When man sinned by disobeying God, a division came between man and God. A division was also manifested between man and creation. Creation rebelled against man, as man had against God, and it became difficult for man to cultivate the earth, as we read in Genesis 3:17-19:

“Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

“Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field.

“By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, until you return to the ground.”

         Before the fall of man there was peace and harmony on earth between God and man and man and creation. When division came between God and man, it also came between man and creation, and then between man and man, as we see with the first two sons, Cain and Abel. Since the fall, people on earth have related to one another with strife, conflict, and division.

Periods of peace have been rare in human history. Division and conflict have been almost continuous. As we come to the end of this age, division and conflict are increasing and will increase until man is close to destroying all life on earth. As Jesus stated in Matthew 24:22, “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved…”In His mercy, God will intervene in the chaos and conflict and return to set up His kingdom on earth and reverse all the consequences of man’s fall.

Isaiah 11 contains just one of many prophecies and promises of this ultimate restoration of earth to its original paradise. The divisions between God and man, man and man, and man and creation will all be healed, and harmony restored. We are told there will be such peace on earth in His kingdom, lambs will lie down with lions, children will play with cobras, and no one will hurt anyone else.

The biblical prophecies given concerning the coming kingdom of God are the greatest messages of hope the world has ever heard. This is the message, the gospel, the “good news” of the kingdom, which must be preached throughout the earth before the Lord can come. As He said in Matthew 24:14, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

         The most important thing we can do to help prepare the way for the Lord and His coming kingdom is to preach this gospel of the kingdom. As many Bible teachers have stated, and I agree, this message has not really been preached on the earth since the first century. Parts of it may have been preached occasionally, but most of what has been preached has been a gospel of salvation, which is part of the gospel of the kingdom but not the entire good news of the kingdom.

         The gospel of salvation is so glorious it’s easy to understand why many become centered on it. No doubt we will forever be thanking God for our redemption. However, this aspect of the gospel is man-centered, not God-centered or kingdom-centered. Even in its man-centricity, what has been preached as the gospel of salvation is but a fraction of all the benefits believers have as citizens of the kingdom. Some have done more of this than others, but the gospel of the kingdom is mostly about the King. That is why the apostolic gospel preached in the first century preached Jesus and the resurrection from the dead (see Acts 4:2, 17:18).

         We would expect those just born again to be self-centered for a time, since newborn infants are certainly self-centered. However, as babies mature, they become less self-centered, and so should Christians. True maturity is living more for others than ourselves, but mostly living for the Lord and seeing Him receive the inheritance He paid for with such a great price. Thus, Hebrews 12:14 should be a basic devotion in our lives: “Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (NKJV).

One important factor for understanding biblical prophecy is what Jesus said in Matthew 11:13, “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.” Since the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord, we are no longer under the law for righteousness’ sake. However, we must not discard it since it is the primary source of prophetic revelation for the Lord, His ways, and the prophetic unfolding of His plan through the millennium. Therefore, let’s examine how the law prophesied, remembering the first-century apostles preached the gospel of the New Covenant from “the law and the prophets,” as did Paul in Rome in Acts 28:23:

“When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets…”

         Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18:

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

Under the New Covenant, our righteousness is no longer based on keeping the law, yet Jesus said the law will not pass away until “all is accomplished.” We see how the prophecies of the law passed away when Jesus fulfilled the sacrifices of the law on the cross. We also see how the physical temple made with hands, which was a prophetic foreshadowing of the church, passed away soon after the church was born. We will cover more of this later, since this will also help us establish a timeline.

Continuing now with the theme of the parousia, or presence of the Lord, which will precede the Lord’s physical return to earth, let’s begin with one of the most important prophecies of the law concerning this. In Exodus, the Lord described the tabernacle and articles of furniture Moses was to construct for the Lord. The tabernacle of Moses, with all its rituals under the law, could be the clearest prophecy in Scripture of God’s plan. In it, we not only see the details of His plan but also a timeline for this age and for the age to come—the millennial kingdom reign of Christ on this earth.

         Perhaps the most important truth revealed in the furniture of the tabernacle for this present hour is the table of showbread. On this table the priests were to place twelve loaves of bread each representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel. They were to be placed in two rows called “the bread of His presence” (see Exodus 25:30, 35:13, 39:36; Numbers 4:7). How does this relate to us now?

         In biblical numerology, two is often a symbol of unity, as in the two, Adam and Eve becoming one. That these loaves representing the tribes of Israel were placed in two rows spoke of their unity in the Lord as twelve distinct tribes yet one nation. They were also in unity because the table of showbread was set directly in front of the lampstand, which burned olive oil representing the Holy Spirit. Our unity can only come from the Holy Spirit as we abide in His light and anointing.

         The unity of the body of Christ will be one of the greatest signs and miracles at the end of this age. We can be certain if anyone’s prayers will be answered in the last days, it will be Jesus’ prayers. Since John 17 is Jesus’ last recorded prayer before His crucifixion, this may be the clearest revelation of the deepest things on the Lord’s heart both then and now. If we knew we would be executed the next day, would not our prayers reflect the deepest issues on our hearts? What was the main thing on His heart for His people in that prayer? Unity.   

         We can be sure this prayer of Jesus will be answered before the end of this age. Since this is one of the main things on His heart, should it not also be one of the main things on the hearts of those who are becoming one with Him? Those whose hearts are joined with Him will become part of this greatest of all miracles, and part of His coming kingdom which will put an end to all divisions between man and God, man and man, and man and creation. Thus, a major devotion should be to obey Hebrews 12:14: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (NKJV).

        We are continuing our study on the literal translation of Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24 concerning the end of this age. Jesus said immediately preceding His return, there would be a time of His parousia or “presence.” Other biblical prophecies indicate we are now in this time.

        If we are alive in this time, we have a high purpose. In these times deep darkness will cover the earth, but the light and glory of the Lord will be revealed in God’s people which will prevail over darkness (see Isaiah 60:1-3). To prepare for this, we must grow in the gift of discernment while recognizing and refraining from the spirit of suspicion which often masquerades as discernment.

        False discernment, rooted in suspicion and fear, seeks to turn us into “fault-finders” instead of messengers of redemption and hope. Just as the harvest is the maturing of all seeds that have been sown in mankind, the spirit that manifested in the Pharisees to oppose Jesus can control Christians who surrender to the suspicions of the Accuser. Philippians 1:9-11 is a key truth we must moor ourselves to in this time:

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

          “Real knowledge and all discernment” are rooted in love. We cannot correctly discern people if we do not love them. Likewise, we cannot discern the true conditions of nations if we do not love them. Love seeks redemption and restoration, not condemnation. The spirit of suspicion is not rooted in love. It distorts what we see and causes us to oppose the redemptive works of the Lord and the Lord Himself, as did the Pharisees. 

          This does not mean we should compromise the truth, sound biblical teaching, or His righteousness and justice which is the foundation of His throne. If we love truth and love people for whom the Lord gave His life, we will not compromise the clear teachings of Scripture on sin and wickedness nor their consequences. But we will do this in a spirit that seeks to redeem, not condemn, which begins with acknowledgement, sorrow, and turning away from our sins. Truly love will boldly confront sin with a redemptive heart and not a condemning one.

          We know from the Scriptures there will come a time when the patience of the Lord will run out and then condemnation will come. Then there will be a distinction between “sheep” and “goats.” Until then, we should not give up on people or nations no matter how wicked they now are. Let us resolve to overcome evil with good and do what we can to turn them to the Lord. As He taught us from Jonah, even when His word of conviction is shared with those with bad attitudes, it still has the power to save them.

          As I write, Russia is being condemned like Nazi Germany for the atrocities its army has inflicted in Ukraine. It is impossible to see what has been done by Russian forces and not condemn them. However, mark this: the greatest revival of this age will come from Russia, and some of the most powerfully redemptive movements of this age will come from Germany. This was the first prophetic message I received as a new believer, and it has been so well corroborated since, I have no doubt.  

        However, I can understand others doubting this prophetic scenario. These two nations have been sources of the worst evils ever perpetrated on mankind through Nazism and Marxism, and neither have behaved well of late. Still, we shall see in them the truth that those who are forgiven much love much (see Luke 7:47). As the Apostle Paul was the greatest persecutor of the church before his conversion, he was perhaps the greatest devoted servant of the Lord after. We will see the same in nations like Germany and Russia.

          Just as most Germans were deceived by Nazi propaganda, and many Russians are deceived by their nation’s propaganda, so has virtually every nation been deceived. Many who have been most deceived will wake up, like the Apostle Paul. He was struck blind so he could see. Let us likewise be ready to help those who will soon be awakened and established in the Truth and follow Him with the devotion He deserves. Let us not see people and nations as they now are but as they are called to be, and let us be ready to help them get there.

© 2022 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.

        Perhaps the most powerful statement Jesus made that would lead to a victorious overcoming life is in Matthew 11:28-30:

      “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

        Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

           For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (NKJV).

        One of the greatest sources of stress in life comes from trying to exalt ourselves in the eyes of others, and the anxiety that comes from trying to maintain that persona. However, when we reject this aspect of our fallen nature and resolve to humble ourselves instead, we are released from that great source of anxiety to find a peace that leads to joy.

         When we experience the remarkable contentment of not having to compete for attention, we do not only seek to exalt the Lord and edify His people. We also seek the highest form of leadership, which is to be a servant of all as we follow the path of our Savior. Then we will find a rest for our souls rarely experienced in this life, which leads to the abundant life.

        When we take on the yoke of the fear of man or human expectations, we become burdened by stress and anxiety. This steals our true potential in life, the potential to work with the Lord for what He is building—the eternal. This is not the temporary, fickle gratification that comes from man’s approval.  When we know we have God’s approval, it does not matter what anyone else thinks. This is the ultimate peace, rest, and freedom by which others witness the kingdom in us.

        Another powerful, life-giving way the Lord provides for us to humble ourselves is explained in Deuteronomy 8:2-3:

And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord (NKJV).

        How does gathering fresh manna every day humble us? Jesus said He was the Manna that came down from heaven. He is the daily bread provided from above. Just as Israel had to gather this bread the first of every day and eat it for sustenance, we must seek Jesus first every day. To seek Him first is to acknowledge we cannot make it through the day without Him. That is the humility to which He gives grace.

        In this text, the Lord said He gave Israel manna to humble and test them, to see whether they understood that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. The word “proceeds” is present tense. We do not only live by the words that proceeded from Him—past tense—but also by the daily living word that proceeds from Him—present tense.

         In Deuteronomy 8:2, the Lord said He gave them manna to humble and test them to see whether they would keep His ways or not. How does gathering manna first each day determine whether we will keep His ways or not? If we consider Him first and seek Him first, it is evident He is first in our lives. If we encounter Him first each day, we will be enlightened and empowered to walk in His ways each day—“today, if you will hear His voice” (see Hebrews 3:7).

© 2022 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.