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We live in unparalleled times. More Scriptures have been fulfilled in the last century than any similar period since the time of Christ. Indeed, great multitudes are still hearing about Christ and being born again into God's kingdom, and this will continue unabated until the physical return of Christ.
Yet, I often hear Christians fretting, worrying about world conditions. It is almost as though, even as believers, we get total absorbed with the negative issues of our lives. Beloved, we must not lose our perspective: God and time are on our side. Indeed, many who are reading my words today will one day see on Earth the Scripture fulfilled: "every knee will bow . . . and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:10-11).
Everyone -- Muslim, Hindu, atheist, drug dealer, world leaders -- all will bow and confess Jesus as Lord!
Right now the process of knees bowing and tongues confessing Jesus as Lord is happening worldwide at a phenomenal pace. This information should fill every Christian with joy. But remember, our joy comes from the Lord, and His joy comes most from seeing sinners repent and find salvation. Thus, let us learn from the word Jesus told His disciples. He said, "Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'?" Rather, He says, "Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white [ripe] for harvest" (John 4:35).
Understanding the Shaking Yet, one may argue that the world as we've known it is shaking and there is much instability. Last I checked, the foundation in the Kingdom of God remains firm. So, I must ask: are you building your life on the world system or building upon the rock of Christ's word? You see, Heaven is advancing into the societies of mankind and it is confronting the systems of man and the strongholds of the devil.
In America, every coin or bill that serves as currency has our national motto written on the back: In God We Trust. Perhaps what we need is an awakening that transfers the national motto to being the motto of the church. Until that happens, we will feel shaken by world events.
Yet, I believe this shaking many feel is, most of the time, a good thing. Let me explain: Paul wrote that our struggle was not with people, but against "the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). Paul mentions two realities in particular: he speaks of powers and heavenly places. "Powers" are a hierarchal classification of demons that exerts levels of influence over regions, nations and cities. These powers operate out of the spirit realm, which the Bible identifies as the "heavenly places." (For clarification, when the Bible speaks of "Heaven," it refers to the abode of God, saints and the unfallen angels; when it speaks of the "heavenly places" or "the heavens," it is speaking of the spiritual realm surrounding man's consciousness.) It is in this spiritual dimension, the heavenly places, where we war against the world forces of darkness.
A classic peek at this war in the spirit realm is seen in Daniel, chapter ten, where an angel tells the prophet that "the prince of the kingdom of Persia [withstood him] for twenty-one days" (v. 13), thus delaying his arrival. There was an evil spiritual power ruling over Persia – titled a "prince" – that actually hindered the angel who was sent to Daniel. Paul updates this revelation and says that these ruling forces of wickedness, though unseen, exert their hellish influence all over the world. Satan's plan has not been to destroy the Earth, but to rule it.
Yet, Jesus explains that, as the days of His return draw near, the struggle against these world rulers would change dramatically, to the point that these "powers of the heavens will be shaken" (Matt. 24:29). The book of Hebrews gives further insights into this shaking, saying that it "denotes the removing of those things [in the heavens] which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain" (see Heb. 12:26-27).
You see, a realm of darkness is destined to be evicted from Planet Earth and the realm of God's kingdom will progressively take its place. Indeed, the time of the end is really an overlapping of two ages: a collision of the realm of Light advancing into, undermining, and then toppling the realm of darkness (see Isaiah 25:6-12; Rev. 11:15; Matt. 24:14; Matt. 13; etc.). This is what we saw in the crumbling of the Soviet Union; almost overnight this atheistic government collapsed, opening the way for worldwide evangelism like never before.
Breakthroughs Abounding Because we live in a season of accelerated change, our message is in transition. We will always offer salvation to the lost, yet as the Kingdom of Heaven draws near, so our message will increasingly not only teach and demonstrate the wonders of Heaven, we will also herald of the King.
For now, it is vital to align ourselves with Christ. Jesus said the last message proclaimed on earth will be His Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 24:14). It will be proclaimed as a witness to all nations before the end. In anticipation, the Holy Spirit has been leading many evangelical pastors to study and teach the Gospel of the Kingdom.
How to Pray The same inspiration that is leading multitudes to desire the Kingdom of God is also inspiring multitudes to pray for the nations. As we watch the shaking occur in the world, we must not just watch; we must "watch and pray" (Mark 13:33 KJV). Nations in the balance can fall toward Heaven or collapse into hell. The kingdom advances on the prayers of the saints, so pray for the Kingdom of God to rule over the turmoil.
Let us also pray exactly as Jesus said, "Beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers" (Luke 10:2), especially when we see nations in upheaval. Beloved, these are amazing days to be alive. We are called to actually participate in the fulfillment of the great prayer of Christ: Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven!
Francis Frangipane
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