By Mac Bridger
The small market town I live in among the Devon, England countryside, is surrounded by hills. Today the hills stand out clear and bright and I know the sun which is currently shining on the September hues, will still be shinning at the end of the day. Another day I look out and see them shrouded in cloud. Okay, I’ll probably watch the clouds to see which way the wind is blowing, but I know it’s almost certainly going to rain pretty soon.
We can tell the signs for the weather, but what about the spiritual temperature? Where are we in the long-awaited move towards the return of Jesus? Yes, I do think there will be a physical return of the actual Jesus. There are always skeptics ready to suggest it’ll never happen, but I’m encouraged by the fact that Peter told folks to expect this in the end times. That there will be loads of people saying, “Everything’s going on just the way it has for ages. You’re mistaken if you think Jesus will come back!” (2 Peter 3.4)
If momentous things happen in the world, which seem to be outside of our control, maybe God’s involved? Even the bit of Jesus’ teaching we usually call, “The Lord’s Prayer,” has the phrase, “…on earth, as it is in heaven”. So, having seen the almost complete collapse of the world’s financial systems towards the end of last year, what can we discern from this? Did something happen in heaven last year, the effect of which was the banking collapse? I know that man’s mistakes were central to the problem, but was there anything behind it?
When I was talking to Father in about April/May last year, I got the distinct sense that He said, “I am raising up my end time army.” Being someone who likes to look through The Book to verify what I think Father’s saying, I tried to find such a phrase. No luck yet! However, looking at the various passages about the end times, it definitely seems as if there is going to be a polarization as the last days, or the end times, get near.
Now, before I get loads of responses saying that we will not know the day and the hour, I’m very well aware of that. I’ve no idea when Jesus will come back again, and from my readings in The Book, there are still some things that need to happen before the Jesus cloud arrives. From reading the gospels, I also note a difference between the end times and the end of the end times. The first we have wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, disasters. The second we have men’s hearts failing them for fear of the things that are happening in the stars. We’re not there yet!
The challenge is, am I prepared to be involved in the end time army, even if there are still several decades to go? Those who are sold out for Jesus. Who are more interested in building that army than building an empire. Those who can live within God’s economy, rather than man’s economy.
I think something has changed in the heavenlies. Time will tell if I’m right, but I think we have come in to a new season. Somebody described it earlier this year as a moving on from the feast of Pentecost to the feast of tabernacles. That the revival in Lakeland was the last under the previous season, and that Father is doing something new. Under the feast of tabernacles, the strangers were welcomed in. Is this a herald of the last harvest, even if that harvest takes several decades to complete?
Because I get the impression Father’s doing something different, I’ve no idea yet what it’s going to look like. I know we have to somehow get this message of Jesus out to those who don’t yet understand it, but I’m also aware that I have to let God take the lead. If I’m right, and God has changed something, I have to be prepared to let Him be in charge. It’s a bit frustrating for someone who likes to plan and organize, but on this one, all I can do is get myself ready.
So is God saying anything in addition to heralding a new season? Not sure really. It certainly shows that the world’s financial systems are a bit fragile. But the thing that strikes me is the realization that it is perfectly possible for the world economy to collapse in such a way as to lead to the anti-Christ being able to take over the banking systems of the world.
The world as described in Revelation, really could become a reality in your lifetime!
Mac is in what people call the third age of life. He’s planted churches, been an evangelist, been involved in church leadership at different levels for 40 years. He still has a sense of destiny for the next move of God, writes worship songs, preaches and teaches and senses the raising up of the end time army. Above all he is an encourager. For information, check out his website.