Due to all the Lord started speaking to us about His soon return, the deception of lawlessness and great falling away of believers, etc. at the end of 2010-beginning of 2011, we’ve been praying that He would break open the seals on all revelation that we need in order to understand the times and know what to do (I Chron 12:32) ~ “LORD, Let the reader (seeker, hearer, seer, dreamer, pray-er, writer) UNDERSTAND!” (Mt 24:15). He has showed us some things that have been mind staggering ~ in a freaked out evil (at times mixed with sci-fi coming too close for comfort) kinda way. (Still seeking Him about these things.)
Earlier this Spring when He was calling us to speak again, He talked about the intense war we are in and brought to mind Revelation 12. I posted 12:17 a couple of times along with Revelation 17:14 because of this:
Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 12:17
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” Revelation 17:14
Last week I felt like the Lord was prompting me to read a note Robin Gatto had written about the Red Dragon. I did a search for those words on all 27 pages of her blog and only found one mention of it ~referring to the note she’d previously written, but the note was nowhere to be found. I didn’t know if she’d deleted it and I’d missed the Lord or what. Later, I felt like He told me it was on her FB page, not her blog. Found it. It had been posted back around the same time the Lord was reminding us of those passages in Revelation 12 and speaking to us about this critical time of spiritual war we’re in. Many think 12:7-9 is referring to a war that took place when Jesus defeated Satan; others have believed this described an event which would take place in the last of the last days. I’m not sure what Robin may have previously believed, but in this note she shared that she believed the Lord was showing her and confirming that this has happened NOW ~ that this war has just taken place in the heavens and the dragon (satan) and his demons have NOW been cast down from their position into the earth to make war against us (those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus v. 17), enraged because he knows his time is short (v.12).
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Revelation 12:7-9
Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” Revelation 12:12
This does not diminish the truth that the church has been at war with him for more than 2000 years, but would only mean that we have gone to another level.
There were other confirmations mentioned in her post from what’s going on in society:
~ the new TV series “Hannibal” (as in Hannibal Lecter) based on the book The Red Dragon
~ that this is the year of the dragon in the Chinese calendar
~ and the Lord even led us to a link about the closing ceremonies of the Olympics that described occult symbolism in the ceremonies and showed the disturbing image of the huge red dragon (or phoenix) that rose up out of the fiery cauldron/sphere at the end of the closing ceremony. (Images of this from the closing ceremony can be seen online).
Interesting. Thought provoking. But we were still not entirely convinced that the Lord was confirming this has just now happened. Those of us who were watching 2012 to see how “God’s Divine Government” would be established/enforced should certainly be able to see how this would be a fulfillment of that (and a significant milestone toward the ultimate fulfillment). We asked the Lord if this is truly what He’s saying, to continue to confirm it.
Sunday morning, after the worship team dismissed, we arrived back in the auditorium just in time to hear our pastor open to Revelation 12 and read about the war in the heavens and the dragon and his demons losing their place and being cast into the earth! (He used this passage to make a different point, but we were in awe at the confirmation). I wrote a dear friend yesterday to tell her these things. She also responded in awe, saying that the pastor at the church she visited Sunday read and talked about the same chapter and passage!
If this is truly what the Lord is saying ~ What a dramatic explanation for why the world seems to be darker than ever, why so many have fallen into deception, and why the warfare has been so intensified against those who still hold to the Truth of God’s Word. The Lord has been telling us of the critical importance of continuing to stay as close to Him as possible, pressing in wholeheartedly, seeking Him diligently, and becoming as sensitive and yielded to Him as we can be. The church needs to have a heightened awareness, more than ever, of the tactics and schemes of the enemy to distract us, keep us from pressing into our relationship with the Lord, and to prevent us from completing what God has called us to do. In the past weeks as we’ve sought Him for how to proceed, He’s once again surrounded us with instruction to be rock solid, immoveable, unshakeable, determined, to set our faces like flint and keep moving forward to complete His call, not giving up or backing down. (As He put it,”The only way to lose is to quit.”). He showed us that at times, as we stand in faith for what He has promised, there is a period of obedience (to continue believing and faithfully doing what He has asked us to do) which must be completed in order for Him to bring judgment against the spiritual enemies of darkness that have warred against the fulfillment of our promises and assignments (Eph 6:12-13, II Cor 10:6). As we keep moving forward in obedience to God’s call, they will eventually be crushed under His feet and ours.
Again, God is still emphasizing repentance in the church (individually, corporately) and nation – that we must wholeheartedly return to Him, to Truth. The morning after the election He showed me a series of headings (which seemed to give an order of events). The second was “Judgment Not Postponed.” He had made clear that He was giving us a window of time to turn back to Him, thereby pushing back the judgment which is eventually inevitable in the earth, but this is not what our nation chose. I believe what is coming is to judge our idols, that they will be shaken and shattered so we will truly turn back to Him. He is continuing to stress the necessity of His Lordship in every area of the lives of all who claim to know Him. As we return to Him we must allow every agreement and alliance with the enemy to be severed, all idols exposed and evicted, all spiritual adultery with the world that has given the enemy invitation and access into God’s house (our lives) to be renounced/divorced, so that we wholeheartedly return to our exclusive marriage covenant with Him. There is no more time to give God a few hours on Sunday morning and the world the rest of the week. It’s time to be consecrated to Him and become the mighty army and holy, royal priesthood He’s called us to be 24/7/365. We must be made ready for what’s coming, including the end-times harvest and His return. In this time of intensified spiritual war and deception (and what’s about to come), if we try to live in compromise with the enemy, lukewarmness, one foot in the kingdom of darkness and one in the Kingdom of Light, we have stepped out of our secure place “in Him,” put ourselves in the “red dragon’s” territory, and are in great danger.
“… For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. So, come out from among (them – from alliance with sin, lawlessness, darkness, Belial/satan, unbelievers, and idols), and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.” II Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:7-10 (verses 1-10)
“Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it).” I Peter 5:6-11
As I believe the next to last heading I received in the series indicated, The King of Righteousness is soon to come!
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:11-16
And the kingdoms of the world will become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15).
Laura Jewell Tyree
