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Posted early today – on October 11, 2016 by ez3728
Young Zechariah envisioned some weighty prophetic revelations, foreseeing not only into the tough times ahead in the near-future of the people of God during his own life, but also ahead to the crucifixion season (thirty pieces of silver), then into the summation of this age, and finally, gloriously, even into the next age.
The accuracy of his prophetic statements having been fulfilled in the past, it would be foolishness and recklessness for us to ignore his words going forward. Like Daniel, the specificity of His now-historic accuracy demands our honoring his still-to-happen words. HHY. if it Hasn’t Happened Yet in its fullness, you can bet on it. Further to that truth is 1 Peter 1:10-16, where it is revealed to the New Testament saints, that the prophets of the Old Testament were clearly writing for us.
1 Peter 1:10-16
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
AND OUR RESPONSE SHOULD BE (PER PETER)
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
If you require more NT scriptural evidence to confirm the potency and validity of the OT:
1 Cor 10:11 (Paul), and Matt 5:18 (Jesus)
Back to our point, included into Zechariah’s credibility must also be his revelation of the personality of God, Who tells us in Malachi that He does not change.
Many declared prophets of our time are proclaiming the anointing of God upon a particular candidate in the upcoming election. Important to understand is that just because God may have a plan for a person does not automatically mark that someone as either righteous or holy. It simply may mean they are designated (anointed) by God to function in a role of His bigger plan.
Example: Balaam the prostitute prophet-for-hire.
Example: Pharaoh the belligerent and proud king who eventually had his already-hard heart hardened by God for his destruction
Example: David referred to demonized and back-slidden king Saul as “messiah” (anointed one) because even in Saul’s evil-manifesting, spear-chucking state, David understood God had called Saul to be king, for that time – the people had jumped the gun in demanding a king, and God gave them their request, God telling the prophet Samuel the people had rejected Him (God).
ELECTION 2016 – Might our God be pressing against disobedient, fleshly, and often stuffy-religious, covenant-offending America? Is there biblical precedent? Back to Zechariah.
Zechariah 11:15-17
15 And the Lord said to me, “Next, take for yourself the implements of a foolish shepherd.
16 For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces.
17 “Woe to the worthless shepherd,
Who leaves the flock!
A sword shall be against his arm
And against his right eye;
His arm shall completely wither,
And his right eye shall be totally blinded.”
I am not speaking with certainty that whoever gets into office will continue upon their ungodly current course. I will pray for our leadership – for God’s purposes to be manifested in their life. Perhaps someone will have a Nebuchadnezzar or Saul of Tarsus salvation encounter. Perhaps not.
And I will remind God of His Psalm 125 promise re the scepter of wickedness not resting upon the land allotted to the righteous. That is our hope, and also our calling – to give Him no rest in the fulfillment of His great promises.
At the same time I (and you) would do well to live and pray with a sober and full-biblical understanding of our God, and how He has operated in the past when individual people, people groups and even complete nations determined to either serve Him, ignore Him, or provoke Him. It is with that understanding and clarity that we will not be offended by God, and also when our prayers can be in best alignment with God. It is then that our “Your will be done…” engages effectively with heaven’s plans – and in fact we might avoid “rebuking in Jesus’ name” what our Lord might actually be doing.
It is within that context of biblical understanding that we avoid trying to redesign or reformat God to fit our personal hopes and visions, nor craft and massage eschatological teachings that defy the non-negotiable prophetic word.
Besides Zechariah 11, here’s another representation of God dealing with His covenant people during days of religiosity and self-will, requiring His corrective measures as He awaits repentance:
Hosea 5
11 Ephraim (SYMBOLIC FOR THE STRONGEST OF HIS PEOPLE) is oppressed and broken in judgment,
(WHY?)
Because he willingly walked by human precept.
(GOD’S CORRECTIVE WORK)
12 Therefore I will be to Ephraim like a moth,
And to the house of Judah like rottenness.
13 “When Ephraim saw his sickness,
And Judah saw his wound,
Then Ephraim went to Assyria
And sent to King Jareb;
Yet he cannot cure you,
Nor heal you of your wound.
14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
And like a young lion to the house of Judah.
I, even I, will tear them and go away;
I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.
(GOD WAITING FOR HIS PEOPLE TO REPENT)
15 I will return again to My place
Till they acknowledge their offense.
(SUFFERING ACCOMPLISHES THINGS)
Then they will seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
(HOSEA THE OBEDIENT PROPHET NOW SHOUTS OUT A CALL TO REPENTANCE, AND A HOPE)
1 Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
2 After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
3 Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
His going forth is established as the morning;
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.
The timing of repentance is now. Holy Daniel owned the sins of his own people. It goes that far. We’re under the blood of Christ, fully forgiven, still called to in the place of repentance. This is posted NOT simply because we are in the absolute season of Yom Kippur, which starts this very sundown and is marked in scripture as an eternal commandment to the people of God (Lev 23:27-31).
This is being written because we are in an unquestionably escalating season of eschatological critical-mass, a specific time that our God has His keen eyes upon both shepherds and sheep, to observe our response to Him and to His word. True and effective faith is manifested by obeying, living, teaching, preaching the full counsel of God.
We’re living in wild times. What an honor to be called to represent the soon and coming King.
All scripture NKJV
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