Brexit as ‘an act of God’, I’d also submit on the other hand that the exceptional opposition to the surprising turn of events comes from exposing and unseating of satanic strategies against people. In other words, we always know we’re on-track with the Lord and rattling satan’s cage when we’re met with an intensely severe reaction!

The history of lies and deception and post-Referendum sheer hatred, expose satan’s hand in stirring up deep, irrational and venomous opposition – even from clergymen, as blogger ‘Archbishop Cranmer’ encountered. (‘Never in a decade of blogging has so much bile and vomit been spewed in this direction…’!! – this post refers and even in Jan 2017, as here!)

Therefore, let us praise, exalt and glorify our Father, Son and Holy Spirit as He moves in subtle and open power across our nations here and beyond the English Channel.

Lastly, I didn’t look until now at the startling prophetic word received in 2012 by Dr Stone about an exceptionally violent hurricane. It’s surprisingly apt; especially in revealing not only the Lord’s intimate involvement in today’s upheavals but also His redesigning and remaking our national identity – a New Britain!

Furthermore, you may like to read about two amazing prophecies given 3 years ago which predict the timing, purpose and outcome of Britain’s politico-spiritual battle in 2016!

Further Reading

See Brexit, the Bible and Democracy: the Judgement of God is the Voice of the People for a thought-provoking scriptural perspective by Adrian Hilton.

PS – latest: Anglican Clergy Foment Hate Against Brexit Christians -clearly they reject outright Jesus’ command not to judge and thus not in the Kingdom of God. A fulfillment of Separation of the Bride and the Harlot (1993 prophecy of sifting the church!). 

Study finds 10 million Muslims have become followers of Christ since 1960.

Praise the Lord for what He’s doing. (This study shows numbers saved has tripled since I heard about ‘the fall of Islam’ in 1992.)

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

MBBs-graphic-Johnstone

(Washington, D.C.) — An unprecedented spiritual revolution is underway in the Islamic world.

From 1960 to 2010, the number of Muslims who have converted away from Islam and become true followers of Jesus Christ has skyrocketed, from fewer than 200,000 to some 10 million people. Amidst persecution and even genocide, the Church in the Middle East is growing in ways never seen in fourteen centuries of Islam. And there is now scholarly documentation backing up these numbers.

Yesterday, I had the honor of addressing the pastors at the “Watchmen on the Wall” conference organized by the Family Research Council. Tony Perkins, president of FRC, asked me to brief the gathering on the latest on the persecuted Church in the Middle East and it was my joy to do so — especially to share this exciting news.

Here are notes I used for my presentation. You’ll find details regarding the soaring number of Muslim conversions under point…

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Monday newsmix: UK re-awakening and more Muslims looking to Jesus

Hand with News icon - WatcharakunAfter a short break on the coast followed by a weekend course on living in Holy Spirit’s anointing, I trawled through my in-tray and was very pleased with the following good news. Both items are related to visionary and prophetical words, the first comes from our county town, and the second from the wider Middle-East.

Can These Bones Live?

Dr Clifford Hill reacts as follows to what happened during the Pentecost celebrations:

“If anyone thought that Christianity was dying in the traditional churches of Britain, what happened in Winchester Cathedral last week would have shattered their illusions!”

He reports the ancient, hallowed building and grounds were packed out at that evening’s celebration. This was the culmination of nine days of prayer events for the evangelisation of Britain, as invited by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. The Pentecost weekend itself culminated in six ‘Beacon events’ with video links to Canterbury Cathedral where the Archbishop, Justin Welby, gave a message based upon the Lord’s prayer, which he said was “reassuring enough to be on the lips of the dying and yet dangerous enough to be banned in cinemas!”

Read Clifford’s full report here, which closes with his asking,

“Was this a sign that something special is beginning to happen in the old denominational churches? Will the spiritual life of the nation be transformed by a new generation embracing the gospel in their own culture as the Holy Spirit breathes new life into the unchanging message of salvation and “Jesus is Lord!” is once again heard on the lips of children and young people?”

In my humble opinion, “Yes it is a sign” and my initial thought was of the prophetic promise heard at Ffald-y-Brenin retreat centre, as blogged two years ago in Resurrection Coming to the Anglican Church.:

‘The usual morning liturgical prayer time got overshadowed by the Lord, who reminded them of the raising of Lazarus. They were told He’s going to call the Anglican Church out of its grave and bring it back to life!’

Of all the words published in this blog this may be exceptional because it was the first to be severely criticised, as related in this post about our later visit to Ffald-y-Brenin.  Also, this latest event reflects what others have observed of an increasing number returning to the Anglican fold and other churches – yet without denominational divisions as in bygone eras. And, of course, readers of this blog are aware of many prophetic words about a new era in the Church and move of God in the UK; eg, brought by Heidi Baker (with updates).

Intense Persecution Brings Harvest of Muslims

The exciting news continues of many Muslims seriously doubting their faith and looking and turning to Jesus in reaction to it being returned to its original barbaric practices. As blogged about Iran and a significant warning in Mecca (here and here respectively), as well as other posts, this is personally encouraging in view of a vision I had in 1992 on the fall of Islam (see this email).

Another morning email Is There Any Good News From the Mid-East? alerted me to Joel Rosenberg’s latest post, in which his friend Tom Doyle answers,

“Yes, despite intense prosecution we’re also seeing a great harvest of Muslims turning to Christ.”

After providing several wonderful examples, especially of those martyred on a beach in Libya to the shock of the world, Tom asks why is it that Muslims are now coming to faith in Christ in significant numbers? His answer:

One of the reasons is that Islamic terrorists are killing violently for their faith, while followers of Jesus are dying peacefully for their faith. Muslims are watching the violence and it has soured them towards their religion. It has also opened them up to the possibility that there may be something to this Jesus after all. They see hate in Radical Islam and love among the Jesus followers, even as they are taken to be executed. What a contrast.

“Yes, Christians are being persecuted openly in the Middle East. But they are standing strong, and this has served to spread the gospel even more rapidly. In a world of bad news, that is very good news.”

Indeed it is. And as noted in Good News: Christian Revival in N Africa, the Cartheginian early Church author Tertullian observed the same and formulated the famous dictum:

“The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

[Credit: Hand Pressing News Icon by Watcharakun, courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net]

Salvation comes to Hindu and Muslim

As well as circulating email news to church leaders of ‘An Awakening Season’, as in the previous post, Michael Marcel also separately reported how salvation came to two people of other faiths.:

Testimony (email 29th April)
A Hindu woman was walking in Leicester last week. She had struggled with depression for a long time and she saw in a vision a man dressed in white walk up to her and say, “Go to the house on your street with number 2 on it and a woman there will tell you how to restore your heavy heart”.
She went straight home, walked down her street to house number 2 and a Christian lady who has been saved out of the Hindu faith answered the door bell. She told this woman the vision of the man in white, and the lady promptly shared the gospel and prayed for her. She was saved and healed and came to church the following day! She is now sharing her new-found faith with her family; all of them have seen that she is no longer depressed and want to know what happened.
 
God is definitely on the move in this nation!
Another Testimony (email 1st May)
A Muslim man in Leicester had a dream; in the dream he saw a man dressed in white standing next to a cross, the man in white told him to go to the clock tower tomorrow at 12pm and a man who (will be) standing there will tell you what you must do.

The next day he went to town and found a street preacher at the clock tower, he told the preacher his dream and was then saved as a result. The same night this Muslim man had a dream that his sister in the Middle-East had a similar dream, except she was told to call her brother in the evening, On phoning her brother told her what had happened and shared the gospel and she was saved!

Thank and praise you Lord for what you are doing in bringing not-yet-believers into the Kingdom.

The foundational reason for Unity across the Church

Apostle Paul instructs us:

‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
‘I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience and forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’
There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all’ (Ephesians 3:20-4:6)

Lindell_CooleyLast Sunday Lyndell Cooley taught on being one body in Christ and how the above verses are foundational, as well as critical for the future of the Church. Writing from prison, Paul teaches believers how to be real, radical and risky – even dangerous – in our beliefs and the kind of character needed to stand together and to confront the world and persecution.

“IF your Christianity is NOT dangerous you may want to check and see if it really is Christianity!

“If it’s SAFE, it’s probably NOT Christianity, because Christianity IS dangerous!

“Isn’t it amazing that the church is scared to death of the danger we’re facing, which is NORMAL to Christianity – because we’ve become so comfortable (as Americans) being accepted…but the scripture is full of people who live dangerously…”

Lindell then quotes Jesus’ warning at Luke 21:12 of what will happen to His followers. They’ll be taken before courts and rulers for “My Name’s sake – It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.”  So Lindell adds, “You can go to church for 30 years and keep your mouth shut but risky Christianity means you say something!”

He likens the power behind Paul’s words to that we feel upon reading people like Richard Wurmbrand, Lutheran pastor jailed for years by Communists in Romania and founder of Voice of the Martyrs radio. He tells of a paraplegic ex-muslim confined to a wheelchair but imprisoned in Lahore Pakistan for converting to Christianity. When asked how he felt about the possibility of execution, he replied

“If I’m hanged for the Name of Christ, I will kiss my rope but never deny my faith!”

“That kind of talk in prison”, continues Lindell, “Is like a stiff, wakening winter wind in the face of our drowsy, television, internet-soaked, self-pitying kind of Christianity!

“It makes us wake up and get dressed for spiritual winter battle – and that’s what Paul wanted us to have. He wanted us to be awake like that! He pleads us to, number one, preserve the unity of the Spirit…”

Lindell briefly addresses live-streaming online members of Church of His Presence at 1:03:00 on this archived video. That’s where you too can get an overview of his important, deeply rousing and encouraging message on being One Body in Christ and what that means to tell the nations about Jesus. The message in full begins at 1:10:20 and closes with Lindell leading worship.

Be mightily blessed as you read and watch…

Visit Lindell Cooley Ministries Facebook.

What is “The Gospel of The Kingdom”? (Matthew 4)

Interesting that Richard, too, is focusing upon meaning and timing of the Kingdom’s recognised presence on earth – I’ve sometimes heard of this preachers’ perplexity: “Kingdom Now but not yet!” His conclusion points to what some prophetic folk are hearing and declaring. (Also see What is the “Gospel of the Kingdom”? by Nelson Walters.)

Blog anniversary: ‘The Fellowship of the Secret’

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Funny the way things go but I didn’t realise ’til yesterday, when I started blogging more on the current theme, that a year ago today I introduced ‘The Fellowship of the Secret’, an e-book by my namesake Richard Barker.

Even ‘funnier’ are the facts I’m uncovering whilst trying to continue from what I’d jotted as of last night.  I was researching scripture and drafting a post to continue and conclude my current thoughts on the Kingdom, especially about the ‘mysteries’ Apostle Paul mentions. I’d previously checked last year’s piece and found the link to Richard’s book is no longer valid. Upon updating it yesterday I found his blog Fellowship of the Secret and decided to ‘follow’.

NOW, it’s getting much ‘funnier’ – even startlingly weird and very uncanny!…(and my email provider’s playing up and not failing to connect and download! So something’s afoot).:

Fellow WordPress bloggers are familiar with our administrative screen’s options of using either ‘My Site’ or ‘Reader’, which displays the latest posts of blogs we follow on WP.

For some purposeless reason I don’t recall, soon after starting this blog I went back into an open tab and opened up Reader – LO and behold, right at the top is one from Richard timed about the same time I started this post – UTTERLY EXTRAORDINARY. It reads:

‘The Fellowship of The Secret – Introductory Essay

‘Having completed my series of posts in which I have been commenting on Old Testament passages that particularly came to my attention during the writing of my book, I have composed an essay which will replace the preface in earlier editions of the e-book and the paperback version.

‘It sets out the background to the later edition and provides more insight into what I believe the process I am involved with is leading to. It will either whet your appetite for the book (e-version now free) or put you off entirely, since it challenges virtually everyone to review their current understanding of the Apostle Paul’s writings and that of their tradition.’ (emphasis added)

To read the latest from Richard click/tap Update for Revised Edition.

Finding it far from easy to think, because I’m ‘God-smacked at nature of this ‘coincidence’! The sheer serendipity demonstrates the LORD’s HAND MUST SURELY BE IN THIS – and is perhaps answering reservations and questions over what I propose writing on the ‘mysteries’ and recent posts. IN FACT, I extracted references on Richard’s book for this post from yesterday’s draft because the book seems especially significant at this time and needs announcing once again!

So, I’m SO stunned and left feeling sluggish with heavy limbs, like when Holy Spirit falls! Have had to take a break and share with Nina and visiting friend.

MOREOVER, a year ago my coverage of Richard’s book was surrounded with several God-incidents, as in God-incidents Validate Cycles… and Surprising Endorsement of ‘The Fellowship of the Secret’. The first introduces my namesake in some depth and then describes ‘The Fellowship of the Secret’ as follows:

‘(Richard) describes it as identifying, “the key that unlocks an age-enduring  mystery surrounding the apparent disconnection between OT prophecy and the out-working of the Church/Gospel age.” 

‘This claim, however, is not so new or surprising to those who study prophetic scripture outside the confines of the Catholic or Reformed churches, especially in view of the latter’s wide consensus on the cessation of Holy Spirit’s activity after the 1st Century.

‘In the overview of his e-book Richard focuses upon Paul’s statement in Ephesians 3:8-11 about his personal revelations. I especially appreciate this conclusion regarding the mutual failure in Jews and early Christians to understand one another:

“…Christendom’s part pertains to a failure to grasp the “the fellowship of the secret” – its implications to broader providence and God’s as yet unfulfilled terrestrial promises to the nation He first chose for Himself.”

‘Dipping into the extracts Richard’s put online, I like his hammering home on what the Church has lost and missed, and especially note the following from the first chapter ‘The Hidden Dispensation’ of ‘The Fellowship of the Secret’:

“The New Testament “elephant in the room”: the biblically unexplained and largely undebated non-fulfilment (or subversion) of scriptural prophecy regarding the terrestrial and political aspects of the Jewish apocalypse pertains to a secret disclosure, revealed to and through Paul of which I was previously unaware but now realise is the key to understanding Old Testament prophecy…”

‘Preceding that section Richard’s remarks are of direct relevance to recent posts on this blog about keys to and unsealing of the Book of Daniel, with emphasis added:

“In the religious sphere an on-going learning curve has been guaranteed through the intentionally cryptic profundity of Holy Scripture that was never intended to be entirely unravelled until the end of the age, for it contains at least one significant mystery (or secret) that was not to be disclosed until such a time (Dan 12:1-4 & 7; Rev 10:4,7)…”

‘I suspect that those who love to sink their teeth into a theological treatise topped by a prophetical icing will gain by reading my namesake’s e-book – especially in broadening  our own understanding of End-times. I certainly will.’

WOW!

What is the Lord saying to us and about to reveal? I suspect it may be quite startling and take the Church into greater depths of intimacy and of revelation upon re-instating its full nature and purpose. After writing this I note Richard’s remark in the first paragraph of his Update (emphasis mine):

‘A more serious consideration reflected on during the Christmas/New Year period (2015/16) is that whatever anyone else may currently think I perceive myself to be involved in a sacred task – to make known to as many Christians who will receive it, what I understand to be God’s intentions for the currently scattered assemblies of Jesus-followers in view of what (I merely surmise) He intends to bring about within our generation (cf. Acts3:21 Greek). So in effect, the book is an expansive “prophetic insight” in which its author came within a matter of a few days to a quite new understanding of certain biblical passages and events within Church history…’

We’re getting closer to the prophesied return of the Lord. Watch out world!

Unity across churches manifests God’s Kingdom

Puzzle Globe and Book by ThanunkornHere I share more insights gained since Holy Week, citing an example to prove this post’s title and looking at early church history. First, listen to Jesus in prayer:

“Father, I pray for those who will believe in Me..that they may all be one, as You Father are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent me.” (John 17:20-21 NKJV – emphasis added)

Is Jesus’ prayer about to be fully answered at long, long last? Especially for the sake of saving lost souls?

Sixty years ago many Christian denominations had scant tolerance for one another, even though a large percentage of Britons attended church regularly or, if not, would at least go for Easter and Christmas. Those who didn’t were religiously well-informed – unlike today’s spiritually unwashed masses who are religious illiterates! As a youngster I was subject to some most unexpected personal animosity between Protestants and Catholics – despite their claiming to believe in the same God!

Thus, disunity was one reason for my rejecting Churchianity and seeking truth beyond science and religion in metaphysics and mysticism (the Eastern and New Age variety).

As well as ignoring Jesus’ expressed desire for unity and command to love one another, believers weren’t doing what Jesus did – and more – as He foretold:

“Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12 NKJV)

History demonstrates churches across the East and West hadn’t complied with Jesus’ desire. Moreover, it seems God didn’t answer His Son’s deep prayer request!  Mankind’s free-will and Satan’s steering were determined to prevent its fulfillment at all costs.

Heavenly Father can ensure Jesus’ prayer gets met. No doubt He’s waiting for the right time and conditions for inspiring believers who are responsive to His Spirit; rather than to make them comply. He didn’t create robotic automatons. First, however, we need to want and allow Holy Spirit into our lives rather than deny, quench or grieve His gracious ways.

Re-born Into Christ

Consequently, it was an extremely pleasant surprise to find after being born again in 1989-90 those antagonisms had disappeared. When I was baptised in Holy Spirit in 1992 I saw Jesus healing people and so I wanted to associate with the group who’d organised that day’s event. That Circle of Prayer for Healing in the mid-Thames Valley was a mixture of Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists and independents – and all charismatics!

Thus, spiritual unity of that small group enabled Holy Spirit to flow in power and manifest the presence of the Kingdom of God – praise You Lord. Hopefully we may expect a much larger manifestation now we’re 25 years further down the road…

An increasing emphasis from those with prophetical voices and gifting is indicating Holy Spirit wants to inspire, infuse and direct our hearts and minds with Jesus’ love for fellow Christians, and to express that as a Unity of spirit and action – so the world no longer sees believers as squabbling hypocrites and realise who Jesus is and that we really do have the answers they’re desperately needing and seeking spiritually.

Hence my enthusiasm towards unity in belief and action (with the caveat of obedience to Jesus’ instructions) throughout Christendom  – no doubt the intensification of secular and terrorist persecution is drawing us out of our shells and making us stand up!

So, let’s remind ourselves of recent ‘God-incidents’ focusing on Unity (as here and here).:

  • Extraordinary vision: “I watched as these fiery, burning and anointed ones moved together in PERFECT UNITY”.
  • Revelation from the Lord about angels of Revival being released and that “The body of Christ is coming alive in Jesus, in purity, in life, in love, in UNITY”.
  • Obedient response to: “The Rhema Word God has had for me the past few months is UNITY”.
  • Writing a new book for which “The major outcome theme…is Unity”.
  • Three years’ preparation for church-wide act of unity across the UK.

The details of the last from Malcolm Duncan warrant brief re-iteration:

Revd Malcolm Duncan“I lead Spring Harvest and for three years I have been working on an act of unity across the United Kingdom that will see all…evangelical bible conventions and celebrations declaring that, whatever our theological differences are, we are one in Christ Jesus. It is going to involve 130,000 Christians from March (Spring Harvest) through to October next year with the Festival of Life…perhaps the biggest demonstration of Christian unity that we have seen in the evangelical church in the United Kingdom for almost two hundred years – and they’ve all said “Yes” – there’s the miracle! They’re all on board, and I am sure the Bible says,

“Where the brethren dwell together in unity, the Lord commands a blessing.”

Seventeen months ago Heidi Baker brought a word about ‘A New Move of God in the UK’  which prophesied about Unity as follows (underlining added):

Heidi at CTF Wembley“…There’s going to be a movement of unity in the UK that’s going to shake the world, says the Lord. I hear the prophetic word of the Lord. It’s going to flow through the universities and the colleges of the universities. It’s going to flow through denomination and the non-denominations. There’s going to be a move of unity within the Body of Christ.

“You’re going to fill Wembley Stadium. You’re going to fill stadiums, stadiums, with worshippers of the living God. And there’s going to be this holy affection where people come before the Lord. They’re not going to even know who’s speaking in the stadium, they’re not going to even know the name of the preachers, because they’re coming fixing their eyes on Jesus. It’s going to shake the nation, says the Lord.

“There’s going to be a unity even between Scotland and Ireland and the UK, that’s going to SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE. There’s going to be a shaking that’s going to bring a unity, says the Lord. There’s going to be something that the people of other faiths are going to see in this nation, as believers come together in radical love…”

Amen to all the above.

The Early Church on Jesus and Unity

My meditations have been based upon Apostle John’s understanding and revelations of the glory and nature of His dearly beloved rabbi, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This meant musing upon, seeking the Lord and researching into what the disciples may have learned after the Resurrection; ‘To whom’, the physician and chronicler Dr Luke records that Jesus, ‘also presented Himself alive after His sufferings by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and (His) speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.’ (Acts 1:3 NKJV)

[THUS, after that privileged private teaching they logically concluded the Kingdom was going to be restored to Israel. That’s clearly the Lord’s action plan – they just wanted to know when to expect its execution. Had that not been a legitimate request they’d have been rebuked. But Jesus told them that’s not their – OR His – concern because it’s The Father’s prerogative! Jesus had another plan for them: transmitting the Gospel with all the consequential signs and wonders: ie. fulfillment of John 14:12 – see Acts1:6-8.]

MBarkerWebPhotoScriptural meditations encouraged me to re-read The Hidden Tradition of the Kingdom of God – an exceptionally informative book by the Methodist Bible scholar Margaret Barker, whose Doctorate in Divinity was conferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury, ‘in recognition of her work on the Jerusalem Temple and the origins of Christian Liturgy’.  (It is designated, ‘Temple Theology’.)

Dr Barker’s significant new contribution to the understanding of the New Testament opened up important fields for research.

In checking out her website I found the paper ‘Jesus the Nazorean’ most illuminating and confirming my thoughts on Paul’s many references to the ‘mysteries’ of God. On page 9 therein lies a useful insight into our consideration of Unity in the Lord (emphases mine):

“Theodotus, the second century teacher whose work survives only as quotations in Clement of Alexandria, was condemned by later generations as a Gnostic. He taught about Jesus’ role in restoring the unity, just as John’s Jesus did in his final prayer after the last supper. This is what Theodotus said:
They say that our angels were put forth as a unity and are One in that they came out from the One.
Now since we existed in separation, Jesus was baptised that the undivided should be divided until he should unite us with them in the Fullness, that we, the many, having become one, might be mingled with the One which was divided for our sakes.’

“And this is what John’s Jesus said:
”[I pray] that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may also be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me”. (John 17.21)
Restoring the unity was a sign of divinity. But John’s Jesus also brought judgement: ‘[The Father] has given all judgement to the Son’ (John 5.22).

“Theodotus is not telling us anything different from what Paul said in his message to the
Ephesians:
’For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth’ (Eph.1.9-10).

“So too in his letter to the Colossians, Paul said that Christ holds all things together (Col.1.17).

“The secret of the kingdom was the secret of unity, restoring all things to their unity with God, and so Paul saw the future as the Son of God bringing all things into the kingdom – he called it subduing all things, the judgement – ‘that God may be all in all’ (1 Cor.15.28).”

Therefore, in my humble opinion, this information is well-worth mulling over. I’m especially pleased Dr Barker refers to and stresses Ephesians 1:9 (see my covering intro to God’s Eternal Purpose – and reference to Unity therein). This reinforces my interest in what Paul knew by personal revelation from Jesus Himself, as well as gained when he was caught up into heaven.

Thank you Lord that Your Spirit of Wisdom and of Revelation brings knowledge of You (Eph 1:17).

Footnote:

In discussion with a leader at a local church we visited recently I queried his opinion upon the source of Paul’s knowledge of the Last Supper and the Resurrection. He was keenly recommending a new devotional book, 40 Days With Jesus by Dave Smith of New Frontiers church. In considering the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection, the leader echoed Smith’s citing ‘compelling evidence from 1 Corinthians 15 (as) important because not only was it…written early [in 55AD] but (also) Paul’s evidence would have come from meetings with the other apostles that took place only a few years after the resurrection itself’.

This book’s a useful adjunct to my meditations, but the above remark may be playing fast and loose with scriptural data!!

Paul’s letter to the Galatians may be dated 6 years earlier, depending upon which of two groups he was addressing, or else contemporary with that sent to the church in Corinth. In stating how he changed from being a severe persecutor of believers to becoming an on-fire believer and preacher, Paul writes (Gal 1:15-16 NKJV):

“When it pleased God…to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus.”

In about 62 AD, Dr Luke completed his careful investigations of early church history. He wrote, ‘In his account to King Agrippa Paul states, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision but declared first to those in Damascus…(to) repent, turn to God and do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:19-20). Earlier, in recording post-conversion events of Paul in that city, where Paul regained his sight through Ananias, Luke states ‘Then Saul spent some days with the disciples in Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in synagogues…’ (Acts 9:19-20).

Therefore, if Saul didn’t receive full revelation personally about the Last Supper and the Resurrection whilst blind, then wouldn’t he have got the basics from Ananias’ group?

Further reading:

[Credit: ‘Puzzle Globe and Book’ by Thanunkorn, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net ]