Most of the signs that the Lord and the early church apostles said would mark the end of this age have either come to pass or are unfolding now. However, two of the most important signs appear to be very far from being accomplished: the grafting back in of the “natural branches,” the Jewish people, and the church coming into her fullness as a bride without spot or wrinkle.

          The Great Commission will be fulfilled. This commission is to make disciples of nations, not just individuals. To do this, we must understand the times.

Statement for 2001
On December 3, 2001, twenty-eight Christian leaders with national and international ministries gathered for three days to seek the Lord for clarity and direction concerning the critical issues of our times. This is a statement of the consensus of this meeting that was drafted by Rick Joyner.

Part: I

On the Authority Of Governments

          We have been discussing sin and the carnal nature from which disciples are getting free. However, we cannot get free by our own strength from these things. It takes our will to want to get free in order to please the Lord and be delivered from what is bringing so much death upon the world. However, we need God’s grace and His power to live free of these things.

     Last week we addressed how there is no substitute for maturity and experience in Christ. This week we will begin to identify some of the ways that the Lord speaks to us. In the coming weeks, we will go deeper into understanding all of these, while keeping in mind that we are not seeking the understanding of a science, a formula for knowing His voice, but rather a relationship to God by which we come to know His voice. As discussed, there are basically only two ways that we know others—by their face and by their voice.

          As I shared briefly last week, in 1987 I was shown the nations that were then under the yoke of communism would enjoy increasing liberty, and the nations that had known freedom and democracy would be brought into increasing bondage. I was shown this and many other things that I recorded in my book, The Harvest, which have taken place or are now unfolding. Virtually all of the nations that were then under communism have been experiencing increasing liberty, even if it has been coming in fits and starts.

     I received a good number of emails with questions about Herman Cain’s recent statement, or misstatement, on abortion. In an interview he claimed to be prolife, but then took the basic pro-choice position that it is the right of the person and the family who is involved to decide whether to have an abortion, not the government. This implies that there should be no laws made by the government restricting the taking of human life.

     We will now study the Church at Sardis (1400–1844):

To the angel of the church in Sardis write; these things says He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but are dead.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found you works completed before God (Revelation 3:1-2 NKJV).