“You shouldn’t be at our school!”

Whilst playing with my pals one of them suddenly stops, eyeballs me hard and scolds me, “You shouldn’t be at our school – you should be at the one Cat’licks go to!”

I’m stunned into silence.

I can’t recall my response other than distress.

Upon reflection it’s possible I denied the accusation outright. I’d like to have responded, “So what? It’s where my parents want me to be!”

Such a riposte, however, would have plugged straight into something worse – parental conflict!

We three 1955-6

On Southport beach in mid-1950s

CONFRONTATION

It’s mid-1950s and the reality of the Protestant vs. Roman Catholic divide hit me hard. My friend’s tone clearly implied a stigma to being in the wrong Christian denomination.

Equally hard was my parents’ disagreement over my own schooling. My dear, devout mother wanted to follow their church’s rule that Catholics send children – even of mixed marriages – to a Catholic school. But father wanted me to have the better education provided by the more reputable of two local, state schools – the RC one had a very low pass rate for the 11+ selection exams for grammar school. When dad was a boy his mother took him daily to 8am Mass. Later life taught him the value of a sound education – and my much older cousins in mother’s family were already at college or university.  So, a week or so before my fifth birthday mum walked me the half-mile to Alexandra Park Primary School in Edgeley, Stockport.

Thus, I was brought up in the Roman 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 today. Religious beliefs are a minor concern today, although attendance at faith schools is now prized purely for educational achievement. Sadly, most of today’s populace are religiously illiterate.

Therefore, I didn’t receive the ‘mandatory’ Catholic education. Religious knowledge, as little as I gained, came through state school and Sunday church. As far as from the latter was concerned, it wasn’t much because services were conducted in a dead, foreign language – Latin!

Kindly bear with me in relating how my situation affected my teenage and adult life’s journey into eventual freedom:

AN OUTSIDER

At the time of the confrontation I’d been happily playing on bikes with two boys outside one’s house.  We three Johns aged 10-11 years had been classmates through primary school, yet I always felt an outsider in my living over 1/2 mile from school. Most of our school lived a lot closer and so, when old enough to go to their homes on my own, I was pleased to be with seeing more of these friends.

But the real issue of this confrontation was in making me fear the prospect of losing the friendship I’d grown up with!  Somehow details of my family’s church must have slipped out whilst chatting, or had I been seen going there? ‘Top of the class’ John seemed to see it as a stigma! The reality behind a difference of opinion at home hit me hard – it was a reality in the outside world too!

Me 1956-7My earliest adventures in coming home alone from school were in walking the longer route via the local library on the far-side of school. And it was a place to explore and dig around in.

It came as a special favour when I was allowed to cycle to friends’ about half a mile away.  Soon I began to relish the independence of exploring the rabbit warren of suburban side streets on my bike – plus learning how to read maps. Later, I’d take my bike and explore for miles around, far away from the main thoroughfares – I avoided those because an older boy had been killed there and I’d seen another have an accident in front of me (he survived).

The only classmates from my local streets were girls. We lived nearer to another school attended by most other ‘baby boomers’ on our patch. But its pass rate for the secondary level of Grammar School was much lower than ours. This meant the boys I’d grown up with on ‘my block’ didn’t have quite the same schooling. So I was piggy-in-the-middle between two peer groups and didn’t feel fully accepted by either.

At school I was one of four boys named John. Such a bore. I decided to start using my first name from the start of the next school year. So on the first day in the new class, a week or so before my 8th birthday, our new teacher went around the class asking our names. At my turn I replied, “Richard”. Everyone was shocked. Some called out, “No, he’s John!”.

Miss Jackson was kind enough to ask me about this and found my reason sensible and said she respected my wishes and favoured the name. From that time on I’ve always been known as ‘Richard’.  At home, however, mother and her family refused to make any change because they’d always called me ‘John’.  Maybe it was because it means ‘beloved of God’. Also, being her first-born boy she’d hoped I’d become a priest – arghh, perish the thought!  Nevertheless, that’s come true in a way because all believers in Jesus are priests (1 Peter 2).

So thank you Lord for the two who brought me into the world and loved me greatly.

CHURCHES IN CONFLICT

At church, children were not sent out of the Mass into Sunday school but were expected to sit quietly through 45 minutes of Latin liturgy and unintelligible sermon.

It was hard for youngsters but my mother had a small book with Latin on one page and English on the opposite – a Missal. As soon as I could read she’d urge me to look and follow – but being artistic I took far more notice of the small pictures displaying the Gospel theme of each Mass.

As Gospel and Epistle readings were in English I caught snippets, and recall thinking it must have been wonderful to see everything Jesus said and did – I would have liked to have been there and met him.

Now my school and home friends attended, or were familiar with, churches. I asked to go to theirs as it was only along the road from our house. “No, ‘cos they’re Congoes,” was mum’s retort and she’d stress, “We go to the church Christ himself founded!”.

‘Congoes?’, I thought that was in Africa so maybe it was a church for pygmies! But in the 1950s we had few Africans in our northern town although our doctor was a West Indian. [‘Congo’ was her term for Congregationalist.]

A year or so later I got through to Grammar School, where Catholics and Jews could opt-out of the Anglican-style morning assembly. But I didn’t opt out and attempted to convey the impression I was non-Catholic.

Unlike today, cooperation between churches was a rarity fifty years ago. Hypocritical conflict between denominations drove me towards ‘New Age’ ideals. It bothered me that IF all churchgoers believe in the same Jesus Christ, WHY were they bitterly opposed and not friends? Jesus himself commanded believers to love one another!

Also, they weren’t working miracles similar to those of Jesus, as he said they would. So, churches had failed on both counts to live up to his commands. Although I was only a boy, it was obvious they’d badly missed the mark. Also, I suspected they’d lost a lot of what Jesus had taught. How could what priests and preachers say and do, be true?

Consequently, I started searching elsewhere for the truth > >  (next).

[Bible quotations are by courtesy of BibleGateway.com]

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

INFO: original instalments (2013)

  1. No 7 and my journey into freedom
  2. “You shouldn’t be at our school!”
  3. Searching for truth leads me into captivity
  4. The last day of my life came ‘like a thief in the night’
  5. Rescued from Satan by The Lord of Hosts
  6. The real Truth delivers me from captivity
  7. Confirmations of the reality of my visionary encounter.

Number 7 and My Journey into Freedom

This blog post is more like ‘which came first, the chicken or the egg?’  The above title may be back to front because it began as My Journey To Freedom and Number 7. I trust you too will be encouraged by my explanation of that conundrum.

Here’s what happened.:

A friend who organises social breakfasts asked me to tell my story about becoming a Christian. I guess she’d dipped into it on this blog – yet that’s only a brief bit. But how can I deliver the whole lot in speech and not as script? On top of that, when editing my original account I found nostalgia took me down a ‘rabbit hole’ and wasted time.

Only then did I do what I should have done at the outset – ask myself what I wanted to say. I’d put the cart before the horse! I now jotted the main points and was surprised to find there’s 7. Now that’s encouraging for it suggests everything’s ok. Nina thought so too when I did a test run with her. Now please note, we’re not the sort of folk who look for meaning, symbolism and significance in things, although we appreciate the possibility.

[Readers of long standing may note my interest in coincidences arises after events, not in expectant anticipation or forecasting future connections. My discernment of links in ‘God-incidents’ possibly arises from my training in scientific observation and analysis as a disinterested participant. It’s claimed ‘fact is stranger than fiction’, which is why I’ve always tended to steer away from novels. Furthermore, after laying down my ‘old self’ after rebirth in Christ I’ve also avoided my past interests.]

HAH! Upon finalising my Tuesday’s talk I now find its crib-notes done as l a r g e print total 7 pages! What else! What other quantity should I have expected?

In the Bible number 7 is symbolic of divine perfection, and I believe this is understood in other cultures too. Time is measured in units of 7 days – the calendar week. Genesis, the Book of Creation, states everything was created in 7 days with the last being when God was satisfied and rested upon completing His work of creation.

If the concept of a weekly cycle is applied to that of the year then 1/7th equates to 52 days and a ‘design purpose’ for the year’s seventh 1/7th could be that of resting before another cycle starts. That had been in mind in Pause 4 thought when musing about having unexpectedly arrived at the close of a personal cycle. So, it made sense to take a more relaxed pace over August and September and await any changes.

PRINCIPLE OF 7 AND MY JOURNEY

Now, a few weeks later, ‘7’ has got my attention once again and so I take notice and new notions drop into mind like inspired potions infused from ‘above’. As my task is to talk about my past, it is as though a door has opened for me to see and walk through in my spirit. Whilst writing, I recollect the Hebrew date for this ‘new year’ not only signifies an open door but is also shaped like a 7; although as the 4th letter of Hebrew alphabet it denotes No. 4. (Not mentioned in The door to a ‘new season’.)

My first thoughts were:

  • 7 years are said to complete a growth cycle, as in ‘Seven ages of man/woman’.
  • so it’s appropriate to consider seven’s multiples, 14, 21, 28, etc, as cyclic too.
  • major changes or significant events happened on or around the 7th, 14th & 21st anniversaries of my Christian walk.
  • my personal life took hugely significant changes of direction at each 3 x 7 years, ie. every 21 years and around my birthdays. Number 3 denotes completion and unity.

These notions were confirmed last night when I learned the 7th letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Zayin (pronounced ZAH-yeen) and then read John Parson’s comment,

Since Zayin represents both the number 7 and a sword, it is not surprising that it is used to divide or ‘cut up’ time into units of sevens (The Letter Zayin, emphasis added)

Perhaps you’d like to check all this yourself and see if it may apply to you too?  Only a couple of days after realising the significance of those aspects I heard a contact-lady at our online US-church mention a couple of major traumas in her family life. I noticed they were seven years apart. (She’s since confirmed having had personal insights on this – thank you W.)

In addition to the above link, more information may be found on Biblical Numerology at Christianity.About.com. and on the Biblical Meaning of the Number Seven at The Bible Wheel.

So which came first, my journey or several number 7s? Of course, objectively I noticed all the events before, during and since gaining my freedom. Recognising they’re linked inextricably with number 7, then I must conclude the spiritual principle was the active and persistent power orchestrating those events, as in the scale of 7 musical notes.

Thus, 7 came, and comes, first.

Should you wish to continue reading about my journey into freedom, please click here  for its first ‘leg’ or installment.

INFO – installments of original (2013):
  1. No 7 and my journey into freedom
  2. “You shouldn’t be at our school!”
  3. Searching for truth leads me into captivity
  4. The last day of my life came ‘like a thief in the night’
  5. Rescued from Satan by The Lord of Hosts
  6. The real Truth delivers me from captivity
  7. Confirmations of the reality of my visionary encounter

[Images courtesy of Stoon at Freedigitalphotos.net and Melissa at Definingwords.com]

Is Christianity supernatural? Is Jesus imperfect?

We’re taking a break for a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, readers may like to mull over some meaty morsels, and to ponder the possibility of a recent prophecy having been fulfilled in Egypt!

Is Christianity a supernatural religion?

One blessing from the prolonged problems with WordPress in July was contacting a couple living eastward along the coast from our favourite haunt, Chichester harbour. Keith Lannon writes with an unusual grasp of not only theology and history but also psychology. His in-depth articles about Apostle Paul’s ministry may be found under Management of the Miraculous.

I’ve always known Christianity is intrinsically a supernatural life yet, in my humble opinion, many believers have little comprehension of this fundamental fact. After outlining Holy Spirit’s activities in the Church’s first decades, Keith writes:

This whole historical trawl, that I have only half glanced at, is for no other reason than to make the point that the miraculous is the New Testament norm. Cryptically expressed, the supernatural should be natural to the Christian. Christianity is naturally supernatural.

Keith’s Christianity has the Supernatural in its DNA is a thoroughly good read and I can highly recommend it.

Was Jesus Christ Imperfect?

T E HannaAfter being challenging by a Muslim, T.E. Hanna considers the above question. He ably digs into and unwraps this provocative paradox in Embracing An Imperfect Jesus. You may wish to reflect upon his brief, yet sound, consideration of the conundrum of Jesus’ humanity and divinity. It has generated interesting reader comments.

A prophecy causes pause for thought

Koenig’s Eye View from the White House reports upon last week’s International Institute of Counter-Terrorism Conference in Israel. It mainly covered Syria but included Egypt  under its military leader Gen Al-Sissi. The first couple of points in Bill’s notes reminded me of what I’d heard from a delegate at Dr Stone’s Mentoring Day on 11 July (as under ‘Coffee break’).

According to that Institute, Egyptian President Morsi was imitating the Islamic template Turkey’s PM Erdogan had established to dismantle his secular military and arrest its generals.  Egypt’s Al-Sissi beat Morsi to the draw in arresting him and ‘decapitated the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood…’ (emphasis mine).

That reminded me of Kim Clement’s prophetic song and word about Queen Esther, Mordecai and evil Haman, wherein he prophesied:

A head will roll during the summer; I said a head will roll during the summer!  There will be a decapitation of a mind that is evil, a mind that is sinister. (Emphases mine: see link)

That was published on 22 June and Morsi was ousted less than a fortnight later on 3 July (details may be read in Guardian). In spite of US administration’s protestations and liberal media’s biased reporting, well-informed folk were aware of the great dangers Morsi and his MB posed to secular societies and Christians, not to mention Israel and Jordan. So it seems Kim Clement heard correctly from the Lord.

Courtesy of Gilbert and Beers

Putin to visit Iran for first time in six years. Historic trip will raise renewed interest in the “Gog & Magog” prophecies.

RJBI’d like to draw your attention to Joel’s analysis of the meaning of this historic visit. Read also what former British Ambassador Charles Crawford writes about ‘the mother of all messes’ President Obama has caused over Syria. You may wish to check my previous posts about the Ezekiel 38 Alliance and remarks covering Joel’s recent post on Yom Kippur.

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

(Dallas, Texas) — “Vladimir Putin has accepted an Iranian invitation to visit the country and meet with newly elected President Hasan Rouhani, a spokesman for the Russian president confirmed,” reports the Times of Israel.

“Putin has been invited to Iran, and he will certainly take advantage of this kind invitation,” the Interfax news agency quoted spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday. “The dates of the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.”

“The announcement came on the heels of a report that Russia had agreed to sell to Iran the advanced S-300 air defense system and construct a new nuclear reactor at the Bushehr site,” the Times noted. “Putin met with Rouhani on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Friday. During the meeting, Rouhani extended an invitation to Putin, who accepted, the Iranian semi-official Fars news agency reported. In July, there were reports

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The door into the ‘New Season’ is open

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here and I will show you things which must take place after this”… (Revelation chapter 4:1-2 The Throne Room of Heaven, NKJV)

Leading into and after the new year 2013, I blogged about a doorway into the heavenly realms opening up (see links below). To my pleasant surprise, I learnt last weekend the Jewish New Year that started on 4th September is symbolised by a doorway!

And I was even more surprised to sense in tandem with this that the Lord is prompting and awakening His people to become more aware of political v. faith issues, as well as to get prepared and trained for ruling on earth – not heaven – when the true Millennium manifests!

This new year is 5774 in the Jewish calendar and digit 4 is represented by the Hebrew letter Dalet which is, according to Melissa Flores, “the picture of a hanging tent door. The door, dalet, also can mean the movement of one coming from or going into the tent.”  Her interesting explanation of this year’s meaning – and therefore expectation – may be read at link 4 below. Continue reading

Events indicate the Bible’s relevance for today

Recent tragic news from Syria and developments in the Middle East can, in fact, give Christians a deeper understanding of the holy scriptures.

I’ll share my opinion on how this may be so but, first, we’re instructed to pray for those in power, including their need for wisdom in handling crises. Jesus’ brother James wrote to those following ‘The Way’,

If anyone lacks wisdom we should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault…(James 1:5)

He cautions that in so doing we need to believe and not doubt because such a person will not receive anything from God.  Political leaders would, therefore, show wisdom if they are able to believe and fully appreciate God’s Word, not only in living morally but also in dealing with international events such as those foreseen over 2,500 years ago  about a specific Middle Eastern coalition. We note that, in the end, God’s stated goal for three major people groups is as follows;

24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isaiah 19 NKJV, Biblegateway)

There’s a long way to go before that outcome is achieved, incredible as it seems at present.  But current events do show the Holy Bible is not obsolete, or irrelevant for modern times. But this isn’t new!  Many Old Testament verses were fulfilled in 20th Century with the amazing ‘overnight’ creation of a nation-state and the consequential return of dispersed tribes belonging to the ancient Hebraic people. Nearly 2,000 years ago, after having destroyed their capital Jerusalem and sacred Temple because of an armed revolt against Rome’s authority, Emperor Hadrian kicked them out of their homeland after another revolt (for details see Timeline).

Hundreds of years beforehand, however, prophets heard and recorded what the Living God declared about events in the far, far distant future. The fulfillment of His promises through the establishment of modern Israel is something deserving fuller examination. So, too, is Psalm 83’s warning to those people surrounding Israel who plot to ‘wipe it off the map’. (The ancient tribal names may no longer apply but their rage continues within their descendants, as broadcast ceaselessly abroad.)

However, my focus is upon the Biblical references to other peoples on the fringes of the then-known world, as centred around the ‘cradle of civilisation’. They were in lands now known as Persia, Syria, western Egypt or Libya, Turkey as well as southern Russia and central Asia.

Whatever any migratory, trading or hostile connections may have been between those folk, it is a most remarkable fact that the Lord foresaw an alliance forming between them that would become enemies of the Hebraic people living in territory established by King David. Ezekiel, a major OT prophet, received detailed oracles about this coalition led by ‘Gog’. The only other mention of this entity is in the apocalyptic vision Apostle John had of the revelation that God gave Jesus Christ, as recorded towards the end of the Book of Revelation (Rev 20:7-10).

This prophesied coalition known as ‘The Ezekiel Alliance’ and its attack upon Israel is recorded at chapters 38 and 39 of the Book of Ezekiel.  A concise historical analysis from Koinonia House may be read at The Treacherous Trio of Ezekiel 38 – Part 1 and at Part 2, then Part 3.  My previous coverage of this build-up may be found here and here.

The fact that Russia is now getting deeply involved and taking the lead in a strategic coalition that was identified millennia ago as a major player in the Middle-East, and furthermore which aligns itself against Israel, simply cannot be ignored. All political leaders would, therefore, be well advised to tread very carefully in dealing with this alliance.

For what it’s worth I’d like to add my ‘tuppence worth’ but it must of necessity be all too brief. Readers who like digging deeper than mainline media’s cursory overviews (eg. by visiting links suggested in an early blog Not on the 10 o’clock News), may be aware of the following.:

Israel

I’d ask that fellow believers consider their attitude toward modern Israel because some ministries are mistaken in this regard. For instance, a guest post on Cranmer’s blog has reported one ministry as strongly denouncing Israel at festivals over the Summer. I’m aware this may be a touchy topic, but Fran Waddam’s historical comments are helpful for those unfamiliar with the real, rather than revisionist, 20th Century history of Israel. It’s now followed by a CMEW item on Kairos Chaos in the Church, which I recommend. (NB: ignore any flash pop-up ads on Cranmer’s site.)

Syria & Iran

The outrageous chemical attack upon children could, in my opinion, be one way Iran’s leaders are testing President Obama’s resolve and poor credibility. (Iran’s active control of Syria was reported here.)  There are increasing concerns over the reliability of claims that it was done by Assad’s forces, and which doesn’t exactly stack up with signals intel and is voiced by, among others, Jerome Corsi and Walid Shoebat (here).

Iran would seize upon any attack by America as a pretext to attack Israel in a greater measure than done in recent minor occasions (Farsnews). They see such a war as facilitating the appearance of the Shiites’ Mahdi (as here). Thus, it isn’t far-fetched to suppose Iran may attempt the final, threatened blow to eradicate Israel.

Saudi Arabia

Obama’s credibility is non-existent as a result of his polices and actions on Egypt and in Libya, not to mention ‘Benghazi-gate’. Following his 2009 Cairo speech, a deep rift opened between him and the Saudis over his deep humiliation of president Mubarak. Fully aware of the dangers Obama was blind to, they endorsed the Egyptian army’s removal of Morsi and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Also, as members of The Arab League who have denounced Syria, the Saudis met with Russian leaders to sway their support of Syria’s Assad by tempting them with favourable oil/gas deals, as herein.

Egypt

The above quotation from prophet Isaiah is an oracle from the Lord about Egypt. Those closing verses allude to His end-time redemptive plan for three peoples, but its second verse is once again apposite: not as for the Ethiopian takeover 2,800 years ago but for these times too:

“I will set Egyptians against Egyptians;
Everyone will fight against his brother,
And everyone against his neighbour,
City against city, kingdom against kingdom…”

Islam & TerrorismHow to be succinct with what’s on my mind about Egypt? In Cameron: A war against Al-Qaeda… I  referred to Mark Gabriel’s experiences with the Muslim Brotherhood as an Egyptian professor of Islamic history. His exposure of Islam and Terrorism gave me grave reservations over Obama’s insistence upon the outlawed MB’s attendance at his 2009 Cairo speech. My initial points are as herein.

President Obama probably gambled upon the MB having become a peaceful democratic political party but his Muslim roots should have taught him to know better – much better. William Koenig in his Eye View from The White House, puts it this way:

The Egyptian apparent decapitation of the Muslim Brotherhood’s leadership could have enormous impact on the future of many countries and derail White House/ State Department Muslim Brotherhood plan in the Middle East.

McCarthy’s ‘Reds under the beds’ witch hunts of communists was a false alarm by comparison with the MB infiltration of US politics and government. Where the totalitarian system of communism failed, another succeeded beyond its wildest dreams – and even Barack Hussein Obama isn’t entirely to blame! The infiltration started 60 years ago in response to the CIA seeking help against communists. George Bush and many in USA and Western democracies were bamboozled into mistaking Islamist intentions.

The MB’s objectives are known to many well-informed analysts and journalists but largely ignored by politicians and public. I cannot, therefore, recommend highly enough  that every reader take time to visit the following links, of which extracts are shown.

For further political developments see

Recommended Reading:

  1. Resetting US Foreign Policy by ‘ne plus ultra’ Caroline Glick; cogent as ever > ‘Obama’s decision to outsource the US’s Syria policy owed to his twin goals of demonstrating that the US would no longer try to dictate international outcomes, and of allying the US with Islamic fundamentalists…from his earliest days in office Obama insisted that, since radical Islam is the most popular movement in the Islamic world, radical Islam is good’.
  2. The Muslim Brotherhood: Origins, Efficacy and Reach by Raymond Ibrahim; a masterly paper from the well-connected author of The Al-Qaeda Reader covering the MB historically and throughout the Middle-East.
  3. History of the Muslim Brotherhood Penetration of US Government by Clare Lopez, formerly CIA operations officer and senior fellow at the Centre for Security Policy presents an exceptionally well-researched and informative paper > It is important to recognize the sophistication of the Brotherhood’s international strategy and how the takedown of U.S. national security defenses from within was critical to the current Middle East-North Africa (MENA) campaign to re-establish the Caliphate and enforce Islamic Law (shariah)….The careful insinuation of Muslim Brothers into positions from which they can exercise influence on U.S. policy began long before the attacks of 9/11, although their success has accelerated dramatically under the administration of President Barack Obama. The massive Muslim Brotherhood organizational network in the U.S., so patiently built up over the decades since that first Oval Office meeting in 1953, eventually gave it a prominence and (false) reputation of credibility that was unmatched by any other Islamic groups, moderate or otherwise. Using a combination of taqiyya (deceit, dissimulation) and intimidation, the Muslim Brotherhood succeeded not only in making itself the “go-to” authority on all things related to Islam, but in suppressing those who would speak truth about Islam—again, often by persuading the U.S.’s own senior officials to do the job for them: “by their hands”.
  4. The US State Department’s Islamist Plan by Dr Mordechai Kebar, Israeli scholar of Arabic and Islam covers MB’s plans for Sinai and Egypt and reveals the grave concerns of Jordan’s king > King Abdullah openly calls them “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and “the Freemasons cult” (there is no worse expression in Arabic that the king could have used towards his citizens, MK.) because they do not want to reform the regime of the Hashemite monarchy; rather, they want to replace it and  turn it into a puppet after taking over the parliament and changing the  state into a “constitutional monarchy” with an Islamic constitution  written by the Brotherhood, of course. The king describes his battle with the Brotherhood with the expression “the most important battle confronting us in the entire region”, even more than Iran. He also does not hide his contempt for the American diplomats and officials who promote the Muslim Brotherhood out of naivety, as if the regime of the  Brotherhood is a type of Islamic democracy.
  5. Muslim Brotherhood: We’ve Got ‘Goods on Obama’ by Dr Jerome Corsi > In an interview with the News Agency Anatolia in Turkey, Saad Al-Shater, the son of imprisoned Muslim Brotherhood leader Khairat Al-Shater, said his father “had in his hand” evidence that will put Obama in prison. In a thinly veiled threat, Saad Al-Shater said a US delegation was sent to Cairo by Obama to press for the release of the imprisoned Muslim Brotherhood leaders, including his father to prevent the release of explosive information. Arabic-speaking former PLO member Walid  Shoebat has translated the report by the Turkish News Agency Anatolia as follows…
  6. BREAKING NEWS – Corsi, “Egyptian government…intends to implicate Obama directly in series of financial transactions with the MB in Egypt” (video interview).

Another morsel on the cloud of witnesses

First, my apologies for having added a paragraph to my observations instead of drafting a new post. It is now deleted and follows below.

Upon re-reading the last post over lunch I believe there’s more to be considered about the role of the cloud of witnesses. (I’d stress I’ve not been watching Paul Keith Davis’  videos.)

Again, here’s what the God-breathed Word states at the juncture of Hebrews chapter 11 with 12, Apostle Paul’s summation on the Hebrew fathers of faith.

39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,  40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

The key is in the closing verse of chapter 11, emboldened above. It states there’s a direct connection between our attaining perfection in faith, and pre-Christian believers in the Holy One of Israel coming into the perfection of their faith.  That is, our destinies are directly linked with those who are already in heaven!

Huh? I need to recalibrate my brain to get a grip of that.

Verse 40 means God has promised Christians a far better deal than He’s promised the fathers of the Judaic faith because of our faith in Jesus. Yet, His goal for them is the same as it is for us, as herein; ‘that they should not be made perfect apart from us’. Thus, together with them we will be receiving the same promise – not one party (Old Covenant) without the other (New Covenant)!

This notion is more obvious in the original Greek of verse 40, ‘tou theo hEmOn  ktreitton ti problepsamenou  hina  mE chOris hEmOn teleiOthOsin’, as seen in it’s word-for-word direct translation below. The present continuous tense of ‘looking’ and ‘be being’, rather than using past tense, distinctly conveys an ongoing process, one that’s in play today, viz:

of God concerning us better something of-looking-forward-to that not apart from us they-may-be-being matured (Greek Interlinear Bible)

Clearly, therefore, God’s intention has always been to bring about at the end of the Age a highly prized unity in Christ Jesus for both Jew and Christian, or as some say; the original Israel and spiritual Israel. Or perhaps, the Bride of Christ and those invited to the Wedding; Jews who’ll look on Jesus whom their forebears pierced (Zecharia 12:10).

Furthermore, with the passage of time, this cloud now includes multitudes of Christians.

As Almighty God – and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who came in the body of a Jewish man – therefore sees hardly any distinction between Jew and Christian, then how dare some church leaders denigrate, even loathe, our Jewish brethren and their national state of Israel?

With this in mind, in the knowledge that several prestigious American churches declared their stance against Israel last year (Elliot Abrams’ CFR article), I’d draw your attention to the Jerusalem Declaration by representatives of mainline Protestant churches. For an introduction to the Protestant Consultation on Israel and the Middle East click here.

Paul Keith Davis and Rick Joyner discuss ‘Times and Seasons’

If you liked Paul Keith Davis’ teaching on the 3 anointings then you will like this 83 mins chat with his friend. (It is superior value to anything on the ‘one-eyed’ blind god we call TV.)  Their closing answer to an online question made it rather personal for us last night because we’d learned of Frances Metcalf’s profound ministry in the Lord through our local church.  May you be blessed in hearing these men of God.:

 

Topics covered:

  • current events – Church in transition – 2013-14
  • full discipleship foundations – contemplative prayer
  • angelic encounter whilst writing The Final Quest
  • Jesus knocking to come into what belongs to Him
  • the Rev ‘overcomers’ are not ordinary churchgoers
  • the greatest tribulation/opportunity in global history
  • confrontation with false teaching in spirit & power of Elijah
  • ‘koinonia’ (real fellowship) essential for preparing The Bride
  • role of past overcomers/witnesses in today’s acceleration
  • different destinies within heaven
  • 1st Century Apostolic ministry required for 21st Century
  • questions from online viewers – grace – true holiness – restoration of family structure – is USA in scripture (v good point from Rev 12) – increasing evil
  • Francis Metcalf’s experiences of rapture and translation, difference between them, an understanding of the message of Enoch.

The final four minutes are highly instructive and encouraging and I pray the Lord will give you an understanding and insights into these matters. The whole ‘webinar’ is a rich banquet. Thank you gentlemen.

Neville Johnson: prophetic word on a new move of God in the UK and Ireland

Again, I thank Tembissa for the thread of discovery to the following re-posted from James Bailey’s  Z3news.  It is interesting to note Neville Johnson delivered this in the same month as the prophecy sung over UK and Europe by Julie Meyer in USA (The Bridegroom Cometh).:

Neville_Johnson-311x350

At a meeting held in Sheffield England in October 31, 2012, the following prophetic words for the UK and Ireland were delivered by Neville Johnson, a former pastor and missionary from New Zealand.

WORD FOR UK:

There are seeds that lie dormant in the UK, many seeds. These are the seeds of godly men like Smith Wigglesworth. Men like John Wesley. Their seeds lie waiting for the rain to come. When it comes they will be available for the United Kingdom seven times greater than what it was before. So aren’t you glad you are alive in this generation? The church has been in decline, but God has not forgotten you.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick but when it comes it is a tree of life. God is coming to your nation, ready or not. I saw aspects of this in vision form. I saw how God was going to move across your nation and it was wave after wave after wave. It will be sustained and the fire will never go out. Revivals have come and gone but this is not revival, this is reformation and it is a different thing. God is going to take the very best of those seeds, the very best out of the former moves of His Spirit and combine them into one move.

Behold I will do something new. Now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)

One of the things I saw for this nation was mothers praying for their children who had strayed away from the Lord. There were thousands of them in this vision. God is hearing those prayers and He is going to get your children. He is going to form them into an army of the Lord. He is going to bring them in.

The Lord says at an acceptable time I have heard you. In the day of salvation I have helped you.

WORD FOR IRELAND:

I saw Ireland come alive in an unusual way because as God poured out His spirit the gospel was being portrayed in Irish dancing. I was watching this in vision form. Irish dancing once swept the world and it is going to sweep the world again taking the gospel. At the end of all of these performances people are going to flock to the altar to be saved. Eye has not seen nor has it entered into the heart the things God is preparing for you.

Author: James Bailey

James Bailey writes blog articles about current events and how they relate to the truth of the scriptures. His vision is to broadcast the good news of Jesus Christ through blog sites and other media.

Observations on the 3 anointings for End-times believers

Detail from Eagle-eyed by John Mark Long: www.propheticartists.comSome regular readers will have dug into the previous piece of exceptionally illuminating instruction from Paul Keith Davis. My hard copy of the original is underlined in several places.

So maybe these musings may bring more morsels for you to munch upon, along with your meditation on its scriptures:

1. Paul Keith’s opening reference to his study of Numbers chapter 10 mentioned the importance of blowing silver trumpets. In addition to Nathan Morris’ reference to his Christian inheritance (re. PK on Zebulun anointing here), this very subject was the first connection between both men’s teaching.

Nathan 2At the start of The Open the Heavens Conference Nathan was of the opinion that it should be renamed Open the Heavens Clarion Call.  Furthermore, all speakers had a common theme in their teaching. Not prearranged in advance, they all came ready to teach upon the Presence of Almighty God!! This led to the Lord blessing their meetings with the wonderful, tangible atmosphere of His Glory.

All that is directly relevant to Paul Keith’s concluding remarks, “Then will come the Ark of the Covenant”, which was where God would be seated. The vision and scripture he was given all revolves around ‘the cloud (of God’s presence) is moving’

2. My New Life Study Bible’s note for Numbers 10:11, where ‘the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony’ (NKJV), states,

This is the major turning point in the book, and one of the primary turning points of the entire Pentateuch (RB: the first five books of the Bible). Israel now departs from Sinai and moves toward the Promised Land.

The Israelites were the people out of the world God had picked to be especially dedicated to Him and His purposes. With the Advent of His Son Jesus Christ, the whole world of Gentile peoples is able to become His children because all believers in Jesus have the right to become Sons of God (John 1:12). Therefore, we can regard this passage as being applicable to the Church and indicating how it can move toward the End-times in Holy Spirit-led power. (Several posts on this blog have covered this ‘new season’.)

Paul Keith Davis3. The first tribe to move out with the moving cloud was that of Judah, of which the lion is emblematic, as PK explains. A few months ago this lion was spiritually perceived as being in our congregation. Unbeknown to each other, a male visitor and one whose integrity I can vouch for personally, both witnessed the huge Lion of Judah striding through the meeting!

4. As a writer too, I empathised with James Bailey’s comment in the meaning of the Zebulun anointing.

Paul Keith’s instruction along with Holy Spirit’s inspiration will bring immense insights into the Lord’s purposes and strategies. Although the holy scriptures convey an outline of these, their outworking in these times is being done in a way that will outwit satan. Scripture gives the ‘what’ and ‘why’, yet the Lord keeps the ‘how’ and ‘when’ of practical application close to His chest.

The Days of Noah

Days of Noah

I’m pleased to learn that Paul Keith his received further insight into what he and his wife experienced in 2007-08. Having understood the nature of the fallen ones and the fuller reasons for the Deluge, in The Days of Noah he tells what the Lord instructed him:

“I’ve dealt with the fallen ones, you’re going to have to deal with their offspring!”

His understanding of spiritual conflict went up a level. In an open vision he looked into the bowels of hell as a ‘manhole lid’ slid off and hideous evil spirits emerged to release realms of darkness through many people.

He was told the Sons of Light must respond in like fashion of receiving in-depth teaching and practical training in Kingdom realms, which involves not only people but also angelic interaction!

[Years later, Paul Keith saw similar images to that event when underwater footage was released of the source of the Deepwater Horizon oil-leak of April 2010 on the floor of the (nearby) Gulf of Mexico.]

Within a couple of days Paul Keith received confirmation of the truth of the vision. He was able to tell his wife what he was seeing as it happened, and on the CD he relates,

That was the Friday. On the Monday morning the Lord told me to type it up and send it to Neville Johnson, so I did that…(he’s in Australia so) normally if I send him an email he’s 3 or 4 days getting back to me.

Anyway I send him the email – and before the end of the day I get one back from Neville (he’s) somewhere around 12 hrs ahead. I send it Monday morning to me but it was Monday evening to him, his time – he sends me an email directly back.

He says, “‘You’re not going to believe this – this morning I had exactly the same experience – verbatim.  I even saw the same (evil) ones you saw!  So and so (a couple we both know) are here visiting me in Australia and I shared it with them at breakfast…now, (this evening) they are sitting with me when your email came through. I downloaded it and I told them, “You’re not going to believe this!”

Paul Keith then stresses; as scripture says, out of the mouths of two or three witnesses let a thing be established.

I know there are things being released from hell, but what we’re interested in is what’s coming down from heaven!

In closing, let me share a thought that dropped into mind  yesterday as our minster taught about the authority and dominion God gave Adam and Eve. The same was given to Noah and his clan upon emerging from the Ark (Gen 9). Although I think we’ve now entered the final ‘Days of Noah’ and things will become darker and perilous, believers will mature into Sons of God and emerge from the Tribulation in the rightful, Godly dominion that God intended humanity to have and display.

[See prophetic word from Neville Johnson for the UK and Ireland next.]

Tighten your seat belts!

Paul Keith Davis: Three Anointings Coming to End-Time Believers

Further to my previous, I’m indebted to Tembisa at Church On Fire for re-posting this with the above image and providing the link, and to James Bailey for permission to re-post from his blog Z3news. Thank you for your additional notes James:

Paul Keith Davis shared the following message at a Morningstar Advanced Prophetic Conference in February, 2013. In this message, he said God showed him three anointings are coming upon a remnant of believers in these last days to enable them to usher in the return of the Lord and the millennial reign. For many believers, this message will sound like jibberish, but to those who are part of the remnant these words will stir their hearts to rise up and take possession of all God has for them.

Paul Keith Davis is a prophetic minister who speaks at churches and conferences all over the world. He is founder of White Dove Ministries, which is located in Foley, AL.

The following is the transcript of parts of the message delivered by Paul Keith Davis. Following that, I have taken the liberty to explain parts of his message in my own words and added scripture passages.

I had a vision, not a dream. In this vision I saw a hand. I only saw it from the elbow down, coming down with a Bible in his hand. I looked at the Bible and it was open to Numbers chapter 10. Then I saw a finger scroll down in the Bible and point to a certain Scripture. That scripture said, “Increase, increase, increase, increase, increase.” Five times.

Now in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, the cloud was lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony; and the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. Then the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. So they moved out for the first time according to the commandment of the Lord through Moses. The standard of the camp of the sons of Judah, according to their armies, set out first, with Nahshon the son of Amminadab, over its army, and Nethanel the son of Zuar, over the tribal army of the sons of Issachar; and Eliab the son of Helon over the tribal army of the sons of Zebulun. Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who were carrying the tabernacle, set out. (Numbers 10:11-17)

And I knew that whatever the truth was in that scripture it was a secret. It was a trigger to launch us into ever increasing measures of increase. Once we start, it is not going to wane. It is going to increase on top of increase. So I wondered about that and the Lord said, “The cloud is moving.”

So I did a little study of this and found out exactly what I felt like it meant. Here is the essence of that. Here is the essence of Numbers chapter 10. It was the introduction of the silver trumpets where there would be a blowing of the trumpets (verses 1-10), the calling of a holy convocation. When they call the holy convocation it could be for war. It could be for packing up and moving. But in this case, it was for Israel to break camp because the cloud was moving.

The scripture that was highlighted for me said there was an order that was followed. This was the order of Israel when they were to pack up and move. First of all, the cloud would go before them. The very first thing that followed the cloud was the standard of Judah. Behind the standard was the tribe of Judah. Behind Judah was Issachar. Behind Issachar was Zebulon. Then all of the instruments in the tent and the Ark of the covenant went behind them.

The Lord told me in my vision, “I am about to visit your generation, but what is going to precede the ark of the covenant are those three anointings: Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. These are preparatory anointings that God has given us.

The Judah Anointing

Chosen by God to be positioned first tribe following the cloud is the tribe of Judah. The standard of Judah is an emblem of a lion. The lion appeared on the shields and banners of the tribe of Judah.

When Judah’s father Jacob (who was later named Israel) was old, he blessed his sons and prophesied over each of them. When he came to Judah, he said:

Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons shall bow down to you. “Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him up? “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. “He ties his foal to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine. He washes his garments in wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes. “His eyes are dull from wine, and his teeth white from milk. (Genesis 49:8-12)

The spirit of Judah is like the prevailing spirit of a young lion. Lions have no fear. They are the king of the beasts. The Judah anointing is a ruling anointing that operates in great authority. Judah’s brothers will bow down to him and praise him. The name Judah literally means “praised”.

I have heard teachings that Judah means “praise,” as in giving praise to God, but that is not what it means. Some have tried to explain that God sent the tribe of Judah first because Judah would sing praises to God, but that is not the reason given in scriptures. The Bible tells us Judah is the young lion who receives praises from his brothers. Judah was sent forth first because he is fearless, victorious, and rules with authority. Judah means “praised,” not “praise.” There is a big difference!

I believe this erroneous teaching about Judah is based on a misinterpretation of what Judah means and a misinterpretation of 2nd Chronicles 20:21-22 where King Jehoshaphat sent singers and praisers before the armies of Israel. It does not say they were from Judah, nor does it say Judah was characterized as being singers or praisers. So we need to stay with what the scriptures say and avoid following the teachings of men who sometimes twist the meaning of the words to make them say things that are not there.

What we know from the scriptures Judah was instructed by the Lord to go first, ahead of the other tribes.

Now the sons of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God and said, “Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then the LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.” (Judges 20:18)

Like a lion, Judah always gets the best portion. So much so that his eyes are dull from wine and his teeth are white from milk. This is another insight into the character of Judah.

Paul Keith Davis explained the Judah anointing this way:

This is the essence of it. The cloud is moving. The Lord told me in my experience, “The cloud is moving and those who are provoked, those who are moved, those who are stirred, I am going to give them something they need for this season in history. I am going to give them my lion-like nature, the lion-like nature of God, to deal with the anxiety and fear among My people.”

When Judah went behind the cloud, the lion-like nature of God went behind the cloud. It is what was given to those in Hebrews Chapter 11. It is imparted by God. It is something we do not possess of ourselves.

God is sending the Judah anointing on His people to rid them of all fears, anxieties, and panic attacks. Fear opens the door for the enemy to come in. Fear can have no place with the people of God. Through this anointing, end-time believers will rise up in boldness to proclaim the good news without fear, just like the apostles in the book of Acts.

The Issachar Anointing

Behind Judah is Issachar. The name Issachar means “there is a reward, wages, a payment, compensation.” Here is how Issachar got his name:

Then Leah (his mother) said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my maid to my husband.” So she named him Issachar. (Genesis 30:18)

However, the Issachar anointing is not defined by his name, but by the word spoken over him by his father. Here is what Jacob, Issachar’s father, said when he blessed him and prophesied over him:

“Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the ash heaps. When he saw that a resting place was good and that the land was pleasant, he bowed his shoulder to bear burdens, and became a slave at forced labor.” (Genesis 49:14-15)

So we see Issachar was the observant one, always taking note of his surroundings to find a pleasant place and a good resting place. Unfortunately for Issachar, his future would involve forced labor, but the main point here is his character trait of being watchful and attentive to his surroundings. He was aware and understood the events around him. Perhaps that is why God chose him to follow Judah as the second tribe when Israel moved behind the cloud.

Paul Keith Davis explained why we need the Issachar anointing:

God wants us to be anointed with the lion-like nature of God, but he also wants us to be anointed with eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand. He not only wants leaders to have understanding of times and seasons but he wants all of his people to have this understanding. He wants us to recognize the day in which we live.

Jesus rebuked the leaders of his day for their lack of awareness of their times. He told them they could tell the weather by the color of the sky at night to know whether it would be a good day or a bad day but they could not tell the day of their own visitation. We need the Issachar anointing to know what God is doing in the earth and how we fit into that plan. Where are we in the Scriptures? What is being fulfilled in our day? I believe the Issachar anointing is essential.

When this outpouring comes we are not going to look back, we’re going to look ahead because what we establish here will take us right into the millennium. So we need the Issachar anointing so that we understand where we are in relation to where we are going.

This remnant of end-time believers will have their eyes opened to see the bigger picture of what God is doing in the earth. They will see where their life fits into God’s plans for the great end-time harvest, which is worldwide. They will no longer rely on the secular news media to explain current events because God is going to give them insights and understanding by His spirit that the secular news media knows nothing about. This remnant will be tuned into another channel. Enabled by the Issachar anointing, they will be illuminated with understanding. When the world starts shaking with birth pangs and tribulation, these believers will be able to explain what is happening to others. In fact, they will have already seen the events before they happened.

The Zebulun Anointing

Behind Issachar is Zebulun. The name Zebulun means “exalted,” which means elevated or lifted up to a high place, glorious, and noble. This is the anointing to go into the high places to receive greater personal revelation of the Lord to be more firmly established in knowing the Lord.

Believers in these last days cannot rely on someone else’s faith or someone else’s revelation. Those who walk in the Zebulun anointing will have close personal knowledge of the Lord. They will dwell with Him. They will take the high ground and occupy it.

With this anointing, those who are hungry for more of God will be enabled to draw out hidden treasures from the word of God. God is going to impart revelation to this generation that was hidden from previous generations.

Paul Keith Davis explained why we need the Zebulun anointing:

The Zebulun anointing helps to establish the revelation of Jesus Christ in the hearts of a remnant of God’s people who will move from infancy into maturity. All of creation is waiting and groaning for the revelation of the mature sons of God (Romans 8:19). These are those who have received revelation on how to access their inheritance, which has been stored up in heaven throughout the ages but not released to the earth until now due to a lack of revelation.

By this anointing, a remnant of God’s people is going to taste the good word of God and the powers of the age to come (Hebrews 6:5). These pioneers will cross over into the age to come and bring the powers of that age back into our day. Like the Israelites who were sent to spy out the promised land, these forerunners will venture over into the land of promise and bring back a few of the grapes, the fruit of that land, and say, “Here it is! Here is what we are after. It is over there.”

They are going to contend for it. They are going to build for it. They are going to believe for it. They are going to move into that. They won’t have the fullness of it but they will have the tasting of it. Just a little taste of that realm will change a generation.

Because of the Zebulun anointing, these forerunners are going to cause eternity to overshadow our realm. They’re going to experience things that we may never have dreamed about. They’re going to taste amazing things like controlling nature and controlling the elements. The glory of this latter house will be greater than the former house. They’re going to usher in the millennium.

Also from Zebulun comes those who do warfare with the instrument of a scribe. In other words, those who write for the Lord (Judges 5:14). Personally, I like that because I do a lot of writing. Some translations interpret this verse to say “wield the staff of office,” which is ambiguous and not a very good translation of the Hebrew words.

ALL THREE ANOINTINGS COMBINED

Those who receive these anointings will not be limited to one but will have all three. They will be well equipped to carry out their end-time assignments as they operate in the boldness of Judah, the awareness of Issachar, and the revelation of Zebulun. They will therefore be well-equipped to fulfill God’s purpose for their life.

Just as the tribes of Israel worked together to do the will of God, so these three anointings will work together to enable this remnant of believers to do the will of God. In Deuteronomy 33:18-19 we see the prophetic decree that both Zebulun and Issachar will call peoples to come up to the mountain of the Lord. There they will offer righteous sacrifices. They will draw out the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand. The abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures are both spiritual and literal treasures. In fact, in nearly every nation where Paul Keith Davis has delivered this message during the past two years the Lord has confirmed it with amazing discoveries of gold, silver, and diamonds soon after he left.

ANTIDOTE FOR OVERCOMING THREE EVIL SPIRITS

The Lord said to Paul Keith Davis, “These three anointings will be the antidote for three very serious spirits that will attempt in a very pronounced way to hinder the last day church.”

There are three spirits coming against the church in the last days. These three spirits work to undermine the foundations of faith and direct God’s people away from the source of their salvation. The Lord showed Paul Keith Davis these three spirits identified in Jude 1:11.

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. (Jude 1:11-16)

Like the three men listed in Jude 1:11, each of these three spirits has a distinctly different assignment against the end-time church.

  1. Cain represents a religious spirit, which is a spirit that takes on a form of godliness but denies the power of God. This spirit does not obey the commandments of the Lord but instead seeks to make its own rules for following God. It is an attempt to put God’s name on man’s lawlessness. It refuses to come to God through the doorway of faith but seeks to come by another way. This spirit attacks those who walk by faith. It seeks to silence them and even kill them if necessary. It is jealous of them in the same way that Cain was jealous of Able. It is the same spirit that was on the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. The jealousy ultimately leads to murder.
  2. The spirit of Balaam is the spirit of error. This spirit promotes false teachings as a way of putting a stumbling block in the path of the people of God. Jesus warned the church at Pergamum to repent from this spirit (Revelation 2:14). Jude 1:11 warns us to avoid the error of Balaam. Those who follow this spirit will go astray in the same way that Balaam went astray because he loved the wages of unrighteousness. This spirit operates in churches today in those who seek to merchandise the anointing for unrighteous profit, using the holy things of God as a means to make money for themselves. The spirit of Balaam is very much a 21st-century enemy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God is going to deal with it in his church.
  3. The spirit of Korah is rebellion against God’s appointed leadership. Just as Korah rebelled against the leadership of Moses, this spirit stirs up rebellion against God’s anointed leaders. Ultimately, it seeks to overthrow God’s leaders if possible. This spirit does not fear the Lord or respect His leaders. It foolishly speaks vile things against leaders to anyone who will listen. It operates the opposite of David when he refused to say anything against King Saul even when Saul sought to kill him.

God already has a plan in place to deal with these evil spirits. Paul Keith Davis explained it as follows:

The Lord did not tell me that one of those anointings is against the other. We’re going to have three specific spirits (Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun) to prepare us for the Lord’s visitation. Preceding the coming of the ark, the Lord is going to release the standard of Judah, the lion-like nature of God, the understanding of times and seasons (Issachar), and the blessings of understanding God’s dwelling place (Zebulun). Then will come the ark of the covenant, whatever God wants that to look like. At the same time, it is going to be the antidote to the evil spirits sent to hinder us.

MY COMMENTS

From the scriptures in Numbers 10, I believe God gave Paul Keith the key to increase for God’s end-time army. I believe God was showing Paul Keith how to tap into true increase, not just increase in one area of our lives but in every area. He was showing him how to cross into the promised land and bring back fruits to show to those who have not yet entered. He was showing him how to tap into the powers of the age to come to usher in the new age of the millennial reign.

Numbers 10 provides the keys to unlocking that increase. The following list shows four lessons that the end-time church can learn from what God did with the Israelites:

  1. Wait on the cloud to move first. Do not move ahead of the cloud and do not get left behind after the cloud has moved. When the cloud moves it is time to move.
  2. Follow every detail of God’s instructions. God gave the Israelites different instructions for different situations, which included blowing the silver trumpets in some cases and sounding alarms in other cases (Numbers 10:1-10). Likewise, we must be careful to follow every detail of His instructions, which will be different for different situations.
  3. Whenever Israel went into a battle or moved their camp, God instructed them to move in a specific order behind the cloud so that Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun always moved ahead of the tabernacle. In the same way, God is equipping the end-time church with three anointings that will precede His return to the earth. These anointings have the same character traits as the three tribes. They give us the antidote that enables us to overcome the spirits of hell that try to hinder us. By receiving these anointings and walking in them, our victory over the schemes of the enemy is assured. Then we will say as Moses said, “Rise up, O Lord! And let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before You.” (Numbers 10:35)
  4. Just as the presence of the Lord returned to the tabernacle after the Israelites moved, the end-time church will usher in the return of the Lord and the beginning of the millennial reign. As Moses said after the ark came to rest, “Return O Lord to the myriad thousands of Israel.” (Numbers 10:36)

Author: James Bailey

Continued in next post, Observations upon the 3 Anointings >

Paws-4-thought: Christian inheritance and the End-times church

DSCF5621Upon closing the ‘conversation’ on Parliament’s rebellion against God’s creation of covenantal marriage, this thought dropped into mind: I’d now  gone FULL cycle in writing about Biblical prophecy for today. That is, in 2009 I’d noted where we were heading as indicated by holy scripture. Now, worldwide changes have brought humanity to the prophesied repetition of ‘The Days of Noah’.

So let’s pause to consider where the Body of Jesus Christ, His Church, is heading. (At our school cafe assembly the elders are pondering what the End-times Church will look like. We’re far from persuaded about theories of pre-Tribulation rapture on the grounds of all the scripture.) My purpose is purely to flag this topic for thought.

A personal peek at ‘the wood and not the trees’ will suffice to recap briefly.:

> visions in 1992 and 2004 of momentous changes to the Islamic World (see All Hail The Lamb) and within the UK (see Comments Upon Collapse of Society). The latter was checked and verified by Revd Dr Stone and revealed that, although the fabric of British society is so rotten it will tear, out of that will rise the Rock upon which Christians will take a stand and repair our nation.

> an insight upon the importance of keeping our focus upon the future marriage of the Bride to the Lamb/Lion of God, Jesus Christ, as in Revelation 21-22.

> recent reminder of a quotation in book I’d read as a new believer. This had arisen out of comments from a non-believer on Godandpolitics blog, and for which confirmation was soon to come – twice! – as follows:

Lightning-1The last point arose at the start of the WordPress problems for UK bloggers, and which prevented my replying. I recalled what John Widdas and Peter Mockford wrote in 1993 about learning how to deal with demonic attacks against church congregations (see left). One of the hardest comments they heard whilst writing their book was made by,

‘…someone coming out of satanism: “The Church is powerless, because they do not live in their inheritance”! (at page 170)

Immediately I recognised its truth from decades spent in the enemy’s camp of the New Age/occult (as here).

From my experience, this situation has arisen because Christians had neglected doing what Jesus commanded; for example, to love one another as He loves them (John 13 & 15), failing to do greater works than He’d done, as stated in John 14:

 “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.  

No. 1 –  The next week we saw Nathan Morris preaching at the first session of Open the Heavens Conference in Mobile. He spoke about the full inheritance in Christ every believer has but doesn’t receive and keep up, or else compromises and thereby loses. In his full-throttle passion and fire Nathan staked his claim to that inheritance on four principles – he even had large T-shaped stakes painted white with signs at the top, as follows:

+ SALVATION + WORD + HOLY SPIRIT + RIGHTEOUSNESS

The next morning at the Well Church, the young worship leader opened by saying he wanted to, “Stake my claim to our inheritance”!!  Nina and I just couldn’t help but chuckle. Worship took straight off >> heaven bound. What followed was personal for practically everyone – which is as it should always be.

No. 2 – Early this week came a link to Paul Keith Davis’ teaching with revelation on Three Anointings Coming to End-time Believers

The notes which come with it by James Bailey are helpful. (He too blogs on how current events relate to scripture at Z3news (ie. ‘zee’ as Americans say, not ‘zed’ as Brits say). It would be hard for me to do justice to this profound paper.

Paul Keith DavisPaul Keith tells of having a vision about chapter 10 of the Old Testament book of Numbers and the meaning for the church of the three tribes of Israel – Judah, Issachar and Zebulun –  as it moves into the ‘new season’. That scripture, writes James, ‘shows four lessons the End-time church can learn from what God did for the ancient Israelites’.

In connection with my musings I notice this pertinent remark by Paul Keith about the anointing of Zebulun:

These are those who have received revelation on how to access their inheritance, which has been stored up in heaven throughout the ages but not released to the earth until now due to a lack of revelation.

Additionally, the Lord explained to Paul Keith those anointings will be the antidote against three very dangerous spirits (per Jude 1) that will seek to strongly hinder the last days’ church. From the descriptions given, that they are obviously at work already is yet another sign we have entered the End-times.

Their aim is to ‘undermine the foundations of faith and direct God’s people away from the source of their salvation’ > NB: Nathan’s first ‘stake’.

The whole message is an exciting and very rich treasure for those who seek to move deeper into our Lord Jesus Christ. To read it click here >

Something good in UK’s ‘marriage’ Act for Christians?

Nero_1The coffee-time conversation with Steve continues. Nina and Simone catch up with us on our way to the cafe’s bar for fresh, full mugs and hear Steve exclaim,

“What! What on earth’s good for believers about the ssm Bill?”  The startled looks our wives dart at each other convey;  “What on earth have our men been talking about?”

Back in our secluded corner, Steve summarises our conversation and he’s ‘champing at the bit’ to take charge. I want to steer it another way but Simone beats us to ‘the off’.  As a solicitor she brings a fresh view.:

Legal eagles’ views

“How the Bill was rushed through and given royal assent clearly smacks of censorship in a totalitarian state. A barrister and senior lecturer at the University of London wrote a splendid professional paper quite relevant to this issue. David McIlroy explains why a democracy’s legal system can’t have a morally neutral playing field. I noted his opinion that,

A public square from which religious influences are excluded is not a neutral public square. It is a public square in which all influences bar the secularist ones have been censored.  That is not a public square in which everyone’s voice is heard and everyone’s views are respected, it is a public square in which religious voices are silenced and anti-religious views are imposed.  This is not a tolerant society, it is a tyrannous society.

“What he also says about the double-importance in a Christian society of how the Last Judgement affects the law is especially interesting…I recall bits like:

…It means today’s rulers are understood, and (should) understand themselves, to be answerable  to a higher authority in their actions. They know they will be judged for how they exercised their power and this accountability is the foundation of accountability to the people.

…citizens know the ultimate judge isn’t the government but almighty God, and this contributes hugely to human freedom.

“It’s an exciting summary of how Christianity has provided a sound basis for secular law..”

“I know, Simone, I’ve got a copy thanks to a fellow blogger – an excellent document! And I wrote about examples of creeping tyranny back in 2009!”  [See 1 & 14 below]

“Also Richard, contrary to what you said about Archbishop Welby and bishops being overwhelmed in the House of Lords, the barrister who founded Christian Legal Centre issued them a written challenge over his version of events and concluded:

I am surprised that the Church of England appears to be vacating the public square when it comes to the issue of marriage. Given the rich teaching of Scripture and strong tradition of marriage, this is something that the CofE should be able to comment on clearly, intelligently and winsomely. Marriage is something to be celebrated, promoted and, at this time, preserved. At a time when the nation needs to hear a prophetic voice on marriage, the CofE’s message is sadly mixed and, as a result, unclear.

“The account of her corresponding with him and CoE’s response laments their inability to copy the politicians’ action in ensuring full attendance for voting.” [2]

Raising my finger, “I like her bit on ‘prophetic voice’ as I was struck by the sharp contrast between the Telegraph’s report on Welby’s ‘cop-out’ and what Sharon Stone taught and did [3] – the first started my morning and the second closed it in a much Godlier way!

“Also, in one of many debates on that other blog I pointed out that wise leaders would wait and watch what happens to other countries before foisting it on the British public. It’s opening Pandora’s Box – next will come legal recognition of bigamy, bestiality and paedophilia, as in the customs that defiled ancient Canaan which God spoke against when Hebrews took it over as the land ‘vomited out its inhabitants’.”

“I’ve read John McTernan’s excellent teaching on those socially sanctioned practices,” . adds Simone. “I said to Stan to read too” nodding at her husband. [4]

Nina expresses her deep concern over Her Majesty giving assent to the Bill in view of her Coronation oath “to maintain the laws of God and profession of the Gospel”.

My long spoon lances a hole in the cappuccino’s thick froth as I respond, “Being a constitutional monarch, there was absolutely nothing she could have done about its passing into Law as the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act.

“But from my perspective as lookout on the walls – as it were – our national leader became much more motivated to introduce the Act – come hell or high water – by President Obama during his state visit. So it’s possibly a result of that influence…”

“I’ve read,” reports Simone, “Obama is a long-standing ‘gay pride evangelist’, as can be seen in his recent call to African nations to be ‘converted’. Their righteous leaders have repudiated his overtures…on fact they’re sparked a real backlash!” [5]

“That’s so,” I add. “I’ve followed it all closely through Bill Koenig, a Christian White House journalist.  Cameron’s now copying Obama as an ‘evangelist’, which His Grace Cranmer scathingly lampoons [6]. He notes Cameron’s clearly stated intention [7]:

Only other thing I wanted to say is that I know that the job isn’t yet fully done. It is something to celebrate that Britain is now – and it’s official – the best place to be gay, lesbian or transgender anywhere in Europe. That is a great achievement. That’s not my measure; that is an inter-nationally recognised measure. But there’s still a lot more work to be done.

“God is not and will not be mocked and these national leaders are treating Him with the utmost of contempt. Unless they humble themselves, repent deeply and renounce their ways there is very little hope for their future – but God may have mercy.”

“But at least they’ve not committed the unpardonable sin,” interjects Nina, to which Steve asks, “What’s that?”

She replies, “That’s saying a work of the Holy Spirit is of Satan. In my opinion, many believers have unwittingly done that when attributing God’s presence and His work to the demonic! Some think so about a Canadian whom we know. Whilst at a church in Bath, he sensed God wanted to heal and that evening I was able to walk and dance again – I went from permanent disability to normal ability in an instant! As we all love Jesus, then that could not have been of the devil.” [8]

“Now,” I ask, “Do you want the good or the not-so-good news first? Let’s keep the best for last – after some opinions encountered in fellow believers.”

Not-so-good points

“I’ll try to be brief on what’s very unsettling to my spirit. As I don’t want to have a closed mind on this issue I’d monitored Gillan Scott’s several well-balanced posts on the topic, to which some readers gave a window upon the state of their souls.

“Whatever gay folk say and do they’re no different to any believer for we’ve fallen short of the glory of God and are deeply loved by Him, otherwise Jesus wouldn’t have died for them too. So we love them too as individuals  but, as with all sin, we don’t like their sin but hate it for what it is and does in preventing their accessing the fullness of life in Christ.

“Some who claimed to be Christians, however, were not only very supportive of this anti-Biblical Bill but also muddled and confused about what scripture says – even twisting its meaning – as well as being ignorant of sin!  One pastor to the gay community even tried to explain why I’m mistaken!

“One regular pundit couldn’t understand what’s wrong with redefining marriage! We got the measure of one another when I commented: if that were correct there was no need for me to have repented of having been in the occult.”

“Just an aside and reminder,” whispered Simone, “I’d like to check the dangers of yoga as its spirit may be messing around with me.”

I continued, “My remark met a haughty, incredulous retort, ‘Upon what basis do you equate same-sex relationships with occultism, Richard? Your logic is seriously skewed, to put it mildly…!’  It was both sad and amusing because the answer was simple…so very simple.

“I parried it by alluding to the oft-quoted legal totem of ‘equality’, as well as its proper  mathematical meaning, and took precise aim: ‘Your own logic has missed the point, to put it bluntly…The basis of my equation is straightforward, namely ‘equality of sin’ (ie. ‘missing the mark’).’ We ended up agreeing to disagree.

“But there were lamentable tales of some dear folk engaged in unions they think the Lord has ok’d and then wonder why things went wrong. For example, the miscarriage of a child being carried by one of a female partnership – a terribly sad state brought about by sin to their detriment. It reminded me of sin crouching ‘by the door’ to take Cain and make him murder his brother Abel. (Genesis 4:6-7)

“The accounts and opinions come with a sense of despoiling. I recalled Nathan Morris’ strong preaching on Jesus’ admonition to the early churches infected by sexual sin of their needing to be cleansed from wearing defiled robes. No wonder many wise and anointed preachers sound the alarm bells.” [9] & [10]

THE GOOD POINTS

“From a Christian standpoint, the good things of this Act are not so much the adverse  ones but more the scriptural ones. We can, for instance, be most positive about these facts.:

  1. This Bill and Act were never in the Conservative Party’s election manifesto. Thus, in my opinion, the electorate as a whole can’t be held responsible for the revolt against God and traditional values and the consequences.
  2. In requiring and enforcing the Queen’s compromising of her Coronation oath her Prime Minister actually took upon himself the full personal responsibility before God for having broken and contravened it – I wouldn’t like to be in his shoes for deliberately being ignorant in such a gravely foolish action.
  3. David Cameron and everyone voting for the Bill is personal accountability to their Maker for going against His revealed and express will for all mankind – no matter whether they believe in God or not. I pray they’ll have personal revelation on this and take the opportunity to repent before they take up their post-mortem existence – as happened to me when I stood on the trapdoor down to hell [11  In Your wrath remember mercy, Lord.
  4. The sweeping international attempts to redefine the meaning of marriage are so intensely orchestrated that even conspiracy theorists would be left dumbfounded. Therefore, it is and can only be a dark spiritual phenomenon – not one of God but from the one who’s always wanted to usurp His place. But its time on earth is now very short so it wants to take as many humans it can and prevent their salvation.
  5. This so-called cultural change was announced well in advance, in fact 2,000 years ago by no less a person than Jesus Christ himself!”

“How do you make that out?” thrusts Steve with one of his bespectacled glares that reminds me of a hen pecking seed. I hear ‘tap-tap-tap’ and turn to see a solitary man at the next table tapping on his tablet. His face and sound mirrors my friend’s and I gently smile. But then I grin in self-deprecation over my natural tonsure as I reply:

“Off the top of my head…a couple of Jesus’ sayings spring to mind.:

“First of all, His teaching about persistent prayer (Luke 18:8) refers to a time like today; one lacking in not only personal but also corporate faith – as widely shown in ditching Christian values for purely hedonistic aims. This is what Jesus foresaw:

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

“Secondly, He instructed His disciples about the coming of the Kingdom of God and to expect exceptional consequences for socially sanctioned wickedness (Matt 24):

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 

“Dr Luke’s carefully collected account of Jesus’ life from witnesses adds (Luke 17):

Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

“Also, His apostle Paul confirmed that Jesus told him the same about a future ‘Last Days’ great apostasy or falling away from faith in God. One of his letters to the early Greek church in Salonika (2 Thessalonians 2) refers to it this way:

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

“Paul carries on with extra details to the gospels, which you can check yourself.

“Moreover, rabbinical teaching is said to confirm the connection between Noah’s time and today’s. Five years ago two separate people on a radio show spoke about the ancient Babylonian Talmud’s interpretation of Genesis and the cause of the Flood. ‘America’s Rabbi’, Aryeh Spero, said the Talmud’s writings show, “before the Flood people started to write marriage contracts between men…which is more than homo-sexual activity…in other words, giving an official state stamp of approval, a sanctifica-tion of homosexual partnership.”

“Rabbi Spero went on to say, “Even in ancient Greece they did not write  marriage contracts between men.  There was homosexuality, and it was wrong, but  there was not an official ‘blessed’ policy. … Marriage is ‘sanctification’ (not  simply a partnership).”  He said to confer the title of sanctification and holiness upon this behaviour is “probably one of the greatest sins of all that  one does against God’s plan for this world.”

“Another source quotes from the Midrash Rabbah Genesis, a specific commentary upon the Torah, and from the Second Book of Enoch, both of which support the claim about the real events of the ‘days of Noah’, from which we may infer they’re the festivities of which Jesus knew and was referring to. I’ve not yet completely cross-checked those sources, but I can let you have them for checking. [12&13]

“Also the widespread persecution of Christians in Africa and Middle East connects into the Daniel 7 end-times prophecy!” [14]  On top of that, the status of Jerusalem is being discussed in Washington. With three major aspects of prophecy now at the fore we’re definitely entering the End-Times, as stated at the outset of my writing four years ago – The End-Time Is Now In Play – maybe you’d like to check it out?” [15]

Nina adds, “What’s going on proves the Bible is absolutely true and correct!”

“We’re definitely entering into times foreseen by the Lord Jesus and His first apostles as well as Old Testament prophets. What’s happening across the world has been written about and we know the outcome – the return of King Jesus for His Bride.  It can’t be much longer now…As Jesus said when teaching about signs of the end of the Age.:”

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28)

Sources:
  1. Theos website article, Is Secular Law Possible?
  2. Challenge issued to Archbishop of Canterbury.
  3. Revd Dr Sharon Stone: Britain is at a crossroads.
  4. Homosexuality vs Holiness – Ordinances of the Amorites.
  5. US and British promotion of LGBT rights sparks backlash
  6. Exporting gay marriage – the ‘gospel’ of St Dave.
  7. Prime Minister thanks campaigners and workers.
  8. From Disabled to Enabled – how Jesus healed Nina’ spine.
  9. Are ‘Christians’ leading homosexuals to hell?
  10. Steve Hill: Warning for this hour – stop spiritual avalanche.
  11. Part 2 of From Death to Life.
  12. WND Janet Porter: How SSM Points to the End of the World.
  13. End-Times Prophecy Watch: Days of Noah:
  14. Muslim Persecution of Christians.
  15. The End Time is Now In Play.

Is Britain taking a totalitarian route?

Nero_7“Your blog about new decrees for the UK was a tad off-beam,” remarks Steve as we take our coffees into a quiet corner – our wives chat about the new baby prince with some friends seen sitting by the bay window. Revealing what’s bugging him, our friend of long-standing continues…

“The Coalition For Marriage [C4M] had already circulated its grave concern at how the voting had been hijacked! They emailed me about leaders of all three main political parties using their muscle to force through the same-sex marriage Bill without any proper debate whatsoever – totalitarianism, is what it is…copied from Hitler and Stalin!” 

Sitting down stems Steve’s flow as he adds reflectively, “Seems the lady preacher you quoted may have been mistaken. Maybe we are at a crossroads, but what she said was supposed to happen didn’t – quite the opposite!!” [Ref 1 below]

I’m taken aback, not knowing Steve to be a secret reader of my blog! When we four lunch together, all talk about ‘glory stories’, ministry or scripture goes straight over his head. Being a keen golfer and do-it-yourself guy, his skills prove useful in the local parish church. Maybe having a newly licensed vicar who’s passionate on prophetic preaching has inspired Steven to dip into my musings?

“I received the same mailing”, I replied. “In debate on other blogs I’ve pointed out there’s no real electoral mandate whatsoever for this Bill to have been introduced. It’s a mockery of parliamentary democracy. I agree – it is a totalitarian procedure. They ignored over half a million protest signatures in preference for a sham so-called consultation.  Not even the gay lobbyists were wanting this Bill.”

Steve nods, “That Bill’s not had unanimous support. According to C4M, it has not been plain sailing for the Government with over 300 MPs and Peers voting against it. C4M effectively highlighted many problems with this legislation. Many Peers tabled amendments to protect civil liberties but none of the Bill’s backers – leaders in all parties – saw to it that they were voted into the Bill.

“Moderate and reasonable changes were wanted, according to C4M, yet both Government and Opposition objected – even hysterically! – and made sure none were added to the Bill.  A shameful travesty – tyranny, if the truth be known!”

Taking the email out of a pocket he points out its second page’s points on legal protections required for

> Teachers > Workers > Chaplains > Councils > Free Speech > Siblings.

I read the details and what C4M’s Colin Hart writes:

We wanted Clauses on the face of the Bill to protect civil liberties. Instead Government ministers only agreed to a couple of amendments and gave verbal assurances that people should not be victimised, saying that people would be protected by equality laws.

Evidence from the very recent past proves the brazen falsity of that empty promise. No wonder my friend is so annoyed.

Re. Prophetic Decrees

I ask Steve, “When you read my piece did you think what Sharon Stone and her team did would change the course of events?”

“Your blog implies she said what God had given her would affect Parliament’s votes on redefining marriage…”

“Hold on Steve, not quite so. The news I read in that morning’s paper on the overwhelming opposition the Archbishops and Lords Spiritual encountered was a clear sign of difficulties [2]. Archbishop Welby is reported as saying,

Anyone who listened to much of the Same Sex Marriage Bill Second Reading Debate in the House of Lords could not fail to be struck by the overwhelming change of cultural hinterland. Predictable attitudes were no longer there. The opposition to the Bill – which included me and many other bishops – was utterly overwhelmed, with amongst the largest attendance and participation and majority since 1945. There was noticeable hostility to the view of the churches.

“To my mind his words contrasted strongly with Sharon’s solid teaching from a completely different stance – one to be taken by the Anglicans, if they knew how!”

“What do you mean Richard?”

“Rather than being browbeaten by sinners within the worldly, unclean House of Lords it is much better to speak from where they are in spirit – seated with Christ in heavenly realms above. That is, to take real spiritual authority from over and above the darkness.  Now that you’re into my blog I’d suggest checking out Sharon’s ideas on ‘perspective’ in her words for 2013 [3].

“Parliament’s approval was already a foregone conclusion when I wrote about her mentoring day’s profound declarations. Even so, I went ahead and published and thought readers may question it. So, I doubt you’re alone Stan.

“Yes, an immediate turnaround would have been fantastic – and proof of answered prayers. My understanding is; what we declared vocally and from our spirits was released into higher realms. The same way Jesus spoke ‘woe’, that is, cursed a barren fig tree, we were breaking and overwriting thoughts and attitudes seeded and concreted into people’s minds by pronouncements from the unrighteous who are in power and authority over them.  Therefore, it will take time to change but it will – and so the near future will be most interesting, even if things get even more difficult as the darkness increases.

“I’ve only to think of a couple of profound changes the Lord showed me many years ago and are now taking place here and in the Middle East.

“The good thing about this SSM Bill from a Christian viewpoint is…”

Our wives head toward us and so we head to the bar for a top up.

To hear what’s good, and not so good, click to continue the discussion > 

References:
  1. Dr Sharon Stone: Britain is at a crossroads
  2. Daily Telegraph 6th July
  3. Dr Sharon Stone: Prophetic Words for 2013

Lion Bites – Infilling and Rejoicing

Lion-Bites-logo-2012With kind permission of the Glasgow Prophetic Centre I’m posting a couple of their daily inspirational words related to recent posts on this blog. (Emphases added by RB)

The first came the Monday I watched the UCB video and realised it was the 3rd time within 3 days I’d heard about Queen Esther.  Her preparations for entering the beauty contest, and later into the king’s presence when he granted her favour, is similar to our way into God’s throne room, which can only be entered through the Blood of the Lamb. The second ‘bite’ came the next Monday about what’s happening in the ‘heavenlies’ and how to react to the opening of ‘Pandora’s Box’ in our nation.:

ALLOW ME TO FILL YOUR LIFE

Isaiah 6:1-3 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

Open the temple. Open up the temple that I may come in. The temple that I speak of is the temple that is your body, that is your mind, that is your spirit. Allow My robe to fill this temple, bringing a purity and holiness that will cause the world around you to tremble.

For I would come and abide in you fully that My presence and beauty and light would emanate even through your skin.

Just as I manifested My presence and Glory on and in the Ark of the Covenant, so I have made you to be a living ark in which My glory may dwell.

Put aside the vain things of this world and allow Me to fill your life. Be transformed by My presence. Be renewed, healed and restored by My glory displaying through you.

Just as the ark was covered by the most pure and precious of gold, so you are precious in My sight. Allow Me to fill every aspect of your life and I will make you a living, visible representation of My glory.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Jeremiah 31:33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

REJOICE

Revelation 12:12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time. (Emphasis added)

I say to you, “Rejoice, rejoice!” when you see the darkness around you. Rejoice when you see the dark clouds gather. Rejoice, knowing that your salvation is near. Rejoice, knowing that the strength of the evil one is coming to an end.

The enemy is piling the last of his reserves and reinforcements into the front line. You look around and you see the darkness increase all around you, and the evil seemingly increasing. But know that what you are witnessing are the last ditch attempts of a vanquished foe – the last desperations to hang on.

So I say to you, “Rejoice, Rejoice”. The light is coming that will shatter this darkness and dissolve those dark clouds.

Isaiah 28:5-6 In that day the LORD of hosts will become a beautiful crown and a glorious diadem to the remnant of His people; A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgement, a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold,  darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Mentoring Day part 2 – Dr Sharon Stone: Britain is at a crossroads

“..The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 NIV)

These above words of Jesus to Nicodemus are from his explanation of how we can see the Kingdom of God. (As a member of the ruling sect of Pharisees, Nicodemus visited Jesus privately.)  I’m reminded of them whenever ‘chance’ brings an unusual event or encounter my way; especially after unscheduled changes have had to be made.  What’s more, when three crop up together after a single change then I’m alert to God’s finger pointing something out.

Windsor Castle: courtesy Copyright-free-photos.org.uk

That happened on 6th July after I arrived at the venue for this month’s Mentoring Day with Dr Stone’s school, only to be turned away as its car park was full. This led, however, to 3 brief encounters on the streets of Windsor that proved to be of increasing relevance to my purpose. (See here for another example of a God-incident in this connection.)

SO, I was ready to catch anything ‘in the wind’!  First, I noticed a couple of ‘surprises’ in an open vision and content of a coffee chat with friends – the ‘axe/icebreaker’ and the remark about the Book of Esther, as recounted in Part 1. But more was to come!

After coffee break, Sharon spoke under an urgency gained from what she’d received  only hours earlier from the Lord in connection with the current voting in The House of Lords!

Let me share not a verbatim account but my notes, which cannot do justice to the depth of teaching, or to the practical activation session that took place:

BRITAIN IS AT A CROSSROADS

In opening, Sharon reminded those who gather regularly that they’re well-gifted in checking in their own spirit whether or not revelations she gives are of the Holy Spirit. Also, that we’re now moving to a new level of making decrees for Britain in one voice:

We, the nation, are at a crossroads, especially regarding the House of Lords’ action this week. We can’t take back a decree, you can only make another over it…

Sharon therefore told how Esther did that by overwriting the evil decree her king’s first minister Haman devised.  (This is why my post on Esther’s story underlined relevant parts of the verses quoted from her book. Did you read on to learn how her action then completely overturned the situation? Evil Haman’s pride was upturned and used against him in having to honour her uncle, whom he’d intended hanging personally, but the king had Haman executed instead!) The account of Queen Esther shows how God works through events to thwart wicked intentions and decrees and deliver his loved ones from evil.

As born-again Christians and kings and priests in God’s kingdom, we are mandated to change our personal and social world by means of decrees. In particular, we need to overwrite those harmful ones that have been spoken over us by authority figures.

Sharon claims that, over many years of operating with decrees, she’s seen shifts in regions and nations that bring acceleration as a result of Godly decrees having been made over them. When we exercise our authority in making decrees as citizens of the Kingdom it is possible to see a major change, even by this time next year.

PRINCIPLES OF DECREES & DECLARATIONS

1. We can reform and recreate our world. In the beginning, God spoke everything into existence and, being made in His image, we recognise the power of words to reform or recreate our world. In fact, many consider the opening verses of Genesis to mean that God re-formed the earth.

Morality and spirituality is spiralling downward. As in Genesis, when things are in chaos is the best time to speak, “Let there be light!”  [Proverbs 18:21 applies too: ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit’.]

A decree is a written statement and becomes a binding, legal instrument. God has three forms of decree – word, law, rule. These have been corrupted on earth through human and demonic agents. [This concept connects with ‘generational altars’, defiled ones of which are to be destroyed: Gen 12:8, 26:25, 28:18, 2Kings3, Deut 12, 1Cor10:14-22 ]

Then we herald, or proclaim orally the decree. A declaration is a personal statement about our allegiance with what’s decreed and is, therefore, a witness and testimony to its truth. Satan is a legalist, thief and destroyer and we need to understand fully the strategic meaning of prophet Daniel’s vision of the ‘fourth beast’ (Dan 7:15-28).

2. The laws of God can be re-activated in the earth and a new administrative order can be released by means of decrees. The process for making such changes is based upon Hebrews 7:11-12 (the new priesthood after the order of Melchizedek).

The traditional churches believe the present system will continue but it’s just like the Judaic system’s replacement recorded at Hebrew 7:15-16. Let’s not forget Solomon’s proverb (Proverbs 15:2) which applies to us as searchers, or may be likened to Jesus’ parables, or to His unravelling a ball of string:

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3. Decrees establish and construct foundations with a secure legal position for the purpose of building the Kingdom, as it is written at Job 22:28.:

You will also declare a thing,
And it will be established for you;
So light will shine on your ways.

Nehemiah used this principle against enemies of his rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls for they’d no right to be there, whereas he possessed the Persian king’s written decree.

Legalist Satan pays great attention to decrees and makes opposite ones to rob Godly ones of their power. This strategy can be overcome as revealed by the Lord  to prophet Isaiah, as in the opening verse of his 10th chapter (for outcome see vv 3-4):

“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees,
Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed…

4. Therefore, we’re authorised to declare “Woe!” against unrighteous decrees and all those who write them [like Jesus cursing the fig tree which bore no fruit]. As in Job 6:25 “How forceful are right (and timely) words…”

5. A decree is forceful and violent, as in applying a signet ring to a decree, as Jesus stated at Matthew 11:12 (from Amplified versions)

And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].

and Matt 16:19 to Peter and his fellow disciples:

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.”

Sharon explained such application shakes and breaks open heaven, like an icebreaker!  Now I understood the relevance of the open vision I’d been granted at the start of the meeting (see Part 1)!

Next, came a practical application of the fresh Apostolic Prophetic Decrees Over the UK the Lord had given Sharon after waiting upon Him early that morning. He also gave her the decrees which our enemy has sown into the minds of politicians, media and the not-yet believing public.

7. The Decision is enforced by the Watchers (angels) in accordance with Daniel 4:17

This sentence is by the decree of the [heavenly] watchers and the decision is by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High [God] rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whomever He will and sets over it the humblest and lowliest of men.

The closing verses of Psalm 103 also attest to this principle:

Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion.  Bless the Lord, O my soul!

NB: It’s especially interesting how the Book of Esther was separately referred to twice during that day, and then again two days later upon watching the video about the Welsh Outpouring. This began with a prophetic word from Esther about appearing before the king and touching his sceptre.

Perhaps the Lord God is indicating that, as He’s brought spiritual and physical changes within church for Wales and overflowing to the rest of Britain, so too will what has been done in Windsor affect and bring changes within our nations. I trust it will do so in view of my personal perception of its spiritual significance to the United Kingdom as a pivotal point, or cog, between heaven and earth.

May each of these apostolic and prophetic decrees be enabled and enforced for the Greater Glory of God. Amen.

Further Reading: This teaching is discussed ‘over coffee’ here and continued here.

Mentoring Day part 1 – apostolic/prophetic alignment and surprises!

Let’s first consider these verses in chapter 4 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (NKJV):

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”…11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

In his ardent teaching upon the benefits of apostolic/prophetic alignment for churches,  Jerome Joseph stated pastors and teachers have been leading church for a season, but this new season needs them to align to, and thereby be strengthened by, the apostolic and prophetic ‘ascension’ gifts.

It is time to move away from adherence to a local church/pastor/priest, for that is a form of idolatry which is past it’s ‘sell-by’ date. And that is not of God.

It is time for an uncompromising, ruthlessness for righteousness and God’s gospel to be expressed throughout the body of Christ. When the Commander-in-Chief speaks through the apostolic/prophetic we should obey Him – we’re not a peace-keeping ministry but a militant calling.

Before that hour’s solid teaching I’d taken my seat after worship. Out of the corner of my eye I’d sensed a long grey, vertical shape whiz down the aisle invisibly carving a deep furrow through its carpeted floor!  I thought it was like an ice-breaker but upon analysis thought it may be an axe or adze being swung. (See next post for correct answer!)

These photos may help you gain an impression of the impact I sensed – imagine the ship without its white superstructure and the motion of the other’s prow through ice.

Coffee break

Fresh CoffeeOver coffee afterwards I chatted with a couple of fellow attendees. One mentioned she’d been praying with friends the previous evening because of a recommendation (here) for a prophetic word from Kim Clement relating to the Book of Esther.  It was about wicked Haman’s fate being applied today. So, I filed it away mentally for reference (as here), but along with the above impressions, it proved to be related to what Dr Stone was about to teach!

This was the first of three references to the Book of Esther that I drew attention to in respect of the video on the Welsh Outpouring. The second and fullest occasion was when Sharon taught about a new level of being able to decree and overwrite what’s going on with this nation’s legislature. The foundational principles are contained in the book of Esther, as indicated in the last post, and continued in Mentoring Day part 2.

Meanwhile, please visit Dr Stone’s website to learn what the Lord gave her that very morning about very important Apostolic Prophetic Decrees Over the UK.

Note on Christian prophecy and The Apocalypse

Digging into the difference of opinion noted in the re-post from Joel Rosenberg unearthed an interesting find – one connecting into what I wrote ten weeks ago today about the origin of this blog. I’ll say more about that later.

Some readers may have queried my covering comment to Joel’s post; (it) “includes opinions of a Bible teacher who thinks its prophecies have happened“.  This merely reflects the actual content of The Blaze interviews.

As Hank Hanegraaff’s online radio show is called ‘Bible Answer Man’, my remark may seem to question that title. Those reading the linked article would note journalist Billy Holloway’s statement that Hanegraaff has “a wildly different take on the matter” to that of Rosenberg for he, “rejected the notion that Revelation and other alleged prophecies apply to today’s world”.

How come? Aren’t both men Christians? A little elucidation is called for…

Doubtless both men meet the basic criterion for a born-again believer, as in the Spirit-inspired instruction of the apostles Paul and John:

if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Chapter 10 of Paul’s letter to the Romans; New International Version)

16 For God so loved the world (that’s you, my reader) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (Chpt 3 of the Gospel according to John; NIV)

So, to have faith in Christ it isn’t absolutely necessary to believe everything in the Bible. In fact, some believers disregard prophecy and scholars have various opinions upon this topic and when, if at all, predicted events will occur. Also, are such things to be taken figuratively?  The widest divergence in opinion is over the Bible’s closing book – ‘The Apocalypse’, or ‘Book of Revelation’. In the original Greek this Book opens as follows.:

‘Apocalupsis iEsou christou…’

‘The unveiling of Jesus Christ (anointed one)’, per the Greek Interlinear Bible, or as the New King James Version translates it:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,  who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1)

John is thought to have been the closest disciple of Jesus, and could thereby personally attest to Jesus’ awesome origin, as in the first of three short letters to believers:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us(1 John 1)

The Apocalypse opens by stating its purpose: an unveiling of God’s plans that He gave to Jesus Christ, for sharing through his surviving first disciple several decades after he witnessed Jesus’ resurrection from death. This account tells how John acquired this information. He became Jesus’ amanuensis in writing exactly what Jesus dictated as personal letters to seven churches in Asia as a result of His having visited them.

White Door in SkyNext, John was caught up to God’s Throne Room in heaven where he heard and saw visions about what was going to happen shortly and in the distant future when the Age will be drawn to a close with the bodily return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign upon earth. John had to be reminded to write it all down!

NB: It is the only Book in the Bible to open with a blessing for all who read it and ‘keep’, or observe, what’s written therein, and closes with a curse (of loss of inheritance in the Kingdom) for anyone who tampers with its text and changes its message. The Book of Revelation is primarily for believers, not unbelievers.

In Unlocking The Bible, David Pawson defines this genre of literature as follows:

Unlocking The Bible‘Apocalyptic’ is history written from God’s point of view.  It gives the total picture.  It enlarges our understanding of world events by seeing them in the light of what is above and beyond our limited perception.  This gives us both insight and foresight…far beyond that of the normal historian.

He also gives this snippet:

God is working out his plans and purposes within time…He is the Lord of History.  But it is his pattern, which can only be discerned when he has revealed the missing pieces of the jigsaw. (Emphasis added)

(Now where did we come across that notion before?  See Invisible Jigsaw.)

He points out that the first characteristic of the ‘apocalyptic’ genre is that it’s basically moral. Secondly, that it’s often symbolical so the unknown can be communicated in terms of what is familiar, as in analogy or parable, because it involves not only information but also imagination. 

Interpretation of The Revelation

Thus, this complex ‘end-times’ revelation can only be understood with God’s overall purpose for humanity in mind. So, it’s not surprising that scholars are divided over the Book’s meaning and predictions for the end of 1st Century and any later events it may forecast for the world and the Church.

There are four main ‘schools’ of exposition based upon interpretations of when these predictions would be fulfilled, as below:

  1. Preterist  – during the first centuries AD with the decline/fall of Roman Empire
  2. Historicist – all centuries between the First and Second Advent of Jesus Christ
  3. Futurist – end of final century AD (held by early Church and evangelicals today)
  4. Idealist – any century AD, none in particular (treats the Book as spiritual ‘myth’).

We can now appreciate Hank Hanegraaff’s ‘preterist’ position that Revelation refers only to John’s days 1900 years ago and the persecutions that took place. But he fails to take the whole account into consideration because its closing chapters clearly refer to things that have not happened yet. For example, unprecedented global catastrophes, return of millions of deceased Christians alongside Jesus to overthrow Satan and rule upon earth, Satan’s final rebellion with many nations and demise in the lake of fire, the arrival of the ‘holy city’ and ‘wedding of the Lamb’!

So how are we to understand The Apocalypse? David Pawson suggests using the four ‘schools’  in conjunction for each of the three main time periods, the present, the near future and the far future (not ignoring the switching between earth and heaven).  Yet,

..the fundamental question is not ‘when?’ but WHY?

Pawson’s answer:

Not just to tell us what is going to happen but to get us ready for what is going to happen…Revelation is a ‘manual for martyrdom’…which is why this book becomes so meaningful to Christians under persecution. Maybe this is also why Western Christians in comfortable churches fail to find it relevant.

Structure of The Revelation

 “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.  18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.  (Rev 1:17-19 NKJV)

  • The Present:
  • chpt 1. Vision of the Son of Man, the one ascended Lord
  • chpt 2-3. Letters to seven churches (and for all churches)
  • chpt 4-5. Vision of heaven, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb
  • The Near Future:
  • chpt 6-11. Judgements, great tribulation, martyrs and two witnesses
  • chpt 12-16. Woman, child, dragon, beast 666, antichrist, false prophet
  • chpt 17-19. Fall of Babylon, Messianic judgement of Armageddon
  • THE RETURN OF ‘THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS’ 
  • The Far Future:
  • chpt 20. The Millennium, Satan rebels/defeated, Judgement, lake of fire
  • chpt 21. New heaven and new earth, the Bride, the New Jerusalem
  • chpt 22. River of Life from God’s throne, Tree of Life for healing the nations.

David Pawson explains that each future period has bad news and things get much worse, but the good news is that things will get very much better afterwards. Through it all Jesus encourages his people to ‘endure’ and ‘overcome’ until He returns.

First, Jesus tells the churches they must deal with internal problems if they are to face external pressures. Compromise in belief of behaviour, tolerance of idolatry or immorality, weaken the Church from within. (LESSON FOR TODAY!)

For the 2nd period He shows the worst that can happen but believers will not have to go through anything worse! “And the very worst time ahead will be at most a few years”.

Then, Jesus reveals the wonders that will follow in the 3rd period when all believers will be with Him.

Conclusion

On a personal note, what impresses me is the comparison of this closing book with the Bible’s first book, Genesis.  Revelation promises a full restoration not only for those who believe in God, to life with Him, but also and because of that for the earth too. The Tree of Life is a main feature in the garden of Eden, in the beginning, but through it Satan perverted Adam and Eve’s relationship with their fatherly Creator and so they lost and fell from their glory. In the end that usurper gets his just desserts, the saved return to living in the glory of God in the New Jerusalem and the Tree’s leaves bring healing to all people, as it is written.:

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21 NKJV)

This short blog can never hope to do justice to the Book of Revelation. It is an awesome subject but you may wish to meditate upon it yourself along with suitable aids such as in the links below.

Acknowledgements – thank you to:

  • David Pawson, for Unlocking the Bible and books & audio series here and here.
  • Neil MacKereth, for several in-depth courses at Winchester Vineyard church using Chuck Missler’s and David Pawson’s extensive teachings.

PS – click to read about what happened after writing the above post!

Does the Bible Predict God’s End-Times Destruction of Syria? My interview with The Blaze.

Courtesy Watcharakun at Freedigitalphotos.comAn interesting, albeit brief, reference in this media interview to Joel Rosenberg’s prophetical novels and includes opinions of a Bible teacher who thinks its prophecies have already happened!

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

blaze-logo(Jerusalem, Israel) — In light of the horrific carnage in Syria and warnings the country could completely implode, TheBlaze has published an interview with me about the prophecies of Isaiah 17 and Jeremiah 49 and the general topic of Bible prophecy and events in the Middle East. Here are excerpts from the story by reporter Billy Hallowell:

As the situation in Syria intensifies and the United Nations reports that 93,000 civilians have been killed since 2011, the United States is taking increased action. With the deadly drama continuing to progress, it’s likely that some — especially considering Syria’s Biblical and geographical significance — will see End Times prophecy unfolding.

A silly suggestion to non-believers and others who disagree with conservative views on the Bible and an undeniable reality to others, the debate over signs and symbols associated with Jesus’ return presents ever-fascinating discussions. But while author Joel C. Rosenberg embraces…

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Prophets call for protective prayers for President Obama

Folks will be aware of my reservations on President Obama’s policies and decisions. I’m not a fan but it is important to respect him in his role. So Ire-posted Wendy Alec’s call for intercession after the re-election, followed by news of related developments. Another call comes from elsewhere and possibly connects into one of my readers’ dreams. After careful consideration, therefore, I’m posting this short video.

The following ‘alarm calls’ to pray for the United States and its president come from four prophets who are recognised by my church leadership here in England. I’m familiar with Bobby Conner’s standing and our pastor is aware of Neville Johnson’s ministry. So, you may wish to hear and weigh their comments on this video. (NB: please watch before reading the comments section, where you’ll find our reaction.)