Dec 17
Week
Rick Joyner

         Another great conflict is looming in our future. When I started writing this series after the dream I had in December 2018, it looked like we were headed for increasing discord in the country, but not as bad as a civil war. The tensions have grown so much in just one year that now many are saying civil war is inevitable. It is, but there is still time to reduce its severity. Regardless of how bad it gets, we will make it through with our Republic restored, and we will be better and stronger than ever.

         We must never lose hope. We must use the time that we have to grow strong in our vision for the future. It will ultimately be very bright. We are in a battle for our future, and it is against the powerful forces now seeking to dominate the world. When we win, we will be able to help many in their own battle against this ultimate tyranny.

         The ultimate tyranny seeking to dominate the world is coming through the two main forces of globalism: Marxist/socialism and radical Islam. In some places, these two are cooperating, making them an even greater threat. We must understand these forces and their strategy for destroying individual nations by bringing about a “unity of conformity” to their ideals—ones that are in direct conflict with the ideals that the American Republic was built upon. The American Republic has been such a bulwark against them, and must continue to be so.

         No doubt the failure and collapse of the USSR was a major setback for Marxism, but like the beast in the Book of Revelation, the “fatal head wound” seems to have been healed, and it has come roaring back to life.       One would think that the impoverishment and devastation of the nations that embrace Marxism, such as Venezuela, would dissuade anyone from embracing it. The first thing The Lord said when asked about the signs of the last days was “Don’t be deceived” (see Luke 21:8). We can expect deception to grow stronger in these times, and we must not underestimate the power of deception.

         With a century and a half of practice, Marxists are adept at persuading the young and impressionable. Our schools, the media, and the arts and entertainment are now saturated with those who are a part of this agenda. They have learned well how to bring down the governments and institutions that stand in their way. They are now very good at taking over countries, though it is obvious they still can’t run one without impoverishing and destroying it.

         Shockingly, of the forty-five goals of Marxist strategy for destroying the American Republic, forty-four are now considered to have been accomplished. Can they be stopped? Absolutely. Marxism/socialism is so shallow and counter to reason that it quickly collapses with even a little education on its principles. However, we now have emerging generations that were not educated, but rather indoctrinated. They are not taught how to think, but what to think. There is a reason why Marxists call those conditioned to blindly follow them “useful idiots.”

         As a religion, radical Islam is different. It will end up swallowing up Marxism in places where they try to collaborate. Both Marxism/socialism and radical Islam (which embraces Sharia law), are in fundamental conflict with the U.S. Constitution and cannot coexist with it. The threat to the American Republic, and virtually every other republic in the world, is that the foundations of our liberty have become so weakened from the attacks of Marxism/socialism that we become vulnerable to radical Islamists.

         So, what can we do? Though we must not underestimate the enemy’s power of deception, neither should we underestimate the power of The Lord’s truth to set people free. Above all, we must be resolute in growing stronger in the truth of His gospel. We must remain resolute in doing the three things Jesus gave us instructions to do in the unfolding of the tribulation at the end of this age: 1) stand up, 2) look up, and 3) rejoice.

         We stand up by knowing what we believe and why. We stand up by refusing to compromise our convictions regardless of the pressure or consequences. It is true that the only thing evil needs in order to prevail is for the good to do nothing. The evil that is prevailing in our time is because those who know the truth have not stood for it. We cannot retreat any further. We must stand now.

         We look up and keep our focus on the One who is on the throne above all rule and authority and dominion. Peter could walk on the stormy waters as long as he kept his attention on Jesus. When he looked at the stormy water he began to sink. Faith is not just belief in an outcome—it is seeing the One on the throne.

         We rejoice because we already know the end of the story—the King is going to come and His will is going to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Every day we get closer to the fulfillment of the best news the world will ever hear—the good news of His coming kingdom.

         As we are told in Psalm16:11, in His presence is the fullness of joy. If we abide in His presence, we cannot help but to be filled with joy. If we have lost our joy, then we have somehow drifted from Him. Go back! Let’s not ever lose our joy! Use it as a barometer of how close we are to Him.