WARNING: If God wants to do a work in you, let him do it

I am seeing people and ministries get sidelined and taken out. Darkness is rising and satanic delusions are rising exponentially. But so is God's guidance and power if we draw near to him.

I need to issue a warning, to myself and to anyone who will listen. If God wants to do a work in us, we need humble ourselves right away and let him do it. Dealing with issues of character, clearing out deceptions, healing wounds, receiving his direction. If we are walking with Jesus, we are all going through the wash right now. Because the Lord wants a clean bride when He returns. He also wants us to be sharp, polished arrows in his quiver to strike the enemy and expand the Kingdom of Heaven right now. A big revival is coming, though I have a feeling the window of opportunity will be short.

This is the hour of judgment. If we do not humble ourselves when the Holy Spirit comes calling, then we are consigning ourselves to judgment. Maybe at other times, these issues would have been allowed to slide or be deferred. But not now. This is the end.

If anyone does not understand that our nation has come under God's judgment, he or she is not listening to the Holy Spirit. I say that unequivocally and as a warning, because anyone who is not standing with the Lord when judgment hits will be swept away by it. When I say judgment, I am talking about what ancient Israel experienced, Old Testament-style SWORD, FAMINE AND PESTILENCE. These calamities are coming soon and have already begun.

The modern American church has been consumed by a false gospel. It says, "We just have to love everybody and talk about God's grace," but there is little or no mention of sin, repentance and judgment. I hear this message all the time on Christian radio. The message is popular and fills churches, but it's like a spiritual anesthesia that puts people to sleep. It makes people think they are walking with God, when they aren't. They may not even know God at all, but are deceived into thinking that attending "church" makes them Christians. The truth is we can only know God after He breathes life into our spirits - born again, as Jesus said.

The Lord's supernatural protection is for those who draw near to him and walk with him:

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!'" - Psalm 91:1-2

For Christians who are not walking with God when judgment comes, it's going to mean one of three things:

1) The pressure of calamity will drive them to repentance and they will be restored, or

2) They will perish during the calamities and pass into eternity on a note of unfaithfulness, having lost the opportunity to serve the Kingdom of Heaven at the most critical hour. God is fair and absolutely rewards faithfulness. Please see the parable of the talents, or

3) They will suffer through the calamities and find themselves left behind after Jesus comes to rescue his bride before the Great Tribulation. I believe there will many tears of repentance when people realize how severe the consequences will be for not heeding the Lord when the opportunity was given. The Rapture is not for all Christians, but for those are walking with him when He comes. If you don't believe that, please see the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. All ten were virgins, all had lamps and all wanted to see the bridegroom. But only the five who had extra oil for their lamps came to the wedding feast. These were the Christians who maintained their relationships with the Lord Jesus to the end. They stayed alert and persevered:

"Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." - Luke 21:34-36

"Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." - Revelation 3:10

Again, God is fair, and mercy triumphs over judgment:
 
"...God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." - 1 Timothy 2:4-5

"He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name." - Revelation 3:12

Birth Pangs and Great Tribulation

In the books of Daniel and Revelation I see two periods of time that mark the end of the age: the Birth Pangs and the Great Tribulation. Birth Pangs come first and do involve tribulation, including the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but not the worst of it. The Rapture occurs at the end of the Birth Pangs and the beginning of the Great Tribulation, which is the three and a half year period of the beast kingdom (New World Order) and when the wrath of God is poured out on earth. But as 1 Thessalonians says, we are not appointed to wrath.

We are in the Birth Pangs right now, as people in the Middle East already know and America is about to find out.

Here's a little secret the Lord showed me to better understand Revelation: Revelation is not a single account of the end times, but several accounts from different perspectives.

Revelation 6 through 11 is one chronological perspective:

* Chapter 6 is Birth Pangs. I believe the first five seals are already broken, the Four Horsemen are riding, and the Rapture happens after the sixth seal. Notice the signs in the heavens after the sixth seal and the response of those "left behind."
* Chapter 7 is the marking of the 144,000 and the scene in heaven of the multitudes praising God. These are the saints who were raised from the dead and/or raptured.
* Chapter 8 - the Great Tribulation begins after the seventh seal and continues through chapter 11

Revelation 12 and 13 are another perspective:

* Chapter 12 covers a broad swath of history including the Birth Pangs. The Rapture happens after Satan is thrown down from heaven: The woman is given two wings of a great eagle to fly away. 
* Chapter 13 describes the beast kingdom during the Great Tribulation

Revelation 14 through 16 are another perspective:

* Chapter 14:1-5 - The 144,000 standing with the lamb on Mount Zion. This may be a flash forward to the end of the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord.
* Chapter 14:6-20 - The harvest of salvation by Jesus and harvest of wrath by angels.
* Chapter 15 and 16 - Bowls of wrath

Revelation 17 through 20 is yet another chronological perspective:

* Chapter 17 and 18 - Judgment and destruction of Mystery Babylon (ahemm, America). Jonathan Kleck was inspired to name his radio show "This Is It... Before the Fire," because the Rapture will happen before a destruction by fire.
* Chapter 19 - Multitude in heaven and preparation of the Bride, followed by the Day of the Lord with the Bride in the ranks of the heavenly host.
* Chapter 20 - 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth from Jerusalem
* Chapter 21 and 22 - Final judgment. God creates a new heaven and new earth. The Bride, the wife of the Lamb, is the new Jerusalem. The tabernacle of God is among men.

By the way, I think Matthew 24 is also divided between Birth Pangs (verses 1-14) and Great Tribulation (verses 15-28).

The Rapture Will Happen During the Period of Judgment on America

In previous posts I described the Rapture and Scriptures supporting it. Another post reveals the identity of Mystery Babylon in Revelation 17-18 - mostly by referencing other people's excellent analysis of the Scriptures and prophetic insight. (Hint: It's America.)

Building on this foundation, I believe the Lord recently opened my eyes to another piece of the end-times puzzle. In Revelation 18 there are three veiled references to the Rapture, and in Revelation 19 there is a reference the marriage supper of the Lamb which happens after the Rapture.

In 18:4 it says, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues." This has multiple meanings, as prophetic Scriptures often do. The primary meaning is repentance and spiritual separation. "Come out of the Babylon world system and enter the kingdom of heaven. Repent of its ways and walk in God's righteousness." Another meaning is literally to move out of Babylon, as some have done by moving abroad, or stop being dependent on its systems that are going to fail - financial, medical, educational, etc. That depends on how God leads you personally. I can tell you my station is right here in America, but God has led my family toward self-employment, home schooling and making other preparations. Finally, I believe this verse is a picture of Jesus beckoning his children to join him on the clouds of heaven and escape the fullness of judgment to be poured out on Babylon. Come out of her, my people!

In 18:23, it says, "And the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer." Multiple meanings again. After destruction by fire, the infrastructure of Babylon will be destroyed and the lights won't turn on. However, there is also a spiritual meaning too. Referring to God's people, Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house." If God's people, the saints, are removed, there will no longer be any light in Babylon.

Verse 18:23 also says, "And the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer..." The plain meaning is that normal human civilization, like weddings, will cease in Babylon after its fall. But here again the meaning is double. Who is the bride, the bride whose voice speaks on behalf of the bridegroom? Jesus is the bridegroom and the saints are the bride! (See the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25.) The bride will no longer be heard in Babylon because she is gone. Raptured!

Next, the scene in Revelation 19 shifts to heaven. A multitude is praising God. Verses 7 and 9 say, "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready... Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." It is the marriage supper of Jesus, the Lamb of God, which follows the Rapture according to the parable of the virgins. The saints are now in heaven with Jesus.

If there was only one reference to the Rapture in Revelation 18, it would be easy to dismiss this as wishful thinking. But all three together followed by the wedding supper in Revelation 19 form a clear picture: The saints are spirited away to heaven sometime during the period of Babylon's judgment - and then join Jesus at the wedding feast.

Be prepared: The saints will endure some of Babylon's plagues. Even the Israelites in the time of Moses experienced the first three plagues of Egypt. In a time of national judgment, chastening comes first to the house of the Lord. Jesus wants a clean bride, and to harvest as many souls as possible before the door is closed and the Great Tribulation ensues.

A previous post, It Will Come in One Day, describes the first plagues and their sudden onset from Revelation 18. 

When exactly will the saints be rescued? Who knows for sure. End times harbinger and "bell ringer for Jesus Christ" Jonathan Kleck said God told him to name his ministry "This Is It, Be4 The Fire." All I can say is I believe Jesus is coming BEFORE THE FIRE, before Babylon's ultimate destruction by fire. 

If you belong to Jesus, now is time to draw near to God and dwell in the shelter of the Most High according to Psalm 91. If you don't know Jesus, now is the time to become a child of God. 

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Acts 2:21

Parable of the Virgins - The Bridegroom Comes Quickly!

The Bridgegroom is coming quickly! Jesus is coming soon! This is a party you don't want to miss. Not only because the party will be so good, so astonishing beyond our present ability to conceive, but because getting shut out will be so bad. After the Bridegroom arrives to rescue his bride, the Great Tribulation on earth will begin in earnest. Read Revelation 8-11 and 13-16 if you want to know what it will be like.

The parable of the virgins is one of the most important messages for this moment in history, standing as we are on the doorstep of the end of the age:

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour."

 - Matthew 25:1-13

The wise virgins still have oil in their lamps when the Bridegroom returns. Their lamp is still burning and they are welcomed to the wedding feast. The other half of the virgins are turned away because their lights had gone out.

Please note the unwise virgins wanted to go to the feast but were not ready. Jesus said, "I do not know you." That's the difference. The wise virgins knew the Lord and He knew them. Not so the unwise virgins.

How can we be sure we know the Lord? Those who know the Lord are born of heaven, born again of the Holy Spirit of God:

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God."
 - Romans 8:14-16

God himself replaces the worldly spirit of fear and slavery in our hearts with his own Spirit of sonship. We are transformed supernaturally in the core of our being. God's Spirit then testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. He affirms we belong to him in our hearts.

Jesus put this another way when He said:

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
 - John 10:27-28

We who hear the Messiah's voice and follow him are the wise virgins who join the Bridegroom at the wedding feast. 

Isaiah 26 - The Rapture and The Day of the Lord

The name of this website is "Behold, I come quickly," because Jesus is coming quickly. I believe 100% that we are the last generation, standing on the doorstep of the end of the age. The Rapture (see posts here and here) and the Day of the Lord (see here) are just around the corner.

I have no doubt about it.

I just realized something else this morning, something the Lord showed me: Isaiah 26 ties it all together, both the Rapture and the Day of the Lord.

Read chapter 25 if you want to get the full sense of prophetic imagery in this passage. But here we'll start with chapter 26, verse 19:

"Your dead will live;
Their corpses will rise.
You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy,
For your dew is as the dew of the dawn,
And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits."
 - Isaiah 26:19

In this verse, the spirits of the dead (the Lord's dead) rise again out of the grave, out of the earth. Sounds kind of creepy, but where have we heard this before? The Apostle Paul elaborates on this event in 1 Thessalonians:

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."
 - 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

When Jesus comes, the Lord's dead will rise out of the earth and ascend into the air, and then those who are still alive will also go up to meet the Lord. This is the Rapture, the just-in-time rescue of all the saints.

Continuing with Isaiah:

"Come, my people, enter into your rooms
And close your doors behind you;
Hide for a little while
Until indignation runs its course."
 - Isaiah 26:20

Jesus hides his people for a little while until the indignation runs its course. What is the indignation? This is Satan's one-world beast kingdom, the New World Order, the Great Tribulation, the time of distress such has never occurred nor ever will again. It lasts three and a half years, according to Daniel and the Book of Revelation. We are hidden away and protected during this time. Hidden in heaven.

"For behold, the Lord is about to come out from His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
And the earth will reveal her bloodshed
And will no longer cover her slain."
 - Isaiah 26:21

Ah, here is the Day of the Lord! When the Lamb of God rides on a white horse and leads the armies of heaven to defend Israel, defeat the enemies of God and establish his throne in Jerusalem.

"In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent,
With His fierce and great and mighty sword,
Even Leviathan the twisted serpent;
And He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea."
 - Isaiah 27:1

Who is Leviathan, the fleeing serpent, the twisted serpent, the dragon who lives in the sea (of humanity)? You know who that is. He will be bound for a thousand years on the Day of the Lord. Then, finally, the earth will know peace and righteous rule.

Come soon, Jesus!