Under the Old Covenant, the Spirit had not yet been poured out on God’s people. Because the Seed had not yet been planted, they could only receive temporary coverage for their sins for one year at a time, through a special sacrificial offering of atonement. Likewise, God’s Spirit could only come upon certain persons for a set time. They could not receive the Spirit within them.
       This temporary anointing was symbolized by the specially designed anointing oil used to anoint the priests and the temple utensils. The oil symbolized the Holy Spirit. Under the New Covenant, the anointing of God is the presence of God’s Spirit within us that brings supernatural power and ability from God.
            There is an unusual incident that happens toward the end of the prophet Elijah’s first earthly ministry. I say first because he surprisingly shows up again at the start of the 7th Day. More on that later. Elijah and his apprentice, Elisha, are on their last journey together (2 Kings 2). Elisha and the other prophets-in-training know that Elijah is going to be taken shortly by God to Heaven, but Elisha doesn’t want to call attention to that fact.
            Elijah instructs Elisha to stay behind as the elder prophet heads over to the River Jordan to cross it. The apprentice basically replies with a “No way, Jose.” When the two reach the swollen River Jordan, Elijah takes off his mantle (outer cloak). In those times, the mantle often signified one’s profession or status. Elijah smacks the water with it and the river parts so the two can cross over on dry ground.  
            Elijah turns to his apprentice, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha responds, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So Elijah answers, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
            Then it happened. As they continued on and talked, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and separated the two of them; Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven. When Elisha sees this, he tears his clothes—perhaps in grief, perhaps in awe of the glorious sight, or perhaps a bit of both. The apprentice then picks up Elijah’s mantle that fell as the elder prophet was taken up. Elisha walks back to the swollen River Jordan and tests the waters. But not in the way you think. He strikes the waters with the mantle and cries out, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And once again the waters divide so he can cross over on dry ground.
            The Old Testament records that Elijah performed 8 miracles by the anointing of God. It also records that Elisha went on to perform 16 miracles—the double portion as requested.
            The Chronos Lesson: Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God,  “for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The instruction is reminiscent of what Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Mt. 6:33).
            God’s Kingdom is described as the Kingdom of Light and a Kingdom of His Beloved. So as we seek time with God, we can expect Him to reward us with the light of revelation and insight into the power of His love and grace under the New Covenant. This revelation from above empowers us to do the greater works that Jesus said we would do once He ascended to Heaven and the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers.
            The anointing isn’t so much for us, although it blesses us when we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. The anointing is for those around us. And it goes without saying that the world around us needs a touch from God! Dare to be bold in Christ! 

            Earlier in this series we got of glimpse of the rise of this final Beast in the mini-vision in Revelation 13. You may recall that he has a big-mouth, declaring his grand sinister schemes, blaspheming against God, His name, His tabernacle [the Transgression of Desolation that we just saw], and even blaspheming the raptured Bride in Heaven with our Lord. We were told that he would be allowed to do this for 42 months or 3½ years, which is the last half of Daniel’s 70th Week.
            The deceived throngs who are enthralled with this mighty mouth begin to worship the Beast and the Dragon-power behind him (Satan). Now convinced they are worshipping the mightiest of men, they dare to ask: “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. 13:4).
            The value of the various mini-visions in the final Vision now comes into play. We see the answer in another mini-vision recorded in Revelation 17. You may recall that we looked at this earlier when we were examining the progression of beastly empires portrayed in Nebuchadnezzar’s statue of Israel’s oppressors. The mini-vision gave us more details about how the “little horn” was given power by the ten toes—the coalition of Islamic nations coming against Israel in the last Day.
            Verses 12-14 answer the crucial question of who is able to make war with the Beast. First, we are reminded that the ten horns are ten kingdoms. They are of “one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the Beast.” Then we get our answer: “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
            The Chronos Lesson: Did you catch that? If you are in Christ, you will be among those who get to make war with the Beast! You will be co-ruling with the Lord of lords and the King of kings and therefore part of the faithful heavenly throng who overcome the Beast and his armies. As part of the Church, you are one of the called out ones. Having overcome death through resurrection at the rapture, you are part of a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people” (1 Peter 2:9).  The co-ruling Bride!
            But we don’t overcome the Beast by stooping down to his earthly level. No, we overcome by being over him—literally residing before the throne of God in the third Heaven. We don’t fight as mere mortals; we speak what God has already declared. It’s the two-edged sword of the Spirit, and it is very, very, very effective!
            Until that appointed time, every believer is to “proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light!” Knowing this appointed end makes everything we have to bear now, though difficult, pale in comparison. You see, “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). This doesn’t belittle our affliction; it puts it into the perspective of a glorious eternity with the Father and Son! 

            Thanks to Daniel 8, the times of the end are beginning to unfold before our eyes. Daniel has seen a little horn rising up from what was left of the Greek empire. It rises from the north of Israel, what is now modern-day Turkey. He has his eyes on the Glorious Land of Israel. At the appointed time, this is what Daniel saw concerning the final Beast.
            “It grew up to the host of heaven [God’s people on the earth] and it cast down some of the host [Jewish nation] and some of the stars [Jewish people] to the ground and trampled them” (Dan. 8:9-10). This is the initial invasion of the Antichrist and his coalition of armies. It is one of the last events we shall witness before God rolls back the heavens to reveal Jesus coming in all His glory at the rapture.
            Daniel understands why this is happening. “He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of transgression [rebuilding the apostate Temple], an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered” (vs. 11-12).
            The archangel Gabriel explains that this is part of the Beast’s sinister schemes. “His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people” (vs. 24).
            Daniel hears two angels talking about this event. One asks the other, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?” The answer: 2,300 days, and then the sanctuary shall be cleansed. The “days” here refers to the twice-daily sacrifices (morning and evening), which covers 1,150 days—the same time period of just over 3 years which is so prominent in Revelation and the other prophecies concerning the time of the end.
            Paul clues us in on what is happening here. Remember, he has already told us that the last Day cannot come until the falling away comes first—the apostasy or rejection of Christ by the Jews—and the man of sin is revealed. That’s what Daniel is seeing. Paul adds that the Antichrist “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God”  (2 Thess. 2:4).
            In other words, the Antichrist knows the power he has from Satan. Just as Satan rose up against the face of God, the Antichrist not only dares to enter the Temple, he goes into the Holy of Holies to taunt the Almighty. Under the Law, even the High Priest dared not to enter this inner sanctum of God’s presence without an elaborate purification ritual, on fear of death. Yet here the Antichrist enters and nothing happens!
            Can you imagine what the Jewish people will think when they see this? Where is our God? The answer: their God was never in this apostate rebuilt temple. Can you imagine the excessive arrogance of the Antichrist? He will be brimming with overconfidence. Little does he know that this transgression shall be his desolation.
            Paul continues: “And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thess. 2:6-8).
            The Chronos Lesson: What is restraining this revealing of the Antichrist in Israel? God’s chronos time—His preset appointed time. Of course we’re already seeing the mystery of lawlessness at work, as Paul said, even though we haven’t yet seen the actual “little horn” rise to power. That won’t happen until the one who is doing the restraining is taken out of the way.
            You may remember that in an earlier blog we showed how the archangel over Israel, Michael, was commanded to “stand down” and not go into action to protect the nation when they rejected Jesus at His first coming. Michael has been standing in the way now for almost 2,000 years—the time of Israel being stricken and torn, the time of Jacob’s Trouble. But it won’t be long now until he will be told that he no longer has to restrain himself. As the last Day dawns and he sees Jesus gathering His Bride, Michael shall go forth on Israel’s behalf.
            In fact, once the heavenly court is seated in Heaven, one of the first ruling judgments we shall make is to send Michael and a host of angels to go to war against the evil hierarchy in the heavenlies. And after waiting all this time, he is ready! Satan and his cohorts are soundly defeated and cast down to the earth. As to their fate there—stay tuned.   

            Daniel 8 records another prophetic encounter between the youthful servant and the archangel Gabriel. It is the third year in the reign of King Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son, who is now ruling the Babylonian empire. Daniel sees a ram with two horns, one of which is larger. Along comes a goat that has a notable horn between its eyes. Suddenly the goat attacks the ram, trampling it underfoot.
            Once again, Daniel doesn’t have to try to interpret the meaning of this vision. He hears a man’s voice instructing Gabriel to help Daniel understand the vision that “refers to the time of the end” (vs. 15-17). When Daniel records the interaction, he first describes what he saw and then gives Gabriel’s explanation. To make it easier to follow along, we will put the pieces together for you, and then show you how the apostle Paul came to understand the vision through the Holy Spirit, as recorded in 2 Thessalonians 2.
             Gabriel launches right into his task, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be” (vs. 18). No one and no thing can keep God’s appointed times from coming to pass.
            The dutiful messenger then explains that the ram with the two horns is the Medo-Persian Empire. The larger horn represents the Persians who eventually push out the Medes. The male goat is the kingdom of Greece; the large horn between its eyes is the first king (Alexander the Great). In other words, Daniel is seeing the next stage “embodied” in Nebuchadnezzar’s statue depicting the times of the Gentiles.
            As expected, Daniel sees the male goat grow very great. But once it becomes strong, the large horn is broken into four parts. Gabriel explains that the Greek empire will split into four kingdoms. This happened when Alexander the Great died without establishing which of his four sons would succeed him. The four power-hungry lads ended up dividing the kingdom into four parts.
            Then Daniel sees a little horn growing exceedingly great out of one of the four winds. It expanded to the south and east, toward the “Glorious Land” [Israel]. Gabriel explains that “in the latter time of the Gentile kingdoms, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understand sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people” (vs. 23-24).
         The Chronos Lesson: While we may think that the transgressors are the Gentile oppressors, we have to remember that these visions are coming forth while Daniel and the Jews are in captivity. God has told them that He is using the Gentile empires as weapons of His indignation because they have continually forsaken Him. They have lusted after other gods and, in effect, committed adultery in terms of their covenant relationship with God.
            This is why the vision jumps ahead to the end of the prophetic statue of the times of the Gentiles. This vision of the little horn is long after the Jews have returned from their Babylonian and Persian captivity. It is long after Messiah the Prince has come and they have rejected Him. It is long after they pay the penalty for missing their visitation and the rebuilt Temple (the one in Jesus’ time) is destroyed in 70 AD. Jesus called this first century event the Abomination of Desolation in His teaching on the signs of this age and of the rapture.
            This “time of the end” is at the end of this age—the time we are living in now. The Jewish people shall reach the fullness of their transgressions by rebuilding the temple again and resuming the animal sacrifices. This is something that is in our near future. This future transgression is an abominable slap in the face of the Lamb of God who offered Himself to “perfect forever those who are being sanctified” (see Hebrews 10). He has already brought a restful end to the Old Testament sacrifices once and for all.
            In 2 Thess. 2:1-3, Paul connects this to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and “our gathering together to Him” at the Day of Christ. Paul explains that this last Day cannot come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin [the Antichrist] is revealed. As we’ve already seen, the falling away is the adulterous actions of the apostate Jews, in rejecting not only the Messiah, but also God the Father. In the next blog we will delve deeper into this vision and its implications in our times.
            Oh, by the way, in case you’re thinking that it would be great to have an angel available to explain what you see in Scripture, God has done you one better. He has put His Spirit within you to teach you all things (John 14:26)! Jesus even said this would be far better for us than having Jesus in person. Really, Lord? Yes, because the Holy Spirit lives within every believer and is not confined to time and location.  

            Gabriel relays the next few steps in God’s plan to Daniel (Daniel 9). In hindsight, we can see that it covers the rest of the Old Covenant, and introduces a shift in focus for the plan. The plan is expressed figuratively in terms of “weeks of years,” featuring the number 7—the number of perfection and completion. The plan unfolds across 70 “weeks of years,” which is the same as saying 70 times 7 or 490 years.
            The prophecy is broken down into three time periods. The first period consists of seven weeks of years (7 x 7 = 49 years) for rebuilding the Temple destroyed by the Babylonians. Remember, Gabriel has already told Daniel that the proclamation to do just that has already gone forth. The second period consists of sixty-two weeks of years (62 x 7 = 434 years) waiting for the Messiah—God’s Anointed One, Jesus Christ. The third period consists of one “week of years” or 7 years.
            Included in the prophecy is a divine to-do list. It is what shall be accomplished in order to fulfill God’s plan for His people: (1) To finish their transgressions; (2) to make an end of their sins; (3) to make reconciliation for their iniquities; (4) to bring in everlasting righteousness; (5) to seal up vision and prophecy; and (6) to anoint the Most Holy Place.
            Gabriel ends his timely message with these prophetic words: “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate” (Dan. 9:26-27).
            The Chronos Lesson: Even a quick reading of the to-do list shows us that only Jesus Christ, God incarnate, could complete those tasks. It becomes even more obvious when you study the Hebrew words used in the prophecy. They speak of such things as bringing a Sabbath rest to the sacrifices and securing a covenant of grace for many. Does that sound like the work of Someone we know? Also, this is the only place in the Old Testament where the title of Messiah is used directly. It is equivalent to the Greek word Christ, which also refers to God’s Anointed One.
            The first two time periods of the prophecy are history; they have already come to pass. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah record the Jews returning to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple (which was still in place in Jesus’ time). The exact timing given for this event is confirmed in secular history as well. Likewise, both the Bible and secular history document that Jesus appeared as the Messiah—marked by His baptism at 30 years of age—exactly 434 years after that marker.
            The final 70th Week of years (or 7 years) is the pivotal time period of the prophecy. The prophecy foretold that Christ would be cut-off in the middle of the 70th Week. Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted for 3½ years, which is the first half of the pivotal week. When Jesus first came to His people, they rejected Him. The people of the Prince—the Jews—shouted to have Barabbas released instead, and Jesus crucified.
            As a result of this infraction, the prophecy was paused. Hosea foretold that it would be paused for two great Days and would involve the nation of Israel being torn and stricken. This 2,000-year period is called the time of Jacob’s trouble in Scripture.  We know it as the Diaspora, when the Jewish people were scattered across the nations and endured persecution (the anti-Semitism that we still see in our own time). It will come to an end when the Jewish remnant finally accept Jesus as the Messiah. As we know, that happens when Christ returns at the rapture.
            This two-Day time-out, when the “natural branch” of Israel was cut off from the Vine, is likewise part of God’s mystery-plan. It allowed for the “wild branch” of the Gentiles to be grafted into the Vine (Romans 11). This is what we call the 2,000 years of the Church Age.
            This means the last half of the final 70th Week of the prophecy still remains to be fulfilled (3½ years). Some of the divine to-do list was completed with Christ’s first coming. The rest of the list will be completed when He comes again, during the last Day of God’s prophetic Week. When the Jewish remnant finally declare, “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord,” they will finally experience the “thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Our resurrection at the rapture will trigger their acceptance.
            This timely portrayal of the end-times may surprise some believers because it does not match what they have been taught by previous generations who misinterpreted this crucial prophecy. They added to it—never a good thing to do to God’s Word—by wrongly inserting another prince (the Antichrist). To do so, they had to redefine a term Jesus used in His teaching on the rapture—the tribulation—in order to fit their own timetable. These people may want to reconsider how that approach worked for Nebuchadnezzar!
            If you’re still confused, bear with us. It will become clearer as we continue our journey through God’s Word, allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture.  

            Once again we turn to Daniel. This time God is using him to declare on earth God’s will for the Jewish nation. The time-specific element of Jeremiah’s original prophecy is what Daniel comes to understand. “For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:10-13).
            Daniel was a young man when he was taken into captivity. It was not until the 70 years were almost up that Daniel comes to understand from the prophetic books the number of years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah. It is a peculiar aspect of time-specific prophecies that the Holy Spirit ensures that the knowledge of the chronos timing is quickened to the proper people as the fullness of the time draws near.
            Now, with this time frame in mind, Daniel begins to intercede for his people, repenting on their behalf. Suddenly, a man-like figure stands before him. It is the archangel Gabriel. “And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision” (Dan. 9:22-23).
            Since God is the one who raises up and takes down the nations, we know the command went forth from God when Daniel started praying. God speaks the Word and it happens. Ezra, an exiled Jewish priest and scribe, records the event. “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of Heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah’ ” (Ezra 1:1-2). Once again, we see that it is God who puts this in the king’s heart, even though he is a Gentile king.
            Remarkably, Ezra isn’t the first to reveal the event. It is found in 2 Chronicles, in conjunction with the ministry of the prophet Isaiah. He releases the prophetic word years before, as recorded in Isaiah 44. The prophecy was released even before the Jews went into exile. It even named Cyrus as the Persian king who God would use to make the proclamation on earth—and this was before Cyrus was even born! We can only imagine what Daniel thought when Gabriel told him the prophetic proclamation would be coming to pass and that he had a part to play in the unfolding mystery-plan. No wonder he was moved to pray and give thanks!
            The Chronos Lesson: Fast-forward to Paul’s time, when he received a similar heavenly encounter, only this time it came from the second Person of the Godhead. It’s recorded in Acts 26. He reveals his part in the mystery-plan in Ephesians 3.
            “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”
            Like Daniel, the Apostle Paul understood the significance of this role.  “…To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the Church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him” (Eph. 3:10-12). Do you see your part in this, too?
            The assignment sent Paul to his knees in prayer. The Spirit-inspired prayer is recorded in verses 14-21. It is even timelier for us now, for we are living in the last decade of the 6th great Day of God’s prophetic Week. Nothing and no one can keep God’s eternal purposes from coming to pass. As the Church, we yield our two-edged sword, adding our voice to what God has already spoken in Heaven and in His Word. Like Daniel, we call it forth in the power of agreement. We take up the whole armor of God, that we shall withstand in the evil Day, and having done all, we stand, for we know the love of our Father and our Lord. We have a sure Word! 

       True to the beastly vision, the Medes-Persians conquer Babylon, which includes the Jewish captives. Darius, a Mede, is made king over the realm of the Chaldeans (Babylonia). Daniel remains in service to the new king, yet he is always conscious of the fact that he serves the Most High God first and foremost.
      One day Daniel is in prayer for his people in captivity. He is searching the prophetic books, looking for insight into God’s mystery-plan. Daniel 9:2 records a remarkable incident. “In the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”
        The desolations of Jerusalem refer to the destruction of Solomon’s Temple and the city via the Gentile empires. The specific word of the Lord is recorded in Jeremiah 29. It is in the form of a letter sent to the exiles, passing along God’s instructions as to what they are to do while in captivity. Apparently, the Jewish nation has fallen so far away from God that they have forgotten this very relevant prophecy about their future.
             It’s worth noting that in the letter God’s prophet warns against listening to the false prophets who have gone into captivity with the people. They are declaring that this atrocity is not of God and that He will bring the people back quickly to their homeland. Listen to God’s response via His true prophet (Jer. 29:8-9). “Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.” Prophesying what they want to see is called prognostication. It is not of God.
            The prophetic letter tells them, instead, to settle into their temporary home and continue to multiply. In effect, God is using the captivity to keep them safe and bring them back to Him. He informs them that the captivity will not be short; it will last for an extended period. Remember, only God changes the times and seasons, and not the false prophets, however sincere they think they are being.
            In effect, God tells them that this captivity is part of His plan, and He assures them of His mercy and provision in the midst of it. He offers them hope. “After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
            The false prophecies have come not from the heart of God but from the people’s own imaginations and desires. They are, after all, God’s chosen people. Never mind that they have not been following after Him, but prefer to go their own way. And because of this, their hearts are puffed up and hardened, making it difficult for them to discern what is from God and what is from their own wishes.
            The Chronos Lesson: This is why Paul warns in his letter to the Thessalonians concerning the end-times, “Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thess. 5:20-21). How do we test prophecies? We compare them to God’s written Word. If they do not line up with the whole counsel of the Bible, then we are not to accept it. The whole counsel includes around one-third of the Bible that contains the chronos times and kairos seasons of God’s prophetic plan. We must remember, too, that in this age, we are only “tasting” of the powers of the age to come—the gifts of the Spirit. We have not yet been perfected at the rapture, so we still see in a mirror dimly (1 Cor. 13:12).
            Sometimes, when things don’t turn out the way we expect, it is difficult in our frustration to discern between what is in our spirit and what is in our soul (emotions) or mind. This is why we test any prophecy against the Bible. “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).
            We may believe that God is leading us to take certain actions and to work to bring a specific person into leadership on behalf of our nation. We know we are instructed to pray for all people first, and then our leadership. Yet we must avoid making the same mistakes that the Jewish people did in Daniel’s time. When we pray and it doesn’t turn out the way we think, then we have to understand that only God raises up and brings down the nations. It isn’t because the church did not pray “hard enough.”
            As with the Jewish people, this doesn’t mean that God has given up on the nation. Only God knows what needs to take place. Only God knows what is truly in the hearts of mankind. Only God knows how to bring people to repentance. It is not a matter of praying more or praying harder. God hears the prayers of His children. But His ways are higher and His thoughts reign supreme (Is. 55).
            Unfortunately, false prophecies have deceived many Christians in our time. The underlying problem is that these self-proclaimed prophets have failed to understand the times. They ignore about one-third of God’s Word that deals prophetically with Christ’s return and the rapture. For some, they dismiss it because they recognize there is so much confusion surrounding the man-made views. And therein lies the problem.