The Alpha & The Omega: The Continuum!

As we enter 2023, it will become important to possess an understanding of timings in the movements of God as seen over history. My new book The Lord of Armies provides a broad overview of this seen through the lens of the history of Mystery Babylon. Much of the time people tend to look too closely at the trees and miss the forest—the bigger picture at the back of things. To be aligned with the movements of God and understand His purposes and trajectory through them, it is necessary to look beyond the many crises and current events keeping many trapped in the struggle and complexity of the moment. Humanity is caught in a continuum of what is, what has come before, and what is yet to come in the future. The scriptures say of our God that He is the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end of it all. It says of Jesus that He was, is, and is to come, revealing that there is a remarkable story that has been unfolding, embedded in time and history.

There are certain truths apostolic people of the last day generation must have secured in their DNA, and embedded in their foundations, to stand and complete their race. A key component in the purposes, plans, and movements of God is Israel—they also are the beginning of the work of God, and the end and conclusion of that work. A full understanding of our foundations built in Israel, in Christ, and Israel’s significance to God’s strategies, especially in regard to the consummation of all things, is therefore critical. Without having a firm grasp of the magnitude of this, the enemy will find ways to influence the Gentile church against Israel, for which all people will be judged (Matt. 25:31-46). Equally as important, without this understanding, prophetic perspectives will be skewed leading to errors in the prophetic, especially in relation to timing and eschatology.

The severe consequence of rejecting Israel is given in scripture, on the basis of rebuffing the remarkable Gift of blessings that have been given to the world and believers through Israel—a Gift given by the Hand of Almighty God. God declared in His word that through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the entire world would be blessed. Israel was the first outpost of the Kingdom of Heaven, the first Ecclesia established by God, the future Seat of the Throne of God, the portal connecting Heaven’s rule to Earth through Christ, through whom the Kingdom of God comes to Earth. When nations reject Israel, they are rejecting the Gift of God. In a previous word I wrote I said:

When Jesus was about to ascend, He commanded His disciples to wait for the promise of the Father in Jerusalem—the coming of the Holy Spirit. The disciples knew that the coming power of the Holy Spirit meant, the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel. In Acts 1:4-7 it says they, “therefore asked,”…they asked if it was time for the restoration to begin. Jesus didn’t dispute their claim, and neither did He rebuke them. Both Jesus and the disciples knew that this was His mandate, one that had been declared by the prophets in the Word of God for thousands of centuries—that the Messiah—the King, would rule and reign in righteousness from His throne in Israel. Jesus, therefore, understood their question and answered that the Father alone had the time for that event in His hand. Jesus then gave them instructions to prepare the nations for this event during the interim. He told them to “Go” and set the evidence of His Lordship in every city, of every nation in the world! They went out spreading the truth of Christ, confronting Kings and rulers—the Governments of their day, knowing that as Jesus had said, on the last day all nations would be brought before Him and called to account. A nation’s status as a goat or sheep nation is determined by its treatment of Israel, Jeshua’s Jewish family (Matt. 25:32).

Going forward, the operations of the Spirit must be seen and understood in an eschatological framework, within which there is a consummation and a conclusion that has Israel at its center. All movements are flowing and building toward a conclusion. If all that has been said so far is true, we are on a trajectory where everything is being gathered into and toward that end. A Kingdom is here and is coming. The King will return! He will return to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the center of the counsels of God. All nations and peoples are being weighed accordingly. All of God’s intentions and operations in the nations have Jerusalem at its center. Also, we can be assured that this statement is equally true of Satan’s intentions and operations toward Jerusalem, Israel, the Jewish people and believers who have been grafted in.

UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES IN RELATION TO THE CONTINUUM

The need now is for Apostolic oversight, which holds the perspective and intentions of God as to the continuum of the Alpha and Omega and the place of Israel within it. It must be an oversight that is able to see and comprehend the consummation of the ages and lead the people of God and the armies of God on that trajectory—the need is critical. It is critical to both the campaign of Heaven, and to the people of God—their edification, mobilization, their participation, and their partnership in this notable work.

The times of just sitting in a church on Sunday and being entertained are over. It is crucial that we understand the dynamic of our times. Isaiah 22, which I believe is a passage for the times, reveals that God was not pleased with Israel because they were not discerning their times. Isaiah talks about a day of war, famine, and disease. He goes on to tell them that because of this, God was calling Israel to weep and mourn for the sins of the nation. But instead, they were feasting and drinking, with the attitude that tomorrow we die!

Jesus also spoke to Israel that they were not discerning their times and what lay ahead of them (Matt. 16:3). Luke also brings up this subject of not discerning the times and functioning in the wrong spirit out of time; he quotes Jesus as saying that as in the days of Noah and Lot, where they were eating and drinking suddenly the flood came, and with Lot, fire rained from heaven (Lk.17:26-28).

The scriptures teach that there is a time and a season for everything and for every purpose under heaven. Is anything wrong with feasting, eating, and drinking? It is if this is our focus, and if it’s happening in times when he may be calling us to be sober, discerning, prudent, cautious, and contemplative. In such a time, if God is calling us to take a posture of submission, humility and waiting before His presence for His Word, then we are functioning outside of His timing. I am not saying that we cannot have times of joy in fellowship in crisis, but there should be a recognition of the times we live in.  Times of war call for preparation and mobilization, not appeasing our senses.

THE TURNING

Internal spiritual preparation with the purpose of acquiring a spirit of fortitude is essential to one’s ability to stand in times of great shaking and turmoil. This must be true of all leaders who carry the responsibility to steward their times and to warn, teach, and equip the people of God for the volatility of the hour. There are too many believers presently looking for voices that appease because of fear, complacency, or ignorance.

Apostolic leaders are called to oversee the army to ensure that they are equipped with everything needed and that the body is on board with vision and understanding. A body of leaders and apostolic people are now rising, who have moved beyond the need for personal recognition, beyond an unhealthy focus on self and on becoming blessed. THEY HAVE BECOME THE BLESSING! They bring the goods needed for the hour. They are leaders who have gotten over the intoxication of themselves, and have developed a heart turned fully toward God, His Words, and His intentions.

I recently wrote a word that portrayed THE TURNING that God is now requiring. As with Isaac, God sent camels to His Bride, loaded up with His treasures, to adorn her in beauty and in royal garments. The Bride is now returning, or TURNING in His direction toward Him! He sees her coming on camels in the distance fully loaded with His treasures. This New Breed of leaders, that God is now releasing, are the ones who have made THE TURN… TO EYES LOCKED WITH HIS. He has their full attention! They are coming with resources, outfitted to steward their times, having a heart turned toward God’s ends and the movements of the Holy Spirit toward God’s conclusion.

It is important to stop trying to find voices that appease and tickle our ears and search out the voices whose words ring with the weight of the truth of heaven. THE TRUTH CARRIERS ARE COMING, untainted by the world and set apart by God for this time! Much of the world has become a fake world with false values founded on deception. The need is for strong and sure voices who speak and command with Holy Spirit authority.