For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8)
In August 2016, I wrote a blog post titled “Seeing From God’s Perspective”. In that post I shared that in these last days, it is critical for us to see things from God’s perspective and not man’s. As human beings, we have a tendency to see things from an earthly perspective, while God sees things from a heavenly perspective. We see the beginning, while He sees the beginning and the end. Without this heavenly perspective, the impact of our prayers will be limited because we will craft our prayers from within the narrow scope of an earthbound view of reality. We see through a glass dimly, yet God has given us the ability to hear, know, perceive and see things by His Spirit.
Paul encouraged us to keep a heavenly perspective. He prayed for the church of Ephesus that the eyes of their heart be enlightened in order that they would know the hope to which God had called them, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Paul said that power is the same as the mighty strength God exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And that God placed all things under his feet and appointed Christ to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:18-23)
What’s lacking in many churches today is the prophetic word. Prophecy builds up the church… the people of God. It speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort, and edifies the church. It should change/purify your heart. It changes your life and is a heritage for believers given to us by God.
Prophetic words are given for the edification or building up of God’s church as spoken by Paul in Ephesians 4. I wanted to share a few of those words from two powerful men given not long ago in hopes to stir your hearts toward good works in a time when the church of Jesus Christ must rise to the occasion and represent the heart of God to the world.
While the Bible makes it clear that no human being knows when the world will end, it also says there will be signs that Jesus’ return is approaching. The best source for understanding signs of the end times is the Bible itself. Take a careful look at some of the things Jesus said about His return.
>> Read about signs of the end of the age in Matthew 24
>> Read about the coming of the Kingdom in Luke 17
>> Read about what Jesus foretold in Luke 21
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. —1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 (ESV)
Men of old saw these days and were moved on by the Spirit of God to speak and share things with us today. I was reading two separate prophetic words spoken by Lester Summerall and Oral Roberts. I recall the words given to Oral Roberts in 2004.
Lester Sumrall went home to be with the Lord in 1996. His legacy continues through his books, broadcasts and prophetic words. Lester Sumrall gave 7 Warning Signs for America -A Prophetic Word Given To Lester Sumrall In The 1980’s. In 1987 he shares seven prophetic insights God revealed to his heart that would come to America. I want to share those here:
1. America will depart from her historic faith. (1 Timothy 4:1)
2. America embraces pagan religions (just like Israel did).
3. Hinduism will grow in America.
4. America will embrace doctrines of devils.
5. Outright satanic worship will take place in America.
6. A spirit of rebellion will overtake America.
7. America’s morals will tremendously change for the worse.
You can read these warnings at 7 Warning Signs for America -A Prophetic Word Given To Lester Sumrall In The 1980’s. Watch the video on this site. It is truly powerful!
Oral Roberts went home to be with the Lord in December 2009. His legacy continues to live on through his many books, broadcasts and Oral Roberts University. In 2004, Oral Roberts was given a vision of something hovering over America and great changes coming. He heard the voice of the Lord say, “I’m making a sign.” A sign according to Acts 2, where Peter upon the leading of the Holy Spirit said there will be signs in the skies. The Lord said to Oral Roberts that this will be “one of the signs of the end time because the world is not ready for the second coming of my Son.” He said “My church is not ready for the second coming of my Son.”
He said, “The Jews, with whom I’ve had the covenant for thousands of years, they’re not ready for the second coming of my Son.” He said, “The nations of the earth are not ready for the second coming of my Son.”
He goes on to speak of the many lives lost during 911, which made me think of the many lives that lost today because of abortion, gun violence, black on black on black crime, the opioid crisis of which my son became a victim, and many other atrocities throughout the world. The Lord said, “I love people. I created them. I love them by creation. I love them because I sent My only begotten Son.”
Jesus Christ died to save humanity… “the human race and so that the devil would not destroy God’s creation. He would not destroy men, women and children that God had created and for whom Jesus had died and rose from the dead that we might be born again—we might repent of our sins and have salvation and come into a readiness for the coming of Christ. And He says, “As you know in the Bible, the second coming is in two parts. One is called the rapture, one is called the revelation.”
“He said, “The thing that is breaking my heart is that I commanded my people, I commanded My church to preach the gospel in all the world and to teach all nations. And while they are evangelists and pastors and prophets and apostles and all kinds of my workers in various parts of the world and in some of the nations of the earth, it’s just a drop in the bucket to what I commanded My disciples to do.”
“And I love people so much I cannot afford to let people go on like they are.”
There is so much richness and power in these words, I can only share a few that resonates with me based upon were we are today. I encourage all to read this powerful word here The Sign Of Christ Coming, A Vision Given To Oral Roberts
These words from Lester Sumerall and Oral Roberts should speak volumes to the church and the world as we daily witness the ongoing shaking and disruption happening in nations throughout the world.
You can also read more from Billy and Franklin Graham on the second coming of Christ, Billy Graham: The Second Coming of Christ.
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
If we are going to partner with God to bring Heaven to Earth, we must first learn to see from Heaven’s viewpoint.
BEYOND CHURCH WALLS 