Category Archives: Personal

FINAL tranche out to subscribers

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Am hoping to finish the final tranche of email uploads today and get back to blogging. So thank you once again for putting up with so many announcements of ‘new’ posts.

WHY am I doing this?  I’ve regarded previous writings as personal and copied only those related to ongoing current topics, such as prophecies, healings and the Bay Revival.  This would enable any reader who so desired to gain some background information.

Since launching this blog I diverted towards those areas as well as into a few national issues. Nevertheless, I’ve been keeping an eye on Biblically related developments in the Middle East.  Thus, an increasing number of postings will now cover these matters and I envisage the need to refer to previous material.  In view of its content – and the work involved – I’d been reticent to copy over those writings but, upon re-reading them, I believe they’re now very relevant.

ALSO, a few years ago we went to a church meeting in Guildford being run by a South African. William M looked at me and said, “There’s a book in you!” – oh, really?  Well at least it seemed to harmonise with part of a totally unexpected prophetical download I’d been presented with in ’96. This is what happened.:

I’d been delayed getting to a local conference and, as friends went to various sessions, I followed them into one. I didn’t knowing where they were going but then found it was on prophecy.  (Being a relatively young Christian this topic was new to me and I’d never encountered anyone moving in that gifting.)  The young lady leading the class stood in front of me and her eyes suddenly popped open as she saw something right over me – like the image in this post! Then out of her flowed a torrent of Holy Spirit information!

My work and studies involved some writing and, after I was blessed with being able to take early retirement, I then started circulating friends about Biblically relevant news. So putting all materials from two sources together on a website has created an on-line type of book or journal.

It also shows that the young lady and William had heard correctly. Thank you Lord.

May He be with you always and bless you and yours

Richard

What’s up with the weather?

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Taken in case of need, this holiday photo is now serving its purpose – to remind me what wall-to-wall, cloud-less sky is like!  And it’s not hard, but not easy, to recall what lies beneath this azure zenith!  But 8.30am today I walked in warm sunshine, yet a bank of cloud soon rolled over like a gray blanket – but at least it’s not raining and occasionally getting a bit brighter as cloud thins now and then.

Regarded as the wettest April to June (see report and video) since full detailed records for temperatures and rainfall across the UK began in 1910 – they’re forecasting over a month’s rain in 24hrs!  (In the night we heard it like never ever before – it fell so heavily and quickly it sounded like one long roar!)  Even now in July it’s unwise to stow away one’s winter wear!  There have been ‘exceptional’ torrential rains, stormforce winds, at least one small tornado and widespread flooding, sadly with loss of life – all as was anticipated in my dream reported in What’s prophetical about weather? )

But there’s a blessing, nationally and personally – although much earlier than usual, our holiday took place during a fine fortnight with cool winds, and only one wet day. Two winters of abnormally low rainfall left reservoirs and underground aquifers very dry but they’ve been replenished. Also, plans to ban the use hose-pipes have been scrapped. So thank you Lord – let the river of Your Holy Spirit flow…

Over the ‘pond’

On this side of the Atlantic we’ve got away with things very lightly!  Over in the States it’s been a very bad month indeed, as I’ve noted from a couple of blogs. My older cousin south of Tucson, Arizona, is hoping for the ‘monsoon’ as it’s hot and dry (temperatures over 100 degrees F daily) with only a trace of rain this year. The extreme heat then headed eastwards, to affect 25 states and 45 million people, for example:

Now, it’s an interesting and pertinent fact that President Obama had declared June as being devoted to ‘gay pride’, as well as having declared shortly beforehand his personal interest in changing the laws to allow ‘marriage’ for such folk. Many black pastors have challenged and registered strong objections to his actions.

Now, it’s been noted that Obama signed off his official declaration as follows,

“IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Indepen-dence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.” (emphasis added)

Now, is it not an extraordinarily contrary thing to mix this matter with a reference to the life of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour?  Can we not sense where His heart is in this matter and what His response is?  This president has surely put himself in an invidious position and I would not like to be in his shoes.  After all, isn’t it written that Sodom and Gomorrah suffered from intense fire? (Genesis 19:23)  Jesus indicated that those cities  would, however, have repented had they witnessed His mighty works. Furthermore, His statement implies that there is hope for all who do not reject Him (Matthew 11).

Could this be why the United States has been suffering such stupendously atrocious storms, and continues to reap the whirlwind of darker days? (For fuller discussion see  Dr John MrTernan’s Insights blog with journal of events: Defend & Proclaim the Faith.)

I criticised the content of President Obama’s speech in Cairo Speech and expressed reservations about the nature of his faith. After recent ‘clarifications’ on that issue and  his address during the National Prayer Breakfast, I have reviewed my reservations – especially the claim that he may be ‘born again’.  However, I’ve yet to be convinced.

The fact remains, that whomsoever President Obama is acountable to as his spiritual mentor or pastor seems to have ignored Jesus’ instruction to His Apostles, and hence to all those in spiritual authority, about how to make disciples of believers:

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  19 Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

This is New King James text, but New International Version renders verse 20 as,

 “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded…”

So just what did Jesus command?

=========================

Back to the blue sky…aaahhh.  And what was beneath it?  A favourite beach….

 

In the right place at the right time!

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Let’s continue considering coincidences in more depth. My last two postings (here and here) reported upon connected instances of serendipity; the fortuitous occurrence of meaningful random events or coincidences. However, when these seem to relate to our relationship with God and we can discern His hand or instruction in events, then many refer to them as ‘God-incidents’, as you may have gathered from the last posts.

Therein, you’ll have glimpsed a train of serendipity.  In fact, each event along with its associated insights could only have been recognised because of a related previous event. For example, had I not been there then this would not have happened; had I not done this then that would not have been understood.

Furthermore, I’m reminded of scientific, physical laws of cause and effect as well as of simple arithmetic and maths. And recent coincidences are no simple linked chain but more like a tree, its trunk representing the observed sequence of events. Then three branches, and their own offspring, shoot out from the time of my ‘mistaken’ search on the web.  So now’s the time to divulge the amazing, crowning event!

Therefore, we may come to understand how this concatenation, or series of over a dozen related events, can be regarded as a distinct entity. It may be hard for non-believer and believer alike to even consider that the whole is pointing to the Living God – if not coming direct from Him.

But an astounding ‘God-incidence’ actually confirms that He is in these insights. It’s a though, using the last post’s metaphor of an orchestra, the conductor himself turns around and addresses the audience – like in the last night of the BBC Proms when the conductor humourously speaks to the celebrating promenaders before leading into the traditional, rousing grand finale.  Funnily enough, after that post’s musing about music I came across this from Professor Maucus du Sautoy:

With music you pick out the connections between one theme and another, and it is the same in maths……musicians are mathematicians at heart even though they may not know it. (Telegraph Weekend Review 2.6.2012)

GLORIOUS GOD-INCIDENCE VALIDATES GOD-INCIDENTS

Within two days of being amazed by unexpected events I received validation to everything from a recognised prophet.  In her mentoring class held opposite Windsor Castle, Dr Sharon Stone gave a brief resume of strategies and said Jesus has already brought breakthrough (word used by Beni Johnson) and opened doors.

We need to cross the threshold and walk through, as well as to guard our tongues against negative speech. With kind permission to quote, here’s my brief note of what Sharon taught:

Four Biblical Laws for Advancement of The Kingdom

Posture – How we do this is key – act on what God says, recalling that Jesus’ instruction at John 21 to the disciples to move only a few feet brought different and positive result.

Obedience – This is the watermark for next glory move of God that’s being released. Matt 17:24-27 shows how Peter’s obedience to God’s inspiration found and brought forth glory. His calling’s extreme purposes required extreme obedience.

Serendipity – “Amazing, accidental discovery! Wow! No matter what we do and what God does He surprises us with lots more – eg. Pentecost”. See Ephesians 3:14-21 – verse 20 in Amplified Bible reads:

20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super-abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] – 21 to Him be glory…. (my emphasis)

Adaptability – We can get stuck in old familiar ways and find we don’t know how to handle the new. We set our size according to our ‘container’ but God wants us to move into the FAR bigger – but we don’t have a long time to adapt! Ask God to help us do it.

Sharon then said Revelation 10:5-6 applies: no more delay (as well as Matt 21:1-3).

There it is, dear reader – I was left ‘God-smacked’!  This prophet had given scriptural support, if not reasons, for the concatenation of God-incidents, thereby validating the ideas and insights into the deeper significance to Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee Bells:

ALL to and for His glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations forever and ever.

[Hah – whilst separating sentence from preceding into closing paragraph, my pc begins playing a Vineyard classic, All Glory To Him!]

The spiritual significance of the Queen’s Jubilee Bells: part 2

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Do you recall, dear reader, the last time you were struck by an unusual and personal coincidence?  My previous post about the Jubilee bells referred to the fortuitous, happy occurrence of such events – serendipity. But on this occasion it all came in like a flood tide of information and understanding from several sources!

It would be interesting to know the mathematical probabilities of these personal events – it was as though it had all been orchestrated. Perhaps the Lord Himself is composer, arranger and conductor of an orchestra – players stand and play their ‘instruments’ at specific moments and a melodious tune can be heard.  Also, singers give thanks and praise to their maker/composer – even angelic choirs may join in and the whole gives glory to God.

So for not-yet-believers and nominal Christians, what follows may seem weird, perhaps ‘inaudible!’ but let it sink in and sink into it. In Part 1 I told about my ‘stumbling’ upon this revelatory information and provided links for readers to check for themselves.  Here’s why it’s exciting.:

As previously recounted, a blog from Kingdom Vision in SW England popped onto my pc screen by ‘mistake’ and which begins:

For 48 hours now I have seen myriads of angels in the heavenlies standing in rows. “Myriads” is not a word I would use, it dropped into my spirit when I saw them. Myriads means “uncountable.” Then I heard the sound of bells pealing, over and over. Sometimes they got REALLY LOUD. (my emboldening)

This was at the close of May and American Kathie Walters goes on to tell about lots of cheering accompanying the bells, like at a wedding, and she realises it’s to do with the UK.  Then she gets an email with news of the imminent Diamond Jubilee celebrations and hears that:

My friend Beni Johnson says God has been telling her things for a year about the bells. God told her, “The bells are going to ring again in England. Bells that have not been rung in years.” Beni said, “The bells are going to ring again and call people to prayer and worship as they did before. The bells will cause a sound in the atmosphere and it will be a sign to the UK. A sign of change (look back at the meaning of “peals”) and bring a shift.”

Following that English site’s link I read Joy Hall’s explanation of the number of Jubilee Bells and its Hebraic meaning, which is exceedingly encouraging for the UK.

But what particularly impacted in my spirit is the recollection of the effect of pealing bells when Nina and I visited Beverley, East Yorkshire, as recounted in Back down to earth.  Strolling around the market we decided to visit the close-by Minster. As we went down the street the heavy Minster bells started to be rung, not as a plain toll but in a most melodious tune.  Nina and her companion were both immediately ‘blasted’ in their spirits and had such difficulty in remaining upright they had to get into the nearest doorway to lean against it.  Any passer by could have thought they were drunks – but at that time of day?  At just gone 11.30 am?

As for me, I was busy taking photos but noted how unusual the bells sounded and surmised angels would enjoy it.  But Nina heard it as a continuous announcement and declaration into the earthly and heavenly realms within the region!!  So, there was a real spiritual dimension to these bells being rung, even though in a humanly organised schedule.

The last link connected into a prophetic well in SE London, which plugs straight into an article I’d commented upon just before going on our holidays, from which we’d recently returned. This new post begins:

There has been a massive amount of prophetic chatter about the sound of bells ringing in the heavenlies – some linked to resistance and spiritual warfare with others linking to the message of hope, a call to worship and a call to the “UK” believers in Jesus to awaken from slumber and take hold of God’s intended purposes for this nation.  (my emphasis)

Now, in the very busy week prior to going away I’d made time to comment upon Gillan Scott’s blog Has the Church fallen asleep on its feet?  You may like to read this short debate wherin my hastily penned contribution summarises where I believe the Church should be heading.  But reading further into the on-screen item I was hit by:

Within our fellowship we have had many words from the Lord about new beginnings, the start of the new things of God, breaking through of glass ceilings, wells of salvation, healing and heritage being opened up again – this past Sunday evening was all about the fire of God – key is that we have to ensure our lamps are full of oil and that we are to be totally focused on watching and waiting for the groom as we have to have the oil of His Holy Spirit within us to catch the fire! (author’s emphasis)

To understand this impact please note that, whilst I was away, Tony in Arizona had left me his following comment on exactly the same scriptural theme of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25)!

The Hour is Late and the Time is Short

I had a dream early the morning of 04/29/2012. In the dream my wife and I were in bed sleeping and it was very late. Our door bell rang and I remember saying to my wife, “who would be ringing our doorbell at this late hour”. We both got up to see who it was. What was odd was that each of us had an old fashioned hurricane lamp, the kind you fill with oil, as our light . When we opened the front door, we saw an angel standing there with a jug of oil in his hands. He filled our lamps and told us that the time is short.

His comment was to my posting Get Ready.   Later, when I discussed all this with Nina and told her about Tony’s dream she was stunned,  “That’s the topic of my talk at a ladies’ breakfast in mid-June!”   She had written it two months before what I reported upon in my post.  I recall her having said it would be a follow-up to previous addresses; but this time, she said, she’s going to have to sock it to them, no holds barred, because the time to Jesus’ return is getting very short!

In February, the Lord had given her the whole message and title, which is – reader, are you ready for this?…‘Are You Ready?’ !!   Just upon the thought and mentioning the title whilst we spoke, she was hit by the physical reaction of being fired up by Holy Spirit.  (It happened again last night when telling visiting friends about it!)

Two days after all this I attended Sharon Stone’s mentoring class in Windsor on the eve of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.  Upon the suggestion of another prophet, we went discretely to cleanse and bless the River Thames prior to the next day’s Jubilee flotilla.

Beni Johnson’s Prophecy on Breakthrough for the UK:

Intercessor Beni is in charge of Bethel Prayer House, Bethel Church in Redding, Calif. Her words about the bells have been quoted far and wide in part but what validates all the above impressions is this brief reference:

…We ended up in London where Big Ben is, on a river tour when it rang at high noon –  which, for an intercessor, is the time to pray – high noon represents everything exposed, like nothing hiding,..Then we took a train to Paris… and got a taxi to Notre Dame.  The minute we got out at Notre dame it was ringing high noon..then we got it (understood what the Lord is stressing about bells).

Now look at photo displaying the time when Nina was ‘struck’ – 11.35am. The bells were ringing and declaring in preparation for high noon!  If you’re a believer, then listen to the whole 7 minutes of Beni’s greatly encouraging message above.

There’s lots more to all this, perhaps even a mathematical proof of God’s existence?

Prophecies and visions for Great Britain

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A new header Prophecies & Visions on this blog covers a brief introduction to Biblical prophecy. It also explains the difference between the office of prophet and the gifting of prophecy. For those interested in how the prophetic may apply to current national and international affairs, links are given to a number of fulfilled reports and others ‘pending’.

First listed is Smith Wigglesworth’s prophecy concerning revival in Britain. Do you know that its two preparatory aspects have already happened?  Or do you know of his prayer partner’s surprise fifty years later upon seeing the same vision?  Or, are you aware of: Continue reading →

Are we clutching at straws?

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The personal blessing of Resurrection Sunday, listening to inspirational preaching and ministry on the breaking point of Gethsemane, watching believers come ‘out of their tombs’ during anointed preaching, reading a couple of excellent blogs on Easter have made it an intellectually and spiritually active fortnight. On top of which I’ve been involved with some interesting discussions on-line:

Thank you to Archbishop Cranmer and Peter Kirk for your several Easter articles, especially when a non-believer sought to divert the latter. A supporter of the ASA had caught up with an old posting that I’d commented upon and he claimed, “Richard and HOTS are grasping at anecdotal straws”. He then proceeded to distract the blogger from his inspirational jottings with lengthy arguments on scientific procedure for testing healing. So I waded in with the irrefutable factual testimony of a redundant carer! Enjoy the long thread here.

There have also been several well-written critiques, comparisons and discussion of PM Cameron’s and President Obama’s Easter messages (see Cranmer, Peter Kirk, Gillan Scott), which I would recommend to those who may have time to read. I’ve found them to be most instructive and enabled me to reconsider my views.

Yet more – I was encouraged that Jarrod Cooper in Hull had also noticed what I’d reported about Cameron’s support for ‘a Christian fight-back’!

Should you want to read more on that, see Charles Moore’s A society that persecutes Christ is heading for trouble, wherein he writes:

“If you start extirpating Christianity, it will start fighting back.  And even if – highly unlikely – you beat it down, behind it will come the more implacable, much more shamelessly political adherents of Islam.”

Also, reporting today about a new advertising campaign on London buses, Cranmer writes,

”…these plucky Christians are merely doing what the Prime Minister exhorted them to do: ‘ fight back‘.”

Having taken up our whole armour, let’s stand in the Lord…

Back down to Earth…

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…with a soft landing after Nina and I drove up north to Hull, Yorkshire, for a 3-day church event that MORE than met our expectations. As mentioned in January, we went to check out on someone and something we’d been watching regularly by satellite TV since Autumn 2010 – Nathan Morris and ‘revival’.

Where and how can we begin to convey the effect of those days?  They tied in not only with what we’d heard and been taught in recent weeks but also directly into my train of thoughts since starting this blog last November.  If you, too, have been blessed with special times and encounters in walking with the Lord then you may understand.

First, however, let me backtrack a little. The week after we had confirmations of our individual callings at a conference in Torquay, a pastor’s wife spoke about a picture she’d received during worship. The impulse and timing behind launching this blog were thus confirmed by the date and nature of that picture, as were personal reminders of the encouraging words given to the Bible’s Esther; that is, “For such a time as this”.

In fact, that was the title of the event in Hull – but, when the local pastor planned it at the end of last year, he didn’t know it was scheduled for the actual dates of the Jewish feast of Purim, which celebrates Queen Esther’s intervention in the plot of her Persian king’s prime minister to murder all their Jewish residents.

(NB: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s gift to President Obama during their meeting on 5th March was a scroll of the book of Esther – read full story here)

Bookings for Such A Time As This had sold so rapidly that we two and our travelling companion had to sit right at the back of the 1200-plus auditorium for two nights and then, for Saturday, in the gallery above the balcony!  But way up ‘in the gods’  the worship was heavenly – the presence of the Lord was such that two hours into the service everyone entered (and maintained!) a hush of reverential awe for over an hour!

Afterwards, everyone received impartation prayer from evangelist Nathan.  Is it any wonder then that the Holy Spirit visited one of the city’s Anglican churches during their Sunday service?  (Read about it here)

On the first (Thurs) evening of his return to Hull Nathan preached upon and ministered into the need for repentance, and on Friday focused more upon healing.  Nina and our companion were mightily affected by the power of the Holy Spirit that night and this carried over into the next day, and beyond!

Saturday morning was ‘free time’ and we visited the nearby attractive market town of Beverley.  As we approached the Minster it’s bells started to peal out a deep, sonorous song.  Immediately this magnified the strong, physical weight of Holy Spirit’s presence in both ladies – they were ‘blasted’!   Upon trying to take a photo of the Minster I found the actual wind to be so strong I had to hold onto the metal railings for support!

That afternoon was a time for healing on the streets in Victoria Square outside Hull City Hall and many youngsters received prayer and were healed – see photo and pastor Cooper’s blog.

Healings had commenced from the outset on Thursday afternoon with a lady paralysed down her right side being healed. Her  accompanying carer became redundant and the wheelchair no longer necessary!  It was a delight to find them sitting on the row in front of us for the daytime teaching programme in the church hall.  So, as well as the excellent teaching, we had a lot in common to talk about in view of Nina’s healing from immobility.

Also noteworthy were the dramatic healings of a lady from cerebral palsy and a man in a wheelchair from the paralysing effects of a stroke. For more see the pastor’s 11-part daily blogs, Behind the Scenes.

We were particularly touched by noisy Nathan’s gentleness when he sensed a lady wasn’t a believer.  He broke from ministering to those who’d come forward to speak quietly to her about Jesus and how he’d been rescued from a life of addiction as an unbeliever. Thus, this nurse received the best miracle – salvation – as well as healing for a hearing problem.

Nathan updated us on the healing of young Ashton Parker’s blind eyes. It’s deep effect upon him was plainly visible.  We had wondered how the boy could speak about the colours of clothes and Nathan explained that his mother had taught him what they’re like by holding coloured cards up against his eyes.

IF YOU’VE NOT SEEN IT, DO WATCH IT HAPPENING on ‘Latest Video’ on the Bay Revival home page. (Ashton is at 3min40 into the short clip.)  See also this posting.

Incidentally, for those who don’t know, Nathan’s grimaces and soaked shirt and jacket are a result of the Lord’s fire within him.  Right after Hull he went to New Jersey, where he told those assembled, “When I speak about Jesus, my belly boils!“.  No wonder he’s an exceptionally passionate preacher.

Read also >> Follow-up on Healings in the UK

Open letter to the editor of the Daily Telegraph

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It’s very interesting how momentum is gathering pace to make this a special year, not only for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee but also for the whole well-being of our nation. I’m no monarchist but would highly recommend the BBC’s informative documentary, The Diamond Queen.

Headlines and articles within the Daily Telegraph, one of our leading newspapers, are increasingly focussed upon the importance of Christianity in the UK.  (See links at the foot of this post.)  In view of previous posts you’ll no doubt realise my keen interest, and so I wrote today to the editor regarding a fellow reader’s published letter : Continue reading →

E-petition and minister of healing on ASA’s ruling on HOTS-Bath

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Please consider joining me in signing an official e-petition ‘I believe that God can heal’, which reads as follows:

Whether or not we believe that God can heal, we call on the Government to ensure that publishing statements of faith is not banned. This petition is put forward following cases where the Advertising Standards Agency has banned Christian groups from publishing material with the words ‘God can heal’, for example in Bath.

Just a reminder: the issue is not over HOTS compliance with 8 requirements of an advertising code but is about the ASA’s refusal to allow statements of faith. Furthermore, as previously mentioned and now confirmed at point 3 below, this could be construed as the ‘militant secularism’ which the Conservative party’s chairwoman Baroness Warsi referred to in her recent speech.

Thank you Peter for this tip, and pointing out overseas residents may sign too. Thank you also to Martin for drawing attention to a report on The New Street Preachers from Reachout Trust (connected to RevelationTV) and which includes a scriptural assessment of HOTS activity.

Secondly, whilst taking a friend to the airport last night I mentioned this matter to him. As he directs an Anglican healing ministry you may like to know the drift of his remarks, which were as follows: Continue reading →

Christmas broadcasts

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We trust you had a blessed time. We were particularly pleased to hear the Queen close her Christmas Day broadcast with such a clear emphasis upon Jesus, for instance:

”…Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are) – but a Saviour, with the power to forgive…”

Click here for the full transcript of the Queen’s speech.

The political blogger ‘His Grace Archbishop Cranmer’ concluded his posting of Tues 27 December on Christmas messages as follows:

“There was only one Church leader who spoke inspirationally of courage and hope; only one who used the occasion to speak of the importance of family, friends and the indomitable human spirit. Only one who spoke of the gospel of forgiveness, the uniqueness of Jesus the Saviour, the love of God through Christ our Lord:..”

I particularly took note that both the political head of our nation, PM Cameron, and Head of State and Head of Anglican Church, Her Royal Majesty, have now strongly spoken out in public declarations concerning our nation’s true source of spiritual stability. Could we have turned a corner? Maybe Christen Forster of River Church, Maidenhead, was correct in reporting last September,

…at the Emmanuel Centre in Marsham Street, Bill Johnson prophetically declared to 1,000 leaders from Church, Culture, Commerce, Community and Civic Government that we would look back at 1st Sept 2011 as, “The day things changed in the UK”.

Personally, on Christmas morn I was blessed to see our recording of the broadcast I recommended, Carols From Bucklebury, bring strong messages from each interviewee/ reader. (See brief disocesan report.) Only a few weeks previously I’d visited my ‘best-man’ and farm manager John Bishop, and was introduced to Bradfield CoE Primary School’s head Andy How when John took me there on a brief visit as school governor. John told me the broadcast was recorded by a Christian media organisation that’s part of the Rank Foundation. (From CTVC – Our History I read that J Arthur Rank, now Lord Rank, has been involved with Christian media since 1930s.)

Whilst living west of Reading prior to our marriage, I’d attended a number of Christmas services in Rushall Manor Farm’s barn. Its Christingle events are always solidly packed by a couple of hundred folk. This time, however, John used the larger cattle shed because it could better house the 1000 strong congregation!! Ah well, perhaps this is another indicator of changes happening in Britain? Bradfield village has had a Christian presence since Saxon times – maybe this ancient well is now getting unblocked?

May you all have a wonderful New Year

Richard & Nina

Happy Christmas

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Dear Readers, we wish you a Happy Christmas and a Joyful New Year

with three little gifts…

1st There’s nothing like celebrating Christmas in a BARN, so come along to my previous church house (and barn!) group with Tilehurst Free Church (Baptist) for Carols From Bucklebury on Christmas Eve, ITV1 at 11.15pm.  (The farm is actually outside Bradfield, just a few miles down the road from Kate Middleton’s home village. The barn is always packed out for its three Nativity services.)

‘A traditional candle-lit carol service from rural Berkshire, where villagers join together in a rustic barn to celebrate the story of the nativity. Kate Garraway meets members of this pastoral community as they prepare for Christmas with traditional carols including Silent Night, In the Bleak Midwinter and O Come All Ye Faithful.’ (DigiguideTV)

2nd a real ‘hoot’, which surprised us at the church we visited last Sunday

– the winning entry from ITV’s competition, Nativity Factor – Beatbox Nativity!

– an instant hit on YouTube from the Lyme Regis area, Devon!

If you‘ve not yet seen it (as we hadn’t) you’re in for a treat you’ll want to repeat. So, click/tap above Youtube screen to play competition 3 min video and extra extension video. There’s also background information.

3rd Greetings to all Christians from Benjamin Netanyahu, PM of Israel

(translation script is Korean but Bibi addresses the viewer in English)

May our Lord bless you afresh on His Birthday
With love from Richard & Nina

Father, let Your Kingdom come!

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The following email submitted details of a dream that had been weighed by the senior leaders of Winchester Vineyard Church and forwarded to Christen Forster, organiser of the Revival Alliance Gathering.

A number of elements in that dream, which happened concurrently with the event, are related not only to foundational scriptures for lead-in prophecies given in November 2010 but also to activities in the heavenlies at the time of the Gathering, as well as possibly indicating what may be about to happen soon in the UK.

Christen agreed to the dream being posted upon the Revival Alliance Gathering website as Feedback under Prophecies & Testimonials.  [2016 update: links no longer available but details may be read in the update below.]

Here’s the full email:

Email to Christen Forster,  Monday, September 19, 2011                                          Subject: Revival Alliance Gathering, Westminster, London 1-3 Sept 2011

YOUR KINGDOM COME
Nina and I had booked early for the Gathering but were unable to attend. Yet I’m grateful the Lord gave the following on Saturday before the day’s meetings started:

Sat 3 Sept:                                                                                                                     

We are 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 go to look from a different quarter’s aspect to see where they’re coming from and am surprised this view is from a much higher floor and looking over a different location! I notice 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 it 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 bank 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!

Sun 4 Sept:

At Winchester Vineyard Church’s briefing on Sunday evening one of the attendees described the repentance of leaders at the Gathering. My spirit leapt in knowing this connected into that dream’s bathroom furnishing! (It’s symbolic of cleansing through repentance and forgiveness.)

In the dream, the bathroom appeared after table and chairs were already in place, which may mean a meeting place with purpose and authority. Then came a personal insight spoken as though from Holy Spirit, indicating only those open to Him can perceive and understand the Kingdom. Also, whatever is being set up is not within an obvious structure but fully exposed to those with ‘eyes to see’. (Perhaps, church ‘outside the walls’?)

Only later did I realise why the dream is directly connected to the Gathering. That’s because the setting was in two offices in separate locations (Reading and Croydon) where I’d worked and which came under the authority of central Dept of Environment, then located in Marsham St, as is Emmanuel Church!  [The venue for the Gathering.]

Thus, I believe the dream’s meaning is relevant to the Revival Alliance Gathering being held in Emmanuel Church and to its proceeding out into the wider Church.

Incidentally, having noted the dream under the header ‘Your Kingdom Come’, I later learned that’s the same title of the following week’s healing service in Winchester led by the Gathering’s member absent in the Ukraine – Randy Clark!

Mon 5 Sept:                                                                                                        

Happened to ‘google’ Revival Alliance and discovered website about the Gathering and read its Inception Meeting’s Report and the associated prophetic word.  I was struck especially by the latter’s,

‘It is time to build a house for me to dwell in, God who even the heavens cannot contain, will dwell in a house whose walls are the Holy Spirit’.

That’s a near description of what was in the dream, for I could see as though through invisible walls into rooms. Even so, there was a definite sense of some kind of structure without my being able to ascertain its nature. Could this indicate the invisible power and work of Holy Spirit?

However, upon checking the quoted reference to Ezekiel 42:15-19 (details of the prophet’s vision of the temple) the translations to hand imply that the walls will be material, not immaterial. YET, the dream truly fits the scripture because, as Christen Forster explained to me: “ … in those verses you will see the word “side” (as in the King James), but the word is actually “ruach”, which is wind, spirit or breath. As the winds traditionally had four directions it has been made into “sides” in English. But more literally it says, “he measured the east wind” … hence Spirit.” [It is Strong’s number 7307, which cannot be construed as ‘wall’.]

A second item from the Report is suggestive of the dream’s closing half. It’s Tim Eldridge’s reference to Paul Revere’s preparation to alert an alliance and, hence, the urgency of spreading the news at top speed – his renowned Ride into American history

Thurs 8 Sept:                                                                                                              

Then came an intriguing connection to the 14 years break in revival activities in UK, and when re-starting work on the Temple in Jerusalem, as referred to in the Report and at the Gathering.

The Lord prompted me to dig into my library for a book, The Heart of The Temple.  Quickly, I spotted in the Foreword’s first page (by Jennifer Rees Larcombe):

“How did this passion for the Temple begin for you?”

“The seed was planted in my heart fourteen years ago”, she replied!!

PS: where else have we read about fourteen years? It was the period Apostle Paul spent in preparation before his missionary trips to the Gentiles (see Gal 1:11-2:2).

UPDATE 18 DEC 2017

In view of the original 2011 links’ non-functionality, I copied my papers onto this blog’s Prophecy Library, amending all entries accordingly. The Library summarises events as follows:

Sep’11 – RB dream: “They’re setting up the Kingdom!” and urgent release of its news, as recounted in ‘Father, Your Kingdom Come’.  See also October 2011 email Acceleration in Kingdom Activity. [A similar powerful dream of how mantles of anointing are becoming available from the Kingdom came to Revd Bob Mazeroski of New Life Church, Weirton, W Virginia in 2014, as reported here.  Full details in 5th Anniversary (2016) post follows resonant words and 2009’s “ALL about to be fulfilled” word in Pivotal Prophecies Now Coming Into Play. Dream confirmed in theme, location and timing.]

Bill J Credit BethelSep’11 – Bill Johnson: at the first Revival Alliance Gathering in the UK declared ,“We would look back at 1st Sept 2011 as the day things changed in the UK.” David Pike’s replete record in  Diebach-Welldigger’s Revival Alliance Meetings in Westminster  notes Bill then said it might take time for the impact of this day to be seen and felt across the nation, but gradually it would come. In his library of ‘Revival Prophecies for the British Isles’, Chris Welch 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.”

Sep’11 – Christen Forster: a Gathering organiser later reported Che Ahn had told him that, in all the time working with him, he’s rarely heard Bill make an apostolic pronouncement of such a kind. Christen wrote, ‘Bill’s prophetic word in September was a declaration of the start of the new day, the new wave, the new season. The wells don’t need unblocking any more, the water is flowing, we just need to carry their life and refreshment into the dry places. And every week I hear stories that confirm that word.’

RELATED READING:

3 validations point to 2012-13 : part 3 of ‘Death or Destiny?’

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A little time was needed to gain a fuller understanding of that awesome visitation – the absolute holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ in contrast to my personal sinful nature. No wonder I expected to die and was convicted of my sin!

That encounter used two very personal aspects of my life to grab my attention, thereby validating the experience as real, not an imaginary one. Even more amazingly, both validations are directly related to the 1st and 2nd Advents!  Thus, they couldn’t fail to enhance my interest in End-Times and which had been launched a few years years earlier by The Invisible Hand (see herein).

The First Advent was the time when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea about two thousand years ago. Hence, the four weeks leading into Christmas are designated within the church calendar as Advent, and which start the church year.

The Second Advent is coming soon and is expected to commence in Jerusalem.

First Validation

I inwardly ‘knew’ the heavenly visitor was indeed Jesus, and that the impressive action was a foretaste of his promised return, when He will come in all His power and glory.

The event reminded me of my favourite picture in mother’s Missal, or service book of the Roman Mass.  This gave the content of every Sunday service throughout the year with a diagram symbolising the theme for each service.  As a boy keen on astronomy I’d been fascinated by the picture for First Sunday in Advent. This depicted Jesus standing on the clouds over a burning earth in the midst of sun, moon and falling stars, indicative of events before his Second Advent!

The confirmation referred to above came almost as unusually. On a healing retreat years later, a minister told me God would show me something after lunch. Indeed, after lunch a stranger who’d been seated at my table confided that the Lord told her to show me something she greatly treasured.

christinclouds-lrgIt was a photo taken, it was claimed, from an aircraft over a thunderstorm. When developed, the photo bore an image of Jesus Christ, as though standing within clouds. However, the facial features were hazy, not defined. It was exactly like Jesus in my dream for I had  not seen His face.  (I recall dark, hazy clouds at the foot of the image. This one is published by Bible Probe.)

Upon seeing this photo my legs gave way – I couldn’t stand but fell into a nearby chair! My companion said I went so white she thought I was going to faint or fall.

Yet, just how did a stranger know to show me this photo?  I’d not divulged such a personal dream – she simply said, “It’s the Lord’s doing”.

Second Validation

I was puzzled over the closing element of the dream-event, that is:  upon my reaching towards Jesus’ feet to grasp his robe, it turned into the branch of a Christmas tree!  So, when I tugged, a Christmas tree toppled over and its fairy fell off and onto the floor.

Weird?  Not really, because that spot by the window was where the family Christmas tree used to be erected. It was a corner closely associated with Christmas.

As a devout Catholic, my mother had told me about Jesus from an early age. When I painted pictures I would put a blue stripe at the top of outdoor scenes to represent heaven, as children did. But I’d also draw a Christmas tree in heaven as being Jesus.

Why? Not only had I associated all the wonder of Christmas with his birthday but I also heard an actor  on TV mention his name whilst looking at a small fir tree. So in my childish way I took the actor at his word and would draw Jesus as a Christmas tree.  Hence, the dream changed him to match that image.

At its close, therefore, the dream-event signified the time had come to put away not only childish misconceptions but also all false teachings and replace them with absolute truth – the one who is the Truth in person.

Truly, the most fantastic Christmas present ever – one that’s daily an ever-present encouragement and help in every time of need, no matter how dire. Thank you Lord.

These events started in 1989 and culminated in 1995 with its prime confirmation. Yet more was to come!  Sixteen years later upon revisiting this story for the purposes of this blog, I was surprised by a couple more insights that dropped unbidden into mind. One was tantalising: could the street number of my childhood home (212) possibly be significant in pointing toward the coming year? That is, to 2012!  

Could that notion be true?  Such musing would be confirmed in a fascinating numerical manner at 2012’s first Christian conference we were to attend…Upon our arrival at the venue I was curious about distance driven from home. The car’s odometer was ‘212’ miles!

Third Validation (updated Dec 2013)

Once again, timing proves crucial in presenting another objective confirmation!  Again, had I not been writing about the visitation I would have missed the crucial linkage!

Whilst writing instalments of My Journey Into Freedom I inserted a report on something pertinent that happened at that time in the USA. This came as a ‘new revelatory word’ from the Lord to Revd John Kilpatrick and began at 2:22am. This too, is very interesting on two counts. Numerically, because my birthday falls on a 22nd. Orally, because that word is directly relevant to my dream visitation in referring to the angelic host as well as in closing with Luke 21:28, namely:

But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.

My mother’s Missal for the First Sunday of Advent is shown below and notice how the scripture on page 69 links into my personal visitation and what pastor John brought.

[Click to enlarge]

1stSundayAdvent

It’s amusing that the number of hits on this blog passed the 212,000 mark within days of the 4th anniversary of its launch on 21st November 2015.

So a huge thank you goes to every subscriber and regular reader, as well as all visitors – Richard

To find out what happened after the encounter read Rescued from Satan by the Lord of Hosts.

Further reading:

The Heavenly Visitor – part 2 of ‘Death or Destiny?’

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That night’s second visit was far more challenging than polite Peter’s chat –  this time it was life or death!

I went back in time – not in this blog’s ‘time machine’ but in a most unusual dream. One so lucid that, over twenty years later, it remains vividly etched within me. So it must be exceptionally significant.  Come back with me to the night of 13-14th September 1989:

I find myself in the lounge of my childhood home and in front of the large casement window abutting one corner of the room.  I look up into the inky, dark night sky.

A small flotilla of large, wingless aircraft drifts slowly across from left to right at high altitude and I groan, “Oh…not that flying saucer nonsense. I must be dreaming!”  (Occasionally in dreams I’d be aware of dreaming and could change the scenario.)

I’m sceptical about the existence of UFO’s, but now another ‘fleet’ appears from the right and heads towards the first.

Now, the dream changes gear (rather, goes up a level) from the normal mixture of mental material > to that of absolutely convincing lucidity:

The ‘light goes on’!  In my ‘knower’, I realise the first fleet is demonic and the second is masses of angels under the command of Jesus Christ. (I did not believe in them, and regarded Jesus as one of many world teachers – I didn’t know Jesus appeared as the commander of the Lord’s host, or angels, to Joshua when outside Jericho. Here, I cannot see any individuals but have inner knowledge of the situation.)

I think I’m about to watch an amazing heavenly battle…but…OH NO!  Somehow, I now know Jesus has espied me far down below and is coming down directly towards me!

All I see is a distant bright light very rapidly getting brighter and larger as it drops down to my location, just like an airliner approaching a runway to land at night. 

Instantly, I realise my life has been one of sin that contrasts starkly against Jesus’ own holiness. Right away I realise what’s claimed about the Judgement is true – but mine is about to happen right now!

Beyond any doubt I realise my involvement in the occult was most definitely wrong. Consequently, I deserve the undesirable abode!

“My number’s up!” I groan, inwardly trembling in knowing I’m about to die at any moment and an invisible trapdoor I’m standing on will drop me straight into hell.

Uttermost mortal terror strikes and I dive right under the drop-leaf table in the other  corner of the room to hide from Jesus. But he knows where I’m hiding and swoops down straight through the wall at the side of the window to stand in my room and right beside the table!

Cowering under the table with my back turned towards him, I glance over my shoulder and see him from the waist down, his face out of sight above the table.

Most unexpectedly, somehow I have the courage to reach my hand out backwards to grab at the hem of Jesus’ robe…

>> As I tug, the event goes into yet another level of revelation regarding my childhood…Then I awake! Thoroughly alert, further sleep eludes me!

The event reminds me of an evocative small picture that impressed me as a child – the return of Jesus Christ:

2ndAdventDiagm

Later I understand that my terror had been ‘the fear of God’ brought through his Holy Spirit in convicting me of my personal sinfulness (ie. wrongdoing) and, thus, preparing me to receive God’s grace (ie. undeserved favour).

Also,  what happened when I touched Jesus proves he’s intimately acquainted with the private details of my thoughts as a little boy.  The last moments of the dream show he will topple my childish concepts of him and thus hint at his replacing them with a sure knowledge of his true identity.

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalm 111). Mercifully, he plucked me from the domain of darkness to bring me into his own and receive its blessings. I deserved none of that. Truly, Amazing Grace – how awesome and wonderful..!

As a result of the most remarkable dream I’d ever had, I carefully reconsidered all my New Age notions. Meditational and mystical exercises had resulted in my having some unusual, ‘psychic’ dreams, but none whatsoever like this one.

The only remotely similar dream was that of an ‘altered’ state of consciousness known as ‘nirvana’, or bliss, where I’d been taken behind its alluring golden light.  However, ecstasy then turned to abject terror at the sight of an approaching hideous, devouring beast of blackness far worse than any nightmare!  (I didn’t take drugs.)  In this dream, however, fear had been overcome by Jesus himself and his wonderful mercy and love – and pervasive peace.

Confirmation that the event was real would come from a totally unexpected source…

An Earthly Visitor – part 1 of ‘Death or Destiny?’

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What role did the first visitor outlined in the Preface play regarding my wrong choices? His was merely a gentle confrontation, as follows:

Who was he?

Sometime in July/August 1989, young Peter knocked on the door with an invitation to go and hear the world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham at Earls Court, London. We could be taken in just one coach trip from our house. The fare from west of Reading? Nada, entirely free!

I turned down the offer but my almost-teenage son piped up that he’d like to go because a classmate had told him about it. So I said I’d take him.

Were it my choice alone, however, I definitely would not have accepted. Experience had made me extremely wary of churchgoers. But never did I suspect my personal life hung on that moment.

Why the problem?

I was brought up in the Catholic Church yet attended non-secular state schools with their Anglican ethos. Back in the 1950s this was a sensitive issue. In those days a lot more people attended church of one sort or another than nowadays. Religious beliefs are a relatively minor concern today even though attendance at faith schools is highly prized for educational purposes.

Note well, I did not receive the expected, proper Catholic education. What was gained was merely through church attendance – which doesn’t do anything when in a dead, foreign language!

In those days, Sunday Mass involved a lot of liturgical Latin. So when English was spoken, this boy could comprehend a little from frequent snippets from the Gospels. I recall once pondering how awesome it would have been to witness everything Jesus said and did.

Fifty years ago the hypocritical conflict between denominations was the reason I turned to ‘New Age’ ideals. In view of what Christian priests say and do, how could what they  preach be true? For example, Jesus commanded his disciples to “love one another” but, in my experience, churches apparently did not!

Also, they weren’t doing similar miraculous works to Jesus, as he said they would. So, churches had failed on both counts to live up to Jesus’ commands. Although I was only a boy it was patently obvious that they missed the mark. Therefore, I strongly suspected they’d probably also lost a lot of what Jesus had taught.

So in my late teens, I went looking for truth elsewhere and practised yoga, meditation and Eastern religions long before that became popular through the famous Beatles and their maharishi. In seeking deeper instruction and abilities I joined an ancient, mystical brotherhood. Thus, I gained direct knowledge of ‘higher’ esoteric teachings, including a belief in reincarnation and karma as well as experiencing invisibility and nirvana, the ecstatic state sought by Buddhists.

All this was well before such New Age concepts became as popular and widespread as they are today. Twenty-odd years later I’d find myself attending an evangelical meeting!  Utterly unbelievable!

What happened?

In those days I regarded most clergy as outmoded. Their preaching couldn’t compare with what I’d discovered in the New Age. So, you could imagine my astonishment upon finding myself agreeing with everything Billy Graham preached!  I was flummoxed!

Afterwards, as a follow-up, those who’d been on the trip were invited to an informal meeting at a local church. They explained we could have introductory teaching and discussion at home and I agreed to be on-hand for my son, but I wasn’t personally interested. A youth worker, Peter, was assigned to help him but, in practice, he ended up discussing the material with me.

So, what went wrong?

The evening of Wednesday 13th September 1989, is Peter’s third visit to talk about Christianity. I have not yet divulged my firm opinions to him, but this time he goes too far!

This session is entitled, ‘Yoga, Eastern Religions and The Occult’ – all of which I’d been involved in since before Peter had been born!

Peter shows a diagram of two cliff-like objects facing one another. One represents heaven and the other, earth, with a large deep gap separating them from one another. Over this Peter then places an overlay depicting a large + sign over the gap. The horizontal ends of the + touch each object, thereby bridging heaven and earth. He explains that the cross of Christ is the bridge between both realms.

He then says the only way to God is through Jesus Christ. This statement implies my ideas are incorrect. Without giving the game away I gently question him on this. But he insists there are not many paths leading to the same supreme God.

What’s to be done with a young man half my age who unwittingly points out the error of my ways?

I’m thinking, “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. How can he, who’s not done anything I know far more about…just how can he tell me it’s wrong?  He’s wasting my time!” Peter’s ideas are not only mistaken but also intolerant. Before the end of the evening I’ve had enough!

So I bring our discussion to an early close, politely bid him farewell and excuse myself from any future meeting. Peter is most gracious about it – as ever, he smiles politely and goes on his way.

Little did I know that I may not make it through the night!    

   [continued in Part 2]

Death or Destiny? Choose wisely

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Death, or ‘destiny’, it was my choice – but I didn’t know, and I’d chosen wrongly!

Thankfully, I was given the chance to choose again – yet once again flunked it!  How?  A young man who happened to share my birthday pointed out the facts.  Yet I decided, quite deliberately, to ignore them and thus made the wrong choice.

Then another, very much older man, came like a thief in the night. He showed me how those incorrect decisions bear consequences affecting my own post-mortem existence!  Twenty two years later, that event remains vividly etched within me.

Maybe this sounds rather far-fetched or fictional, or like Dickens’ A Christmas Carol where ghosts confront Ebenezer Scrooge?

However, please make no mistake. What I’m relating has nothing to do with ideas or beliefs, faith or feelings, supposition or superstition. Rather, it has everything to do with plain, simple facts.

The eventual outcome of our own life – even one’s post-mortem existence – is a matter of fact. And it’s our choice.

Allow me to share a true story, starting with the first visitor…

Why I’m on the lookout

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Why? In short: I was told to watch – plus a spectacular event made it personal. Yet why do that? To answer this, and other questions, take a quick trip with me back in time.

Like scrolling page to page on pc, tablet or smartphone brings different images to your own virtual or cyber realm, use your mind’s eye to imagine yourself getting into a ‘time machine’. Are you sitting down? Then let’s go for a spin’…

Off Beyond The Med…

Set your watches (or digital calendars) back by -1,975 years. We head beyond the Eastern Mediterranean’s shore towards the Dead Sea’s deep valley well below sea level. A hill-top city quickly appears wherein we zoom into a large closed room. Here, we find ourselves in the midst of about 120 men and women – Jesus Christ’s original disciples.

We learn that Jesus had commissioned twelve of these men as apostles, or ‘ones sent forth’. He not only authorised but also empowered them to continue His teaching – with miracles – and to establish groups of believers. [See opening chapter of ‘The Acts of the Apostles’ in the Bible’s New Testament.]

Peter had been charged with leading these followers in spreading the ‘good news of Jesus Christ’; i.e. the kingdom of God’s love, as fully demonstrated by Jesus’ life and ministry to the ‘lost’. Their remarkable ‘rabbi’ had told them,

“…You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. (Acts 1:8 NIV).unt of Jesus’ public ministry.  This will be known as ‘The Gospel According To Mark’.  His account is the earliest of four to be recognised as authentic, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit and, thus, authoritative or canonical.

“But what’s all that to do with this blog?”, you may ask. Let me explain:

Mark, also known as ‘the interpreter of Peter’, wrote what Jesus had privately confided to his very first followers, James and John plus Peter and Andrew, about God’s plans for the near and far future. Jesus gave them the startling promise that He would return in the flesh to reign as ruler of God’s fully established kingdom!

To help you get a handle on this;

If those disciples were our contemporaries and Peter’s eye-witness account were to be published for the first time TODAY, then his story would cover events of less than 40 years ago – that is, since the Falklands War. Now, back to the point:

Jesus told both pairs of brothers that certain events would clearly indicate His return is imminent. Future followers would know, therefore, what to look out for just prior to the bodily return of Messiah (anointed redeemer) Yeshua onto the world stage.  This future event is known as The Second Advent; the First Advent being when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the Roman province of Judea (see map).

Hence, the four weeks preceding Christmas are designated within the western church calendar as Advent, from Latin ‘adventus’, meaning ‘arrival, approach’, also ‘coming’.  (Read here to learn about the personal relevance of both Advents.)  This year it began on Sunday 28 November 2011.

What’s That To Do With Us?

Apparently, for every prophecy in the Old Testament about Jesus’ birth and life during the Ancient Roman Empire, there are 7 to 8 times as many about His Second Advent – what’s more, it’s increasingly likely to occur in our lifetime!  (I’ll explain elsewhere why this is so.)  Jesus stressed the great importance of that future event. For example, in His instruction to the four who’d been with him from the beginning, as recorded at Mark 13:33-37:

“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping! And what I say to you, I say to all, ‘Watch!’.”

That’s why I’m on the lookout – and, believer or not, you’re included in the action!  So, if you don’t know Him yet, I trust that something you may read herein will enable you to recognise, and want to get to know personally, the author of your and my salvation, the Lord of Lords – Jesus Christ.  It’s all about Him!  I wonder, do you know Him yet?

If not, this stirring 3 minute video clip describes so well who Jesus is.:

Preacher Sam has a terrific way with words in describing where God came from.:

We may meet the Lord of Time later…but first, here’s his key to prophecy!

Welcome

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Hello, I’m Richard Barker.

Welcome to my musings about what’s going on in the world and I trust this blog may help you gain some insights. Indeed, what on earth is going to happen next?

You may find some of my ideas challenging, even outlandish!  For instance, come along on an imaginary trip in a ‘time machine’ and, later, receive unusual instructions on how to tell the time!

Some pertinent points from my past are given in my Bio Info, where you’ll learn some facts about a seminal work that was to serve as a fascinating foundation for a my appreciation of Bible prophecy.

Reading The Invisible Hand in the mid-1980s made me very aware of Middle Eastern and related events, all indicative of things not being as they may seem. I was amazed to learn they’re of major Biblical significance!  (More on the book in ‘Bio Info’.) Bemused, therefore, I began to watch…:

A Supernatural Rescue

A couple of years later, I was alarmed to be unexpectedly faced with my own immediate demise – but I was blessed that a real, invisible hand saved me. The Living God made me an offer I simply couldn’t refuse. I gladly accepted His free gift of everlasting life, ie. Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection was for my personal benefit. Incredible!

As the Living God graciously and gently dealt with me I was completely turned around (ie. repentance) and cleansed of my involvement in yoga and the occult.  Some years later, I received training in and practised full gospel prayer ministry, as well as secular person-centred counselling.

Inner Eyes Descaled

As I got to grips with my new life in him, learned his ways and was introduced to his Best Instructions Before Leaving Earth – scales fell from my eyes!  Scriptures about what’s happening to the world became particularly clear.  For the last few years I’ve updated Christian friends upon possible connections between holy writ and current events.

You, dear reader, may be unaware of the exceptional relevance of a great chunk of the Old and New Testaments to today’s events.  Regrettably, many others are not only woefully uninformed but may also be quite biased against Christianity.  Therefore, I ask you to adopt an open mind as you mull over the themes and ideas expressed in this blog.

As not many people know of this, let’s seek expert advice next…(click on this ‘next’)

Revival: 1 – glory stories

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):

“Holy, Holy, Holy are you Lord,
Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory,
Holy Holy, Holy is Your Name,
Exalted upon the praise of Your people.”

So runs the chorus of Lydia Stanley’s song Holy Are You Lord – listen here – it’s one of several inspired by Holy Spirit since last July (2010) for her to lead hours of fire-filled worship at The Bay Revival, Alabama.

Psalm 22 v 3 proclaims, ‘You are holy, enthroned upon the praises of Israel…’ and thus, the Lord’s Presence can be sensed, even becomes tangible, and people hear Him more easily, are saved, healed and delivered – in such a sacred atmosphere, with anointed leading and prophetic preaching, miracles often occur.

You may recall my reference to evangelist Nathan Morris having a word from Alabama for revival in the UK? So a few ‘glory stories’ may inspire and encourage you:

First, on a personal note, I’ve been in a fascinating flow from the Lord since an ‘inter-stream’ conference in Winchester in March. During opening worship I sensed the Lord wanted me to focus upon the eventual new earth and new heavens, especially the appearance from heaven of The New Jerusalem and I had a flash picture of a lion’s head.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband…(Rev 21:2 NKJV)

Then one of the seven angels…talked with me, saying, “Come I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife”. And he carried me away to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone…(Rev 21:9-11 NKJV)

Over the last year or so a couple of scriptures had come whilst in Bath, but now the context became clear. Also, the Lord’s saying He’s let me see a couple of childhood desires He implanted have been fulfilled: to see miracles of healing and receive Jesus close teaching, and to be in and understand the times of His return – but now focus upon His ultimate aim (Revelation 21-22), and beyond the Bible’s cover!

Then in the first session Stuart of Catch The Fire, Wembley mentioned,

“There is so much happening in the Kingdom of God at the moment…we’re seeing Him move again and again and again…We’ve just seen a massive increase in the supernatural – not because of ministry but because God is moving – ‘Aslan’ is on the move!”

He went on to describe seeing the breath of God blow away demons that had attached themselves to someone they were praying for. This one didn’t need in-depth ministry sessions, valid as that is, but God simply blew – like the mighty protective and possessive roar of a lion over its young! Stuart said, “It’s like the Lion of Judah puts His paw on you and says, ‘Mine, Mine – you are Mine!’ and roars at anything that would threaten you.” With Chloe, his wife, teaching followed upon their theme: full meaning of Sonship in the Kingdom

Also that month, Bill of Blandford wrote me as follows:

God is awesome! Only last evening I was testifying to standing in awe as again Abba God brought deliverance to His beloved children. I was sharing ministry to bring freedom to some people with ancestral masonry. We saw His mighty deliverance set them free from chains of deception. What He desires and delivers to the one or two, He will do for the many. I stand in awe right now as day after day we see and hear prophecy unfolding… (Thank you Bill)

Here’s another – Over dinner in Zizzi’s, Russ of Farnham said he was at The Potter’s House, Stoke-on-Trent and heard intriguing accounts of unbelieving youngsters turning up because God had come to them in the night and told them to get there!

Winchester flowed into Bath >

There, the first thing I put my hands on at a partners’ day was a book featuring chapters on the new earth and new heaven! >>

Then Liz, leader of prophetic ministry, followed straight on from and augmented what Stuart and Chloe had taught >>>

Also, Richard mentioned about a recent Secret Place conference in Dudley and I knew to get the downloads quickly >>>>

So, in those recordings I heard Paul Keith Davies delve deeply into teaching upon the Sonship-Bridal paradigm….(more here)

>>>>>>>>>>> keep flowing Holy Spirit…in and through ……More please Lord.

Ask for the Nations – Psalm 2 v 8

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):

This is a more personal letter to you as I believe it’s time to tell about a revelation that amazed me, for it came only a couple or so years after my re-birth. (And only now am I glimpsing how it may connect with an open vision of fire shooting up E Africa to Egypt.) So I’d be interested if this may strike a chord, or you get a word from the Lord – or even a check in your spirit. Kindly bear with me as this needs be a bit lengthy.

As what I saw is directly relevant to the past month’s (Jan 2011) momentously historic events (which could affect our Western nations’ economies) I’ve been hesitant to relate this without the Lord’s go-ahead. Thus, early yesterday I sought the verses about His word not returning to Him void (Isa 55.11) but my eyes fell first on Isaiah 44.24-26, as though confirming the validity of the revelation and giving clearance to write:

“I am the LORD who has made all things, Who alone stretched out the heavens, Who spread out the earth by Myself, Who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, Who overturns the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, Who carries out the words of His servants and fulfils the predictions of His messengers….”  (NIV)

First, some background. At the time I received this staggering ‘download’ my Baptist pastor and elders were unable to help, possibly because it came in a dream, and I was a ‘young’ Christian…It was, however, an excellent church for solid Biblical tuition and discipleship – thank you Lord.

W Mediterranean

Nonetheless, what I received proved helpful to a young missionary in France as well as to an evangelist off to Egypt. I’d put the full account in a letter, which he put on top of clothes in his suitcase. Thus, when Egyptian customs questioned him and checked inside his case he was reminded and encouraged in his mission. Here’s what I’d written:

The BBC late evening news on 6th January 1992 announced that leaders in the Muslim community wanted to establish a Muslim parliament in Britain…:

In a dream that night I saw Western Europe, mainly France and the Mediterranean, as if from the space shuttle and heard the popular worship chorus ‘All Hail The Lamb’ being sung, as if in the atmosphere!  This praise was repeated many times most melodiously, as though by angelic choir ,and seemed to spiral upwards. Then I heard a very loud, authoritative voice declare, “As Communism fell, so too will Islam fall”.

I understood this as the Almighty’s declaration that Islam’s demise would come when Muslims themselves want to be free and rise up en-masse. Clearly, by referring to the events that had rippled across the Eastern Bloc to end the Soviet empire, we could expect a similar, unanticipated wave to sweep across Africa, the Middle East and Asia to the Pacific. It, too, would be like dominoes falling. In fact, some commentators are likening what’s happening now to that effect – Telegraph and Foreign Policy reports.

As a prophetical impression the dream awaited proper weighing and confirmation by my leaders. Only a few years ago I read an article by the prophet Marc Dupont in which he referred to a very similar word at about the same period. EVEN SO, if you’re with me thus far, please do weigh and check all this. [Months after this email I discovered that Lance Lambert had later that year brought the same message about God shaking the nations.]

Later yesterday I got an email from leading analyst on Middle-East affairs, Daniel Pipes, supporting that concept of change, viz:

“Something remarkable, unpredictable and unprecedented took place in recent weeks on Egyptian streets. A leaderless mass movement galvanized large numbers of ordinary citizens, as in Tunisia days earlier. It did not rage against foreigners, scapegoat minority Egyptians, nor endorse a radical ideology; instead, it demanded accountability, liberty, and prosperity. Reports reaching me from Cairo suggest a historic turn toward patriotism, inclusion, secularism, and personal responsibility.” – Washington Post

Let’s remember the Lord’s ultimate redemptive plan for Egypt, as stated in Isaiah 19 especially verses 19-25.

19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border…24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance”.

Pertinent to these verses is this closing statement of an email just in: “..the Egyptian identity needs to be resurrected, thereby allowing all of the nation’s sons and daughters to work together for a better future—without the dead weight of foreign encumberments, namely Arabism or, worse, Islamism.” [Assoc. Dir ME Forum: Egypt’s Identity Crisis.]

Did you read in my email 10 Feb of Dutch Sheets’ word given 13 Jan about the Lord supernaturally visiting the Middle-East? Well, on Monday I bought his classic book Intercessory Prayer but didn’t dig in until last night. On fanning through I was drawn to a prophetic word about nations falling rapidly before Him (see large red asterisk in attached). I think the Lord is trying to get our serious attention, don’t you?

THEREFORE, I believe it’s a pivotal prayer-time to ask the Lord for those nations that are closed to Him to become fully open to the Gospel. The harvest fields are ripening.

For example, many Iranians realise that 30 years’ Islamic rule has utterly failed. They’re desperate for the real truth of God. Previously it took one missionary a life time to bring 10 to Christ. Yet last year just one phone call served to bring 30 to salvation! Multitudes are responding to dramatic personal visitations and miracles direct from the Lord, as well as through satellite/phone evangelism. (Dr Hormoz Shariat, Iran Alive Ministries.)

“…By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear (allegiance). They will say of Me, ‘In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength’.” All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame. But in the LORD the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.

[Isa 45.23-24 NIV’s ‘raged’ seems more appropriate than ‘incensed’ in NKJV & Amp]

I close as All Hail The Lamb starts playing on pc – WOW, what a coincidence, or rather God-incidence!!

“He’s the Lamb upon the throne…He IS the Lord”

UPDATES: