TEACHING NOTES

End Time Events

  • Restoration of the Tabernacle of David (Amos 9:11) - 24 hour worship and intercession.
  • The gospel preached to all nations: bible now translated into all major languages, TV/ satellite communication and internet reaching every continent.(Matthew 24:14)
  • Gathering in the harvest: the reaper overtakes the ploughman. (Amos 9:12)
  • Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29, Ezekiel 39:29)
  • Prosperity in Israel (Amos 9:13)
  • Return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel and coming of the Messiah (Amos 14:15)
  • Rebuilding of the highway from Egypt to Israel to Assyria. (Isaiah 19:23)
  • Godlessness and Apostasy ( 2 Timothy 3:1-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:3)

Matthew 24/ Luke 21 :Signs of the End Times

  • Wars and rumours of wars- all over the globe
  • Earthquakes- increasing in frequency and violence. e.g. Turkey, Pakistan
  • Famine and pestilence e.g. Ethiopia and HIV/Aids
  • Persecution and martyrdom- more this century than in the whole of history.
  • Betrayal and hatred e.g. families of Muslim converts.
  • Times of the Gentiles to be fulfilled: end of Church Age.
  • Signs in the heavens-eclipses on feasts and alignments seen only from Jerusalem e.g. Southern Cross in the South Pacific; appearances of Jesus in Somalia and Nepal, even at Mecca!
  • Roaring of the seas: tsunami and hurricanes. e.g.Indonesia, New Orleans
  • Terror: suicide bombings. e.g. New York, London, Madrid, Bali etc

Matthew 24:32-34/ Luke 21:29-31 :Sign of the Fig Tree (Israel)

  • The founding of the State of Israel in 1948.
  • Blossoming of the desert (Ezekiel 36; 33-36)
  • Aliyah (in-gathering of the Jews from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia.; shaking-bringing Jews back from Syria, South Africa, Albania

(Ezekiel 39 :27-28 )

  • Out pouring of the Holy Spirit on Jews: more than 50 Messianic congregations in Israel(Joel 2:28-29, Ezekiel 39:29)

Warnings to the Church

  • Refining: stand firm and endure hardship, learning to be an over-comer by declaring scripture, being prepared to die for the Lord. (2 Thessalonians 2:15, Timothy 2:15)
  • Call to be watchmen: watch and pray. (Matthew 24:42)
  • Beware of deception and false prophets. (Matthew 24:4, 11)
  • Being ‘fishermen’ before ‘the hunters come’. Bring the Jewish people back to Israel before they are driven out of the countries where they have been scattered. (Jeremiah 16:14-16)

Preparing the Bride of Christ

This calls for to radical change in the lives of average Christians to rise to a higher level of faith and maturity. We should have:

  • A passion for Jesus-true spirituality not dead religion, where our motivation is our love for the Lord.
  • Listento God and beguided by the Holy Spirit: being obedient and putting our faith into action.
  • To be true ‘living stones’, having authentic relationships, characterised by:
  • regular interaction.
  • length of commitment.
  • being able to admit our weaknesses.
  • confessing our past hurts and sins.
  • sharing our hopes and dreams.
  • desiring the success of the other and making sacrifices to that end.
  • questioning about misunderstandings and settling arguments.
  • exchanging appropriate affection.
  • balancing relation and function/goals.

Restoration of the family.

Teamwork and cell groups not church buildings.

  • Global Relevanceand Release-ceasing the ‘kairos moment’, exploiting the potential of the technological ageand visual media:TV/video and the internet to present the gospel, Kingdom values and lifestyle; challenging materialism and redeeming globalism.
  • Unleashing creativity- recapturing the arts and media, producing excellence in the creative domain, unrestrained adoration through art, mime, dance, drama etc, prophetic, cross cultural music evangelism.
  • One Body-Diverse Members-recognising individual gifts and potential of different cultures; bringing reconciliation between Jew/gentile, black and white, male and female, denominations and sectarianism. Empathising with the suffering.
  • Spiritual Authority-rising up in faith and the fear of the Lord, not demonic powers or man. Recognising the power of praise and worship.

Proper stewardship and releasing blessing. Praying God’s will and resisting soulish prayers.

  • Unity across Cities- repentance, building honesty and trust, commitment in relationships between pastors, working towards common goals not affairs.
  • Abiding in the Secret Place. Honouring the Sabbath, entering God’s rest and being content. Seeking stillness and simplicity. Waiting on the Lord.

Self-discipline: fasting and keeping the ‘watches of the Lord.’

  • Having a Heart for the Poor. Sharing and hospitality. Putting faith into action.
  • Restoring the Tabernacle of David i.e. praise and worship evangelism. Having the heart of Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus. Bringing praise and prayer together. (‘Harp and Bowl.’)
  • Israel-Recognising that God has chosen the Jews to reveal His character and plan. Repenting of anti-Semitism, blessing the Jews. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Restoration of the Feasts of the Lord, not the pagan festivals of Christmas and Easter. Understanding God’s purposes in the land of Israel and in creating the bride as ‘one new man’. (Eph.2:14)

Robert Stearns exhorts us toovercome the fear of man, of loss, of failure and deception and to rise up under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit.

Ref:

Stearns R (1999) Preparing the Way. Creation House. Florida

  • the bride as ‘one new man’. (Eph.2:14)

We need to overcomethe fear of man, of loss, of failure and deception and to rise up under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit.

How to be a Watchman

God is the chief watchman . ‘He neither slumbers or sleeps’ (Psalm 121)

‘Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.’(Psalm 127)

1. Watch the Lord- dwell in Him, his loveliness, holiness and goodness.

Song of Songs, Philippians 4;8: ‘ whatever is good, noble’ etc.

2. Watch His WORD- meditate on it day and night. Psalm 1, Joshua 1

3. Give thanks. Psalm 100 ‘Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His

courts with praise.’

4. Worship the Lord and enjoy Him.

5. Pour out your heart.

6. Wait on the Lord. Listen, especially for timing. Be led by the Holy Spirit.

7. Inquire of the Lord. Ask questions: ‘What should I do ?’

8. Listen. Hear what the Spirit is saying.

9. Watch your house. Protect yourself, family and property by covering them with the blood of Jesus.

10. Watch and pray to avoid temptation. Walk about, speak out loud. Resist the spirit of slumber. Hold hands up to heaven.

11. Go up to Zion spiritually. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the Jews, Arabs etc. Celebrate the Feasts and enter the Sabbath rest.

12. Stand firm. Put on the full armour of God. Hold fast and fast as led by the Holy

Spirit.

13. Enter into victory warfare. Proclaim the victory!

14. Shout joyfully. Burst into songs.

15. Intercede. Stand in the gap. 2 or 3 gathered together in unity is better than a

multitude without agreement. Pray for believers, salvation and the nations

(leaders.)

16. Report what you see. You need discernment on what, when, how and to whom

you share.

17. Stay awake physically and spiritually.

18. Sound a warning - the prophetic call e.g. Ezekiel

19. Strengthen what remains. Allow the Holy Spirit to purify.

20. Watch for Jesus’ Coming. Do not worry. Be ready. Be dressed ready for

service.

Jesus watches over us like a shepherd looks after his flock. Jesus spent time watching His Father. e.g. At age 12, He was about His Father’s business in the Temple. He did nothing without His Father’s permission or what the Father wanted.

Adam failed to watch/obey God in the Garden of Eden

Noah saw what God was doing in bringing judgement through the Flood and obeyed God in building the Ark.

Abraham watched by followed God’s call to go to the Promised Land.

Moses watched over the salvation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.

Gideon blew the trumpet in the middle of the night as a warning.

The prophets watched over Israel, warning the people to repent from disobedience and idolatry.

Anna and Simeon were watching for the coming of the Messiah. The Magi followed the star.

The disciples failed to watch with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene, but waited in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come.

Study on Gates (Doors)

Definition: Gate = entrance or threshold, often associated with doors, guard a home or town/city from outside influences; allow people or spirits control in or out.

Spiritual significance

GATES were places where the elders gathered in ancient Israel i.e. they were associated with authority and decision making: government, judgement and commerce.

Ruth 4:1-12

Boaz negotiates with the kinsman for the redemption of Naomi’s land and for Ruth in the presence of the elders in the city gate.

Deuteronomy 6:9 :

The shima, ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one,.....’(the first commandment), hence the law was to be written on the doorpost or gate.

Zechariah 8:16

‘Give judgement in your gates for truth, justice and peace’

Proverbs 1:20.

‘Wisdom calls at the gate.’

Proverbs 31:23,31.

The wife of noble character will be praised and her husband respected in the city gate.

Proverbs 14:19

‘The evil will bow before the good and the wicked at the gates of the righteous’.

Exodus 12:17:

Blood of the Passover lamb was put on the doorposts as protection from judgement/death.

Jeremiah 15: 7

Winnowing in the gates.(Symbolic for sifting or judging people)

Matthew 16:18

‘The gates of hell shall not prevail’.

Alms were given or begging occurred at the gates of a house, town or temple:-

Deuteronomy 14:28:

Tithes were to be brought to the city gate for storage and distribution to feed widows.

Acts 3:2:

The beggar healed at the Gate Beautiful.

Luke 16:20:

Story of the rich man and Lazarus.

Gates are associated with praise.

2 Chronicles 31:2

Priests were appointed to praise in the gates.

Nehemiah 12:30

The priests and Levis purified the gates.

Psalm 24: 7:

‘Lift up your heads O ye gates...’.( The King asks for entrance.) He comes when we praise Him!

Psalm 100:4

‘I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart and His courts with praise’.

Psalm 118:19

‘Open to me the gates of the righteous, I will go through them and praise the Lord.’

Proverbs 8:34

‘Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates.’

Isaiah 60:18

‘You shall call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.’

Ezekiel 43:4

The glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate facing east.

Jeremiah 14:2

No burden was to be brought through the city gate on the Sabbath day.(Symbolic- leave your cares behind when you come into the Lord’s house/presence.)

Alternatively gates become places of mourning:-

Isaiah 3:26 and Jeremiah 14:2.

Lamentations 5:14: elders have ceased at the gates.

Gates signify the entrance/blockage of good and evil both at the beginning and end of God’s plans for eternal life.

In Genesis 3:24 we are told that God placed cherubim with a flaming sword outside the Garden of Eden to guard the entrance to the tree of life.

Religion has tried to imitate this by creating its own man-made gargoyles (or secret rituals) to protect temples. e.g. Hindu and Buddhist.

NB The curtain or veil(10 inches thick was torn in two when Jesus died on the cross, symbolising the barrier between God and man being broken down, thereby giving free access to the believer. The Talmud(Jewish scriptures) record that the gates of the temple opened miraculously by themselves in 30 A.D!

Revelation 21: 12,25 The New Jerusalem will have 12 gates of pearl, with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel inscribed on them.

The gates will not be shut (openness and love/no fear) as there will be no darkness. (also prophesied by Isaiah in Isaiah 60:11).

Jesus is the Gate to Salvation

John 10:7-9

Jesus said, ‘I am the gate...If anyone enters through me he shall be saved.’

Matthew 7:13 (Luke 13:24)

Jesus said, ‘Enter through the narrow gate...small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life..’

Praying for Cities ( Jim Goll)

God is looking for teamwork. We need to pray and work for thekingdom not just the church. i.e. must break down the barriers between clergy and laity.

We need watchmen

  • on the walls
  • walking about the city
  • on the hills(taking the high places) and in the countryside.

Pastors and prophets and intercessors need to come together from different groups and denominations and agree in prayer. Similarly gatekeepers and watchmen need to co-operate. We must lift up governmental and commercial eldership.

Intercession with reference to Watchtowers (John Stubbe)

In the bible, there are two types of watchtowers mentioned:

‘migdal’ - Isaiah 5 and Matthew 21:33-in relation to watching over the harvest

‘mitzpah’ at gates or corners of the walls - Isaiah 21:6-8, a military watchtower.

This can be interpreted as meaning that we need two types of intercession:

  1. praying in the harvest i.e. praying unbelievers into the kingdom
  2. warring against the enemy

We need prayer watches, including children, like the Moravian church 24 hours a day for 100 years!

Scriptures to proclaim:

Isaiah 62:10-12

‘Pass through, pass through the gates!

Prepare the way for the people.

Build up, build up the highway!

Remove the stones.

Raise a banner for the nations.

The Lord has made proclamation

to the ends of the earth:

“Say to the daughter of Zion,

‘See your Saviour comes!

See, his reward is with him,

and his recompense accompanies him.’ ”

They will be called a Holy People,

The Redeemed of the Lord;

and you will be called Sought After,

the City No Longer Deserted.

Psalm 24:7-9

‘Lift up your heads, O you gates;

Be lifted up, you ancient doors,

That the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord strong and mighty,

The Lord strong in battle.

Lift up you heads , O you gates;

Lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory?

The Lord Almighty-

He is the King of glory.’

The Importance of Gates in Spiritual Warfare

Types of gates

1. Spiritual- times and seasons used by spirits to control the spiritual.

2.Physical or Natural - times and seasons used by spirits to control the natural i.e. who goes in and out.

The main function of natural gates

1. custom control- money, toll bridges, airports.

Ezra 3:11-Levites praise the Lord in the gate, because the foundation of the Lord’s house is laid.

Isaiah 28:6- turning back the battle at the gate.

NB There are over 50 references in the Bible to watching over the gates.

2.entrance to the market place- entry to the city through the market e.g. Jerusalem: Mount of Olives to the Temple. It is important to have a church near the gate.

Genesis 23:10-11 Abraham buys a field/cave at the gate as a burial place.

3. city/kingdom security- military. Pray at the gates to take control.

Genesis 22:17 Abraham’s seed is blessed, his descendants shall possess the gates of the enemy.

Matthew 16:18-19 ‘I give you the keys of the kingdom.. The gates of hell will not prevail against it’...

4. political/social meetings-places of celebration. Big events such as sports events.

It is important to proclaim our rights in praise and worship there and not give ground to the enemy. e.g. pray against witches arriving by plane.

Nehemiah 8:1-3- gathering at the Water Gate, Jerusalem, when the Book of the Law was read.

5. judgement seat- sacrifice(one aspect of judgement) performed there.

Deuteronomy 21:18-19 The rebellious son was taken to the gate for judgement.

Leviticus 16:10 The scapegoat was taken to the gate and abandoned.

Joshua 20:4 - In cities of refuge- murderers pleaded for mercy at the gate.

Jesus was judged outside the city gate.

The Western (Wailing) Wall is one of the top gates in Israel and the Dung Gate is where Jews swear on the flag.

6. celebration of major feasts- by kings and prophets e.g. Pilate at the Passover Feast. 1 Kings 20:10 King Ahab sat at the gate for the feast.

We need to organise intercessors to be there when national celebrations are taking place. It is important to pray in the place publicly.

7.proclamation of God’s messages by prophets

Jeremiah 17:19-20 Jeremiah was commanded to prophesy in the gates of Jerusalem. We can prophesy at bridges and gates. e.g. bind plagues from entering.

Deuteronomy 6:4-6 Write the commandments on the doorpost. Proclaim the blood of Jesus over the house.

The gates of Jerusalem link up with other areas all over the world. NB U.K. is in the Caesaria New Gate zone.

Territorial Mapping

Cindy Jacobs defines this as ‘researching a city to discover the inroads that Satan has made preventing the sharing of the gospel’, while George Otis of Transformations, describes it as ‘an attempt to see the world as it really is and not as it appears’. It involves researching the history to discover the important people and events, godly and ungodly behaviour, especially any covenants made.

Digging the wells of revival involves finding out how it came about, who started it and how long did it last? etc. What were the character traits of the individuals? e.g. Jacob wrestling with God. It is understanding God’s heart and the background.

Find out where any witchcraft came from. Where did it start? When? Know the seasons so that you can plan counter action. It must be well planned and organised. Document everything as this gives a sense of direction. The trust worthy character of the leaders gains respect from the public.

Water springs are often places used for demonic power and the sites of war. Find out the times and seasons in which witches operate. Nothing happens accidentally. Don’t take grace as a covering for sin, there are consequences!

It is important to pray for the cutting off of all curses and covenants made over a water place. N.B. Elisha healing the spring in Jericho, by putting salt on the water. Oil or salt can be used.