LOOKING FORWARD TO PENTECOST

This morning I watched Doug Addison’s latest webcast. He talked about how God was releasing us from bondages in the past season. Some of us had experienced hopes deferred and some were stuck in the past season for a long while. God is healing us and bringing us out of Egypt into the promised land. 

Deuteronomy 11:10-11 says this: ‘For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven.’ Early this year we had been talking about Deuteronomy 11:11 before this pandemic hit us.

At this point in time, nothing seemed to have changed in the natural realm. We are currently under pseudo ‘house arrest’. Our movements are restricted and we are under scrutiny from the law. There are so many dos and don’ts nowadays. We don’t want to flout the rules but this isn’t our modus operandi. We are under grace, not under law and that is why we feel super uncomfortable.

Yet the Lord seemed to be saying the same thing consistently throughout. He is talking about the ‘after this’. He is still telling me that He is bringing us to the promised land and for us to remember Him. God has already seen the end of this outbreak because His plan for us in 2020 cannot be thwarted. That is why He has brought to remembrance about the word He has given us early this year.

I believe that God is trying to tell me that we are truly coming to an end of the pandemic. If not, He would not be reminding me of the plans He had for us in 2020. Such messages were quickly forgotten when the pandemic hit. We were suddenly thrown into the storm. There was such a whirlwind that obstructed our view of the future. For a moment, it did seem that we probably would not be able to get back on track with His plan.

Earlier I was declaring that this virus would end suddenly around Passover. Passover came but nothing seemed to have changed. Not only that things seemed to get worse and not ease up. Especially for Singapore. Our cases of infection amongst the foreign workers were increasing exponentially rather than dropping. That was why the circuit breaker had to be extended for another four weeks. Other countries already passed the peak in terms of the infected cases and the curve was tapering. They were beginning to open up.

Yet God is still encouraging me that He is in control and the end is really near. My part is to release the word about the end of this virus and His part is to act. Yes. This too will pass. Singapore will gradually open up and there will be some normalcy in our lives. Especially after yesterday, which was the date of the fall of Jericho, things will get better in the natural realm. The school holidays will start on 5 May and school will reopen on 1 Jun. Yes we declare that there shall be no further extension of the circuit breaker beyond that date!

Interestingly our circuit breaker started on Passover (8 Apr) and it will end the day after Pentecost (31 May). This is no coincidence for the Lord works on the Jewish calendar. There are so many significant things happening during this time. The deliverance from bondage, transfer of wealth, parting of the Red Sea, total destruction of the Egyptian armies, crossing of Jordan, march around Jericho, walls of Jericho falling, Resurrection Sunday and Pentecost. These events seemed to be culminating in Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the upper room.

Pastor Prince also talked about this during last Sunday’s sermon. This upper room is not the same room where Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and celebrated the Passover. The “third story” — this corresponds with the third-floor chamber in the Temple of Solomon where the gold and treasures are stored. This upper room is the same place where the disciples gathered on the day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit was given and 3,000 people were saved (see Acts 1:13). So this upper room is not just a place of silver and gold, but it is the place of the Holy Spirit. 

God, is it true that we are seeing the end of this outbreak? Is it true that we are moving up to the third floor of the chamber? The broad place, the place of gold and treasures? The place of Holy Spirit moving mightily, the power of God manifested. In early Apr I was just talking about us being on the second floor of the chamber. It was a place of rest but the enemy was trying to get us into unrest. Little did I know that God was moving us to the third floor by this Pentecost. The place of the upper room. The outpouring of His mighty spirit. 

Anyway our response should be to patient and expectant of what the Lord is about to do. See with eyes of faith. His word never fails. His will always prevails. People asked me why was this happening and why hadn't the Lord acted yet. My answer is still the same. He is birthing destiny in us and even if He tarries we should continue to keep our eyes on Him and not on the outward circumstances. Besides we really do not have much of a choice but to look to Him for help. We have all done what we thought we could. Pray, declare, bind the virus in Jesus’ name. So now we just enter into His rest and watch Him work! Yes, also to continue to pray in the Spirit.

WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING NOW?

Last night I was reading the book ‘The Harvest’ by Rick Joyner. It was an old book first published in 1987 and revised in 2007. I read it many years ago when I first began my stay home season in 2011 but I could never really understand what he was talking about. But now, as I have grown in wisdom and understanding, I began to see what he was saying. It was all about the end time harvest. 

In his book, I gained a better revelation of what is truly happening now, in the midst of so much confusion and speculations of end times, rapture and Jesus’s second coming. I also made some sense of the conspiracy theories going on right now. When declaring events that would signal the end of the age, he said the Lord told him that these were ‘beginning of birth pangs’ (Matthew 24:8). The harvest and accompanying events have been unfolding and will continue to unfold just as travail comes upon a woman in labour. 

The closer one gets to the birth, the more intense and frequent the contractions become. The first contractions signalling the end of the age actually occurred several hundred years ago with the beginning of the Reformation. Over a two hundred years passed before there was another, then a hundred years, then decades. Soon it will be just years between the contractions with each one becoming significantly more intense.

During the ‘transition’ stage, when the baby is entering the birth canal, the mother usually goes through severe disorientation. At this point in time, it helps for the mother to have a ‘focal point’ on which to concentrate on. It is also essential for the mother to heed the instructions of the labour coach (usually the husband) and to obey them regardless of her pain or feelings.

Likewise it is important for the church to look at her focal point and resist being distracted from it. The Lord used ‘birth pangs’ to describe the unfolding of these times because it is an appropriate metaphor. Sadly the church being ignorant of the actual process through which she is going through, has often continued to follow her natural instincts instead of the voice of the Lord.

This has caused her to strive counterproductively through much of the process, leaving her now weary and expended as we enter the most critical stage of delivery. It has never been more urgent for the church to concentrate on her ‘focal point’, the ultimate purpose of God, that she might bring many new sons and daughters to birth. She must become obedient to the instructions of her husband Jesus.

Beginning with Martin Luther, each spiritual contraction resulted in a major, basic Christian truth being restored to the church, as well as one of the fivefold ministries given for the equipping of the saints. With the beginning of the Reformation, the pastor was restored to recognised ministry. Over two hundred years later, the evangelist was restored with the Wesleys, and gained general recognition and acceptance.

The Pentecostal and Latter Rain revivals began the restoration of the gifts of the Holy Spirit but it was not until the Charismatic and Third Wave Renewals that the teaching ministry was fully restored. Teaching was the primary emphasis and a much greater anointing came upon this ministry during these movements. Rick Joyner said that the next spiritual contraction will bring about the restoration and recognition of the prophets, which is what happening now. The next move will be the restoration of the apostolic authority. The ministry that opened the church age will also be the one that closes it. 

It is also during the transition stage that a remarkable clarity of purpose and strength return to the mother. This is the time to push until the baby comes forth. Like the manner in which birth pangs come upon a woman, there will be times of great intensity and advancement in the church followed by periods of rest. There will be upheavals in the world followed by times of relative peace. There are general patterns that the whole church and the whole world will be moving towards though at different paces, the church will be increasing in light and power while the world will be sinking into unprecedented darkness.

Well, there is so much more in his book but I think I will just stop here. There is so much to unpack in just this one chapter. After reading this chapter, I become more convinced that no, this is not the end of ages yet. No, the rapture is not going to happen anytime soon. I am sorry to disappoint some people who have been so earnestly waiting for Jesus to come back for them but no, now is not the time yet. We are close to the day of the Lord but not yet.

So what is happening right now is that the church is going through birth pangs. And as each wave gets more intense, we are closer to the birth of a new movement. The earth is also groaning in pain for the manifestation of sons and daughters of God. Even in child labour, the mother often thought she was going to die but quite contrary, she was birthing new life. This is exactly what the church is going through now.

After identifying what is really happening now, the next important thing is how we should respond. What we should do. As mentioned by Rick Joyner we should have a ‘focal point’. We should listen to the voice of our husband Jesus and do what He says, instead of looking at our pain or feelings. Yes I understand that in times of prolonged labour, the woman can easily lose her strength and become weary. When the time comes for her to give the final push, she couldn’t because she had expended all her energy earlier on.

But the Lord is gracious. It is also during the transition stage of birth that He imparts clarity of purpose and a second wind to the church. If only we could be still and know the Lord, stop running around and cut off all distractions, we will be able to hear the Lord’s voice. We will then be able to receive instructions and strategies to know what to do next. What we focus on will manifest. That is where our expectations will take us. When we become still, we will be able to hear our Shepherd’s voice more clearly.

During this dark season, I have discerned this one thing. Many believers who are very knowledgeable about the word of the God might not be necessarily equipped to hear His voice especially on issues like end times, rapture and Second Coming. This is hardly surprising because the bible is not very clear on such issues and the language used is metaphorical. 

Besides there has been many differing views on the timing of the rapture or even the Second Coming. The books of Daniel and Revelation are not easy to understand. Even the prophets who can shed light on such issues are only given a part of the puzzle. Prophets know in part and prophesy in part. Not one person has the whole picture. Maybe because we haven’t come to the end of times yet. I believe in the days to come, as we are nearing the end of times, the Lord will make things even clearer.

Well, to me, rather than speculating on when rapture will come or trying to establish if we are living in the end of times, why not focus our energies on what we should be doing. Why not be more intentional about how we number our days? Why not ask the Lord what is our purpose here on earth and how to better equip ourselves for the future?

What I know is while this pandemic will blow over, other crisis will still pop up in future. Such is the nature of the end times we are living in. Life will never really go back to normal. How then should we be responding? Ask the Lord to show you what is He birthing in the church and what He is birthing in us. I believe that the next important thing is to equip the believers. In sharing the gospel, healing the sick and driving out demons.

REVISITING THEME OF THIS YEAR

This week, I was impressed upon Pastor’s sermon for the year of time and space. I felt it was timely to review what was preached. Much was forgotten during the whirlwind and storm of this virus outbreak. But since the Lord already said this plague was passing over, it is about time to prepare for what is coming ahead. Back to the theme of the year. The year of time and space. 

Pastor was talking about the chambers in Solomon’s temple. The first level is the grain, wine and oil. The second level is the sleeping quarters of the priests. The third and uppermost level is the treasury where the floors are overlaid with gold. We have just experienced the first level of the grain, wine and oil. Pastor had been preparing us for this first level since 2019 when he preached about taking holy communion. Then in Feb, he also told us to apply anointing oil to protect ourselves. 

Currently we are at the second level. The sleeping chambers of the priest. This is a place or position of rest. As the Lord calls us to rest in a time of partial lockdown, He will also be downloading strategies for us to move up the spiral staircase to ascend to the third floor, which is the treasury. This may occur in the last quarter of the year.

There are many things happening right now that we cannot see. A lot of spiritual activity in the atmosphere. Angelic activity too. When men rest, God works. It wasn’t always easy to get men to rest. So whatever the enemy meant for harm, God turned this lockdown around into our rest. When we rest, we get recharged. We get refreshment and energy to continue the journey, especially when things start to accelerate.

When I read the sermon notes, I see that the church is really transitioning from the wilderness to the promised land, to the palace. This is typified by the change in focus from the tabernacle of Moses to the temple of Solomon. The former is a temporary structure typified by the wandering in the desert. The latter is a permanent fixture in the promised land. That is the place where God has always wanted His people to be dwelling in.

As we stepped into 2020, the backdrop had already been set. We just had a year of latter rain and the grain, wine and oil was already in the first level chambers. But as we were moving up the spiral staircase to the second chamber of rest, we saw the enemy coming ferociously against this rest. He used the virus outbreak to get us into fear and worry, and totally out of the position of rest that the Lord wanted us to be in.

Yet somehow it was of utmost importance that we learn to rest in the midst of the storm. The peace that the Lord has given us is going to see us through the storm. And as we gladly welcome Jesus into our boats, we will find ourselves immediately translated to our destination though we know not how (John 6:16-21). Indeed this is the year that we will truly cross over to the other side. The side that had been so elusive to many of us in those years of our wandering. The promised land that many could see but just couldn’t cross over.

The Passover was finally over. We have come so far. A few days before Passover, I can sense the increasing resistance from the enemy once again. But I know exactly what a defeated foe he is! He has no teeth. His power has been taken away from him. He can only scare and intimidate us. We continue to remain at rest and keep our eyes focused on Jesus. On the day after the Passover, I sensed a shift in the spiritual atmosphere. It was like a turnaround had taken place, and an anointing of ease has come. 

PREPARING FOR PASSOVER

Today is the 10th day of Nisan that Joshua led the Israelites to cross over Jordan. It was a significant day of crossing over to the promised land. This day the Lord has done great wonders in their midst and He will do so for us today. Last year this day, I wrote this. 

I kept seeing this picture of the enemies retreating. I heard the word of God saying that He has come on the scene and the warfare has ended. And the enemies are now retreating frantically. I realised that was exactly what happened when David inquired of the Lord when the Philistines attacked them a second time. God told David to circle around behind them and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees and when they heard the sound of marching on the trees, to advance quickly. So David did according to what God said and he drove back the Philistines.

Perhaps this is a prophetic word for now. The enemies are retreating. The warfare has ended. The Lord has come as a commander in chief and dispatched His warring angels on the earth. Though it seemed like the enemy dealt a heavy blow by forcing us into partial lockdown mode for a month, I believe God also has a purpose for keeping us at home. The Passover will happen after three days, on 8 Apr. Before that was the plague of darkness, which also lasted three days.

Initially in Mar, I thought we were already in the plague of darkness but today I see that we had been in the eighth plague of locusts. Whatever was happening in the world really seemed like locusts sweeping through the earth leaving a devastating aftermath. So what we had been through could very well be a plague of the locusts. Only now we have entered into the ninth plague of darkness. But the children of God had light in their households. 

The Lord is revealing things leading up to the Passover. We all sense the significance of this Passover feast. We are expectant of what God is going to do this Passover, like how He is going to force the hand of the enemy to let His people go. We have to prepare ourselves. Today is also the day the Jews took a lamb into their household. We are to meditate on Jesus, our sacrificial lamb. Take holy communion as a family. 

In three days’ time, we will have to ‘slaughter’ this lamb and put its blood on our doorposts. We are also to partake of the holy communion with an expectancy to be delivered from these plagues. We have to be sensitive to any instructions the Lord has for us during these few days. Like the ones about wealth transfer and not eating bread with yeast during the Feast of unleavened bread. On the night of the Passover, the Israelites took the dough and put it on their kneading troughs. They also plundered the Egyptians.

I was reading the accounts of the ten plagues. Though God told Moses that He would make a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites for the plague of flies and plague of livestock, it might still not be very clear to Pharaoh. But God said that for the tenth plague, Pharaoh would then know that the Lord made a distinction between Egypt and Israel. It occurred to me that the divide between the believers and the heathens would be even greater during this Passover. The blood of the Lamb will be the reason for the stark distinction.

Another thing to note is during the night of Passover an angel of death will pass over Egypt and strike down the firstborn of both men and animals, bringing judgement on the gods of Egypt. Notice that though judgement was brought on Satan and his principalities in this tenth plague, the firstborn children of the devil will be struck down as well. And the firstborn of their animals could mean their wealth and power. Without funding, these children of the devil cannot do anything against the church.

I take it to mean that during this Passover, not only those agents of darkness would be taken down, their power and backing would be decimated too. They will be stripped of their ability to create havoc on the world. They would not be able to scheme against the children of God. That will be the last straw which will break the camel’s back. This will be the way that God forced the hand of the enemy to let His people go.

When Egypt realised that their firstborn had died, there would be loud wailing throughout the land. The Lord is telling us not to be shocked or fearful of what would happen after the tenth plague passed over. People will be seen mourning for their losses but our hearts are not to be troubled. We just continue to move forward, to make our exodus from Egypt. Indeed this is the church’s finest hour. The church is awakening to the Passover, getting ready to cross over to the new era.

After they celebrated Passover, the Lord appeared as a commander to Joshua. He came with a drawn sword in His hand, meaning that He was all ready to battle. In this visitation, the Lord had come to reveal battle strategies to Joshua. I believe God is also revealing strategies to us during the Passover. We had to pry our ears to listen. How to move in tandem with Him. Hence this time of divine pause is very crucial.

This is indeed a very exciting time. Though everything seemed bleak and dark in the world, we who have hope in Christ know that it is the exact opposite in the spiritual realm. The spiritual atmosphere is so pregnant right now. We are on the verge of birthing our promises, a great revival. The Lord is about to show Himself mighty in our midst. He is going to manifest His glory over the earth. We are to be expectant of what He is going to do.

In four days’ time this plague is going to pass over. We are not to focus on the doom and gloom like the world does but to prepare ourselves for what is to come after this. It is not far off. It is already here, right at the doors. We are not talking about an event that is months or years away. It is already at the doorstep. We are already in the final countdown. We also take this time to press into the Lord’s presence for refuge and strategies. 

HAVING A SPIRIT OF DISCERNMENT

There are currently two camps of prophets in USA. One is the doom and gloom camp which seemed to imply that we are in the end of times and that Jesus is coming back to rapture the church very soon. That will put an end to all these trials and tribulations. The other camp paints a more positive picture of a revival that is coming after this outbreak has passed over. They also talk about an economic recovery instead of a downturn. 

Personally I do not think that this is the end yet. Pastor Prince also said this during last Sunday’s service. Whenever you feel fearful or worried, ask yourself: What are you believing? Some people have said that we are living in the times described in the book of Revelation. But we are not there yet. We won’t even be around when the events in Revelation (the seven years of tribulation) unfold.

We will not be on earth because we’ll have been raptured by then, and God will return to earth with us (see Jude 1:14). Once the blood of Jesus saves us, we will be saved from wrath as well (See Rom. 5:9). What we are experiencing in the world today is not the “day of vengeance” as described in Isaiah 61:1–2. How do we know this? In Luke 4, Jesus was in the synagogue reading the Scripture of the day, Isaiah 61, and He purposefully cut off his reading at a certain point in the scripture.

Another reason why I do not think that the church would be raptured anytime is because of Acts 3:21. ‘Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.’ Ask yourself this question: Is the church at its most glorious state now? Is there full restoration of the church as in the time of Acts? I submit to you that we are no where even near the church in Acts! 

The truth is this end times church should be much more glorious than that of the early church. Haggai 2:9 says that ‘The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.’ Well so what should we be praying for now? That Jesus comes back for the church quickly now so that we can be saved from the perilous times coming on the earth? Or that we bind the forces of evil using the authority that Christ has already given us?

Honestly the Lord is patient for He wants none to perish. The enemy is very afraid of the great revival that has been prophesied starting from this year. Hence he is putting up a smokescreen so that believers would be distracted from what God is doing. All the conspiracy theories really just serve to make us more confused. Like who is pulling the strings behind the scene, the move towards a one world economy etc. But does knowing such conspiracy theories really help us?

Yes now that we know, we can come against it in Jesus name. But what I fear is that these reports create a doom and gloom atmosphere almost like the church is totally powerless towards what is coming. Absolutely not! The church is much more powerful than we think! We really do have power to bind the enemy’s plans. In fact, God has given us strategies and revelations on how to pray and what to do. Amos 3:7 says ‘Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealed his secret unto his servants the prophets.’

Yet tuning in to the right prophetic voices is of great importance. Know that the Lord will never release a word or a warning without giving us the solution. The test of the pudding is in its taste. If you hear a message that seems to render you helpless towards the situation, or didn’t give you life in your spirit, or doesn’t give any prophetic solution at the end to inspire hope, then most probably that word didn’t come from the heart of the Father.

Some prophetic words caution us against the mark of the beast and the one world economy with the exhortation to resist it or to pray against it which could leave us with an aftertaste of helplessness. That is not what the Lord intends for releasing a prophetic word. Of course such prophetic words open our eyes to what lies hidden in the darkness, what is the truth so that we need not be ignorant. But having said that, most of such doom and gloom messages are simply from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Yes, now that your eyes are opened to the knowledge of evil, what are you going to do? Contrary to the tree of life, the word of God always imparts hope and power. Such life giving messages leave us empowered and we feel that our faith has been given a boost. We are strengthened and have a much greater clarity about what is going on behind the smokescreen. Our minds are no longer confused and we feel life in our spirits.

Having said all these, I pray for all believers to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation like in Ephesians 1:17. All of us have the Holy Spirit within us to guide us into God’s truth. The Holy Spirit will bear witness with our spirits. God will give us the increased discernment to see through the smoke screens and lies. And lastly I pray that God will guard our eye and ear gates even with regards to words shared from the bible.

Always remember that no one single prophet has the full picture of the end times. We all know in part and prophesy in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). But we have no need to rely solely on the words from the prophets because the anointing in us teaches us all things. 1 John 2:20 says ‘But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.’ Do not let your hearts be troubled but let the peace of God guard your hearts and minds in Christ. Focus on Jesus. Focus on whatever is good and noble. (Philippians 4:8)

BATTLE STRATEGIES

Earlier I was just saying that I saw Jesus appear as a commander in a vision as I was worshiping the Lord. I was reminded of Joshua 5:13 when the Lord appeared to Joshua. He came to assure Joshua that He has given Jericho into their hands and told them to march around the city six days. On the seventh day, they had to march around the city seven times and the priests shall blow the trumpets. After the seventh round, the priests would make a long blast with the ram’s horn and when they heard the sound, the people were to give a loud shout and the walls of Jericho would come down. Then they were to go right into Jericho.

I was praying just now when I was impressed upon a specific prayer strategy for ending this virus. Earlier the Lord showed me that we could pray for the weather conditions to change as this virus would not be able to survive under hot weather. It is essentially still a winter virus. Last night a sister alerted me to an unprecedented heat wave in Antarctica.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/31/antarctica-what-it-means-when-the-coldest-place-on-earth-records-an-unprecedented-heatwave

Let's pray for God to intervene to move away the heat wave from Antarctica and towards USA and Europe. We command the ministering angels to move the heat wave to USA and Europe to kill the virus and then subside away. Increasing temperatures will kill the virus. I was also reminded by this sister that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still in the presence of the Lord. If the Lord has heeded the voice of a mere human in the Old Testament, why couldn’t He do it for us again? He will do it again and show Himself strong as the Lord of all creation. 

Joshua 10:12-13

On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,

    and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

So the sun stood still,

    and the moon stopped,

    till the nation avenged itself on[b] its enemies.