Our New Reality?

Today's post is going to be shorter than usual. I had a whole new post ready to go today, but with the news we woke up to, it's time to pivot. Everything is happening so fast -- world economic collapse seems imminent; a world war is definitely in view; huge layoffs are happening, with the tech sector beginning the slide by laying off 100,000 employees last week; civil war is breaking out in Great Britain, with the same thing looming in Ireland; a devastating hurricane is about to hit our East Coast; not to mention that two biological men are boxing in the Olympics for the Women's gold medal.

What the Lord has shown me and my husband -- and what we have been shouting from the wall -- looks to be coming true. Has the Lord reached His limit of patience regarding our disobedience and rebellion? Let's just look at the situation with Hurricane Debby and the catastrophic flooding that's expected. In 2012 I wrote a blog showing how America and Israel's destinies are intertwined. Here's a couple examples: In 1991 The Perfect Storm hit with 35 foot waves crashing into the Kennebunkport home of President George H.W. Bush after he initiated the Madrid Peace Conference, giving up "land for peace". When the Madrid Conference moves to Washington DC in 1992 and the peace talks resume, Hurricane Andrew [the worst natural disaster ever to hit America] comes ashore and produces an estimated $30 billion in damage and leaving 180,000 homeless in Florida. Think it's judgment from God on how we're treating Israel?

Consider the following and then decide: The Northridge Earthquake [1994] happens when President Clinton meets with Syria's President to talk about a peace agreement with Israel that includes giving up the Golan Heights. Within 24 hours a powerful 6.9 earthquake rocks Southern California. Hurricane George slams into the U.S. Gulf Coast with 110 mph winds and gusts up to 175 mph and then stalls. Clinton was meeting with Yassar Arafat and Netanyahu to finalize a land deal that would make an independent Palestinian state a reality by 1999. Hurricane George pounds the Gulf Coast, causing $1 billion in damage. At the exact moment that Arafat departs the country, the storm begins to dissipate.

And the coincidences (?) go on and on ... the Texas floods in 1998; the evaporation of the world economic Markets in 1998 when America promises $400 million to Arafat for a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital; a powerful super tornado sweeps across Oklahoma and Kansas, clocking 316 mph winds on the day Arafat is scheduled to declare the Palestinian state; Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans after Israel carries out the evacuation of 9500 residents from the Gaza Strip. Since that 2012 post, we have seen more devastation and destruction from natural disasters as our national policies have not coincided with God's will for the apple of His eye. HEAR ME: I'm not saying that Israel is walking with righteousness and we should approve everything they do. On the contrary, they have sinned against YHWH in equal measure. But the U.S. leaders are responsible for what this country does and how they influence the world.

So, back to today's news ... should we be concerned when North Korea begins moving its missiles to South Korea, or China declares that if the U.S. gets involved in the Middle East tensions, they will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Russia? You bet we should! Do we still have the protection of Almighty God? Take a look at what our country stands for today, and then decide. Personally, I think the only thing keeping us from His judgment is the righteous prayers of His righteous people. Don't stop praying! And try to wake up your friends and family. Believe me, I know how frustrating it is to continually warn that there is no guarantee that any of us will escape the chaos that is happening in the world.

And I see the battle going on in the spiritual realm. Let your prayers strengthen the Archangel Michael and his heavenly army that wage war against Satan and his evil forces. Michael fights for Israel and for us [if we bless Israel]. The battle is real! We must put our spiritual armor on and take up our battle stations. Continue to love others, pour the love of Jesus into them, and be ready to defend our God at every turn. It is up to us who know what we stand to lose [in both the physical and spiritual realms] to lead the way and encourage everyone in our sphere of influence to go forth without fear. Now is the time to show the Enemy our true identity in Christ!.

2 Timothy 3:1     But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 

It's Time To Trim Our Lamps!

Today I am writing to what I will call "the professing Church" ... those who will purport that they have a faith firmly established in Jesus Christ. It is not my intent to cast doubt or judgment on the level of faith of any Christian, but to encourage you to examine your preparedness for the spiritual war in which we are about to engage. And there is no better place to start than with the Parable of Ten Virgins. But first, I want to set the stage for why this parable is of utmost importance to us today.

As I reflect on the nearly 13 years I have been obedient to the Lord in writing this blog, it is apparent to me that the theme He has consistently stressed within my spirit is "be ready; stay equipped; remain poised for action". My reflections have revealed that He took me through the stages of preparedness that He wanted me to convey to the readers who found their way to this humble website. Believe me, I had no predisposed plan on what I was to write about; I was just led by the Holy Spirit into seasons of knowledge and application that the Lord wanted me to share. 

I can now see that each stage advanced me to the next level of understanding and awareness, which in turn, grew my faith and lifted me to a new degree of maturity. I began with an awakening to the changes that were forming and coming against the foundations of our national sovereignty. I was becoming aware that our historically Biblical underpinnings were under attack [and beginning to crumble], and conscious of the fact that war was being waged from the heavenly realms against the entire earth. The Holy Spirit began instructing me to warn believers to come out of their "normalcy bias" and start prepping in the areas of food, personal defense, and spiritual warfare. So from 2012-2015, you will find my posts focusing on these goals for the Body of Christ.

Then the Lord took me into my next season: strengthening my awareness, knowledge and activity in the sphere of spiritual warfare so that I could write to equip and teach Believer's about the commission we share with our Savior. Learning that the Enemy's plan has always been to disrupt the purpose of Believer's lives to advance the Kingdom of God on earth led me to deep studies on how we are all called to continue Jesus's mission in establishing His Father's Kingdom by taking back territory from Satan's kingdom of darkness. You will see the Kingdom as the primary subject of my posts from 2016 through today.

And now I discern that I'm in a new season, yet with a recurring theme -- the Holy Spirit is now counseling me to bring my writing back to the subject of preparedness. Only this time, the message is to be more urgent. He is telling me to warn readers to get in a state of readiness, especially for war. And that means both in the sense of physical readiness as well as spiritual. And that's why it is of paramount interest for we Believers to understand what Jesus is telling us in the Parable of  Ten Virgins. It will help us to be prepared for His Return, which I think is closer than ever.

Let's suppose that we are all in agreement that Jesus came to inaugurate the Kingdom of God on earth; that we are living in it in the present day; yet it is still to come in all its fullness in the future when Jesus consummates it on His Second Coming. The Parable of Ten Virgins shows us a clear picture of how we are to get ready and stay prepared for that awesome day of His Return. This parable is also a picture of the Church's wedding to our Bridegroom, the Christ, and the subsequent wedding feast. The reference to "the kingdom of heaven shall be like" is to help us understand that this parable refers to the time of the fulfillment of the Kingdom. It begins with the ten virgins who take their lamps and go out to meet the bridegroom. 

Here is the parable in its entirety: Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish [thoughtless, silly, and careless], and five were wise [far-sighted, practical, and sensible]. For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! The bridegroom [is coming]! Go out to meet him.' Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order [trimmed the wicks and added oil and lit them]. But the foolish virgins said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil', because our lamps are going out'. But the wise replied, 'No, otherwise there will not be enough for us and for you, too: go instead to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves'.  But while they were going away to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut and locked. Later the others also came, and said, 'Lord, Lord, open [the door] for us'. But He replied, 'I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I do not know you [we have no relationship]'. Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come'.  [Matthew 25:1-13].

When Jesus returns, we, who are born again and have entered the existing kingdom on earth, are to go out and meet Him with lighted lamps. [John 3:1-5]. We need to discern that lamps are vessels filled with oil. This description in the parable is Biblical language which points to us as vessels filled with the Holy Spirit [the oil of anointing of God's illumination, presence and guidance in our lives]. The parable then goes on to inform us that five of the virgins were wise, and five were foolish. The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them [they had what they came with]. The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps [an extra supply]. We then learn that the bridegroom is delayed, and all ten slumbered and slept. Then suddenly, the announcement comes: "The bridegroom is coming! Go and meet Him"!  And they all arose and trimmed their lamps...

What does this mean for us, the faithful that are awaiting the Messiah's return? The wise virgins are interpreted to be prepared for His return; the foolish were unprepared. While both slept, waiting for the signal that He had arrived, the wise ones were ready and prepared to act immediately when the unexpected announcement was made. The foolish ones were unprepared. And this is why it is important for us to be ready to trim our lamps! A poorly trimmed wick creates a flame that is dim. A lamp is trimmed when the wick is turned either up or down to regulate the amount of the flame. Obviously, the virgins wanted a good, strong flame to light the way for the Lord. But if a lamp is empty of oil, it doesn't matter how much one trims the wick, the lamp will go out when the oil is consumed. 

But we see that the parable reveals that the foolish virgins were careless and caught without enough oil -- they didn't bring any with them. When we look at this from a spiritual perspective, we see that during the unexpected delay, while waiting on the Lord's return, they didn't endeavor to stay filled with the Holy Spirit. They then try to convince their wise counterparts to share some of their oil, but are denied. The Holy Spirit is not a commodity that can be given by one person to another. You are either a true Christian in whom the indwelling Holy Spirit resides, or you are a false believer; one who looks and acts the part, but does not possess the Holy Spirit. Remember that Paul tells us in Romans 8:9, Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. I hesitate to declare that Jesus intended to separate "Spirit-filled" and "Non-Spirit-filled Christians" in this parable as much as describing true believers versus false Christians. The clear message is that the key component to readiness in the Christian life is to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit.

And that brings me back to why I believe the Lord has kept inspiring me to reinforce both the physical and the spiritual precept of "readiness" and "preparedness". I believe that this parable is meant to warn the Church not to assume that their future in the Kingdom of God is "a sure thing" just because you call yourself a Christian, or look like one in your appearance. Is the Holy Spirit present in your life? Do you resonate the light of Christ in your life? And, sadly, I fear the Church has not been convicted in stressing the presence of the Holy Spirit as a priority in the lives of those they welcome into the fold. Today, we see many who are expecting to be invited to the wedding feast when Christ returns. Until that much-awaited moment, I discern that those calling themselves Christians will all look the same -- but it is that critical moment when the prepared and ready will be separated from the unready and the door to the feast will be shut. Jesus will then say, Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you ... the most dreaded words I can ever imagine spoken. 

So, my friends, please take the time to measure your preparedness. Are you in a state of both physical and spiritual readiness? Do you know that there is a war being fought in the spiritual realms, even as our world is inching towards a cataclysmic war on earth? Believe me, I do not relish pointing these things out; I haven't found joy in it for the last 12 years, but I will be obedient to continue writing what the Holy Spirit and my Lord tell me to if it means even one person stops and takes stock of his spiritual condition. If one person is led to an encounter with the Son of God, then it is worth the time and effort that I take to hear and report what comes to me from Heaven. The point of this blog, this post, and this parable is simple -- get prepared and be ready! Don't be denied entry to the wedding feast with our Bridegroom!

Revelation 19:7   Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;

Jesus Said: "I Have Told You These Things" ... All the Reasons to Be Aware

Once again, it is time for me to ask, How aware are you of what is going on in the world? Do you have a Biblical worldview? How do you identify as a Christian? It's important to know the answers to each of those questions, because I believe they will determine your chances of survival in our near future. Now, before you decide I'm a fear-monger and a conspiracy theorist, I assure you that I am a devout Christian with a dynamic relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Give me a chance to explain my reasons for presenting this discussion to you.

Consider this... Only those who choose to be blinded can ignore what is coming upon the earth. And it is hard for me to pretend that anything else is on my radar. Not only is Covid rearing its ugly head again in my community, but there is now a report that a man in New Mexico has died of Bubonic plague. The growing threat of Isis is back in Afghanistan. We see the explosion of crime and hatred across our country every night on TV. Nations are rising against nation; and the earth is being robbed of peace and stability. And that isn't even considering all the things that are happening in the earth, including floods, unprecedented and unusual weather events; plus volcanoes, earthquakes, and strange objects in the skies.

NOTE: The above paragraph is reminiscent of a blog post I wrote in 2014! Here we are ten years later, and I have to ask ... are you more or less aware than you were then? And I'm primarily talking to Christians because it is our responsibility as representatives of Heaven [here on earth] to not only defend the faith in Jesus Christ, but to expand it and spread the Good News. And what is that News? It is this: Salvation [and eternal life] is available through faith in Jesus, but also the Good News that entrance into His Kingdom [which He brought with Him] brings power and authority to defeat the wickedness and evil that is in the kingdom of darkness that Satan controls here on earth. We need to understand that Salvation is the first step, and there's more for us to do! 

That "doing" requires that we be aware of what we are facing! So, let me ask you another question or two ... are you the kind of Christian that just reads the Psalms that proclaim the love, mercy, grace, and victory that are part of our relationship with the Lord? Nothing wrong with that! We should be aware of His heart towards us, so that we can model that to others. That, too, is part of our purpose as His representatives; to help others come to their faith and salvation. But once they're saved, we need to encourage them that there is more.  

I would submit to you that Matthew 23 and 24 are well-known to faithful Christians. In these important chapters at the end of the Book of Matthew, Jesus begins warning His followers of what is to come. He warns against the distortion [of His Father's will] that Religion can bring, and the judgment that will come to the "self-righteous religious leaders and hypocrites, because they shut off the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for they do not enter themselves, nor do they allow those who are [in the process of] entering to do so" (Matthew 23:13). 

Jesus then continues delivering the remainder of His eight Woes against that generation of religious leaders for being fools and spiritually blind guides; for being prideful in their positions and not revealing the full counsel of God -- both His Mercy and His Judgment. At that time in history, He is lamenting over Jerusalem, who will be ransacked and left desolate; abandoned by God and destitute of His protection because the leaders of the Jewish faith have not carried out their purpose of equipping the people to walk in the full knowledge of God and their purpose, according to His will (Matthew 23:37-39).   

So, just think how He must be lamenting over us! Our political leaders and our religious leaders have fallen down on their duties to us. And we have fallen in our responsibilities and duties as Christians to the Kingdom of God! Jesus very clearly tells His followers in that first century -- and us in the 21st! -- that He has a warning of "perilous times" times that will come upon the world; especially those who believe in Him. We are all familiar with the signs of the End Times in Matthew 24. And I know that there are many Christians who are suffering emotional overload with the ceaseless warnings of doomsday prophets; and many live in fear, so they just can't look at it.

But as Christians we can't ignore what Jesus wants us to know. And I would like to share this quote from an article I read in the Wisconsin Christian News, titled There's Bo Excuse For Being Clueless: "Christians, especially, should never be ignorant of the devil's devices, and should always be the most informed and well-equipped of all, in order to be able to explain to others all that is really going on, along with the real hope we have in Christ". And here's my thoughts on this subject ... those who ignore the signs of the End Times do so at their own peril ... remember "My people perish [are destroyed] for the lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). Refusing to look at the signs or be aware of them is exactly what the devil wants you to do! And guess what? You'll never see the devil's destruction coming!

But don't take my word for how important it is to be aware and knowledgeable about what is going on in our world. Let Jesus tell you, Himself, from John, Chapter 16 ... I have told you these things so that you will not stumble or be caught off guard and fall away (John 16:1) ... I have told you these things [now], so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them (John 16:4) ... I have told you these things in figurative language (veiled language, proverbs); the hour is now coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I will tell you plainly about the Father (John 16:25) ... I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have (perfect) peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous (be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy); I have overcome the world. (My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding). 

I think it goes without saying that we are living in times that many of us are not prepared for. But we can't say that we've had no warning. Jesus clearly told those "with ears to hear and eyes to see" that these times would one day come. If you are among those who have chosen to ignore the warnings or chosen not to see because of doubt and unbelief, or fear, then I want to encourage you to revisit your Bible and receive Jesus's instructions on how we should live out these days; what to do in the face of spiritual and physical warfare; how to lead others to Him; and how to overcome our Enemy for the sake of God's Kingdom. Rest and rely on the wisdom of Jesus and the Helper He has sent us to be victorious.

Jesus told His disciples in those days, I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [to hear] them now. I believe that time has now come ... that we must learn to bear it, because I believe He is now beginning to reveal to His true Remnant what is coming. We are beginning to see clearly what He foretold 2000 years ago, and we are feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will guide us into the full and complete truth of God, disclosing to us what is to come [in the future]. And I bear witness to the dreams and visions that His Remnant are experiencing and they mirror the warnings given by our Lord in Matthew 24 and John 16. 

So, it is time that we all come out of our slumbering ignorance, get past our fears, and prepare for what is coming. I can tell you that hiding out in Religion is not going to spare you from what Jesus told you is going to happen in the world. Jesus told His disciples that the time would come when they would all scatter and leave Him alone. He knew that He was going to suffer, but He declared, And yet, I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. Do you know -- really know -- that holds true for us, too? Are you prepared to believe Him and all His promises?

John 16:15    All things that the Father has are Mine. Because of this I said that He [the Holy Spirit] will take from what is Mine and reveal it to you.