The Last Of The Last Days Anointing

And Power

By: Lancelot Tucker

e-mail: lancelottucker@yahoo.com

(876) 367-7362, 248-8048

2010 by Lancelot Tucker

Published by Lancelot Tucker at Smashwords (www.smashwords.com)

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All Scriptures are taken from the King James and the Amplified Versions of the Bible.

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1:   The Increase of The Anointing

Chapter 2:   The Church’s Return to the Acts of the

Apostles

Chapter 3:   Signs, Wonders and Miracles

Chapter 4:   Judgment Must Begin In the House of God

Chapter 5:   The Wealth of the Wicked

Chapter 6:   The Increase of Angelic Appearances

Chapter 7:   The Increase of Visions and Dreams

Chapter 8:   The Shekinah Glory

Chapter 9:   The Prayer, “Come Lord Jesus”

Chapter 10: The Romance

Chapter 11: The Bridegroom Cometh

Chapter 12: The Unprepared Guest

Chapter 13: Our Social Responsibility

A Reminder of the Signs of Jesus’ Return

Final Words

DEDICATION

To God’s chosen people who are patiently awaiting the return of our Lord, Savior and Master Jesus Christ. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable (1 Cor. 15: 19).

Acknowledgements

Thanks to both my cousins, Marcia Reid-Keckeis without whose help this book would not have been published and Norman Reid without whose help this book would not be written.

Thanks to Olive Jackson-Anglin for proofreading this material, and whose encouragement has left a lasting influence on me. Thanks to Miss Mitsy Clarke for additional proof.

Thanks to Mrs. Lambie-Thomas: without whose help I would not be able to put the “final touches” to this book.

Special thanks also to everyone who has prayed me through while writing this book. Without your prayers I could never have gotten to publishing stage. Thanks again.

Preface

This book was written because of a series of revelations given to me by the Lord. Somehow God in His infinite wisdom chose to reveal these things to me. As a servant of God, and walking in His Divine Light for over thirty years, I have stopped questioning the Master is gentle leading in my life.

These revelations (Chapters 1-9) were given to me over a period. These includes the increase of the anointing, the return of the church to the Acts of the Apostles, signs wonders and miracles, judgment must begin in the house of God, the great financial release into the church (the wealth of the wicked), the increase of angelic activities, the increase of visions and dreams, the Shekinah Glory and the prayer, “Come Lord Jesus,” were given to me over a period of time.

Chapters 2, 3 and 4 were given to me by the Master all at the same time. In fact these 3 chapters were the last to be revealed to me. It was during this time of visitation and revelatory anointing that I heard the gentle voice of the Lord saying to me “Write Me a book.”

This book is written because of that conversation I had with the Lord and in obedience to His will. I cannot but think that the only reason the Lord gave me these revelations is that His return is very close at hand and just as He had commanded the prophet Habakkuk so has the Lord also commanded me, “Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes by may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by. For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behind on its appointed day” (Hab. 2: 2-3 AMP.)

Introduction

When we were children growing up we heard from our older peers that Jesus is coming soon. Now that we have grown older and have become wiser we are still hearing the same words; “Jesus is coming soon.” The preachers are still preaching it. Our parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers and others are still making this same announcement; “Jesus is coming soon.” But you may be saying, “When is His coming?” Surely the scoffers are asking the same question also.

The second question everyone is asking is, “What are the signs of His coming?” There are numerous signs mentioned in the scriptures concerning this question. Our Lord Jesus spoke about some of these signs. He spoke about false Christs arising, wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, brother betraying brother, false prophets arising and so on (Matt. 24). This book is not written to deal with all that is reported in Mathew 24, but will be alluding to other things as the Spirit of God has given me insight. It is my firm belief that just before Jesus breaks the clouds and return some things will first have to be put into place.

We have also been hearing about the last days. It is my firm belief that we are not only living in the last days but we are living in the last of the last days. It is my intention to impart to you some of the events that will take place in the last of the last days.

In John chapter 2 verses 1-11 we read about Jesus, his mother and his disciples at a marriage feast in Ca`na of Galilee, where He performed His first miracle by turning water into wine. This scene depicts what will really happen in the last of the last days. Jesus commanded the servants to fill the water pots to the brim with water. After they had done this, they then took the pots of water turned into wine to the ruler of the feast who in turn called the bridegroom and said to him these words, “Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men hath well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now” (Verse 10). This is so right. The Lord has left the best for last.

Just before Our Lord Jesus breaks the clouds in returning for His people, the anointing and the power of God will be unleashed without measure. What we the church is experiencing presently is but foreshadow of that which is to come.

Just as the Old Testament foreshadow of the New Testament, the sacrificial lamb a foreshadow of the death of Jesus, so is the water turning into wine foreshadow of things which are to come in the last of the last days. Saint, God has kept the best wine for last. We are living on the threshold of the best and the greatest days of the church this world will ever see.

The scriptures have given us hints of events, which foreshadow the last of the last days. It is     my intention in this book to bring to your attention some of these things, which will be happening; hence I name this book “The Last of the Last Days Anointing and Power.”

Chapter 1

The Increase of the Anointing

In the book of Ezekiel chapter 47:1-12 we read of the increase of a river that proceeds from the House of God. What Ezekiel was seeing was a vision concerning the last of the last days and the awesome power of God that the church will be walking into.

Afterward He brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward; for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Then brought He me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side (Ezek. 47: 1-2 KJV).

The vision that Ezekiel saw of the house is no other than the throne of God. The waters represent the Holy Spirit or the anointing. Water in the bible is often used to represent the Holy Spirit and His anointing. The anointing is being released from the Lord into the church. This anointing has been on the increase, as we will see during the rest of the chapter.

Notice the man of God saw “waters and not water.” This means that there are different kinds of anointing in God. For example in the book of Romans 12:6-8 we read of several different gifts being given by God to the church. These are prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and showing mercy. In 1Corinthians 12:1-11 we read again about different kinds of gifts being given by the Holy Spirit. These are namely, gifts of administrations, wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, the working of miracles; “To another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues, and yet to another the interpretation of tongues. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He wills” (verse11). In the same chapter of 1Corinthians 12:28-30 we see the issuing of other gifts and callings. Some are called to be apostles, miracle workers, some with gifts of healing, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues. God has not given every man the same gift or calling. In the same way the waters that Ezekiel saw are speaking of the different anointings of God. In the last of the last days (which I strongly believe to be upon us) we shall see an increase of these gifts and anointings of God.

And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles (Ezek 47: 3).

In this verse of scripture we see the waters reaching only to the ankles. The church in the past has been walking in the anointing and the power of God in a small measure. I know that we have had the gifts and the miracles with us for some time now; but we have not yet fully come into the full dimension of God’s power that He wants for us at this time. This is what I call the overflow (as we will soon be seeing in this chapter).

Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins (Ezek 47: 4)

Again we see an increase of the anointing. First it started at the ankles, then it increased to the knees and then to the loins. The anointing of God over the years has been steadily increasing. Healings, miracles, casting out of demons and the gifts of the Holy Spirit have all been on the increase over the years. This is because the power and the presence of God have been increasing steadily in the church.

Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. (Ezek 47: 5)

As we are drawing closer to the return of Jesus Christ, our Bridegroom, we the church will experience the anointing and the power of God in a more powerful and profound way. The anointing of God has been increasing over the ages. First the waters were to the ankles, then the waters were to the knees, then the waters were to the loins, and now in verse 5 we see the waters being turned into a river, a river that could not be passed over. This is the overflow.

The anointing and the power of God will increase in the church in such awesome ways that the people of God will never be able to, as if, “walk” in the anointing any more. The river started from the ankles, then to the knees and then to the loins. These three places that are mentioned, ankles, knees and loins are all parts of the body, which are mainly responsible for walking. The church has been walking in the anointing for too long. The time to loose ourselves in the anointing is now. In loosing oneself, one has to die to self-first. It was Jesus who said these words: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ‘except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (Jn. 12: 24-25 JKV). If we really want the anointing and the power of God operating in our life we must be willing to die to self-daily.

Notice again in verse 5, it was a river that could not be passed over. In other words the waters had passed the head and covered the whole body. That one can lose oneself in a river. In these last of the last days God’s people will not be able to walk in the anointing anymore but they will lose themselves in it. A river will carry us away if we give the river a chance to do so. In these last of the last days, the anointing of God shall be so increased that we will not be able to walk in the anointing anymore but we will be carried along by it.

When we are at the place in God that He can release this level of anointing in and on us, we will begin to experience God in a greater measure. Breakthroughs will come to individuals in much greater proportion. Needs will be met more rapidly. The gifts of the Spirit will be poured out upon the church in a greater measure thus enabling the prophets to speak forth God’s word more accurately and more precisely; on the whole the power of God will be more dynamic in the lives of believers.

At this stage in the perfecting of the church, there will be no limits placed on the anointing. God will be awesome and mighty amongst His people.

And he said unto me, son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. Then said he unto me, these waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. (Ezek. 47: 6-8)

Many of God’s people today are going through desert experiences. Dryness is all around them. Nothing seems to be working for them. Others around them seem to be getting ahead in life, but not them. They try everything but nothing seems to be working for them. It is as if they can only stand on the sidelines and observe while others get on with their lives. Others are promoted on the job but not them; others are getting financial breakthroughs but not them; others are getting ahead with their marriage but not them; others are getting on socially but not they. They are in a desert place spiritually.

The waters or the anointing which run toward the east country shall also touch their dry ruined lives. That spiritual desert that they are going through will cease. They will know what it is to rejoice once more. That which the cankerworm, the caterpillar, the palmerworm and the locust have stolen away from them will be returned unto them seven fold. They will never know another dry period again as long as they live.

Verse 8 also spoke of the waters ending up into the sea: then said He unto me, “These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea.” The sea here is speaking about souls. Do you remember Jesus, while He was walking along the seashore He spotted three men who were to become His disciples, and this was what He said, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19, Mark 1: 17 KJV). Fishers of men? What Jesus was referring to were souls. The more the anointing increases, the greater will be the amount of souls added to the church. Because of this many lost souls will find their abode in the house of God.

Verse 8 ends by saying, “The waters that are brought forth into the sea; the waters shall be healed.” This can only mean that as the anointing is increased there shall also be an increase of the healing power of God.

How many weary souls out in the world today are suffering physically because of sin? How many weary souls out in the world today are suffering emotionally today because of sin? How many are broken hearted because of sin? How many souls out in the world today are suffering financially? Once these individuals allow the waters (or the anointing) into their lives, healing will follow immediately. This kind of healing will not be limited to physical healing, but the Lord will be healing in every area; spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially as well as socially, because the waters shall become the Lord is healing power.

And it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live… (Ezek 47: 9).

Do you have anything dead in your life that you would like the Lord to resurrect? A marriage on the down side maybe? Or is it that everything you touch in the area of finances seems to die? Or how is the relationship between you and that rebellious child? The more you pray about these things, the worse they seem to get. I have good news for you! God is about to resurrect every good thing you thought dead and new life will flow through them.

This river, which represents the anointing, is going to touch every dead situation in our lives. Watch out saint. The things we had given up on in the past are about to overtake us as blessings. Every dead situation in our lives is about to be resurrected. This is exciting stuff. When the Lord says everything, He means everything. Let’s continue with our text.

And there shall be a very great multitude of fish… (Ezek. 47: 9 cont.).

Again we see the Holy Spirit reminding us of this great evangelical move of His. Many, many, many, new converts shall be added to the church. The Lord shall so empower His people in the areas of witnessing and preaching that it will become so hard for the non-Christians to resist His anointing.

It shall indeed be a very great multitude of fish. Those empty seats in the churches will be filled. All of our church buildings will be filled to capacity.

Let us continue reading from the same verse, shall we?

Because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and everything shall live whither the river cometh (Ezek. 47: 9 cont.).

Once again we see the Spirit of God speaking to us about healing and dead situations coming to life. The tremendous healing power that will be released upon the body of Christ will come as a shock to many. Pastor Benny Hinn, a global evangelist and faith healer is yet to see this dimension of healing in his ministry. He says he envisions a day when everyone will be healed regardless of what their illness is. There will be a greater measure of healing in the body of Christ as the anointing increases. Healing in the mind. Healing in the emotions. Healing in the finances. Healing in our relationships. Healing in the Spirit. Healing! Healing! Healing!

And what of that resurrected power of the Spirit of God. “And everything shall live whither the river cometh.” Get ready for resurrection power. For too long the life of the people of God seems to only be wasting away. God’s promises are true. He says He exalt His word above His name. God cannot lie. Get ready for those dead situations to come back to life. It’s resurrection time.

And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Enge`di even unto Eneg`la-im… (Ezek. 47: 10).

Who are the fishers being mentioned here? These are the apostles, the prophets, the pastors, the evangelists, the deacons, the ushers in the church, the choir members, and the praise and worship leaders, the janitors and so on. All of God’s people will be fishers of men in these lasts of the last days. All of God’s people will be anointed to bring in this great harvest of souls.

They shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many (Ezek. 47: 10 cont.).

Schoolteachers in the schools will be used mightily in the area of evangelism. Doctors will be used mightily in the area of evangelism. Accountants will be used mightily in the area of evangelism. Bus drivers will be used mightily in the area of evangelism. No matter what socio economical background we come from or occupation, the Lord will use us.

Note the scripture, “Their fish shall be according to their kind.” Schoolteachers will be used in the classrooms to win souls. Doctors will be used in the hospitals to win souls. Accountants will be used in the offices to win souls. Bus drivers will be used on the buses to win souls. Why? Because their fish shall be according to their kind. There shall be exceeding many fishes indeed.

But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed. They shall be given to salt (Ezek. 47: 11).

The word miry means swamp, muddy, slimy, grimy, oozy, bemired and all the other creepy things we can associate dirt with. The verse says that these miry places shall not be healed, but they shall be given to salt. Salt acts as a preservative as well as for flavoring. This can only mean that though the healing power of God will be so evident in the body of Christ, God in His infinite wisdom will not be healing every one; though it is His will to do so; but He will be using that bad situation that you are going through to speak into the lives of others. Look at the book of Hebrews in the eleventh chapter and verses thirty five to thirty nine.

And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise (Heb. 11:35-39 KJV).

Friend, God has a way of using other person’s situation to speak to us. In this coming overflow of the Spirit of God, God will allow some to be miraculously healed, but there will be a few who the Master in His wisdom will allow to remain in their situation. God shall use these persons as preservatives and flavorings in a swamp, muddy, slimy, grimy, oozy and bemired world. For they shall be given to salt.

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine (Ezek. 47: 12)

I would like to draw your attention to two main words used in this verse. These are ‘trees and fruit’. Let us begin with trees. Do you know that God looks at us as not only people but as trees also? Do you remember Psalm one?

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of living water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Ps. 1:1-3 KJV)

Verse 3 says that the man who puts his trust in God “shall be likened unto a tree planted by the rivers of living water that bring forth his fruit in his season.” The question must be asked again. Do you know that God views us as trees also? Look at Jeremiah 17: 7-8.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jer. 17: 7-8 KJV)

The question must be asked again. Do you know that God sees us as trees also? Look at verse 2. This verse says that the man that trusts in the Lord shall be as a “tree planted by the waters…” Do you remember Jesus in the gospel while laying hands on a blind man? After praying for the man Jesus asked the man, “What do you see?” The man in replying answered Jesus in these words, “I see men as trees walking” (Mark 8: 24 KJV). How did Jesus react to that answer? Jesus did not rebuke the man. He did not even correct the man either. Jesus just merely gave the man a second touch and his eyes were completely healed. The reason Jesus did not react negatively to the man’s answer was that Jesus knew the man was seeing men the way the Lord sees men. As trees!

In Ezekiel 47:12 the Holy Spirit is here referring to people as trees. These trees, (or people who are Christians) because of the anointing upon their lives shall produce spiritual meat for the nations of the world. Meat and food in the scriptures refers to the word of God. For example: as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (1 Pet. 2: 2 KJV). I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able (1 Cor. 3:2 KJV). Paul is here speaking about the word of God as milk and meat. And again: for when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk (the word of God for immature or newborn Christians) and not of strong meat (the word of God for mature Christians). For every one that uses milk (the word of God for immature and newborn Christians) is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat (or the word of God for mature Christians) belongeth to them that are full of age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb. 5: 12-14 KJV).

In these last of the last days, as the anointing of God is being poured out upon His people, we shall become like meat (food) bearing trees for the nations of the world. But our food bearing shall not be in the form of physical food but in the form of spiritual food, which is the word of God.

Now, let us have a look at the other word ‘fruit’. Do you notice this word is also singular and not plural? What grow on trees? Fruit! This word fruit is mention three times in Ezekiel 47: 12. Now let us look at Galatians 5:22-23.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Gal. 5: 22-23 KJV)

Notice the same word fruit is used here and it is also singular. Now let us look at John 15:1-2.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15: 1-2 KJV)

Notice this word fruit is used three times in verse 2 of this scripture. This question must be asked again. Do you know that God looks at us as trees? The second question I must ask again, what grow on trees? Fruit are what grow on trees! Many persons think that John 15 is referring to souls but this is not the case. Souls do not grow on trees. John 15 is referring to the fruit of the Spirit.

Have you noticed that the same word fruit is used in Galatians 5:22 also. The Lord wants us as His people to bear the fruit of love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and temperance.

The same word ‘fruit’ is also used in Jeremiah 17:8 and also in Psalm 1: 3 (scriptures we have just recently used).           It is quite evident then that the Holy Spirit is relating the same word fruit in Ezekiel 47:12, Psalm 1:3, Jeremiah 17: 8 and St. John 15:1-2 to the same word used in the book of Galatians 5: 22 - 23.

The Lord is here saying that when the anointing and power of God falls upon us, we will not only become like trees feeding the nations of the world spiritually with the word of God, but we will also be bearing the personality and the character of the Holy Spirit, and thus showing the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and temperance.

Ezekiel 47: 12 ends by saying “And the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” As we function in the anointing and power of God we combine the meat, which is the word of God and the fruit, with all its nine components of the Spirit, and then we will be able to bring restoration and healing (or medicine) to the nations of the world. Note that the agape love “fruit” goes hand in hand with the “leaf” which is for the healing of the nations.

And He shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manners of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Rev. 22: 1- 2 KJV)

Chapter 2

The Return of the Church to the Acts of the Apostles

And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18 KJV).

This was the very first time Jesus ever used the word church in His ministry. In the gospels we see Him teaching His disciples how to love and to forgive others. We see Him teaching them how to pray. We see Him preparing and releasing them into ministry. But we had never seen Him speak openly to any of them of His intention to start the church. This may have come as a shock to His disciples. But notice He did not address them all. He spoke in the eleven disciples’ hearing, but he directly addressed only one person, Peter.

It is very significant to note that the name Peter means rock. There is always something about the Lord and names. From as far back as the Old Testament we see God’s interest in the names of people. Names depict and represent who persons are. The name Jacob for instance, means supplanter, schemer, trickster and swindler. If you should follow the life of Jacob in the scriptures you will see that he was all of these things. He was a supplanter. He was a trickster. He was a schemer. And he was a swindler. Just look at how he treated his brother Esau. He tricked and swindled him out of his birthright. These character traits did not change over the years: so in order for God to bless him, God had to change his name from Jacob to Israel, which means contender with God (“For you had contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:28 KJV).

God changed Abram’s name (which means high and exalted father) to Abraham (high, exalted father of many nations): and this was what Abraham became. He became the high and exalted father of many nations. His descendants were as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the seashore (Gen.22: 17).

Saul in the New Testament was changed to Paul. Whatever a person’s name means, that is the character, of that person.

The angel who appeared to Mary said these words, “And His name shall be called Jesus.” The name Jesus means Savior, Counselor, The Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Healer and Deliverer. Jesus possessed all these attributes and more.

The name Peter means rock. Now a rock is a firm piece of object or a boulder. You may say “Well, Peter denied the Lord three times.” Yes that is true: but if you follow the life of Peter very closely you will realize that Simon Peter was no coward. In John 18:10 we read.

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Mal’chus. (St. John 18: 10 KJV)

Weren’t there others in Jesus’ company? And yet only Peter drew his sword in order to defend his Master. Remember, Peter had no military training and most of those men who came to arrest Jesus were well trained and all had swords and maybe other weapons. Peter was outnumbered and knew he could be killed. Is this the act of a coward? I doubt it. Peter denied Jesus because he did not want to be put outside of the high priest palace. Peter wanted to be as close to Jesus as possible. If he had admitted that he knew Jesus, the chances are he would be put outside of the palace grounds. He was willing to tell that lie three times just to be as close to Jesus as possible. Peter was no coward. Peter was a rock. A very brave rock I can assure you too.

The second thing I would like to bring to your attention is that the name Rock is associated with Jesus also. God told Moses in the book of Numbers to speak to the Rock. Now take a look at 1Corinthians 10: 4 (KJV).

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that rock was Christ. (1 Cor. 10: 4 KJV)

That Rock was Christ Jesus! Look at Deuteronomy 32:4. (KJV).

He is the rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgments: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He (Deut. 32: 4 KJV)

Let us look at verse 15.

…Then he forsook God that made him and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation (Deut. 32: 15 KJV)

Who is the Rock of our salvation? Jesus! He is the Rock of our salvation.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgments: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He. (Deut. 32:4 KJV).

Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee (Deut. 32:18 KJV).

God said in the book of Geneses, “Let us make man.” To whom do you think he was talking? God was talking to Jesus. In the New Testament the people asked Jesus if He was older than Abraham was. This was Jesus’ reply, “Before Abraham was; I am.” Jesus existed before time.

For in Him we live and move and have our being… (Acts 17: 28 KJV).

Jesus is our Rock. “And upon this rock I will build my church.” Jesus was not building His church on Peter but He was building His church upon Himself. Jesus was referring to Himself as that Rock upon which His church would be built.

The church of Jesus Christ was started on the day of Pentecost. One of the sure sign of Jesus’ return to earth to take home His bride is the church of today returning to the place where it began.

The church in the Acts of the Apostles is what I would call, if not the perfect church, something close to perfect. Everything God intended the church to be was happening in the book of Acts. There were no divisions and separations in the early church. As a matter of fact the Christians were so united that they all had everything in common (Acts 4: 32). There was such a unity given by the Holy Spirit that when a particular couple (from within the church) told a lie about the sale of a piece of land that they own, the word of God said that they fell down dead almost immediately.

The church today is a far cry from the church in the Acts of the Apostles. There is so much selfishness, gossiping, backbiting, competition, sexual immorality and works of the flesh present in the church today. We must return to the same worshipful fear of God as was seen in the book of Acts.

The scriptures say that when the death of this couple was noised about that the fear of God came upon everyone. We today do not possess the worshipful fear of God as was evident in the Acts. If the word of God said Christians fell dead in the early church then so it will be in our day and age. This I must deal with in another chapter.

There were other activities that the Holy Spirit instituted in the early church, for example, the power of God was very evident in the areas of signs, wonders and miracles. These anointings were much evident in the lives of the apostles. We have already dealt with this to a fair degree in the previous chapter, but since it was evident in the early church, I will touch on it again: it was a move of the Holy Spirit in those days to bring as many persons as possible into the saving grace of Jesus Christ. When we look on the events that took place on the day of Pentecost, the very first day the church was started some three thousand souls were saved.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41 KJV).

For God to save three thousand souls on the first day really signifies His intentions. Look again at some other verses. Look at what took place after the day of Pentecost.

…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be save (Acts 2:47 KJV).

And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women (Acts 5:14 KJV).

In these last three verses of scriptures we see the numbers of saved souls being added to the church. Now take a look at Acts 6:7.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7 KJV).

In the first three scriptures (Acts 2: 41, Acts 2: 47 and Acts 5: 14) we see the number of new converts being added, but in the third scripture (Acts 6: 7) we see the numbers being multiplied. Ten plus ten will equal twenty, but ten multiply by the same ten gives you a total of one hundred. That’s a difference of eighty. What a large difference? This is saying that the numbers of new converts are on the increase. This is the same thing that will be happening in these last of the last days. We have certainly passed the days of souls being added to the kingdom: we are now in the time of souls being multiplied to the kingdom. The reason for this is that it is getting closer and closer to the return of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

Another point to be noted in the Acts of the Apostles is that God’s people were all walking in holiness. And why not? I mean, the fear of God was so evident upon the believers in those days.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God (He 12:14 KJV).

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7:1 KJV)

Anywhere in the world, we see a congregation practicing holiness, then know of a certainty our God will show up in His power and His might. Remember, without holiness no man shall see God.

Love was also very evident in the early church. It is this special ingredient call love amongst each other that also attract the awesome power of God in the church’s early history. It was love that caused Christ to leave His home in heaven and come to earth. It was love that caused Him to go to the cross and die a very painful death for us.

The brethren in the early church all practiced love in tangible ways. Pay close attention to this scripture.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need (Acts 2:44-45 KJV).

Just as in the days of the early church, so will it be in the days of the last of the last days. Everything has to return to the way that God intended it to be. The early church is intended to be a blueprint of the latter day church. Before Jesus returns the present day church has to return to that same blue print that the early church was made from. Everything will return to what it was in the beginning.

In some of the upcoming chapters, I will concentrate on some of these things mentioned here in chapter 2. These will be signs, wonders, miracles and the judgment of God.

Chapter 3

Signs, Wonders and Miracles

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit, and I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.              And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call (Joel 2:28-32 KJV.)

The prophet Joel spoke these words hundreds of years before the day of Pentecost.

During the era of the Old Testament, the Spirit of God would only come upon certain individuals. These were individuals who were walking in their God given office such as the prophets, the priests and the kings. Anyone the anointing oil was poured upon in these three areas the Spirit of God would immediately come upon that one. Take a look at David. While being just a young shepherd boy the prophet Samuel poured the anointing oil upon him and immediately the Spirit of God came upon him (1Sam.16: 13). David was being anointed to be king after Saul.

God said He would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. If God said all flesh then He means all flesh. He means sons, He means daughters, He means old men, and He means young men, He means servants and He means handmaids also. He means all flesh.

Beloved, we have had the release of the anointing of the apostles. We have had the release of the anointing of the prophets. We have had the release of the anointing of the evangelist. We have had the release of the anointing of the teachers: and we sure have had the release of the pastors, but we have not had the full release of the anointing for signs, wonders and miracles in our midst as yet. Yes, I know we have had a few here and there but we have not yet seen the raising of the dead and the healing of incurable diseases on a large scale. We are yet to see the body of Christ taking authority over hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters so that the groaning and travail of the earth will cease. In these last of the last days as it gets closer to the return of our Lord we will begin to see an increase of these things.

“And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth…” Everything that was done in the early church has to happen in the end time church. If the disciples were moving in signs, wonders and miracles back then, then we in the present day church must also be doing the same.

As it gets closer to the return of Jesus, the anointing of signs, wonders and miracles will increase. I strongly believe this was why Jesus said greater works shall we do. Remember, the waters in the book of Ezekiel 47: 1-12 is rising. The anointing and the power of God are still on the increase. Jesus will not be returning for a weak church but for a very powerful church, one that the gates of hell cannot prevail against.

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. (Joel 2: 30-31 KJV)

Take note of the word wonder. The word wonder has many meanings. It means amazement, astonishment, surprise, shock, amaze, wonderment, awe and incredulity. Notice that on the day of Pentecost we see something tremendous taking place.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.              And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4 KJV).

God said through the prophet Joel that He will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. Remember that this was prophesied hundreds of years before. Here in the New Testament we see something awesome taking place. What we see taking place in the Acts of the Apostles is not an everyday occurrence. I mean this was a wonder. This was what God almighty was talking about when He spoke through His servant Joel.

Wherever we see signs, wonders and miracles taking place in the bible we will always see the attraction or the coming together of a crowd (or many people). Whenever there is a miracle in the New Testament it is always noised abroad by those present.

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitudes came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.            And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? (Acts 2:6-12 KJV).

Do you know that the scripture say that tongues are a sign not to the believers but to the unbelievers? (1 Cor.14: 22 KJV.)

A wonder or a sign or a miracle will always pull a mass of people together, no matter from what background, nationality, or religious affiliation they belong. So the Holy Ghost used this phenomenal (extraordinary, spectacular, marvelous astonishing and amazing) sign in order to pull large crowds together.

Now look at what Peter had to say concerning this spectacular, extraordinary, marvelous, astonishing and amazing event that he was a part of.

But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said unto them…. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God; I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in the heavens above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood and fire and vapor of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and terrible day of the Lord come: and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:16-21 KJV.)

Are you seeing what I am seeing reader? Do we see the same exact word of scripture that Peter was quoting from found in the book of the prophet Joel 2:28-32? It is very evident then that the last days started on the day of Pentecost. Remember Peter while quoting Joel said this,

And it shall come to pass in the last days…. (Acts 2:17 KJV).

The last days had started back then over two thousand years ago. Today I have no doubt that we are living in the last of the last days. Remember the scriptures say that a thousand years is as one day with the Lord and one day is as a thousand years (2 Pet. 3: 8).

Notice these two words coming from Peter’s mouth in verse 19, wonders and signs. The church is living in the days of wonders and signs, but the closer we are getting to the return of Jesus our Bridegroom, these two anointings along with miracles will increase tremendously. beloved; get ready for an increase of the extraordinary, spectacular, marvelous, amazing and astonishing move of God.

Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, Peter while giving his speech said this of Him,

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know (Acts 2:22 KJV).

Jesus was well known for His signs, wonders and miracles that he would work regularly amongst the people. But today He is not physically with us anymore. But before he left us He said to His disciples and to us also, “Greater works than these shall you do, because I go to my father.” Greater works! “Do you mean that greater works that Jesus did shall we do? Yes! Jesus turned water into wine; you mean that we will do greater than this? Yes! Jesus fed five thousand men with five barley loaves and two small fishes, not counting women and children, are you saying that I will do greater works than this? Yes! Jesus raised the dead and are you saying that I will do greater works than this? Yes!”

Everywhere in the gospels we see Jesus accomplishing signs wonders, and miracles. In John 2: 1-10 we see Jesus turning water into wine. In Matthew 8: 2-3 we see Jesus healing the leper. In that same chapter verses 24-26 we see Jesus rebuke the storm and the sea, and the bible says that there was a great calm that even His disciples marveled. In Mark 3: 1-5 we see Jesus again healing a man with a withered hand. All through the scriptures we see Jesus healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead and doing all manner of signs, wonders and miracles that the apostle John could not help but say this concerning Him,

And there are also many other things, which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen (John 21:25 KJV).

Every sign, wonder and miracle Jesus did, seem to have a rippling effect on the masses. As a matter of fact, this was why they followed him everywhere He went. When He raised Lazarus from the dead it was noised about and all the people came to see Lazarus for themselves. Thousands of sick and demonic controlled persons would flock Him daily: so much so that He would hide from the crowd to go and pray. Jesus had signs, wonders and miracles following Him everywhere He went.

The leaders of the early church and the apostles were also walking in signs, wonders and miracles.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles (Acts 2:43 KJV).

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people…. (Acts 5:12 KJV).

Do you remember Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5: 1-10? If you do not remember the story let me refresh your memory. Both of them sold a piece of land and lied to Peter about the sale and after Peter confronted them they fell to the ground and died. Do you know that these deaths were as a result of the church walking in signs and wonders?

Read along with me.

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them (Acts 5:15 KJV).

You mean to tell me that God even heals through the shadow of a man? Yes! That is what the scripture say.

The servant of God Stephen had signs, wonders and miracles following him also.

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people (Acts6: 8 KJV).

The apostle Paul also was used in the area of signs, wonders and miracles.

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:11-12 KJV).

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who is also called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12 KJV).

When the church of Jesus Christ is walking in signs, wonders and miracles, believers will be able to speak forth, thus bringing changes and transformation. Paul spoke, and it was just as Paul said; immediately Barjesus, became blind. What awesome power! In these last of the last days God will demonstrate His power through us His people. Signs, wonders and miracles will be on the increase in these last of the last days.

Did not the word of God say that we must call those things that are not, as though they were into being? The result will be the manifestations of those very things.

Note also that as Barjesus became blind, immediately the deputy was convicted and was saved. Signs, wonders and miracles will always attract unbelievers to the things of God. It was so in the ministry of Jesus. It was so in the ministry of the apostles: and it will be so in the church in these last of the last days. Signs, wonders and miracles will be the driving factor that will bring the unbelievers to the feet of Jesus. Yes, we will still have teaching and preaching in the church but signs, wonders and miracles will still be playing a dominant roll. It is no wonder Jesus said these words:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name they shall cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.           So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen’ (Mark 16:17-20 KJV).

The casting out of demons will also be one of the dominant moves of God in these last of the last days. Casting out of demons was very evident in Jesus’ ministry. Almost daily we see Jesus in the gospels casting out demons. This was also very evident in the life of the early church. Did you know that casting out of demons is a type of signs, wonders and miracles also? Yes! This ministry will also reveal to the world that Jesus Christ is Lord. It is no wonder Jesus said that anywhere we go and see this ministry in operation know that the kingdom of God has come to that place.

The large quantity of non-Christians who will be coming into the kingdom will of necessity be needing deliverance from demonic clutches: in addition to this is the great amount of already saved persons who are still under the power of Satan’s oppression. Let us take another look at the book of Joel. I believe strongly that this scripture is speaking about not only deliverance from sin but also deliverance from demons.

In my own ministry, I have been used of God a great deal to minister deliverance to His people. Though I mainly do mass deliverances, I also minister to individuals also. I believe that the body of Christ needs to train more deliverance ministers. I have never cast out a demon from out of a non-Christian before. I really do not recommend any minister of God doing this as we will be doing more damage than good to the person. This is because after the deliverance session the demons will return in force into the body and Jesus said the last will be worse than the first for that individual. I strongly recommend that before beginning deliverance to first lead the person to Christ. Almost everyone I have ministered deliverance to spoke of a very great calm and tremendous peace after the session. This is because I usually pray immediately after for the Holy Spirit to fill every empty space in the person where the demons were occupying. The Holy Spirit will leave nothing to chance. If any evil spirits return so as to re-enter the Christian the Holy Spirit will drive them away.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call (Joel 2:32 KJV).

Look at what Peter said in the Acts of the Apostles.

And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21 KJV).

Before closing this chapter it is most fitting that I make mention of Joel 2:31 and Acts 2: 20.

…Before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come (Joel 2: 31 KJV).

…Before that great and notable day of the Lord come (Acts 2:20 KJV).

That day both men were talking about is the day when Jesus will part the skies to take His promised bride home; and we are living in these days.

For many years we have been hearing these words, “Jesus is coming soon,” but until our present day the Lord has not made His appearance. In the time of Paul this was one of the many questions being asked, “Why is not the Lord here as yet?”

The saints in those days were mainly concerned about their loved ones who had died. These brethren wanted to know, since the Lord had not yet made His appearance, then what would happen to their loved ones who had already passed on. These brethren in those days had no doubt that Jesus was coming back. They were merely concerned about their dead loved ones.

Paul in answering this question has had to go aside to seek the Lord so as to give the believers in those days an answer. After seeking the Lord and hearing from the Lord concerning this, this was the answer Paul gave to them, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (or dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep (or died) in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall ascend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1Thes. 4: 13-17 KJV).

Sudden Destruction

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape (1Thes. 5:2-3 KJV)

As a thief in the night means that, the day of the Lord will come upon many who are unaware and unprepared. We must live our lives in such a way that when the Lord comes, we will always be ready and prepared. No one knows the day or the hour when Jesus will return to take His people home. We must always be ready and prepared.

On the day of the Lord, sudden destruction will smite those who are left behind. Imagine an airplane carrying 300 passengers plus staff and flying in the air. All are non-Christians except the pilot. Suddenly the pilot is taken away and is gone to meet the Lord in the skies. What do you think will happen to the 300 plus passengers in that airplane? That plane will crash killing everyone on board and destroying everything and everyone in its path. Now imagine planes packed with passengers crashing all over the world. This will be catastrophic. Many deaths will occur as a result of the return of the Lord.

Let us look at a born again Christian who is driving his car when the Lord returns. That Christian disappears from around the steering wheel of the car and is gone to meet the Lord in the air. What do you think will happen to that man’s car? I am positive that car will not stop running by itself. That car will crash into another vehicle maybe killing the driver and any other occupant of that vehicle. Now imagine millions of drivers around the world disappearing from their cars in the same instance. Those cars will be crashing into other cars as well. I dare to say that many of these driverless cars may kill many pedestrians on the sidewalks. These are only two examples of what sudden destruction is.

Sudden destruction will be God’s way of judging sin in the world. Yes, we all know that God is a God of longsuffering. Yes, we all know that God is a God of love. The Lord has been warning this world for a very long time to repent and to turn to Him, and if the world refuses to, then there will be a time when He must judge sin. Can the people of this world say they have not been given every opportunity to repent of their sins? No! They cannot.

Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrow shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it (Isaiah 13: 6-9 KJV).

When the Lord returns for His people, this will be a time of fierce judgment upon sinners. There will be sudden mass deaths worldwide. Airplanes that are full of passengers may be crashing into populated and residential areas. Many driverless cars will be killing the unsuspecting. This will be much worse than terrorism. God’s judgment will be fierce.

Not all the remaining sinners will be destroyed. Many will be left to face the tribulation period and many will repent and turn to the Lord during this time.

If you are reading this book and have not yet given your life to the Lord, do it now. Why wait? Why not repent of your sins right now? If you want to repent of your sins now, then please pray this prayer with me. Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sins and set me free. Amen. If you had just prayed this prayer, then know of a surety that if Jesus should return for His people this very instance, your salvation is sure. You are no more a sinner but you are a born again child of God. You have now become elect of God.

To all the elect of God, I must say this: continue looking fervently unto the Lord. We are now living in the last of the last days. Our salvation is sure. I am reminded of the words of Paul the apostle. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of the darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and the helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (1 Thes. 5: 4-10 KJV).

For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry (Heb. 10:37 KJV).

Our Lord will come! (Maranatha!) (1 Cor. 16:22 Amp.).

Chapter 4

Judgment must begin in the house of GOD

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that hear these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, tell me weather ye sold the land for so much? And she said, yea for so much.            Then Peter said unto her, how is it ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them, which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. (Acts 5:1-10 KJV).

In the early church, there was no playing around with the Holy Ghost. As was mentioned in chapter two this couple sold a piece of property and lied about the amount that they gave to the church. They thought they were lying to the apostle Peter but in reality they were lying to the Holy Ghost.

Do you remember Paul who was persecuting the church? When the Lord confronted him, do you remember what Jesus said to him? “Paul, Paul, why persecutest thou me?” Jesus did not say why do you persecute my people: but why do you persecute me?

Whenever the power of God is evident two things must be observed. The first thing is that we must be very careful not to offend the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person and not a thing. Could this incident in Acts 5: 1-11 be what Jesus meant when He warned us against blaspheming against the Holy Ghost? (Mark 3:29).

Beloved of God, we must be very careful that when the Spirit of God is moving in our midst, we do not do anything to offend Him. This can easily work against us in more ways than one. In some cases persons may die as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira. In other cases others may get sick and are unable to function properly, while others may have to put up with a series of failures and setbacks for quite a while. Just look what happened to Bar-je’sus. In Acts 13:6-11 this man tried to withstand Paul and Barnabas from leading someone to the Lord and immediately he was struck with blindness. He was “kicking against the pricks”!

The second thing I would like to make clear is that God hates sin. Sin separates us from God. David said, “If I have sin in my heart the Lord will not hear me.” Sin separates us from God. It is no wonder that after Jesus took on our sins on the cross He cried out with a loud voice, “E-lo’i, E-lo’i, la’ma sabach’thani,” which is being interpreted, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34 KJV.)

The temptation to sin will always present itself, but we need to remember the words of Jesus, which says, “Watch ye and pray that you enter not into temptation” (Mark 14:38 KJV.).  Prayer will always be a deterrent and a restraining factor in the constant fight against sin. Also Psalm 119: 11 “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Once we maintain a steady prayer life as well as live daily by the word of God we can always be assured that we will always be at least one step ahead of sin. If we become slack in our prayer life and the study of the word then the tendency to give in to temptation will always be present with us. We need to be living a prayerful life and one based on the word of God. In so doing we will always be victorious over temptations to sin.

The power of God was so evident in the episode with Ananias and Sapphira that when this couple sinned they fell dead. I have news for us today. The same thing is going to happen in our day and time as we saw happen in Acts 5:1-10.

Remember, just before Jesus returns the body of Christ will operate in a similar level of anointing as the early church did. If Christians were falling dead because of sin in those days, then this will also happen in these last of the last days. Please take careful note that this couple that died was not outside of the church. They were Christians. They were a part of the church.

I am reminded now of a dream that an evangelist shared some time ago. This evangelist dreamt that she was inside of a church service. Everyone there was worshiping God in the service. To her surprise she saw people falling dead on the floor. This was going on during the time of praise and worship. It all started from the platform and began moving row by row straight to the back. Not everyone were dying, only some in the church. She noted that those who were dying were all Christians. As I listened very attentively the Spirit of God began to speak to me. The Lord told me that the evangelist has had a prophetic dream. The Lord also confirmed to me that this is what will be happening in these last of the last days just before the return of Jesus. Just as the couple in the Acts of the Apostles fell dead because of sin in their lives, so will it be in the last of the last days.

Christians in the church who are playing around and flirting with sin are going to be struck dead by the Holy Ghost. We all know that God is a merciful God, but there comes a time when God will have to judge sin. By this I am not speaking about one little sin that we do. No! I am speaking about a person who is continually sinning against God. The scripture say that if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 KJV). I am speaking about those Christians who continually live in sin and who will not take heed to the prodding and leading of the Holy Spirit to repent.

Sometimes we desire to see God judge wickedness amongst the sinners, but He will do no such thing unless He first judges His people.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God… (1Pet. 4:17 KJV.)

You may be saying, “Oh this is not fair;” but this is how God operates. Before the Lord will judge the sinners for their wickedness He will first judge His people for their wickedness. You may also be saying, “How can there be wickedness in the church?” Look at these two scriptures.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chron.7: 14 KJV.)

Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men; they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men (Jer. 5:25-26 KJV.)

A lot of sin and wickedness is amongst God’s people today; just as it was in the Old Testament, so it is today. Yes, God will judge the sinners but He will first judge His people. God is a holy God and He wants His people to live holy lives. “Be ye holy even as I am holy,” He says in His word.

Before Jesus returns for His people, he will first judge His people’s wicked ways. Just as it was in the days of the Acts of the Apostles so will it be in these last of the last days.

Do you remember how God dealt with His people in the wilderness? When they worshiped the golden calf, that day three thousand of the people were slain (Exo. 32:28). Also it is reported that the Lord plagued the people because of the golden calf which they made (Exo. 32:35).

Do you remember the two sons of Aaron the High Priest? They were priests and should have known better. They offered strange fire to God. It is reported that the fire of God came and devoured them (Exo. 10:1-2).

Not all the people could enter the promise land because they disobeyed God and did not enter in and take the land, so God caused everyone whom left Egypt to die in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb (Num. 14:23, 28, 29 ,32).

And what of Korah, Dathan and Abiram when they murmured against Moses? It is reported that God caused the earth to open and swallowed them up (Num.16: 31-33). There are so many examples of the judgment of God recorded in the scriptures.

You may be thinking just now, “But aren’t we living under a new covenant?” And I will answer “Yes we are, but still God will judge sin.”

The Fear of the Lord

And fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things (Acts 5:11 KJV).

Not only was the power of God present in the early church, but also the fear of God. This kind of fear was not a demonic or a fleshly fear, but this was the reverent and worshipful fear of God. The amplified version of the bible says that great awe and strange terror and dread seized them, (and the whole church and all the others who heard of all these things were appalled [great awe and strange terror and dread seized them] (Acts 5: 11 Amp).

This was the same kind of fear that the prophet Isaiah experienced when he saw the Lord sitting upon His throne in Isaiah 6. This was the same kind of fear the people had for God when the prophet Samuel called upon the Lord for thunder and rain (1Sam. 12:18). This was the same kind of fear the people also had for God when Moses went up on the mount to meet with God and received the commandments. The scriptures say that the people trembled (Exod. 19:16). It was this same reverential and worshipful fear of God that caused Moses to quake exceedingly while up on the mountain (Heb.12: 21).

Just as it was then in the early church, so will it be before the return of the Lord. God will return His reverential fear among His people. We need to possess the fear of the Lord in such a measure that we will witness the glory of God in our midst on a regular basis. The word of God says that the brethren in the church of the Acts of the Apostles continually walked in the fear of God. The fear of God brings about great boldness in God’s people.

The present church of Jesus Christ needs to grow more and more in the fear of the Lord. If we are going to take this gospel forward into the entire world then we need to have the reverential and worshipful fear of God in our hearts and not the fear of man. If we have the fear of the Lord within us then there can be no place for the fear of man.

No matter what men did to the apostles in those days they could not get them to stop preaching in the name of the Lord. It was Peter and John who said, “We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 4:19 KJV). It was Paul who said in 2 Corinthians 5:11 “That therefore knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men.”

Chapter 5

The wealth of the wicked

Some time ago, while at home minding my own business, the Lord began to talk to me about finances. He placed in my mind a sentence; “The wealth of the wicked shall be placed into the hands of the righteous.” The Lord drew my attention to the word wicked which was underlined and boldly written in comparison to the rest of the sentence. When I saw this I realized that the word wicked was really what the Lord wanted to draw my attention to. The Lord was putting emphasis on the word wicked more than all the other words in the sentence.

He continued speaking to me. This was what He said to me, “Do you know that when the great outpourings of finances in the church begin it will be ‘wicked money’ I will be putting into the hands of my people?” This struck me like a ton of bricks. He continued speaking. “Money that has been used for evil, even the worst possible evil, I shall put into the hands of my people.”

Over a period of time, I continued seeking the Lord concerning this as He continued to reveal to me more and more. The Lord told me that this great financial outpouring of the wealth of the wicked would be one of the last days outpouring of the Spirit. Through my personal walk with the Lord and my knowledge of the scriptures I began to understand more and more of what the Lord meant when He said that the wealth of the wicked would be placed into the hands of the righteous.

Let us start from the first day of tithing in the Bible. Do you know that it was blood money that Abraham gave his first tithe with? If you should look at Genesis chapter 14 you will note that a lot of blood was shed in this chapter.

The Scripture said that there was war being fought among nine different kings. Lot, Abraham’s nephew and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were taken captive. When news of this reached Abraham, he decided to go and free his nephew and all the people who were taken captive. Abraham pursued the enemy and rescued Lot and the people who were with him and took away all the goods from the enemy. Let us pick up the scene from verse 17.

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale (Gen. 14: 17 KJV).

The scripture here said that Abram was returning from the slaughter of the kings. Do you know what the word slaughter means? It has a number of meanings. It means killing, bloodshed, butchery, carnage, massacre, murder, and genocide, to slay and to annihilate. This was what Abram and his warriors were returning from. They slaughtered the kings and took back all the goods. The kings were shedding blood and now Abram joined in and shed blood also. You may say that all that goods were blood goods and rightly so, it was taken through a lot of blood shedding and it was retrieved through a lot of blood shedding also.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the Most High God (Gen. 14: 18 KJV).

Please note the position this man Melchizedek held. He was the priest of the Most High God. Put this in lay term, he was God’s representative.

And he blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the Most High God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (Gen. 14: 19-20 KJV).

Let me ask the question: if this was blood property then why did Melchizedek the man of God accept the goods at Abram’s hand? Why did he not refuse it?

Many of God’s people today believe that money coming from certain sources into the hands of the believers is cursed. By certain sources I mean the witch doctors, the pimps, the drug dealers, the extortionists, the gamblers, the murderers and so on.

Do you know that this is God’s money and not the devil’s? Over the years the devil has stolen God’s money and has been using it in the wrong way. The money that the witch doctor collected after destroying lives was being used in the wrong way. The money that the pimp collected was being used in the wrong way. The money that the drug dealer collected from addicted persons was being used in the wrong way. The money that the extortionists collected was being used in the wrong way. The money that the murderers collected was being used in the wrong way. All of these people make a living by destroying lives. Listen to this. All of the money that the devil gives them for destroying others’ lives belongs to God.

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of host (Hag. 2: 8 KJV).

The word of God says, “The earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof.” The money that the witchdoctors, the pimps, the extortionists, the drug dealers and the murderers have belongs to God. It does not belong to the devil. The devil stole it from God. All of the money belongs to God.

The money that these wicked men have is being used in the wrong way. It is being used to glorify Satan. Because they get their money through wicked means, therefore all the money that they have has become ‘wicked money’. Some men kill for money. Some men gamble for money thus winning sometimes-large sums of cash. Some men lie for money. Some men destroy homes for money.

No matter what kind of wicked means used to obtain money, that money still belongs to the Lord. It is God’s intention to transfer all of this money into the church where it belongs, but this will only happen in the last of the last days. Look very closely at these words. “The wealth of the wicked shall be placed into the hands of the righteous.”

In these last of the last days just before Jesus returns we will see a great transfer of wealth into the body of Christ. God wants this wealth to be used to build His kingdom. The money that the devil has been stealing from God has to be returned to God.

God cannot spend all that money so what He does is put it into the hands of the saints who are the righteous. The saints (whom are the righteous) must take that money and use it to build God’s kingdom.

Beloved of the Most High God, our wealth is in the hands of the wicked men. These wicked men possess tremendous wealth, though they get it by wicked means.

As it draws closer and closer to the return of Jesus, we are going to see a great transfer of wealth into the church. The witchdoctors are going to come and hand over their money to us the righteous. The drug dealers are going to come and hand over their money to us the righteous. The pimps are going to come and hand over their money to us the righteous. The extortionists are going to come and hand over their money to us the righteous, because the wealth of the wicked shall be converted into the hands of the righteous. It does not matter what wicked act the money was used for: God says that money will be put into the hands of the righteous. Even money that had originally been dedicated or sacrificed to the devil. God says that money shall be turned over into the hands of the righteous.

In these last of the last days before Jesus returns we are going to see this great transfer of wealth into the body of Christ. And you know something saint, it will be no secret where the money will be coming from and what evil it has been used to do. The money will be used to build God’s kingdom. Our money is in the hands of the sinners; but in God’s time it will be put into the hands of His people.

And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things, as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians (Exod.12: 35-36 KJV).

Do you know that the Egyptians worshiped the serpent as their god? Do you know who represent the serpent? Take a look at Genesis. You will see that it was through a serpent that Satan beguiled Eve. So then, it means that if the Egyptians were worshipping the serpent, then they could only be worshipping the devil.

Before the Israelites, left Egypt the word of God said that they took from the Egyptians jewels of gold, and jewels of silver and raiment. These were wicked people that God’s people were taking money from. In truth these people were Satan worshippers. But all this did not deter the children of Israel from obeying the voice of the Lord God. They took from the Egyptians gold, silver and raiment. These gold, silver and raiment may have cost in the billions of dollars. The word of God says that the children of Israel spoiled the Egyptians. In other word they took their wealth from them. The Israelites left the land of Egypt as multi-billionaires.

In these last of the last days the sinners are going to come to us and in some cases literally beg us the righteous to take of their wealth. Beloved of God, I am talking about billions upon billions upon billions of dollars. If anyone has a problem receiving this money then I strongly advise that one to sanctify the money after taking it.

… and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just (Pro. 13:22 KJV).

Over a period of time I began to understand what the Lord meant when He spoke of wicked money being placed into the hands of the righteous.

I am reminded right now about a vision a pastor saw while praying. The pastor said he saw in the vision a very large amount of dollar bills, as far as the eye could see. These dollar bills were all standing at attention as if in an army. But he noticed that all of the dollar bills had bloodstains all over them. To his amazement the dollar bills while standing at attention began to pray this prayer, “Lord, we have been into the hands of the wicked for too long and we are being used for the wrong reasons. Now please Lord, put us into the hands of the righteous where we belong.”

There are billions upon billions of dollars that are right now into the hands of the wicked. This money belongs to the people of God. It belongs to us. In these last of the last days the Spirit of God shall so move upon the sinners that these wicked men are going to come and just place all of their wealth into our hands. Church, when this begins to happen do not refuse to take it from them. I do not care what evil these people have done to earn this money. I do not care how many deaths this money had caused. I do not care if this money was placed on a stone altar and a human being sacrificed on top of it to Satan. This money still and will always belong to God. I am telling you in the name of Jesus take the money and use it to build the kingdom of God.

Tyre’s Wealth

And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.            And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. (Isaiah 23:17-18 KJV)

Tyre was a city that was well known for its sinful ways. This city had committed all manners of sexual sins in exchange for money. The Lord hates sin, as we all know. In the second verse the word merchandise means stocks, goods, wares and commodities. These stocks, goods, wares and commodities at some time or another will be converted into cash. These all represent money or wealth. The word hire means salary, bribe, employ, pay, wages and stipend. The people of Tyre would give their bodies sexually in exchange for merchandise, (stocks, goods, wares and commodities) and for hire (salary, bribe, employ, pay, wages and stipend). In truth this is prostituting and harlotry of one’s body. The money and the wealth this nation accumulated by prostituting their bodies, the Lord has placed into the hands of His people.

Once this money or wealth is put into the hands of the righteous (God’s people), it becomes holy unto the Lord. The verse ends by saying, for her merchandise and her hire shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. This merchandise or money, or wealth will be turned over to them who dwell before the Lord. Who are these who dwell before the Lord? These are the apostles, the prophets, the pastors, the teachers, the evangelists and all the other ministers of God. These ministers of God shall receive this wealth and use it to purchase food for themselves to eat and durable clothing to wear.

God is not a stingy God. The Lord wants His servants while doing His work to eat sufficiently and to own proper clothing. If the ministers of God should all become thin for lack of food then it will be very shameful on the Lord’s part. If the Lord should ever have His ministers standing in public and preaching His word in tattered and worn out clothes, then this will only amount to shame and disgrace on His part.

This money was gotten by ill-gotten gain. This was money which was obtained by sinful means (prostitution), but instead of the money going to waste, the Lord says His servants must receive this wealth and use it to take care of themselves. In the Amplified version it reads like this, “And after the end of seventy years the Lord will remember Tyre; and she will return to her hire and will play the harlot [resume her commerce] with all the kingdom of the world on the face of the earth. But her gain and her hire [the profit of Tyre’s new prosperity] will be dedicated to the Lord [eventually]; it will not be treasured or stored up, for her gain will be used for those who dwell in the presence of the Lord [the ministers], that they may eat sufficiently and have durable clothing [suitable for those who minister at God’s altar]” (Isaiah 23: 17-18 Amp.).

“And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up.” This is because Tyre’s wealth was not meant to be laid up for this end time move of God. Tyre’s wealth was meant for a different move of God and at a different time.

This prophecy was literally fulfilled in the following centuries. Tyre was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 572 B.C. and lay desolate for seventy years. The new city built on the island was taken by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. Eventually the true religion prevailed at Tyre. Jesus visited there in Mathew 15:21(And going away from there, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon (Amp.)) and so did Paul in Acts 21:3-6 (“After we had sighted Cyprus, leaving it on our left we sailed on to Syria and put in at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload their cargo. And having looked up the disciples there, we remained with them for seven days. Prompted by the [Holy] Spirit, they kept telling Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem. But when our time there was ended, we left and proceeded on our journey: and all of them with their wives and children accompanied us on our way till we were outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed. Then when we told one another farewell, we went on board the ship, and they returned to their homes” (Amp.)).

Eusebius (an early church historian writing in the fourth century) says, “When the church of God was founded in Tyre, much of its wealth was consecrated to God and was presented for the support of the ministry.” Jerome, also writing in the fourth century A.D. says, “The wealth of the churches of Tyre was not treasured up or hidden but was given to those who dwell before the Lord.”

Tyre’s great wealth was not meant to be stored up, nor hidden for this end time move of God. No! It was meant to be used by God’s people after seventy years of God’s judgment upon its inhabitants. And so it did.

God will use any money whatsoever to get His will to be done. This was money that was paid over to prostitutes in exchange for sexual favors. This same money the Lord took and used to feed and to clothe His servants.

It does not matter where the money is coming from. God will use any money for His own purpose. The earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof. The money does not belong to the devil; it belongs to God.

Sanctify the money

Saint, what I am trying to say is this, instead of refusing to take any money because you may believe that you will be ‘cursed’, you can sanctify it before using it to the glory of God. The word of God says “for every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified with the word of God and prayer.” (1 Tim. 4:4-5 KJV). The same way we receive our food that we eat by first giving thanks and sanctifying it, so can we sanctify any so called ‘curse’ money before using it. Beloved of God, receive the money these wicked people will be putting into your hands, then sanctify it and use it for the glory of God.

Personally, I do not believe in any money being cursed, but if your faith is weak, then I strongly suggest that you pray and sanctify any and every money that may be coming from ill-gotten gain.

Job while speaking to his three friends who came to comfort him in his miseries (and who evidently were not doing a good job of it) said these words concerning the wicked,

Though he (the wicked man) heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; he may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver (Job 27:16-17 KJV)

Chapter 6

The Increase of Angelic Appearances

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitudes of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him (Luke 1: 5-12 KJV).

And the angel said unto him, I am Gabriel that stands in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee and to shew thee these glad tidings (Luke 1: 19 KJV).

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary (Luke 1: 26-27 KJV).

In these last of the last days God shall release a great number of angels to aid us the saints in our walk with Him. All through the scriptures we see the activities of angelic beings.

In these last of the last days angels will be commissioned by the Lord to bring His messages to His chosen vessels. In the Old Testament we see angels making appearances to the saints. Again we see this same thing taking place in the New Testament to both Zacharias and Mary. In both instances the same angel, Gabriel by name, appeared to them both. To both of them he gave instructions.

We the people of God are about to witness an increase in the appearance of angelic beings. I am not saying the same angel Gabriel will appear to every one: but what I am saying is that the Lord is about to commission an increased amount of angels to visit his chosen ones.

I strongly believe that since we are living in the days of increased angelic visitations, many of us will be seeing angels, some frequently and some not so frequently. We will see angels in our praise and worship time with the Lord. We will see angels in our healing ministry. We will see angels in our deliverance sessions. We will see angels in our church services.

One of the things I also strongly believe is that God will be sending angels to guide us and to give us directions.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 1: 20 KJV).

Here we see one of many places in the scriptures where the angel of the Lord guided someone. So many of God’s people are praying for guidance. Do not be surprised if an angel should appear to you and tell you which direction you should go.

In the book of Daniel the angel Gabriel appeared unto Daniel and gave him the interpretation of the vision (Dan. 9: 21-27 KJV). How many of us today have visions we can’t seem to interpret. We know the vision is of God but we just cannot seem to understand what it means. Angels will be released on assignment to give us such interpretations.

And there appeared an angel unto Him (Jesus) from heaven, strengthening Him (St. Luke 22: 43 KJV)

Angels in these last of the last days will be used to provide comfort and strength to the people of God. How many times we have become weary, especially during or after an immediate battle? The Lord in these last of the last days will be causing His angels to give us physical comfort and strength.

I am reminded right now of Jesus when the Spirit led Him into the wilderness. Three times the devil tempted the Master and each time He refuse to give in to him. The word of God said that Jesus was hungry! He was in the thick of a spiritual battle. But after the battle the word of God said angels came and ministered unto Him.

Then the devil leaveth Him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him (Matt. 4: 11 KJV)

How many of us are in the middle of a battle and need the Lord’s angels to minister unto us? How many of us today are growing weary and need the Lord’s angels to strengthen, to comfort and to minister to us? Just as they ministered to the Master when He needed it, so will our Heavenly Father cause His holy angels to appear and to minister to us.

The appearance of angels will be on the increase as it draws closer to the return of Jesus.

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star (Rev. 22: 16 KJV)

The Protection of Angels

And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria…. (2Chron. 32: 21 KJV)

Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses (Isaiah 37: 36 KJV)

God’s people were being threatened with annihilation. They cried out unto the Lord and the Lord sent His angel to rescue them. It took only one angel to wipe out the entire Syrian army, and this angel did it in only one night.

How many Christian’s lives is being threatened one way or another? How many Christians need the protecting hand of the Lord from their enemies? Angels will be assigned from the Lord to deliver you.

The closer it gets to the return of the Lord the more the Lord will discharge angels on assignment.

In the Acts of the Apostles we read of an incident involving Peter. Peter was thrown into prison because of preaching Christ. King Herod wanted to kill Peter so as to please the Jews. But during the night the angel of the Lord came and supernaturally rescued him (Acts 12: 1-11). In Acts chapter 5 a similar thing happened. The high priest rose up and placed all the apostles in prison, but during the night the angel of the Lord came and opened the prison door and set them free (Acts 5: 17-19).

The last of the last days are upon us, the Lord has revealed to me that the visitations of angels will be on the increase. Get ready for an increase of angels. Angels will also play a very important role in ushering in the great harvest of souls.

Angels and Salvation

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called an Italian band, a devout man and one that feared God with his entire house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked at him he was afraid, and said, what is it Lord? And he said unto him, thy prayers and thine alms are come up as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner whose house is by the seaside: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do (Acts 10: 1-6 KJV)

In these last of the last days God will be releasing angelic beings to assist the saints in bringing in the great harvest of souls. Please do not be surprised if someone turns up and say to you that an angel told him or her to come to you so that you can lead them into salvation. Do not be surprised also if an angel appears to you and directs you to go to someone so as to lead them to the Lord.

Visitations from angelic beings are now on the increase. God has released them to help us His saints on the battlefield and also in our daily walk with Him. Beloved of God, pray daily for angelic intervention in our lives. Remember what the writer of the book of Hebrews said?

Are they not all-ministering spirits, sent forth to    minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Heb. 1: 14 KJV)

Get ready for an increase in the activities of angels. Get ready to see angels and get ready to talk with angels. There is no doubt in my mind that persons are seeing these wonderful beings all over the world. Beloved, I say it again; get ready for an increase in angelic activities.

Angels and the word of God

Bless the Lord, ye His angels that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word (Psalm 103: 20 KJV).

Angels hearken to the word of God. As we pray the scriptures, angels hear us and will come to our assistance. We must always remember to pray using verses from the bible. Remember God says that He has placed His word above His name. God is jealous over His word. He constantly watches over His word to perform it. Pray scriptures regularly. Locate and pray scriptures, which are related to the situation that you are going through. The Lord will immediately commission angels to work on your behalf.

Chapter 7

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I

will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh and your sons

and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young

men shall see visions and your old men shall dream

dreams (Acts 2:17 KJV)

There are some visions that we will receive that are straight forward. These visions do not need an interpretation. Other visions we may receive may need an interpretation.

A vision will only come while a person is awake. If a person receives something while that person is asleep then it is not a vision but a dream. A dream comes while a person is sleeping; hence there is a distinction between visions and dreams.

In the scripture: “Your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams,” I strongly believe the term young men mean those who are young in the things of God and not necessarily young as in ‘birth’ age. The same thing goes for old men. These old men who shall dream dreams are men who are advance in the things of the Lord. If the Holy Spirit is here speaking about physical age, then the question must be asked, why is God speaking to children and young people in dreams: and why are big grown men still having visions from God? The answer can only be that God is referring to our spiritual age and not our physical age.

Do you remember Joseph? Joseph was only a boy of about fourteen years of age when the Lord spoke to him in a dream. If the Lord only gives dreams to old men then we can rule out the fact that it was God who spoke to Joseph in that dream.

In these last of the last days God says He is pouring out of His Spirit on all flesh. Saint of the Most High God, we do not need to be a prophet to get a vision from God. The Lord says that He will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. This means everyone can see visions. This means the young as well as the old. Upon all flesh!

And the Lord answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Hab. 2: 2-3 KJV)

Some visions will happen quickly, while others may take a while to be fulfilled. For those visions which take a long time to come to pass, we must wait prayerfully. Our God is a God of time. Trust the Lord to fulfill His purpose in our lives and in His own time. We must remember that though the vision tarry, it will come to pass.

Do you want to be able to see visions? Then you need to have a good prayer life going. You must learn to spend quality time in the presence of the Lord. Prayer will open the channel by which the Lord can speak to you as well as speak through you.

A vision can be for rebuke, as well as for correction. A vision can also give information pertaining to the future as well as something that happened in the past. The Lord may guide a person through a vision. We must always remember that a vision must never be taken lightly. If we do not understand a vision that we receive, then we should pray for the interpretation, and if we do not get the interpretation then we must seek council from a mature Christian.

There are many visionaries in the body of Christ today, but a small amount of interpreters. We must pray that the Lord raise persons up who can interpret visions so that we will have a balance in the body of Christ.

Be careful whom we tell our visions

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them saying, tell the vision to no man… (Matt. 17: 1-3, 9 KJV)

We must always be careful to whom we tell our vision. There are people who will try to kill your vision. Jesus knew this, and so He told His disciples to tell no man what they had seen. Some persons become jealous and envious of us and instead of them trying to help us to bring our vision to pass; they become the agents of Satan by trying to kill our vision.

Open Visions

And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision (1Sam.3: 1 KJV)

A vision may also be called an open vision. In these last of the last days the Holy Spirit has spoken to me that He will be giving the people of God a lot of open visions. An open vision will only take place while a person is awake. Some persons call an open vision a trance, which is not wrong. Peter while in a trance had an open vision (…Peter went up on the house top to pray about the sixth hour: and he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fouls of the air. And there came a voice to him, rise, Peter; kill and eat. But Peter said not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him the second time, what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven (Acts 10: 9-16 KJV.)). Saint; get ready for an increase in open visions.

Dreams

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, hear I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For behold we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, shalt thou indeed reign over us? Or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, behold I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.   And he told it to his father and his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, what is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying (Gen. 37: 5-11 KJV)

In these last of the last days the Lord is going to pour out His Spirit in such a way that many of his people will be dreaming dreams. Saint of the Most High God, get ready for an increase of dreams.

Just like a vision, a dream may be straight forward, (which does not need an interpretation) or it might be one of those dreams, which may need an interpretation. If it is a dream that needs an interpretation, then seek the Lord and allow Him to give you the right interpretation.

Joseph had dreams, which involved his brothers and his parents. The first thing I would like to point out to you is that just as I said concerning visions so I will now say concerning dreams. Be very careful whom you tell your dreams to. Joseph, young and full of pride, told the dreams to his brothers and to his parents. Immediately his brothers became envious. It was this envy which led them to try to kill the young boy, thus they thought of putting an end to his dreams once and for all.

The devil will set up even those closest to you to kill your dream.

The other thing to be noted is that even though Joseph did not reveal the interpretation of the dream, yet his brothers, though against him, knew the interpretation; (“Shalt thou indeed reign over us? Or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?”) Sometimes God will allow our enemies to get a little peek into the future concerning us and the Lord will allow them to see the blessings, which will be conferred upon us. This is because God wants to be exalted.

Joseph’s brothers played right into the hands of God. They sold their brother into slavery. It was this same slavery which took him into Egypt, and it was here in Egypt that God used him most. The devil thought of killing a dream but he helped the dream to come to pass.

A dream can be prophetic. This means the dream will not be fulfilled immediately but will take a while before it is fulfilled. Just like visions, some dreams will take a long time before it is fulfilled. Joseph dreams were prophetic dreams. These dreams were not fulfilled until twenty-two years after.

Now Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was who sold to all the people of the land; and Joseph’s [half] brothers came and bowed themselves down before him with their faces to the ground. (Gen. 42: 6 AMP.)

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present, which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth (Gen. 43: 26 KJV)

And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground (Gen. 44: 14 KJV)

Then his brothers went and fell down before him, saying, See, we are your servants (your slaves)! (Gen. 50: 18 AMP)

In these verses of scripture we see Joseph’s prophetic dream being fulfilled not once but four times.

Many times, a person whom a prophetic dream (just like a prophetic vision), comes to may have to go through a lot of tests, trials or tribulations before his or her prophetic dream can be fulfilled. Joseph was such an example. Just look at the things he had to go through. First he was sold into slavery, and for years he served Potiphar as his servant.

His father Jacob owned lands and many cattle and here he is, in another man’s house serving as a slave. God was using this experience to crush any remaining pride in the young man. The Lord knew that the time would come when He would promote Joseph into ruler ship and would not let man get the glory. God wanted the glory for Himself.

Secondly, Potiphar’s wife who wanted to take her lustful sensual nature out on him lied against him. How emotionally painful it must have been for the young man to go through this. He had served Potiphar faithfully for almost three years and this was how he was being repaid. He had not forgotten the wicked deed his brothers had done him; and now this devilish lie told on him. How he must have felt the urgent need never to forgive and never to trust anyone again.

And thirdly, because he did not give in to this sin with Mrs. Potiphar he was thrown into prison. Did you know that Joseph spent ten years in prison for a crime he did not commit? How the young man must have felt the ache in his soul while doing his time behind bars. Many times he had felt forgotten by society and by everyone; after all, he was in a strange land: no family member to turn to and maybe no friends. He was far away from home.  But through all of these things the word of the Lord was fulfilled. Just look at what David said about this man Joseph.

He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid with iron: until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him (Psalm 105: 17-19 KJV)

The word of the Lord tried him! How many of us today are waiting for our prophetic dream to be fulfilled and while we are waiting we are being tested severely? Just like Joseph we are being tested. The word of the Lord is trying us. During this time of trial the Lord is preparing us for His prophetic word to come to pass. During this time of testing we must learn to surrender our all to Him. It is during this time of testing that the Lord will remove any impurities from us and will cause us to enter into His fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faithfulness, and temperance. The Lord may also be removing pride from us and placing some humility into us. During this time of cleansing we must learn to work with the Lord.

This is usually a very lonely and unsure time for most of us. But no matter how severe the tests may seem we can always count on the Lord to be beside us.

Wait upon God is timing. He will bring His word to pass. While we wait on the Lord to fulfill His prophetic word we must not attempt to bring the word to pass in our own strength. God’s timing is necessary. Only God knows when we are ready. Right now, the Holy Spirit is reminding me of a scripture.

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and he shall bring it to pass (Psalm 37: 4- 5 KJV)

When we get our prophetic visions or our prophetic dreams from the Lord, the very first thing we must do is to delight ourselves in Him, then commit everything to Him. Then we must trust Him to bring His word to pass in our life.

Joseph in anguish tried to make his prophetic dream come to pass. After he had interpreted the dream for the chief butler, he cried in desperation to him, “But think of me when it shall be well with you and show kindness, I beg of you, to me, and mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house” (Gen. 40:14 Amp.).

The time for God’s word to come to pass was not yet. God is never late and He is not too early either. God will show up in the right time. There is always something about time and God. Man’s timing and God’s timing are not always the same.

Joseph thought he could run ahead of God by enlisting the butler to act on his behalf but he was wrong. The butler forgot all about him. How many times people who you have helped find themselves in a much better place than you are but have forgotten all about you in your prison of trials and tribulations? You sometimes may feel tempted to think if it was worthwhile helping them. Here you are suffering in your situation while they are enjoying their privileged position.

Nevertheless, in the fullness of time God came through for Joseph. God caused a crisis to take place in the realm of Egypt. Pharaoh had two dreams! There was no one in his entire palace or in the realm of Egypt who could interpret these dreams. It was at this time that the butler remembered Joseph. This was God’s right timing for Joseph. This was the very first reason why God took Joseph into Egypt: to interpret Pharaoh’s dream.

Joseph was brought before Pharaoh and it was after Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams that the second reason was made plain why God brought him to Egypt. The second reason Joseph was present in Egypt was that Joseph was used of God to apply wisdom to Pharaoh. These were the words of Joseph, “So now let Pharaoh seek out and provide a man discreet, understanding, proficient and wise and set him over the land of Egypt [as governor]. Let Pharaoh do this; then let him select and appoint officers over the land, and take one fifth [of the produce] of the [whole] land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years [year by year]. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and lay up grain under the direction and authority of Pharaoh, and let them retain food [in fortified granaries] in the cities. And that food shall be put in store for the country against the seven years of hunger and famine that are to come upon the land of Egypt, so that the land may not be ruined and cut off by the famine.” And the plan seemed good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants (Gen. 41: 33-37 AMP.).

The third reason became plain why Joseph was present in Egypt: Pharaoh promoted him from a prisoner to the governor over all of the land. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find this man’s equal, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “For as much as [your] God has shown you all this, there is nobody as intelligent and discreet and understanding and wise as you are. You shall have charge over my house, and all my people shall be governed according to your word [with reverence, submission and obedience]. Only in the matters of the throne will I be greater than you are.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” And Pharaoh took off his [signet] ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in [official] vestments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck; he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had, and [officials] cried before him, bow the knee! And he set him over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without you shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt” (Gen. 41: 38-44 AMP.). Joseph was sent ahead into Egypt by God to preserve life (Gen. 45: 5).

The Lord knew that the famine would be so severe that it would affect all the surrounding lands and the entire earth (Gen. 41: 57).

Joseph had to suffer first before he could come into his prophetic word. Are you willing to suffer and wait also until God brings His word to pass in your life? You must be willing to go all the way with God. You must be willing to submit to whatever form of test the Lord may choose for you to go through knowing that just as Joseph was humbled and then exalted so will you also be exalted in due season.

Saint; get ready for an increase of prophetic visions and dreams. You may not have the slightest idea when your prophetic vision or dream is scheduled to come to pass but prepare yourself for its fulfillment. All that God says he will do he will do. Get ready.

I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream (Num. 12: 6 KJV)

Chapter 8

The Shekinah Glory

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the dessert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of the bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed (Exo. 3: 1-2 KJV).

Many persons may have heard the phrase the Shekinah Glory but do not know or understand what it is. It is the manifested presence of God. Or, may I put it another way, it is the physical manifested presence of God. All through the scriptures, from the Old Testament to the New Testament we see God manifesting Himself physically in the midst of His people.

The Shekinah Glory may come in any form the Lord chooses to reveal Himself. In the scriptures we see the Lord revealing Himself through fire, through cloud, through smoke, through lightnings and thunderings, and by the means of a bright light. The Lord has even shown Himself by means of thick darkness (Exo. 20: 21, 1 Kings 8: 12)

In Exodus 3: 1- 2 the Lord showed Himself to Moses by means of a burning bush. It is no wonder the Lord told Moses to take off his shoes for the place where he is standing is holy ground (Exod. 3: 5). Moses was standing in the presence of the awesome God.

The Lord revealed to me that as it gets closer and closer to the return of Jesus that He will be visiting His people in His physical manifested presence, which is His Shekinah Glory.

In 2003 after teaching the word of God in church I began ministering in the office of the prophet to the people in the congregation by calling them to the altar one by one. I called a sister who is also a minister to the altar and prophesy these words to her: “in 2006 the Lord will appear to you in the form of His Shekinah Glory. Get ready, get ready, get ready says the Lord. I shall physically visit you. Prepare yourself, says the Lord.” I told her the exact month and time in 2006 the Lord will appear to her. After I had said those words, I said to myself, “what have I done? What have I just said to the sister?” I felt that if I could take back those words I would. This sister developed a habit to record every prophetic word that I give her. Some time ago in 2006 this same sister and minister called me early one morning and while excited and gasping for breath told me of an incident that took place in her room that same morning as she awoke. This is her story: “I had just awakened from sleep early in the morning and was moving around in my bedroom. I saw this bright light which appeared in my room. The light was so intensely bright that it was impossible to look at it. Each time I tried looking at it my eyes would pain me. It was like looking straight at the sun from a very close distance. To my amazement I heard an audible voice which came from the bright light speaking to me. The voice said that He the Lord is depending on me to minister to His people.” She reminded me of the prophecy I had given her three years prior to that visitation and told me that immediately as the bright light disappeared the exact words I had said was confirmed in her spirit from the Lord. While she was speaking to me this sister had the book which she had recorded that prophetic word I had given her in 2003.

There were other things, which the Lord told her that morning from the bright light which she did not bother to tell me. What had happened was that God had visited her in the form of His physical manifested presence, which is His Shekinah Glory.

The word of God said in the book of Luke concerning the birth of Jesus that an angel appeared to a group of shepherds ‘and the glory of the Lord’ shone round about them and they were sore afraid (Luke 2: 8-9 KJV). Friend, this was the manifested presence of God. This was God’s Shekinah Glory, which was being manifested.

And the Lord said unto Moses, lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever…(Exo. 19: 9 KJV)

Here we see the Lord through the Shekinah Glory of God being manifested in the form of a thick cloud.

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off (Exo. 20: 18 KJV)

The physical manifested presence of God came down upon that mountain in the forms of thunderings, lightnings and smoke, so that when the people saw it, it is reported that they removed and stood afar off. The Lord is going to appear to us in the form of His Shekinah Glory once more.

And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door (Exo. 33: 9-10 KJV)

It was this same pillar of cloud that led the people in the wilderness (Exo. 13:21). It was this same cloud which covered the tabernacle on its completion that not even Moses, the man of God was able to enter therein (Exo. 40: 34-35). It was this same cloud which stood at the tabernacle door and judged the people because they refused to enter the Promised Land (Num. 14: 10). It was this same cloud which filled the temple as the singers sang with one voice while dedicating the house of God (2 Chron. 5: 13-14). It was this same cloud which took Jesus up into heaven just as He gave His disciples His last instructions (Acts. 1: 9).

And what shall we say of the fire of God?

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of   cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night (Exo. 13: 21 KJV).

In the episode of the burning bush with Moses, we see the Lord making His appearance in the form of fire. This was the same fire that gave the people of God light in the wilderness and it was the same fire which remained on the tabernacle as the people camped (Exo. 40: 38).

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2: 3- 4 KJV)

On the day of Pentecost, the Lord manifested Himself to His disciples through tongues of fire, which sat upon their heads.

The Glory of God

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And He said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee; and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And He said, Thou canst see my face: for there shall no man see me and live. And the Lord said, behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by (Exo. 33: 18-22 KJV)

How many of us believers would like to experience the glory of God? I know I do! Can we like Moses ask God to show us His glory and receive such a quick response from Him? Are we as children of God really prepared in our hearts to see the glory of God? We need to look deep within ourselves. Are our hearts clean enough to allow the Lord to let us see His glory?

Moses said, “Shew me thy glory Lord.” We must understand that Moses the man of God had a special relationship with the Lord. Before we can really see the glory of God, we must first develop a strong intimate relationship with the Lord. If we do not have a relationship with the Lord and God visits us with His glory we may be judged instead of being blessed.

For us to escape the judgment of God we need to live clean lives. In Exodus 19 and verses 10-11 we see the Lord telling Moses to charge the people to sanctify themselves because He is about to visit them with His glory. The Lord even told them to wash their clothes. And the Lord said unto Moses, “Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, and be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai” (Exod. 19: 10-11 KJV).

Now, even though God gave them these commands, He would not let them touch the mountain. His command was that if anyone touches the mountain he or she should be killed. This was because the Lord knew that even though the people were cleansed on the outside they were not right on the inside.

Before we can truly come to God we must first circumcise our hearts. The word of God says the Lord looketh on the heart (1 Sam.16: 7). We need to cleanse our heart of all impurities.

The only person God told to come up on the mountain to meet with Him was Moses. The Lord knew that Moses’ heart was ready to meet with Him. Not even the priests God would allow touching the mountain. So Moses ascended into the mountain and met with God and saw His glory.

It can be seen that Moses had a very special relationship with the Lord. The people were afraid of the presence of God so when the Lord came down on the mountain and the thunderings, the lightnings and the fire became evident, the word of God said that all the people began to be afraid and did not want the Lord to speak to them any longer. By doing this they rejected the presence of God.

It must also be noted that Moses loved the presence of God. He loved the presence of God so much that he spent forty days and forty nights on the mountain without eating food or drinking water. After spending such a long time in the presence of the Lord, the word of God says that the glory of God was so strong upon him that the skin of his face shone (Exo. 34: 28-35).

Do you remember what happened on the mount of transfiguration with Jesus when He beheld His Father’s glory? The word of God said, as Jesus was transfigured, “His face shone as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light” (Matt. 17: 2 KJV).

For us to encounter the glory of God we must learn to spend quality time in His presence. Did not the scripture say in His presence there is fullness of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore? (Psalm 16: 11 KJV)

Now therefore, I pray thee, if I [Moses] have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And He [God] said, My Presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he [Moses] said unto Him, if thy presence goes not with me, carry us not up hence (Exo. 33: 13-15

Chapter 9

The Prayer, “Come Lord

Jesus”

He which testifieth these things saith, surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Rev. 22: 20 KJV)

Sometime ago the Lord revealed to me that this prayer of John will be one of the last signs of His coming. All through the word of God we see the believers being encouraged to pray. Not only were they encouraged to pray, but also from the Old Testament to the New Testament we see many of the prayers of the saints being answered.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus will be a prayer that will be answered by the Lord. God never hesitates to answer the prayer of his people when He sees the timing is right. The Lord told me that when the time is right, the Holy Spirit will so move upon His people that they will be praying this prayer all over the world.

The Lord said also, when this begins to happen; His people should get ready because He will be coming quickly.

Friend, it is this prayer which will motivate the Lord Jesus to return for His people. When you see this anointing coming upon the church, saint, look up, for your redemption draw nigh. Jesus, our promised Bridegroom and Beloved will part the clouds and claim us the church, His promised bride.

The Father will not ignore the cry of His people when that cry is motivated and anointed by His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will make intercession through us that will be pleasing to the Father’s ear. When the Father hears this kind of intercession, He cannot but commission and release His Son to return for His people.

When this anointing falls in the church, the people of God from every tongue, kindred and tribe will be crying, “Come Lord Jesus.” How can Jesus refuse to heed such a cry from His bride?

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing unto God for him (Acts 12: 1-5 KJV).

Peter was in a tight spot. He was about to be killed; but the church made prayer unto God, the word of God said. What really happened was that the Holy Spirit stepped in and began to make intercession for Peter through the saints. God heard the cry of His people and gave a mighty deliverance by sending His angel to rescue Peter. Whenever the Holy Spirit makes intercession through the people of God, the Lord will always act in response to that prayer.

Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings, which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Rom. 8: 26-27 KJV).

Saint, the Spirit of God will at the right time, before the return of our promised Bridegroom to take us home, make intercession through us, according to the will of God, unto God. It is God the Father who will allow His Spirit to make such a prayer; and it will be He (God) who will answer that prayer. When we see the church making this kind of intercession “Come Lord Jesus,” it is then, and only then we must begin to look up because our redemption draweth neigh. Anytime in the midst of this prayer, Jesus will be appearing to take His promised bride home.

The word of God says, “I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken and the other left. Two men shall be in the field the one shall be taken, and the other left (Luke 17: 34-36 KJV). Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen (Rev.1: 7 KJV).

Just like Enoch, who was translated, so shall it be with us. The word of God said, the people kept looking for Enoch but they could not find him (Gen. 5:24). So shall it be in these last of the last days when we are translated to meet our Bridegroom in the air. Family members, friends and close acquaintances that do not know the Lord Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior will be looking everywhere for us, but alas, we have been translated.

Just like Elijah, who was taken up into heaven from the earth, so will it be with us in these last of the last days (2 Kings 2:11). The word of God said that the sons of the prophets searched everywhere for the body of Elijah but they could not find it anywhere (2 Kings 2: 16-17).

And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not faint;          Saying, there was in a city a judge, who feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubled me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:1-5 KJV)

Prayer always does and always will play a very important role in the life of the believer. Sometimes we may not get our prayer answered immediately. In some instances the Lord may answer in just a few seconds. Whether immediately, or not so immediately, our God will always be attentive to the cry of His people.

Just like the unjust judge, who was backed in a corner and had to avenge the widow by giving her what she wanted, so it is with our God. The Lord may answer our cry immediately or he may take a while to do so; but no matter what, He will hear the cry of His people. Our God is a God of timing. He will not come through too early and neither will He come through late. He is a God of perfect timing.

In these last of the last days, prophetic intercession will be playing a very important role in the body of Christ. Believers will be praying Holy Ghost inspired motivated and anointed prayers. We will be praying according to the perfect will of God.

“Come, Lord Jesus” will be one such Holy Ghost inspired motivated and anointed prayer that each believer who is ready for the Lord’s return will be praying. Why should this be so? Because the Holy Spirit will be making intercession through us: and He (God) who searcheth the heart knoweth what the mind of the Spirit is.

It is no coincidence that the prayer of John “Come Lord Jesus” was prayed in the very last book of the bible (the book of Revelation) and also, some of the very last words of John before the completion of the book and the entire word of God. This is very prophetic in the true sense of the word, because one of the last things that will happen before Jesus return for His bride is for this prayer to be prayed by us His people.

Any day now we can have this prophetic intercessory anointing fall upon us. When this happens, we can be assured that our prayer will hasten the return of our Bridegroom.

Chapter 10

The Romance

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily (Matt. 1: 18-19 KJV).

The relationship between Joseph and Mary was so strong that it was almost as if they were married. The word of God said Mary was espoused to Joseph. The word espoused means to be betrothing to. Some translations uses the word betroths instead of espouse. The word betroth means to undertake to marry, to pledge, to commit oneself to, to become engage, to be espouse to and to bestow one’s hand to. In those days to be betrothed to someone of the opposite sex was to be so committed to that person that it was as if both persons were married though there was no intimacy involved.

This was the case with Mary and Joseph. The commitment was so strong that though they were not married as yet, Joseph sought to divorce his fiancé privately. The question one should be asking just about now is how can a couple apply for a divorce if they are not married? In those days to be espoused or betrothed to an individual was just as if the person was married to that individual. This was why Joseph wanted to legally end the relationship.

We the church, was legally betrothed to Christ. We are committed to Christ. We belong to no one else. We were espoused and engaged to be married to Him and now we are His bride and some day in the near future Christ is coming back to claim us.

But now, we the church is in a time of preparation. We are being prepared to meet our promised Bridegroom in the skies, after which we will be celebrating at the marriage feast with Him. Preparations are now being made in heaven for the marriage feast between the Lamb and the church.

There is a saying that when a couple is getting married, it is the father’s responsibility to provide for the wedding feast and it is the husband’s responsibility to provide a dwelling place for both himself and his wife. Did not Jesus our Bridegroom says “I go to prepare a place for you that where I am, you may be also?” (John 14: 2-3 KJV).

There is an intense longing in the heart of the church to go and to be with Jesus Christ, the promised Bridegroom in heaven. Likewise there is an intense longing for Jesus our Bridegroom to come and take the church home.

Frequently in the scriptures Paul and others spoke about this longing for them to go and to be with the Lord.

Just as a couple who is dating has a longing to be with each other, so it is with Jesus and the church. Jesus is hopelessly and madly in love with His church and the church is hopelessly and madly in love with Jesus. The church and Jesus are meant for each other. It was love at first sight. It’s as if it is too tormenting to keep them apart from each other.

It is usually the responsibility of the male in a love relationship to romance the soon to be bride. At present, we the church is being romanced by Jesus Christ our Bridegroom.

Friend, even as you read this book, preparations are being made in heaven for that great marriage feast of the Lamb.

The main responsibility in a love relationship lies mainly on the shoulders of the male. The male is mainly responsible to keep his bride interested at all times. He has to court her by taking her gifts; some flowers, some chocolates, jewels, and so on. He visits her often in order to strengthen the relationship. I am not saying the female is to sit around and do nothing to continue to catch the eye of her lover. No! What I am saying is that God made it so in every relationship that the male should be the dominant one in pertaining to these things. It is the same with Jesus and the church. Jesus is presently courting the church. He gives to the church His gifts (to some He gave apostles, to some prophets, to some teachers and so on) and He visits us with the fragrance of His presence.

Presently the church is being prepared for that great day. Just as queen Esther put on her royal robe and went before her king in the inner court (Est. 5: 1), so the church must one day put on her royal robe and present herself before her King in the inner court of the King’s house.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. (Rev. 19: 7 KJV)

In Songs of Solomon, we see a perfect picture of Christ and the church. The woman referred to in this book is the church. Her Lover whom she seeks after is no other than Jesus Christ. In Songs of Solomon, as you may well note the woman constantly seek after her Beloved. Her Beloved visits her with His presence ever so often and then is gone again.

The church is always seeking to be in the presence of Christ the Beloved. Christ the Beloved even though He wants to be with the church ends up always showing Himself for a short while and then leaving again. The reason for this is that the church is not fully ready to receive Him.

In order for us to fully receive Him, the church must, as Queen Esther put on her royal robe of righteousness (or robe of right living) and then and only then can we enter into His inner chambers.

It is time for us to enter into a covenant of holiness with the Lord. The scriptures say, without holiness no man shall see God. It was Jesus, who said, “Be holy as my heavenly father is holy.”

Like an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved [shepherd] among the sons [cried the girl]! Under His shadow I delighted to sit, and his fruit was sweet to my taste (Song of Sol. 2: 3 AMP.).

The writer did not speak of any other edible trees for food in the wood except for the apple tree. It is here that the girl feels safe; it is here that she finds rest. She (the church) compares Christ to an apple tree. It is here she sits under His protective shadow from the cares of this world and she eats His fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and temperance.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love [for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near Him] (Song of Sol. 2: 4 AMP.).

The writer is here writing prophetically. After a wedding ceremony, there is usually a time of feasting and celebration. This is what is called the banquet. After the wedding ceremony Christ takes the girl (the church) to the banqueting house. She is so much in love with Him that she senses His protection and His comfort in a very strong way.

Sustain me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love (Song of Sol. 2:5 AMP.).

We, the church are sick of being here on earth. We long for our true Love to return and to take us home. We are madly and hopelessly in love with Him. How can we live without our Lord and Master? We dream of Him every day of our lives. We are sick with love for Him. Nothing can separate us from Him. Nothing!

[Vividly she pictured it] The voice of my beloved [Shepherd]! Behold He comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills (Song of Sol. 2:8 AMP.).

Our beloved Shepherd will soon be here to take us home. Behold He comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. We must wait patiently and not give up hope. He will soon be here to take us home to heaven. There in heaven all of our loved ones who have gone on before us and who are patiently waiting for us will be reunited with us, never to be separated again.

My Beloved speaks and says to me, rise up my love, my fair one and come away (Song of Sol. 2: 10 AMP.)

The writer is again writing prophetically. In this prophecy Christ is seen encouraging the church to rise up and to depart with Him to heaven and to leave behind this world of cares and pains. “Rise up my love, my fair one and come away,” the Master cries to His beloved promised bride. We are presently living in the days when the church will be rapture to meet Christ in air. These are the last of the last days and any day now our Master and Savior will part the skies and return to take us home. Get ready church; we will soon be going home.

For, behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone (Song of Sol. 2:11 AMP.).

When we shall arise to meet Him in the skies all our cares will be forgotten. The winter and the rain are signifying storms which in turn mean tribulations and tests. When we are with the Lord in the air all of these pains will be forgotten. There will be no more pain and sorrow. We will become true overcomers. Our bodies will put off mortality and will put on immortality. There in the air with our beloved Master we will never again know disease or sickness. Never again know tribulations or persecutions. Never again to worry about what tomorrow will bring.

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing [of birds] has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land (Song of Sol. 2: 12 AMP.)

In heaven, all our trials and tribulations are placed behind us. No more earthly cares. Everything will be peaceful. We will be able to sing, without any earthly cares, in harmony with the birds in heaven of our Redeemer’s love for us.

The fig tree puts forth and ripens her green figs, and the vines are in blossom and give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away (Song of Sol. 2: 13 AMP.).

The writer continues to write prophetically. The fig tree and the vines here represent time. Do you remember Jesus as He approached the fig tree in Mark 11: 13? (…for the time of figs was not yet). The word of God said that it was not the time for figs. Figs are only produced at a certain time of the year. In Jamaica where I am from, certain fruits will only bear at a particular time of the year. God is a God of time. I strongly believe that we are presently living in the time of the coming of the Lord. The fig tree has already ripened her green figs. Also Matthew 24 reads, “ From the fig tree learn this lesson: as soon as its young shoots becomes soft and tender and it puts out its leaves, you know of a surety that summer is near. So also when you see these signs, all taken together, coming to pass, you know of a surety that He (Jesus) is near, at the very doors” (Matt. 24 : 32-33 AMP.). The time for the Lord’s return is nigh. Get ready church; we will be going home soon.

Christ is seen here speaking prophetically again. Though this verse of scripture was written over two thousand years ago, I strongly believe that it was written for now. We are living in the time when Christ will part the skies and return to take His people home. Any day now we will be going home.

[So I went with Him, and when we were climbing the rocky steps up the hillside, my beloved Shepherd said to me] O my dove, [while you are here] in the seclusion of the clefts in the solid rock, in the sheltered and secret place of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely (Song of Sol. 2: 14 AMP.).

True intimacy between a husband and a wife can only take place in the confines of a private and secret place. Here, Christ takes His beautiful bride up into the shelter of the secret place of the cliff and there He begins to admire her beauty. His promised bride is exotic and sensual and Christ becomes consumed with passion for her. Jesus feels Himself being drawn to her; He cries out to her from the depths of His heart, “Let Me see your face, let Me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.” Even when we are going through our worst times, the Master still wants to hear our voice singing sweet melodies and praises to Him. Even when we are tested and tried in the furnace, the Master still wants to hear our voice making sweet music to Him.  This is true love. The church and Christ were meant for each other.

[She said distinctively] My Beloved is mine and I am His! He pastures His flocks among the lilies. [Then longingly addressing her absent Shepherd, she cried] until the day break and the shadows flee away, return hastily, O my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young hart as you cover the mountains [which separate us]. (Song of Sol. 2: 16-17 Amps)

The church is longing for the return of Jesus, her Shepherd and her Beloved. We are living in the last of the last days. Any day our Shepherd and Beloved will part the skies and return once and for all, for His bride. There, in His Father’s mansion we will never know death or pain and He will wipe away all tears from our eyes. There we will be with our Bridegroom for all eternity; never to be separated again.

We distinctly belong to Christ and Christ distinctly belongs to us. There is no separation. We are His and He is ours. It was love at first sight. We cannot live without Christ and Christ cannot live without His church. We were meant for each other.

The church is longing for the day when Jesus will return to earth and claim her as His bride. Oh, what a day that will be. Can you just imagine the excitement of all the saints gathered in heaven? Can you just imagine the culmination of the longing of all the saints and of the Lamb finally reaching its climax? There will be such a great rejoicing in heaven amongst the saints such as never was before.

Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. (Song of Sol. 4:7 KJV)

Did not the apostle Peter say that we must be diligent to be found of Christ without spot and to be blameless (2 Pet. 3:14 KJV). This is the heart of Jesus. Jesus wants to return to find His bride to be without spots and to be blameless. Spots represent sin. Christ is looking on at His bride in a prophetic sort of way and begins to see her without spots (or without sin). Friend, the Lord is coming back for a church without spots: a totally sinless church.

Come away with me from Lebanon, my [promised] bride. Come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the top of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards. You have ravished my heart and given me courage, my sister, my [promised] bride; you have ravished my heart and given me courage with one look from your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.

How beautiful is your love, my sister, my [promised] bride! How much better is your love than wine! And the fragrance of your ointments than all spices!   Your lips O my [promised] bride, drop honey as the honeycomb; honey and milk are under your tongue, and the odor of your garment is like the odor of Lebanon. A garden enclosed and barred is my sister, my [promised] bride, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed (Song of Sol. 4:9-12 Amp.)

Jesus is seen here admiring His bride. He calls her His sister three times, which is what the church is to Him also, but each time He calls her His sister, He reminds her she is His promised bride. He reminds her five times that she is His promised bride. Jesus sees the church more as His bride than He sees her as His sister.

I am reminded of Abraham and his wife Sarah. Did you know that Sarah was Abraham’s sister? Did you know that Abraham and Sarah were a type of Christ and the church? There is an incident between Abraham, his wife Sarah and Abimelech the king of Gerar. The word of God said that Abraham while at Gerar told Sarah his wife to tell the men of that place that she was his sister (in a sense this was true but in another sense this was not true). This was done because Abraham was afraid of being killed. Abimelech the king of Gerar spotted Sarah and saw how beautiful she was. Upon this discovery he took her into his harem but in the night God appeared to him in a dream and told him these words, “Restore the man his wife” (Gen. 20: 7 KJV). God did not say to Abimelech to restore the man his ‘sister’. The reason for this is that God considers the relationship between a wife and a husband to be far more binding than that of a brother and sister.

Jesus longs to return and take the church (His promised bride) away with Him. “Come away with me from Lebanon, my promised bride”, He says. We are now living in the days when our Bridegroom will be returning for his bride. These are the last of the last days. Saint, get ready. We will be going home soon.

The Master stands and admires His bride. He can only be attracted to her loveliness, hence He is taken in by her beauty. “You have ravished my heart,” He cries in total surrender to her.

Jesus cannot help but utter her praises. He longs to take His promised bride away and to be with her. The Lord becomes more and more enthralled by her beauty.  Christ is not only taken in by her beauty, but is also very much taken in by her love. Oh, how He longs to be with His promised bride. Christ, becomes as if slain by her love. Oh, how He longs to be with His promised bride.

Friend, even as you are reading this book, all of heaven is getting ready for the great marriage feast of the Lamb and the church. Get ready friend, Jesus is coming back for His promised bride. He is coming back for you and for me.

Even now, the banquet hall in heaven is being prepared with great care. Fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white robes are prepared for each saint. Invitations are being sent out and blessed are those who are summoned to the marriage feast of the Lamb (Rev. 19: 9 KJV).

[My heart was touched and I fervently sang to Him my desire] Take for us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards [of our love], for our vineyards are in blossom (Song of Sol. 2: 15 Amps.)

The little foxes are the little things which separate us from the Lord. These ‘little foxes’ will taint our relationship with the Master. It is these little sins which causes the Lord to hide His face and to stop His ears from us. from the Lord. These little foxes will taint our relationship with the Master. It is these little sins that cause the Lord to hide His face and stop His ears from us.

King David said, “If I have sin in my heart the Lord will not hear me.” If we really want our Bridegroom to draw closer to us, then we must get rid of the sin factor. Please, remember that Jesus is coming back for a church without spots or wrinkles. We must get rid of any impurities in us, no matter how small they may be. It is the little foxes (or sins) which spoil the vineyards of our love for the

While our love is in full blossom we must at all times protect ourselves from these little foxes which represent so called little sins. We tell ourselves that the things we do wrong are small and inconspicuous, and hence the Lord will overlook them, but this is not so. All sins are sins, no matter how small they may seem. It is these little foxes that we leave unattended and unrepentant of which affects our relationship with the Master. Let us be careful to diligently search ourselves for any and all so called little sins in our lives which may be affecting our relationship with the Lord.

I opened for my beloved, but my Beloved had turned away and withdrawn Himself, and was gone! My soul went forth [to Him] when He spoke, but it failed me [and now he is gone]! I sought Him, but I could not find Him; I called Him, but He gave me no answer. (Song of Sol. 5:6 Amp.)

How often Christ has visited us the church with the fragrance of His presence: and how often He is forced to go away from us because we are not at the place to receive Him and to let Him feeling welcomed. How often Christ has come to us and found ‘some little foxes’ present in our life. Because of these little sins which we may be harboring in our life, Jesus becomes saddened and so is forced to reject us from His presence. If there is any sin in your life right now, then please pause a while and confess it to the Lord.

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell Him that I am sick from love [simple sick to be with Him]. (Song of Sol. 5:8 Amp.)

Oh, the longing of the church [the promised bride], to be with her Bridegroom. Oh, the longing of the heart of the church, to be with her Master and Savior. This longing is so intense that it makes the bride as if ‘sick from love’: the

church of Jesus Christ is ‘simple sick to be with Him.’ This void that the church (Christ promised bride) feels ever so often can never be filled until her true love returns and claims her as His own.

We are now living in the days when our Lover and the One whom our hearts truly desire is expected to part the skies and return and lovingly takes us to Himself, never to be separated again. There in heaven we will be in His Father’s mansion and there our longing will be satisfied. There we will know true intimacy in the Spirit with our Bridegroom and there we will become one with Him.

[She said] my beloved is fair and ruddy, the chief among ten thousand. (Song of Sol. 5:10 Amp.)

The word ruddy means to glow. Jesus the Beloved, stands out among all of her admirers. He glows brighter than every one of them. He is the chief among ten thousand. This can only means that the woman (who is the church) attracts a lot of admirers simple because of her beauty. She is very beautiful to look at! It is no wonder that Jesus her Beloved in the book of Song of Solomon is so swallowed up by her beauty. But no matter how many admirers she may attract, Jesus happens to be the chief among them all, and so she, the church, becomes drawn and attracted to Him above them all.

Many waters cannot quench love; neither can floods drown it… (Song of Sol. 8:7 AMP.)

Many waters as spoken in this verse of scripture refer to tribulations, tests and storms. This can only mean that many tribulations, many tests, as well as many storms will not stop or even dim the love the church has for Jesus.

It must be noted that all or most love relationships have to endure a fair share of tests for that relationship to mature. The greater the tribulations and the tests, the stronger the relationship can become. This is the exact same thing with our relationship with Christ.

The church has passed through many tribulations and tests over the ages, but her love and longing to be with Christ has not grown dim. The love relationship which we have with our Bridegroom will never be quenched.

No matter how many of us are put to death for Christ’s sake. No matter if, they should stone us or beat us for His sake. No matter if, they should imprison us for our Master’s sake. No matter if, they should place us in arenas with wild animals that would devour us. No matter if, they should burn us at the stakes for His sake, our love for Him will never grow cold nor be quenched.

We long for our promised Bridegroom’s return. We long with all our heart to be with Him. He is our true love. There is none like Him. He is the chief among ten thousand. There is no other as handsome, fair and ruddy as Him. He has promised us that He goes ahead to prepare a place for us: that where He is we will be also. Our bedchamber in heaven is already prepared for us. All of heaven is buzzing with the good news that the marriage feast of the Lamb and of the church is close at hand. Church, it will soon be time for us to go home.

[Joyfully the radiant bride turned to Him, the one altogether lovely, the chief among ten thousand to her soul, and with unconcealed eagerness to begin her life of sweet companionship with Him, she answered] Make haste, my Beloved, and come quickly, like a gazelle or a young hart [and take me to our waiting home] upon the mountains of spices! (Song of Sol. 8: 14 AMP)

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

The Bridegroom Cometh

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom (Matt. 25: 1 KJV)

The kingdom of heaven here is speaking of the church. The people who are in the church are likened unto ten virgins. The lamps signify the light of God on the inside of a believer, and the Bridegroom, as we already know is Jesus Christ.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish (Matt. 25:2 KJV)

Do you know that in the church, there are wise Christians and there are foolish Christians? The wise Christians are the Christians who are serving the Lord faithfully and the foolish ones are the ones who are not serving Him faithfully. The wise Christians are those who are walking in the reverential fear of the Lord while the foolish ones only seem to have a form of godliness but denying the power.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them (Matt. 25: 3 KJV)

The oil here represents the anointing. This means that the foolish Christians did not have any anointing in their lives because they took no oil with them.

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps (Matt. 25: 4 KJV)

The wise took with them the anointing of God in their vessels (their life) wherever they went. We Christians must depend solely on the anointing of God in everything we do. Without the anointing we can do nothing.

After David had sinned against God with Bath-Sheba, he cried out to God in these words, “Lord, take not thy Holy Spirit away from me” (Ps. 51:11 KJV). We all need the infilling and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I can now hear the command of the apostle Paul as he encourages us to walk in the Spirit, “Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16 KJV).

While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept (Matt. 25: 5 KJV)

We all have been hearing the same words over and over again, that Jesus is coming soon. But He is not here as yet. This is because the Bridegroom is tarrying. Note, while the Bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept. This is not supposed to be. The scriptures said, a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hand, so shall your poverty come upon you like an armed bandit (Prov. 6: 10 KJV). Also, love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread (Prov.20:13 KJV).

Sleep can be a very good thing, but it can also be a bad thing. Sleep is very good for the body, especially when it is necessary, but when you overdo it, it becomes a snare and a hindrance to you and especially in the things of God.

There is an incident in Mark 14:32-41which we should take a look at. Let me relate the story to you. Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John to pray. But instead of praying along with them He gave them this command ‘watch’ and then left and went a little distance from them.

The word watch as used in this context means to be alert, to be diligent, to be militant, to be sober and to be ready. Jesus was telling Peter, James and John to be alert, to be diligent, to be militant, to be sober and to be ready in prayer.

It is reported that Jesus returned the first time and found them fast asleep. He rebuked them and then returned to His place to pray. He returned the second time and again He found them fast asleep. He rebuked them the second time also for their prayerlessness.

The first time Jesus came as a babe in a manger most persons were spiritually fast asleep. They were told of His coming by the prophets of old but here they were, spiritually fast asleep. The inn keeper did not believe that He was the King of the Jews; hence he would not have given Mary a place in a manger with the animals.

When Jesus returned to Peter, James and John the second time He found them fast asleep.

When our Bridegroom returns for His bride, He does not want to find His people fast asleep like Peter, James and John. He wants to find us watching and in prayer. He wants to find us alert, diligent, militant, sober, ready and praying.

And at midnight there was a cry made, behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. (Matt. 25: 6 KJV)

Jesus may return any day soon. We must be ready at all times for His return. While all the virgins slept, the verse says there was a great cry, “The Bridegroom cometh.”

The bride of Christ must at all times be careful not to be caught spiritually asleep. We must always be on our guard, prepared and ready for the return of our Bridegroom.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. (Matt.25: 7-9 KJV.)

“Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.” It is not possible for a Christian to get from another Christian of his or her anointing. To be truly anointed of God one has to pay a price. The heavier the price paid, the greater the anointing will be. Every true man and woman of God has to suffer a great deal before the Master pours of His anointing upon him or her. Suffering is God’s chosen way of perfecting His people. Through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God.

Please note what the wise virgins said to the foolish virgins: “Not so, but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves.” When one goes to the supermarket and takes up an item, that person is expected to pay the amount the item may cost. In other words, there is a cost placed on that particular item.

The foolish virgins had to go to them who sell and buy oil (the anointing) for themselves. A price had to be paid for the oil that is being bought. It is the same with the anointing. There is a cost placed upon the anointing. For us to be truly anointed of God we have to pay the price by being tested and tried in the fire. We cannot hope to ever be anointed unless we first pass through the fire of tribulation. We have to pay the price for the anointing.

And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (Matt. 25: 10 KJV)

Friend, if we are not prepared and ready for the Lord’s return, then the Lord will return and find us ill prepared. We must live our lives in such purity and holiness that if at any time our Bridegroom comes we will be ready to meet Him.

Only those saints who are prepared will be able to go in to the marriage. We must remember Queen Esther who prior to appearing before her king, adorned herself in her royal robe. This royal robe today in the church is known as the robe of righteousness or simple put the robe of right living.

“And the door was shut.” The door was shut upon those foolish virgins. This can only mean that those foolish virgins were destined to hell and damnation because the door represents the closing off of heaven.

How cruel it is to know that one has many chances to repent and did not make use of any of them? How sad to know that upon death of the body, one’s soul is lost for all eternity? How sad to know that after one has spent so much time in the church, hearing the word of God and tasting of His goodness is left behind when Christ returns and takes His people home?

If there is anything in your life that you may feel ashamed of at His return, won’t you pause right now and repent before Him.

“Behold I come, and I come quickly, saith the Lord. Repent before me, saith the Lord, turn from your evil and wicked ways and seek my face with your whole heart, lest I come suddenly and find you wanting.”

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (Matt. 25:11 KJV)

Alas, it is too late. The door has already been slammed shut. It is now too late to repent. Heaven is lost to the seeker and now a burning hell waits. Won’t you turn your all over to Jesus right now? He is standing at the door of your heart knocking. He wants you to open up to Him. Won’t you pause a minute and give Him your all right now?

But He answered and said, verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matt. 25: 12 KJV)

How sad it is to know that after being in church for so many years, the Master rejects you? When Jesus returns to take His bride home, He will not be returning for the entire universal church; He will only be returning for a remnant or a nucleus of that church. This means a small portion of the church will be going to be with Him in heaven. This is because not everyone who goes to church and professes to be a Christian is genuinely walking with the Lord. Only those who are living the Christian life will be caught up to meet the Bridegroom in the air.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh. (Matt. 25:13 KJV)

Please note this word ‘watch’ again. Throughout the remainder of this chapter we will be coming upon this word a number of times. The word watch means to be alert, to be diligent, to be militant, to be ready and to be sober.

We know not the day nor the hour when Jesus will return so we as Christians must always be alert, diligent, militant, sober and ready at all times. We must always busy ourselves in the work of the Lord with a pure conscience. Not only must we busy ourselves in the work of the Lord, but we must also walk in love, pursuing peace with all men.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning. (Luke 12: 35 KJV)

The loin of the body is the bone between the hip and the thigh. In other words, Jesus is speaking about the sex organ. So many times we hear of great men and women of God falling because of sexual immorality. We must guard ourselves from Satan attacks. If we continue to practice these sexual sins, they can cause us to miss Jesus and the rapture. Jesus knew that if we should give in to sexual sin, then the light of the Lord will grow dim, hence the Master encourages us to let our lights continue burning. Sexual immorality in the life of a Christian can cause a person to miss the rapture thus ends up being left behind.

Please take Jesus’ warning very serious. If there is any one reading this book and is caught up in any form of sexual sin whatsoever, please take a minute to repent right now. Turn over your life fully to Jesus. He wants to meet you at the foot of the cross. Say this prayer with me, Lord I have sinned against you. Please forgive me of my sins. In your name I pray. Amen.

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (Luke 12: 36 KJV)

How many of us are looking forward to the Master’s return? How many of us have opened our hearts to Him?

Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself and make them to sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them (Luke 2:37 KJV).

Please note that word ‘watch’ again. Jesus here is saying that if He should return and find any of His servants being alert, militant, sober, diligent and ready at His return, then those servants shall receive a blessing and He (Jesus) will personally serve them with meat which is the word of God.

And if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. (Luke 12:38 KJV)

No one knows the hour or the day when Jesus will return. He may come in the second watch or in the third watch; He may return on a day when we least expect Him to: but no matter what, we must constantly be on the alert and be ready for His coming. We must live our lives in such a way that when the Master comes we will be prepared and ready for Him to take us home.

And this knows, that if the Goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. (Luke 12: 39-40 KJV)

We as Christians awaiting the return of Christ must be ready at all time. We must be very careful of the little sins, which may seem so inconspicuous to us but are pretty large in the eyes of God. Please remember that we will not have a firsthand warning of His return. He may come at any time.

Then Peter said unto Him, Lord, speaks thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, and to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, when his Lord cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth, I say unto you, that He will make him ruler over all that He hath. (Luke 12: 41-44 KJV)

Whatever Jesus has given us to do here on earth; we must continue to do with all our might. If He has called us to be prophets, then we must continually be prophesying until He comes. If Jesus has called us to pastor a church, then when He comes He must find us pastoring. We must always be feeding those the Lord has placed under our care with the word of the Lord. If Jesus should call us to feed the poor, then upon His return He should find us feeding the poor, not only with physical food but also with the unadulterated and undiluted word of the Lord. Whatever He has called us into, upon His return He should find us doing. Upon His meeting with us we will hear these very words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt. 25: 21 KJV). Saint, do not become weary in the work of the Lord.

But and if that servant said in his heart, my Lord delayeth His coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink and to be drunken; the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (Luke 12: 45-46 KJV)

Saint, if we misuse our God given talents for evil and not for the work of the Lord, we are in serious trouble. If the Lord should return to us and we are not ready at His appearance, then He (Jesus) will be forced to appoint our portion with the unbelievers. Do you know where the unbelievers are? They are in hell! (Rev. 21: 8).

From the time of the Old Testament and throughout the New Testament hell has been spoken of as a real place. Do you know that there are many people today who do not believe that hell is real? I will dare to say that even some Christians do not believe there is a hell. Hell was not created for any one of us. God created hell for the devil and his angels, but because of our rejection of the Truth (Jesus), God will allow us to go there.

Hell in the Old Testament was called by three names, hades, gehana and sheol. Jesus warned against hell many times in His ministry. He spoke about hell as a place ‘where the worms dieth not.’ He also spoke of hell as a place of everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25: 41). Jesus also spoke of hell as outer darkness and also a place of much weeping and wailing (Matt. 25: 30). With these warnings and so many others in the word of God, how can one not believe that there is a hell?

And that servant, which knew His Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, shall be beaten with many stripes. (Matt. 12: 47 KJV)

Friend, this is a sure warning coming from the mouth of Jesus. We must be very careful how we live our lives here on earth. We must make sure that when Jesus returns He will find us alert, diligent, militant, sober and ready. He is coming back for a people who are ready, longing and waiting for His appearance.

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. (Mark 13: 32-33 KJV)

Do you see that word ‘watch’ resurfacing? This time it comes in a phrase ‘watch and pray.’ Jesus wants us at all times to be alert, diligent, sober, militant and ready in prayer for His return. We must be careful not to become weary in the things of the Lord like Peter, James and John who the Master left to watch and to pray in the garden of Gethsemane and who fell asleep. We must be spiritually awake at all times and never grow weary in the things of the Lord.

For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left His house, and gave authority to His servants, and to every man His work and commanded the porter to watch. (Mark 13: 34 KJV)

Who is the Son of Man being described here? Jesus! The Son of Man is Jesus. The word of God said, so then after the Lord had spoken unto them (His disciples), He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God (Mark 16:19 KJV). Jesus came to earth, died, arose and went back to heaven to remain with His Father until the appointed time. From the earth to heaven is a far journey (For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey). Jesus left His house (the church) here on earth. King David said, “I was glad when they said unto me; let us go to the house of the Lord” (Ps. 122:1 KJV).

“…and to every man his work.” The servants are us His people. The Lord Jesus has given each and every one of His people a job to do. While He tarries, we must continue to work the works of God.

Everyone in the church has a task to accomplish. Some may be called to be apostles. Others may be called to be prophets, while some are called to be pastors. Some are even called to be choir members, ushers, musicians, janitors’ and so on. All of God’s people have a part to play in the building of His kingdom. Jesus, while He is away has commanded us to watch. Note that this word ‘watch’ keeps popping up again.

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning. Lest coming suddenly He finds you sleeping. (Mark 13:35-36 KJV)

When the Master of the house (who is Jesus) returns suddenly for His bride, He does not want to find any of us spiritually sleeping. He wants to find us alert, diligently, militantly, soberly and readily watching in prayer for His return.

And what I say unto you I say unto all, watch. (Mark 13: 37 KJV)

For Jesus to be always reminding us to watch can only show how important it is for us. In Mathew 25: 13, He reminds us to watch once. In Luke 12: 35-47 He uses the word watch four times, and in Mark 13: 32-37 He used this same word four times also. That’s a total of nine times. This just shows how much Jesus wanted to get across the importance of us being ready for His return. Remember reader, He may come in the morning, or at noon, or in the evening. We must always be watchful and prepared for His coming, lest coming suddenly, He finds us spiritually asleep.

Chapter 12

The Unprepared Guest

And he saith unto me, Write, blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God. (Rev. 19: 9 KJV)

Saint, not all will be called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is because not all who profess to be born again Christians will be going to heaven to be with the Master.

If we are truly born again Christians then the lifestyle we live must truly reflect the Light of God in us. Our lives must become constant temples of worship to our lord and King. Holiness must be a way of life for us.

If we should be taken unaware and the Master returns and we are found wanting, then there is the possibility that we will not be invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb; for only those saints who are arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of the saints (Rev.19: 8 KJV) will be granted access to the marriage feast of the Lamb.

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain King, which made a marriage for His Son. And when the King came in to see the guests, He saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment. (Matt. 22: 1, 11 KJV)

The King spoken of here is no other than God the Father. The Son is Jesus Christ.

During olden times it was the responsibility of the father to provide financially for the wedding of his son, hence the parable starts by saying the King (the Father) made a marriage for His Son (Jesus), but when the Father went to check on His guests He saw someone without a wedding garment.

For someone who is invited to a wedding to turn up not properly attired is a disappointment to both the bride and the groom. To put it bluntly we would say that that person is rude.

If sin is in our lives then our garment of pure white will be marred, maybe almost beyond recognition. How can we appear before our King in filthy garments? We must like Queen Esther put on our royal robe and then, and only then we may appear before Him.

And He saith unto him, friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (Matt. 22: 12 KJV)

Do you know that we must all appear before the judgment seat of God? When the Lord begins to question us and we are weighed in the balance and found wanting, will we be like unto this man at the Lamb’s wedding, speechless?

The Master is willing to forgive us of all sins in our lives, but we must first come to Him in humility. We must confess all known sins to Him and ask His forgiveness. Jesus’ blood was shed on Calvary for every sin that we may commit while we are in this world. If any of us are laboring under the burden of sin, all the Master asks of us is to come unto him. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” He says. (Matt. 11:28 KJV).

Sin, in its degenerating and deteriorating state: sin with all its crimson stain: sin in all its degradation and its depravity will only cause the soul to plummet deeper and deeper into a dark abyss where there is no way out. I thank God for Jesus who said, “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10: 10 KJV)

Then said the King to the servants, bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matt. 22: 13-14 KJV)

The servants are the angels of God. Friend, if you are not found properly clothed in the Lamb’s wedding garment at the wedding feast of the Lamb, then our heavenly Father will command the angels to bind your hands and feet and cast you into outer darkness. Where is outer darkness? This is hell. This is complete separation from God. This is what Jesus called everlasting punishment. Jesus is saying that in this place there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

If you are presently feeling uncomfortable, it is because you are experiencing the conviction of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is showing you any form of sin in your life, then please pause awhile and make things right with God. You do not need to pray a long prayer. Any prayer coming from the heart will do. Just talk to the Lord the same way you would talk to a friend. No sin is too large that the Lord will not forgive.

There is vision in the book of Zachariah, which the prophet saw, and I would like to bring this to your attention.

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him (Zech. 3:1 KJV)

Do you know that just like Joshua, we are also priests unto God? (Rev. 1: 6, 5:10). However, like Joshua again, Satan is also trying very hard to resist us. We must not be taken in by the devils deceptions in trying to thwart us and the plan that God has for our life. As the priests of the Lord we have access before our King in heaven. When the enemy seem to be sending deceptions our way we must enter into the Holy of Holies presence and bask in it until the devil gets tired gives up trying to tempt us. Satan hates it when we put on our priestly garment and goes into the presence of God.

And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebukes thee O Satan; even the Lord rebuke that hath chosen Jerusalem rebukes thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? (Zech. 3: 2 KJV)

Our God is always rebuking the devil on our behalf. We need not fear his deceptions. But do you know that you are also a brand plucked out of the fire? Yes; you see before the Lord Jesus came into your life you were doomed to suffer eternity in a burning hell but because of salvation you have been a brand plucked from the fire.

Now Joshua was clothed in filthy garments and stood before the angel (Zech. 3: 3 KJV)

Just like the unprepared guest in Mathew 22, if we are not careful how we live our lives on this earth our garments can also become filthy. We must seek the Lord’s face regularly so as not to be found wearing filthy garments. It is as we seek His face continually that the Lord will cleans us and will remove all impurities from us.

And he answered and spake unto those who stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee and I will clothe thee with a change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head and clothe him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by (Zech. 3: 4-5 KJV)

Our God is able to forgive every sin we may commit before him. He will change our filthy garments of sin and will clothe us with fresh, clean and rich garments fitting only for sons and daughters of the King.

But although our God is willing to forgive us of our sins we must be careful not to deliberately walk in sin. We must never take the Lord’s forgiveness and grace for granted. No! We must at all times seek to live holy lives before Him.

Jesus is returning for a holy church. If our garments are not clean or if we are not found to be properly dressed for the marriage feast of the Lamb we will be left behind on His return.

Chapter 13

Our Social Responsibility

When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. (Matt. 25: 31-33 KJV)

The question must now be asked. Which side will you be on? Will it be on the side of the sheep or will it be on the side of the goats? If there is any doubt in your heart right now, you may feel that you will be on the side of the goats, then please pause and pray this simple prayer with me. Dear Lord Jesus, I confess my sins to you right now. Please forgive me of all trespasses. I recommit my life to you once more. Take me Lord, in your name I pray. Amen.

Then shall the King say to them on His right hand, come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:    for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (Matt. 25: 34-36 KJV)

How do we know that we are truly born again? Because we possess the character of Jesus. This is how we know that we are true born again believers in Christ.

We cannot say we belong to Christ and not feed and give drink to the poor, shelter the homeless, cloth the naked, visit the sick with a word of comfort and seek out the lost and rejected in the prisons. No! As Christians we must become like Jesus Christ.

As far back as the days of the old covenant (or Old Testament), we see the poor and the needy always close to the heart of God. The Lord will never reject or disown the poor and the needy. Take a close look at these verses of scriptures. This poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles (Ps. 34: 6 KJV). Thou, oh God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor (Ps. 68: 10 KJV). Yet setteth He the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock (Ps. 107: 41 KJV). He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory (1 Sam. 2: 8 KJV).

In the New Testament Jesus was always identifying Himself with the poor. Jesus spoke these very words to the rich young ruler, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me” (Matt. 19: 21 KJV).

One day John’s disciples came to Jesus with a message from John. They were asking Jesus if He was the Messiah. This is what Jesus said to them. “Go and shew John again these things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them (Matt. 11: 4-5 KJV). Why did Jesus not say to John’s disciples that the gospel is being preached to everyone? Why did He single out the poor? I think the answer for this is because the poor is very close to the heart of Jesus.

Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matt. 25: 37-40 KJV)

The man we pass daily on the street while we are on our way to work who has not eaten maybe for days, as we feed him, we are feeding Christ. As we give to the poor and the needy drink, we are giving to Jesus the same drink. As we shelter the needy we are sheltering Jesus. As we clothed the poor we are also clothing Jesus. As we visit the sick in the hospitals and give them a word of comfort we are also visiting Jesus, and as we visit the rejected in the prisons with the saving gospel of Jesus Christ we are also visiting Him.

Jesus said that we must let our light so shine so that men may see our good works and thus will glorify our father in heaven (Matt. 5: 16 KJV). As we minister to the poor and the needy from our resources which God has blessed us with, then our light will shine before men and we will be laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

As believers in Christ, we must from time to time to check our walk with God. We must ask ourselves if we are doing the things that God has required us to do. If we should reject the poor and needy then there is a strong possibility that the Master will reject us also on the day of His return. Just like Jesus the poor and needy must have a special place in our hearts.

If we do not remember our social responsibility, then when our promised Bridegroom returns for His bride we may be left behind. This is one of the main factors that will cause many Christians to be left behind after the rapture has taken place. If we neglect caring for the poor and needy, whether it is because of our own selfish ways or not, then we may easily be left behind when the day of the Lord comes. This is a topic that many Christians seem ignorant of, and some that have information in this area seem to be walking in denial. Do not let denial cause you to lose out on the things of God. Do not let denial cause you to lose your salvation.

You may be saying just about now, “Taking care of the poor is neither the church’s responsibility nor mine,” but let me tell you what the Lord has shown to me. The Lord has told me that caring for the poor is not the responsibility of the state, but of the church.

Paul in the book of Galatians 2: 9-10 after receiving the right hand of fellowship was advised by the apostles to remember the poor by which he replied that, this was the same thing he had in mind to do. In 1Timothy 5 Paul reminds young Timothy to care for the widows who are in physical need. The poor and the needy are not the responsibility of the state but they are the responsibility of the church. They are our responsibility.

Then shall He also say unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye cloth me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. (Matt. 25: 41-43 KJV)

Each person we pass and we do not give a helping hand, we are refusing to help Christ. Why did Jesus say, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting destruction? The reason the Master said this is because we neglected the poor and the needy, the sick, the homeless, the naked and those in prison. If we do not remember and take heed to our social responsibility then according to Jesus we will end up in hell.

If we are truly born again believers who are awaiting the return of our Master, then just like Jesus we should love the poor and the needy. Wasn’t it John, who said these words, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world”. (1 John 4: 17 KJV)

As He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world! If Jesus is loving and kind, then so must we be on this earth. Everywhere we venture on this earth we must show the loving character of Christ. We are Christ’s ambassadors to a dying and lost world.

When last have you fed the poor? When was the last time that you gave someone thirsty a glass of water? Have you ever taken a stranger in need into your home? How about the sick and those in prison, have you visited them?

Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall He answer them saying, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matt. 25: 44-46 KJV)

According to the word of God, there will be two sets of people when the Lord returns. These are the righteous and the unrighteous, or the saints and the sinners, or the sheep and the goats, whichever way one wants to put it. The righteous (who are also the saints and the sheep) will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air: while the sinners (who are also the unrighteous and the goats) will be left behind.

If the sinners who are left behind do not repent and turn to the Lord, then there will be a fiery hell awaiting them. This is the everlasting punishment that Jesus is speaking about. This is what hell is about friend, everlasting punishment.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously everyday: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,   and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (Luke 16: 19-21 KJV)

How many of us can identify with this first verse of scripture? How many of us like the rich man has this world goods stored up for ourselves and not willing to share with the less fortunate? When was the last time any of us reached out a helping hand to a fellow brother or sister in need? We as the people of God must diligently search ourselves to see if we are lacking in these things. John said, “But whosoever has this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in Him” (1 John 3: 17 KJV). How can we say we are children of God who are awaiting the return of our Bridegroom if we shut up our bowels of compassion from our fellow man?

There are some things we must take note of in the second and third verses that concern Lazarus. The first thing we must note is that Lazarus was without shelter because he lay at the rich man’s gate. This rich man evidently was living in a very large house. He could easily have afforded to allow Lazarus to occupy one of his rooms.

The second thing we must note was that Lazarus was sickly and needed medical attention. We know this simple because the verse said Lazarus was full of sores. The rich man had enough wealth; he could have hired a doctor to give Lazarus some medical attention. Imagine a sick and homeless man living at your gate and you are doing nothing to help him.

The third thing to look at was that Lazarus was hungry and desired to be fed with the crumbs from the rich man’s table. The verse did not say that he was fed the crumbs, but that he desired to eat the crumbs. In other word the rich man gave him no food whatsoever, not even the crumbs from his table.

The fourth thing to look at was that Lazarus had no friends because the dogs would come and lick his sores. He had only the dogs for companions. Imagine a poor homeless, hungry and sick man who had no friends and living at your gate.

And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died and was buried; and in hell he (the rich man) lifts up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16: 22-23 KJV)

Both men died, each going their separate ways, Lazarus going to Abraham’s bosom (heaven) and the rich man to hell. The word of God did not say the rich man was a sinner and neither did it say that he was a wicked man either, but nevertheless he ended up in hell.

The question must be asked, why did the rich man end up in hell? The rich man ended up in hell because he forgot his social responsibility to Lazarus. He could easily have provided a home for Lazarus. He could easily have provided food and medical attention for him, but instead he neglected to be of any help to Lazarus, hence he died and was sent into everlasting punishment in hell.

We need to be very mindful of our social responsibility while we are awaiting the return of our promised Bridegroom Jesus. If any of us should neglect our social responsibility to mankind, then the Lord may reject us when the day of the Lord comes. I can now hear the words of Paul in the book of Galatians saying, “We must not be weary of well doing, for in due season we will reap if we faint not” (Gal. 6: 9 KJV).

Neighbor

Signs of Jesus’ Return (Reminder)

Jesus said, “Behold I go to prepare a place for you; that where I am you may be also.” These are indeed the last of the last days and the Lord may make His appearance any day now. Are we ready to go to heaven with Him?

The first nine chapters of this book are signs that the Lord Jesus gave me concerning His return and are written by me in obedience to His will. These signs again are:

The increase of the anointing: As it draws closer to the return of Jesus, the anointing will increase without measure. Many souls will be saved and many will be healed.

The return of the present day church to the Acts of the Apostles: the church which was started on the day of Pentecost was intended for a blueprint for the present day church. Today the church is a far cry from the early church. Jesus will not return until the church of today get back to the blueprint which is laid down in the Acts of the Apostles.

Signs, wonders and miracles: as it draws closer to the return of the Bridegroom signs, wonders and miracles will be on the fierce increase. God will move mightily among His people.

Judgment must begin in the house of God: before God judge the sinners He will first judge Christians for their sins. There will be many deaths of Christians as a result of walking in disobedience.

The wealth of the wicked: before Jesus returns for His people the wealth that He intended the church to possess and is presently in the hands of the wicked must be turned over to the righteous. Why? Because He is returning for a prosperous church!

The increase of angelic appearances: the Lord in these last of the last days will send His holy angels to appear to us and thus encourage us as well as to speak His word to us.

The increase of visions and dreams: the prophet Joel prophesied that in the last days “our old men shall dream dreams and our young men shall see visions.” Visions and dreams are now on the increase among God’s people. This is because the return of the Lord Jesus is getting closer.

The Shekinah Glory: in the past God has appeared to His people in the form of His Shekinah glory. Today the same thing is happening because the coming of the Lord draws near.

The prayer, “come Lord Jesus”: one of the last signs to look for will be the church of Jesus Christ praying the prayer’ “come Lord Jesus.” The Lord told me that when we see this anointing fall on the church we must look up, for our redemption draweth nigh.

Final Words

The return of Jesus Christ is very near. We His church and His bride must make every effort to prepare for His return. Why must we live carelessly in this world? Why must we as Christians live as if we have no hope in this life? Jesus said, “If I go and prepare a place for you I will return again for you and take you with me so that where I am you may be also.”

As His people, we must with patience, run the race to the very end. If while running the spiritual race and we should at any time fall then we must lift ourselves up again, dust ourselves off and continue the race.

Some of us may fall asleep (die) before He returns but we are assured that our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Our places are sure in heaven with the Lord. But what of those who are still alive before He returns? We must all live our lives in all holiness and in all purity that His return will never catch us unawares.

We must put all known sins under the blood of Jesus. Every hidden sin must be dealt with and with the utmost urgency. The word of God said without holiness no man can see God. Why should a little sin keep us away from enjoying the glory of heaven? Why should we not enter our home which was promised to us? Why should we not return to the Garden of Eden?

As we await the return of Christ, we must also be careful to walk in love with each other. Resentment, malice and hatred will cause us to be left behind when Jesus return. While Jesus was on the earth He often encouraged His disciples and the people to love one another. Love will cover a multitude of sins. We must also be careful not to be seduced by the evil in the world today. Many of our brothers and sisters who have gone on before us had to endure great trials, tests and temptations. They did this by trusting and committing their all in the Master’s hands. They never gave up, even though they had the choice to do so. They never gave up. Just like them there is a reward awaiting us in heaven. We like them must remain steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the love of God. Our reward is sure, but we must with patient endurance await our Master’s return. Though He may be tarrying now, we are sure that he will come. See you at home soon.

So be patient, brethren, [as you wait] until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits expectantly for the precious harvest from the land. [See how] he keeps up his patient [vigil] over it until it receives the early and late rains. So you must be patient. Establish your hearts [strengthen and confirm them in the final certainty], for the coming of the Lord is very near. (James 5: 7-8 AMP)

And behold I am coming speedily… (Rev. 22: 7 AMP)

Behold I am coming soon, and I shall bring my wages and rewards with Me, to repay and render to each just what his own actions and his own work merit. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last (the Before all and the End all). Blessed (happy and to be envied) are those who cleanse their garments, that they may have the authority and right to [approach] the tree of life and to enter through the gates into the city     (Rev. 22: 12- 14AMP).

The (Holy) Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, come! And let him who is listening say, come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of life without cost (Rev. 22: 17 AMP).

He who gives this warning and affirms and testifies to these things says, yes (it is true). [Surely] I am coming quickly (swiftly, speedily). Amen (so let it be)! Yes, come, Lord Jesus! The grace (blessing and favor) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with all the saints (God’s holy people, those set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively His). Amen (so let it be)! (Rev. 22: 20-21 AMP.)

About the Author

Lancelot Tucker is an ordain minister in the Christian faith living in Jamaica. He became a born again Christian at the age of 15. However, for a short time in his teenage life, he went back on his commitment to God and started courting the world.

Today, he is an anointed prophet to the nations and moves in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, signs, wonders and miracles as well as has a strong teach anointing on his life.

Rev. Lance Tucker also has a strong deliverance ministry and mainly conducts mass deliverances. In addition, he is a strong supporter of the fivefold ministry.