The Latter Glory

Sometimes the greatest prophecies come in the midst of the most unlikely circumstances. Following Israel’s Babylonian captivity, the remnant that saw the majesty and splendor of Solomon’s Temple likely found it difficult to believe Haggai’s prophecy when he said:

Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people saying, “Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?
But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD, “take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the LORD, “and work; for I am with you,’ declares the LORD of hosts.

As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’ For thus says the LORD of hosts, “Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.

I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts, “and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the LORD of hosts.” — Haggai 2:2-9

Nothing before or since has ever compared to the wonder of Solomon’s Temple. Even so, this incredible prophecy points to a time of extraordinary restoration and promise. Today many still find it difficult to believe that the glory of this latter-day house will exceed the glory of the early apostolic church. Nevertheless, God has promised it and His Spirit will see it fulfilled.

God WILL Tabernacle in a body of people in these last days to exhibit His holy character and do exploits that will exceed any previously demonstrated in human history. We must begin to gear up for this reality.

The Plumb-Line of Truth

Through the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah a small band of people were determined to fulfill God’s Word. One of those great promises is found in Zechariah 4 stating:

For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel– these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth. -Zecheriah 4:10

The plumb line of truth is now in the hands of our “Zerubbabel.” This great leader is a spiritual type of Christ. The “hands of Zerubbabel” laid the foundation of the Church and now the same “hands” will bring the capstone with shouts of “grace, grace.”

This points to the anointing, power and authority demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Himself to establish the Church’s foundation being once again demonstrated at the end of the age to bring the capstone or closing out of church history and the introduction of the Kingdom realm. How can this be achieved? Only, through amazing and exceptional favor with shouts of grace-grace.

The feast of Tabernacle’s is a spiritual prototype of this reality illustrating God’s manifest presence functioning through a sold out radical group of people called the Bride of Christ. This season will see tremendous demonstrations of the Spirit of Truth as the leaven of tradition and man-made teaching is extracted.

There is an angelic host working closely with the Spirit of Truth to establish revelatory truth in the hearts of believers and in the nations of the earth. Our resolution must be to continually follow the Word that perpetually proceeds from the Father’s heart.

The Word of Separation

The Living Word described in Hebrews 4:12 is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. This is an expression of God’s manifest presence. It is not a place in which we give lip service that is not consistent with the desires of our hearts. We saw a token portrayal of this reality in the last generation when anointed vessels stood before God’s people and revealed secrets of the heart known only to them and God. This was not merely a nice spiritual gift but a token of the end-time scenario when God takes up residence in a body of people to do the greater works.

Our council is to cooperate with Heaven and do only what we see the Father doing and say only what we hear Him saying. The Lord is opening our eyes and ears with the spirit of understanding so that our discernment is taken to greater levels to accomplish this purpose.

There will be righteous leaders emerging today who will be shepherds of love and truth. It will not be their intent to harm or abuse the sheep. Many of these leaders will have known failure and profound restoration through which they discovered divine love. They will have been healed of their brokenness but in the process, contrition will have become their standard.

The righteous shepherds will lead the sheep to calm waters so that the body of Christ can discover God in personal ways. Many of the shepherds will be emerging from obscure and isolated places. They will bring an anointing to calm troubled waters presently in the Church and will carry authority to speak into people’s hearts.

The preparation process has been long and difficult but God has given us new life at different times to encourage us to continue to press in to Him. Now the Lord of the Harvest has arisen. Everyone is called to have a role in the harvest; the harvest of souls and the harvest of promises begin with the humble and contrite and those who tremble at His Word. (See Isaiah 66:1-2)

Standing in the Gap for This Generation

The eyes of the Lord are roving to and fro looking for a righteous agency on the earth to stand in the gap. The Lord is asking, “is there no man when I call? Is there anyone to answer? I am speaking is there anyone listening? Is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Don’t you know who I am?”

There will be a remnant of people on the earth who hear and respond to this call. According to Isaiah 50:2 the Lord asked:

Why was there no man when I came? When I called, why was there none to answer? Is My hand so short that it cannot ransom? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, I dry up the sea with My rebuke, I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.

God’s Spirit can change things quickly. He is giving His people an instructed tongue that we may sustain the weary with a word from Him. He is presently awakening many saints morning by morning that He may give to them eyes to see and ears to hear instruction like His disciples.

The righteous prayer of Job intervened for those around him despite their folly.  It is time the fortune of God’s people be restored as well. The Lord turned the captivity of Job and restored double when he prayed for his friends. We are entering the season of the double-portion.

For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has…The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold — Job 42:8 & 10

Many in the Church are coming to the end of a time of pruning and judgment as it is beginning in the world. God’s desire is for our light to shine brightly as many people head our way in this dark season. It is time for those who overcome to arise with a measure of His glory resting upon them. This will literally be the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy when he wrote:

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 — Daniel 12:3

It is time for the accomplishment of divine purposes and a wave of harvest. The Lord is laying claim to this generation of young people as well as the seasoned and mature. It will be both the Joshua’s and the Caleb’s. The Lord is healing the fracture He has created in a third day harvest of the wounded and persecuted. His will is being accomplished in a mighty way so that a harvest can be achieved.

Trials in the earth will increase while at the same time end-time truths from the book of Revelations become increasingly clear. Great understanding will be delegated to the Church concerning these mysteries. The book of Revelations is a love letter to the Lord’s bride and prepares her to be joined to Him.

Destined for Victory

The Lord has already triumphed over the adversary and made a public spectacle of him. Many in a First-Fruits harvest will comprehend that reality more fully and appropriate it. The Lord delegates His victory to us when we are joined to Him.

One of our greatest callings in this hour is to no longer be considered the Lord’s servants, but His friends. We have a Friend who is eternally positioned on His throne of victory and authority and we need a more complete vision of this to fully activate our faith. Commissioning from the Throne Room can be a living reality as promised through God’s word. He is saying “come up here!”

The Lord’s Church is required to discern the times and seasons and possess the mind of Christ for this day. It isn’t His desire to hide it from us but reveal great understanding so that the worldly may see God’s blessing and wisdom upon His people. That is what the grooming of the last decade has been intended to accomplish. The pain of our past is the preparation for our future.

Brokenness without the spirit of understanding breeds hopelessness; but
brokenness with understanding imparts the hope of our calling in God. The Lord’s Spirit has been pruning and uprooting our fallen nature and carnal plans in order to inject His own pure nature. His ultimate purpose is to reveal the Fatherhood of God and make us His mature sons and daughters.

Though it seems we have failed in many ways, these years have actually cultivated humility in many. The arm of the flesh and our own strength cannot accomplish the end-time mandate. It will not be by the might of man nor the power of our own ingenuity; but by His Spirit alone. Our job is to yield and learn to co-operate with Him.

Like Jacob, the Lord has destroyed our dependence upon human strength and changed our nature. A new name is being given according to Revelations 2:17 to those who overcome in this fashion.

“A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the LORD. “As for me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now and forever.” — Isaiah 59:20-21