The Positive Power of The Gift of Prophecy

A new year has begun and as always its a time we reflect on the past and wonder about the future.

No doubt if you are like me, you will commit the past to your history and take steps to enjoy the future!

The future of course always throws up some exciting possibilities and the word “Prophecy” comes to mind. Apart from personal goals, the second coming of Christ being a pre eminent expectation.

Which leads me to the questions. How credible is prophecy and how much attention should we give to it? 

The gift of Prophecy of course is a remarkable spiritual manifestation of the Holy Spirit that is given to the church to edify; and should not be despised. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.

There are three rules I follow when it comes to personal prophecy.

1. Does the Prophet have credibility?. Matthew 7:16

2. Does it encourage and confirm what I believe God is saying? 1 Corinthians 14:3-4

3. Does it line up with the Scriptures? 2 Timothy 3:16

Many years ago my brother Andrew Evans received a remarkable personal prophecy in a public meeting at which I was present. I was aware of the private struggle he was wrestling with as he sought guidance of the Holy Spirit concerning the future direction of the church.

It was 1980 and the Klemzig Assembly of God in Adelaide South Australia had obtained a loan of one million dollars in principle, to build a new church auditorium on 12 acres of land that they purchased in the suburb of Paradise. 

A debt of $1,000,000 was a serious acquisition in those days and like any sensible leader Andrew as the senior Pastor of the church, looked for conformation! 

However, there was strong opposition from a minority in the church and they were saying that we had not received a prophetic word to proceed.

On this particular Sunday we had a visiting prophet by the name of Dick Mills from the U.S.A. who knew nothing about our plans.

One of the first things he said after being introduced was that he had a word for the Pastor and it had to do with buildings and then he gave him a slip of paper with the following Scriptures hand written on it – Isaiah 29:14 and Isaiah 29:24

14. Therefore once more I will astound these people
 with wonder upon wonder; 
the wisdom of the wise will perish,
 the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
24. Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding;
 those who complain will accept instruction.”

Haggai 1:8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.

Haggai 2:7,9 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.
9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Zechariah 4:9
9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

1 Chronicles 28:20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.

This was a very powerful confirmation to the Klemzig Board and congregation to proceed. 

The project was finally completed in September 1982 and the debt paid off 20 months later.

It was a personal joy to be part of the process all those years ago. “The rest is history”, as they say.

The gift of prophecy and Biblical prophecy has occupied the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in the world and I’m sure somewhere along the line you have been exposed to those who have studied it and tried to interpret it’s fulfilment according to scripture for us mere mortals.

The late Evangelist Barry Smith was one who studied and researched Bible prophecy in its relation to end times.

 

Concerning the Second Coming, the other day in my meandering and research, a friend of mine sent me link to this prophecy that remarkably identifies the future.

Many years ago an old woman of 90 from Valdres in Norway had a vision from God in 1968.

A christian evangelist by the name of Dr Emanuel Minos had gospel meetings where she lived.

He had the opportunity to meet her, and she told him what she had seen.

He wrote it down, but thought it to be so unintelligible that he put it in a drawer.

Now, almost 30 years later, he understands he has to share the vision with others.

The woman from Valdres was a very alert, reliable, awake and credible Christian, with a good reputation among all who knew her. This is what she saw:

“I saw the time just before the coming of Jesus and the outbreak of the Third World War. I saw the events with my natural eyes.

I saw the world like a kind of a globe and saw Europe, land by land. I saw Scandinavia. I saw Norway. I saw certain things that would take place just before the return of Jesus, and just before the last calamity happens, a calamity the likes of which we have never before experienced.

1. “First before Jesus comes and before the Third World War breaks out there will be a ‘détente’ like we have never had before.

There will be peace between the super powers in the east and the west, and there will be a long peace. (Remember, that this was in 1968 when the cold war was at its highest).

In this period of peace there will be disarmament in many countries, also in Norway and we are not prepared when it (the war) comes.

The Third World War will begin in a way no one would have anticipated – and from an unexpected place.

A lukewarmness without parallel will take hold of the Christians, a falling away from true, living Christianity. Christians will not be open for penetrating preaching.

They will not, like in earlier times, want to hear of sin and grace, law and gospel, repentance and restoration. There will come a substitute instead: prosperity (happiness) Christianity.

The important thing will be to have success, to be something; to have material things, things that God never promised us in this way. Churches and prayer houses will be emptier and emptier.

Instead of the preaching we have been used to for generations – like, to take your cross up and follow Jesus, – entertainment, art and culture will invade the churches where there should have been gatherings for repentance and revival.

This will increase markedly just before the return of Jesus.

2. There will be a moral disintegration that old Norway has never experienced the likes of. People will live together like married without being married.

Much uncleanness before marriage, and much infidelity in marriage will become the natural (the common), and it will be justified from every angle.

It will even enter Christian circles and we pet it – even sin against nature.

Just before Jesus return there will be TV- programs like we have never experienced. (TV had just arrived in Norway in 1968).

TV will be filled with such horrible violence that it teaches people to murder and destroy each other, and it will be unsafe in our streets. People will copy what they see.

There will not be only one ‘station’ on TV, it will be filled with ‘stations.’ (She did not know the word ‘channel’ which we use today. Therefore she called them stations).

TV will be just like the radio where we have many ‘stations,’ and it will be filled with violence. People will use it for entertainment.

We will see terrible scenes of murder and destruction one of the other, and this will spread in society.

Sex scenes will also be shown on the screen, the most intimate things that takes place in a marriage.” (I protested and said, we have laws that forbids this kind of thing. E. Minos.) There the old woman said: “It will happen, and you will see it.

All we have had before will be broken down, and the most indecent things will pass before our eyes.”

3. People from poor countries will stream to Europe. (In 1968 there was no such thing as immigration. E. Minos.) They will also come to Scandinavia – and Norway.

There will be so many of them that people will begin to dislike them and become hard with them.

They will be treated like the Jews before the Second World War. Then the full measure of our sins will have been reached (I protested at the issue of immigration. I did not understand it at the time. E. Minos.)

The tears streamed from the old woman’s eyes down her cheeks. “I will not see it, but you will. Then suddenly, Jesus will come and the Third World War breaks out. It will be a short war.” (She saw it in the vision.)

All that I have seen of war before is only child’s play compared to this one, and it will be ended with a nuclear atom bomb. The air will be so polluted that one cannot draw one’s breath. It will cover several continents, America, Japan, Australia and the wealthy nations.

The water will be ruined (contaminated?). We can no longer till the soil. The result will be that only a remnant will remain.

The remnant in the wealthy countries will try to flee to the poor countries, but they will be as hard on us as we were on them.

I am so glad that I will not see it, but when the time draws near, you must take courage and tell this. I have received it from God, and nothing of it goes against what the Bible tells.

The one who has his sin forgiven and has Jesus as Savior and Lord, is safe” she said.

The gift of prophecy historically has been a catalyst to cause division in the church due in part to its excesses.

However I want to suggest that it is too important a gift to sideline, especially as we see the day approaching of the second coming of Christ.

Think about it!

 

One Response to “The Positive Power of The Gift of Prophecy”

  1. nick watson Says:

    Thanks so much for this excellent post.
    Every Blessing Nick

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