it came upon a midnight...clear
A Prophetic PerspectiveThousands of years had passed. Prophecy after prophecy had been foretold. Still, no one knew, but God, that after midnight turned the day, this particular night in Bethlehem, Judea, Israel that the curtain would be pulled back and the clear light would shine.
Our pastor asked our Zoom congregation on a recent bible study---what was the significance of Christmas? Responses varied. As any pastor would hope from his flock, most answers were founded in scriptures. As a church elder, I am usually reserved in answering questions at meetings giving opportunity for the laity to share. Although I didn’t share at the time, a prophetic word came to me. Christmas is God keeping His Word. Perhaps the most familiar (and simplest) reference is found in St. Luke’s narrative, chapter two.
“And it came to past in those days.”
Christmas is not just celebrating the Son of God’s birthday on December 25, but an affirmation, on whatever day we choose, to praise God for His faithfulness. Not only is Christmas a holy day, it’s also a prophetic day. One after one, confirmations were proclaimed, since the first declaration in Genesis 3:15. The Almighty decreed--- “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This is really the second messianic revelation. The first was written millenniums later. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.---Revelations 13:8 A study found in newtestamentchristians.com lists 351 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ---His coming and His life. A Yearly Eye Exam My wife returned from her yearly eye examination the other day. As part of the process, they dropped a liquid in her eyes that dilated her pupils so the doctor can see inside. As a result, the solutions left her eyes momentarily blurry. The exam that looks for possible abnormalities immediately results in blurred vision. |
2020 has been a year of blurred vision, to say the least. Ironically, despite its calendar designation “2020” (the term used by optometrists to express perfect eyes sight---distant, close up, and clarity), the year has been viewed far from that. In fact, from both the observer and participator's perspective, the year has been a murky cloud of events---census, censorship, news, politics, quarantines, economic disaster, disease, death, violence, and protest.
It has been a year of opinions and oppositions from heresy to hearsay. It's been a year of retrospect and reclarification. It's been a year of division within fellows and time of coming together for constitution and cause. It's been a year of the prophetic. Prophecies have been promoted daily from those in the Church labeled as God's prophets and those unwarrantedly toting the name, such as the reporters in the secular news media.
It has been a year of opinions and oppositions from heresy to hearsay. It's been a year of retrospect and reclarification. It's been a year of division within fellows and time of coming together for constitution and cause. It's been a year of the prophetic. Prophecies have been promoted daily from those in the Church labeled as God's prophets and those unwarrantedly toting the name, such as the reporters in the secular news media.
And I give all respect to those whose holy calling rest in the Church, for I also walk in this 5-fold calling according to Ephesians 4:11. Many prophets have come under fire within the calling this year as some of the “Word of the Lord” seemingly is not yet manifested. It was at the beginning of the year the Lord said to me that “2020” would be “the year of the prophet and prophetic deposition."
Interestingly, in 2 Chronicles 2020, King Jehoshaphat leading Israel in a battle that God was going to fight for them, declares and admonished his army. “Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.” |
Exegetically, the strength of 2 Chronicles is not the prophet’s ministry but believing the LORD first. Confidence in God's immutability to his covenant and His keeping of His children is mountain top in a believer’s life. Hebrews 11:5,6 says the first stability of the day, year, or life is believing that God “is”. Attached to it is believing God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.
Briefly, there is a difference between the Old Testament prophet and the New Testament current day. The Old Testament, Divine mouthpiece foretold, and forewarned. Their word, although specific, became scripture upon which to live. The latter "seer" is similar, but their word is not canon. The current day prophet voice must bring light to the written Word of God. The ministries of both eras are to testify of Jesus -----
And I [the Apostle John] fell at his feet to worship him. And he [the angel] said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelations 19:10)
Briefly, there is a difference between the Old Testament prophet and the New Testament current day. The Old Testament, Divine mouthpiece foretold, and forewarned. Their word, although specific, became scripture upon which to live. The latter "seer" is similar, but their word is not canon. The current day prophet voice must bring light to the written Word of God. The ministries of both eras are to testify of Jesus -----
And I [the Apostle John] fell at his feet to worship him. And he [the angel] said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelations 19:10)
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The consequential thing with prophecy is its interpretation or trying to figure it out. Sometimes the message is spelled out word for word. Sometimes, the prophetic word unravels as time –days, years, centuries come and goes. Ultimately, the prophetic word should lead a person (the Church) to prayer and worship of God. In the prophetic word, God exposes His will and calls on His people to participate and pray.
So, we don’t stone the prophets (an Old Testament thing) that prophesy good, life, and hope. We don’t mob the prophets that call us to prayer and repentance. Accordingly, we don’t beat the prophets that preach God’s righteous judgment.
The consequential thing with prophecy is its interpretation or trying to figure it out. Sometimes the message is spelled out word for word. Sometimes, the prophetic word unravels as time –days, years, centuries come and goes. Ultimately, the prophetic word should lead a person (the Church) to prayer and worship of God. In the prophetic word, God exposes His will and calls on His people to participate and pray.
So, we don’t stone the prophets (an Old Testament thing) that prophesy good, life, and hope. We don’t mob the prophets that call us to prayer and repentance. Accordingly, we don’t beat the prophets that preach God’s righteous judgment.
God wants our eyes on Him and not on prophecy alone. If we trust God first, who gave the prophecy, then He’ll bring it to pass even if he has to conformed the environment to His word. God's Truth prevails even if it causes something to happen that has never happened before.
I believe one of the reasons God uses the ministry of the prophet today is as a testament that He’s is very much involved in the lives of His people. Ephesians 4:12-15 says this ministry is one of the preaching gifts for perfection and growth in the church. |
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
1 Corinthians 14:3 says this voice comforts, edifies and exhorts the church. Still true to the name, God uses His NT prophets too foretell and forewarn. Conversely, a Holy Spirit appointed prophet’s word is not always predictive. Often their words are revelatory keys from God to the Church for what they (the Church) should be saying and praying. One of the inspired words God gave me this year was a scripture---John 1:5
1 Corinthians 14:3 says this voice comforts, edifies and exhorts the church. Still true to the name, God uses His NT prophets too foretell and forewarn. Conversely, a Holy Spirit appointed prophet’s word is not always predictive. Often their words are revelatory keys from God to the Church for what they (the Church) should be saying and praying. One of the inspired words God gave me this year was a scripture---John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. NLT
Modern-day prognostications may fail from time to time for many reasons, but the Scripture never will. In the 4000 years before Jesus’s first advent, multitudes doubted the word of the prophets that forecasted His coming. Some postulated theories. Others sought after other beliefs and religious ideologies. But there were the faithful who committed their lives to the prophetic word.
Fulfilling prophecy, Jesus came in a way that no one could have figured out. It was supernatural. It had never been done before. Prophet Isaiah dared to say---
“All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’. (NLT)
Modern-day prognostications may fail from time to time for many reasons, but the Scripture never will. In the 4000 years before Jesus’s first advent, multitudes doubted the word of the prophets that forecasted His coming. Some postulated theories. Others sought after other beliefs and religious ideologies. But there were the faithful who committed their lives to the prophetic word.
Fulfilling prophecy, Jesus came in a way that no one could have figured out. It was supernatural. It had never been done before. Prophet Isaiah dared to say---
“All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’. (NLT)
Predictions for 2021 are already being shared. The Holy Spirit in the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:1) predicts that perilous times will come. Assuredly they are already here. From a one prophetic view these are times of doom and gloom but from another view these are times of refreshing and revival.
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:17-21)
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:18, 19)
As we turn the corner towards 2021, for the world the future may seem nebulous. What is clear is that God is faithful to His Word. Jesus said heaven and earth would pass away before the smallest iota of His Word would fail (Mark 13:31, Matthew 5:18). Clarity for 2020 and 2021 is found as we focus on the---eye chart of His written Word. Steering through, we still look to the windshield of His prophetic voice.
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:17-21)
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:18, 19)
As we turn the corner towards 2021, for the world the future may seem nebulous. What is clear is that God is faithful to His Word. Jesus said heaven and earth would pass away before the smallest iota of His Word would fail (Mark 13:31, Matthew 5:18). Clarity for 2020 and 2021 is found as we focus on the---eye chart of His written Word. Steering through, we still look to the windshield of His prophetic voice.
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7
Amos 3:7
list source:
https://www.newtestamentchristians.com/bible-study-resources/351-old-testament-prophecies-fulfilled-in-jesus-christ/
https://www.newtestamentchristians.com/bible-study-resources/351-old-testament-prophecies-fulfilled-in-jesus-christ/