The Christian disciplines, such as daily reading of the Scriptures, prayer, worship, witnessing, etc., are all crucial for a healthy, balanced Christian life. While we should never neglect these disciplines, they alone are not enough. In the Scriptures, we find that experiences, encounters with the Lord and even angels, changed people more radically and propelled them toward their destiny far more than any amount of study could have done.

     Many foolish ones do not do anything but wait for such encounters. We cannot neglect study and the other basic disciplines, because they prepare us for the...

         You do not need to be a prophet to see that we are in the times that the apostles and prophets spoke of when the kingdoms of this world would be collapsing and the kingdom of God growing. However, even many Christians who see how shaky the governments of this world are becoming do not yet see the signs of the coming kingdom. To understand the times, we must become increasingly discerning of these two kingdoms. Now there is one more factor we must consider as a basis for this study, which is declared in Revelation 11:15:

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          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.

          One of the most basic revelations of the times is found in Daniel 2. This is when Nebuchadnezzar dreamt of the statue that represented all of man’s kingdoms through the ages. At the end, a stone struck the feet of this statue and it began to collapse. Then the stone grew into a mountain, and it kept growing until it filled the entire earth. As Daniel said of the little stone that struck...

         When I prayed for this coming year, I was shown a roller coaster. This means we will have ups and downs this year. I realize that hardly takes a prophet to predict, but the encouraging thing about this vision was that the ride ended at the highest point. We’re going higher this year! So don’t be discouraged by the dips. Hang on and know that we will be going up again soon.

          Our prophetic friend, Bob Jones, told us several months ago that it was going to be a very hard winter. I think this one has already...

         We will continue our study of how the kingdoms of this world are in conflict with the coming kingdom of God, but I would like to take this opportunity to be thankful for all the Lord did in 2013 and for all of the potential of 2014.

          Because we are commanded to “enter His gates with thanksgiving” (see Psalm 100:4), I ask you to take a few minutes to think of all the things that took place in 2013 for which you are thankful, and thank Him.

          Our thanksgiving to God should include everything that happened, because...