Impossible People

There is an obvious diversity of thought in the body of Christ regarding the future of America and, indeed, the world. Some believers hold no hope for a great, worldwide revival. There are various reasons for this. One of them is due to an eschatological view that there will be an across the board, worldwide increase of evil and deterioration of righteousness, including within the Church. In their thinking, a pre-tribulation rapture of the church is the only thing that can and will save us. Others do not see a revival and turnaround in America simply because of the degree and depth of our sin, compounded by the fact that more Americans aren’t repenting of and turning from our evil ways. (I write of my feelings toward this in my book, An Appeal To Heaven.) They also would point to the continued trending toward darkness by so many. This thinking that America is heading toward destruction has recently been confirmed in their minds by recent dreams and prophecies warning of America’s judgment and destruction.

While I am not disputing anyone’s dream or word in this post - as yesterday’s post stated, great shakings are coming - I am contending that judgment can be lessened and, at times, stopped by intercession (Genesis 18:22-33; Ezekiel 22:30-31). I am also contending that if judgment is reaped/does occur, it will be redemptive and America will survive. God is not finished with America!

I first heard the words, “America shall be saved,” from the late Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, who contended that he heard it from Holy Spirit. Then, God gave a powerful dream to our friend, Gina Gholston, in which an angel announced the words at the U.S. Capitol. I know there will be some shaking, but I also know America SHALL be saved.

My friend and fellow-believer in America’s unfinished destiny, William Ostan, agrees and wrote the following case for continued prayer for our nation. His belief in prayer’s effectiveness is why he introduced me years ago to the Appeal To Heaven flag. Will knows, “It still works.” He states:

“As world events have continued to spiral out of control with massive inflation crippling an already weakened America, a resurgent Russia’s illegitimate war in Ukraine, and an aggressive China making its intentions plain for eventual world domination by the end of this decade, the church now has a stark choice on how it responds to these and other difficult circumstances. Will we retreat in the face of overwhelming odds and prepare for what some deem an inevitable defeat? Or will we stay engaged in the culture through prevailing prayer and a resolute determination to overcome the odds, becoming ‘impossible people’?

“In his book, Impossible People: Christian Courage and the Struggle for the Soul of Civilization, author Os Guinness[1] writes,

“‘In the golden era of the Roman Empire, Pliny the Younger advised Emperor Trajan that Christians should be executed solely for their tenacity and intransigence. “Whatever the nature of their admission, I am convinced that their stubbornness and unshakable obstinacy ought not to go unpunished.”’[2].

“Christians in the early church confronted far more dire consequences than we do today, including instantaneous death or dismemberment for illegally proclaiming the gospel, yet they refused to stay silent and cower in fear! Instead, they became known as ‘impossible people’ because of their courageous stand marked by ‘unshakable obstinacy.’ We would be wise to draw inspiration from their strength for our current cultural moment!

“Guinness accurately describes the thinking in America by stating, “‘Christians throughout the West often appear to be on the back foot. They have been told repeatedly that their prospects are hopeless. In a thousand withering dismissals we have heard that we are fighting a losing battle and the game is already over. [As] Christians…our day is done, our disagreements with others are a matter of bigotry, and we are reactionaries and on the “wrong side of history.”’[3]

“We are fed these lies by the world daily and, sadly, at times by some leaders in the church. For years, countless books, articles, and speeches have stated that a ‘post-Christian’ America is fait accompli, and her eventual doom is imminent.

“How did we come to believe these lies? In my opinion, one of the reasons is that some leaders have constructed an idol of comfort in the hearts of millions of American Christians. But instead of being lulled into complacency, we need to be reawakened to our holy calling as ‘impossible people,’ those who will suffer anything for the glorious cause of Christ and stand resolutely in the face of cultural decay, come what may.

“Guinness teaches us that, “‘As salt and light in today’s extraordinary world, our contribution is indispensable. We are not simply guardians of some of the best of the past, but pioneers whose task is to stand against the world for the future of the world – and for the very sake of humanity.’[4]

“‘Standing against the world’ simply means to resist the unbiblical ideals and control of those who oppose the church. And I want to home in on Guinness’ ‘very sake of humanity’ phrase. Recently, there have been some prophetic words and dreams matriculating through the body of Christ that predict several states seceding from the union, significant food shortages, and a total dismantling of our monetary policy. I’m not qualified to say if these predictions are true or not.

“However, I am confident that if these things occur, there will be major rioting and looting, leading to much death and destruction. The ‘thin red line’ between order and chaos will rapidly cease to exist. Storing up a few cans of food and bottles of water would likely be the least of our concerns. If the dreams are from God and come to pass, I believe we will experience widespread suffering in America at a level unknown since the Civil War.

“One of the reasons God gives His people dreams of this nature is so we can pray fervently for mercy and turn the tide of history. At times, however, the unintended consequence of hearing a warning dream can be to short-circuit the praying church, causing them to acquiesce and hunker down for the inevitable. This is human nature. The worst may indeed come to pass. BUT, I believe ‘history belongs to the intercessors’[5] who are willing to change it through prayer and fasting.[6] Mercy may once again triumph over judgment!

“Some of you may be thinking that I’m ‘Pollyannish’ or ‘blindly love America too much’ to see the impending judgment. I ask you to consider the heroes in the book of Hebrews’ ‘Hall of Faith.’ Their incredible exploits compel us to continued engagement. Allow these words from Hebrews 11:32-34 and 12:1-2 to permeate deep into your heart and mind:

“‘And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets – who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight…Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.’[7]

“Overcoming overwhelming odds by being ‘impossible people’ is not just in our spiritual DNA, it is our destiny. Winston Churchill echoed this truth during WW2 by teaching the following to all freedom-loving people, ‘When great causes are on the move in the world…we learn that we are spirits and not animals, and that something is going on in space and time, which, whether like it or not, spells “duty.’”[8]

“Friends, if a time of worldwide crisis is imminent, that is precisely why this is the greatest time to be alive, courageously following in the footsteps of the mighty men and women of the past who did their duty as ‘impossible people!’”

Pray with me:

Our Father, we ask You to show mercy to America. We plead with You to send another Great Awakening to our beloved country. We remind You of the memory of all the “impossible people” You used in our founding, during the civil war, the two world wars and other times of national crisis. Help us to do our duty today as “impossible people” while we serve Your purposes in our generation.

Lord Jesus, help us to run the race in this life while we look to You to for strength and encouragement. We acknowledge that the course laid out before us hasn’t changed; the conditions have simply become uncomfortable and unfavorable. Therefore, Holy Spirit, fill is afresh and anew as we set our faces toward the mark and run with endurance…for the sake of humanity.

Our decree:

We decree that as “impossible people” we will stand against the world, for the future of the world, and that America shall be saved!

Bio:

William J. Ostan is a medically retired U.S. Army Major and combat veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the Founder and President of Arc of Justice, a nonprofit organization that advocates for wounded warriors still on active duty. Will is currently spearheading the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights (H.R. 6043) in Congress. You can find out more about his story at www.arcofjusticeusa.org


[1] This post draws heavily from insights gleaned from Os Guinness’ books. In my opinion, he is one of the most important public intellectuals for the church today. He is extremely intelligent, humble, and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I’ve found this to be a rare trifecta. Os still has a paradigm for the possibility of nation-wide reformation through another Great Awakening. I highly recommend all his books but especially Renaissance, Last Call for Liberty, The Magna Carta of Humanity, and Impossible People.

[2] Os Guinness, Impossible People: Christian Courage and the Struggle for the Soul of Civilization (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2016), 30. Quoting Robert Louis Wilken, The Christians as the Romans Saw Them (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1983), 23.

[3] Guinness, Impossible People, 26.

[4] Ibid., 27.

[5]https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8333426-history-belongs-to-the-intercessors---those-who-believe-and

[6] In World Order, Henry Kissinger wrote “Each generation will be judged by whether the greatest, most consequential issues of the human condition have been faced, and that decision to meet these challenges must be taken by statesmen before it is possible to know what the outcome might be.” Accessed in Guinness, Impossible People, Quote Section. Put another way, the future is never inevitable so we must face it full of fiery faith empowered by the courage of our convictions while believing that we can partner with the Lord of History to fulfill His purposes in our generation (Acts 13:36). To choose abdication, appeasement, or acquiescence is to lose by default as nature abhors a vacuum and evil will inevitably fill the void. British statesman Edmund Burke put it best by stating, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

[7] ESV

[8] Guinness, Impossible People, Quote Section.

Copyright © 2022 Dutch Sheets Ministries, All rights reserved.

What Are You Waiting For?

by Mario Murillo | Apr 8, 2022

What are you waiting for? Here are five reasons you can no longer wait for lukewarm Christians to wake up. All around you is the rumble of revival and reformation. An earthquake of American freedom. It beckons you!

But you are waiting. Every atom of your being screams for you to jump into the river that is healing America. All the cells of your body are vibrating with anticipation. But you hesitate. You are hoping your lukewarm friends and church will change.

The tide is turning. Millions are ready to cast off the yoke of the corruption of both Democrats and RINOs. Voices rise in schools, corporate headquarters, and in all the halls of power. Even leftist commentators and celebrities are defecting from the insane agenda of Biden.

Millions of Americans are yearning for a clear voice and a path back to freedom. You are one of those voices. Don’t waste it trying to convince the lukewarm.

Everywhere you look you see the preachers who are taking a stand. Their churches are growing. Their services radiate with the power of the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile, lukewarm cathedrals wallow in a plugged up and contaminated creek of denial.

Here are 5 reasons you can no longer afford to wait.

1. Your lukewarm friends and church are stealing your joy and your hope for a new America. Every time you get around them they downplay your fervor. They question your involvement in ‘politics.’ They wear you out with their lame excuses that betray reality.

Their double standards are maddening. It drains you to hear them talk about how Trump hurt their feelings, but they have no feelings about your daughter sharing bathrooms and showers with males at school. They have no feeling for babies who were born alive, but who now can legally be set aside to die.

Stop letting them drain you! Get with the growing number who are pressing in for revival and freedom.

2. You will never change them. They are bent on self-preservation. Their mission is to keep their club alive. The Bible doesn’t matter to them. American History and the Constitution do not matter to them. The only thing that matters is to maintain their religious charade.

3. Jesus said to look to the fields. John 4:35, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”

Pastors should not be looking at how their preaching might offend hypocrites. They should be looking to the fields. Christians should not be obsessing about babysitting high-maintenance believers. They should be looking to the fields.

In all of our crusades, there are far more converts than there are workers. We are inundated with souls being saved. Not only that, we have 10,000 registered for our two nights in Tulsa. We have 1,100 leaders registered for our Brunch today in Western New York.

Pastors should not be looking at how their preaching might offend hypocrites. They should be looking to the fields.



That’s just Mario Murillo Ministries. There are thousands more reporting conversions and miracles all over the nation. Look to the fields!

The compromised will tell you that your call to win souls is ‘divisive.’ But to choose to postpone soul winning for the sake of human unity is the most divisive thing you can do. Run to the harvest and dump the lukewarm spectators.

4. By staying back, you are choosing lukewarm Christians over your own children and grandchildren. I hope it doesn’t take this. But if your daughter comes home from school and she is devastated by what she saw in the high school showers—maybe then you’ll start fighting.

The Left is after your child. Nothing but revival and direct action will stop them. And when you stay out of politics, out of deference to tepid do-nothings, you are choosing them over your child and grandchild.

If you are not taking action against the moral threats that are coming against your family because you don’t want to rock the boat at your church, BE WARNED! The Bible has a severe opinion:

1 Timothy 5:8, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

And when you stay out of politics, out of deference to tepid do-nothings, you are choosing them over your child and grandchild.

5. The Bible tells you to turn away from lukewarm Christians. 2 Timothy 3:5, “For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].”

Now ask yourself, ‘Why does the Bible tell you to get away from them?’ It must be dangerous to hang out with them. They are draining, distracting, and disabling you from entering into revival and reformation.

Exit their presence, and run to the fire and glory!

"My Justice Shall Be Served for the Sake of the Children"

Good afternoon/evening! I haven't posted for awhile, as I waited upon the Lord's pleasure and direction. The post that follows, below, is what I've been waiting for.

We are living in some of the most exciting times ever on the face of the earth. We've heard over and over that we are in a time of seeing God's justice sweep across the face of this earth. We've seen it begin to happen, and more and more of it will be coming to light. As I've said before: Hold on to your seats, folks...God's justice is coming, and for the children especially, in this hour.

In fact, this verse comes to mind, as Jesus did not mince His words when speaking of the children: "If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in Me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:6).

With all this in mind, read these profound words from Prophet Hank Kunneman and about the justice that is here for God's children.

Prophecy by Hank Kunneman Given on March 16, 2022:

Read this powerful prophecy by Pastor Hank Kunneman and then watch it (at the link below) given on March 16, 2022, at Lord of Hosts Church, where the Spirit of the Lord declares that this is the season and the time of His justice, and justice for the children. Watch for a strange turn of events among the nations and within the nation of America, a change in governmental politics and entertainment.

Have faith and be encouraged as this current season is not the end of all things, but it is the beginning of a new era of the redemptive plan of the Lord!

The Children Are on His Heart

God, You have upon Your heart the children of the earth and have seen the injustice and the things that have taken place among the children of the earth.

Yet I hear the Spirit of the Lord say, "For there was a day in the days when children were being sacrificed and slaughtered, in the days of Moses; and yet I prepared, through My plan, a way of rescue – a way of escape – to protect the life of the innocent child, Moses.

"So I say to you that many things that are happening in the earth – some say these are wars that shall end all things; these are rumors of wars." But God says, "Look deeper, for you will see, that in the battles and the things that rage in the earth, that it is the children that are upon My heart and have been upon My heart.

"And I even said, before your election, that I dedicated the election to the children and to the honor of My Son, and so I shall have the last say. I will have the last action. Do you think that the liars, the thieves, the traffickers shall have their say their way? Do you think that they shall have any victory?"

Justice for the Children & a New House: Watch Ukraine, Russia & Taiwan

God says, "Watch, for this is the season and the time, now, of justice, and My justice shall be served for the sake of the children. Therefore, watch strange turns of events that shall happen even concerning Ukraine and Russia. Keep your eye upon Taiwan for there is more that is happening. For the ground shakes, the waters rise – the tide waters...but so does justice for the children.

"Therefore, watch what shall arise as a new House shall come unto this nation. And I will sweep, I will sweep, I will sweep through this land to restore honor to the children, and it shall come through the House, the Senate – yes, even it shall come with a new presidency.

"And there shall come even justice throughout the courts for the sake of the children, and this shall affect the schools, the curriculums; it will even affect," God says, "what shall even be allowed regarding certain entertainment. For you will say, 'Could this be possible in a land called America?'" God says, "You don't understand the new era you are in, nor do you understand the justice that will be served at My hand. (Photo via Snappy Goat)

Lighting Up a Generation: Watch Those Celebrated by the Children & Those Who Have Done Injustice to the Children

"Therefore, watch. Watch what happens and watch who I bring to the forefront that shall be celebrated among the children – but also those who shall be brought to justice because of what they have done to the children. I will do it for those that think that this is the end of all things."

The Spirit of God says, "Why do you, through fear mongering, steal a generation of their future? For I say, as the Father of Lights, I shall light a generation of children that shall be part of a remnant to bring forth My glorious Church. Therefore, watch [for] great shakings to those that have done injustice. I speak of institutions, even. I speak even in the area of creativity, animation movies, music..." God says, "There is something new that will arise, and you will see it.

The Children Shall Dance! Righteousness & Holiness Will Established

You say, "God, can You be more specific?" The Lord says, "I will show you what justice looks like, but I will show you what righteousness will be established among children, and there will be a holiness that will arise among the children of this day. They will say, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord. Let us sing to the Lord of all. Let us worship the Father.' Children shall dance in the streets. They shall gather in the streets with their parents; yes, and it shall not be in protest of what is coming, but it shall be in celebration and marching to declare the majesty of God who reigns among men.

"For they have tried to pollute the children." God says, "There shall come a holiness from the children that shall arise in this day. Watch as they abhor evil – they will resist evil!" says the Lord. "And they will crave righteousness!" (To watch this full word, click here.)

 

Prophecy by Hank Kunneman Given on March 13, 2022:

Read this powerful prophecy by Pastor Hank Kunneman and then watch it (at link below) given on March 13, 2022, at Lord of Hosts Church, where the Spirit of the Lord proclaims His promise for peace, justice, and a heavenly renewal coming to the nations that will restrain tyrants and bring a good inheritance upon God's people and the children.

Do not be moved by Hell's response and manifestations of the elements in the earth, for things may appear dark, but the light of the Spirit of Truth is breaking forth, and the spirit of freedom is coming to bring a liberation like never before!

The Sound of Justice Arises

Let the displays of the hand of justice of God Himself be made manifest now in the earth. As the sound of justice arises in the earth, let the earth behold – at the crumbling of walls, the breaking forth of a dam, the rising of the waters and of the tides too; but yet a shaking of hands for a peace where there has been battle – things coming to a close, but yet things breaking forth – even the clouds with great torrential rains.

What Side of the Cloud Are You On? This Is Your Day of Deliverance!

Rain, rain, rain! Why? Why such rain – and yet drought? Things seem backwards. Things seem to contradict. The Spirit of God says, "What side of the cloud are you on? For it is the same hand and it is the same work of My glory. For to the Egyptians, all they could see and contribute was that which appeared dark to them. But the same glory of the pillar of cloud and fire, yet, was a deliverance that was coming to a nation and to a people. (Photo via Pixabay)

"So do not be moved by signs, Hell's response, the earth convulsing at the weight of what is and shall be, but know this: the waters were restored to dry land in the days of Noah, when there [was] a rising of waters and rains and floods and [a] bursting forth. When you see these signs, they are yet but signs that the dry land will appear, that there shall be a heavenly renewal that is coming to the earth and to this nation, because of the harshness that has been upon it...you will see it.

"And even so it was in the days of the Red Sea crossing that the dry land appeared to show that I already had a plan and a way to stop a pursuit of spirits of darkness, using armies, using men, to bring harshness to the people of the earth. And I opened the Red Sea and the land appeared, and they walked upon the dry land. Do you understand," says the Living God, "that this is the promise – the dry land is going to appear? What do I say? Your day of deliverance, your day of justice...as I dealt with Pharaoh and his army, as the horse and rider were drowned in the sea. This is coming and is upon us now.

A Time of Inheritance & Heat to Cool the Earth

"Dry land also was to transition them into a time of the inheritance that I promised. Therefore, do not be moved by heat as it fills the earth. And as it heats in the natural, things will be heated by the power of My hand. Why? To cool the earth, to still the earth, which is why the hands will shake and tyrants will be restrained.

Keep Your Eye Upon Taiwan! Children Will Be Set Free!

"Keep your eye upon Taiwan. Pray, for even now the enemy would love to make things look very strange, very dark, and very evil concerning Taiwan. There are children that are captive, sold, traded, trafficked...and this will be revealed among you, but among the nations.

"Some say 'conspiracy.' I say you're wrong. For I have come for the children, and I have come, for there shall be millstones; there shall be justice for those that have touched the children." And God says, "You think the liberty is just about your constitution, your governments, the rights of your own freedom." And God says, "True, to a point, but it is because I am coming for the children, and I will set them free.

"So lastly, do you think this is the future for your children, your economy, your schools, your government – wicked men who bring such laws to shackle the future generation? Not so...Rather than fear the harshness of this moment, you need to rejoice, because as harsh as this season has been, paraders shall be the liberation and the freedom that shall come to this nation, the nations of the earth – but your children!" (To watch this full word, click here.)

Dutch Sheets: The Showdown

 I like to sprinkle in encouraging prophetic words and encounters on the GH15 posts. When I do so, please allow them to do more than just encourage you, however. Use them! Holy Spirit releases these words and promises so we can pray and decree them. Also, as we do, strategies are birthed in our hearts and minds. The following word is from my brother, Tim Sheets, and is very powerful.

“Holy Spirit gave me a vision on August 11, 2021, four days before the impending collapse of Afghanistan started being revealed to the world. On that day, I suddenly became very alert in my spirit and had the feeling I was missing something. I pondered this prayerfully and asked Holy Spirit to reveal to me what it was. After a few moments, I began hearing from Holy Spirit, ‘It’s time for the showdown.’

“I knew Holy Spirit was referencing Elijah’s showdown with the 450 prophets of Baal and the wicked government of Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 18). An altar was built with a sacrifice placed upon it and the deity who answered by fire - Yahweh or Baal - would be proven as the true God. What a showdown!

“The prophets of Baal started the contest pleading with their god all day to answer by fire. They danced, cut themselves to offer blood sacrifices, and begged. No fire was released.

“Then came Elijah’s turn. First, he repaired the altar and, just to make a point, filled the trench around the altar with water. Then he prayed, ‘Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that these people may know that You, Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back,’ (1 Kings 18:36-37). When he prayed, fire came from heaven and consumed not only the sacrifice, but also the water, dirt, and altar made of rocks!

“Yahweh was declared the only God and the prophets of Baal were killed. Though it was not immediate, the destruction of Ahab’s (and Jezebel’s) wicked government was set in motion. A new government eventually came into the land, as Ahab and Jezebel lost their lives.

“Holy Spirit reminded me of 1 Kings 16:33 (MSG), ‘Ahab made God angrier than all the previous kings put together.’ We see from this scripture God was paying attention. Ahab and Jezebel’s evil government was declared the worst in the nation’s history. The Message Bible calls them ‘Champions of evil.’ The mocking of God, persecution of His people, abuse of power, and breaking of His covenants made Him angry.

“In the analogy Holy Spirit began giving me, Elijah pictures the apostolic and prophetic in our times. At one point in the struggle, God told him He had preserved 7,000 people that hadn’t bowed to Baal, declaring that Yahweh was their God. These faithful ones picture millions in today’s Ekklesia who will not bow to wicked governments or fake gods. They confess that there’s only one King - Jesus.

“As I prayed into this, I began to see other similarities to today: the current showdown is about government changing and God returning to His rightful position. It’s also about the apostolic, the prophetic, and the King’s Ekklesia engaging to bring that to pass. Holy Spirit is anointing His Ekklesia with favor and people from across the nation will follow them in re-establishing God’s rightful place in the land.

“I saw a consuming fire falling in answer to our prayers. Ahab and Jezebel-type governments are going to experience the fire of God.

“Then God showed me a vast army of angel warriors I hadn’t seen before. They appeared in long lines, arrayed for battle, wearing shiny breastplates and holding golden bows with bronze arrows. Their countenance was stern and fierce, determined and confident - their eyes were fixed in a stare that could look right through you. The lines of angels stretched as far as I could see in all directions.

“At this point, the vision became more like a visitation. I told the Lord I had never seen these angels and He said, ‘They’ve rarely been seen on the earth, but I’m now releasing them in great numbers, in all the nations.’

“I asked the Lord what these particular angels do and He answered, ‘They guard My glory and honor. They are coming to defend My honor, and prepare the way for My Ekklesia to expand My Kingdom. Those who honor Me, I will honor. They will rise in governing authority to reign with Me. I will increase My Kingdom favor to them and My glory will rise upon them. Words of wisdom, words of knowledge, prophetic unction, My supernatural faith, spiritual discernment, healings, and miracles will increase through My joint-heirs. These angels will assist them in protecting My honor and glory on the earth, and in bringing Me the honor My Father promised Me from the nations.

“‘You will now see the strong arm of the Lord. The aggression of heaven’s warriors will move on My behalf. You will experience the presence of My glory that advances My might to protect, save and strengthen. For I declare My people will now rise in My mightiness and strength. My power will be seen, My wind will be felt. You will feel the “breath wind” of Holy Spirit, the “breath wind” of My Kingdom.

“‘My passion will now infuse My remnant with passion for My cause. I am calling forth My passionate warriors. They will stand and not be shaken. They will display a hope, a confidence, and a faith that does not shake. Passionate warriors of valor are mustering to their battle stations. They have heard My call, along with My angel armies, and are rising in the darkness to push against hell until it literally quakes under My power.

“‘It is the season for demons to tremble, not My heirs. Arise and shine in My greatest glory hour. Arise and stand strong in the perilous time. Arise and challenge - with My authority - the abominations of the forever loser. Arise, and with My mightiness reinforcing you, destroy defilement. Dominate defilement and dominate evil. Hear My word, hear My prophetic word, listen to the message I’ve sent in resounding waves. Hear the prophetic assignments I’ve given that are now intersecting their moment.

“‘Arise with Me to reign, says the Lord, for I am rising in this world as never before. I will not be an indifferent bystander. I will rise and thunder against iniquitous roots that mock Me, torching them. I will rise against sin and its destruction. I will rise against idolatry, shaking and removing it. I will rise against governments that disdain My words. I will not close My eyes but will look, see, and judge in fairness. I will not stand down. I won’t relent. I will torch evil. I will not be mocked and I will not be stopped.

“‘My Kingdom’s army will now rise to march with confident valor. Prepared, armed, and backed by My wisdom, might, and resources. They will shift into covenant promises and inherit new territories. They won’t be stymied or stopped. For I will shake down that which blocks, freeing them. My Kingdom will NOT be shaken. Arise, pursue and recover all. For I have promised and I will keep My word. In the midst of turmoil, shakings, and perilous times, My grace will abound. My Kingdom will abound and will win this showdown, says the Lord.’

“In this time of shaking, good is happening. I was impacted by Yahweh’s interesting phrase, ‘breath wind.’ It’s time for the ‘breath wind’ of Holy Spirit to come to you. If you are feeling disjointed or perhaps broken, He knows how to put you back together, how to put you on your feet and make you a strong warrior again. A ‘breath wind’ is blowing all across the nations to revive.”

Pray with me:

“Father, we pray that Your fresh wind would come on Your Ekklesia around the world. Send revival winds, causing us to live again, to fight again. Make us strong, mighty warriors for Your Kingdom. We will stand - fierce, determined, and confident in the authority of our King Jesus.

“We ask for the ‘breath wind.’ Come and breathe into Your people. Breathe life, anointing, and courage into them. Lord, give supernatural strength to rise up, overcome and dominate. We declare that the wind of the Holy Ghost will dominate our adversaries, the forces of hell that come against us. ‘Breath wind,’ come! Come to the boneyard, the graveyards. Breathe life into them. And activate a massive angel force to defend the glory and honor of our King. We ask in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Our decree:

“There is a shift occurring and a fresh wind of Holy Spirit is beginning to forcefully blow. Wind of God, come, in Jesus’ name!”

(Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about Tim ,here.)

Copyright © 2021 Dutch Sheets Ministries, All rights reserved.

What Are You Looking For?

I found this yesterday, while skimming a few articles, and realized I could easily have written it myself. Paul

I grew up in a religious environment which was obsessed with the “end times.” By the time I was 10 years old, I had been exposed to so many sermons, movies and conversations about the mark of the beast, the Great Tribulation and the rise of The Antichrist that I'm surprised didn't eventuate in a panic disorder that persisted well into adulthood. I even had a friend who would come home from school and not be able to find his mom and panic because I thought I had been “left behind” in the rapture.

As I got older, thanks to some awesome mentors and logical inquiry, this narrative began to crumble. The one question that I apply to nearly everything that doesn’t add up is this: “who benefits?” That along with the words of Jesus, “you shall know it by its fruit” are what is needed to sharpen discernment.

Ask yourselves "Who benefits?" when believers are:

• Looking for the rise of the antichrist instead of the Return of the King
• Obsessed with the mark of the beast instead of being marked by Christ’s love and presence
• Focused on escaping the earth instead of redeeming it
• Immersed in fear rather than hope

Darkness benefits. Yes, there is darkness and it seems to be increasing (side note: the presence of darkness isn’t increasing; only the exposure of it) AND according to prophetic scripture, when darkness is at its thickest, that’s when the glory of the Lord rises upon us! Which side of the same coin do YOU want to focus on?

The end is indeed near, but it’s the end of the reign of terror that has kept God’s children enslaved to a matrix of lies and hopelessness.

Those of us who are alive, during these times, get the incredible privilege of seeing with our eyes what prophets of old only dreamed about.

Let us fix our eyes on the rising glory of the Son of Righteousness instead of the momentary darkness that quakes and trembles at the mention of His name.

Let’s find out where our position is - because if you are alive, you have a part to play! Let’s declare the solution instead of wringing our hands over the problem. The end is near, AND the future is bright! Remember who you are.

Rise up and reign!

The Power of the Name of Jesus

THE POWER OF THE NAME OF JESUS IS GOING TO BE SEEN IN GREATER WAYS THAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE

By Lana Vawser Ministries on Aug 12, 2021 10:43 pm

Over a number of months the Lord has been speaking to me about the POWER OF HIS NAMES. I have been encountering the heart of God in a deep way where He is speaking deeply about the power of His names being manifested in this season like we have never seen before.

Healer, Provider, Deliverer, Rescuer, Promise Keeper, God of Breakthrough and many, many more. The Lord is speaking powerfully in this hour about faith and He is drawing His people as they lean into Him, into a deeper realm of faith than we have walked in before and it is rooted in His nature, His names, and His Word.

Miracles are manifesting on a level we have not seen before and what we are now seeing is just a small drop in the ocean compared to the wave of His power that we are about to encounter. The Lord is wanting to encourage His people that He is not confined to ‘natural circumstances’, He is the God who makes the IMPOSSIBLE, POSSIBLE. His Word does not return void to Him (Isaiah 55:11) and He is building an army of lovers of Jesus who live not by what they see in the natural (2 Corinthians 5:7), they live at His feet, eyes locked with His and from their seat (Ephesians 2:6).

Two years ago I had an encounter with the Lord and He spoke “Lana, I am going to bring My people into a new era where they will see the power of the name of Jesus in the most explosive ways than they have ever seen before”

I believe we are here now.

God is wooing you, He is wooing His people, deeper into His Word, deeper into knowing His character, His heart and His names, because we are about to encounter a wave of His power in an unprecedented way that will awaken the Church in even greater ways to the POWER of the name of Jesus.

There is NO name greater than the name of Jesus. The name above every other name. God is wanting to release hope to you today. Miracles are going to manifest in unprecedented ways in this hour as you put your faith in JESUS and as you put your faith in the name above every other name, JESUS!

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” – Philippians 2:9 (ESV)

Many are having their hearts healed, their faith restored, delivered from trauma, disappointment, grief, regret, hope deferred as they begin to see the POWER of the name of Jesus manifested in their lives.

God is bringing His people back to the foundational place of “Nothing but Jesus”. Many have been like the woman with the issue of blood, they have ‘tried’ everything, and nothing has worked, and they are now pushing through the ‘crowd of impossibility’ to the hem of His garment where they will see the power of Jesus bring healing, bring deliverance, bring freedom, bring breakthrough.

A mighty realignment of focus is taking place in the body of Christ that is bringing hearts, eyes and a ferocious focus BACK upon Jesus, and the revelation of His nature and POWER of His name. A deep repentance is taking place within many hearts for placing faith in things above Jesus and the power of His name.

The Lord is bringing His people back to the first love, Jesus. He is bringing such a deep awakening to the Church of who He is. There is no need to fear, there is no need to run, there is no need to hide, Jesus is with you.

The glorious awakening to a deeper revelation of Jesus is bursting forth. It is causing a deep groaning of travail within many to know Him in a way they have never known Him before. There is a falling away of all other ‘loves’, there is a shedding of all things that would hinder the place of intimacy with Him and a fire blazing within the hearts of many to run after Him like never before.

Jesus is revealing who He is in magnificent ways in this hour and many are stepping into life again as they are seeing the Lord do what He said He would do.

I see a remnant all over the world falling on their faces with deep groaning sobs of love and burning adoration for Jesus as they see the POWER of His name manifest miracles, miraculous turnaround and the fulfilment of what He has spoken in and through their lives. The burning desire within them, as they see Him move in power and CRUSH the IMPOSSIBILITIES in their lives in the power of His Spirit and in His name, are raising them up into a new level of faith to BELIEVE what He has spoken and live in a place of supernatural peace, authority and boldness because they are burning again with the revelation of who He is.

The enemy has taunted many for so long that the Lord would not come through, He would not do what He said He would do, that they would have to get used to living with impossibility, and NOW the POWER of the name of Jesus is being manifested into their lives that is raising up a burning conviction and roar of faith within them that heralds “THERE IS NO OTHER NAME GREATER THAN THE NAME OF JESUS”

We have entered a time in history where the greatest demonstration of the power of the name of Jesus is going to be seen ALL over the earth, the name of Jesus our mighty victor. The company of burning ones, burning hearts with first love fire, not chasing signs, wonders and miracles, but chasing Jesus, and seeing the power of His name trump all other names.

The earth will shake under the power of the name of Jesus, this being the era where it will be heralded from the heavens that JESUS CHRIST IS KING, JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

Read the original here, if you like.

Stop Calling It a Remnant

by Mario Murillo | Jul 16, 2021 | Revival in America

If you believe in the covenant that God made with America—if you are a patriot with Pentecostal fire—if you believe in prophets, and if you believe Trump still has a destiny in America, then listen up!

It is time to drop the label of remnant. We are no longer a remnant. A remnant does not have this many members. This is a mighty army!

Back in the day we were huddled in secretive prayer meetings. Leftists and popular pastors made fun of us. There was a time when admitting you are one of “them” was risky. There was a time when you could feel the isolation of our movement.

The roar they can’t ignore

You are longer isolated. Today, you are the roar they can’t ignore.

You are among those who rightly interpret Romans 13. The scales fell off your eyes. You resist evil
government. You walk in love toward mankind, but in holy rage toward devils.

You are no longer a marginalized subculture. You are a force in American culture. You and I are no longer a smoldering ember that Facebook or YouTube can smother. The flames of reformation have jumped their walls.

Many assumed the Capital Riots would kill our movement.

On January 6th, what the devil meant for evil, backfired. He believed that the Capital riots had finally brought a death rattle to our movement. Satan laughed with delight. He thought we were discredited, defeated, and dead. Remember how dark it felt? Then the lie began to die.

The Left lost its mind condemning a riot that was infiltrated and abetted by agents from their own side. Worse yet, they fully ignored the evil of the BLM/Antifa riots that saw 14,000 arrests, caused $ 1.5 billion in damages, and took 25 lives.

The Left looked even more deranged by calling it ‘the worst riot ever’. Some on the Left have even said that Jan. 6th was worse than 9-11, where thousands died! America asked, “How can you say that? The damage and death from the capital riots, while awful, was miniscule beside what happened to Portland, Oregon and dozens of other cities.’

Thus, our movement revived. Polls show a growing number of Americans oppose abortion-on- demand, open borders, church lockdowns, and forced vaccinations. They also believe the presidential election was stolen by voter fraud. When you factor in the control that state media has over polls, it is amazing that we know anything about these trends. And the percentages of those who know the truth must be much greater than they will admit.

Here are the biggest reasons for me to discard the remnant label:

-This blog. In the last month they have thrown everything at this blog to stop it. That is why you see it sporadically. But even with all of the glitches and shutdowns, I am stunned. This blog which began with just 12 people reading it, is about to reach 16 million views! There is no version of that that can be called a remnant!

-There are conferences and events that declare revival and reformation. They are overflowing. Some of them are forced to move out of churches into major arenas, in order to accommodate the crowds.

-Fires are breaking out in every corner of our nation. Patriotic Christians are meeting in churches, barns, community centers, homes, schools, parks, at flag poles, and even in restaurants.

We are a popular uprising—not a remnant.

Acts 2:46-47, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

A Verse for Today

“Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.” 

(2 Timothy 3:1-5; MSG)

Things Are Falling Into Place

Things are not falling apart -- they are falling into place. If Jesus chastised the Pharisees for not knowing the signs of His first coming, why would we not be expected to be aware of today's apocalyptic signs? Here are some of the top prophetic developments of 2015.

1)    Israel's worsening isolation. (Zechariah 12:3) The Left in America under Barack Obama abandoned her some years ago. With the defeat of Canada's Stephen Harper, Israel was left only with some evangelical Christians spread around the world. She has no superpower backing.

2)   The "days of Noah" are back. (Matthew 24:37)  Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. (Judges 17:6) Lawlessness is the order of the day. Evil is glorified. The White House was adorned with the colors of the homosexual rainbow and Hillary Clinton has a campaign ad with homosexuals engaged in debauchery as she celebrates their actions.  

3)   The disillusionment with today's politician is setting the stage for a "man with a plan" who will not be a politician but who will have the answer to all the world's problems. We don't know his name. We know his title is Antichrist. He may be the only one who can stabilize the ISIS crisis being planned for a naive Western world.

4)   The rise of strong delusion. (II Thessalonians 2:10-12). Simply put, God sends a strong delusion to those who choose not to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who take delight in mocking and rejecting Him, He will condemn, confuse their thinking, and cause them to believe fables. And they do!  Islam is good and peaceful; guns are evil; climate change is more dangerous than jihadists; Israel is the bad guy and the Palestinians are the new heroes in the church today; ISIS isn't Islam; Muslim refugees are peaceful and will help the Western world. This is an "Alice-in-Wonderland" world. Christians don't fit. The Mad Hatter rules.

5)   The further decline of America. She is not in the Bible in the end-times. Russia and Iran are the primary players in the Mideast now. America's influence for good is vanishing under Barack Obama. America will blend into global government.  

 

6)    America is being given over to paganism. A few months ago the Hindu goddess Kali appeared on the Empire State Building in New York City. Twenty years ago this was unthinkable. It is now cool.  

7)   Israel is being prepared for the Antichrist. She is surrounded by enemies. She has Hezbollah, ISIS, Russia and Syria to the north and East and Hamas to the south in Gaza. Iran boasts daily that she will dump nukes on Israel. At some point she will cave to these threats and call on the Antichrist to make a peace treaty -- particularly in light of the loss of American support.

8)   Gog is now on the move.  If Gog is Russia, Vladimir Putin has re-built her from the days when Ronald Reagan reined her in. Russia is advancing in many places.  All the Gog-Magog nations are aligning and are in the news: Iran, Russia, Turkey, Libya, and more. Prominent Bible-players are moving around as though they were on a chess board.

See Ezekiel 38-39.

9)    Israel has been bombing the suburbs of Damascus taking out concealed weapons. The Bible foretells a time when Damascus will become a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 35:1)

10)   Christians are mocked as never before and Jews are fleeing to Israel at a pace not seen since post WW2.  (Matthew 10:22) Only Islam is glorified, honored, and protected. In the Iraq/Syria region, a Christian is slaughtered every 5 minutes, yet few show any concern. Christianity is being erased from the region of its birth.  All of this intensified in 2015.  

11)  The technology giants want to suppress the truth and marginalize Christians.  From YouTube, to Google, to Facebook, to Twitter, and more, the gospel message is censored and evil is glorified. They are preparing the way for "Mark of the Beast" technology. This was on overdrive in 2015. This ministry came under the gun and was censored more than once. Stories reveal that Windows 10 actually spies on emails, credit cards, and more.

12)   There was a cry for a global religion from Pope Francis to the Parliament of World Religions in Utah in late 2015. If the world is ever to be one, religions also must be united.  Pope Francis revealed himself to be an apocalyptic figure in 2015. We cannot "pin the tail of the False Prophet" on him quite yet, but even conservative Catholics are troubled by this Jesuit Pope. In fact, this Pope represents Marxism, environmentalism, the new world order, global government, sustainable development, the Jesuit agenda, unity of faiths, a global constitution, a global court, and a departure from Catholic traditions.  He is surely a harbinger of a global religion.

13)   Globalism went on overdrive thanks to Barack Obama, the United Nations, Pope Francis, and a consortium of worldwide Leftists.  John Lennon, who "imagined" all of this decades ago, would be proud!

14)   The push to make cash illegal intensified in 2015. The move to a cashless society won't happen overnight.  Instead, it is being implemented very slowly and systematically in a series of incremental steps.  All over the planet, governments are starting to place restrictions on the use of cash for security reasons.  

15)   Israel's Temple Mount has been a focal point for turmoil this year.  With stage-setting for fulfillment of Bible prophecy during this Church Age winding up, it should be of no surprise that there has been tension on Mount Moriah. That may be the most contested 35 acres on the planet.

16)   This was the year Bible prophecy was mocked and attacked more than ever! Believers in our "blessed hope" were called "End-time Eddies and Esthers." While this has always existed, now more and more prominent teachers are telling us not to waste our time on doom and gloom.  

17)    Liberal, Godless Europe imploded. Leaders like Germany's Angela Merkel lost their minds, put their people at huge risk as terrorists took advantage of the "refugee" situation, and have made Europe a time bomb. The Antichrist will take advantage of this as well.

18)   This was the year evangelicals began accepting the gay agenda and some asserted that Allah and Jehovah are the same. The voices from the religious Left encouraged this.  The great end-time falling away has much of the church going over a cliff with results that cannot be rectified.  Finding a solid church became a believer's biggest challenge in 2015.

Compiled By Jan Markell/Olive Tree Ministries

 

 

This is NOT presented to make readers depressed. Rather, it's intended as an encouragement to believers, as it proves the accuracy of God's Word, the Bible. All this was prophesied 2,000 years ago, to take place in "the last days". 

 

At the end of these "last days", Jesus returns to put an end to the wars and strife, and set up His kingdom on the earth. 

That's GOOD NEWS!

What a Week It's Been

It's been a week to remember: hurricane-force winds, temps 25 degrees above normal, what little snow we had is melted now, and a plane crashing into an office building in downtown. By the time the winds reached their peak, there were wide-spread power outages from north Anchorage all the way to Wasilla (some 45 miles as the eagle flies) from trees falling on trunk lines.

This morning it's in the low 30s F., with scattered light rain showers. That's still 15 degrees above normal. And that's just here, around Anchorage.

Freak snowstorms across the Lower 48, heat waves, tornadoes, massive flooding ... the list goes on and on.

But all this got me to thinking (a dangerous pastime, I know) about unusual weather patterns. In the Bible, the Lord has used freakish weather as a harbinger of sovereign acts wherein He took an active role in events.

At the risk of going out on a prophetic limb, I'm keeping an eye on politics and conflicts around the world. And especially on Israel, and the various Islamic threats to that nation.

I expect unprecedented and unusual signs and wonders in the next weeks, both around the world and in this country. Yes, I could be wrong ... but I don't think so.

It's all going according to the Book.

* * * * *

In the meantime, let me wish each of you a happy, safe, and prosperous new year!

I Feel The Earth Move Under My Feet

But at least the sky's not a-tumblin' down. (With apologies to Carole King)

Alaska shook, rattled and rocked more in 2014 than any year on record.

The Alaska Earthquake Information Center’s network of seismometers picked up 40,686 quakes last year in the state and bordering parts of Canada. That is significantly more than the previous high of nearly 32,000 in 2003. In 2013, there were only about 28,000 such events, the center reported. 

“We’ve blown away those benchmarks,” said state seismologist Michael West, reached by phone. “There’s never been a year where we identified 40,000 earthquakes in a year.”

 "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows." (Mark 13:8)

What's Going to Happen?

I get asked that question more frequently than you might think. Watching the news reports - assuming you can find one you trust to be reasonably accurate - can leave an intelligent person curled in a fetal position, wondering when it will all be over. 

Jesus' followers asked Him the same question, although for slightly different reasons. Let me set the scene for you:

a) Israel was occupied by Roman troops, which were everywhere
b) The Romans allowed the Jews the illusion of self-rule, but only the religious council - and they only had authority in spiritual matters; political guidance came from Rome
c) Many Jews were agitated by the Roman occupation, and wanted to mount a revolt for Israel's freedom - especially the Zealot movement, which could be compared to the III% movement of today.

From the book of Matthew, chapter 24 –

Jesus then left the Temple. As he walked away, his disciples pointed out how very impressive the Temple architecture was. Jesus said, "You're not impressed by all this sheer size, are you? The truth of the matter is that there's not a stone in that building that is not going to end up in a pile of rubble."

Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, "Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time's up?"

Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, 'I am The Anointed One, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.

(Leaders with forged identities, called "The One"? Nah, couldn't be.)

"They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other. In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.

Christians being put to death, around the world? Check. Overwhelming spread of evil? Check. People hating Christians and Christianity? Check. Lying preachers, deceivers? Check. People at each other's throats? Check. People hating anyone and everyone? Check.

 "Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come. 

~ snip ~

"If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I've given you fair warning. 

"So if they say, 'Run to the country and see him arrive!' or, 'Quick, get downtown, see him come!' don't give them the time of day. The arrival of the Son of Man* isn't something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it's not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds.

~ snip ~

"Then, the arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it.

 Cable/satellite TV broadcasts? Probably.

"Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

Again, he's promising a world-wide audience, presumably watching a "live" broadcast. But for all I know, he may be talking about the event being visible everywhere at once. How? How should I know? But a god so small that I could figure his methods wouldn't be worth serving.

"Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you'll know he's at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

"But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows. The arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away.

"The Son of Man's arrival will be like that..."

So are we in the end times? Yes, I believe we are entering the times Jesus described as "the beginning of sorrows" in the King James translation (the version most folks are familiar with). But, he added, "the end is not yet."

It's not over yet, folks, not by a long shot. Don't give up; I believe there's still time to pull America back from the brink of whatever it's doing now. America can be great and good again.

"But Paul, what if you're wrong?"

Then we get to go to Heaven even sooner, along with all of God's faithful followers. Ain't nothing bad about that!

* Jesus most often referred to himself as "the Son of Man" - this is a reference to the Messiah as described in the Old Testament book of Daniel, chapter 7, verses 13-14:  "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." 

   By this, He was reasserting his claim to be the Son of God and the Savior of mankind.

"Fear, fire, foes! Awake!"

I don't suppose that it escaped your notice that the weather has been worse, these past few years. Heat waves, record cold snaps and blizzards, unusual amounts of precipitation, droughts, flooding, and earthquakes in many places.

^1-2 Jesus then left the Temple. As he walked away, his disciples pointed out how very impressive the Temple architecture was. Jesus said, "You're not impressed by all this sheer size, are you? The truth of the matter is that there's not a stone in that building that is not going to end up in a pile of rubble."
 ³Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, "Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time's up?"
 ^4-8Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities*, claiming, 'I am Christ, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler**, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.
 ^9-10"They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other.
 ^11-12"In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.
 ^13-14"Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.

(Matthew 24)

People, being who and what they are, tend to focus on bad news. They sensationalize it, dwell on it, and generally work themselves into frenzies over it. But you knew that.

I don't often talk about end time prophecies, and by that I mean the prophetic passages - such as the one above - in the Bible. Yes, it's part of God's Word, but ... see the previous paragraph. However, if reading the verses above makes you uneasy or depressed, then may I suggest that you've missed the point?

Sure, things are bad, and it seems they will get much worse. Jesus told his followers that all these things would happen, but they were not to worry about it. 

Look again at verses 13-14. "You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved."  I'd rather focus on that ... and so should you.

"The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you." (II Chronicles 15:2)

* Birth certificates? I'm just asking.

** The original language of the New Testament (Greek) uses the word ethnos, meaning "ethnic group against ethnic group". Middle East, anyone?