How Will You Receive the Bible's Prophecies? Are They Our Warning Signs?

I have always been intrigued with the prophecies the Lord gave to His messengers, the prophets, and what they are to mean to us in the 21st Century. We are all familiar with the Messianic prophecies that have been fulfilled: the Christ child would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 2:1); He would be a healer of the blind and downtrodden (Isaiah 35:5-6); He would be despised and rejected by men, and wounded for our transgressions, like a lamb led to the slaughter (Isaiah 53); He would be resurrected from the dead and ascend into heaven (Mark 16); where He sits at the right hand of God, with all angels, authorities, and powers made subservient to Him (1 Peter 3:22). What blessings of hope these bring to us!

So, do we, as modern-day Christians, read all prophecies in the Bible as predictions of future events that will happen? The problem is that we've never learned -- or been taught -- [in the Church] how we are to rightly discern the predictive truth of prophecies? If the Lord gives a prophet a message to share with the people, can we assume that it will happen? And can a prophecy in the Old Testament [which was fulfilled] also apply to us in the present? There seem to be similarities in ancient prophetic world events that coincide with what we're seeing in 2024. Are those prophetic outcomes meant to be warnings to us? How does God want us to perceive our truth in His prophet's messages?

For instance, ancient Babylon has long been considered [by theologians and Biblical commentators] to be a "type" for wicked nations and governments that rebel against God. And I have certainly written about the obvious parallels in Revelation 18 between ancient Babylon and New York City. Since God doesn't specifically tie the two together, are we to recognize the shared sins, yet dismiss the possible judgment? Or has God intended for His Word to be examined and researched by righteous people in the hopes they can receive His warning of judgment? Prophecies -- are they meant to "predict the future", or are they simply warning signs; or both?

Interestingly, as I've contemplated these questions, I have come to realize that all of the above are possible, and a lot of the outcomes depend on people. The prophets shared what the Lord had spoken to them at the time about how things could be in the future (either judgment or blessings), depending on what people decided to do. Predicted punishment could be avoided if the people repented; or a predicted blessing could be withheld if they continued to do evil. Because God is sovereign, He reserves the right [and the possibility] to change direction at any time -- even after the prophet speaks a blessing or a curse!  

Scripture makes that very clear in Jeremiah 18:5-10 ... Then the word of the LORD came to me: Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the LORD. Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it. And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it.  

I don't know about you, but I can clearly see that we might identify as the nation that God built, but since we've quit listening to His voice, we thereby face the very real possibility that He has changed His mind about continuing to do good to us. This is a very explicit warning to all nations! Prophecies like this one are not predicting an unavoidable future, but hopefully pierce the hearts of people to change their behavior and activate their will to avoid the predictive outcome. 

For those who doubt the accuracy or purposes of Biblical prophecy, how do you explain Daniel's inerrant dream of the four empires from Babylon to Medo-Persia to Greece to Rome? He even predicted that there will be a final, Divine Kingdom that will never be destroyed. The truth that these empires really existed in history, just as Daniel prophesied, gives credence to the importance of learning from Bible prophecy. So what are we to do in the midst of a world that seems to be sliding ever further towards violence, destruction, and moral decay? Is there value in reading what God had to say through His prophets in similar times? Can we get clues as to whether we are headed towards blessings or judgment/curses? And can we discern how to avoid any judgment that are due to mankind's rebellious nature?

Let's consider the Book of Habakkuk. In the first chapter, Habakkuk talks to God about his concerns that God is going to use the Babylonian empire (called the Chaldeans) to bring judgment on Judah because of their sins. Let's listen in on parts of their conversation: 

Habakkuk:  O LORD, how long will I call for help and you will not hear? I cry out to You, "Violence!", yet You do not save. Why do You make me see iniquity, and cause me to look on wickedness? For destruction and violence are before me; strife continues and contention arises. Therefore, the law is ineffective and ignored and justice is never upheld, for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice becomes perverted.

[The LORD replied,] "Look among the nations! See! Be astonished! Wonder! For I am doing something in your days -- you would not believe it if you were told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans [who rule in Babylon], that fierce and impetuous nation who march throughout the earth to take possession of dwelling places that do not belong to them... They all come for violence; their horde of faces move [eagerly] forwards, they gather prisoners like sand... They will sweep by like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty. They [and all men] whose own power and strength is their god".

Habakkuk: Are you not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, My Holy One? ... Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look favorably on wickedness. Why then do You look favorably on those who act treacherously? Why are you silent when the wicked destroy those more righteous than they? ... I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the tower; And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, and what answer I will give [as His spokesman] when I am reproved. 

Then the LORD answered me [Habukkuk] and said, "Write the vision and engrave it plainly on tablets so that the one who reads it will run. For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time. It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, because it will certainly come; it will not delay. Look at the proud one, his soul is not right within him. But the righteous will live by his faith [in the true God]. Moreover, wine is treacherous and betrays the arrogant man, so that he does not stay at home. His appetite is large like Sheol, and he is like death, never satisfied. He gathers to himself all nations and collects to himself all peoples [as if he owned them].

Will all these [victims of his greed] not take up a taunting song against him, and in mocking derision against him say, 'Woe [judgment is coming] to him who increases that which is not his -- how long will he possess it? And woe to him who makes himself wealthy with loans. Will your creditors not rise up suddenly, and those who collect from you awaken? Then you will become plunder for them..."   

You get the picture, right? Yes, this is a prophecy against the kingdom of Judah who received judgment because they had fallen into idolatry and forgotten the God who had delivered them from Egypt and blessed them in the Promised Land. 

Now, you can stop there and look at this from a purely historical perspective. Or you can receive it as a warning to our own nation who suffers from the same sins -- we have become proud; the soul of our nation is sick. Our leaders have become drunk on their arrogance and do not take care of those at home. Their hunger for power and wealth is huge; they are never satisfied. We have acted as if we own the world, doing to other people and nations what we please, adding to our wealth. But how long will we possess the blessings we have accumulated? We owe trillions of dollars in debt and we see our creditors chomping at the bit to collect. Was the Lord's warning to Habakkuk meant for us, too? "You will become plunder for them".

How will you receive these prophecies? It is up to you. You can choose to see them as fixed and literal [for another time], and therefore of no significance to us. Or you can do what Habakkuk did... Live by your faith in the One True God, and let them strengthen you and anchor you. Stand at your guard post; become a watchman to see what God will say to you and have you speak to those with ears to hear. 

We must receive the truth that God did not speak to His prophets so that His Word would die in the hearts of the spiritually dead. I believe that He intended -- and expected -- that His prophetic words be shared through all generations; especially those that included warnings to His people about the consequences of choosing the path of wickedness over the path of righteousness. 

It's true that God never changes. He judges righteously and we can receive His blessings or we can receive His judgment and wrath. His prophecies make it plain and simple that it's up to us. Heed the warnings! Pray and Repent for our nation, that we might avoid God's judgment and change His mind about what we deserve! 

Habakkuk 3:2      O LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make it known; In wrath, remember compassion and love. 

   

       

  

  

   

It's Darkest Just Before the Dawn ... The Thoughts of a Modern Watchman

This is somewhat of a personal post. I hesitate to even share my thoughts because they come from my position as one of God's Watchmen on the Wall. Actually, both my husband and I have been called to that position -- and it is not one that comes with any kind of accolades or acclaim. In reality, it is not an enviable calling because first of all, many Christians do not recognize the need nor the responsibilities -- and let me be honest -- the burden of being a Watchman on the Wall. Secondly, a Watchman is not commonly understood in the Western Church today. For most, it has an Old Testament connotation. And just like those Old Testament Watchmen, we modern ones are just as much ignored and misunderstood. But, without any rancor or spite, I would like to say that what God shows us as we look out into the darkness is just as important and significant today as it was thousands of years ago. 

Most people have seen enough movies or read enough historical books to have an idea of what a Watchman is all about. Whether on the walls of Fort Carson in the Old West, the tower of a castle in Medieval Europe, or the high barrier walls of King David's Palace, there was a Watchman stationed on the wall. His job was to stand guard and look out upon the land, watching for messengers, any hint of danger or movement by an enemy, and then to warn those within his sphere. The Hebrew word for "watchman" is tsaphah, and it means to overlay [serve as a covering], to observe, to spy, to keep watch, and ultimately to give warning of what they see.

The Biblical importance of being called to be a Watchman for God is not without consequences, and should not be taken lightly. The primary Scripture that everyone thinks of is Ezekiel 33 from the Old Testament, but make no mistake, it applies to every Watchman in every age. It reads: So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, you shall give them warning from Me.  If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.  But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul (Ezekiel 33: 7-9). So, I hope you understand ... I HAVE to share what my spirit is shown.

We are familiar with the men called by God in the Old Testament to be Watchmen for His people Israel: Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah come to mind. They were men who had the responsibility to share with the people what they saw coming upon the nation. Sometimes, they were successful in waking the people up to repent for their erring ways, thus avoiding God's judgment through the actions of other men. More often than not, they were ignored and the people suffered greatly for clinging to their iniquity and rebellion. And because of their rebellious ways, God spoke through His Watchmen, and the message they delivered was, more often than not, negative. And believe me, it is not fun to be the one giving those warnings.

Modern Watchmen don't find it any easier than their ancient counterparts. God gives us the Bible to counsel us; to educate us in His ways; to show His Glory; to help us learn from His history; and to "connect the dots", so to speak between what He revealed to generations past and what He is unveiling today. Remember, His Character and His Ways never change -- the purpose of the prophecies He spoke thousands of years ago were warnings to return to Him. The same holds true for us. The names may have changed, but the results of disobedience remain the same. 

So, just as Jeremiah was looking for trouble on the horizon of his day, and warning the people to repent and change their ways, so do those of us who have been given discernment as to our own situation. We try to warn those of faith [and the lost[ that trouble is headed our way. But we often receive the same reaction -- no one wants to hear bad news, and you get a reputation for always being negative. "Why don't you ever talk about the Good News"?, they'll say. "Victory is ours! We win in the end"! Yes, that is true. But we may have some hard times before we get to that promised victory; especially if our leaders and the nation continue in rebelling against God's laws. And just because I am saved and try to live a righteous life, it does not mean that I won't suffer from God's judgment against the nation.

Right now, no one can deny that the whole world sits on the edge of war. So much blood has been spilled -- in battles; ritualistically; and through abortions, trafficking, and violence in the streets. And while it looks pitch black, like the dead of night, from the wall where I stand watch, I want to assure you that I DO SEE THE HOPE OF THE DAWN. The darker it gets, I know the dawn is still on the way! I do see people beginning to stand up and shake off the false sense of security that their normalcy bias affords them, and begin to turn to Scripture for the hope it offers in the midst of this chaos and darkness. Hallelujah!

Yes, we're in the middle of a battle for the future of our nation and the futures of our coming generations. But I know, in the deepest recesses of my soul, that we don't fight alone. The battle is the Lord's and He goes before us. He stands watch over us from Heaven, and if not, then my calling is in vain. But He has given me a part to play; and my job is to keep watch and tell the truth -- no matter how unpleasant and troublesome -- so that my fellow believers will not be caught off-guard and unawares [should the prophecies of the Bible come upon us in this generation. 

And I earnestly pray that what my spirit discerns does not materialize in our lifetimes. Furthermore, part of my position as Watchman is to prepare and encourage people to endure and persevere. So, while Watchmen are often accused of painting a picture of "doom and gloom", if you listen closely, the heart of our warnings is the blessed hope we have of the Lord's return. If we can help anyone avoid the "falling away" that the Bible prophesies, by strengthening their spiritual vision of the world and their faith, and fully living in the truth that this is not our home, then we are fulfilling our mission. Without a doubt, it seems as if things are getting darker -- but that only means that the Light of this world is nearer than He's ever been! Get ready for the appearance of our great God and Savior!

Ezekiel 33:3-4   ... and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 

 

AMERICA: Are We The Master Of Our Own Demise?

I know that people want to hear uplifting and encouraging news, and may get tired of my "Watchman on the Wall" forecasts. But I would be remiss if I chose to ignore what God is sharing with me; if I chose to "tickle your ears" so that you turned away from hearing the truth, and only accepted the myths that the "pretenders" serve up as news on the various media outlets, or in the pulpits of the Apostate Church.

A couple of posts ago, I made the statement, "Pray that we as people, and a nation, make the right choices. Now is not the time to be disobedient and ignore God's warnings". Yet that seems to be exactly what we are doing. We have no excuse for continuing to rebel against God and yet hoping that [somehow] our country will be saved and get back on track. In His Word, God has plainly told us what is required to maintain His blessings and favor ...

Do you recall the story of Solomon, son of King David, who inherited his father's throne and God's favor? When Solomon was anointed as king, the only things he asked of the Lord were wisdom and understanding to judge and rule God's people in a righteous manner and to discern between good and evil. Because Solomon did not ask for a long life or wealth, God was pleased with his request, and granted him those very gifts of long life, wealth, and in addition, honor. So, Solomon built a magnificent temple for God -- a remarkable edifice surrounded by spacious courts with magnificent approaches, and lined with carved cedar and burnished gold; and garnished with precious stones. It presented an appropriate symbol for the House of the Lord and a dwelling place for His Presence. 

When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he prayed that it would be God's resting place; where He dwelt on earth in the midst of His people. After Solomon finished his prayer of dedication, fire came down from Heaven and the people understood that God's Presence [and His power and strength] resided with them in the existence of the Ark of the Covenant. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon one night and told him that He, the Lord, would look kindly upon Israel and His people and forgive them when they sinned against Him -- IF they met His criteria. God's promise is one that we often quote, ourselves, in these times of darkness... [If] My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek [crave, require as a necessity] My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.  

That has become our national "go to" prayer as we discern the wrong paths that this nation has [and is] going down. Somehow, we think that's all that is required ... ask and you shall receive. But we've forgotten that this promise from God also came with a warning at the same time. It applied to Israel and it applies to us. Here is the stern warning: But if you [people] turn away and abandon My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and you go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from My land which I have given them; and I will cast this house, which I have consecrated for My Name, out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and an object of scorn among all nations.

Part of our American heritage is the tradition that God consecrated this land as He did Israel. And, actually, historians often credit America as being "the new Israel". I don't necessarily believe that, but I do know this... He has greatly blessed this nation, and we were founded on His statutes and grounded in His laws of morality. So, we know that God never changes, and if His promise and warning to Israel were a mandate for their obedience, that holds true for us, too. We have clung to His promise, but ignored His warning, and now, my fellow Americans, I'm not sure we can escape the consequences!

I know that many of you don't want to hear that, and out of fear will hold tightly to God's character of Mercy and Grace. But He is also our Righteous and Just God, and doesn't extend His warnings haphazardly. He gives us the opportunity to repent and change our ways, but instead, this country is going further down the tubes! And if you still can't see that, let me give you some reasons why I want you to pay attention to this warning... both mine and His!

One of our biggest stumbling blocks, and most grievous sins, has been the practice of abortion. It is no different than the sins of those who burned and sacrificed their babies at the altar of Molech. In God's eyes abortion is a blood sacrifice just as wicked and evil. We can fool ourselves and say, "But the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June of 2022! We changed our direction back to God"! That just shows me how shallow our national discernment is. It's a false image that Satan dangles before our eyes to convince us that we've done enough; we are succeeding in turning away from that horrendous sin. 

The truth is that the number of abortions during the 12 months immediately following the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was actually higher than the 12 months preceding the decision. In an article entitled, Has America Run Out of Time?, a new report by reproductive health firm Guttmacher Institute, shows that the abortion rate in 2023 was the highest it's been since 2014! But here's an interesting fact... more abortions are being accomplished by the use of a pill rather than the standard medical procedure. So, somehow this is supposed to be more humane, and lessen the sin of terminating one of God's creations? God will not be mocked!

In addition, the number of Gen Z women who identify as LGBTQ+ [almost 30%] continues to grow. And that doesn't take into account the growing number of young people who are changing gender, or those who are increasingly identifying as animals! You read that correctly -- I have actually witnessed a preteen in my local hardware store dressed in a full cat costume; lounging on the floor in a furry full length garment, from head to toe. Only her face was visible. At first, I thought she must be attending some kind of costume party, but the store employees informed me she identifies as a cat now, and her parents support it. 

So let me get this straight ... abortions are on the rise; young women aren't interested in procreating; and our children identify as animals! Can you see Satan's strategy of eliminating the number of human babies that are born? Wouldn't all this seem to strengthen his position of having dominion over the earth? And how many well-meaning Christians are totally unaware of these statistics? Yet, they keep repeating the mantra that there's a world-wide revival coming and we win in the end. I am not doubting that God can bring about a revival in a remnant of His people, and I absolutely know the faithful are victorious in Jesus. But that doesn't mean America survives this gutting of our core identity!

And if none of this is enough to convince you we are in deep trouble, let me point you to Revelation 18. The Subhead of this chapter is Babylon Has Fallen. We are told that an angel comes down from heaven, possessing great authority, and he shouted with a mighty voice, saying, "fallen, fallen [certainly to be destroyed] is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a dungeon haunted by every unclear spirit, and a prison for every unclean and loathsome bird. For all the nations have drunk from the wine of the passion of her [sexual] immorality, and the kings and political leaders of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth and economic power of her sensuous luxury".

Revelation 18 goes on to say, "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not be a partner in her sins and receive her plagues, for her sins [crimes and transgressions/rebellions] have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness and crimes [for judgment]... for in her heart she boasts, I SIT AS A QUEEN [on a throne] AND I AM NOT A WIDOW,  and will never, ever see mourning or experience grief! For this reason in a single day her plagues [afflictions, calamities] will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire and completely consumed; for strong and powerful is the Lord God who judges her".

I highly recommend that you take the time to read the entirety of Revelation 18 and see if you do not see America in this judgment of God. It tells us that the merchants of the world will "weep and grieve over Babylon" because no one buys their merchandise anymore. [We no longer make our own merchandise, but buy it from others]. And they weep and mourn for "the great city" who was robed in fine linen, gilded with gold, with precious stones and pearls because "in one hour all the vast wealth has been laid waste". [New York has been the center of world commerce, and Wall Street has controlled the economic currency of the world]. But perhaps the most damning judgment is called The Divine Sentence upon Babylon. 

The Bible tells us that a single powerful angel will pick up a boulder like a great millstone and fling it into the sea, saying, "With such violence will Babylon, the great city, be hurled down [by the sudden, spectacular judgment of God], and will never again be found.... Commerce will no longer flourish, and normal life will cease. Never again will the light of a lamp shine in you -- [there goes our claim of being a shining light upon a hill for the whole world to be drawn to] -- and never again will the voice of the bridegroom and bride be heard in you; for your merchants were the great and prominent men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived and misled by your sorcery [your magic spells and poisonous charm]. And in Babylon was found the blood of the prophets and of saints (God's people) and of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth". This speaks of the persecution coming against Christians, wars, and the abominable practice of abortion.      

Now, you may declare that there's no way to prove or know who this great city, Babylon is, but Scripture indicates that whoever it is describes a human civilization that is arrayed in opposition to God and ready to be judged. America certainly could be in the running. We have been the driving force in commerce since WWII, and we have tempted the nations with our immoral businesses of trafficking, child porn, and drug use. We fight for our rights to kill our own babies, and we have led our nation's children away from God and taught them to hate each other through educational policies that divide us. Furthermore, we have sponsored and profited from wars around the world, and we have raped and stolen natural resources of developing nations. Yet we continue to believe the lies of ungodly leaders and even lie to ourselves, declaring that "We are America! Nothing is going to happen to us"! Sounds like the Queen of Babylon sitting on her throne and boasting that she will never, ever experience mourning or grief, doesn't it?  

So, I ask you ... Are we the master of our own demise? Even if you choose to dismiss the possibility that we deserve [or will receive] the judgments prophesied against Babylon, I just don't see how we can deny that we've done all that is accorded to this wicked entity. Yes, God has given us a way out, but I do not discern that the nation is unified in humbling itself, or praying and seeking His face, turning from our wicked ways. We are actually increasing in them! So, I have to ask, will God save the remnant that does seek Him? Or are we going to be subject to His judgment and wrath that rains on the just and the unjust? I will never give up hope that a miracle can happen in our nation! But I'm also a realist. I will live my life as righteously as I can, and I will praise Him continually in the midst of whatever comes, good or bad. I pray that we are not Babylon, because the warning that comes in Revelation 18:6 is chilling ...

Revelation 18:6    Repay to her even as she has repaid others, and pay back [to her] double [her torment] in accordance with what she has done; in the cup [of sin and suffering] which she mixed, mix a double portion [of perfect justice] for her. 

What It's Like To Be A Watchman On The Wall -- Part Two

As I shared in my last post, the Lord has decided that He can trust my husband and me to be Watchmen on the Wall; to discern what is going on in our culture and the world, and then engage with the culture to warn of the Lord's coming judgment if we do not wake up, repent, and turn back to Him. But as I testified, that has often been a frustrating and oftentimes unappreciated assignment because we were shown what was "to come" -- future events and circumstances that people were unable to accept or receive. And, in reality, we were running up against a Christian bias that just wasn't willing to consider 1) that our faith was going to be challenged as we warned, or that 2) what the Bible clearly prophesied [and which our warning corroborated] would actually happen.

Like Jeremiah, we attempted to share what God was showing us within the Church, but were often looked upon with derision and scorn, and more than once, asked to discontinue our "heretical" assertions, and even encouraged to leave. At the minimum, we were ignored. The Bible tells us that Jeremiah preached his warnings in the court of the Temple, but Pashur, the chief governor of the House of the Lord was angry because of the message(s) Jeremiah was delivering. We can identify. 

But that didn't deter us. When prompted by the Lord, we continued to study the Word, listen to the Holy Spirit's counsel and present small and focused teaching conferences to try and draw attention to what we unquestioningly understood God wanted Believers to know. It seemed so clear to us! But as we are seeing now, those warnings were too far in advance of their fulfillment, and although the storm clouds were on the horizon, just like in Jeremiah's day, the people still felt they could safely ignore them. Life was too good to consider our warnings. 

You see, once the Lord begins to shine His Light on you and activate your spirit, you are changed. We found that we could no longer choose to simply exist in a worldly manner. We began to see that He wanted us to see things from His perspective; to see the world and our lives from a position of righteousness. So, we began to see everything differently! Social media, the entertainment industry, education, cultural morals [or lack thereof], society ... and yes, even organized Religion were seen through a Heavenly lens. That's not to say we became judgmental, because we also began seeing and understanding the Bible differently, too. We can't judge someone's heart, because we don't know the condition of it. But we can judge the fruit of their actions and words according to God's standards. And that includes ourselves!

So, as I said, we began seeing the external world and all of its components in a different light -- Jesus's Light. But the Lord didn't just reveal His truth of what our eyes could see and our ears could hear. He began giving us dreams of "things to come". And I will admit that we haven't always understood their meaning or how to interpret them because they were for the future. I have to believe that He gives them to us in advance so that we will be more astute at recognizing when the dream is manifesting into our physical existence, and can then identify it as His warning and see its meaning beyond what it looks like in this realm.

For instance, I have shared [several times] a dream I had in 2012 or 2013 about being lulled into complacency during a ride on a ferris wheel, only to be presented with unspeakable fear as I descended into a deep lagoon, and then the release back into contentment as the ferris wheel took me to the top again. But it was the experience of watching a small wave far out in the ocean develop into a giant tsunami that I knew was going to plummet me to my death in the depths of the ocean that shook me to my core. And as the waves were tumbling me over and over, I see a bright light and a huge hand reach into what I knew was a watery grave and rescue me, declaring, "Don't worry! I've got you"! I believed then, and still do, that Jesus was showing me what was to come in our future -- the ups and downs of our economy; the powers of darkness formulating their plans and strategies to covertly sneak into our culture, our politics, and our country; all as we remain in place, content in accepting the world. But I have been blessed that God revealed that my Savior will be with me, when our future comes crashing in on us.

Then there is the more recent dream I had where I am on a leisurely walk with a guide up a gently sloping hill. I begin to have a growing sense of trepidation, but my guide tells me there is no need to be afraid. A short while later, I catch sight of a huge bear that is ambling in our direction, and then he catches our scent. Though the bear is not acting aggressively, my guide, in a calm voice, instructs me to get behind a huge oak tree, as the bear begins to circle the tree. I just keep moving around the tree, staying out of his grasp, and he eventually moves on. But as I come out from behind the tree, I see a gigantic lion at the top of the hill, who upon seeing me, roars and charges me! I don't have time to be afraid, and soon find myself knocked to the ground and fighting for my life! I know the lion is intent on killing me, and seems to be focused at biting my feet, disabling my escape. At that moment, I remember that I have a pistol on my right side for protection, pull it and fire into the brain of the crazed lion, and the attack is over. During the entire dream, I am aware that my guide is still there, but seems to be watching and assessing how I'm handling this attack, ready to jump in if I need him. And then I woke up.

It was one of those dreams where you know it is more than the result of eating a bowl of ice cream before you went to bed. I knew it was spiritual and I knew it was for my benefit. God wasn't being silent, and I needed to figure out what He was telling me. I knew right away that the "guide" in my dream was the Holy Spirit, sent to "guide my steps and guide me into all Truth". I knew the bear was a threat, and a natural enemy, but I was able to stay hidden and outmaneuver him. The lion, on the other hand, was aggressive and quite intent on killing me, or at least rendering my walk with God more difficult. At the time, I knew the dream was revealing something for that time and my place in that part of my timeline as a representative of God and His Kingdom. But how to unravel the mystery of it? 

There was a recognition that the dream was personal in that in the midst of my battle with the "roaring lion who seeks someone to devour", that I hadn't called out to Jesus for help. I discerned that the dream was showing me that I was stepping into my power and authority, given to me by Christ. I believe it was a confirmation that I was growing in that area. 

But I also discerned that there might be a connection to Babylon's King Belshazzar and his vision of the four beasts, with the bear and lion being two of them. Did that have any significance? Both represented empires, with the bear often interpreted as Russia. So, in my dream, the bear is a threat, but at this point, not aggressive. The lion in Belshazzar's dream was the empire of Babylon; ruthless and strong. The ancient Babylon certainly fits that description, but so does the daughter of Babylon in the End Times, as depicted in Revelation 18. It's hard not to read that chapter and recognize our own empire, and especially the city of New York.

As the years have advanced, I'm now beginning to see this dream as prophetic for our current time. The bear, who was not yet threatening at the time of the dream, was actually the Persian empire, of which modern-day Iran is a representative. This was a warning to keep an eye on it for the future. The roaring lion was pointing to ancient Babylon, and my entanglement with it was showing me that it is my assignment to fight against the resurgence of spiritual Babylon in my sphere of influence by speaking, teaching, and writing God's Truth, with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, who leads me into all truth.  This would include my fight against the pagan gods and power structures in this age, which are resurging through social media and all the false prophets. That dream was multi-faceted and spoke warnings and knowledge of both that time, and the future in which we now find ourselves.  

So, by now, I hope I've given you a pretty good picture of what a modern-day Watchman on the Wall can look like. My husband's promptings and dreams are just as strong [and oftentimes more so] than mine. Like, Jeremiah, we are often astounded at what the Lord brings us, and we can certainly understand Jeremiah's reticence to share them with those we know aren't ready [or don't want to hear them]. And I want to be clear that we always ask for confirmation to make sure what we are hearing or seeing is truly from the Lord. So, if anything, we are probably more guarded than Jesus might sometimes like us to be. And as the times grow increasingly close to Jesus's return, I anticipate that His warnings will become increasingly urgent. I pray that the Lord will find us worthy of carrying His advance warning so that as many as possible will pay attention and get ready for the spiritual battle that is to come. 

In conclusion, my husband and I do not see ourselves as Prophets or needing any title. We are simply obedient followers of Jesus, who are grateful to the Lord for trusting us and using us to further His Kingdom. We do not peddle God's word for profit, but seek to be sincere in our commission to bring His warning and counsel before the people, and always in His sight. May He forever be praised for His Love and Righteousness! Amen!

#watchman on the wall; #hearing god's voice; #biblical prophet; #biblical prophecy; #Ezekiel 33; #kingdom of god: #for everything there is a season; #spiritual warfare; #rumors of war; #knowledge from God; #war is a racket; #world events; #rebuilding nations; #international bankers; #God's will on earth  

Isaiah 62:6    On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest,