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Ask of Me
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The end-time apostasy is not just a time of sinfulness or large scale backsliding; it is actually a time of open defiance and warlike aggression against godliness in general. The apostasia is a political insurrection against the laws of God - mankind has entered an era of open revolt and outright rebellion -- an apostasy -- against the moral standards of God. Today, we are witnessing a large-scale rebellion against traditional moral values.
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then mainstream every
perversity known to man! Yet the God of Heaven desires the nations of the
world. Though the apostasy will certainly intensify, we must remember it is
only one of many prophecies unfolding in our day. The same divine Word that
warned of the Great Rebellion also assures us that ultimately God's kingdom
shall crush the demonic influences in our world.
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Yes, evil shall mature into full rebellion, but good is also ripening into full Christlikeness! True, the apostasy shall reveal the nature of Satan, but the true church shall manifest the nature of Christ! What seems to be Satan's hour, full of darkness and rebellion, is simply the opportunity for grace to abound to the glory of God in the church!
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By Francis Frangipane
"He who sits in the heavens laughs, the
Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them
in His fury" (Psalm 2:4-5)
The Great Revolt
As though Jesus were reading a news summary of recent years, His prophecies of
two thousand years ago clearly describe our times.
Indeed,
of the many prophetic fulfillments of our day, one in particular rises with
undimmed candor.
I am
speaking of what the Bible calls the "apostasy."
Recall
Paul's warning:
"Let no one in any way deceive you, for
[the day of the Lord] will not come unless the apostasy comes first" (2
Thessaloniana 2:3).
The
apostasy has traditionally been described as a time of deception and massive
falling away from authentic faith in Christ.
Depending
upon your specific view, sometime before or after the apostasy the rapture of
the church will occur.
However,
the concept of apostasy as merely "a
falling away" is incomplete.
The
original Greek word for apostasy, apostasia,
when used in classical Greek literature, meant "a political revolt."
From
this we understand that the end-time apostasy is not just a time of sinfulness
or large scale backsliding; it is actually a time of open defiance and warlike
aggression against godliness in general.
In
other words, the apostasia is a political insurrection against the laws of God.
This
interpretation of the apostasy is not an isolated view.
The New
International Version, Revised Standard Version, Phillips Translation, and New
English Bible all render apostasia as
"the rebellion."
The
Living Bible interprets the apostasy as the "great rebellion," while
the Jerusalem Bible assigns a proper name to this era: "The Great
Revolt."
As we
consider the fulfillment of so many other prophecies, let us carefully observe:
mankind has entered an era of open revolt and outright rebellion -- an apostasy
-- against the moral standards of God.
Today,
we are witnessing a large-scale rebellion against traditional moral values.
Indeed,
this brazen attitude has had a name for itself since the 1960s: the sexual
revolution.
Our
moral standards have not only been challenged, they have been replaced by a
nonstandard.
Indeed,
the great rebellion seeks to legitimize and then mainstream every perversity
known to man!
There
is much to say on behalf of those trapped in perversity and who hate sin's
effect on their lives. We must be compassionate toward them and not strident;
many are sitting in our churches afraid to even speak of their need lest they
be disowned.
I am
not speaking with reference to the victims of this advance, but of those who
are engaged in a mutiny against the sway of God in our nation.
They
argue the only standard Americans have is the standard of individual freedom.
In their view, freedom itself is the "god" ruling America, with
self-indulgence sitting as prime minister.
Yet the
God of Heaven desires the nations of the world.
Though
the apostasy will certainly intensify, we must remember it is only one of many
prophecies unfolding in our day.
The
same divine Word that warned of the Great Rebellion also assures us that
ultimately God's kingdom shall crush the demonic influences in our world (Daniel
2:44).
Yes,
evil shall mature into full rebellion, but good is also ripening into full
Christlikeness! (See Matthew 13:40-43; John 17:22-23.)
True,
the apostasy shall reveal the nature of Satan, but the true church shall
manifest the nature of Christ!
Our
King is not only coming in the skies, He is coming "to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at
among all who have believed" (2 Thessalonians 1:10).
What
seems to be Satan's hour, full of darkness and rebellion, is simply the
opportunity for grace to abound to the glory of God in the church!
The Second Psalm, perhaps more than any other Bible text, accurately portrays
the spirit of our time.
Indeed,
it also proclaims our correct response to Satan's bold advance.
Although
it was quoted by the early church (Acts 4:25-26), God
has set its full realization for the end of this age.
"Why are the nations in an uproar and the
peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the
rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!'" (Psalm
2:1-3).
Although "the rebellion" reveals itself worldwide in
many ways, in America many of our leaders have certainly been counseling
together "against the Lord"
in their decisions.
We see
it in the efforts to mainstream perversion and give shelter to satanic rock
music.
Again,
our anti-censorship laws, like armor plating, in many ways now defend sin
against the Lord. The virulent cry of those in rebellion hammers relentlessly
upon the fetters of moral restraint!
This
railing against God has not gone unnoticed in Heaven.
Is the
Almighty confounded?
Has
fear concerning recent developments gripped the Lord's heart? No. The Psalm
continues:
"He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury" (Psalm 2:4-5).
The Lord laughs at the foolishness of those in full revolt, as they imagine
God's judgments cannot reach them.
Why
then, you ask, does the Lord delay His full judgment?
In
part, the Lord waits for us, His church. For while the world shall demand, and
receive, the reign of hell, the goal of the praying church shall be for the
reign of Heaven.
You
see, all prophecies shall be fulfilled: not only those
concerning evil but also those concerning righteousness.
The
Lord has purposed to have a "bride
without spot or wrinkle" and a "kingdom"
of wheat without tares.
The
transformation of the church will be fulfilled as surely as every other
prophecy occurring before the Lord's return.
Thus,
with great fear and holy trembling, we must review what God has promised
concerning us. Let us remember, the Lord is not alone in the heavens.
According
to His Word, He has "seated us with
Him in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 2:6).
It is
time for our identity as Christians to shift. Our nationalities only define our
ambassador status; our true citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians
3:20).
And if
God is laughing at the mocking of those in the rebellion, let us also, as His
subjects, share His confidence!
Thus,
He commands us to sit with Him in the completeness of His purpose.
He
requires us not only to live without fear but to stand in prayer for these very
nations that defy Him!
Listen
again to this Second Psalm, for in the very context of worldwide rebellion
against the Lord, it records the most remarkable discourse: "Ask of Me, the Father says to the
Son, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the
very ends of the earth as Your possession" (Psalm 2:8).
When I
first came to Christ in 1970, churches in America were deeply divided and
rather cold in organized prayer.
Today,
leaders of denominations are working together, and it is estimated that more
than a quarter of a million American churches are moving toward deeper unity
and increased prayer for this nation.
Jesus
has asked the Father for the United States, and in response, the prayer
movement has been born!
As
Christ's church, we do not deserve a national revival, but Jesus does!
As His
representatives, in His name and virtue, we ask of the Father for America!
We
stand in prayer for the church to become one, filled with Christ followers from
every ethnic background!
Our
prayer is not only an act of faith, it is an act of obedience: we are
commanded to ask God for the nations!
Therefore,
while the perverse strive toward complete rejection of God, even as their
mocking words fill the air, the Almighty's unchangeable promise to His Son (and
by extension, His church as Christ's body) is "Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations!''
As
violence, New Age religions and witchcraft flourish in our schools, ask God for
this nation.
While
abortion remains protected by laws, ask God with confidence, with boldness, and
with faith for our land! Where you see injustice in any form, ask God for His
kingdom to manifest on earth!
"He who sits in the heavens laughs."
The
faith that relentlessly asks God, pleases God. Now, as the fullness of the
times unfolds, as the world around us clothes itself in prophetic fulfillments,
let us put away unbelief; let us repent for withdrawal.
It is a
time to boldly ask of God. As He has promised: He will give the nations as an
inheritance to Christ!
Let's pray: Lord Jesus, how blessed we are that as evil
matures into full rebellion, Your church matures into full Christlikeness.
Teach me to pray for my inheritance, my nation. Use me to stand
in the gap until my people become Your people.
Adapted from Francis Frangipane's book, The Days of His Presence, available at www.arrowbookstore.com.
Francis Frangipane is the author of numerous bestselling books, including "The Three Battlegrounds" and "Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God." He is also the founding director of In Christ's Image Training (ICIT), an online ministry school with students in over 120 nations. .
https://francisfrangipanemessages.blogspot.com/2020/04/ask-of-me.html
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