The great end-time period of spiritual revelation, as well as of trouble and tribulation, is the climate in which the greatest saints, apostles, and prophets who ever lived will come forth. The climate is being created. Out of almost utter chaos, they will arise.
There is going to be a time of trouble—called “a time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7)—such as the world has never seen. God is bringing this age to a close; more than that, we are the factors in it. Conditions would not be moving as fast toward the direction they are if we had not gathered together for over two decades and prophesied them. There were no indications of these trends at the beginning of this move of God upon us. The restoration has progressed very rapidly in the present generation as a result of the prophecies which were spoken. We prophesied these things into being, and we shall continue to do so. We will be prophesying trouble and judgments upon the earth.
Some people may object to prophesying trouble, but it is necessary. Would you like to have your descendants live another thousand years in this world the way it is? If God can bring down the corrupt and evil Babylonian system and bring forth Zion, let it happen. If there are a few convulsions and a few discomforts while the old system dies, we will believe God to preserve us through it.
Daniel 12:1–3 prophesies concerning these days: “Now at that time Michael” (this is the archangel, the warring angel), “the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” Lest there be a question in your mind concerning this being fulfilled at the fall of Jerusalem to General Titus and the Roman armies, remember that verse 2 was not fulfilled. The resurrection did not take place. No matter how many other fulfillments there may have been, the principle fulfillment of that passage is about to come. It is a time of distress related to the first resurrection.
“And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” This is speaking of a breakthrough into glorification. We call it the manifestation of the sons of God. Romans 8:29, 30 tells us: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…them he also glorified.
The full glorification is in the provision of God for the sons of God, and they are literally to shine as the stars. There will be a brilliance and a glory about them. Does that sound impossible? As we begin to tune in to the colors of people’s auras, we realize that it is just another step or two until God will bring His people to the place where the aura becomes visible for everyone to see. Those who do not see auras often downgrade the idea because they do not know anything about it. They may even condemn it as wrong and evil. It is disgusting that they let their ignorance prejudice them.
Today many scientists are becoming interested in spiritual phenomena. They are seriously considering auras and communications with spirits. If such research can take place in a world of unbelief, how much more ought we to forge ahead and believe God to move into the divine revelation which will be the key to overwhelm and overrule all other forces. At this particular time in history the atheistic countries believe more about the spirit world than Christians have believed for nineteen centuries. How do we explain that? It is a result of the great falling away that Paul prophesied (II Thessalonians 2:3). This is going to change.
Daniel prophesied that those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven. Auras are becoming visible to more people all the time. It is interesting to see photographs that are being taken of the human aura. (It is the Russians who are actively engaged in this.) In the early nineteen hundreds a man in England wrote a book on the aura. He discovered that the aura could reveal everything that was wrong with an individual, both mentally and physically; therefore, it was helpful in diagnosing diseases. The Russians picked up the study while everyone else dropped it. They are pursuing it very rapidly.
In America at the present time scientists are beginning to study the auras of plants in the science of botany. They have discovered that plants can be very sensitive and responsive to a blessing. There seems to be sufficient evidence to prove that plants which receive loving attention and blessing grow and thrive much better than plants that do not receive this care.
If these things are true in the natural world, can’t God cause His people to flourish? Can’t He bless their auras and give them health and strength? First that which is natural; then that which is spiritual (I Corinthians 15:46). Some of this is revolutionary teaching, but that is all right. I would rather be a little revolutionary, than be conservative and dead wrong. Continuing in Daniel 12:4: “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” “Many going back and forth” is speaking about transportation being increased, and it is. It is also true that knowledge is increasing very rapidly at this present time. Our moon shots and space explorations especially have opened up fantastic fields of knowledge. There is more to be learned today than ever before. Vast fields of science are opening up to us.
Knowledge is increasing; yet it has been an abortive, evil situation, for the children of this world have drawn upon that increase of knowledge to make war and to bring destruction. And God’s people have not drawn upon the increase of knowledge to bring blessing, to bring release and spiritual deliverance. I hate this Ishmael manifestation. During the past few generations our best medical discoveries and advances have been made by doctors as they have learned to patch boys together who have practically been blown apart in war. It is true that we have made many other advances, but I wish that the spiritual people would be open to the flow of revelation from God so that we could learn many things by the Spirit. I believe it is possible for us to tune into those things. Why do we not do so? Somehow we are afraid that we would look ridiculous. We should not be concerned about that. We have never ridiculed anyone because he had some ideas that would be considered crazy by the world’s viewpoint. Good Christian people are going to invent and produce things that the world will call crazy, but they will really work.
Many scientists claim that there must be intelligent life in other galaxies. They are trying to send out signals to contact this life and find out if it exists. I maintain that if there is any life intelligent enough to receive our signals, it is intelligent enough not to answer them. If there is intelligent life, why would it want to contact us, with our wars and corruption? What have we been broadcasting on our television and radio waves that indicates any great cultural advances? Why should anyone answer the signals of war and destruction that we are sending at the present time?
A curse is hanging on all the earth. That is the reason God must bring an end to it, so that righteousness and the Kingdom of God can prevail. If there is anything to believe in now, believe in the coming of the Kingdom of God. Believe to be a citizen in that Kingdom. When you believe in that, you cannot believe in any of these other world systems that have tricked the people and taken their money, that have enslaved their minds and spirits. The Kingdom of God is contrary to that. When you believe in the Kingdom of God and see yourself as a submissive citizen in it—submissive to the Lord Jesus Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords—you are believing in the only real truth there is.
Continuing in Daniel 12:8–10, we read: As for me, I heard but could not understand (maybe that is where you are now); so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel” (this means that Daniel would die), “for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. Many will be purged, purified” (made white) “and refined;….”
Now you have the whole picture of a walk with God. You have no doubt wondered why you have had nothing but trouble since you set your heart to walk with the Lord. You are being purged. God is purging every evil out of Zion. You may think that you came into a walk with God to worship the Lord and to move in the gifts of the Spirit, but God had another purpose in mind for you. He brought you into this to perfect you and to purge you. That is the reason you have gone through many difficulties.
We can say someone in a walk with God is very immature, but we must be sure to add “at present.” People do not remain immature when they walk with God. They grow the way I grew when I was a boy and moved from the farm to the city. Up to the time of that move I loved life. It was beautiful to walk through the timber, tagging along with my father when he tended the trap lines. I would sneak down and watch the beavers cut down trees and make their dam, and I fished in the muddy river for catfish. Those were beautiful years from the time I was about four to six years old. But when my family moved to the city I really started growing. I grew out of necessity. Every day on my way home from school, I was caught by some of the boys about three grades ahead of me. They would get on top of me, one on each foot and one on each arm, and they stretched me. I also learned to kick them with all my might—that was the way I grew.
The Lord is helping you to grow. You encounter circumstances that stretch you and make it necessary for you to grow. The Lord puts you in the kind of situation where you can do nothing else but grow.
“But the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.” Verse 10b. This is taking place now. Because we have the insight, we understand what is happening. The rest of the world is in despair. Even the brilliant people of the world do not know the plan of God, and to them all seems hopeless.
Verse 13: “But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.” Daniel will be back to enjoy it. If we persevere, we will be anchormen on this team, coming up in the last stretch. If we make it, perhaps within this generation we will witness the first resurrection. What would it be like to be living on this earth when people like Daniel come back for their portion? There are passages in the Old Testament which tell about “my prince David” returning and what he will do (Ezekiel 34:23, 24; 37:24, 25). The Old Testament contains teaching about the reincarnation of some of the patriarchs and the prophets at the end time. The word “reincarnation” may not be acceptable to some, but that is exactly what the Word speaks of: they will be brought back to live again, some of them even before the first resurrection. Daniel was told, “Go your way until the end.” He will come back to live again and receive his appointed position.
God has not wasted any of these men. He will bring some of them back on the scene again. It has happened before. When God had a special announcement to make, He brought Elijah back. When the disciples asked Jesus, “If You are the Christ, how is it that the scribes say Elijah must come first.” He said, “Elijah has already come” (meaning John the Baptist), “and they did to him whatsoever they would” (Mark 9:11–13; Matthew 11:14). Elijah did come, and he did die; he was beheaded as John the Baptist. That is what the Scripture teaches. Jesus said, “If you can receive it, this is what happened.” I can receive it. God could not have found a more wonderful person to be His forerunner than the spirit of Elijah.
We must realize that God is able to raise us up now and cause us to walk. Many things of destiny can occur within our generation. We have been blessed in many ways, but the spiritual warfare becomes more and more intense. At the same time the revelation and the knowledge of what God has for us is increasing. We must understand that we are going to go through deeper and deeper dealings. We are being reconditioned. God is changing us from hothouse plants into the army of the Lord.
Have you ever noticed how the army changes a young man? Up to the time he entered the army, his mother probably picked up his clothes, fed him, took care of him, even fussed over him as she drove him down to the induction center. Her Johnny will not look the same when he comes back. In the army, instead of a doting mother, he will have a top sergeant chewing him out every time he gets out of line. He will change. He will not be leaving his clothes scattered around. His thinking will be completely different. That is what makes him a good soldier. I remember one arrogant, rebellious boy who joined the service. The first time he came home on furlough, he was the most polite boy I had ever seen—that rebellion and arrogance was gone.
The Lord is doing something with us that will create far greater change than the army can. Many will be purged, purified, and refined just by going through the dealings God puts them through. We cannot say that we appreciate the method the Lord uses, but we are very much in favor of the finished product He brings forth.