GIFT OF PROPHECY

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This article is by Asher Intrater of the ministry Revive Israel. Asher is a Messianic Jew originally from the USA but now based in Israel.

For my prophetically gifted friends, may I mention three warnings:

  1. Gospel First – if we are focusing on a socio-political issue MORE than the gospel of salvation in Yeshua, then we have missed the priority.
  2. Universal Repentance – if we are calling for one side of an issue to repent, claiming that we are right and they are wrong, we have already missed the point. We are all wrong and need to repent ourselves; and call both sides to repent.
  3. Rebellion/Stubbornness – heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, and easy to be reconciled (James 3:17). We are called at times to disobey governments when involving religious freedom and moral absolutes. But we are also called to submit to governing authorities.

There is a delicate balance here. Peter refused to obey the governing authorities in (Acts 4), yet told us to submit to all governing authorities in (I Peter 2). Paul spent much of his ministry in jail but told us that to resist the government is to resist God (Romans 13).

It is interesting to compare Revelation 13 and Romans 13. The first speaks of a worldwide government run by a demonic figure; the second speaks of government workers as ministers of God doing a divine service.

There are a variety of ministries and gifts in the body of Christ. They are called to work together in cooperation, thus complementing and balancing one another from extremist views.

“He … gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…” Ephesians 4:11-13

There is safety in this teamwork. Prophetic ministries were designed to be overseen by someone with apostolic insight. A prophetically gifted person should be in a local community with pastoral oversight for their personal and family needs and also be submitted to a team with apostolic oversight for their ministry direction.

When prophets seek to operate outside this team model, they are more likely to be deceived. Some ‘prophets’ today believe they have received a word and run to social media to announce it. Many of them have no accountability at all. The New Covenant focuses on Ephesians 4 teams that work together.

Such cooperation helps prevent imbalance and rebellion. There are different structures and styles in which this teamwork can take place. I am not promoting one form or another. However, we need mutual submission to guard against extremism and deception during these times of intense conflict.

Throughout biblical history, the prophets spoke to the nation, sometimes in encouragement and sometimes in criticism. Today as well, we greatly need the gift of clear and balanced prophetic discernment in our midst.

DAVID’S PRAYER WAS ALSO AN AMAZING PROPHECY

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Thank goodness we have the Psalms: how helpful they are in our Christian walk, they explore the full range of human experience in a very personal and practical way. However, one psalm, Psalm 22 stands out because Jesus quotes verse 1 as His last words from the Cross. Why did Jesus take us to this psalm? It is obvious when we read the rest of the psalm, the psalm is a prophecy of what Jesus was experiencing on The Cross at the time He spoke it.

David had no understanding God was using Him to deliver a prophecy that provides incredible detail about what Jesus would experience on The Cross one thousand years later. David was obviously going through a terrible time in his life to have expressed the words he did in this prayer but consider that God gave David the words to pray so that His prayer could be used by Jesus to prove He is who He said He was, the promised Redeemer of not only Israel but the World.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you, they trusted and were not put to shame.
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!… I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots... ” Psalms 22:1-8

Note how Psalm 22 ends, David understood that regardless of whether God answered his prayer, God is still in control of His universe and this scripture will come to pass:

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God.” Romans 14:11

Moreover, it reveals that King Jesus will rule over the nations from Jerusalem in His soon coming Millennial Kingdom.

“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation, I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him but has heard when he cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.“ Psalms 22:22-28

“They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6

A lot of bad theology inevitably surfaces when we face suffering. When people lose their faith because of suffering, it suggests a weak or nominal faith that didn’t account for or prepare them for evil and suffering. Any faith not based on the truth needs to be lost—the sooner, the better.

Suffering and evil exert a force that either pushes us away from God or pulls us toward Him. But if personal suffering gives sufficient evidence that God doesn’t exist, then surely I shouldn’t wait until I suffer to conclude He’s a myth. If my suffering would one day justify denying God, then I should deny Him now in light of other people’s suffering.

Believing that God exists is not the same as trusting the God who exists. A nominal Christian often discovers in suffering that his faith has been in his church, family, career, or social network, but not Christ. As he faces evil and suffering, he may find his beliefs shaken or even destroyed. But genuine faith—trusting God even when we don’t understand—will be made stronger and purer.

The last three paras have been excerpted from Randy Alcorn’s book “90 Days of God’s Goodness”.

YOU NEED GOD’S WORD – IT IS LIFE

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“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

How good is this Scripture for teaching us how to live the Christian life, to be a Kingdom warrior, to do the will of God, to live life with an eternal focus now.

1. REJOICE ALWAYS

2. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

3. GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

4. DO NOT QUENCH (OR GRIEVE) THE HOLY SPIRIT – The Holy Spirit indwells the Spirit of every believer. Jesus sacrifice on our behalf made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to be our counsellor, teacher and comforter. He produces the fruit of the Spirit (9) in our lives and He provides the gifts of the Spirit (9) for ministry.

5. DO NOT DESPISE PROPHECY BUT TEST EVERYTHING (WITH SCRIPTURE)

6. HOLD FAST WHAT IS GOOD

7. ABSTAIN FROM EVERY FORM OF EVIL

ENCOUNTERING MISGUIDED PROPHECIES

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This story provides an important lesson in the what we do with prophetic messages, regardless of who gives them, particularly when they relate to God’s call on your life.

Twenty-three-year-old George Whitefield sat on a ship ready to sail for America from the port of Deal, located approximately 70 miles southeast of London. For some time, he had experienced a compelling call to preach the gospel to colonial America and now the day for his departure had finally arrived. His heart was filled with gratitude, excitement and expectation.

As he waited for the ship’s crew to hoist anchor and sail, a letter was delivered to him from John Wesley who had just returned from a failed mission to Georgia. He opened the letter and was stunned by what he read. Wesley wrote that when he saw that the same wind that brought him in was taking Whitefield out, he inquired of the Lord about Whitefield’s journey. Wesley emphatically stated that the word God gave him for Whitefield was, “Let him return to London.”

Whitefield was shocked and momentarily confused. Wesley was 10 years his senior and had been a mentor to him. He held the Wesley brothers, John and Charles, in very high esteem. However, this word from John contradicted everything he believed about his call to America.

Whitefield went to prayer, and as he prayed, there came to his mind a story from the Old Testament about a “man of God” who lost his life because he listened to the words of an “old prophet” instead of diligently adhering to what God had instructed him.

I Kings 13 tells this story of the unnamed “man of God” whom God instructed to go to Bethel and prophesy against the idolatrous altars that had been established there by King Jeroboam. God also instructed him not to stop to eat or drink but to return directly home to Judah when he had completed his assignment.

Based on this directive from the Lord, he went to Bethel. As he prophesied against the idolatrous altars, they miraculously split apart, and the ashes were poured out on the ground. As he departed Bethel according to the Lord’s instructions, an “old prophet,” who heard of what had happened, saddled his donkey, caught up with the “man of God” and invited him to his home to eat and drink.

When the “man of God” recounted to the “old prophet” what the Lord had instructed him, the “old prophet” said, “‘I am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house so that he may eat bread and drink water'” (1 Kings 13:18). The “old prophet,” however, was lying.

The “man of God” went back with the “old prophet” in contradiction to the instructions the Lord had given him; and as a result of his disobedience, he lost his life and was not buried in the burial ground of his ancestors.

With this story so vividly impressed on his mind, Whitefield knew what he must do. He sent back a reply to Wesley in which he said, “I cannot return to London.” Whitefield said no to Wesley’s “thus saith the Lord.”

History has demonstrated that Whitefield made the correct decision, for he became the major figure in the Great Awakening that rocked Colonial America and prepared her for statehood. Everywhere he went, great revival followed his preaching.

Because of God’s blessing on his labors, he became the most recognizable person in colonial America and Thomas S. Kidd, who teaches history at Baylor University, calls him “America’s Spiritual Founding Father.”

We can all be thankful that Whitefield said no to Wesley’s “thus saith the Lord.”

ANTICHRIST AND DECEPTION

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Another important teaching from Nelson Walters on the “end times” Most Christians and prophecy teachers focus on the physical implications of the Great Tribulation. Jesus and Paul focused primarily on the spiritual implications – especially on the deception of Antichrist which will lead to the falling away. In this video learn how Matt. 24, the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and 2 Thess. 2 are all interrelated and give important application for the church today.

THE “RARE JEWEL” THAT IS ISRAEL

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A former Australian lawmaker publicly chastised the Arab world for not appreciating the “rare jewel” that is Israel.

Australia’s Sky News hosted an interview with former Australian MP, Ross Cameron, who expressed admiration for the Jewish people and sent a message to the Arab world, praising Israel as a “rare jewel” and “one of the best things going for the Middle East.”

According to Cameron, Israel and the Jewish people lays claim to “the most awesome story of human survival ever written.”

The only thing missing from this amazing report by Ross Cameron is the WHY and WHO of this “rare jewel” that is Israel. YAWEH birthed, established and preserves His nation for His purposes. God said in His Word that His nation would be a blessing to all nations of the world and in Jesus and many other ways this is truth.

PROPHECY IN THE LAST DAYS

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Listen to Messianic Jew Asher Intrater expound on prophecy in these last days. He is the founder and apostolic leader of Revive Israel Ministries and oversees Ahavat Yeshua congregation in Jerusalem and Tiferet Yeshua congregation in Tel Aviv.

The concept of prophecy developed in stages throughout the Scriptures. The early patriarchs had many, direct prophetic encounters with God. Then Moses brought the prophetic experience to a higher level and became the “father” of the prophets. Moses prayed for all the people of God to be able to prophesy and receive the Holy Spirit (Num. 11:29), but this prayer was only answered at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost/Shavuot.

Moses’ prophecies reached a height at the end of his life in the last chapters of Deuteronomy–hinting at almost everything that we have in the rest of the Bible, even to the end of the book of Revelation. In fact, the idea that all the people of Israel would be saved in the end times, and that this would come about by the “fullness” of the gentile nations “provoking them to jealousy,” finds its first mention here, calling Israel “a people saved” (Deut. 32:20-21, 33:29; Rom. 10:19, 11:11, 25-26).

When the children of Israel came into the Promised Land, the early prophets (Samuel through Elisha) spoke primarily concerning David’s kingdom. They believed that the kingdom of God was the kingdom of David. After several hundred years, the prophets realized there was something fundamentally wrong, because David’s sons kept falling into sin and idolatry. A turning point occurred when King Uzziah died, and Isaiah had a vision of a glorious divine king (Isa. 6:1-6; John 12:40-41). From that time forward, the prophets then began to speak of the “Messiah” on a higher level.

Yeshua is revealed as that King-Messiah in the Gospels. After Yeshua was crucified, resurrected, and ascended, God began pouring out the Holy Spirit on all who would believe (Acts 2:1-4, 17), both Jew and Gentile Thus the prophetic gifts and revelations were made available to all in the New Covenant Church or “ecclesia” (1 Cor. 14:26, 31)

Now we are coming into the last stage of biblical prophecy, the prophecy of the end times. This new stage of prophecy is a consummation of both Israelite and church prophecy. If the prophecies of restoration for the nation of Israel are one “eye,” and the prophecies of the “fullness” of the worldwide ecclesia are the other “eye,” then it is time to open both eyes!! This could only happen after a 2,000-year history in which now the Messianic remnant in Israel and the international ecclesia are both coming into their “fullness” (Rom. 11:12, 15, 25).

The prophet Isaiah said: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor” (Isa. 61:1).

Yeshua quoted this verse in the gospel of Luke. The second verse in Isaiah 61 states “to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” In the gospels, the quote ends here. In Isaiah, the verse goes on to say, “(to proclaim) the day of vengeance of our God.”

The first part of the prophecy had to do with Yeshua’s message of grace and salvation, which began at that time, but the “day of vengeance” was to come much later in the end times. It will occur at the second coming of Yeshua during a time of judgment and war. Yeshua will lead an army from heaven to destroy the wicked, drive demons off the planet, raise the dead, and set up His kingdom. “The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever’ (Rev. 11:15).

Biblical “prophecy” today includes sharing the gospel, encouraging the church, the restoration of Israel and also confronting the nations with the soon coming kingdom: “The king is returning to take back the kingdoms of this world.” This type of prophecy was not fully possible until our generation. I believe God is offering a “double” prophetic anointing to enable us to speak of God’s destiny for Israel, the church and the nations in these end times.

OUR DESTINY IS NOT HEAVEN BUT ON A NEW EARTH

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Many in the church think that our final destiny is heaven. It seems like that’s what Jesus promised when He said, “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also” (John 14:3). But that is not the end of the story, because in Revelation, John declares that the place Jesus is preparing will ultimately come “down out of the new heaven from God to the new earth ” (Rev. 21:2) Scripture doesn’t conclude with God’s children floating on clouds up there, but with God living with His saints down on a new earth.

 

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For the Jews, Jerusalem is:

1. The home of God on earth. David sings “praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion” (Ps. 9:11a). Asaph calls on God to remember “Mount Zion, where you have lived” (Ps. 74:2c) and God Himself concludes the prophecy of Joel with the cheer, “The LORD dwells in Zion!” (Joel 3:21).

2. The place where God will defeat the powers of evil. Zechariah prophesies that God will destroy all of His enemies at a climactic battle in Jerusalem (Zech. 12:1–9; 14:12–15). Joel prophesies “Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, sound the alarm on My holy mountain! All the inhabitants of the earth will tremble, because the day of the Lord has come, because it is near” (Joel 2:1). Amos adds, “The LORD roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem” (Amos 1:2a). Isaiah declares that “the Lord of Hosts (shall) come down to fight for Mount Zion, and for its hill” (Isa. 31:4c).

3. The source of blessing for the world.  Psalm 46:4 states, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.” Ezekiel 47 adds that this river, which begins in the temple, runs from Jerusalem all the way to the sea. The sea then carries its new fertile, fresh water to the ends of the earth. He writes: “By the river upon its bank, on this side and on that side, shall grow all kinds of trees for food, whose leaf shall not fade nor shall its fruit fail. They shall bring forth fruit according to their months, because their water issues out of the sanctuary. And their fruit shall be for food and their leaves for medicine” (Ezek. 47:12).

God’s City

All of the O.T. prophets were shown Jerusalem would eventually be restored. Even before the carnage began, Isaiah announced that God would keep His promise. “Good news” would eventually come to Jerusalem, for “the glory of the LORD will be revealed” there—in a way that no one would expect (Isa. 40:1-11). God’s glory was revealed when the Son of God came to earth. Jesus recognised the importance of Jerusalem, and He was “steadfastly set to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). There, He defeated the powers of evil before the dwelling place of God. His death provided life-giving water for the world. John records Jesus saying, “He who believes in me, … out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.” John then explains, “By this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believe in him would receive” (John 7:38-39). The Spirit came to Jerusalem on Pentecost, where the life-giving water of the gospel bubbled up, streamed into Samaria and finally poured “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Those who are washed will join Jesus when He brings His new Jerusalem to the new earth.

New City

John’s Revelation consummates the biblical focus on the new Jerusalem. Its descent from heaven means:

  1. God is with us. John writes, “And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying, “Look! The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them. They shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Rev. 21:3). Three times in this verse, John says that God will live with His people. The biblical story doesn’t end with God taking us up to live with him, but with God coming down to live with us. He is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matt. 1:23).
  2. Evil has been vanquished forever. Jesus will return and “wipe every tear” from our eyes. “Neither shall there be any more sorrow nor crying nor pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4b). This perfect bliss will continue forever, for “No unclean thing shall ever enter” the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:27).
  3. The entire world flourishes under the blessing of God. In spectacular fulfilment of Ezekiel’s vision, John declares that a river of life will flow “from the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street” (Rev. 22:1b-2a). Its waters will nourish the tree of life, which bears monthly fruit, and leaves that heal the nations. Every nation bears the scars of their bloody attempts to achieve peace and prosperity. Their wars will continue until the end, when Jesus brings His kingdom of peace to earth and reigns over our world from the new Jerusalem. John closes his letter, and the entire Bible, with the only appropriate response: “Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20b).

GOD WILL RESTORE ISRAEL: HE IS FAITHFUL

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Will God restore Israel? No question, the wayward child will be restored. He is faithful. His promises are not dependent on Israel being faithful just as His promises to the church don’t depend upon our faithfulness.

He will return to save them, restore them, and rule and reign from a restored Jerusalem for one thousand years (Millennial reign). Good to hear Joel Richardson devastate the Preterist view (a perverted and evil view) of end times.

The primary focus and prophetic burden of all the O.T. prophets is the return of the Messiah and the events that surround His coming. God was gracious to show each one of them the end of the story – the “Day of the Lord” when he comes to defeat Israel’s enemies and He rules and reigns from Jerusalem in the Millennium.

Joel does a great job of unpacking the different positions held on the identity of  Mystery Babylon.

PREPARE FOR PERSECUTION AS YOU STAND ON THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD

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Paul provides the model of how to behave in the dark days ahead and how to finish strongly. Jesus told us that in the “last days” the love of many will grow cold. There will be a great falling away in the church (Apostasy), even the elect deceived.

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Note many friends will leave you as they did Paul, “Demas in love with this present world has deserted me.” If you are doing God’s will, many will harm you as they did Paul “Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm”. In fact, Paul says, “no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me.” BUT Paul also says, “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the (GOSPEL) message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it. 

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defence no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:6-18