Books For Christian - Prophetic Vision For The 21st Century

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 0785269363
Pages: 228
Book Type: Paperback
Size: 0.79 x 8.94 x 5.99 inches
Released Date: Oct 1999

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Table Of Contents

Rick Joyner says, "We have tended to over-focus on the end of the age-the end times. But this is not just the end, it's the beginning of a new age when Christ will rule over the earth! For the church to reclaim the high ground of hope for the future, we must begin to proclaim the beginning, the coming of the kingdom." In A Prophetic Vision for the 21st Century, Joyner discusses why revival tarries for America, what it means to be delivered from the Mark of the Beast, the rise and fall of America, the greatest awakening, a famine in the land, and practical ways to serve in the latter days. It includes encouragement for weary church leaders, as well as the second part of The Hordes of Hell are Marching, illustrating the unified church rising as an army in the most pivotal battle of all time between the light and darkness.

The Call
An important prophecy is given in Acts 2:17¿18:

In the last days, the Lord will pour forth of His Spirit on all mankind, and the result will be that prophecy will flow through all of His servants. This will include both men and women, old and young. However, this pouring out of the Spirit and prophecy will be not just for our entertainment but also because we will need it to accomplish the last-day mandate of the church.

I have experienced a considerable amount of prophecy in my own life. After my conversion in 1971, I have had, at times, an ability to foresee certain future events accurately, but usually in a very general sense. I could also occasionally look at people and know details about them, such as problems they were having or spiritual callings on their life. I understood this ability to be the biblical gifts of a word of knowledge and prophecy. Though I understood the usefulness of these gifts in ministry to people, I did not have much interest in the biblical prophecies of end-time events. For the next eighteen years, I did not seek visions, revelations, or the knowledge to understand these end times and remained mostly ignorant of many of the popular end-time scenarios taught within the church. I have actually been much more oriented toward church history than seeking to know impending events.

After several years in the full-time ministry, I was convicted that I was shallow in my personal relationship with the Lord, and, therefore, in my ministry as well. I felt like a real Martha, busy doing so many things for Him that I never really got to know Him. My lack of intimacy with the Lord caused me to lean more on formulas and procedures than the anointing that is essential to giving life to truth.

In 1980, I determined to leave the ministry until I had recovered the simplicity of devotion to Christ. I was a pilot by profession, so I took a job flying corporate aircraft. This gave me a lot of free time for study and prayer. I found a church where I could sit on the back row and just enjoy the fellowship of the people. I was not involved in ministry for the next seven years. Nor did I receive any prophetic revelation or operate in the gifts of the Spirit during that time.

In 1982, I received a specific call to return to the ministry. At the same time, a business opportunity opened. I still felt inadequate and shallow about my ministry. I also had just received the worse personal attack I had ever experienced from the enemy. That attack made me feel even more unprepared for ministry, so I took the business opportunity. Though I did not fall into carnality or what might be considered overt sins, I certainly drifted from the Lord for the next five years as I became consumed with building my business.

In 1987, the Lord again called me back into ministry with the word that my commission would be given to another if I did not return at that time. I did not really know what my "commission" was, but I knew I did not want to lose it, so I responded immediately to this call.

I was quite sure I was not supposed to pastor again, but I really did not know what I was going to do. I had not read a single Christian magazine or watched Christian television for more than seven years. I had little knowledge of what was even going on in the church at large. However, I had written There Were Two Trees in the Garden a few years before, and its popularity had brought me some invitations to speak. I called a few pastors I knew and others who had contacted me because of the book and let them know I was available for ministry.

A month or so later, I returned home after my first ministry trip in more than seven years, feeling as empty and inadequate as ever¿and quite out of step with the churches I had visited. Yet, I was feeling much closer to the Lord; my desire to serve Him in ministry had returned.

The next morning I went into my office to catch up on some paperwork and to pray for insight on what I was to do in the ministry. I felt an overwhelming presence of the Lord. Then, after seven years with no prophetic revelation, I had a three-day prophetic experience in which I felt the Lord tried to catch me up on all I had missed. At this time I wrote The Harvest, which was about the present state of the church and impending events.

Since then, I have had other visions and revelations that were published in books like The Final Quest and The Call. Some of the revelations came in open visions. These were visible, external visions that were like watching a cinema screen. Others were gentle, internal visions that were like having the "eyes of your heart" opened. I usually relate the word vision to the prophetic event of seeing pictures, either internally or externally. I consider revelation to be the receiving of knowledge or understanding beyond our natural ability to attain.

I now have visions and dreams filled with symbolism that requires interpretation, as do most biblical visions. Some of what is shared in this book did not come in vision form but came as a massive anointing with the gift of the word of knowledge. All of a sudden, I knew many details about future events, as though they had been poured into me. In all of this, I have been trying to determine God¿s call on my life and His purpose for His church.

Understanding that prophecy is still "seeing through a glass darkly," and understanding that we only know "in part" (1 Cor. 13:12 kjv), I am aware that what I am sharing must be put together with what others are seeing to be a complete picture. I have tried to share exactly what I have been given to see or understand, but because the canon of Scripture is complete, I do not believe that any prophetic gift today is of the quality of those who wrote Scripture. I believe that this is why we are told in 1 Corinthians 14:29 to "let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment." I do not believe that anyone alive today is infallible. We must judge prophecy regardless of who is speaking. I offer this book to be weighed and prayerfully considered. I believe that His sheep will know His voice, be able to discern that which is from Him, and disregard the rest.

One of the most significant visions for me and for my understanding of the church occurred in 1998 and was published in The Call.

In this vision, I was standing on a high mountain overlooking a great plain. Before me, an army was marching on a wide front. There were twelve divisions in the vanguard that stood out sharply from the great multitude of soldiers who followed behind them. These divisions were further divided into what I assumed to be regiments, battalions, companies, and squads. The divisions were distinguished by their banners, and the regiments were distinguished by their different-colored uniforms.

Then I was close enough to see their faces¿male and female, old and young, from every race. There was fierce resolution on their faces, yet they did not seem tense. War was in the air, but in the ranks I could sense a profound peace. I knew that not a single soldier feared the approaching battle. The spiritual atmosphere I felt when close to them was as awesome as their appearance.

I looked at their uniforms. The colors were brilliant. Every soldier also wore rank insignias and medals. The generals and other officers marched in the ranks with the soldiers. Although it was obvious that those with higher rank were in charge, no one seemed overly sensitive to his rank. From the highest officer to the lowest, they all seemed to be close friends. It was an army of unprecedented discipline, yet it also seemed to be just one big family.

As I studied them, they seemed selfless¿not because they lacked identity, but because they were all so sure of who they were and what they were doing. They were not consumed with themselves or seeking recognition. I could not detect ambition or pride anywhere in the ranks. It was stunning to see so many who were so unique; yet, they were in such harmony and marched in perfect step. I was sure that an army like this had never existed on earth.

Then I was behind the front divisions, looking at a much larger group that was composed of hundreds of divisions. Each of these was a different size, with the smallest numbering about two thousand and the largest in the hundreds of thousands. Although this group was not as sharp and colorful as the first one, it was an awesome army simply because of its size. This group had banners, but they were not nearly as large and impressive as those of the first group. They all had uniforms and ranks, but I was surprised that many of these did not even have on a full set of armor, and many did not have weapons. The armor and weapons that they did have were not nearly as polished and bright as those of the first group.

As I looked more closely at these ranks, I could see that they were all determined and had purpose, but they lacked the focus of the first group. These soldiers seemed much more aware of their own rank and the rank of those around them. I felt that this was a distraction, hindering their focus. I could also sense ambition and jealousy in the ranks, which unquestionably was a further distraction. Even so, I felt that this second division still had a higher level of devotion and purpose than any army on earth did. This, too, was a very powerful force.

Behind this second army was a third one that marched so far behind the first two armies, I was not sure they could even see the other two groups ahead of them. This group was many times larger than the first and second armies combined, seemingly composed of millions and millions. As I watched from a distance, this army would move in different directions like a great flock of birds, sweeping first one way and then another, never moving in a straight direction for long. Because of this erratic movement, it drifted farther and farther from the first two groups.

As I came closer, I saw that these soldiers had on tattered, dull gray uniforms that were neither pressed nor clean. Almost everyone was bloody and wounded. A few were attempting to march, but most just walked in the general direction in which the others were headed. Fights broke out constantly in the ranks, causing many of the wounds. Some of the soldiers were trying to stay close to the frayed banners scattered throughout their ranks. Even so, not even those near the banners had a clear identity because they were constantly drifting from one banner to another.

In this third army, I was surprised that there were only two ranks¿generals and privates. Only a few had on a piece of armor, and I did not see any weapons except dummy weapons carried by the generals. The generals flaunted these weapons as if having them made the officers special, but even those in the ranks could tell that the weapons were not real. This was sad, because it was obvious that those in the ranks desperately wanted to find someone who was real to follow.

There did not seem to be any ambition except among the generals. This was not because of selflessness as in the first army, but because there was so little caring. I thought that at least the ambition present in the second group would be much better than the confusion that prevailed in this group. The generals here seemed to be more intent on talking about themselves and fighting one another, which the little groups around the banners were constantly doing. I could then see that the battles within the ranks caused the great sweeping, erratic changes of directions this group made from time to time.

As I looked at the millions in the last group, I felt that even with their great numbers, they did not actually add strength to the army but instead weakened it. In a real battle, they would be much more of a liability than an asset. Just sustaining them with food and protection would cost more in resources than any value they could add to the army¿s fighting ability. A private in the first or second group would be worth more than many generals from the third. I could not understand why the first groups even allowed this group to tag along behind them. They obviously were not true soldiers.

Later, I was standing in the Hall of Judgment before the judgment seat. The Lord appeared as Wisdom, but I had never seen Him more fierce nor His words come with more weight.

"You have already seen this army in your heart many times. The leaders I am commissioning now will lead this army. I am sending you to many of these leaders. What will you say to them?"

"Lord, this is a great army, but I am still grieved about the condition of the third group. I do not understand why they are even allowed to pretend to be a part of Your army. I would like to say that before they go any farther, the first and second armies should turn and drive away this third group. They are really little more than a huge mob."

"What you saw today is still in the future. The ministries I am about to release will gather this army and equip them to be all that you saw. At this time, almost My entire army is in the condition of the third group. How can I let them be driven away?"

This stunned me, although I knew I had never seen any of the Lord¿s people who were in as good shape as even the second group of this army.

"Lord, I know I felt Your anger at this group. If almost Your entire army is now in that condition, I am just thankful that You have not destroyed all of us. When I was looking at this third group, I felt that their deplorable condition was due to a lack of training, equipping, and vision, as well as a failure to embrace the cross that circumcises the heart."

Sometime later, I was no longer before the judgment seat, but on the mountain overlooking the army again. Wisdom was standing beside me. He was resolute, but I no longer felt the pain and anger that I had felt before.

"I have allowed you to see a little into the future," Wisdom began. "I am sending you to those who are called to prepare My army and lead it. These are the ones who have been fighting the battle on the mountain. These are the ones who have met the army of the accuser and remained faithful. These are the ones who have watched over My people and protected them at the risk of their own lives. They are called to be leaders in My army who will fight in the great battle at the end and will stand without fear against all the powers of darkness.

"As you can see, this army is marching, but there will be times when it camps. The camping is as important as the marching. It is the time for planning, training, and sharpening skills and weapons. It is also time for those in the first group to walk among the second, and for the leaders of the second group to walk among the third group, finding those who can be called to the next level. Do this while you can, for the time is near when Revelation 11:1¿2 will be fulfilled, and those who want to be called by My name but do not walk in My ways will be trodden underfoot. Before the last great battle, My army will be holy, even as I am holy. I will remove those who are not circumcised of heart and the leaders who do not uphold My righteousness. When the last battle is fought, there will be no third group as you see here.

"Until now when My army has camped, most of the time has been wasted. Just as I only lead My people forward with a clear objective, so it is that when I call My army to camp, there is a purpose. The strength of the army that marches will be determined by the quality of its camp. When it is time to stop and camp for a season, it is to teach My people My ways. An army is an army whether it is in battle or at peace. You must learn how to camp, how to march, and how to fight. You will not do any one of these well unless you do them all well.

"You will come to a time in the future when you see My army exactly as it is now. At that time, you will feel My burning anger. Know that I will no longer abide those who remain in the condition of the third group. Then I will stop the march of the entire army until those in this group have been disciplined either to become soldiers or be dispersed. I will discipline those in the second group to cast off their evil ambitions and live for Me and My truth. Then My army will march forth, not to destroy but to give life. I will be in the midst of them to tread My enemies under this army¿s feet. I am coming to be the Captain of the Host!"

I believe that every Christian will march in one of these three armies in the twenty-first century. One of the factors that will determine where each of us belongs is how well we have been trained for service. Now is the time to camp. Now is the time for planning, training, and sharpening skills and weapons. This book is the result of the last ten years of hearing from the Lord both in visions and revelations. I hope that it can serve as something of a training manual for those who seek to answer God¿s call to know the Lord and serve Him in the coming perilous days.

Satan¿s ultimate goal is to populate hell. His greatest ally for accomplishing this goal is death, and his most effective means for bringing about death is war. Instigating war in any form, between anyone he can get to fight, is one of his most basic strategies. He views every war as a victory, and the most destructive ones as some of his greatest achievements. Just as Jesus is the Prince of Peace, Satan is the prince of war.

Some "righteous wars" are fought for righteous causes. Even so, the church should view every war as a significant defeat, even if the side of righteousness prevails. They are defeats because the Lord has invested an authority in the church for waging spiritual warfare, which, if exercised properly, can accomplish the goals of righteous causes without the destruction of war. Just as Jesus was sent to destroy the works of the devil, we have been sent into the world with this same commission.

The ultimate conflict between life and death is about to enter its last and greatest battle. It will rage from one end of the earth to the other, in every city and town, on every social, philosophical, and political front. A time is coming when every debate, every political campaign, and every social movement will be seen as a battle line between these ultimate spiritual forces. There will be no neutral ground, no truces, and no peace in this war. This will be both the most dangerous and the most opportune time for Christianity since the beginning.

Every warrior in this battle is given positions to defend and positions to take from the enemy. We must defend our families, our congregations, and our places of work against the words of death. At the same time, we must work each day to extend the kingdom¿s domain.

Our battle maps are our prayer lists. We must have specific targets. We must "box in such a way, as not beating the air" (1 Cor. 9:26), but knowing what we are hitting. As we gain dominion over the smaller assignments, we will be given more authority to go after bigger strongholds. For instance, those who take spiritual dominion over their families will then be given their neighbors and their families. Those who take their neighborhoods will then be given their cities. Joel described the army of the Lord:

Christians must view every encounter with others as an opportunity to sow life. This does not mean that we must declare the plan of salvation to every checkout clerk or waitress, but we must take a stand for God¿s kingdom by resolutely maintaining our position in Christ. This position is always demonstrated by the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Whenever we can endure the often trying and unfair encounters of life without compromising our position in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we are extending the limits of the kingdom of God.

One of the greatest demonstrations of the Spirit I have ever witnessed was not a miracle, but a situation in an airline ticket line.

Because of problems with incoming flights and other delays, the line to one connection had grown to many more people than could be processed in the short time before the flight was to depart. Strife and impatience were rising to the point where I seriously thought the situation was going to get out of control.

At the worst possible moment, just after more bad news had been announced, two large, boisterous women, each carrying two huge suitcases, started pushing their way through the line, demanding to go to the front. I do not recall ever witnessing more obnoxious attitudes. Even though they were women, I was fully expecting someone to deck them both. Then, to my dismay, they headed right toward my friend who was in line for the flight.

As others were actually beginning to jostle the two women, my friend instinctively raced to their assistance, asking if he could help them with their bags and offering them his own position near the front of the line. This action was so contrary to the prevailing spirit that everyone was stunned. A great quiet came over the entire scene. As my friend picked up his own bags and moved to the back of the line, every eye was on him. The two women were also undone by the unexpected, undeserved kindness.

The agents, who had also witnessed the scene, suddenly became agreeable and somehow the flight was delayed enough to get everyone on it. I have witnessed many miracles of biblical stature, but that airport scene still stands out to me as a profound demonstration of the kingdom. As hell was fast gaining control of a volatile situation, moving it toward potentially serious strife, Satan brought in two of his biggest guns and aimed them right at the Christian, who quickly disarmed the enemy and his entire host with one genuine act of kindness.

We have been given this same power in every situation. When strife arises in our family or at the office, we can join the side of the enemy or the side of the Prince of Peace. Our choice will almost certainly determine the outcome. If we are the only one who joins with the Lord, the result will still be the same: Evil will be overcome by good. One person plus the Lord always make a majority. This book is an attempt to help Christians make this choice in the new millennium.

I have divided the book into three main sections. Part 1, which you are reading now, asks the question: How shall we then live? Part 2 is a guide for individual Christians in the twenty-first century. It contains many of the practical tools we will need to fulfill our commission in the days ahead. I begin with a vision, "Field of Dreams or Nightmares?" which predicts economic turmoil in the coming years. In this section we consider our personal responsibility in our finances, our relationship with other Christians, and our continuous battle against the enemy. We cannot serve in God¿s army if we are not living in His righteousness. We will also look at ways to deal with the storms that lie ahead, how to know God¿s call for our lives, and how to hear His voice amid the cacophony in our world today.

Part 3 is a guide for each Christian as a member of the entire army of God: the church. What is the church¿s call in the days ahead? And why has she seemed to miss her call in the twentieth century? We will look at the devil¿s strategy to blind the world through the New Age movement, and why he has advanced so far in the twentieth century. Next I will share a vision, "War and Glory," that depicts civil war in the church. Like the American Civil War, this war will ultimately lead to a more perfect union. Then we will look at the next wave of change in the church. This understanding was also inspired by a vision, "The Next Wave Is upon Us." We will ask and answer the question, Why has revival tarried for America? and look at a vision, "A Bridge to Revival," that I had in 1997. Finally, we will look at how the church can put on spiritual binoculars so that she can see into the twenty-first century.

The ultimate goal of the church is to populate heaven. Our weapon is the gospel of salvation, the words of everlasting life. The knowledge of salvation is the most precious gift anyone can have, and we, the church, have been entrusted with it. The church is about to be given the words of life with greatly increased power. These words will be spiritual bombs and hand grenades with the power to destroy even the most effective strongholds of the enemy. Individual statements spoken by Christians to nonbelievers will be able to unravel the intricate webs of deception the enemy has taken years to weave. Public statements by Christians will undo the enemy¿s propaganda, which has been built on thousands of books, articles, and public statements throughout the twentieth century.

This power in words will not be gained cheaply. Those who are given this authority will have faithfully waged wars against their own tongues and their own wayward thoughts, bringing them into submission to the Holy Spirit. Pure waters must come from pure wells. The degree to which our own lives are pure will be the degree to which the waters of life can flow through us: "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life" (Prov. 4:23).

At the end of the vision in The Call, I saw the glory of all ages in a single moment. I saw the earth and the heavens as one. I saw myriads of angels and myriads of people who were more glorious than any angel I had yet seen. These were all serving in the Lord¿s house. That is our quest, to see the glory of the Lord revealed through His people.

It is my prayer that through this book you will better know the call that is on the life of every believer and especially understand how it relates to our own times. Biblical prophecy is clear about one thing: Before the end comes, the church will become the glorious bride she is called to be, one worthy of our great Savior. A generation is going to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 60:1¿5. Why not this one?