VICTORY
at
MIDNIGHT
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, . . .
Ephesians 6:12a
Granted, it is an unusual war*. A small invading force had been sent in, beforehand, with a very special concern: the citizens of the land were starving, with death ravaging whole towns and villages. As corpses lay in their streets, the homes were deprived of fathers, mothers denied their milk, and children lacked even a hope. The standing orders were to go easy on the locals, to stand between the living and the dead, and to quickly bring relief.
Relief, however, is more easily dreamed of, than accomplished. The resident warlords are entrenched, with various citizens siding with those denizens. For, although being robbed blind, murdered, raped and extorted... many of them have grown accustomed to it. Some, in fact. . . even like it.
The mission: To save the people from themselves.
The Commander of the invading force (whose battle reserves are out of sight) has offered the locals food, concern, and medical assistance beyond their wildest dreams. The people were, at first, ecstatic–desiring to make him their new warlord . . . but, afterwards (as they were known to do) changed their minds, and killed their Savior.
Three days later, the Commander arose and disappeared, "Escaping," some said, "to his original home."–Now, others have taken his place; a veritable army of both men and women accomplishing, in many ways, what the Commander had not.
The warlords, of course, have not taken any of these developments lightly. In fact, the new invading force has them fighting mad, with the biggest and baddest of these devils proposing to take the battle back to the Commander's shores -or at least, to their supply lines, now stationed, just out of sight. . . .
And there was war in heaven: . . . .
Revelation 12:7
* * *
If you are a first time reader of the UPLOOK, and your head is still spinning, a bit, welcome to the club. (If it is not, perhaps you should go back and re-read the first three chapters, for you may have missed something, there.)
In this concluding chapter, we'll not present much new material, but make use of one of Revelation's most powerful techniques of bringing home the message cocerning end time judgments: review and recapitulation.
You may recall that it was stated earlier, how Jewish prophets often made use of overlaps, when getting their message accross. One of the most useful side effects of this technique pops up in John's eleventh, through nineteenth, chapters. Here, he first establishes a bookmark (of sorts), lays out a table of contents, and then fills in the details.
This "bookmark" is the eleventh chapter, itself. Its "table of contents" is an intriguing timing outline: with three sets of 3½ clocks (42 months [3½ years], 1260 days [3½ years], and 3½ days) —which vary in intensity, and span the entire church age.
Now, 2 x 3½ = 7, and if you are at all familiar with Daniel's seventy weeks' prophecy (and evangelical interpretation) you know that it is generally accepted that Daniel forecast that there would be a final "week" of events, which would wrap up the age of grace.
What John's three sets of 3½'s tell us, therefore, is that his vision deals primarily with the very end of the Church age —with the first 3½ dealing with the period of the Gentiles (outlined, last chapter), the second, with a special revival (ditto), and the third with the "hot" part of the Tribulation.
In this concluding chapter, we will first approach our subject by looking at two symbols: that of a midget, and of a (spiritual) giant–which we might liken to a contrast between wise and foolish virgins, of Christ's parable (mentioned in earlier . . .). Samson, will be our example of the "midget": a believer who refuses to grow in the Lord. In the words of our openning illustration: Samson continually put himself at the mercy of the warlords, who were seeking to destroy his people.
Such was the way of the (church) world, in Samson's mind, under the sun (Eccl. 1:2,3...) .
Such is not the way Heaven sees things, however:
Nor does Hell. Both, are very much aware of
THE UNSEEN WORLD
Then [the angel] said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words."
Daniel 10:12 nkj
Daniel, was a "regular Joe." He couldn't tear lions apart with his bare hands, or walk on water. He just wanted to please his Lord, by taking the simple tools, available to us all, and setting his heart to please God, whatever the cost (Daniel 1:8ff) —and God rewarded him, with Heaven's favor.
Let's pay close attention to the above quote, for we must draw lessons from it, shortly. It was made by an angel speaking to this man of intense prayer and personal devotion to God.
The first point which we must make when conducting a prayer war in this world, is this: In contrast to our "man of power" (Samson) who was all brute and no spirit: Daniel's prayers were able to set the unseen world, of angels and demons, into motion.
From the first day that Daniel had set his face to seek God, on this particular occassion, an angel had been dispatched from Heaven. On the way, however, there'd been a delay. Hell had dared to interrupt Heaven's "postal dispatch:"
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Daniel 10:13
It took three weeks, for the answer to his prayer to get through, —not because God was unwilling to send it, but because spiritual forces, allowed to operate within a fallen universe, had, "thrown a wrench in the works," as Daniel continued his petitioning. This "holding action" by the forces of darkness, allowed a mellowing of the man of God, as he waited on his Lord (Heb. 10:36, James 1:4).
As the apostle Paul expressed it:
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against . . .the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12
( Note: "in high places" -this is where the real battle lines are drawn, in the heavenlies.) Such is the experience of the "prophet class" of believer. It is a life in the eternal realm, where the stakes are much higher than most about us, realize.
Such persons are seldom accepted by the world system. Nor is their lifestyle one which is embraced by the rank and file (especially in times of apostasy). "Blessed are ye," Jesus said, "when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."
Notice the next phrase, "Rejoice , and be exceeding glad:" Why??? "
for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.Matthew 5:11,12
This is an extremely serious matter, in other words. Daniel, while waiting for his answer from the Lord, was on a very restricted diet (akin to fasting).
Prayer, for him, was not a "hobby" nor part time adventure:
It was a lifestyle (I Thes. 5:17).
My heart goes out to evangelicals who look on, at the circus atmosphere, generated in some Charismatic and Pentecostal churches, today. There, we sometimes encounter believers, supposedly having visions of Jesus, and of angels: some, several times a week.
Such is usually (not always) a delusion and a hoax: if not as a figment of the person's own imagination, as a delusion from Hell. Such matters are not (I repeat not) something to play with. Anyone (from "great" televangelists, to you and I) who does not enter into such things with fear and trembling (the fear of God) is treading in a mine field.
Secondly, any sincere believer who presses in, for a truly spiritual walk with the Lord will discover, very quickly, that the forces, discussed here, traverse life and death . . . This is especially true, when a young prophet encounters
DANGEROUS "MIDGETS"
Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: ...
And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.I Kings 13:11,12
Here, we see a composite of all that we've been studying: the carnal believer (a, "midget," sitting comfortably in Bethel, instead of being in a position where God could use him to pronounce judgement on the king's idolatry).
-And the faithful young prophet: a man who walked with God, in truth, bridging into things truly spiritual, and heavenly. Signs and wonders soon backed up the young man's word, and he now set off to seek His Lord's face, once more; awaiting further instructions.
He had done well. His mission was accomplished. He had stood the test of faith, and withstood a temptation for wealth and human reward (from the king (vss 7,8)). At the Lord's command, he was to stand at the ready, not even eating, until his Lord told him what to do next. . .when Hell played its ace.
It is important to realize that, in the example which follows, neither man was violently evil. Neither one, was doing anything to consciously offend God. It's just that, when a man or woman reaches the point this young man had -he has to be especially careful. For, of whom much is given, much is required.(Luke 12:48)
The young prophet was like a young eagle. "They that wait upon the Lord," Isaiah said, "shall renew their strength,they shall mount up with wings, as eagles. They shall run, and not be weary, they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Waiting on God was never Samson's forte, but, for this man of God, it was everything.
It's how he'd learned to fly.
Now, he was to prepare for future assignments. It was important to maintain his discipline. "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life;" the apostle wrote, "that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (II Tim. 2:4)
Why are we covering so much on this matter of carefulness in dealing with things spiritual? It just may be that some uninitiated reader will take these issues seriously, and decide that he (or she), would also like to soar like an eagle. There are many who will glorify such an experience, my friend, but few who tell you what it takes.
Still fewer, in our age of "no fault Christianity" (sloppy agape) will tell you that there are consequences to carelessness. Quite honestly, after considering what happened to this young prophet, I almost want to tell people to forget about Pentecost, because of the circus atmosphere within many churches (all the while, denying it, of course).
Such persons, like this young prophet, are headed for judgement.And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back:
And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,But [came] back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.
1 Kings 13:20-22
It was directly after this quote, that the young prophet walked into the path of a lion which killed him, "execution style" -without tearing his carcase (vs. 24).
Please notice, something, here. Samson, in his "babyhood" could neglect pursuing a truly intimate relationship with the Lord -by violating his vows, and violating Israel's Law -and then walk into the path of a lion . . . and rip it apart.
This prophet, having been faithful in his mission, and having seen God move supernaturally -in his simple disobedience, received a terrible chastisement. (Nor, is there any record of actual reproof, for the older prophet!)
Those to whom much is given, much is required. What we have just witnessed is not exceptional, especially in a time of apostasy, just before judgement (please do take the time to check these references
- Song of Sol. 5:2-8. Please note how, this young betrothed virgin, must fight off sleep (vs 2), and that the very watchmen charged with protecting her, were her persecutors (shades of Matt. 24:48-51!) "Tell [my beloved] that I am lovesick!" she says [vs 8 nkj]
- Amos 8:11-13 —note Who brings the famine as a judgment (vs 11), what the famine causes (vs 12), and that these, also, are virgins (vs. 13).)
In other words, when the Holy Spirit symbolized the remnant revival, as a ministry consisting of "two" witnesses, He was not joking. It is no laughing matter. This is an extremely "tight" calling (as though you didn't already know this (Matt. 7:13,14)!).
Yet, I would be remiss if not also pointing out that there are real advantages, to being in the (faithful) "prophet class" of believer, as well: chiefly, such men and women encounter a closeness to God, which others do not, and enjoy the shelter of the Lord's covering, in time of trouble.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.Psalms 91:1,2
One more blessing they share in: They change the destiny of men and nations, through their prayers, for they have an impact on the "unseen war." "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against . . .the rulers of the darkness of this world,. . ." (Ephesians 6:12)
It is on this matter that we will conclude our little study, by making use of the only overall outline of the "prayer war" that I know of. "This generation?" Yes, there is a great deal of it outlined in the pages of Holy Writ (the Bible). Of course, this outline is found in John's Revelation: chapter twelve.
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Revelation 12:7
May the Lord help every reader to grasp the seriousness of what they are about to read and to understand that I cannot cut corners here. These matters are difficult enough to grasp, without engaging in fancy phrases. In Jesus' name. Amen.
In Revelation, chapter eleven, the Lord outlined the Church age. You may recall that, from Heaven's perspective there are two (human) bodies of covenant persons, on earth today: Jews and the Church. It is appropriate, therefore, that after chapter eleven's outline of the church age, the Lord also give one of the Jewish nation. Please prayerfully consider, therefore, the following points:
- That Revelation 12 obviously starts out with a symbollic reference to the nation of Israel -since it is she (Israel), who brought forth the man child, who "was to rule all nations with a rod of iron:" (vs. 5). This One, Who is to rule with a rod of iron, is identified, elsewhere within John's Revelation as Jesus, Himself (Rev. 19:13-15).
- That this chapter covers a very broad time frame. We see this, when noting how the entire earthly life of Christ is covered in a single verse: from His birth, to His ascension (vs. 5).
Now, to go further, we must make use of the Holy Spirit's "3½ clocks" —an incredible tool for unlocking the timing of the New Testament era.
The 3 1/2 CLOCKS
Reviewing briefly, the "three and a half clocks" mentioned in the eleventh chapter cover three time periods:
1) The time of the Gentiles (Rev. 11:2, Rom. 11:25)2) The time of Power (Rev. 11:3, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15)
3) The Great Tribulation, leading up to the rapture, when the saints are caught up, from earth (Rev. 11:9-11, I Thes. 4:17, I Cor. 15:51-53)
Now, allow me propose several things, for the reader's prayerfully considereration, which will probably take us several months to fully digest. . . although the overall view, that Revelation twelve covers the period of history reaching all the way back to the Old Testament, up past WWII, is no longer new, for readers of this book.
What we will show, in the following, is that John's Revelation does cover major world events, which take place, just prior to the rise of the New World Order (of Revelation 13)—in chapter twelve. The thirteenth chapter, on, covers events during the time of Antichrist, up to Christ's Return (in the nineteenth chapter).
Where this really gets interesting, however, is in the examination of Revelation 12's detail. Remember that, in verse five, Christ is born, lives on earth, is crucified, and then ascends up to the right hand of the Father.In the next verse, we see the first "three and a half:"
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Revelation 12:6
(One thousand, two hundred and sixty days, works out to 3½ years. A prophetic year is 360 days.)
Since we've already identified "the woman" as Israel, this period of time corresponds to Rev. 11's first 3½, or the "period of the Gentiles," when the holy city (Jerusalem) is trodden down by non-Hebrews (Rev. 11:2). This is the time of Israel's last dispersion, in other words, when she dwells in the "wilderness" -away from her home, which is the holy land.
The next 3½, however, is a real eye-opener. Realizing that this passage parallels Daniel seven, the statement in verse fourteen now gains particular weight, since here, she is given, "two wings of a great eagle". This corresponds, then, to the period of western history, after the founding of the U.S., and prior to the humanizing of this country -the period when America's government openly declared her belief in God (as outlined, in chapter four).
Enemy Strategy:
Upon considering the next statement, concerning Satan's response to God's protection, we now gain new insight into the reason for World War II: Quite simply, from Hell's perspective, there were two main objectives:
1) To destroy the Jewish people, on the European continent.
2) To destroy the Jewish haven , in the U.S. (i.e. to destroy this country...)
In the latter part of chapter twelve, Satan, ". . . cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood." (Rev. 12:15) Since we know that the flood of waters refers to an enormous number of people (Rev. 17:15) its context points to the Axis powers, encircling the globe, during the second World War.
We now know that Satan's plan backfired. The earth, which is Satan's dominion (generally speaking -II Cor. 4:4) failed to support its "master"! Instead, it supported Israel.
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Revelation 12:16
England, via the Balfour Declaration, and the United Nations, through its member states, moved to protect and establish a homeland for the Jewish people: in this way the founding of the nation of Israel, was made possible, as we know it, today.
In this way, Revelation twelve covers the entire period of human history, from Old Testament Israel, just prior to Christ's birth -up past the "time of the Gentiles" -and into our present day, with the restoration of Israel, as a nation ("the budding of the fig tree" -Matt. 24:32-35): all in a manner consistent with chapter eleven's "3½ clocks."
Truly, Christ's revelation to John on the aisle of Patmos is incredibly comprehensive and inciteful, describing, "this generation" (Matt. 24:34!). Truly, . . . the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10).
PRAYER WAR —we win!!
Consider, with me, one of God's foremost "gospel commandos" in full "attack mode" -assaulting the gates of Hell. In the night hours, he loses sleep, praying for Heaven's support, as he seeks to win the lost, from Hell's "warlords," in the next town.
During the daylight hours, he is constantly seeking out the needy: looking for one more soul to tell about the "Commander" Who died to save His people: the Lord Jesus Christ.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet [perhaps] for a good man some would even dare to die.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:7,8
But Hell's gates do not yield without a fight. Nor are Paul's prayers, when posted, without interference. Even as he prays, the enemy is busy trying to scramble his "S.O.S." to Heaven. -So that Heaven has to send in spiritual reenforcements.
For, . . . our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
II Corinthians 7:5,6
As the battle heats up, further, the stakes get truly high: even governments and political action groups, start to come into play. Finally, persecution breaks the surface, into the physical world:
And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.Acts 14:19
Here, we see the clash of the Super Powers!! Here is the battle of the ages! Here is where true champions are found, laying their lives on the line for the cause which always pays rich dividends. For here, even those who die in service to the Commander (Jesus Christ) –yet live.
Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
Acts 14:20
And that, my friend, is how The War will end.
The main thing to remember, is this:
The Commander wins.
And the Bride will join with her Bridegroom(!)
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Revelation 19:7-9
Be faithful, my friend, for the Wedding Feast will turn Earth's Night time, into our Eternal Day: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Amen.
