Greatness in Tribulation – Part 2
Stage 2 – The Trumpets (and the power of Love)
Yesterday I wrote of the three ways mankind rebels against God: in the flesh…desiring good life centered on mans strength; In worship of darkness; and in outright blasphemy (calling God’s good work evil) of God. Jesus’ plan is to illuminate with truth the true consequences of this rebellion in three stages. First, He will show the devastating consequences of putting trust in a man-based plan. The antichrist is going to get what he wants, and so are the people who put their trust in him. The truth…the consequences of trusting in man’s plan for justice, equity, and provision has always been the same: world war, famine, widespread death. These are what the seals are all about. As Christians testify of the truth, they will be martyred in great numbers (seal 5). But those truly loyal to Jesus won’t shrink back in fear! No…They will cry out in prayer. The prayer movement is going to a whole new place. And those contending in prayer…in one accord…just like the first disciples in the upper room, are going to be marked with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Signs and wonders will be following the believers like never before. This is when the Bride will begin doing the “greater things” that Jesus promised:
John 14:12 "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.
Many will see these events and they will get saved. There are many outside of the Church right now who are hungry for truth. The intensity of this day will open many eyes to truth, and many will be saved. BUT, there are also many who have hard hearts now…even believers. They will fall away and/or harden their hearts even more. One by one, they will be choosing whether or not to take the mark…to fall in line with the end time Nebuchadnezzar. God is not ok that any would perish:
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
So, after the seven seals are opened, those who have not repented and come under Jesus’ leadership, will feel the next wave of intensity. Truth MUST remain. And truth will be revealed slowly, in three waves of seven so that anyone who would choose it would call on the name of the Lord. Many will be saved, and many will also harden their hearts past the point of no return, which is expressed by taking the mark of the global currency. They cannot be saved. This brings us to stage 2.
Stage 2 - The Trumpet Judgments
When mankind see’s the evil in mankind’s heart as the antichrist’s plan is shown for what it really is, people will either repent or harden their heart, just like Pharoah did during the Exodus. God will release the next wave to get those who harden their heart to change their minds and agree with God. The first wave revealed the true heart of man in the form of the antichrist plan and its consequences. The next wave is the demonstration of what is in the heart of the father of the antichrist. The trumpet judgments (Revelation 8 and 9) release, in a very limited way, the heart of satan on mankind. The seven trumpets reveal that a. satan is not in control of any of the natural resources of the earth (trumpets 1 through 4); b. that left to his own devices, satan desires to hurt and torment mankind; and c. what men worship outside of God alone, brings only death and torment.
Right now Jesus, by the words of His intercession, is holding back the consequences of what mankind really wants and what satan really wants. If it weren’t for Jesus’ words moment by moment…the protection of the minds of unbelievers…keeping the sun the right temp…preventing complete global murder and perversion…the whole earth would collapse.
Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Many blame God for evil in the world, but the truth is that God is protecting even unbelievers moment by moment, limiting their ability to obtain the consequences of life without God’s leadership that is truly in their hearts. In the end, every gets what they want. The seal judgments are Jesus “lifting His hand of restraint” from what mankind desires. The trumpet judgments are the next unveiling of truth. Jesus says, “if you won’t turn when you see what is truly in man’s heart, then I will show you what is truly in the god of rebellious mans heart.” The trumpets are Jesus “lifting His hand of restraint” from what is in Satan’s heart. This is literal not figurative.
Satan has concealed his murderous hatred for the human race through history
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Satan has always traded power for loyalty, this is what swept away 1/3 of the angels. The promise of the antichrist system is wealth, peace, and power for loyalty. This is a complete lie, similar to the promises made to the masses by Nazi German, Stalinist Russia, etc. When Jesus lifts His hand from the evil in man’s heart the tribulation seal judgments are released. As Jesus lifts His hand of restraint from the “father” of the antichrist…the true nature of the “god” of this world is exposed.
As God gives satan liberty to relate to those who have chosen to believe satan’s lies about what really satisfies…and those who have made satan their strength through trusting the antichrist, satan will torment them. God will give those who have chosen agreement with satan the true consequences of that desire. This is the mercy of God. Even this awful torment is less intense than eternity in hell. The release of these judgments are to redeem those in rebellion, so they can see the true nature of who it is they serve.
Just like in the story of Job (Job 2:4-7) God is the one giving authority to his enemy, in order that truth would be revealed. By the time of the 5th and 6th trumpets, the gates of hell are actually opened and demons are released on earth. God, in His mercy, limits the authority of the demons to only torment, not to kill. All those who agree with God, as well as all those who chose to repent are sealed…they cannot be touched by these judgments:
Revelation 9:4 They (the demons being released) were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
Jesus prophesied that this would happen. He said the gates of hell would literally be opened, but that it would not overcome His Bride:
Matthew 16:18-19 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Despite the temporary opening of the gates of hell to reveal truth, the name of Jesus will not lose one bit of its authority. The Bride will be casting out demons, healing the sick, and preaching the gospel…anointed by the Holy Spirit so that ANY that would call on the name of the Lord would be saved:
Romans 10:13-15 For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED." (14) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!"
In the Roman's passage, Paul quoted an end-time Isaiah passage regarding Jesus’ Bride who will only be a night and day singing and praying Bride acting as watchmen:
Isaiah 52:7-8 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (this is the Bride as a faithful witness through this intense time) (8) Your watchmen shall lift up their voices (they will be singing), With their voices they shall sing together (in one accord); For they shall see eye to eye (no denominations…no seven divided Churches…just one unified Bride) When the LORD brings back Zion.
Isaiah 62:6-7 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night (24-hours a day these watchmen are singing and praying). You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, (7) And give Him no rest (how long will they be on earth doing this?!! Until Jesus returns to rescue Jerusalem!!) till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
This is the most intense time of natural history. Jesus returns at the 7th trumpet, to gather up His Bride…the night and day watchmen…and they all go into Jerusalem to put an end to the antichrist’s reign. Antichrist’s 42 months are over when Jesus returns. Over 30 days, of marching and dancing into Jerusalem, Jesus releases the last wave of truth..the bowl judgments…before personally defeating the antichrist. This INTENSE season…the book of Acts Part II… requires endurance, which requires advanced preparation. Here is the solution:
The antidote to Stage 2:
Only a people filled with supernatural power will flourish through Stage 2. This is why I believe many “dispensationalists”…those who believe the Holy Spirit withdrew signs and wonders after the Bible was finished being written…believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. If you don’t believe that supernatural power is available to you, you must reason that God would remove His bride before these events take place.
This is the POINT of the trumpet judgments. They literally, by design, will require the “greater things than these” be performed in order for the Bride to not just survive, but to flourish in victory. That is what is promised…not just survival, but OVERCOMING. We WILL overcome, by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony:
Revelation 12:10-12 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. (11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (12) Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
Our “testimony” is literally our stories of overcoming the full force of the enemy with the greater power of the creator God simply by using the name of Jesus! This requires a time of preparation…a filling of the lamps with oil.
Matthew 25:8-9 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' (9) But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
So what is the oil Jesus talked about in Matthew 25? It is the living history we have obtained of GROWING in the power of the Holy Spirit. No one can share their history of faith building in the contending for help from God and Him releasing more and more help…more and more power…more and more healing…more and more provision…more and more wisdom and direction…This takes TIME. It takes advanced preparation.
Many who believe the Holy Spirit is still giving supernatural gifts wrongly see the Holy Spirit as stingily giving some people a certain little deposit, and then they have to figure out what it is , and find a way to use it. This is not what the Bible describes at all:
1 Corinthians 12:29-31 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? (30) Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! (31) So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.
We are all going to need as much of every gift as possible. Paul said “EARNESTLY DESIRE”...that means you get a choice. Moment by moment I choose my life. Spend my time watching Charles in Charge reruns and feed a desire for a little rest for the mind…or stop wasting time and look for opportunities to pray for, and practice operating in the gifts of the Spirit?! They are all available to me in some measure. I should go after them all...desire them all...ask for them all. In the process, I will find that there are some I excel at, and others I do more and more...bit by bit.
You don’t need to take a test to find out what gift you have…you need to see the obstacles in life as THE TEST to draw the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s power into your life. The headache that won’t go away is God’s gift to get you to press in for more. That anger that subsides when you draw on the indwelling Spirit…that history of overcoming emotion is going to be really helpful as the world melts down! Someday soon, you will be glad you didn’t shrink back and accept the headache as a curse…but that bit by bit…day by day…you overcame until the breakthrough happened! The truth is, gift assessments miss the entire point. God wants spiritual "violence" to train me up for the day of violence!
Matthew 11:11-12 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (12) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Much more is available to you than to even the forerunner John the Baptist. You can change the earth even more than John, according to Jesus, BUT spiritual violence is what obtains the kingdom! What the Bride is supposed to be all about right now, in addition to the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle antidote for stage 1, is the all-in living in the power of the resurrected life!!
Instead of watching reruns of Seinfeld or yet another movie which fills my mind with another dose of darkness, I am supposed to be contending with spiritual violence...that unsettled expression of "I am not satisfied” until I walk in the fullness of what God has for me… If I prophesy a little now...I want to do twice as much tomorrow...and then, when God gives me that, I want to contend for double...in all the gifts.
This is going to REALLY matter when the gates of hell are opened! We are supposed to be confident and ready to overcome! Right now is training for tomorrow….this has always been the case, but we are quickly approaching the day where the rubber meets the road….where the truth of what we have been worshiping will be revealed in the physical realm in the context of a war between heaven and hell that involves US!
You become whatever you worship. Worship is the highest expression of desire, and everyone gets what they want in the end. If you mostly desire a reputation, you will get a spirit that fears man’s opinion. If you mostly desire moth and rust eaten physical wealth, you will get a spirit of covetousness and greed…desire sex…you will get a spirit of lust. BUT, if you worship the Creator God…the First and the Last….the Author and Finisher…you will get Acts 2 power from on high. This requires training…this requires a lifestyle of worship. This is what David’s Tabernacle is all about. Separating…for real…with actual choices…from what the world desires and focusing…expressing my desire to God for more of God…training for the coming day of the battle.
2 Timothy 2:3-6 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (5) And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (6) The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
Someday, after the war…all the gifts will pass....What God is really interested in is the bond of love that grows by me asking and receiving. Love is the point. Faith, hope, and love are remaining for all eternity...(imagine that...faith will always be necessary…it will always remain)...but love is the greatest. Love happens in the back and forth of contending and receiving. A worker works for wages. A mere soldier follows orders…But a Bride is fierce in LOVE. This is the antidote to stage 2. No one fights like a Bride!
Yesterday I wrote of the three ways mankind rebels against God: in the flesh…desiring good life centered on mans strength; In worship of darkness; and in outright blasphemy (calling God’s good work evil) of God. Jesus’ plan is to illuminate with truth the true consequences of this rebellion in three stages. First, He will show the devastating consequences of putting trust in a man-based plan. The antichrist is going to get what he wants, and so are the people who put their trust in him. The truth…the consequences of trusting in man’s plan for justice, equity, and provision has always been the same: world war, famine, widespread death. These are what the seals are all about. As Christians testify of the truth, they will be martyred in great numbers (seal 5). But those truly loyal to Jesus won’t shrink back in fear! No…They will cry out in prayer. The prayer movement is going to a whole new place. And those contending in prayer…in one accord…just like the first disciples in the upper room, are going to be marked with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Signs and wonders will be following the believers like never before. This is when the Bride will begin doing the “greater things” that Jesus promised:
John 14:12 "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.
Many will see these events and they will get saved. There are many outside of the Church right now who are hungry for truth. The intensity of this day will open many eyes to truth, and many will be saved. BUT, there are also many who have hard hearts now…even believers. They will fall away and/or harden their hearts even more. One by one, they will be choosing whether or not to take the mark…to fall in line with the end time Nebuchadnezzar. God is not ok that any would perish:
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
So, after the seven seals are opened, those who have not repented and come under Jesus’ leadership, will feel the next wave of intensity. Truth MUST remain. And truth will be revealed slowly, in three waves of seven so that anyone who would choose it would call on the name of the Lord. Many will be saved, and many will also harden their hearts past the point of no return, which is expressed by taking the mark of the global currency. They cannot be saved. This brings us to stage 2.
Stage 2 - The Trumpet Judgments
When mankind see’s the evil in mankind’s heart as the antichrist’s plan is shown for what it really is, people will either repent or harden their heart, just like Pharoah did during the Exodus. God will release the next wave to get those who harden their heart to change their minds and agree with God. The first wave revealed the true heart of man in the form of the antichrist plan and its consequences. The next wave is the demonstration of what is in the heart of the father of the antichrist. The trumpet judgments (Revelation 8 and 9) release, in a very limited way, the heart of satan on mankind. The seven trumpets reveal that a. satan is not in control of any of the natural resources of the earth (trumpets 1 through 4); b. that left to his own devices, satan desires to hurt and torment mankind; and c. what men worship outside of God alone, brings only death and torment.
Right now Jesus, by the words of His intercession, is holding back the consequences of what mankind really wants and what satan really wants. If it weren’t for Jesus’ words moment by moment…the protection of the minds of unbelievers…keeping the sun the right temp…preventing complete global murder and perversion…the whole earth would collapse.
Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Many blame God for evil in the world, but the truth is that God is protecting even unbelievers moment by moment, limiting their ability to obtain the consequences of life without God’s leadership that is truly in their hearts. In the end, every gets what they want. The seal judgments are Jesus “lifting His hand of restraint” from what mankind desires. The trumpet judgments are the next unveiling of truth. Jesus says, “if you won’t turn when you see what is truly in man’s heart, then I will show you what is truly in the god of rebellious mans heart.” The trumpets are Jesus “lifting His hand of restraint” from what is in Satan’s heart. This is literal not figurative.
Satan has concealed his murderous hatred for the human race through history
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Satan has always traded power for loyalty, this is what swept away 1/3 of the angels. The promise of the antichrist system is wealth, peace, and power for loyalty. This is a complete lie, similar to the promises made to the masses by Nazi German, Stalinist Russia, etc. When Jesus lifts His hand from the evil in man’s heart the tribulation seal judgments are released. As Jesus lifts His hand of restraint from the “father” of the antichrist…the true nature of the “god” of this world is exposed.
As God gives satan liberty to relate to those who have chosen to believe satan’s lies about what really satisfies…and those who have made satan their strength through trusting the antichrist, satan will torment them. God will give those who have chosen agreement with satan the true consequences of that desire. This is the mercy of God. Even this awful torment is less intense than eternity in hell. The release of these judgments are to redeem those in rebellion, so they can see the true nature of who it is they serve.
Just like in the story of Job (Job 2:4-7) God is the one giving authority to his enemy, in order that truth would be revealed. By the time of the 5th and 6th trumpets, the gates of hell are actually opened and demons are released on earth. God, in His mercy, limits the authority of the demons to only torment, not to kill. All those who agree with God, as well as all those who chose to repent are sealed…they cannot be touched by these judgments:
Revelation 9:4 They (the demons being released) were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
Jesus prophesied that this would happen. He said the gates of hell would literally be opened, but that it would not overcome His Bride:
Matthew 16:18-19 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Despite the temporary opening of the gates of hell to reveal truth, the name of Jesus will not lose one bit of its authority. The Bride will be casting out demons, healing the sick, and preaching the gospel…anointed by the Holy Spirit so that ANY that would call on the name of the Lord would be saved:
Romans 10:13-15 For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED." (14) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!"
In the Roman's passage, Paul quoted an end-time Isaiah passage regarding Jesus’ Bride who will only be a night and day singing and praying Bride acting as watchmen:
Isaiah 52:7-8 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (this is the Bride as a faithful witness through this intense time) (8) Your watchmen shall lift up their voices (they will be singing), With their voices they shall sing together (in one accord); For they shall see eye to eye (no denominations…no seven divided Churches…just one unified Bride) When the LORD brings back Zion.
Isaiah 62:6-7 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night (24-hours a day these watchmen are singing and praying). You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, (7) And give Him no rest (how long will they be on earth doing this?!! Until Jesus returns to rescue Jerusalem!!) till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
This is the most intense time of natural history. Jesus returns at the 7th trumpet, to gather up His Bride…the night and day watchmen…and they all go into Jerusalem to put an end to the antichrist’s reign. Antichrist’s 42 months are over when Jesus returns. Over 30 days, of marching and dancing into Jerusalem, Jesus releases the last wave of truth..the bowl judgments…before personally defeating the antichrist. This INTENSE season…the book of Acts Part II… requires endurance, which requires advanced preparation. Here is the solution:
The antidote to Stage 2:
Only a people filled with supernatural power will flourish through Stage 2. This is why I believe many “dispensationalists”…those who believe the Holy Spirit withdrew signs and wonders after the Bible was finished being written…believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. If you don’t believe that supernatural power is available to you, you must reason that God would remove His bride before these events take place.
This is the POINT of the trumpet judgments. They literally, by design, will require the “greater things than these” be performed in order for the Bride to not just survive, but to flourish in victory. That is what is promised…not just survival, but OVERCOMING. We WILL overcome, by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony:
Revelation 12:10-12 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. (11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (12) Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
Our “testimony” is literally our stories of overcoming the full force of the enemy with the greater power of the creator God simply by using the name of Jesus! This requires a time of preparation…a filling of the lamps with oil.
Matthew 25:8-9 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' (9) But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
So what is the oil Jesus talked about in Matthew 25? It is the living history we have obtained of GROWING in the power of the Holy Spirit. No one can share their history of faith building in the contending for help from God and Him releasing more and more help…more and more power…more and more healing…more and more provision…more and more wisdom and direction…This takes TIME. It takes advanced preparation.
Many who believe the Holy Spirit is still giving supernatural gifts wrongly see the Holy Spirit as stingily giving some people a certain little deposit, and then they have to figure out what it is , and find a way to use it. This is not what the Bible describes at all:
1 Corinthians 12:29-31 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? (30) Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! (31) So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.
We are all going to need as much of every gift as possible. Paul said “EARNESTLY DESIRE”...that means you get a choice. Moment by moment I choose my life. Spend my time watching Charles in Charge reruns and feed a desire for a little rest for the mind…or stop wasting time and look for opportunities to pray for, and practice operating in the gifts of the Spirit?! They are all available to me in some measure. I should go after them all...desire them all...ask for them all. In the process, I will find that there are some I excel at, and others I do more and more...bit by bit.
You don’t need to take a test to find out what gift you have…you need to see the obstacles in life as THE TEST to draw the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s power into your life. The headache that won’t go away is God’s gift to get you to press in for more. That anger that subsides when you draw on the indwelling Spirit…that history of overcoming emotion is going to be really helpful as the world melts down! Someday soon, you will be glad you didn’t shrink back and accept the headache as a curse…but that bit by bit…day by day…you overcame until the breakthrough happened! The truth is, gift assessments miss the entire point. God wants spiritual "violence" to train me up for the day of violence!
Matthew 11:11-12 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (12) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Much more is available to you than to even the forerunner John the Baptist. You can change the earth even more than John, according to Jesus, BUT spiritual violence is what obtains the kingdom! What the Bride is supposed to be all about right now, in addition to the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle antidote for stage 1, is the all-in living in the power of the resurrected life!!
Instead of watching reruns of Seinfeld or yet another movie which fills my mind with another dose of darkness, I am supposed to be contending with spiritual violence...that unsettled expression of "I am not satisfied” until I walk in the fullness of what God has for me… If I prophesy a little now...I want to do twice as much tomorrow...and then, when God gives me that, I want to contend for double...in all the gifts.
This is going to REALLY matter when the gates of hell are opened! We are supposed to be confident and ready to overcome! Right now is training for tomorrow….this has always been the case, but we are quickly approaching the day where the rubber meets the road….where the truth of what we have been worshiping will be revealed in the physical realm in the context of a war between heaven and hell that involves US!
You become whatever you worship. Worship is the highest expression of desire, and everyone gets what they want in the end. If you mostly desire a reputation, you will get a spirit that fears man’s opinion. If you mostly desire moth and rust eaten physical wealth, you will get a spirit of covetousness and greed…desire sex…you will get a spirit of lust. BUT, if you worship the Creator God…the First and the Last….the Author and Finisher…you will get Acts 2 power from on high. This requires training…this requires a lifestyle of worship. This is what David’s Tabernacle is all about. Separating…for real…with actual choices…from what the world desires and focusing…expressing my desire to God for more of God…training for the coming day of the battle.
2 Timothy 2:3-6 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (5) And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (6) The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
Someday, after the war…all the gifts will pass....What God is really interested in is the bond of love that grows by me asking and receiving. Love is the point. Faith, hope, and love are remaining for all eternity...(imagine that...faith will always be necessary…it will always remain)...but love is the greatest. Love happens in the back and forth of contending and receiving. A worker works for wages. A mere soldier follows orders…But a Bride is fierce in LOVE. This is the antidote to stage 2. No one fights like a Bride!
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