Offense (fear, confusion, anger) will be the first reaction of believers with an unrenewed mind. These judgment events are offensive to the natural mind without the light of the Spirit. God will use the least severe means to reach the greatest number of people at the deepest level of love without violating anyone’s free will. God’s judgments remove all that hinders love.
6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. (Mt. 11:6)
Understanding will be given by the Holy Spirit to the end-time Church.
20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly. (Jer. 23:20)
Partnering with Jesus in intercession to release His judgments (Rev. 8:3-5).
Forerunners are messengers who proclaim “now” what the Holy Spirit is soon to emphasize in a universal way. They are one short step ahead of what the Spirit is about to openly release. By gaining understanding of these judgments, we can function as forerunners who prepare many.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Significance of Understanding Judgment Events
God gave us four chapters of strategic information in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 6; 8-9; 16) about the most severe crisis in history. This information concerns the personal welfare of our families, friends, and cities. In other words, this information is an issue of life or death.
21 There will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world…22 Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved... (Mt. 24:21–22)
The weather service provides information of a soon coming tsunami or hurricane so that the people can prepare for it. Military leaders are held responsible for a crisis that results from ignoring military information. In a similar way, prophetic leaders will be responsible to act on prophetic information. This information must not be ignored as unimportant.
6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. (Ezek. 33:6)
Forerunners prepare the way for the Lord, by preparing people to respond rightly to Him. They make known His plans, so that the people can understand and agree with Him as it happens. The highway God walks on is the voluntary agreement of His people as they partner with Him.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God…5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together (at Jesus’ Second Coming)… (Isa. 40:3-5)
21 There will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world…22 Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved... (Mt. 24:21–22)
The weather service provides information of a soon coming tsunami or hurricane so that the people can prepare for it. Military leaders are held responsible for a crisis that results from ignoring military information. In a similar way, prophetic leaders will be responsible to act on prophetic information. This information must not be ignored as unimportant.
6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. (Ezek. 33:6)
Forerunners prepare the way for the Lord, by preparing people to respond rightly to Him. They make known His plans, so that the people can understand and agree with Him as it happens. The highway God walks on is the voluntary agreement of His people as they partner with Him.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God…5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together (at Jesus’ Second Coming)… (Isa. 40:3-5)
Monday, June 8, 2009
Purpose of Judgment Series
Judging the Antichrist: destroying the Antichrist’s resources and discrediting his leadership by showing his inadequacy to solve the crisis. God’s judgments will cleanse the earth (Zech. 13:2).
Winning the harvest: some will be moved to cry out for salvation as they observe believers accurately prophesying the crisis events. The judgments will remove the false props that they lean on and warn the lost as they face the reality of eternity in witnessing the death of so many.
Directing prayer: provides prophetic insight to direct the prayer movement (Rev. 8:3-5)
Vindicating the saints: who stood faithful in their love for Jesus and the truth (2 Thes. 1:7-10)
Preparing the Church: in understanding so they have confidence by knowing what is coming next and why. The judgments signal the certain victory that is soon to come for God’s people. Unbelievers will be filled with fear and confusion.
Winning the harvest: some will be moved to cry out for salvation as they observe believers accurately prophesying the crisis events. The judgments will remove the false props that they lean on and warn the lost as they face the reality of eternity in witnessing the death of so many.
Directing prayer: provides prophetic insight to direct the prayer movement (Rev. 8:3-5)
Vindicating the saints: who stood faithful in their love for Jesus and the truth (2 Thes. 1:7-10)
Preparing the Church: in understanding so they have confidence by knowing what is coming next and why. The judgments signal the certain victory that is soon to come for God’s people. Unbelievers will be filled with fear and confusion.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Understanding God's Numbered Judgments
The 3 judgment series are literal events that must not be explained away symbolically or historically. Our method of interpretation is the plain, literal, common sense approach. All the events and numbers in the Book of Revelation are to be understood in their plain meaning unless they are specifically indicated as symbolic as in Rev. 1:20; 5:6; 11:8; 12:1, 3, 9; 17:7, 9.
The 3 judgment series are future. They have not yet occurred in history. The Preterists view wrongly sees much of Revelation as having been fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of Rome (in the first three centuries after Jesus’ death). The Historicists view wrongly interprets Revelation as a progressive unfolding of Church history in seeing many of these prophecies as being already fulfilled in history. The Idealists view does not see a unique end-time application of the Book of Revelation, but wrongly interprets it merely as a symbolic picture of the spiritual conflict between good and evil that has occurred throughout history.
The 3 judgment series are numbered according to the chronological order in which they occur. For example, the first seal is followed by the second seal, which in turns leads to the third and so on. Because God’s judgments occur according to a numbered sequence, the Church will become greatly unified. Momentum will build as the Church sees them released according to their order.
The 3 judgment series are redemptive. They will create a global crisis that results in many crying out for salvation, while hindering the Antichrist’s persecution of the saints and destroying all the evil governments on earth. Revelation is not a doomsday prophecy about the world coming to an end. It is about God’s new beginning for the world. The birth of a baby is the end of a pregnancy, but it is mostly about the beginning of a new life. We are coming to the end of the dark night of Satan’s oppression of human history, to the dawning of a new day.
The 3 judgment series are progressive in that they increase in intensity as each series is released. The 7 seal judgments are surpassed in severity by the 7 trumpet judgments which are surpassed by the 7 bowl judgments. For example, 1/4 of the human race dies in the fourth seal (Rev. 6:8), yet at a later time this increases to 1/3 dying in the sixth trumpet (Rev. 9:15).
1. The seals alert us of something important to come. They are preparatory in being analogous to the wrapping on a gift that conceals the contents inside the package. The wrapping anticipates that which is mysterious. The nature of a seal is to keep private something that is anticipated. The contents inside of a scroll are always much more important than the seals that secure its privacy. The 7 seals around the scroll must be broken to open the scroll to release the mysterious contents inside (Jesus’ battle plan).
2. The trumpets warn us of something more severe to follow. They speak of impending disaster that requires extreme, desperate, emergency actions.
3. The bowls pour out in fullness without any delay or hindrance.
The 3 judgment series are future. They have not yet occurred in history. The Preterists view wrongly sees much of Revelation as having been fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of Rome (in the first three centuries after Jesus’ death). The Historicists view wrongly interprets Revelation as a progressive unfolding of Church history in seeing many of these prophecies as being already fulfilled in history. The Idealists view does not see a unique end-time application of the Book of Revelation, but wrongly interprets it merely as a symbolic picture of the spiritual conflict between good and evil that has occurred throughout history.
The 3 judgment series are numbered according to the chronological order in which they occur. For example, the first seal is followed by the second seal, which in turns leads to the third and so on. Because God’s judgments occur according to a numbered sequence, the Church will become greatly unified. Momentum will build as the Church sees them released according to their order.
The 3 judgment series are redemptive. They will create a global crisis that results in many crying out for salvation, while hindering the Antichrist’s persecution of the saints and destroying all the evil governments on earth. Revelation is not a doomsday prophecy about the world coming to an end. It is about God’s new beginning for the world. The birth of a baby is the end of a pregnancy, but it is mostly about the beginning of a new life. We are coming to the end of the dark night of Satan’s oppression of human history, to the dawning of a new day.
The 3 judgment series are progressive in that they increase in intensity as each series is released. The 7 seal judgments are surpassed in severity by the 7 trumpet judgments which are surpassed by the 7 bowl judgments. For example, 1/4 of the human race dies in the fourth seal (Rev. 6:8), yet at a later time this increases to 1/3 dying in the sixth trumpet (Rev. 9:15).
1. The seals alert us of something important to come. They are preparatory in being analogous to the wrapping on a gift that conceals the contents inside the package. The wrapping anticipates that which is mysterious. The nature of a seal is to keep private something that is anticipated. The contents inside of a scroll are always much more important than the seals that secure its privacy. The 7 seals around the scroll must be broken to open the scroll to release the mysterious contents inside (Jesus’ battle plan).
2. The trumpets warn us of something more severe to follow. They speak of impending disaster that requires extreme, desperate, emergency actions.
3. The bowls pour out in fullness without any delay or hindrance.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Three Numbered Judgment Series
The 3 numbered judgment series are the 3 sets of God’s judgments that are numbered in the Book of Revelation i.e., 7 seals (Rev. 6), 7 trumpets (Rev. 8-9), 7 bowls of wrath (Rev. 15-16). They describe 21 judgments to be released against the Antichrist’s empire in the Tribulation.
The book of Revelation is called the revelation of Jesus because it reveals His heart, power and leadership in preparing the nations for God’s glory. The Father’s purpose in giving us this book is to reveal the majesty of Jesus. It is secondarily a book about events in the End Times. If we read Revelation with the right perspective, it causes us to adore Jesus and to trust His leadership.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place… (Rev. 1:1)
The events prophesied in Revelation are so significant. They include Jesus returning to earth to establish His Kingdom as He releases His judgments, and casts Satan into prison.
We must teach and meditate on these themes regularly so that the “fog of unbelief” lifts off of our mind concerning these unprecedented historic events. We do not see these events with clarity until we get familiar with what Scripture says about them.
The primary theme of the Book of Revelation is Jesus coming back to earth in context to judging the Antichrist’s empire in the Great Tribulation for 3½ years. The secondary theme is tribulation against the saints from the Antichrist (Rev. 12:12; 13:4, 8).
Revelation is the end-time Book of Acts. It is the acts of the Spirit through the end-time Church. As Moses released God’s plagues on Egypt through prayer, and as the apostles released His power in the Book of Acts through prayer, so the Tribulation will be released by the praying Church. The miracles of Exodus and Acts will be combined and multiplied on a global level.
The Book of Revelation is a canonized prayer manual that equips the Church to partner with Jesus in confronting Satan’s authority. Nothing like this has ever happened in history where hundreds of millions are unified with an infallible prayer guide revealing Jesus’ battle plan.
The end-time prayer movement under Jesus’ leadership will release His judgments through prayer (Rev. 5:8; 6:9–11; 8:3–5; 9:13; 10:6; 14:18; 16:7; 19:2). We need not fear the Great Tribulation as powerless victims. We stand boldly as Jesus’ Bride who releases it by prayer.
The book of Revelation is called the revelation of Jesus because it reveals His heart, power and leadership in preparing the nations for God’s glory. The Father’s purpose in giving us this book is to reveal the majesty of Jesus. It is secondarily a book about events in the End Times. If we read Revelation with the right perspective, it causes us to adore Jesus and to trust His leadership.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place… (Rev. 1:1)
The events prophesied in Revelation are so significant. They include Jesus returning to earth to establish His Kingdom as He releases His judgments, and casts Satan into prison.
We must teach and meditate on these themes regularly so that the “fog of unbelief” lifts off of our mind concerning these unprecedented historic events. We do not see these events with clarity until we get familiar with what Scripture says about them.
The primary theme of the Book of Revelation is Jesus coming back to earth in context to judging the Antichrist’s empire in the Great Tribulation for 3½ years. The secondary theme is tribulation against the saints from the Antichrist (Rev. 12:12; 13:4, 8).
Revelation is the end-time Book of Acts. It is the acts of the Spirit through the end-time Church. As Moses released God’s plagues on Egypt through prayer, and as the apostles released His power in the Book of Acts through prayer, so the Tribulation will be released by the praying Church. The miracles of Exodus and Acts will be combined and multiplied on a global level.
The Book of Revelation is a canonized prayer manual that equips the Church to partner with Jesus in confronting Satan’s authority. Nothing like this has ever happened in history where hundreds of millions are unified with an infallible prayer guide revealing Jesus’ battle plan.
The end-time prayer movement under Jesus’ leadership will release His judgments through prayer (Rev. 5:8; 6:9–11; 8:3–5; 9:13; 10:6; 14:18; 16:7; 19:2). We need not fear the Great Tribulation as powerless victims. We stand boldly as Jesus’ Bride who releases it by prayer.
Monday, May 18, 2009
First Five Bowls of Wrath
First Bowl (Sores): Painful sores on those who worship the Antichrist (Rev. 16:2)
1. These sores will be foul with a terrible odor as foul meat is rotten or putrid. They will be loathsome in being so painful that men will loath them.
2. Only during the seals and trumpets does John mention believers having a divine seal of protection (Rev. 7:3; 9:4). The saints were raptured at the 7th Trumpet.
3. The sixth plague of Egypt was sores or boils (Ex. 9:8-11). Moses warned that rebellion toward God would bring God’s judgment of severe boils (Deut. 28:35).
Second Bowl (Food Supply): Destroying the sea with blood killing all sea life (Rev. 16:3). In my opinion, this is focused on the Mediterranean Sea from Dan. 7. The sea will become like the congealed blood of a dead man with unimaginable stench. There will be complete destruction of marine life not just 1/3 destruction as in the second trumpet.
Third Bowl (Water Supply): Poisoning the earth’s fresh water with blood (Rev. 16:4-7). The third trumpet (Rev. 8:10) is similar to the third bowl in defiling the drinking water. The first plague of Egypt struck the Nile with a similar impact as this (Ex. 7:19-21).
Fourth Bowl (Torment): Scorching heat and fire from the sun (Rev. 16:8-9) is a supernatural act, not merely a natural one. Men blaspheme God (v. 11, 21). This bowl will intensify the heat of the sun. The fourth trumpet affected the sun in the opposite way by making it less intense.
Fifth Bowl (Destruction): Darkness on the Antichrist's global empire (Rev. 16:10-11)
1. These sores will be foul with a terrible odor as foul meat is rotten or putrid. They will be loathsome in being so painful that men will loath them.
2. Only during the seals and trumpets does John mention believers having a divine seal of protection (Rev. 7:3; 9:4). The saints were raptured at the 7th Trumpet.
3. The sixth plague of Egypt was sores or boils (Ex. 9:8-11). Moses warned that rebellion toward God would bring God’s judgment of severe boils (Deut. 28:35).
Second Bowl (Food Supply): Destroying the sea with blood killing all sea life (Rev. 16:3). In my opinion, this is focused on the Mediterranean Sea from Dan. 7. The sea will become like the congealed blood of a dead man with unimaginable stench. There will be complete destruction of marine life not just 1/3 destruction as in the second trumpet.
Third Bowl (Water Supply): Poisoning the earth’s fresh water with blood (Rev. 16:4-7). The third trumpet (Rev. 8:10) is similar to the third bowl in defiling the drinking water. The first plague of Egypt struck the Nile with a similar impact as this (Ex. 7:19-21).
Fourth Bowl (Torment): Scorching heat and fire from the sun (Rev. 16:8-9) is a supernatural act, not merely a natural one. Men blaspheme God (v. 11, 21). This bowl will intensify the heat of the sun. The fourth trumpet affected the sun in the opposite way by making it less intense.
Fifth Bowl (Destruction): Darkness on the Antichrist's global empire (Rev. 16:10-11)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Coming into Agreement with Jesus on End Times
Shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night… Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith (agreement) on the earth? (Lk. 18:7-8)
Be a Berean by having a receptive heart and a searching mind. Be eager but cautious. Boldly challenge and refuse all ideas that you do not clearly see in Scripture for yourself.
They (Bereans) received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11)
Eschatological (pertaining to the End Times): teachings or activities related to the unique events that will occur on earth in the End Times that will shift human history to the age-to-come. The coming eschatological revolution will be the most comprehensive revolution in human history. This revolution ends when Jesus comes back to earth to replace all the evil leadership on earth.
The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord… (Rev. 11:15)
The governments of all nations will be replaced in a short period of time. Try to envision what secular news agencies would say and how you would describe these events to a friend.
The kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered to make war against Him (Jesus)… The Beast was captured, and with him the False Prophet…these two were cast alive into the lake of fire…21 The rest were killed with the sword…I saw thrones, and they (the saints) sat on them…Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus…and they lived and reigned with Christ for 1000 years… (Rev. 19:19-20:1-4)
Be a Berean by having a receptive heart and a searching mind. Be eager but cautious. Boldly challenge and refuse all ideas that you do not clearly see in Scripture for yourself.
They (Bereans) received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11)
Eschatological (pertaining to the End Times): teachings or activities related to the unique events that will occur on earth in the End Times that will shift human history to the age-to-come. The coming eschatological revolution will be the most comprehensive revolution in human history. This revolution ends when Jesus comes back to earth to replace all the evil leadership on earth.
The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord… (Rev. 11:15)
The governments of all nations will be replaced in a short period of time. Try to envision what secular news agencies would say and how you would describe these events to a friend.
The kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered to make war against Him (Jesus)… The Beast was captured, and with him the False Prophet…these two were cast alive into the lake of fire…21 The rest were killed with the sword…I saw thrones, and they (the saints) sat on them…Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus…and they lived and reigned with Christ for 1000 years… (Rev. 19:19-20:1-4)
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