10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 1:10.
The Lord has been warning me of changes coming and our preparedness for them. The world is going crazy as policy choices are now reaping what the seeds of iniquity that has been sowed in the last 40 years, both in the world and the Church.
I have written many times on this Scripture. We have to take this from a contextual and historical dimension as we can compare the century that John lived and modern times and take from them lesson that will awaken our spirit to prepare.
From the time of Revelation a great warning is given, from heaven’s perspective. It comes from the window of “I was in the Spirit” which is a key for us to prepare, to envision. John had been through the personal price of following Jesus. He is banished to Patmos.
The Gateway to this warning starts with him “in the Spirit” which should be an indication of where we need to get to, to see first what we need to see and meet. Revelation chapter 1 speaks about John’s meeting with the Ascended and Glorified Lord. This must be our first base in our day also. Historically John is warning the Church that a great persecution was coming. After the scattering of Jerusalem in 70 AD starts the scattering of the Jews and persecution of Christians. This lasts 300 years. In those years we not only see the persecutions, we also see great defining moments of the Church.
Many people do not see beyond the first Apostles, yet there is a collection of Early Church Fathers who steered those early saints not only through political turbulence but also theological attack. Revelation must indicate to us the route through to the fulfilment of the heavenly vision. For John this starts at the first base “In the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” shows how we need to be and when. The Lord’s Day indicates to me a day of visitation. Jesus speaks about this as being an opportunity to recognise Jesus WITH us, according to Luke 19. Jesus is looking toward AD70 and seeing the heartbreak of a destroyed Jerusalem, yet again the destruction of the Temple.
Here in the same prophetic insight John warns of the very difficult days ahead for the Church. It is obvious that John had to meet in person He that won over, overcame death, seated on the Throne of the Holy Hill.
The Lord’s Day is Jesus’ day to be revealed afresh, and it is obvious however your Church celebrates and how it executes its Liturgy there must be a fresh revelation of Jesus. This revelation shows us that in every dimension He is superior, more powerful and a great warrior as the Son of David. The eyes of fire speak of His overcoming purity that burns out all unrighteousness, the belt of truth that breaks the power of all deception. His feet as burned brass denoting the purifying process from iniquity to holiness via His own death, resurrection. The two edged sword cuts covenant and cuts off our enemies, and discerns between soul and spirit. His countenance cannot be seen without our spiritual eyes being purified by the Sanctification of the Holy Spirit.
The Church instead of looking inward into the needs of humanity needs to be in the Spirit so that from that dimension we can meet with the Christ we need to become acquainted with. This same Jesus who won over death and hell also makes it possible for the Church to also win over the power of death, and hell. The power of death is broken unfortunately through the blood of the saints. Many many saints died in those persecuted centuries. And today is no different. The enemy is now rising up and double standards everywhere makes it possible for the enemy to take over in these situations. So the tendency is for the Church to pay the ultimate price. This is only possible when we take the example of Enoch, that we love God more than life itself.
When you consider what the enemy is trying to do, is reproduce the pre-flood situation where celestial material, however fallen is joining with humanity, hence God sent the flood. We have now the same issue, AI joining with man to produce the satanic utopia. Jesus said a major indication of the Coming of the Lord is based in this context, Satanic joining with humanity once again.
The fact is that the persecution lasted till Constantine, then as Constantine embraced the Gospel so the Roman empire fell and divided, and it seems that on the back of the blood of the saints God used this to sow to Judgment and recompense to the saints. The Empire was no more and the saints could enter their rest.
It seems that this same process could start again. The blood of the saints, in the fullness of Marturia (witness) paves the way for kings and governments to fall, and the Church outlasts all. Is it not the testimony that the Church has outlasted many empires? Is it not glorious that as we keep our meeting with the Glorious Christ in our lives, we even enter our eternal estate having given the most ultimate of sacrifices?
Revelation 19 reveals the system that covers the earth, a city that became a system called Babylon. And just as Babylon with her harlotry mixing perversion with merchandise, government with perversion and tyranny. Yet in one night did Belshazzar fall, so this modern Babylon will fall, but first exposed as a despised rejected prostitute that masqueraded as the Bride. Yet the Bride comes not from the earth to above, but from above does she descend!
When you consider the journey John makes from being “in the Spirit” in chapter 1, to the New Jerusalem in chapter 22. Many processes are revealed on the way, and it indicates the route we shall take also. The fulness of the Spirit opens the door to all these experiences.
John watches as the seals, trumpets and bowls, 3 sets of judgments upon the earth which make up the rolling up of the age. He is watching from heaven’s perspective. It is here we need to disengage with the world’s narrative. We need to discern out Jesus’ processes.
We need therefore to prepare for the very hard times ahead. The way we start is finding out how we can be in the Spirit, and when we are in the Spirit that His Day dawns on us.
Maranatha!
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