Understanding The Endtimes by John Corin - HTML preview

INTRODUCTION

Teachers of eschatology often emphasize how Jesus foretold the love of many will ‘grow cold’ (Mt 24.12) and His question of whether there is, ‘faith on the earth’ (Lk 18.8) at His return. They insist (rightly) these and other texts prove Christendom will experience serious apostasy in its ranks. In their end time schemas, the ‘great falling away’ (2Thes 2) looms large.

Yet, this is only half the story. While widespread apostasy will be a feature of the end times, believers must take into account the countervailing truth of the hope of ‘fullness of joy’ for those who

‘endure unto the end’. (See Jhn 16.24) The bottom line: rather than focus on what engenders unbelief, anxiety, and even resentment, their expectation for the future should be on the outpouring of the Spirit of God bringing a deluge of grace. It is the eschatological vision of the O.T. prophets; as proven not only by texts clearly predicting it but in many types and shadows.

THE GOD OF CLIMAX, NOT ANTI-CLIMAX

If this popular specter of only a remnant of believers, tired, feeble, emaciated and barely holding on at the end (even before the ‘Great Tribulation’) is true it would be a monumental anticlimax to the church’s history. A most unlikely ending for those Heaven has promised to revive in the end time so they overflow with the Holy Spirit. Filled with fresh grace to 117

demonstrate the gospel’s power to save from sin, sickness, and the demonic. Any alternative to this means the body of Christ is an abysmal failure. What is unthinkable when the life and liberty experienced by the first-century church is supposed to be a foretaste of what the end time church enjoys. Sadly, many don’t see this as the church’s destiny. Their expectation is a body of believers so weak and powerless it necessitates their removal (in the ‘rapture’) before being overtaken by total disaster. Surely, this is not the end for those destined to be ‘Awesome as an army with banners’ (S of S 6.4) and chosen with the promise, ‘the gates of Hades shall not prevail against’ (Mt 16.18) them. No. No. No.

The future the church can look forward to is glorious.

True, the spiritual darkness already descending on the world will be so severe at the end it will result in the predicted ‘distress of nations’ (Lk 21.25). A level of ‘gross darkness’ (Is 60.2) that sees the ungodly become more unbelieving and hostile to those embodying faith and righteousness. But alongside this foreboding outlook there is a ‘sure’ hope (Heb 6.19) for believers, one that is both ‘glorious’ (Col 1.27) and ‘bright’ (2Thes 2.16). As the age comes to its end, revival will break out around the world; at such depth, believers will enjoy real victory in their lives and have such a convincing testimony to the gospel, God’s ‘glory (will) fill the earth’ (Hab 2.14). if tyhey are to endure the final days of this age, this is the vision believers must have—what I address more fully later in the book.

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CLEAR PROMISES OF AN END TIME REVIVAL

Hallelujah! The bible, both explicitly and in types and shadows, indicates the present age is to end in a revival eclipsing every other in the church’s history. This final outpouring of the Holy Spirit will exceed that witnessed in the early American awakenings and the revivals of the 20th-century. Greater than the outpourings experienced in the New Hebrides, Wales, and Los Angeles or anywhere else, e.g., those in the mid-20th century to spawn ministries with miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. This final revival will exceed them all—in extent and power—to quicken believers and save the ungodly.

Think about it: if the door closes on this age of grace without this witness to what was purchased for humanity on the Cross of Calvary, Almighty God can be accused of being unmerciful and uncaring—the opposite of who He is. No matter how corrupt and marred by sin the last generation may be, it is entitled to have this opportunity to repent and believe the gospel. Their final chance after witnessing an overwhelming testimony to Heaven’s power to save. Demonstrated in divine healings, deliverance from evil spirits, and even raisings from the dead, confirmed by ‘signs, wonders and miracles’ even greater than in the ministry of Jesus (Mk 16.17-20). No, this is not fanciful optimism; the promise is here, ‘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’ (Jhn 14.12).

Yes, widespread revival in the fullest understanding of the word as garnered from previous outpourings of the Holy Spirit. A 119

final one with such extraordinary manifestations of divine power the gospel will penetrate every stratum of society and astound the hardest skeptic. Many may not respond in repentance, but they will take notice. Importantly, this will empower believers so they perform miracles exceeding those of the ‘lawless one’ (2Thes 2).

No matter how great the occult powers used to deceive at the end of the age, they won't measure up to what is manifest in the ministry of humble, consecrated vessels. As Jannes and Jambres (the magicians of Egypt) couldn't match the miracles performed by Moses(Ex 7.11), the world will behold what will shame every modern magician, witch, and wizard. Here are texts advancing this end-time revival.

‘After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise

us up, and we shall live in his sight’ (Hos 6:2). This prophecy by Hosea highlights the ‘third day’ (after Calvary) in the divine calendar of seven days (in the ‘redemptive week’ schema laid out). The ‘day’—as it says—when believers are ‘raised up…to live in His sight’ and a clear reference to the resurrection of the righteous dead at the start of this ‘millennial day’. But it also refers to ‘reviving’ ‘after two days’, but not in the ‘third day’, i.e., at the junction between these ‘days’. Up til now, the Kingdom of God has been manifest on earth for ‘two days’ (each of a thousand years) but only in ‘embryonic form’; not until the start of this ‘third day’ is it fully ‘birthed’. But before then, the prophecy promises revival and only after this outpouring of the Holy Spirit is there the resurrection when the ‘mortal put on immortality’ (1Cor 15.54).

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“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the

plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes

him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine,

And all the hills shall flow with it. I will bring back the captives

of…Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;

They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They

shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant

them in their land…no longer shall they be pulled up from the

land I have given them” (Amos 9.13-15). Couched in figurative language, this prophecy speaks of a time when God’s people are to enjoy abundant fruitfulness in a land of plenty. Many will see this fulfilled literally in the restoration of Israel to a natural land—either on their return from the Babylonian captivity or more probably, in the establishment of the modern state of Israel.

But even if valid, these outcomes can at best only be a partial fulfillment and not the full realization of what Amos foretells. The

‘sensus plenior’ (fuller meaning) of this prophecy is realized when the Kingdom of God flourishes within the hearts of believers in Jesus Christ.

Why this non-literal interpretation? Because the previous two verses (v11, 12) predicting this scenario for Israel are the ones the apostolic leader James applied to the church at the debate in the first ‘church council’ (Act 15.13-18). The ones quoted above (v13—15) expand on the promises in the verses used by James. In other words, the new ‘Israel of God’ (the church) is the subject of this complete passage, i.e., the prophecy predicts an abundant harvest of ‘fruit’ (souls) for the church from sowing the seed of 121

the Word of God. Not only that outcome but the blessing of ‘new wine’ from the Holy Spirit flowing down to the lowest (humblest) citizen in this new Kingdom. This is none other than revival.

‘This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the

world for a witness...and then shall the end come’ (Mt 24:14). If the gospel is to reach ‘all the world’ before the end, this must include every nation, tribe, and tongue. Some see this as the result of modern television or the internet; I would argue this sign is fulfilled by Spirit-filled believers taking the gospel to the four corners of the earth (possibly with angelic assistance (Rev 14.6)).

By confirming the good news with signs, wonders, and miracles, the earth becomes filled with the ‘glory of the Lord’ (Num 14.21, Hab 2.14.). An unprecedented outreach sweeping millions of souls into the Kingdom, but only possible with revival.

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,

waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

(Jam 5:7) I deal with this later to show these rains represent an outpouring of the Spirit of God before the ‘coming of the Lord’.

‘As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the

prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every

valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be

brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the

rough ways shall be... smooth; And all flesh shall see the

salvation of God’ (Lk 3.3-6). This prophecy, and a similar one by Mary (Luke 1.46-55), confirm the proud are to be abased while 122

the lowly will be lifted up. It had an initial fulfillment with the ministry of John the Baptist, but if ‘all flesh (is to) see the salvation of God’ it is to be repeated before Christ’s return. This too points to a worldwide revival, especially if the ‘ sinners in Zion’ (Isa 33.14) are to be abased.

But this…spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to

pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit

on all flesh…And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days’ (Act 2:16, 17). Though Peter said this prophecy of Joel was fulfilled, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost did not satisfy all it promised. It has a greater fulfillment, and while many believe this happened in the pentecostal revivals in the early twentieth century, it is clear they also did not fulfill all it speaks of. The revivals in Wales and on the West coast of the United States, even the ‘Latter Rain’ (so-called) revival in the 1950s, were all Heaven-sent ‘mercy drops’—as was the ‘Charismatic Movement’

in the 1960s. But these ‘showers of blessing’ also did not fulfill all Joel prophesied. They restored truth and brought millions into the Kingdom, but did not recover even what the early church enjoyed—far from it. So, the Lord still waits to receive the

‘precious fruit of the earth’ (Jam 5.7), and this only happens if a final deluge of the Holy Spirit ripens the harvest of unconverted souls. The church, with Heaven, therefore, waits for the Spirit of God to ignite, as Joel prophesied, a revival affecting ‘all flesh’.

‘But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor

have entered into the heart of man The things which God has

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prepared for those who love Him.’ (1Cor 2.9). This verse promises untold blessings for the people of God, glorious outcomes none can conceive of (mainly because they have not been realized). Many believers will see all this fulfilled in the millennium or Heaven, whereas I believe it speaks of what is to be manifest before this age closes. As confirmation, I point out the verses quoted above are from a passage in Isaiah where the first part reads, ‘ Oh, that You would rend the Heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence’ (Is 64.1-4). It is a prayer for God’s presence to come in the power only experienced in revivals.

MORE INDICATIONS OF AN END TIME REVIVAL

After an enviable launch, the pristine power and purity enjoyed by the early church declined and by the Dark Ages it was a sick, weak body of believers. Since this is not the church’s destiny Heaven has already restored much of what was lost. But if the church is to know a glory greater than at its beginning, much more needs restoring before this age ends. A reasonable conclusion when it is certain it will take the greatest demonstration of divine power to reap the final generation of ungodly souls. Absent this final revival and billions will be denied the chance to escape the cesspool of corruption and decadence now engulfing this world.

Even though the following texts don’t directly speak of revival, all strongly suggest it; that is if we believe they promise outcomes for believers before the close of this age. If so; they buttress the belief in the ‘glory of the latter house’ (the church at 124

the end) overshadowing the ‘glory’ of the ‘former ‘house’ (the church in the first century). (See Hag 2.9) so the church experiences the fulfillment of this proverb, ‘The end of a thing is better than its beginning’ (Ecc 7.8). The verses to follow, then, all indicate revival accompanied by unprecedented ‘signs, wonders, and miracles’ (See Heb 2.3,4).

‘And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive’. (Mt 21.22)

‘And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full’. (John 16.23,24)

‘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’.

(John 14.12)

‘We… prophesy in part. But when…(the) perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away’. (1Cor.13.9-10)

‘Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God’. (1Jhn 3.9)

Seeing a greater realization of these promises than the church has experienced already will be seen as presumption by many theologians. (Either because they hold to a doctrine of

‘cessationism’ or are gripped by unbelief.) Yet, if not realized before the end, these verses mock and we deal ourselves short to believe the current experience is all God has intended on this side of heaven. Before reaching their eternal home, believers can 125

expect to enjoy more of Calvary’s benefits (its efficacy), especially the ‘abundant life’ (Jhn 10.10) Jesus promised. (For more on this, you can request a free copy of my e-book titled

‘The Keys to Living in The Kingdom’- as revealed in the Beatitudes).

The bottom line: it is troubling to see believers satisfied with the limited fulfillment of what these verses promise—content with the minimal life and power of the Kingdom they experience.

Either to the number of miracles, healings, answered prayers, or the level of prophetic insight—even victory over sin. In fact, not expecting to see an increase in these blessings (in quantity or quality) is not only sad but tragic. As someone put it, “we should never be satisfied with an unsatisfied satisfaction”. By remaining content with the ‘righteousness, peace, and joy’ experienced current is to fail ourselves and the Lord.

Not until the ‘perfect has come’ (1Cor 13.10) should the believer stop seeking to possess more of the promised ‘land’.

(The ‘perfection’ in the verse is not the finished canon of scripture.) Before reaching heaven, the believer can even look forward to attaining the ‘ perfection’ referred to in scripture, e.g., Heb 6.1. That is, a depth of maturity to impact spiritual life, the level of faith, understanding of biblical truth, the accuracy and depth of prophecy, and most of all, the quality of love (1Cor 13).

As we are not there yet, it is not unreasonable to expect to enter into a lot more of what Christ purchased. But to inherit all this before the age closes demands revival—accompanied by the promised final installment of ‘salvation’ (1Pet 1.5).

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TYPES AND SHADOWS OF AN END TIME REVIVAL

Many believers prefer only the literal, basic meaning for the historical events and persons scripture records. Yet the ‘types and shadows’ within them provide a rich vein of truth the believer is invited to discover. Many of them harbingers of the divine purposes to be realized before this age ends.

The ‘Latter Rain’

‘Then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil’. (Deut 11.14)

‘Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you—The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month’. (Joel 2.23) The sacred feasts Israel observed during the months of their pastoral year give the seminal ‘types’ for the ‘grace upon grace’

(Jhn 1.16) the church is promised. Particularly, the two feasts celebrated at the time of the latter and former rains (the

‘bookends’ of summer) as they provide pivotal ‘types’ for the outpourings of the Holy Spirit promised at the beginning and the end of this age. The (late spring) first rains of summer are a clear prefiguring of the abundant grace manifest in the first-century church, while the ‘late rains’ of summer (early autumn) typify the grace to be poured out in a revival in the end time. An outpouring of grace and power bringing fresh spiritual life and ‘liberty’ to mature the body of Christ and reap the final harvest of souls. And mandatory if the ‘sons of God’ (Rom 8.1.8, 19) are to shine as 127

‘bright lights’ (Mt 13.43.) in the ‘ gross darkness’ (Is 60.1) now enveloping the world.

The Feeding of Two Multitudes

On not one but two occasions, Jesus miraculously fed hungry crowds with a fraction of the loaves and fish it would normally take for such numbers. Five thousand men (besides women and children) were present in the first feeding and four thousand men in the second, and how the gospels recount these miracles is noteworthy. Both are recorded in a highly schematic way, with specific numbers given for the days they occurred, the crowd size, the amount of food, etc., When numbers in scripture are often symbolic of spiritual realities and future events, these statistics are not accidental. Both feedings call for examination to see what these important typological markers foreshadow.

The feeding of five thousand (men). (Mark 6.30-44). While both feedings satisfy a hungry multitude, key elements in each differ, and the notable feature in this ‘feeding’ is the seating pattern for the crowd—in ranks of 50 and 100 (5,000 total). (The gospel of Mark has the fullest report.) These numbers and the seating pattern are not random but the exact measurements for the outer court of the Tabernacle, the original dwelling place of God and the archetype of the spiritual temple of God. This important clue to deciphering this miracle and its significance tells us this feeding prefigures how Heaven will meet the needs of God’s final dwelling, the church (1Cor 3.17, Eph 2.21).

Now, it takes place ‘ when the day was now far spent’ (v35) so it is the clue to this feeding foreshadowing the end time when 128

Heaven will meet the need of a church hungry for sustenance.

Note, the crowd in this miraculous feeding is described as ‘sheep not having a shepherd’ (v34)—the distress believers now suffer—

many of them desperate for a divine answer. This miracle of provision reveals the solution is in two biblical ministries—the

‘fivefold’ (loaves) and ‘twofold’ (fish)—working together to care for the flock of God. The ‘fivefold’ ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, teacher, pastor, and evangelist are first as these are the specialists appointed to equip believers for the ‘work of the ministry’ (Eph 4.11.12). But if local assemblies are to be overseen and properly cared for, it also requires the ‘two’ ministries of elder and deacon. As for the miracle of the baskets gathered up,

‘twelve’ is the number symbolic of government in scripture and indicates ‘apostolic’ ministry will govern the church at the end—

what it had at the beginning.

The feeding of four thousand men. (Mt 15.29-39). Aside from the number of people, other features in this feeding show it to be the template for a different miracle, i.e., how Heaven will meet the needs of a world of hungry sinners. Several details lead to this, but before studying those, it is significant to note this crowd had been there ‘three days’ (v32). Now, the ‘third day’ in scripture is an important marker for the next dispensation so this feeding foreshadows when Heaven—on the eve of this day—will meet the needs of those hungry for the food able to truly ‘satisfy’.

(Cf. Is 55.2). In other words, the answer for those desperate for the living ‘bread of Heaven’.

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It is worth noting the background to this feeding is a time in Jesus' ministry when, ‘the mute (are) speaking, the maimed (are) made whole, the lame (are) walking, and the blind (are) seeing’ (v31)—a foreshadowing of revival and the miraculous.

Also of note, it happened beside the ‘Sea of Galilee’ (v29), and

‘seas’ or ‘waters’ in scripture symbolize ‘ peoples, and multitudes, and nations’ (Rev 17.15). And when the name ‘Galilee’ has the root meaning of ‘a circle’ or ‘globe’, this ‘sea’ is the symbol for the nations around this globe, the earth.

The next clue to interpreting this feeding is the number in the crowd; ‘ four’ (thousand) in scripture is symbolic of the entire world—there are ‘four corners’ of the earth, ‘four winds’ blow over it, etc. (See Dan 7.2, Mark 13.27.) The final clue is the number of loaves as ‘seven’ is symbolic of ‘completeness’ or

‘finality’ (the book of Revelation is replete with this number).

Together, these clues point to this feeding foreshadowing the miracle at the end of the age to answer the cry of a world of hungry, perishing sinners. With this context, it is more than logical to interpret the ‘loaves’ in this feeding as the people of God. To be precise, those full of the Holy Spirit who can be channels for the gospel’s grace and power. Specifically, mature, tested believers who the Lord has first ‘broken’ (v36) as their

‘brokenness’ makes them the food the perishing need.

The wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2.1-12 KJV) The ‘miracle’ performed in this wedding—recorded as the first—was to manifest Christ’s glory, and this also foreshadows a miracle manifest at the end of the age. Its setting is also Galilee 130

(representing the whole world), but specifically, the town of Cana (‘the place of reeds’). With fragile, lowly ‘reeds’ a feature of Egypt, the scenario is symbolic of ‘a world’ of fallen, feeble humanity. And with the ‘third day’ (v1) (symbolic of the end times as detailed above) the setting, it is the clue to this miracle representing a scene at the end of the age. Confirmed by the numbers associated with the water pots; their size of ‘two to three firkins apiece’ (v6) indicates a scenario at the junction of the

‘second day’ (of the ‘last days’) ending and the start of this ‘third day’. (Note; while the KJV gives the correct numbers, other versions with modern measurements lose this symbolism.) The

‘six’ water pots are the final clue. We are now on the eve of the

‘third day’ (from the time of Christ) but are at the end of the

‘sixth day’ from Adam (in the schema for time known as the

‘redemptive week’). This feeding, then, foreshadows Heaven’s miraculous provision for fallen humanity in the end time—in a miracle so Christ is once again glorified.

Now, the climax in the narrative is Jesus keeping the ‘best wine until the last’ (v10). Despite their ‘feasting’ and ‘partying’, the ungodly are finding the enjoyment and pleasure from the

‘wine’ of this world is running out. To meet this need, Heaven is keeping the ‘best’ wine until ‘ the last’ (the end of this age); when believers will satisfy the thirst of the ungodly by giving out—in obedience to Christ—the ‘new wine’ of the Holy Spirit, i.e., the

‘abundant life’ of this end time revival. In this final act of mercy to manifest Christ’s glory believers will minister divine life more

‘potent’ than the ‘new wine’ (Acts 2.13) in the early church.

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THE MINISTRY OF ELIJAH

The prospect of revival breaking out all around the world is not a certainty until certain conditions are met. When previous revivals were never purely sovereign or ‘automatic’, this holds true for this final one. Believers will have to fulfill the universal requirements for revival as the first disciples did by spending ten days in the upper room. Days spent not idly filling in time but in

‘one accord and prayer and supplication’ (Act 1.14, 2.1) to prepare ‘the way’ for the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The church is sorely mistaken if it thinks this last outpouring eventuates without a price being paid—the cost of unity and intercessory prayer. (These are the minimum requirements; others include the obligation to respond to ‘alarms’ sounded by those with the ‘Spirit of Elijah’.)

‘ He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,

‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord’ (Luke 1.17). This prophecy refers, in the first instance, to John the Baptist and the special enduement to replicate the ministry of Elijah (Mt 11.14). It also speaks of those coming before Christ’s return with the same anointing to,

‘prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight’ (Lk 3.4). Though Elijah himself may fulfill this role as one of the two

‘olive trees’ testifying to Jewry for ‘three and a half years’ (Rev 11), numerous believers will be anointed to ‘prepare the way’ for the second coming of Christ. All will have the mandate to multiply the ministry of Elijah with the power for miracles.

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Though they have a mission to see ‘every mountain and hill (is) to be brought low’ (Luk 3.5)—abasement of the proud—it will be much larger than this if ‘ all flesh is to see the salvation of God’ (Lk 3.6). Their ministry will also focus on eliciting repentance (as Elijah did), at such a depth, many believers will turn from sins besides pride. It was John the Baptist’s mission also and why he preached ‘a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins’ (Mk 1.4). When God’s people have much to repent of, the message of repentance must once more be heard.

Before elaborating on this mission to effect repentance, it is helpful to highlight another outcome of Elijah’s prophetic ministry. Namely, delivering the ‘word of the Lord’ to execute judgment; on King Ahab and Jezebel and other regional leaders, but more generally by confronting the Israelites with their sin.

What is epitomized in the showdown with evil on Mt. Carmel, the historic event where Elijah’s call to repentance included these immortal words, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions?

If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him’ (1Kgs 18.21). Confronting Israel with their backsliding has profound typological significance for the end time, far-reaching because these ‘Elijah’ ministries will be tasked with delivering the same ultimatum. Challenge believers to choose wholeheartedly to follow the Lord; a last-ditch effort by Heaven to call the ‘ double-minded’ (Jam 4.8) back to Christ as their ‘first love’ (Rev 2.4).

‘He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,

‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children’ and the 133

disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people…for the Lord’ (Luk 1.16, 17). These end time ‘Elijahs’ will follow in the footsteps of John by also focusing on the two failings he did.

With millions no longer walking on the ‘highway of holiness’ (Is 35.8), the first will be ‘disobedience’ (v17). Confronting this sin in believers is mandatory (as the text details) if believers are to have the ‘wisdom of the just (righteous)’ (v17). And does anyone doubt survival in the coming days will much depend upon mature wisdom and divine discretion (Prov 2.12).

But they also will challenge (as John did) mature ‘fathers’ in the faith to ‘turn their hearts’ to care for the repentant ‘children’ in need of counsel. Even if it applies to natural fathers giving time and care to their children, its real import is for the spiritual fathers Paul refers to here, ‘ For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers’ (1Cor 4.15). These ‘fathers’ (shepherds with ‘skill and integrity’ (Ps 78.72)) will be essential for guiding the ‘flock of God’ during this future ‘time of trouble’. The church is already like ‘scattered sheep without a shepherd’ (Mt 9.36), and it cries out for ‘fathers’

like David, ‘ a man after mine (God’s) own heart’ (Act 13.22), i.e.,

‘shepherds’ who sacrificially lay down their lives to protect, guide, and feed God’s flock. (Jhn 10.11).

Yet, with believers allowing shameful ways to creep into their lives, these ‘Elijah’ ministries will address more than those two issues. When the ‘Laodicean church’ of today boasts, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’, and the truth it is in a parlous state best described by the term ‘churchianity’, 134

much more needs to be addressed. Hence Christ's reply of, ‘(you) do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked’ (Rev 3.17). If this is to be remedied, many will need to take seriously His counsel, ‘to be zealous and repent’ (Rev 3.19).

Hence, these ‘Elijahs’ will declare a message of repentance so there is a genuine response to His admonition to ‘ buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see’ (Rev 3.18)

It is why most of the seven churches received letters (recorded in Revelation Chapters 2, 3) with instructions to repent. And when these churches symbolize the ‘seven-fold’ end time church (a futurist interpretation of Revelation), we get valuable insight into what the believer must turn away from in preparation for Christ’s return. In practical terms, this translates into believers especially ‘putting on’ the traits highlighted by Jesus in the

‘Beatitudes’ (Mt 5.3-10). A conviction I have after being divinely drawn to reconsider these seven (plus one) pillars undergirding the ‘laws’ of the Kingdom of God. That is, the tenets Christ established as the foundation for all the subsequent ‘laws’ He announced on living in this divine realm. Though neglected and largely regarded as obsolete, these seven (plus one) ‘Beatitudes’

are anything but; they are ‘present truth’, and restoring them is critical if the church is to be ready for what is coming. As the

‘Ten Commandments’ provide the foundation for the Mosaic Law, the Beatitudes are the cardinal ‘laws’ for experiencing the 135

life of the Kingdom. If not tied to the ‘Beatitudes’, the other precepts of the Kingdom are unmoored.

With the mandate to ‘Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression’ (Is 58.1), these

‘last day’ ministries will highlight in their call to repentance the following traits.

1. Humility. (Mt 5.3) A deep sense of the need for God is the cornerstone to enjoying the blessing of the Kingdom— and a major key to survival in the last days.

2 . Sorrow for sin. (Mt 5.4) Turning away from sin comes after recognizing the ‘deceitfulness and wickedness of our hearts’ (Jer 17.9) and mourning over how it dishonors God.

3. Meekness. (Mt 5.5) This is not ‘weakness’, but the attitude of heart which surrenders to the will of God and is committed to walking on the ‘highway of holiness’ (Is 35.8).

4. Hunger for righteousness. (Mt 5.6) The passion to ‘seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness’ (Mt 6.33) comes from having the previous elements of repentance in place.

5. Mercy. (Mt 5.7) Turning towards this core trait of God’s character and away from hardheartedness is mandatory for those desiring to be a ‘vessel meet for the master's use’ (2Tim 2.21).

6. Purity of heart (Mt 5.8) More than anything, this trait is all about devotion to Christ as His ‘betrothed’ (2Cor 11.2).

7. Peacemakers. (Mt 5.9) A hallmark of revival will be ‘ the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’ (Eph 4.3) and those willing to sacrifice and work towards this will be critical.

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The last beatitude (‘ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake’ (Mt 5.10)) is an appendix. It, unlike the others, reinforces a truth about repentance—it is only genuine when the believer is willing to suffer for it. For more on this topic, you can request a free copy of my e-book ‘The Keys to Living in The Kingdom’ by writing to my email address.

I close this chapter with a timely ‘word from the lord’ that came across my desk.

"GOD is ABOUT to DO SOMETHING NEW" .

I am not a Jeremiah, but for a number of years I have acted as a watchman on the wall, warning of impending judgments. Yet, I have preached God's judgments are always redemptive. He is a loving God who must at times redeem and correct the sinful through chastenings.

Recently, I have been preaching that God is about to do something new and glorious. This new thing is beyond revival, beyond an awakening. It is a work of God that He alone initiates when He can no longer endure the polluting of His holy name. There comes a time when God determines that His Word has been so trampled into the mire, and abominations have so defiled what is called "the church," He must rise up and defend His name before a lost world.

"For His own name's sake," God is going to do two mighty works.

First, He is going to purge the nations and His church with awesome redemptive judgments. He is going to stop the invasion into His house by homosexuals and charlatans…purify the ministry and raise up shepherds after His own heart. Second, God is going to glorify His holy name with a great intervention of mercy. In the throes of judgments, God is going to save the day by a supernatural "turning" of a remnant back to Himself. You can read it all in Ezekiel 36:21-38.

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Summed up, this is what is prophesied: "I will have pity for My holy name which has been profaned among the heathen... not for your sakes, but for My own name's sake. The heathen shall know I am God. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean of all filthiness. I will you give you a new heart and a new spirit. I will cause you to walk in My ways” (See Ezekiel 20:22,44.)

For God's people, glorious days are ahead. Do not fret. God's holy name, and His pure Word, will be vindicated. Something greater than revival is coming.

DAVID WILKERSON

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CHAPTER 10

THE ‘ANTICHRIST’ DECEPTION