I Prayed have prayed
Lord, ready us by Your Holy Spirit to withstand the temptations of anti-Christ paganism. Thank You for Your Word that keeps us on the narrow path.  

Analysis. Many IFA intercessors recognize anti-Christ actions — and even anti-Christ persons — in every era and among the nations. Mao Zedong, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler murdered millions of God’s people in pursuit of their own exclusive claims to sovereignty.

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When most Christians consider the Antichrist, they think of an individual — because of the beast from the sea depicted in Revelation 13 or the man of lawlessness described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4. This figure uses satanic power and charisma to globally gain nearly total political, governmental, societal, and economic power. He will even compel worship of himself and of the satanic forces empowering him. A false prophet who will sculpt and enforce the official narrative will aid the Antichrist.  

I agree that the Antichrist as he is discussed in Revelation 13 will arise in the end times, though I used to wonder how any one person or entity could subdue the entire world.  

I do not wonder anymore.  

Governments today shut down entire nations on the pronouncements of global health agencies. Media of all sorts have stirred up fear and crushed dissent, even cowing usually independent people. Watching how quickly and thoroughly a virus has conquered the world, I see now how a single leader or a consortium of leaders with a shared satanic goal could indeed gain the power associated with the biblical Antichrist.  

Global Grooming  

The worldwide reaction to the Covid-19 crisis served, I believe, as a “global grooming” for the advent of the Antichrist. Seeing the Church’s response, I have wondered if we — the people of Jesus — are ready for the real deal.  

How many of us donned a piece of cloth across our faces whenever mandated? How many of us submitted reluctantly to uncertain medical treatment to keep a job? How many of us locked ourselves away in our houses, hoping someone else would deal with the ailing and suffering ones?

Even worse, how many of us allowed the belly of the beast into our corporate worship services — by agreeing to governmental meddling? “The days of seclusion have not been generous,” the Lord told me directly in March 2022. “And indeed, much evil has been done … because of the demonic ‘lockdowns.’”  

I do not mean to condemn; I was one who did some of the things cited above. Given how easily I caved to the restrictions associated with this medical emergency, how will I fare under greater persecution? What about when the Antichrist really emerges? When Christ returns, will He find me faithful?

Spiritual Readiness  

The letters Christ commanded be sent to the seven churches in Revelation provide spiritual direction. The Apostle John, who received the visions in the book, pastored these churches of Asia Minor. Their context and spiritual conditions yield important principles and prayers for our battle-readiness.  

Most of John’s churches were being squeezed between the established religion of Judaism and the powerful pagan Greco-Roman government and culture. The Romans enforced an imperial cult of worship. Conquered peoples were forced to make offerings to the emperor and his image.  

Because of the exclusive nature of the worship of the Lord, Jewish people were exempt from official worship of the emperor. Instead, they were allowed to make offerings to the emperor’s health.  

Initially, Rome was ignorant of the difference between Judaism and Christianity. But when Jewish leaders began to denounce the nascent churches and their beliefs, Christians were plunged into danger.  

For this article, I have relied upon several resources for my study, including Derek Prince’s The Beast and the Lamb and the film series The 7 Churches of Revelation (www.7Churches.com).  

Ephesus  

Christ commended the church at Ephesus for good deeds, hard work, perseverance, adherence to the truth, and rejection of false doctrine. That church seemed to be a high-functioning one, in a culture dominated by the worship of Artemis, a fertility goddess.  

Sadly, though, its people had lost the vitality of their relationship with the Lord. Jesus urges them to return to Him with their initial passion. They needed to repent, lest they slip away entirely.  

Lord, we repent of taking You for granted, neglecting our first love. Forgive us and return us to the passion and the full-orbed relationship we had with You when we first believed. In Jesus’ name.  

Smyrna  

Jesus gives an encouraging word to Smyrna. Significant persecution is impoverishing the believers there, and Jesus encourages the church — where Polycarp ministered — to remain faithful to the point of martyrdom. 

When Christ refers to the synagogue of Satan, He is not talking about the Jewish people as a whole. He is talking about those Jewish people who “outed” Christians to the government.  

Lord, help us to remain faithful to You even when everything is against us, even to the point of death. In Jesus’ name.  

Pergamum  

Pergamum was a center for imperial worship and witchcraft, which is why Christ refers to it as the place of Satan’s throne. Scholars believe that Antipas, who is mentioned by name in the letter, was burned alive in the belly of a brazen bull used for witchcraft. Beyond his refusal to worship the emperor, Antipas may have been targeted because his prayers drove many demons away from the region.  

Commending that church for its faithfulness, Christ nonetheless calls its members to repent for embracing false teachings that deceived some into sexual immorality, idolatry, and gnosticism.   

Lord, show us where we entertain ungodly practices, thoughts, and behaviors. Forgive and change us. We decree that “witchcraft will not thrive over a people born free!” In Jesus’ name.  

Thyatira  

While commending the church of Thyatira for its love, faithfulness, service, and perseverance, Christ harshly reproves those who entertain false teachings from “Jezebel.”    

This historical queen and the wife of Israel’s King Ahab is one of the evilest figures in the Old Testament. She murdered most of the Lord’s prophets and established Baal worship and witchcraft in the land. Christ deliberately evokes her evil by applying her name to the one who was deceiving many in Thyatira.  

This church’s false prophetess taught accommodation with the culture, leading many into idolatry and sexual immorality. Christ had warned her, but she refused to repent, so He would now judge her and her followers.    

Lord, show us where we have tolerated false teaching, immoral behaviors, and ungodly cultural accommodation within our churches. Convict, forgive and change us. We would not be among those deceived, led astray, and destroyed. In Jesus’ name.  

 Sardis  

Christ sounds an alarm to Sardis, calling this church to repent of spiritual deadness. Suffering no obvious persecution, the church nevertheless seems sluggish as a result of the wealth and luxury the city enjoys.    

That city had a history of lethargy. Sardis’ king thought the city was unconquerable because of its fortress acropolis. But legend has it that Persia did breach its defenses by observing where a soldier had crept out of a secret entrance to retrieve the helmet that had fallen from his head. Christ warns this church against a similar lack of vigilance.  

Lord, wake us, quicken us. We repent of complacency and deadness. Forgive and change us. Help us strengthen what is about to die in our relationship with You. In Jesus’ name.  

Philadelphia  

Philadelphia was in an earthquake-prone part of Asia and had been leveled at various times in its history. To this day, the region experiences regular tremors. In contrast, the steadfastness of this little church is notable.    

Jewish leaders denounced the church members, and the government persecuted them. As a result, they were not among the city fathers whose names might be inscribed on temple columns. In view of that ostracism, Christ’s promise of making them pillars — inscribed with God’s name — in the Lord’s temple is particularly poignant.  

Lord, help us remain faithful, standing firmly upon the Rock when the world shakes around us. We want to be pillars in Your temple, inscribed with Your name.  

Laodicea  

Laodicea was a populous banking, medical and textile center. It also revolved around entertainment, having two large amphitheaters with sun exposures that enabled their continuous use.    

Lacking a fresh spring nearby, Laodicea relied upon the cool runoff from the mountain snows and from the rivers to its south. These waters mingled with aqueduct-ferried waters piped in from the thermal hot springs in Hierapolis and Pamukkale in the north. The resulting water was lukewarm. Many people reacted to the mineral content of those waters with vomiting.    

Against this background, Christ warns the church of Laodicea against its spiritual arrogance stemming from wealth, ease, and self-sufficiency.  

Lord, forgive us for our arrogance and self-sufficiency. Change us, cleanse us of unclean waters, fill us instead with the fresh, cool waters of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name.  

Lord, thank You for giving us these letters as a warning, as an encouragement, and as direction for spiritual preparation. Establish us firmly in relationship with You through Jesus Christ and in the truth as a guard against deception. Convict and forgive us of compromise, ungodliness, complacency, and arrogance. Fill us with the Holy Spirit and change us so we remain faithful and undeceived through persecution and the days of the Antichrist. In Jesus’ name.  

Does this help you pray more effectively for the Church today? Share with your friends!

Author Joyce Swingle is an intercessor and contributing writer for Intercessors for America. Her husband, drama evangelist Rich, often performs a one-man play on The Revelation. Along with Rich, Joyce shares the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world through theater and public speaking. Joyce has also performed onscreen. Prior to going into full-time ministry, she worked for about 20 major magazines and now works in pastoral ministry and Christian counseling. The Swingles live in New York City. Photo Credit: Canva.

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Joseph
December 31, 2022

1 trillion percent correct! That is EXACTLY what is happening!

Zeek
December 1, 2022

You’ll be fine, read Romans 12: 3-8 , and
Matthew 16:25.
I guarantee it will solve your dilemma and put things into perspective for you.

James L Eunice
December 1, 2022

I feel like nothing we do is good enough for God. I get the feeling from reading Scripture that if you just want to be “regular infantry” and not an “Airborne Ranger” you are like warm and rejected; God wants all elite troops and isn’t interested in support & second rate elements. And as for a “Father figure,” a father is someone who tells one they’ll never amount to anything, and to stay out of the way of. But I’m determined that if God rejects me it won’t be for renouncing His Son if I survive the initial shoot out with the anti-Christ’s thugs when they come for me.

Robert Sinner
December 1, 2022

Those among us who are anti-discipline will not fare well against the darkness that is unfolding across this planet. The thing about the 7 Churches is this; the warnings are made to the churches just prior to the beginning of the tribulation period, The Mercy of God. Repent, it is fixing to get really hot, we are only at a 1 on the scale of 10. Being able to hear the voice of our Lord Jesus will be most valuable resource, it is with this voice that we will individually hear the very things we need to repent of, those little foxes we have so cleverly hid.

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Gloria LeBlanc
December 1, 2022

Thank you. I ask for prayer that I may be the witness that our Lord would want me to be.

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Robert Sinner
December 1, 2022

The falling away from Jesus has been in full swing for a long time now, one of the surests signs that the antichrist is near. Another sign that the antichrist nears is that most have now ejected and rejected anything to do with the authority and right of the Holy Spirit to choose anointed leaders. This heresy came in real strong in the late 60s, how soon so many fell under its pride and arrogance. The centurion who Jesus stated had greater faith, understood authority, and it humbled him. How do we think we will overcome when we are too blind to see our own arrogant wickedness?

Luke 7:6-9
6  Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
7  Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8  For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
9  When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Zeek
December 1, 2022

Bill Gates is an Anti-christ, but not THE ANTI-CHRIST, they’re are many like him at the moment.
All gents of the dark.
Trust me you’ll know when the big bad psycho shows up on the grand stage.
There will be a supernatural element to him.

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Kerrie Kanda
December 1, 2022

Good morning,

The anti-Christ has been here for some time & right in our faces….His name is Bill Gates…Not only has his funded so-called vaccines killed thousands, including (4) members of my family alone, but his software & the internet has destroyed countless families, thousands have committed suicide due to the social media, thousands of children victimized by online predators & now the man is committing world genocide & is the head of the Globalist. Look no further……

Alex
December 1, 2022

Good article. Praying in agreement with you in Jesus’ name.

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Art Simpson
November 30, 2022

2 Th 2 the man, the son of perdition is the false prophet. Verse 8 “that wicked” is the anti-Christ. The anti-Christ is the seed of Satan in Ge 3:15 who murdered Jesus. He is the king of the locusts in the bottomless pit and rises at the 5th trumpet. Re 9:11. Jesus, when 3 days and nights in the heart of the earth, not the tomb, split anti-Christ’s head to the foundation of the neck, Hab 3:13, with a sword, Re 13:14, causing the mortal head wound. Only Jesus has the keys to hell and death. Re 1:18

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John Wolf
November 30, 2022

That may explain why The United States of America is under control of the Demacrats. We can’t break Satan’s grip on us. We need GOD to intervene.

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Lorry
November 30, 2022

Amen 🙏 Thank you 🙏

1
Father Ed Wade,CC
October 25, 2022

Send me a copy of the prayer on corrupt politicians that meat be exposed so I can put it on FaceBook

2
Tricia Menikos
September 12, 2022

I recently read Mark Biltz’ newest book “Decoding the Antichrist” which had some very interesting and different perspectives on world governance and deception. I recommend it to all Christian’s, that we walk in knowledge of the holy scriptures and with eyes open.

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Tricia Menikos
September 12, 2022

I recently read Mark Biltz’ newest book “Decoding the Antichrist” which had some very interesting and different perspectives on world governance and deception. I recommend it to all Christian’s, that we walk in the knowledge of holy scripture and our eyes open.

Terrie O'Neal
September 11, 2022

Hi David – Thankyou for your honesty. I encountered much alienation during Covid from my blood family. It was interesting to watch. I do not get into fear easily. I kept saying – There go I but for the Grace of God.
I did not get angry with those who got into panic, who took the jab, etc. I just said, I do not have the same opiinion as you, I am content to agree to disagree. Most people were ok with that. The ones that were not, I let go on about their merry way. (tongue in cheek) I have prayed for many many years – Lord, do not let me
fall for any of the lies of the enemy. So I take most things in stride. Time will tell as to how long we stay here, until the Lord comes for us. Many Blessings to you, Terrie O’Neal

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PAMELA
September 6, 2022

Wonderful piece. My son, Andrew Brunson was held for 2 years in a Turkish prison in the anchient city if Smyrna (now Izmir). He has made a series of 7 short videos on how to stay faithful under persecution, (made by Billy Graham Evan. Association.) Find them on You Tube under PREPARE TO STAND.

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Diane
September 2, 2022

I agree that today’s Church resembles all of the churches mentioned. We are comfortable, compromising, weak, complacent, arrogant, sluggish and being led astray. Everyday I wonder how long Lord, how much longer. And I too, question my faith and surrender to Christ the day when I will be faced with real persecution. In this country we can begin to see the persecution, but we are not totally in it yet. And I am surprised many of my christian friends don’t even think the persecution has begun. I pray for a spiritual awekening for all believers, unity in the church, increase of faith and abiding in Christ.
May the Lord help us stay strong.

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    Robert Sinner
    December 1, 2022

    Sister Diane, your words brought this to mind. Ezekiel 16:48-50
    48  As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
    49  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
    50  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Erica Frausto
September 1, 2022

First, the Bible says women are not to be teachers over men, pastors. 1 Timothy 2:11-12 The church is sliding straight into apostasy in accepting women as pastors. The Lord calls us to expose these evil deeds and come out of the harlot. Churches are not teaching sound doctrine anymore and more concerned with conferences and joining the world in a one world religion. People wake up the Bible says narrow is the gate and few will enter it.

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Braxton DeGarmo, MD
September 1, 2022

I became born again in a Dispensational church and accepted that teaching until recently as I studied the Book of Revelation. I had always wondered about a rapture, as it isn’t actually mentioned in scripture, but my study really cemented my disbelief in such an event. As for the beasts of Rev 13, they are drawn from the beasts of Daniel 7, having the characteristics of those beasts. The beast from the sea represents government, the Deep State globalist government we see today. The beast from the land is the cheerleader for the first beast, and we see it today in Big Tech, Big Pharma, Big Ag, and Big Business, all who promote the Deep State and do its bidding. To say there’s a single leader, a big ‘A’ Antichrist also goes against scripture where antichrist is always stated as a “spirit of antichrist.” If the man of lawlessness is an individual, who then is the man of God? The phrase ‘man of lawlessness’ represents a plurality of people, just as the phrase ‘man of God’ does. Scripture also does not specifically mention a seven-year period of tribulation. That idea started with John Nelson Darby in 1830. Indeed, in Rev 1:9, John writes of being our “companion in tribulation.” So, when exactly is this alleged seven-year period if John was also in the tribulation? God is a God of order and keeps no secrets from His people. He told Abraham exactly how long His people would be in Egypt. Prophecy foretold exactly when the Messiah would come the first time. The Bible also foretells the time of Christ’s return via the Jubilee cycles, but the Sanhedrin mucked with the calendar several times so we now only have a time window to look to (and we’re in it). So, are we to expect some nebulous far-distant time period for a seven-year tribulation? Hard to accept. Instead, scripture (Revelation) tells us of a period of intensifying judgment through drought, wildfires, famine, pestilence, and more–all being methods of God’s judgment throughout history. Climate change = judgement. In reality, we’re well into the trumpet judgments of Revelation. His return is indeed imminent.

https://www.braxtondegarmo.com/Book/still-here-the-apocalypse-is-now

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Darlene Estlow
August 31, 2022

Thank you for this article that puts the 7 churches right into our lives. May we remember and live for Jesus alone.

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Michael Christian
August 31, 2022

Good warning. Many expect to be gone when Antichrist arrives… For 40 years I believed Christians would not go through the great tribulation. The article cited below changed my view. There are clear verses that proclaim we WILL enter the GT, and be caught up before the wrath of God comes… take a moment for this article: https://herbstability2.wixsite.com/therapturewhen/post/the-rapture-when-by-jeff-mott

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Michael Christian
August 31, 2022

For 40 years I believed Christians would not go through the great tribulation. This article changed my view. There is clear verses that proclaim we WILL enter the GT, and be caught up before the wrath of God comes… take a moment for this article: https://herbstability2.wixsite.com/therapturewhen/post/the-rapture-when-by-jeff-mott

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Kelli Armstrong
August 30, 2022

Total agreement. We are being groomed for the Anti Christ. We need to walk as closely with Father and His Son as we can. These are dangerous times, temporally and Spiritually. God will save and preserve His own. But we need to understand, that these bodies in which we dwell, are just that. Who we ourselves are, each one of us, is the spiritual being that dwells in the body we possess. If God chooses not to preserve the body, he will still save and preserve the one who dwells in it. We must trust Him, and find peace, courage, and comfort in that knowledge.

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Kenneth Slocum
August 30, 2022

We better wake up time is running out

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Joan Richardson
August 30, 2022

My friends, let’s believe the Lord Jesus Christ who said, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” 1 Thessalonian 4:15-17 : But this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise [anistemi = get up] first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” [This is at the first resurrection of the martyrs who resist the beast and his mark in Rev. 20:4-5. It’s not for the whole church, my dears, but for those who resist the antichrists at the end of this age.] This matches the 6th seal in Revelation 6, and this is not the last trump but the trumpet of God, which was heard at Mount Sinai by the children of Israel. The last trump is at the end of the thousand years; it’s the 7th trumpet when the rest of the dead rise (Rev. 20:5), both saints and sinners. That’s at the end of time in Revelation 11:18, after the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ when a rebellion rises against His Kingdom. Seven trumpeters announce their judgments when the devil is let out of the bottomless pit (at the 5th trumpet) and the world is judged till the last trump. Then everyone rises before the judgment seat of Christ, known as the Great White Throne. BUT THE CHURCH IS IN APOSTASY. WE HAVE BELIEVED DECEPTIONS. WE MUST WAKE UP AND BELIEVE GOD, NOT MEN. God calls us out of our worldliness; out of Laodicea, and out of Babylon. If we cling to this world and refuse to repent, we will be left in His wrath. He warns us to depart from everything unclean or suffer the plagues of Babylon. [5 of the 10 virgins are left behind.] The great tribulation is the great persecution; it is not the wrath of God. The first series of His wrath comes with seven bowls of wrath in chapter 16. Martyred saints are in heaven when the angels carry out the bowls in chapter 15. I would love to teach this. Please invite me. Christ has revealed the Revelation to me.

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Grant Windholz
August 30, 2022

We have been facing the end times for years and as the book of Revelation says, the challenging times will occur more frequently the closer the times come for Jesus Rapturing his church! We are in it right now!!! Wake up everyone, learn from our history, and most of all, hang onto Jesus to walk that narrow path with Him!!!

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    TS
    September 4, 2022

    I agree, wholeheartedly, that we are in dire straits but being a Christian myself, not unlike most of you, all; I admit that not everyone’s viewpoints on end times eschatology are in a agreement.

    1
Jack
August 30, 2022

It sure is a wake up call to us Christians to pray

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Debbie Duguid
August 30, 2022

Only as the true Ekklesia becomes a set apart, consecrate people that has deep intimacy with the Lord, where we are building a strong, solid, firm foundation in the Word (and the Word is Jesus, John 1:1) will we be able to withstand the shaking that is coming upon this earth. What we have been through is birth pains of what is to come in the future. When the anti-christ rises to power, the Bride of Christ will be taken off the earth by her Bridegroom. That will be the time of Daniel’s final 7 week of his 70th week period. The Church was not prepared for the Covid lockdowns and governmental control because she has been a Laodician church who has been and still is at large lukewarm. It is time for the Church to arise and be the Roar for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. We have sat back far too long and kept quiet because the majority of the Church has been in a complacent, compromise state. But God is weeding out the wheat from the tare, the goat from the sheep, the profane from that which is holy, etc. He is coming for a Bride that is without spot, blemish, or wrinkle and there is much work to do to get her ready. I pray an Awakening and an Outpouring of Revival will happen in the hearts of Believers so we can be ready to gather in a Harvest of lost souls before the Rapture of the Bride. Bible Prophecy is being fulfilled and where we are on the prophetic timeline clearly says it is time to wake up out of slumber and get serious with God. Eternity is forever and what we have gone through is as you said setting the stage for the real anti-christ to stand up, not just the anti-christ spirit that has been operating in the earth, especially in the past few years. satan is amping up his game, so should we, God’s Ekklesia.

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Rodrigo Rodriguez
August 30, 2022

I invite everyone in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit to embark in reading the 1,330 messages, 179 prayers and 6 Litanies given to the “Last Prophet of the End Times” Maria Divine Mercy, you may find them in the website of;
FatherofLoveandMercy.wordpres.com
In here God send us His Plan of Salvation for the world to prepare for the Second Coming of His beloved Son Jesus Christ.
May we thank Him in gratitude with prayer and praise. AMEN

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Joan Richardson
August 30, 2022

I just want to say that I live most of my life alone with the Lord but attend two different churches for the fellowship of other believers. The reason for my seclusion is my calling. I’ve been writing books about the Word under an anointing and a mantle for over twelve years. Christ is my Companion and my Rabbi; my Healer and Friend. I am very thankful and blessed in reading many of these comments in which believers emphasize the importance of His Word in our lives. I spend hours every day with it, and I love it more than ever. I’m glad I’m not alone but have like-minded brothers and sisters in the Lord. Galatians 5:5 says, “We eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.” God bless the believers.

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James
August 30, 2022

Thank you for an in depth look into the 7 Churches, mentioned in Revelation. Very informative along with prayer.

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Joan Richardson
August 30, 2022

I’m glad you’re aware. There will be three leaders: the one called the beast will become a chancellor to the man of lawlessness who takes control; he is the dragon and is worshiped along with the beast; then there is the false prophet who works phony miracles to make people believe his words are true, but working miracles and speaking the truth are often 2 different things. You’ll find the three in Rev. 16:13-14, conspiring together and calling the nations to Armageddon. I’m finishing a book on this that I’ve been working on for over 7 years. I wouldn’t have attempted this feat, but the Lord drew me into it and opened the book of Revelation to me. I don’t know anyone else who understands it. This is why there’s a two-horned lamb, which includes the dragon, Satan, in a religio-political coalition. I believe that he is another eighth king. Antiochus IV was one; Attila was one; Hitler was one, and another is rising, and that’s a fact. As you can imagine, I’ve been for years about this. The church must prepare for what’s coming: Jesus comes on a cloud for us immediately after the great tribulation.

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John and Pina Clendenin
August 30, 2022

Well written and most valid for the days we are now living!

Prayer: Wake up call for God´s people! The day of Christ return approaches
and all that may include!

Fixing our eyes on Jesus….

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Skeet Workman
August 30, 2022

I believe every Word of the Bible. What in the Bible is going to happen.

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anonomous
August 30, 2022

i switched jobs to a lower paying one yo avoid the mandated vaccine for medical industry employees, but yes I did wear the mask as mandated; however, i believe according to the Bible, that we are supposed to obey the county, city, state & national laws. People who obeyed in that spirit are in my humble opinion, “clean” although I consider those who ran for the vaccine predominately for virus protection, unclean in the sense that God has clearly said HE is our healer and there are promises in Psalm 91 against plagues; however again, I do feel that as Jesus pointed out to the Phairsees who had stone s in hand ready to throw at an adulteress, that we ALL sin & fall short “somewhere” so none of has a right to throw stones. Jesus himself said he camd to save not to judge. As for tge comment about keeping a standard (of behavior) in the church, again I agree, as tge way some women dress for church and the way some people act at church and at church functions reveals alot of carnality and immaturity, however again, that is a sign of prayerless worldly church leadership who are not moving in a true apostolic anointing, as if they were their churches would show it. A weak church is the result of weak leadership. The church of Jesus Christ and the gospel of Jesus Christ has been watered down and sugar coated for generations except for some major revivals over the centuries when people rose up to fast and pray, burying themselves figuratively and spiritually in the WORD, denying themselves, taking up their cross and TRULY following Him. I fault myself for apathy and laziness as i have had seasons of great breakthroughs from fasting, prayer, and devotion to the WORD, speaking of which, true devotion to Jesus is true devotion to the WORD as He IS the WORD, as Apostle John explained in Chapter 1 of His gospel, so we should be prayerfully studying in our free time to show ourselves approved. The bible says He is tge vine we are tge branches, and we can not bear fruit unless we abide in Him. If we abide in the vine and recognize that Jesus is both a person and the written WORD, and realize that salvation is more than a sinners prayer it is a journey of relationship with him, with communication and outward expression with Him on those levels, (reading tge word, believing it, doing it) and thus an outward expresdiin to the world. Faith without works is dead. Our works arent our country club church activities our works are driving the speed kimit because the word tells us to obry the law, turning the other cheek & forgiving because the word compels us, basically scouring through our life with the word truly & zealously and conforming ourselves to it ever more and more. That is the kind of church that will bear GOOD fruit and be able to TRULY say in our hearts as David did: though tens of tbousabds rise up against me I will not fear. When a pandemic hits I will not fear and put my trust in a vaccine…i am not condemming the vaccine, i am mearly saying what is your true motivatiin and where is your faith? In God or the vaccine? It has to be in God as tge vaccinated have proven to be at risk as well…

When the psalmist begs God to deliver him from lying lips and a deceitful heart, and to fekiver him from secret sins, this is what he is praying, that he wont be deceived in his heart thinking he is right with God like Phairsees thought when in reality they were hypocritical whitewashed tombs and so deceived by their country club religion they couldnt truly love or even walk on the highway of TRUE holiness.

*isaiah 35:8
A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray
*Job 5:8
15But He saves the needy from the sword,
From the mouth of the mighty,
And from their hand.
16So the poor have hope,
And injustice shuts her mouth.
17“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
18For He bruises, but He binds up;
He wounds, but His hands make whole.
19He shall deliver you in six troubles,
Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.
20In famine He shall redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.
21You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.
22You shall laugh at destruction and famine,
And you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23For you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
24You shall know that your tent is in peace;
You shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss.
*Deuteronomy 32:39Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.
*Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?10 “I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.”
*Psalm 119: 29
Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously.
*John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus, give your people a revival of zeal for you as our WORD, to read it, receive it, believe it, and truly live it. to truly die to ourselves & live this life your way on your terms, because when you are lifted up in us (through our behavior, our humility, our true love as explained in Corinthians) it will draw all men unto you.

I think it was Ghandi who said: “i like your Jesus but not your christians”

11
    Penny
    August 30, 2022

    Hallelujah brother /sister! Very encouraging post! If God is for us, who can be against us?!

    6
Diana
August 30, 2022

Ever hear of Bill Gates? In 2016 I asked the Lord who I should vote for. As a result, He put me on a path that I’m still on today. I’m so grateful because that path has given me the opportunity to see what is truly going on in our Country and around the World. I am one who refused to wear a mask or get a vaccination. I was especially stressed when I realized my own children and grandchildren were given the vaccination. Why was I against it? Because Bill Gates was involved with it. He is for depopulation and is open about that. Research will show the harm he has caused around the world. Why would I want him to put anything in my body? Fauci was seen on video laughing when asked about masks working. Discernment told me not to trust this man. I have come to realize that there is nothing I can do to convince people not to get the vaccination or not to continue getting boosters. No one seems to be open to hearing the truth. When I realized that my own family had been vaccinated, the one TRUTH that I held onto (and still do) is that God is in control and can heal any disease. I suspect I will be praying and interceding quite a but over the next few years. But I feel confident that that is what God wants me to do.

21
    Maritza
    August 30, 2022

    I continue interceding for all those family members and friends that are still blinded and the Lord will handle that situation according to His perfect will. I plead Psalm 91 over family and friends in Jesus name

    11
Herb Johnston
August 30, 2022

If the church- in these last-, at least..75 years- could have functioned in a way as to have remembered our human history, and how tyrants have historically dominated-, oppressed,and destroyed free people’s republics.. starting as far back as Herod-,continuing with Machiavelli-, and progressing on to other tyrants, and the peoples they oppressed.. we would not, now-..( or at least would have had a better chance of not being ..)be subject to the time worn phrase “those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it”.. and could have proceeded as informed participants in history-, standing in the Gap to defend our precious Freedom given to us by the Lord God Almighty from his Word- through our founding fathers-, in creating America.. instead of being in the precarious position of being at the mercy of tyrants in this day.
Even given the human tendency towards sin and failing.. potentially we could have at least been in a better position to address this current tyranny. I am not suggesting that God did not already know what we would be doing-, or is not prepared.. what I am addressing, is..how as of this day, we seem to be befuddled as to what is going on.. I have read all the comments here below and understand that my brother’s here are well informed-, of end times prophecy.. however we do not seem to be functioning in it very well.
Praise God for his Mercy.

4
Monte
August 30, 2022

What an outstanding article Joyce! I agree the anti-Christ at this time is a system of control and tyranny. Thankfully millions of people around the World are waking up, resisting and even overthrowing demonic thrones while also turning to Yeshua. IFA is greatly helping this process, in my opinion. The Kingdom of God is growing as it says in Daniel 2 from a stone to a Mountain! Blessings

14
Vicki
August 30, 2022

Amen.

3
Frances
August 30, 2022

The antichrist is a system, not a person. The Beast is a system, not a person. God is taking it down now. The fall of Babylon is happening now. Jesus is coming to set up the Millenial Reign of 1000 years of peace. Read Revelation 18,19 and the first part of 20 in order. This is chronological. And the Bible scholars are not correct on the issue of the end times events. As all the current events unfold, it is getting more obvious that events can’t get more evil than child trafficking with ritual sacrificing. All this is being revealed as what has been going on since pagan civilizations after the time of Noah. And now we are seeing the truth that this practice never ended, just went underground and performed by these cult satanic world “leaders” to keep their power hold over nations.
These people are getting revealed as Babylon Falling and it will not get worse than this. All the talk of A.I. is just talk, nothing will come of it, it is to create more fear and mind control for the Christians. We can see that the World Economic Forum lost its hold and are floundering. These evil ones are the ones who infiltrated seminaries and created the end times false teaching of a One Man Antichrist Beast, to keep the wool over the eyes of the Church and deceive us into thinking they would defeat humanity. But if you read the Bible, it doesn’t say that at all. It says over and over how God is going to one day defeat the Edomite system which is this cabal antichrist system and bring in the Millenial Reign. Read it in Daniel, and cross reference in Revelation, Habakkuk, Micah, Amos, Obadiah, Isaiah. Many times they are referred to as “nations” or Edomites, now our current day cabal.
The End Times are the end of this system, not the end of humanity on Earth. This is why Jesus told us to watch out for deceivers.
I encourage others to read for themselves with The Holy Spirit as your guide.
And not one pastor will teach about the Millenial Reign. It’s not a mystery, and it’s not that hard to see where that comes in.
This is all intentional deception on the part of the controlled Seminaries.

And do a google search on The Sign of the Son of Man from Matthew 24 and Revelation 12 and you will see that it already happened in 2017, a sign that God is birthing His New Kingdom on earth, the Millenial Reign. He gives us His signs in the sky for US to know. The pastors don’t teach this either.

3
Doug Hewitt
August 30, 2022

Biden is not the anti-christ, but his priorities are to bring the world together against Christ. He is anti-christ to be sure, masked in being a reasonable person according to the average persons sin nature. Jesus said ‘the world would love you if you were its own, but you belong to God now’ meaning we possess the Holy Spirit and the world doesn’t. We are sanctified for God’s purposes and should seek to please him as much as is possible without seeking to attack the world system. We are at odds with the world just belonging to Christ. Follow Him now.

6
Edna Kelley
August 30, 2022

Very enlighten article. Encouraging to get seriously about the way I pray for pastors to stick with the word of God in their messages. Also to examine myself n my walk with the Lord.

8
Richard Hennessy
August 30, 2022

Is the Antichrist not already the current President of the US? He certainly isn’t the Catholic he claims to be.

2
    Vicki
    August 30, 2022

    The current president is just a puppet. There are people more powerful controlling him and his actions.

    12
David Scott
August 30, 2022

The FBI director got me started investigating communism in 1962. It took me until 1973 to discover communism has its roots in satanism – the Illuminati in particular. Freemasonry merged with the Illuminati in 1783 at the Conference at Wilhelmsbad. Billionaires & multi-millionaires in the Illuminati financed the Bolshevik Revolution. After instigating WW I they created the League of Nations to promote an antichrist named Krishnamurti under the guise of world peace. Christians in the USA prayed fervently for God’s intervention to stop this. God sovereignly intervened to stop them. They then instigated WW II so they could resurrect the League of Nations as the UN. They tried to set up another antichrist named Maitreya in 1984, but God stopped them again. They are planning to try again some time between 2025 & 2030. They caused the covid plandemic to justify drop-in ballot boxes. They installed voting machines that could be manipulated by computers remotely. Dinesh D’Souza’s “2,000 Mules” documents how they abused drop-in ballot boxes. They had over 1,100 mules in Philadephia alone. They had 256 in Atlanta & over 500 in Detroit. Over 20 food production plants have been destroyed by fire this year. 2 of them were hit by planes in only 1 month. You are correct to say they are grooming us for a world take-over. However, I also believe God can do miraculous things for His church in spite of them. When God called me to ministry in 1966, He showed me a revival that hasn’t happened yet. I believe it is the same revival Corrie Ten Boom said God will start in the Ozarks. You can read more about it in my recent autobiography – Divine Appointments. I have even more to say about this in Volume 2 of Divine Appointments, but I presently lack the finances to have it published. I’m willing to forward a free copy of Vol. 2 to anyone, who contacts me thru this site. I will do this for free because I’m more interested in helping the body of Christ than making money from my books.

5
Gail Wood
August 30, 2022

I suppose that there is always going to be division among the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, the mask wearers and those of us who don’t.
This situation has broken our nation into camps who disagree and even ended friendships.
I can only tell you that four people that I know are now in Congestive heart failure , mental confusion , bouts of anger , memory loss and illnesses they did not have before the vaccination.
Two of my best friends caught covid more than one time after being vaccinated.
I sit back and watch those I love and value suffering because they bought into what the Government told them and took on a big spirit of fear.
I do not judge those who took the vaccine but feel for them. We do not know long term just what will transpire because a person took the vaccine. Only time will tell and has been.
I was told by some of these people that they regretted having done it and did not take the boosters.
I wear a mask only in medical facilities where they are required. I was in two of my Doctor appointments recently and a number of patients were not wearing mask.
My family and I lived under Psalms 91 since Covid first began and praise God for His promises in Psalms 91 , we have been perfectly healthy .
God tells us that without faith it is impossible to please Him. I have complete faith in God and His promise of Psalms 91.
Don’t be angry at one another about whether you took the vaccine or not and whether you choose to wear a mask or not.
God told us that He did not give us the spirit of fear.
I watched as parents took their little children to a well known Pharmacy and had them vaccinated. Some were frightened and crying and one was begging .
One Mom came out of the back room where the vaccinations were being done and was literally dancing and singing for what she had chosen to have done to her child. She said one down , half way there.
I could give instances one after another but why bother. This is the first time I have spoken openly and I hope that it helps someone.
God gave each one of us a free will and it is up to us to do what we feel is right.
My cousin died from Covid. Vaccines can hurt you.
God bless each of you. I expect to hear negative comments from some . Do what you must.

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    Jim Burger
    August 30, 2022

    We are in agreement of you…thank you for sharing.

    7
    Michelle
    September 1, 2022

    Gail, thank you for sharing your experience. I certainly can relate!
    God bless you!

    2
Kathleen Tiemubol
August 30, 2022

The way I understand this time of trial is that the Lord God in his sovereignty is allowing us to be refined in fire in order to expose to ourselves what is in our hearts. The Lord of Hosts is also exposing every evil thing in the earth by bringing everything into the light.

Will we be humble and submit to God or be proud and unable to listen to the warnings of the Holy Spirit? Will we try to control the world around us and insist on others complying with mandates or will we recognize that God is sovereign and his commands are simple: seek first the Kingdom of God and He will take care of us?

Those who believe and stand firm on God’s Word will learn greater humility and discernment, as we submit fully to our Lord and learn to obey him in all things. This faith has no room for fear. Jesus overcame sickness and death and the grave, so that we would no longer need fear these things. He told us that we must freely give our lives for the sake of the gospel in order to receive them back again. Seeking to control what we cannot is a way of giving into fear.

15
Scott
August 30, 2022

Thank you Joyce for your article. It is terrific.

Twenty two years ago, I prayed the prayer of Jabez and asked God why we were in the cultural situation we were in even back then. God impressed upon me that we were there as a country because the church was in its comfort zone and it wanted to stay right there. I got that completely because as humans, we naturally will flee from pain and move towards pleasure. Living in America has been a great blessing over our lifetimes. It stands to reason then that the American church also found its comfort zone and as a result became complacent in its mission. Instead of staying entrenched in the seven cultural mountains, we retreated from them. We all know wat happens when the light is turned off; darkness takes over.

Fast forward to today. Evil certainly seems empowered and unstoppable at this point. In my opinion, Trump is not our president now because God wants to make it clear to the American church that there is only one savior for America, and he isn’t it. Jesus has been and still is.

A few years ago, God impressed on me that as American Christians we have six force multiplying, sustainable competitive advantages the other side doesn’t have. We have God, Jesus, their words; the Holy Spirit, prayer and America’s rich Christian history. For the church not to use them at this point in history is like being in a gun fight and leaving your pistol in its holster. The outcome will not be good. As a critical aside, nobody can keep us as individuals or as the church from praying. Only we can. Sobering thought, right?

The fact is everyone needs Jesus. They just don’t know it yet. They just need to be introduced to Him. Did you know that if for example 20% of Americans today were born again believers, (I know that is not accurate, but just bear with me) if we all just led one other person to the Lord each quarter, this time next year everyone in America would be followers of Jesus Christ? Think things would be different at that point? Of course they would. So why aren’t our churches putting a priority of getting its members to share their faith every day? It is not complex. Eat breakfast or lunch at a restaurant?
Tell the server you pray before you eat. Then ask, “What can I pray for you?” Sure, it might be uncomfortable at first, but like any skill, our first success with a skill breeds confidence, and that confidence grows exponentially with each additional success. I would hope every pastor in America would encourage this from the pulpit. I ask people all the time, what will spending eternity in heaven worth to you? Responses typically are either crickets like it was a trick question or a nanosecond answer of “priceless.” So if is truly the later answer, than the follow up question is can you possibly love anyone more than introducing them to Jesus?

Back to my flee from pain, and move towards pleasure hypothesis. Did you know according to 2 Peter 3:8 if taken literally, eighty years on earth is equivalent to two hours in eternity? (It is even less than that in another scripture). Do you know anybody that uses all their time, talent and treasure just for the next two hours? Well, that is exactly what we all are doing if we don’t consider eternity in our own personal timelines. When we all stand individually in front of Jesus one day at the Bema seat, the benefit (or not) to last for all eternity, it will be pretty important for each one of us to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant;” right? For that to happen for any of us living on planet earth, we had to have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord ad Savior. No exceptions. As I tell people, if you get just one thing right in your entire life, this is it. Eternity is a long, long time. You wouldn’t bet your life on a coin flip would you? That is exactly what folks are doing if they don’t do a little research for themselves like reading the Gospel of John and asking God to make Himself known to them for starters.

I know everyone reading this post already know these points. However, most people in our country don’t and that is why the church needs to get out of the pew and into culture telling folks about Jesus and God’s kingdom. It is in their best interest to listen and be open to the Gospel. It is in our best interest as well. We too will stand before Jesus one day and suppose on that day Jesus asks us how many people we led to Him. No fooling Jesus on this one. How many people would have to respond “none” or “just one”? Bottom line, if we think our time at the Bema seat will not be as pleasant as we might want it to be when Jesus reviews our eternal resume, we have between today and the time we take our last breath to make up for lost time and take a second look at what Jesus asked us to do.

Scripture is very clear in Revelation 2:5 describing what is happening in America today. 2 Chronicles 7:14 shows us the solution. The only thing keeping the last and possible greatest awakening in America and possibly world history is us , the American church. We have little time left. Pastors need to take the lead and get their church out of the pews and into culture. We also need to fast and pray on a weekly at a minimum. It is for everyone’s best personal interest for this to happen. God is still God; omnipresent, omniscient and all powerful. He is waiting on us.

7
    Staci
    August 31, 2022

    Scott, You said “We too will stand before Jesus one day and suppose on that day Jesus asks us how many people we led to Him. …How many people would have to respond to “none” or “just one”? . The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:6 about one planting, one watering and God causing the increase. So there will be times where we just drop seeds, and then another believer comes along at another God appointed time and does the watering and then above all GOD does the increase. God does that not us. Our jobs are to share Christ where and when we have opportunity and sometimes we’ll only get so far with a person because the person says “no” or “not now” to the Gospel message. WE can’t lead people to the Lord who DON’T WANT TO BE LED. We can only share, pray and live as a light and example of Christ. That’s it. God works on the hearts of people. They can’t be forced. This idea that Christians need a body count of believers to show to God one day because they led them to the Lord puts pressure on Christians that isn’t reality. There will be Christians who aren’t able to lead someone to the Lord but God uses their prayers to help in the process of leading them to the Lord because say their prayers God used to pave the way in their hearts and later in life God uses another Christian to do the actual leading? Does the person who wasn’t able to do the leading the first time then disqaulified in a way because the non-believer said “no” or “not now”? Think of all the Mom’s out there praying for their kids who said “no” to their Mothers when the topic of Christ and salvation came up but then say in college they got saved because they found Christ in college due to a roommate? So, again, one plants, one waters but God causes the increase. God bless you.

    8
Dona
August 30, 2022

What great insight! Thank you!

3
Rochelle Fox
August 30, 2022

I have prayed and GOD showed me that it is Boots on the Ground time! I am headed today, LORD WILLING to my County Clerk’s Office with a FOIA Request for CAST VOTE RECORDS! I pray that EVERYONE WHO VOTES TO THE SAME! There is a Telegram Chat Room @LADYDRAZA CHAT, who has a Free Tutorial Live tonight! I pray that many will join! The 22-MONTH RETENTION DATE ENDS ON THIS SEPTEMBER 3, 2022! You can either do the FOIA, OR FIND AND ELECTION SAVVY ATTORNEY OR YOUR OWN ATTORNEY GENERAL TO LEGALLY BLOCK THE DESTRUCTION AND DELETION DEADLINE DATE!
🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🛐🛐🛐🛐🥸 If not me then you, if Not Us them who? I pray for Divine Favor to be with everyone who is willing to put forth bold faith to YOUR children as we know YOU CALLED US to be Ambassadors here as we occupy and redeem the time until we see YOUR GLORIOUS APPEARING IN THE CLOUDS! In the name of YESHUA, JESUS, AMEN!!!

6
Rev. Wendell Owens
August 30, 2022

Joyce, thank you the outline of End Yimes. I have been preaching & warning people/churches for over 2 years now that Father God has already started His Time clock for the end to come, the Rapture to happen any day now and the prophesied Tribulation to begin. This is what I have been receiving from the Lord, and what you have written or at least explained confirms that. It is time to “Stand Up & fight for the Gospel around the World and warn All before we are Caught Up what they who are left behind will be facing. Thank you again in Jesus name.

12
B. Cash
August 30, 2022

Holy Father ; You are preparing us now for Anti Christ paganism. . Your word must be prayed. Our faith must be courageous . Our repentance and worship constant unto You …Our allegiance unto You must stand . “Hear the voice of our supplications… the strength of our salvation . You have covered our heads in battle .” Indeed “we will over come by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony “. We must breathe in Christ Jesus and exhale fear moment to moment as we pray in His holy Name!

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Lauree A Reed
August 30, 2022

This is excellent teaching and a great guide to how to pray with understanding! Now is the time for the Church to resist being transformed to the zombie followers that this World System demands. We are in the fiery furnace as we are condemned for asking questions, for holding to biblical standards, and for putting people and God-given Freedoms ahead of secular, demonic, one-world Totalitarian greed and agendas!! Thank you so much!!

20
CHAVA
August 30, 2022

Shields of G-D
by Eva

O’ shields of G-D, arise and cry!
The time has come to unify,
Not in man’s wisdom, but only in the Cross,
Counting all things as dung to save the lost.

O’ shields of G-D, arise and shine!
The time has come to unify
And be one with Christ. In one accord,
Take up His Word, His Spirit’s sword.

O’ shields of G-D, stand hand-in-hand!
Release His power o’er the land.
For love of G-D and love of man,
O’ saints of G-D, arise and stand!

O’ shields of G-D, obey His will!
Lift up His standards; they are holy still!
Push back the darkness with holy light.
Expose all evil and break through the night.

O’ shields of G-D, lovers of souls,
Don on Christ’s armor. Take courage! Be bold!
For His infinite glory, power, and praise,
Give allegiance to none but to the Ancient of Days.

O’ shields of G-D, watch through the night!
Arise from your slumber and enter the fight!
Watchmen, prophets, intercessors all,
Heralders of truth, answer His call!

O’ shields of faith, Christ’s holy seed,
Pick up your cross and follow His lead!
Fear only the One in whose name you stand,
The “First and the Last”, the Great I AM!

19
Brian
August 30, 2022

There is no doubt that being groomed for the AntiChrist is happening in our world right now. Just look around- the Globalist Elite and their New World Order are prevalent everwhere around us. We are in the days where this is supposed to be happening- the End Times. All of this has been predicted in the Bible. John talked about this in one of his epistles, that the spirit of AntiChrist was already here. That was MANY years ago. There truly is nothing new under the sun. Evidence points to the day is that is coming, when Antichrist comes on the scene. Lord Jesus, give us wisdom to cope with the schemes of the enemy. give us a strong, overwhelming desire to listen to the still, small voice of Holy Spirit. Most of all, send us revival. We SO need this! Thank You, Jesus.

25
Randy Berg
August 30, 2022

Here is why I believe the Covid Lockdown was the start of the 1290 day countdown from Daniel 12 to the End of this age and the Return of Jesus.
Old Testament “Temple sacrifices” do not have to be re-established before the antichrist can come. This is because the Hebrew word for “sacrifice” is Missing — meaning it has been ADDED to the text (in 5 different places from Dan. 8-12). Ostensibly because Daniel made mistakes when he repeatedly left it out?
In Dan. 12:11-13 we are given a literal countdown to the abomination.
During this time we are told that times and law (or many legal decisions) will be “given into his power for 3.5 years.” I believe that this is the time we are now in, and why almost none of America’s courts would vote to investigate the 2020 Election. Dan. 7:25
In Dan. 12:11 some translations say “daily sacrifice,” while others say “burnt offering,” or “regular sacrifice,” however the word for “sacrifice” and / or “burnt offering” is Not in the Hebrew text — but has been added (both here and in Daniel 8:11, 12,13 and 11:31). The meaning of the Hebrew word (hat-tamid) that is translated as “the continual” or “the regular” or “the daily” could also be translated as “the normal” — as in the normal way of life– all over the World (that was Stopped — if only for a few weeks).
Note also that most versions Don’t even place these words in italics: only the King James and New King James among all of the popular versions.
Thus I now believe this passage is referring to when the normal way of life was Halted or Disturbed (all over the world — for at least a month) on or about March 13 of 2020, because of the (ostensibly terminal) “flu.” This was the beginning of the 1290 day countdown to the “abomination of desolation” that will then be “set up,” and after which time we have 45 more days to the Return of the King of Kings — Jesus the Christ. This is also referred to as the “time of darkness” that will come on the whole earth (John 9:4) — during which time God’s people will have to stay put, cease working, and / or hide out. 2 Thes. 2:1-12, Rev. 13:16-18; 17:12-14, Isa. 26:20-21; Zeph. 2:3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgGgHC0PhxQ&t=18
I also recommend the video below — as it also plays into this topic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i25HZK4vsfs

1
Mark Brickey
August 30, 2022

Half Jewish, too, but adhered to Catholicism when young. Hated both Jew & Christian, well, actually, everyone, probably including himself!

1
Mark Brickey
August 30, 2022

Joyce, just a point of curiosity, nothing more… How do you conclude that the 7 churches in Revelation were pastored by John? I find nothing about this? The rest of article was a good refresher of the 7 churches.

3
    Joyce Swingle
    August 30, 2022

    Dear Mark, Great question. I am relying on a number of commentaries for that tidbit, notably Robert H. Mounce’s “The Book of Revelation.” Mounce does not actually say John pastored the churches but notes that John feels no need to explain who he is other than using his first name, which implies an intimacy with the churches. That implies he was a leader. Perhaps it would have been more accurate for me to have said John was a leader, rather than he pastored or founded the churches. Thanks for the question! We all need our brothers and sisters to be as faithful to the text as the church in Berea! Praise the Lord! In His Victory, Joyce Swingle

    8
      Rev. Wendell Owens
      August 30, 2022

      Joyce it is also important to realize that John was the last remaining Disciple of Christ and considered an Apostle to which the 7 Churches looked to for instruction. It was also Christ Himself that gave him the Revelation and told him to write these revelations to the churches, thereby giving him the final authority to do so…. ie Pastorship, Overseer, Apostolic leadership if you will. there is nothing far-fetched in seeing John as a Pastoral leader.

      10
Rebecca Rockich
August 30, 2022

The Bible says no man knows the day nor the hour of Christ’s return. So, most certainly, Satan doesn’t have this knowledge. He must have someone standing ready in every time and generation to fulfill this prophesy.
As far as cowing to the mandates of government, the Bible also says to follow the laws of our country as long as they are not in opposition to God’s laws. I will not be made to feel guilty or like I did something wrong spiritually because I followed what the Bible says to do. I think a lot of Christians got caught up in a movement that makes them feel powerful, but in the end, what did it really gain them? How did it further the cause of Christ?
I actually had a *Christian* woman say that rather than get a vaccination, I should let my 96 year old mother be exposed to the disease and die because she is a Christian and had lived a long life. This is one of the most vulgar, repugnant things anyone has ever said to me. How anyone can think they’re following Christ and say something this unloving is beyond my ability to comprehend.

4
    Dan
    August 30, 2022

    Remember there are 2 groups Jesus mentioned. Believers are children of God and unbelievers are children of the devil. They don’t have to worship him to be his child, but they do his bidding.
    He is a liar and his children are liars by nature.
    You are a “slave” to the one you obey.
    These same people who claim to have your best interest medically speaking are the same ones who say it’s okay to kill a child in the womb, and they say it’s okay for a child to castrate their body parts to be something else, they don’t even know the difference between male and female. These evolutionary believing people have your best interest? If you look at any statistics (not the demonic news channels) you can only see the wickedness and deceptive practices going on.
    Better to take refuge in The Lord than to trust in man or nobles(psalm 118:8-9)
    As for obeying the government, the scripture says the government is for our good. When they disobey that God given directive then we are not to follow. Paul, Peter, James etc all died for disobeying the government of their time.

    25
    Elijah
    August 30, 2022

    That Christian woman likely knew more than you about what was in the injection and the statistics of adverse effects/deaths after the injections. I am assuming that your mom received the injection and is okay. Keep in mind that during the first series, there were still placebo control groups used. Also, not all lots were and are equal. Instead of complaining about what she said, you should do your OWN research and see if there could have been kernels of truth behind her statement.

    May God give you wisdom, clarity of mind, and grace.

    8
      Carol
      August 30, 2022

      The US government that made unconstitutional mandates about lockdowns and vaccines did not follow any law nor the Constitution! The evil government created the pandemic to do exactly what they did, gain power and get rich! Please read your Bible and let GOD direct your path! What Dan said is true! JESUS’ disciples obeyed GOD not government! Daniel, Mishach, Shadrach and Abednego obeyed GOD not the government! The time for persecution may be near. GOD is very clear, only those that stand for CHRIST to the end will make Heaven! Those that will live GODLY will suffer persecution! FATHER GOD please open the eyes and discernment of YOUR children to know what to do during these evil and wicked days in JESUS NAME!

      5
    Ellen Hoffman
    August 30, 2022

    I am so sorry that happened to you! Nit right for sure! I know many people against the shots and many who got them. I know some who insist they are the mark of the beast. We are living in a time where we have to test the spirits. God would never say expose your loved one to disease and let them die! Not loving! It is now coming out more into the mainline that these shots are harmful. We live in an age where there is icontradictory information from all over. satan is dividing families, even the church. I pray for unity in the church, these shots should not divide us. We should do our own careful checking and prayfully decide what is right. As far as it depends upon me to live at peace. I think the mark of the beast won’t be nebulous, God will make it very clear that it is about allegiance.

    9
Linda.Cross
August 30, 2022

I really don’t understand why so many Christians are against wearing masks for protection against Covid or any other health issues. Does God not give us wisdom and want us to be in good health . Does He not expect us to take care of our body / temple of the Holy Spirit ?
Most people in my church do not wear masks, the church has seen lots of Covid cases within . Even a young police officer died from Covid.
Most of my family works in health care and we have seen Covid upfront . Family members work as ICU nurses, Nurse on Covid floors in a large hospital , ER technician, etc.. I my self work as a manager in homecare. We have this month had patients and staff with Covid. I will continue to wear a mask and do my best to be a good steward of My body and my health.
To me it is ignorance or rebellion to teach people not to wear a mask to protect themselves. Does scripture tell us not to test God, i? It’s the same as stepping out in front of a truck and expecting God to save us .

3
    Kim Newell
    August 30, 2022

    For me, being forced by a government to wear masks, isolate from others, etc. is the issue. The purpose behind it all is suspect as well. Even while everyone was masked up and isolated, the virus still spread, while government seized every opportunity to pass mandates (not laws) to remove our basic rights of movement, speech, and worship. It is not evident that either of these severe measures worked as the virus spread and is still spreading and evolving as viruses do. Their next attempt to subdue the nation will be worse, I suspect.

    31
    Ellen Hoffman
    August 30, 2022

    The masks “scientifically ” do nothing to contain covid. They are ineffective, shown by study after study. Indeed, the CDC has recently come out and said they were on a learning curve and got it wrong. In addition, there is now strong evidence that the shots hurt more than help. Many people saw and heard this as they went along. Having said that, I also say, I will wear a mask for other people who look afraid. I don’t have time to teach them differently, but don’t want to be a source of their suffering either.

    11
    Rebecca Rockich
    August 30, 2022

    Dear Linda, I mostly agree with you. Although it hasn’t been proven that masks, at least regular paper or cloth masks, do much to prevent the spread of disease, I totally agree with you that many Christians refused wear them out of rebelliousness. It was liked they had their own anti-mask, anti-vax cult. It had nothing to do with being a Christian. I feel that we should follow the Bible and obey the law of man until it opposes the law of God. THAT is where we must take our stand, not by acting like a bunch of silly, rebellious teenagers because we were supposed to wear masks.

    3
      Denise J
      August 30, 2022

      If I know that the masks do not do anything to prevent the spread of disease, why is not wearing one an act of rebellion??? You really shouldn’t judge the motives of others in such a blatant way. If I was at all rebellious in refusing to wear a mask, I was being rebellious towards the powers that seek to control us and take away our God given rights; not against the Lord!!! Is there no discernment to see that the law of man is opposing the law of God in this very thing. They shut down churches, but not liquor stores; they jailed people who did not follow “their” made up rules (and they are now admitting ALL of this!!!); they are FORCING people to take an unapproved vaccine and again, they now have to admit how many people are DYING and suffering because of the vaccines, Read and find the truth about all this. Please do not listen to the mainstream media – the devil incarnate!

      17
        Ellen Hoffman
        August 30, 2022

        I see what you are saying, but it comes to a point when we have to figure out what the loving thing to do is. Some do have a rebellious spirit. Some are doing it to enforce the “truth”. Paul said to be all things to all people. These masks represent government autocratic authority – to many of us. But they also represent protection to our lost and dying world. Better to wear the mask around them and win them over by teaching differently. They will be drawn to our character and then we can teach them. The only thing that counts if faith expressing itself through love.

        2
    Lorra
    August 30, 2022

    Unfortunately you have been misled as well. The majority of masks are not protecting anyone from a virus …bacteria yes, but virus no. “Real” science has proven it. So… let’s not
    bow down to the evil forces, but rather strengthen ourselves. If you like to wear a mask you have the freedom to do it and I support you (this is LOVE), but let’s not push false narratives like masks will protect you from Covid and it’s variants. The Lord has given us everything we need so let’s seek Him for our wisdom and discernment. May the Lord Bless us and keep us until the day He calls each one of us home!

    24
    Sunny
    August 30, 2022

    It is not the same as stepping in front of a truck and expecting God to save us.

    Many are against wearing masks because researching it themselves from scientists/doctors who are not involved with the government, or AMA or big pharma concluded that the masks did nothing to protect them. Standing 6 feet apart did not protect them. Getting a shot of a hastily concocted “vaccine”, did more harm than good in many cases and certainly did not stop those who were jabbed from getting Covid 2 or 3 times.

    It is not ignorance or rebellion to refuse to do something that is mandated by a government that wants to control us and is not interested in our well being at all. Just about everyone I know has had Covid whether they got the shot or not. I personally know people who died from Covid AFTER they got the shot.

    Being a good steward of our bodies requires taking care of ourselves, building up our immunity, staying healthy and asking for God’s protection from this evil man-made virus and it’s so called “vaccine”.

    If wearing a mask makes you feel safe, that’s fine. But be careful not to judge those who do not.

    23
    Dan
    August 30, 2022

    God created everything we need for health naturally. But we stopped using most of it and we consume unnatural things instead which leads to most health issues. Then we consume chemicals called medication to counteract. Ask yourself this: they give you a medicine and it treats symptoms, then it causes side effects, but there’s a medicine for that, then it has other side effects, but wait, there’s something for that, and on and on. Do some research. The more medicine and vaxes we come up with the more “new” health issues crop up. With all the advancements and technology we have it should be the other way around. Illness should be nearly gone not increasing. 75% of commercials are for medicine. Clinics are popping up every day on every corner. And “just a coincidence” but after this covid Jab, SADS is climbing. Unknown deaths are climbing. All cause deaths are climbing.
    Nobody disclaims that people are sick. We just question the reasons why and motives behind them. Ask the family members who you say work in the medical field if things were handled differently throughout covid compared to any other time. Normal protocols ignored and normal medicines not used. Told to only say this or that.
    God’s wisdom is not from worldly sources. God gives you wisdom to test these “spirits”.
    Better to take refuge in The Lord than to trust in man or nobles. Psalm 118:8-9
    Remember, our battle is not flesh and blood but spiritual. Demonic and angelic forces control the minds of unbelievers.

    19
    Elijah
    August 30, 2022

    These people ARE using God given wisdom to keep both themselves and others healthy. The masks are not for the virus, as OSHA and WHO manuals prior to changes made after this casedemic showed that healthy people should not wear masks and that the masks do not protect against viruses. Not wearing a mask is NOT rebellion. It is common, scientific, and spiritual sense. Please do some more research, as there are thousands of studies, and many physicians verifying this.

    The masks are filthy face diapers and are CAUSING disease and MUCH harm. The usage is for programming people to satanic compliance, not for health.

    18
    Kathleen Tiemubol
    August 30, 2022

    I understand your argument about taking care of ourselves and others. If masks truly protected us from getting sick, then I could understand the insistence on using them for a specified amount of time and in certain settings. However, I think the issue here is knowing the truth and living accordingly. There have been studies done that show that masks do not offer much protection at all and other studies showing that constant masking may even cause harm to our own bodies, because of the substances that collect on the masks and because we’re not able to breath as properly. In addition, the affects that constant masking is having on young children in terms of not seeing adults’ full faces for social cues and not being able to see how sounds are made in the mouth is proving very detrimental. I submit to you that we’ve not ever been able to control all of our environmental factors. All we can do is to choose to live in submission and obedience to the Lord and trust him to guide our paths. Because Jesus died and rose again, we who believe in him no longer need fear death. Jesus admonishes us to give our lives away freely to others, to lose our lives for the sake of the gospel, in order to receive them back again. Such a life is meant to be lived in faith, not fear.

    9
    Staci
    August 31, 2022

    Prior to Covid it was generally known that the mouth is very dirty and lots of bacteria and germs grow in that dark, warm and wet area, Our lungs were meant to EXPEL germs. So having a piece of cloth covering that wet and germ filled area and with those same germs being expelled onto the mask and thus breathed in and out through that germ-y mask that means that over time the immune system will weaken and that will lead to the possibility to the person getting sick. Look up people who have gotten oral thrush, lung issues, throat inflammation, zit breakouts and rashes around the mouth and so on from wearing masks for long periods of time. If you and your family are part of the medical field then you should know about this kind of thing. The masks cause health issues as well for immune compromised people. God bless you.

    2
      Staci
      August 31, 2022

      Also take a look at American history when Native Americans were given disease filled blankets. Dirty or infected cloth can spread disease and create illness when worn on the body.

      1
Michael Bethel
August 30, 2022

The spirit of antichrist has long been in the world at work… John tells us one of the means of recognizing it. 1 John 4:2-3 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
I also believe that the false prophet entered the world long ago and has been at work as you hear the chant “there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet”
Recently the Pope declared that the Catholic church believes in the same god as the Muslims and the Church of days gone by held the belief that the position of Pope was the position of antichrist.
Antichrist isn’t just an “evil person” it is someone who will associate themselves with the name of Jesus but all they do and say will be counter to our Lord’s teachings… he will be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

11
Dawnena Key
August 30, 2022

We already were when we were born after 1968. It’s just more rampant for our children and their children.

2
Marsha Bashor
August 30, 2022

Dear Lord, I see and agree that the past two years especially, have opened our eyes to the strong impact the devil has had. But also has brought realization to us that the devil has been working for many years, not just two years, behind the scenes in our government and in other areas like our colleges and schools. And it seems like the Covid event has brought everything out in the open that is evil. It seems so overwhelming. We don’t know where to turn. But only to you can we turn, and we realize that things are so out of control that we must turn to you for help and for answers. And for guidance. Thank you Lord for the ones who have stepped out against the evil in our schools, in the elections, in the workplaces, and regarding our healthcare. Thank you for answering our prayers regarding Roe v Wade. Thank you for the good things happening all over our country, and please bless the ones who are standing up and the ones who are praying, and thank you for waking the church up.
My prayer is for you O Lord to continue to change the hearts of the unsaved, and to open their eyes much more to the evil in our midst. Bring revival to our nation, Lord. Let the antichrist enemy that is pursuing our destruction be defeated, in Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🙏🙏

40
Marsha Carol Watson Gandy
August 30, 2022

JOYCE, Thank You for taking us back through the seven church ages…….Each is So Revealing.

There are life-lessons they bring to each of us to help us “weather” these days in which we are living. O that we might be found worthy…….

16
The Prayer Sentry
August 30, 2022

This is the time for the faithful to stand fast, we are living in the last days.
https://theprayersentry.com/2022/08/30/a-gibraltar-faith/

15
    Ellen Hoffman
    August 30, 2022

    Yes, at a minimum we must stand firm. Those who stand firm until the end will be saved! I hope I can do more than stand firm, but that is up to God and what He calls and empowers me to do. I know several Christians who are having trouble in the day to day. I tell them all you have to do is stand firm until the end. I believe satan is taking out God’s army as much as he can. We need our spiritual armor and need to be awake and prepared. God is with us! We will prevail!

    14
Judy Braland
August 30, 2022

When you are traveling to a destination, it looks a lot different when you are 100 miles out. We have arrived at this prophesied intersection and would respectfully submit to us intercessors as a reminder, we live this side of the cross and our Commander in Chief knows the movements and intentions of our foe. While “darkness” has come out of the closet, it has always been here. It is US – God’s Ekklesia – that needs to come out of the closet!

In no way am I intending to discredit this wonderful article but just encouraging us toward the winning side of what we are facing. I just wrote a “Statement of War” for our team and am just sharing the first portion of it below as a means to – again – encourage us to stand strong.

“Romans 12:18
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

Psalm 120:7
“I am for peace but when I speak, they are for war.”

We are not asking for this war against the children and humanity but if you want war, we ready ourselves armed with heaven’s arsenal and on the shoulders of patriarchal generations before us who knew times and seasons (I Chronicles 12:32). We stand within the frame of Daniel 2:21 knowing our God is THE ONE who changes times and seasons AND it is HE who removes kings and sets them in place. It is by HIM we receive wisdom and knowledge for the ensuing battle and it is with Him you make war.”

STAND STRONG!!!! AND….thank you Joyce Swingle for your well thought out article.

25
Cathy Vaught
August 30, 2022

Thanks so much for this excellent, insightful article! At our church, we have also been going through a similar discussion for the past two months of these churches and their similarities to the “prodigal” church in today’s world. These letters to these seven churches were personal letters from Jesus and they still apply today.

16
Derek
August 30, 2022

When you consider these things, thank God we are fighting this battle now and not 20 years from now. 20 more years of libtard weakness and there would have been no resistance to the agenda. But, as it is, the world has had enough of the WEF, unrepentant masking, forced injections, and the like. Deliverance, when it comes, will stick at least until these crimes have vanished from living memory.

12
Lynnette Holloway
August 30, 2022

Lord, thank You for Your word and for Your Holy Spirit that are together working within us so that we can be mighty instruments for Your service in the midst of evil and deception. And thank You for 1 John that warns us about the spirit of the Antichrist as well as many antichrists that have already gone out into the world. Thank You for using us to wake up the rest of the Church. In the Matchless Name of Jesus— Amen

62
Jeff Noncent
August 30, 2022

The Bible say that the spirit of the Antichrist is already here and surely it has been for the last 2 years after COVID19 hit the globe the situation remain to see that even the government of the United State is surely following the Antichrist spirit because Satan is running this nation and the world.

38
    Ellen Hoffman
    August 30, 2022

    Yes, the Bible says there will be many anti-Christ’s. But the anti-Christ is the one whom we fight at the end.

    5
Elisabeth
August 30, 2022

Father God. Help your people of faith to wake up to the truth and trust in You instead of the ways of the world Give us new strength spiritually and physically to go into battle. Make Your words stand out to us and become our rocksolid foundation. Help us to wake up those who sleep. In Jesus name. Amen

68
Pat M
August 30, 2022

Father God if the Antichrist is coming out of the church likely he or she knows more about scripture than I do. Help us father to be discerning and wise in knowing your ways and depending wholly on you.

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