In 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2, Paul answered questions about a misunderstanding the church had about the Day of the Lord and whether it had already come.
Paul replied:
Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that Day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed] (2 Thessalonians 2:3 AMP)
Okay, think about this for a moment: Jesus will not return and rapture us until after there is a great rebellion by professed Christians who then walk away from their faith.
…because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)
This is not written to argue the point one way or another whether the great falling away involves born-again Christians or in-name-only believers. I’ll let God sort that out.
But it’s written to remind us to pray for our loved ones and neighbors before it is too late.
My prayer today:
Lord, send the Spirit of Truth to open up the hearts of our loved ones and our American neighbors so that they receive the love of the truth and are saved. (Based on John 16:13 and 2 Thessalonians 2:10)
After his rebellion, being thrown into the Sea, swallowed by a great fish and then vomited onto land, Jonah showed up in Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.
Can you imagine the hungry and thirsty cries of babies, children and animals filling the air in Nineveh? It had to be almost deafening. What an extreme reaction to a prophet’s proclamation!
When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:10 NLT)
What if the King of Assyria had decided to check out Jonah’s credentials before deciding what to do? Or what if the King wanted to talk it over with his religious aides first? Or what if the King wanted to just wait and see before he acted?
Nineveh would have been destroyed. It took an extreme and immediate response to stave off the city’s destruction.
Will the Lord send last-call prophets, like Jonah, to America before removing the nation from before His eyes because of abortion?
(Continued in Part 6…but if you want to read all of the parts to date, you can go here.)
If I asked most Christians what happened in Acts 2 of the Bible, they’d answer: “The one hundred and twenty disciples waiting in the Upper Room in Jerusalem were filled with the Holy Spirit and they all spoke in tongues.”
That’s true, but did you also know that Peter prophesied a message for us Twenty-First Century Christians?
“In the last days,” God says, “I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on My servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.“ (Acts 2:17-18 NLT)
How many of our sons and daughters are prophesying? And if we consider ourselves servants of the Lord, how many of us are prophesying?
Now, if you’re thinking all of Peter’s prophetic words were fulfilled on that first Pentecost in 30 AD, then you need to look at the next part of his prophecy:
“And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.” (Acts 2:18-19)
So far, we have not seen the sun darkened and the moon turned to blood, right?
If we look at Peter’s prophecy and consider the questions I have raised, that means Peter’s prophecy has only had a limited fulfillment so far.
Lord, we believe we are living in the last days so we ask You to pour out Your Spirit of prophecy on our sons and daughters and on every one who is Your servant. (Based on Acts 2 and Revelation 19:10)
Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for prophetic voices to arise in America.
Lars Enarson’s prophetic words have stirred many Christians to fast and pray against President Trump’s “Deal of the Century” plan to create peace in the Middle East by dividing the land of Israel to establish a Palestinian state. (You can read more on this here.)
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of not effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. (Psalm 33:8-11)
Prayer Focus Point #1: Pray that the Lord brings the counsel of America and other nations to nothing and that the plans of President Trump and other leaders will be frustrated by God and have no effect on Israel. (Psalm 33:10)
Prayer Focal Point #2: Pray and agree that the counsel of the Lord stands forever for Israel and His plans to all generations of Israel. (Psalm 33:11)
Prayer Focal Point #3: Pray that an Esther will arise and convince President Trump that his “Deal of the Century” will endanger Israel and America.
Prayer Focal Point #4: Pray for a great victory for the political parties in Israel’s upcoming elections that refuse to negotiate a division of Israel to establish a Palestinian state.
Join with me to fast and pray for Israel, America and President Trump today.
The above video is fifteen minutes and six seconds long and is great, but the following are the major points of Lars Enarson’s message:
Israel is in great danger and so is America right now.
Why?
U. S. President Donald Trump, who is a great friend of Israel, has developed a plan that he is calling the “Deal of the Century.” It’s a plan to create peace in the Middle East by dividing the land of Israel to establish a Palestinian state.
President Trump had been trying to keep the plan a secret until the right time, but we have just learned that Trump has decided to unveil the plan a couple of days after the elections which will take place in Israel on April 9, 2019.
By doing this, President Trump is hiding his plan from the people of Israel who are going to the polls to elect the next government. This is wrong!
There’s no doubt Trump and America will place great pressure on Israel and the Palestinians to accept this “Deal of the Century.” Trump may also present an offer that suggests the nations surrounding Israel will make peace with our nation if Israel accepts the deal.
The last few presidents have tried to divide Israel by establishing a Palestinian state. Because of this, look what has happened to America. It is more divided now than at any time since the Civil War, over one hundred and sixty years ago.
If this deal goes through, God may divide America in such a way that the nation will cease to be a world empire. That is what is at stake right now!
“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.(Joel 3:1-2)
The two warnings in the above verses which the Lord will bring judgment upon nations are focused on the scattering of the Israelites among the nations and dividing up the land of Israel.
I am calling for a fast on March 20, 2019, which is the day Israel celebrates the Esther fast. I am asking all Evangelical Christians to join us in the fast.
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of not effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. (Psalm 33:8-11)
Prayer Point #1: Pray that the Lord brings the counsel of America and other nations to nothing and that the plans of President Trump and other leaders will be frustrated by God and have no effect on Israel. (Psalm 33:10)
Prayer Point #2: Pray and agree that the counsel of the Lord stands forever for Israel and His plans to all generations of Israel. (Psalm 33:11)
Prayer Point #3: Pray that an Esther will arise and convince President Trump that his “Deal of the Century” will endanger Israel and America.
Prayer Point #4: Pray for a great victory for the political parties in Israel’s upcoming elections that refuse to negotiate a division of Israel to establish a Palestinian state.
Israel could be in its most dangerous position since it became a nation in 1948. It’s up to believers to fight the good fight of faith through prayer and fasting for Israel.
Lars Enarson, a native of Sweden, has been an author and Bible teacher with a prophetic voice since the 1970’s. Lars is the founder and president of the Watchman International (thewatchman.org), a ministry dedicated to “prepare the way for the Lord.” He is based in Israel, teaching and mobilizing prayer for Israel by way of Seminars, books, and TV-programs.
“It’s in God’s hands. If it is meant to be, it will happen. If not, it won’t.”
How many times have we heard the above statement or a similar one by fellow believers? Maybe hundreds of times over the years.
Is there any truth in the statement?
Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].(Ephesians 6:13 AMP)
After we have done all of this, then we can place our concerns in God’s hands and trust Him to work everything out for His glory.
Anything less than this will usually end up as a defeat in our lives.
My prayer today:
Lord, help us learn how to fight the good fight of faith so we can finish the race You have set before us and keep the faith while we are still running. (Based on 1 Timothy 6:12 and 2 Timothy 3:7)
Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for our families.
The main reasons we Americans do not understand the End-Times are:
We do not study the Bible.
We do not understand that Jesus is Jewish.
Problem #1 can be handled by asking the Lord to open our eyes as we study the Bible to understand the End-Times. My recommendation is that we begin our studies in the Book of Revelation, Matthew 24, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 1 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:1-9, 2 Peter 3:1-13, Daniel 11 and Daniel 12.
Problem #2 will take a total change of our Gentile mindsets.
We have been indoctrinated by the Americanized portraits of Jesus supposedly resembling Him, by the non-Biblical holidays of Easter and Christmas, by our total lack of understanding about the Jewish feasts or Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath), not understanding the Bible was written by Jewish authors and more.
Why is this important?
Jesus fulfilled the spring feasts of Pesach (Passover), Chag HaMotzi (Unleavened Bread), Reshit Katzir (First Fruits), Shavu’ot (Pentecost) and also dozens of Old Covenant prophecies when He was crucified, buried, rose from the grave and ascended into heaven.
Our Lord will fulfill the fall feasts of Yom Teru’ah (Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Atonement), Sukkot (Tabernacles) and hundreds of Old Covenant prophecies when He returns.
Lord, help us to change our mindsets so the middle wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles is broken down and that the one new man will come forth here on earth, prepared for the End-Times. (Based on Ephesians 2:14-15)
Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for our eyes to be opened about the End-Times.
Counting our recent move to Gilbert, Arizona, Carol and I have moved thirty-five times during our twenty-three years of marriage. More than a few people have asked us, “Why have you moved so much?”
My standard answer used to be a shrug of my shoulders, but a recent thought has opened my eyes to a possible new revelation: Carol and I are like wine in God’s wine cellar. He pours us from bottle to bottle to bottle to remove our impurities, which settle into the bottom of the bottles after a period of rest.
“Moab has been at ease from his youth and has settled on his dregs (impurities); he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel… (Jeremiah 48:11 ESV)
Hopefully, we are purer wine for His use than when we first began our journey together twenty-three years ago.
My prayer today:
Lord God, create in us clean hearts and renew steadfast spirits within us. Restore to us the joy of our salvations and uphold us with Your generous Spirit. Then we will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You. (Based on Psalm 51:10, 12-13)
Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for our families.
Since 1973, there have been over 61 million abortions in the US. In the world, there have been more than 1.5 billion abortions since 1980. (If you want to see a constantly updated abortion counter board, click here.)
Watching the numbers change at the abortion counter board are mind-boggling. They just keep moving forward. Each tick represents another dead baby. And another. And another. And so forth.
But let’s be honest, it’s easy to be discouraged about abortion, especially when we read about New York’s new up-to-the-time-of-birth abortion guidelines, the Virginia governor’s statement about babies surviving abortions and the media’s words.
Why even pray? Why even fast? It seems like such a waste of time. Might as well just not care at all anymore, right?
But what does discouragement really mean?
Being discouraged actually means we’re looking at our problems and seeing them as bigger and more powerful than our God and His leadership ways. But of course, none of us would ever admit this, right?
Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. Revelation 8:3-5)
Maybe my individual prayers are not making a big difference at the local Planned Parenthood Clinic, but that’s not necessarily my intention. I’m praying to the Creator to let Him know I agree with Him and His leadership ways against abortion and that I know my prayers will soon cause noises, thunderings, lightnings and earthquakes on earth.
That’s enough to keep me in the battle against abortion and other major problems.
My prayer today:
Lord, I pray that You would give each believer the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened about prayer and that we would know the exceeding greatness of Your power backing our prayers. (Based on Ephesians 1:17-19)
Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for our nation.
Amos obeyed and traveled there to point out the many calamities, droughts and famines the Lord had brought upon Israel because of their many sins. Yet, the nation refused to listen to Amos about repenting and returning to God. Then, Amos proclaimed –
Therefore, thus will I do to you, O Israel; and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God.(Amos 4:12)
Forty years later, Israel met God as the Judge. His guilty verdict against Israel was carried out by Assyria. The nation was erased and led into captivity. It wasn’t until 1948 – twenty-six hundred years later – that Israel became a nation again.
O California, you are much younger than Israel was when it rebelled against God. But you are more accountable because you have millions of Bibles, thousands of churches, Christian TV and radio stations, memories from the Azusa Street Revival and houses of prayer in all of the major cities. So, California, what’s your excuse?
California repent or prepare to meet your God!
My prayer today:
Lord, have compassion on California, raise up hundreds of prophets to speak Your warnings to the cities of California before allowing Your judgments to fall on the state. (Based on 2 Chronicles 36:15)
Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for California and the West Coast.
Larry Who 