The article by John Burton in Charisma News 1/2/2020 entitled “2020 is here and so are the false prophecies” is written for an American audience but it is applicable for most of the western world, certainly Australia. I have adapted it, added to it, shortened it, and I hope John will not mind but his basic message is intact.

Not once have I read or heard about any prophecy for 2020 that includes judgement, correction, rebuke or warning. It confirms what Jesus told His disciples and us about what we can expect in the last days prior to His return. “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:11).

Lawlessness abounds: abortion is destroying the next generation as children are sacrificed at the altar of Molech. You’d be shocked at how few pastors and prophets speak out against it. Homosexual activists are forcing their agenda, pornography is being devoured by the majority including Christians including pastors and leaders and it’s nearly impossible to find a church with a spirit of prayer driving it. 

Read what Jeremiah told the people of his day. The same applies today. “Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.'” For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened?” (Jeremiah 23:16-18).

It doesn’t take much of a prophetic gifting at all to know the call for 2020 must be radical consecration, intercession, repentance and a fresh revelation of both the love and the fear of the Lord. We must stand in his counsel.

An apathetic, lukewarm church is at serious risk. Apathetic, lukewarm followers of Jesus are as well.

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you”. (Revelation 3:1-3).

Where are the prophets who are warning the church that God himself will come against it? Where are those who are shaking people out of their mediocrity and casual connection to God, awakening them from a lethal slumber? Do we even realize how dangerous such a life of apathy is? Most don’t. The prophets aren’t telling them. The pastors aren’t either.

If we aren’t burning white-hot on fire for Jesus, we had better stop and consider where we are in God. Our passion, fire and level of intimacy with Jesus absolutely impact where we will spend eternity, not to mention the future of our nation. There are millions of people who are lifting their hands in worship, praying, reading their Bible, serving and “living right” as they faithfully follow Jesus in an unsaved condition. They don’t have passion for Jesus, and they have no oil in their lamps. All ten virgins in the following parable were waiting for their Bridegroom so thought they were saved, Sadly, five were not saved. I believe Jesus is telling us two things in this parable about the “end times” church:

1, all ten were asleep, hence, just like the religious leaders of Jesus day the church is asleep and missing all the prophecies of Jesus second coming warning us of the coming tribulation.

2. 50% of the people in church are not born again with the Holy Spirit. It is a mission field in itself.

“But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming…. But the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.’ “The wise answered, ‘No, lest there not be enough for us and you. Go rather to those who sell it, and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they went to buy some, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Afterwards, the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us.’ “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.‘

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:8-13).