Jesus and the disciples had the following discussion just before His ascension as is noted in Acts 1:6-7 (ESV)
So, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
It is important to note that there is nothing happening in the earth that the Father is not involved in to bring forth His purposes in the earth. Everything is part of His plan and preparation for Jesus’ soon return!
The same concept is used as to the timing of the revealing of the “sons of God” in Galatians 4:1-2 (ESV)
“I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father”
I believe that we are heading into a season of “awakening” and “revival” such as the world has never seen. I fully believe that the next thing on God’s calendar is the “revealing” of the mature “sons of God” that Paul speaks about specifically in Romans 8 to bring in the final great harvest.
God seems to have used the alleged assassination of Charlie Kirk to spark a global turning to the Lord. Is there a scriptural precedent for this. Yes, you will find it in Jesus’ response to the Greeks who came to see Jesus just before He was crucified. John 12:24
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”.
There are present reports of thousands all over the world turning to the Lord. Last weekend, a woman named Jenny Weaver baptized over 2000 in a water fountain in Texas. I also heard a report this week that 1000’s are turning to the Lord in Scotland as well as other European countries. Just as Satan could not stop the resurrection of Jesus, He cannot stop the final great harvest Why? Because just as Jesus said that He would rise from the dead, He also spoke of a great harvest at the end of the age Matthew 13:40-43 in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares.
“Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear”
Interesting that the Prophet Daniel speaks of the same thing in Daniel 12:3
“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever”.
Jesus goes on to say this in Matthew 13:47-50
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
We see 2 things happening here. Firstly, the Angels go to the corners of the earth and remove all the wicked and lawless ones. I believe the Angels move in concert with the prayers of the saints as well as those assigned by the Lord using the authority given to them such as world leaders. Daniel understood this clearly; Daniel 2:20-21…
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
The Angels are removing all obstacles so that there are no hinderances to the harvest and secondly, the righteous ones, are turning many to the Lord. Are we witnessing this today? It certainly seems quite possible.
This is the heart of the Lord as we see in 2 Peter 3:9.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
He is the God of just not the 2nd chance but of many chances. Afterall, His mercies are new every morning.
Perhaps like John the Baptist, all the baptisms are happening to “prepare the way” for the return of the Lord. Wouldn’t that be incredible? All the praying and travailing is not waisted. The Lord always responds to the prayers of His people.
What happens after this great harvest? Jesus answers this question in Matthew 24:31
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
At the end of the harvest, the gathering of the elect! The Apostle Paul addresses thus in 1 Thessalonians 3:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,[ that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Are we witnessing this all in our lifetime? I certainly believe it’s possible.
What should our response be to all these things? I will borrow the words from the Apostle Peter in Acts 3:19-21 (ESV)
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
Repent from everything that you have placed before the Lord; money, family, sports, entertainment, etc, etc. Clean the house before He comes and then follow the instructions of the Lord from Matthew 9:37-38
“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Even, if you’re not able to attend, pray for this “Awaken the Dawn” event that is happening on the Washington DC Mall. Make is shake the strongholds over our nation so that light pierces the darkness.
The Spirit and the Bride say “Come, Lord Jesus!” Please pray for me as I lead worship on the DC Mall in the Maryland tent from 10 AM until Noon tomorrow! Maranatha!!
Truly the best is coming!!!