A SYTEMATIC THEOLOGY OF THE GLORY OF THE LAST DAYS:

PROPHETIC EMPOWERMENT, MOVING IN THE SUPERNATURAL, TIMING OF THE RAPTURE, AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD

A Personal Study of the Scriptures
By Atty. Lyndon P. Cana
 
Respectfully submitted to the IFP, NFS, JIL, and the Body of Christ at Large
 
For the Purpose of Explaining the Reason for the Need for Signs and Wonders, Inter-active visions of Heavenly things, activation of Prophetic Empowerment, and their co-relation to the End-times, including the Timing of the Rapture and The Great Tribulation Period Both for an Encouragement and Warning to the Churches

A phenomenon has been noted in the past few years among churches, Christian organizations, and Christians who move deliberately and consciously in the Spirit:

1.            Increase in the prophetic operations (visions, dreams, being taken in the spirit into heaven, etc.)

2.            A new level and type of praise and worship (“worship, warfare, intercession”; worshipping according to the heavenly pattern)

3.            A new level of prayer and intercession (24-hhp, harps and bowls, etc.)

4.            A renewed and strong emphasis on the Kingdom rather than on local church or denomination.

¡  These developments have thrilled many Christians, brought them to new heights or levels of commitment to the cause of Christ.

¡  At the same time, these have caused confusion, provoked questions, and created concerns in the Body of Christ (BOC), as to whether some Christians have gone either occultic or cultic, or have gone overboard.

¡  These have also created “policy” questions in the BOC, such as whether we emphasize unity of the body (and therefore “slow down” on the prophetic), or go for full release or pursuit of the prophetic (and therefore jeopardize the unity of the Body because of the controversial nature of the prophetic movement).

¡  This study is a humble attempt of this foot soldier of the Lord to put things in their proper perspective from a Biblical and systematic theology point of view, that the Body of Christ, and the human leadership thereof, will be provoked to study the Scriptures and seek the heart and mind of the Lord Jesus Christ on all of these things.

This study will show that the following are LOGICALLY CONNECTED:

        1.            The last of the last days

        2.            The prophetic empowerment

        3.            The new level of praise and worship

        4.            THE ENOCH and ELIJAH ANNOINTING of the last days

        5.            The possibility of the partial rapture view

        6.            And the great tribulation period.

PART I.
WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS

That we are in the last of the last days have been extensively discussed, researched, studied, and taught.  I believe there is a strong consensus on this already, so there is no need to belabor the point.  What is crucial is the truths that follow:

PART II.   THE PROMISES OF GLORY FOR THE LAST DAYS

THERE ARE AT LEAST SIX PROMISES OF GLORY IN THE LAST DAYS:

I. The JOEL PROMISE:  FULL, UNRESTRAINED PROPHETIC EMPOWERMENT

Renewed, full, and unrestrained released of the prophetic empowerment or anointing is CLEARLY RESERVED FOR THE LAST OF THE LAST DAYS.

¡  JOEL 2:28-32

  “28  And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31  THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND THE TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD COME. 32  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”

¡  Now that is so very, very clear. “BEFORE THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD” is UNMISTAKABLY “last of the last days” time frame.

¡  AND YET, when people testify that they have experiences of being taken into heaven, seeing angels, even seeing or talking to Old Testament saints or prophets, visiting the Divine Council, many Christians are either confused, or offended. 

¡  Some of these reactions are out of concern (that we are not misled by fallen angels, that we do not become occultic, etc.), but some come from outright skepticism, insisting that even up to the very last day, the only issue is faithfulness. There is an “anti-supernatural” streak in many theological minds.

¡  But there is no escaping from it: FULL, UNRESTRAINED, PROPHETIC EMPOWERMENT AND ENABLEMENT is promised for the last of the last days.

And when we say “prophetic”, EVERYTHING is included:

¡  Seeing the invisible realm

¡  Visions

¡  Dreams

¡  Hearing the voice of God

¡  Receiving the word of God in the spirit

¡  Receiving a burden from the Lord

¡  Oracles

¡  Being taken in the spirit to heaven

¡  Inter-active visions and experiences.

¡   

This phenomenon, which is increasing in these last days, is supported by another end-time Biblical promise:

THE SECOND GLORY PROMISED FOR THE LAST DAYS:

II. THE MOUNT ZION DISPENSATION

 Hebrews 12:18-24

 “18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 22  But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29  For our God is a consuming fire.”

¡  PLEASE LOOK AT THIS CLOSELY:

“22 But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect”.

¡  THINK ABOUT THIS: The FIRST MOUNTAIN – Mt. Sinai, WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF MOSES AND THE PEOPLE THERE REAL OR LITERAL?

        1.            Did Moses hear the Lord there?

        2.            Did the people hear thunder and lightning?

        3.            Were the earthquakes real?

        4.            Was the tablet of stones handwritten by God real?

YES, THEY WERE ALL REAL. THE EXPERIENCES OF MOSES AND THE PEOPLE CONCERNING MOUNT SINAI WERE VERY REAL!

¡  Now HOW ABOUT THE SECOND MOUNTAIN – MT. ZION?

        1.            Is the heavenly city real?

        2.            Are the innumerable company of angels real?

        3.            Are the spirits of just men made perfect real?

        4.            IS COMING TO THIS MOUNTAIN REAL?

        5.            IS EXPERIENCING THESE THINGS REAL?

¡  The tense used in the Greek is PAST PARTICIPLE – “you have come”.  It speaks of an ACHIEVED EVENT – you HAVE come.  And it implies a continuity that has not ended.  It does not say “you came”, but YOU HAVE COME.

¡  MEANING, YOU ARE HERE NOW! IN THAT MOUNTAIN! MT. ZION!

¡  If the experiences related to Mount Sinai were real, THERE SHOULD BE NO OBJECTION TO THE CHRISTIANS OF TODAY EXPERIENCING THINGS RELATED TO MOUNT ZION – being brought to the heavenly city (where the Divine Council sits), seeing and meeting angels, EVEN OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS (who are included in the “spirits of just men made perfect”).

¡  HERMENEUTICAL CONSISTENCY DEMANDS that we must acknowledge the REALNESS OF THE EXPERIENCES RELATED TO MOUNT ZION as we accept the experiences related to Mount Sinai.

¡  AND THE GLORY OF MT. ZION is MUCH GREATER THAN THE GLORY OF MT. SINAI.

2Co 3:7  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, MUCH MORE DOTH THE MINISTRATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEED IN GLORY. 10  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

16  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18  BUT WE ALL, WITH OPEN FACE BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, EVEN AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.”

¡  HERE, not only is it clearly spelled out that the MT. ZION DISPENSATION is MORE GLORIOUS, but in VERSE 18 it is also said THAT WE – that’s us! – WITHOUT THE VEIL THAT SEPARATES, ARE ABLE TO BEHOLD THE GLORY OF THE LORD (NOT JUST UNDERSTAND OR DOCTRINALIZE!), AS IN FACT WE ARE ALSO CHANGED FROM GLORY TO GLORY, BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD!

¡   Is this Mount Zion dispensation for the last of the last days?  YES.

¡  The text itself answers that: HEBREWS 12

“26. Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28  Wherefore since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29  For our God is a consuming fire.”

¡  “We are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be moved” refers to the millennial/eternal kingdom of the Second Coming of Christ.

¡  Very clearly therefore, the supernatural experiences of these last days, with inter-active visions and experiences, even with the Lord Himself, are justified and authorized by the MOUNT ZION DISPENSATION.

The third promise of glory in the last days:

III. THE ENOCH ANNOINTING

¡  Jude 1:14 “And Enoch also, THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints…”

¡  ENOCH spoke of the last days.

¡  Who was Enoch?  What was so special about him?

¡  GENESIS chapter 5:

“18  And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: 19  And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 20  And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. 21  And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23  And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

24  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”

¡  ENOCH IS PROPHETIC because HE WAS THE FIRST TO BE RAPTURED in the Bible. Under the PRINCIPLE OF FIRST MENTION taught in Bible Schools, every time something important is mentioned for the FIRST TIME IN THE BIBLE, we should note it because it is highly foundational and instructive.

¡  Please notice the following from Jude 1:14:

- He was the Seventh from Adam (7 is number of completeness – Enoch is a prophetic symbol of the completion or fullness of the time of man, 6, and the coming of God’s time, 7)

- He prophesied

- He saw the last days

- He lived in a time BEFORE THE FIRST JUDGMENT OF GOD ON THE EARTH – the flood

- He escaped it

- He walked with God BEFORE HE WAS “TRANSLATED” OR TAKEN

- He saw the flood of judgment coming

¡  SO ENOCH IS THE PROTO-TYPE OF THE GENERATION THAT ESCAPES THE JUDGMENT BECAUSE he “walked with God”.

¡  May I emphasize the PROPHETIC nature of ENOCH and his life (these notes are taken from Neville Johnson’s “The Quest: to walk with God” 2):

¡  Gen. 5:22 says that “Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years…”

¡  Methuselah, Enoch’s son, lived up to 969 years.  (Genesis 5:27.  Curious note: 900 is 9 – which is the number of the Holy Spirit, x 100. 69 corresponds to Daniel’s 69 weeks just before the 70^th week, which is the final season of judgment).

¡   The name “Methuselah” means dart or spear.  In the Book of Enoch (which was read and referred to by Jude in his book), there is a reference which says “when the dart shall fall, it shall come”, meaning, the judgment of the flood.  Enoch knew that when Methuselah dies, the judgment will come. Thus, in the year that Methuselah died, the flood came.

¡  ENOCH KNEW ABOUT THIS COMING JUDGMENT, AND HE WALKED CAREFULLY WITH GOD IN HIS LIFETIME.  He talked with God face to face (that was how he came to know that the Lord would be coming with ten thousands of His angels in final judgment, Jude 1:14-16).

¡  SO THE END-TIME, PRE-JUDGMENT GENERATION OF BELIEVERS MUST BE ABLE TO WALK WITH GOD IN VERY CLOSE COMMUNION, MUST HAVE ACCESS TO HEAVENLY INFORMATION IN A SUPERNATURAL WAY!

¡  This is authorized by Jesus in John 15:15 “Henceforth I call you NOT SERVANTS; FOR THE SERVANT KNOWETH NOT WHAT HIS LORD DOETH; BUT I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

¡  A LOT OF MINISTRY AND SERVICE IN THE CHURCH TODAY IS SERVANT-LEVEL.  We do not know what the Lord is doing, we just “shadow box” and “leave the results to Him.”  The emphasis is DUTY and FAITHFULNESS.  This is good BUT there is a HIGHER LEVEL:

¡  TO WALK WITH GOD AS FRIEND, where you do not only serve and minister, BUT KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, WHY THINGS HAPPEN THE WAY THEY DO.  This is the ENOCH MANTLE that the Lord is restoring in the last days.  THIS IS THE END-TIME MANTLE.

Please take note:

¡  ENOCH FOUND A WAY TO WALK WITH GOD AND TALK WITH GOD.  This was AFTER THE FALL and BEFORE THE CROSS.  If he found a way to walk with God BEFORE THE CROSS, HOW MUCH MORE WE WHO CAME AFTER THE CROSS, AND WHO LIVE IN THE FULLNESS OF THE INDWELLING SPIRIT OF GOD?

THE FOURTH GLORY PROMISED IN THE LAST DAYS:

IV. THE “TIMES OF REFRESHING”, THE SEASON OF RESTORATION

 

¡  ACTS 3:19-21 – (Peter speaking)

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that TIMES OF REFRESHING may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus. He must remain in heaven UNTIL THE TIME COMES FOR THE LORD TO RESTORE EVERYTHING (KJV: UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS), as he has promised long ago through his holy prophets.”

¡  WHAT WILL HE RESTORE? All things!

Including:

                1. Adam’s relationship with God before the fall, when he freely talked with God

                2. Enoch’s capacity to walk with God

                3. Moses’ capacity to talk to God face to face

                4. Elisha’s capacity to see the spirit world etc.

                5. the restoration of the body, soul, and spirit to be in communion with God, just like Adam,      Enoch, Abraham, Moses, etc.)

¡  EQUIPOISE DOCTRINE in law – when two set of facts tend seemingly equally able to establish both the guilt or innocence of the accused, that which supports the innocence of the accused should be upheld.

¡  Applying the principle, if Scriptures can be interpreted to equally support that living in the supernatural should happen (literal fulfillment) and should not happen (no literal fulfillment), THE ONE IN FAVOR OF LITERAL FULFILLMENT SHOULD BE PREFERRED. 

¡  SO WHEN YOU HEAR OF CHRISTIANS SPEAKING WITH ANGELS, SEEING THE LORD, BEING TAKEN TO HEAVEN, HEARING GOD, they are just  part and parcel of ALL THINGS BEING RESTORED (as promised in Acts 3:19 – 21), because that was how it was before and we have lost this capacity because of rationalism, cessation doctrine, etc. and God is restoring all of these things in these last days!

THE FIFTH GLORY PROMISED IN THE LAST DAYS:

V. THE “SPIRIT OF ELIJAH”

Mal 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. Mal 4:3  And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. Mal 4:4  Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Mal 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: Mal 4:6  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. “

¡  Remember LUKE 1:  (birth of John the Baptist)

13  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14  And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¡  NOW PLEASE TAKE CAREFUL NOTE OF THIS: JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS HE WHO COMES IN THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH, IN FULFILMENT OF MALACHI 4:4.

¡  THE QUESTION IS: HOW DOES THIS “SPIRIT OF ELIJAH” THAT “PREPARES THE WAY OF THE LORD” RELATE TO THE GLORTY OF THE LAST DAYS?

¡  PLEASE NOTE OF  THIS VERY INTERESTING PASSAGE IN MATTHEW 11.

 1  And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.  2  Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,  3  And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?  4  Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  5  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  6  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.  7  And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?  8  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14  And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

¡  WHAT WAS IT THAT CONVINCED JOHN THAT JESUS THE MESSIAH HAS ALREADY COME?

¡  Matt. 11: 4 “Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

5  THE BLIND RECEIVE THEIR SIGHT, AND THE LAME WALK, THE LEPERS ARE CLEANSED, AND THE DEAF HEAR, THE DEAD ARE RAISED UP, AND THE POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.

6  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”

¡  IT WAS THE SUPERNATURAL – the demonstration of the Spirit’s power –THAT CONVINCED JOHN THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH who has come.

¡  LIKEWISE, WE WHO ARE PREPARING FOR THE LORD’S SECOND COMING, LIKE JOHN WE WILL KNOW AND BE ASSURED THAT INDEED THE KING IS COMING WHEN THE SUPERNATURAL POWERS AND WORKS OF GOD VALIDATE HIS COMING.

¡  NOW, THE PHARISEES OF JESUS’ DAYS WERE OFFENDED BY THE SUPERNATURAL DISPLAYS OF GOD’S POWER.

¡  LIKEWISE, THERE ARE MANY TODAY WHO ARE “OFFENDED” BY THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT’S POWER.

Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.   6  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.   7  And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.   8  And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.   9  And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.   10  And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?   11  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.   12  But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, AND THEY KNEW HIM NOT, BUT HAVE DONE UNTO HIM WHATSOEVER THEY LISTED. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.   13  Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

THE SIXTH PROMISED GLORY OF THE LAST DAYS:

VI. THE RESTORED FALLEN TENT OF DAVID

Amos 9:9  For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. 10  All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. 11  IN THAT DAY WILL I RAISE UP THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID THAT IS FALLEN, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:    12  That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.    13  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.    14  And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.    15  And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

¡  Historically, King David built a special tent (tabernacle) in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chr 15:1; 16:1). The glory of God rested on the top of the Ark that was housed in a small tent that was only about five meters high and long. In the tabernacle of Moses the glory that rested on the Ark was hidden in the Holy of Holies behind a thick curtain. The significance of David’s tent was that there was no veil to keep the people from seeing the glory of God.

¡  In an unprecedented way, David set the Ark of the Covenant in open view! Instead of the veil that Moses used, David veiled the ark with musicians and singers. David organised 4000 musicians and 288 singers to minister to God in shifts that continued 24 hours a day (1 Chr 6:31-33; 15:16-22; 23:4-6). In fact, David financially released them that they might worship and pray as their full time occupation (1 Chr 9:33; 25:7). Being full time, they had the opportunity to develop in skill and grace. Skilful singers who sang the Song of the Lord before the Ark of God became the norm (1 Chr 25:1,7; 2Chr 29:27). See also 1 Chr 13; 15-16; 23; 25; 2 Chr 29, Neh 12.)

¡  THIS IS THE IDEA BEHIND “SOAKING”, AND “24-7” HHP, DWELLING AT LENGTH IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IN SINGING, WORSHIP, PRAISE, PRAYER, AND WAITING UPON THE LORD.

¡  This is the time when much of the glory of the Lord is revealed, especially with deep convictions, dreams, visions, experiences in the spirit.

¡  It is, therefore, very, very clear that these annointings and empowerments, abilities, experiences, which all involve supernatural experiences (seeing God, angels, being taken to heaven, having dreams, visions, hearing God, etc.) are not only reserved and PROMISED for us in these LAST DAYS.

¡  NOW THE QUESTION IS, WHY? WHAT IS THE REASON WHY THEY ARE BEING RESTORED IN THESE LAST DAYS?

PART III.
THE CONNECTION

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION OF ALL THESE “GLORY” THINGS TO THE TIMING OF THE RAPTURE AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD OR THE LAST DAYS?

First, a question: WHEN WILL JESUS COME? When will the rapture be?

                1.BEFORE THE TRIBULATION PERIOD? (pre-trib)

                2.IN THE MIDDLE? (mid-trib)

                3.AFTER? (post-trib).

The Rapture Views:

¡  We have to look at this briefly if only to see the LOGICAL CONNECTION of the prophetic movement and heavenly experiences with the rapture and tribulation issues.

¡   

1.        THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE VIEW:

1Th 5:1  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

2.       The MID-TRIB VIEW:

¡  THE LAST TRUMPET is said to refer to the 7^th trumpet of  Revelations 11:15-19. It is IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.

¡  Meaning, under this view, Christians might undergo the increasing “birth pains” of the tribulation period, but will be taken just before the climax and heightened judgments of the great tribulation period (the second 3 and ½ years), which falls under the 7 bowls judgment.

3.    The POST-TRIB VIEW:

 Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  16  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:  17  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:  18  Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  19  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  20  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:  21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  23  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  25  Behold, I have told you before.  26  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  28  For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.  29  IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  31  AND HE SHALL SEND HIS ANGELS WITH A GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET, AND THEY SHALL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT FROM THE FOUR WINDS, FROM ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER.  32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:  33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  40  THEN SHALL TWO BE IN THE FIELD; THE ONE SHALL BE TAKEN, AND THE OTHER LEFT.  41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the ONE SHALL BE TAKEN, AND THE OTHER LEFT.  42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. “

Under this view, it is very clear – THE RAPTURE TAKES PLACE “IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS”.

NOW WHAT IS THE CONNECTION OF ALL THESE -- the Joel Promise, the Enoch Anointing, the Mt. Zion Dispensation, the Elijah mantle, the Times of Refreshing, and the Restoration of the Fallen tent of David

– TO THE RAPTURE AND TRIBULATION QUESTION? 

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION?

¡  Luke 17:26

 “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also on the days of the Son of Man.”

In the days of Noah, it is said there were three spiritual groups of people:

1. Enoch – who walked with God and were taken out before the flood (Holy of Holies?)

2. Noah – who was preserved through the flood by the ark (Holy Place?)

3. The people, the outsiders to the ark – who were destroyed by the flood (outer court? Rev. 11:1, Rev. 13:7)

MIGHT IT BE POSSIBLE THAT…?

1. WILL SOME CHRISTIANS  BE TAKEN BEFORE THE JUDGMENT (pre-trib rapture saints)?

Possible! They may be the ENOCHS – those who have a found a way to WALK WITH GOD, to behold His glory, who had such sweet intimate relationship with Him, that they are not defiled by the world, they know the Father’s heart.  THEY MAY BE THE PRI-TRIB RAPTURE SAINTS.

2. Some Christians MIGHT GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION, but will be preserved through it?

Maybe.  They may be the NOAHs of the last days.  (Take note that Noah was a just and righteous man but had a problem with drinking; he became drunk after the flood.  Yet he did obey the Lord and exercised faith in him, and obeyed the Lord in building the ark.) They may be the MID-TRIB SAINTS.

3. Some people, INCLUDING NOMINAL CHRISTIANS (those who say they are Christians but who have no real walk with the Lord), TO GO THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD where they will suffer and decide whether they will be truly for Christ or not? Possible. They may be the FOOLISH VIRGINS, who although they knew the Groom, were not known by the Groom and did not fill their lamps with oil. (Matt. 25:1-13).  They were not accepted at the wedding banquet (which is an event that takes place after the Rapture.)

What happens to them, if they are true Christians?

¡  Rev. 20

 1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,  3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

“First Resurrection”…

 4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.  6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

BUT WILL THERE BE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN RAPTURED BEFOREHAND? If we take Enoch as proto-type, it would seem to be yes.

THE  SAINTS IN THE BOOK OF  REVELATION:

IT IS HIGHLY INSTRUCTIVE TO NOTE THE THREE KINDS OF SAINTS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION:

1. THE PROTECTED SAINTS -

Rev 9:1  And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3  And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

The Protected Saints:

4  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; BUT ONLY THOSE MEN WHICH HAVE NOT THE SEAL OF GOD IN THEIR FOREHEADS. “

The saints who had the “seal of God on their foreheads” could not be touched by the scorpions, reminiscent of the people of Israel who were untouched by the plagues that God sent on Egypt.

The second kind of  Revelation saints:

2. THE OUTER COURT SAINTS

Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.”

THESE SAINTS WERE OUTER COURT CHRISTIANS, DEFEATED IN THE 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.

The third kind of Revelation saints:

3.  THE SAINTS THAT WERE OVERCOME

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

The saints that were overcome: 8  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. 9  If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. (If anyone is to go into captivity, to captivity he will go; if to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. NIV).  This calls for patient endurance and faith on the part of the saints. “

THREE KINDS OF SAINTS:

¡  SO you have three kinds of saints:

1. The protected saints - those that could not be touched by the scorpions (Rev. 9:1), the ones with the seal of God on their foreheads

2. The outer court saints who will be trampled by the Gentiles (Rev. 11:1-2)

3. The saints who are overcome, held captive, and killed (Rev. 13:5-10).

IS THERE ANY REASON FOR THESE DISTINCTIONS OR DIFFERENCES?

The “days of Noah” phenomenon:

¡  Luke 17:26

 “AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, so shall it be also on the days of the Son of Man.”

In the days of Noah, it is said there were three spiritual groups of people:

 1. Enoch – who walked with God and were taken out before the flood (Holy of Holies?)

2. Noah – who was preserved through the flood (Holy Place?)

3. The people outside the ark– who were destroyed by the flood (outer court? Rev. 11:1, Rev. 13:7)

THE FINAL PROTECTION, THE FINAL GUARANTEE:

 Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psa 91:2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Psa 91:3  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

Psa 91:4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Psa 91:5  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Psa 91:6  Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

The final protection, the final guarantee:

Psa 91:7  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Psa 91:8  Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Psa 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

Psa 91:10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Psa 91:11  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Psa 91:12  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Psa 91:13  Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

The final protection:

Psa 91:14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Psa 91:15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Psa 91:16  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION? WHAT IS THE POINT?

¡  THE POINT IS: IN THE LAST DAYS, ESPECIALLY ON WHETHER THE CHRISTIAN IS:

1. to be taken in the rapture before the tribulation (wise virgins)

2. or will be MIRACULOUSLY PRESERVED through the tribulation period (Rev. 9:4),

3. OR WHETHER THEY WILL BE TRAMPLED BY THE GENTILES (Rev. 11:1-2)

4. Or will be overcome by the enemy with captivity and sword (Rev. 13:7-10)…

WILL DEPEND ON WHETHER…

HE  WALKS IN THE GLORY OF THE LAST DAYS!!

1. The Joel Promise (the full prophetic outpouring, including dreams, visions…)

2. The Enoch Anointing (walking with God)

3. The Mt. Zion Dispensation (“GLORY!”)

4. The Elijah Spirit (power of the supernatural, that restores the fathers to the children and vice versa)

5. The Times of Refreshing (RESTORATION)

6. The Restored Fallen Tent of David (worship, prayer, intercession, 24-7)

This is so clear in ISAIAH 60:1-2:               

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

2  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: BUT THE LORD SHALL ARISE UPON THEE, AND HIS GLORY SHALL BE SEEN UPON THEE.

THE FINAL POINT!

IN THESE LAST DAYS:

1. We must LEARN to walk with God IN HIS GLORY!

2. Seek the face and the glory of God in the experience of worship, prayer and intercession

3. Operate in the supernatural (prophetic, hearing God, listening to God…)

4. Soaking and waiting in the stillness of His glorious Presence!

This means:

That we go for the unusual, the supernatural. THE HIGHER EXPERIENCES OF THE SPIRIT!

WE MUST DEFINITELY KNOW AND EXPERIENCE THAT GOD IS WITH US IN HIS GLORIOUS PRESENCE.

That is why we are learning all we can about “waiting on the Lord”, harps and bowls type of worship, learn to operate in the prophetic, are not afraid of dreams and visions and experiences in the spirit, because in these last days, OUR ONLY FINAL REFUGE IS THE GLORY OF GOD IN OUR LIVES!

The Reason for it all:

EVERYTHING, BUT EVERYTHING, IN THESE LAST DAYS, DEPENDS ON THE GLORY OF GOD!!!

The LAST DAYS ANNOINTINGS HELP US TO EXPERIENCE THE GLORY OF GOD!

The Joel Anointing, the Mt. Zion Dispensation, The Enoch Mantle, the Elijah Spirit, the Times of Refreshing or Restoration, the Restored Fallen Tent of David – THESE ARE ALL RELEASED TO HELP US WALK IN THE GLORY OF GOD IN THESE LAST DAYS!! (whether thru the “birth pains”, or for rapture, or for protection in the tribulation period)

LET US, THEREFORE, WALK IN THE GLORY OF GOD!!

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!