THE DESOLATION OF JOEL

Joel prophesies of a terrible famine; The land is devastated by palmer worm, locust, cankerworm and caterpillar in succession. These are in reference to destructive powers. Later described as an invading nation,(Joel 1:6) the implication of this prophecy to our time is of a shift in the principalities of the powers of the age, a shift and an invasion resulting to a drastic change in the spiritual atmosphere.

The meet offering and drink offering is cut off (V. 9). Remember true worship is in the spirit. This is the same cut off refered to in Daniel 11:31, in place of which an abomination replaces. In fact the Prince of the covenant(the holy Angel of the age) is broken(V.22).

All these happenings usher in a new era, of great spiritual darkness, a famine in Christs household, and also, being a new season, another Prince, of another covenant that finds its fulfillment through our covenant(Daniel 12:1), is unleashed. With a great sword.

This is our Angel, and these are our times, now, as prophecied by Joel.

PRINCIPALITIES (GODS/ SPIRITS) OF OUR GENERATION AND THE WAR OF THE SAINTS.

The gods/principalities/spirits of our generation do not exist separate from men. A principality is the spirit at work over a population.

The differences in principalities are, e.g in Daniel 2,7,8 and others, representative of different populations. These populations, in unmixed societies had common ancestry, as is with old nations organised in tribes.

The four beast in Daniel 7 are four principalities, people of differing spirits, though united in the works of darkness. The end of their reign over the principalities of the age ends at the same time, when the reign of the saints begins.

One of these spirit, the last principality described as terrible, rises against and subdues the whole earth, the genesis of our globalized society, Dan 7:23. It is also a subdued global society. But, in the reign of this principality, God unleashes His warring Angels-Dan 12:1, also the Angels of the saints for that war. This means that while our spiritual atmosphere is surely changed, Gods
people are empowered - in their season - to war.

HE WILL DESTROY WONDERFULLY(Dan 11)

One of the important factors about the last days is that the last, deceptive spirit (principality) of the earth shall destroy wonderfully. His antics work. He succeeds against the prince of the covenant - hence the darkness of the time, the success of scattering the power of the saints. Faith without its works is the norm now.

The other weapon this deceptive spirit uses is the law. His understanding of the laws has caused corruption, deception and rebellion against God to prosper in our age.

They are first presented as distant possibilities in legislation, then interpreted as a valid choice, then as a right imposed upon the society through its institutions. Dire consecuenses are used to threaten the none conforming.


Through deceptive notions of liberties, life is destroyed. Entire races, peoples have been disinherited and pillaged in the name of freedom of markets, and the same wealth of the entire earth is controlled by a few deceptive men. The same deceptive spirit that repackaged sin, bondage as liberty.

WHEN FLESH RISES AGAINST THE SPIRIT

It is when flesh awakes from death that the grace empowering works of God in men seem gone. Warning: this may happen to every one. When it happens, do not concentrate on your faults, but on Gods perfection. This awakening is a specialty of the wicked, the powers of wickedness they are called, for their ability to empower wickedness in men. Now This is a real adversary, one whose battles are fought like any other spiritual battle. 

First, a person is disrobed of all grace(power), by fear, worry, hurt, hate, strife, all spiritual violence. All these target the gifts of God, the many spiritual garments which shield us from the powers of darkness. Shield yourself by keeping the stories of your life to yourself. What you expose(to the wicked), you give people as a sword against you, and the devil will use it to drive you crazy. 

The systems of this world are the sword of its rulers, so any simple desire can be exploded into unreasonable anxiety. Avoid proud power, binding power that seem to clutch onto you, the flesh is attracted to these. Same with sensual power. They corrupt, mature into living flesh, real thorns that can drive anyone crazy. This should explain the sometimes tormenting seasons that follow those annointing services we love to partake.

HOW TO LIVE RIGHT, RIGHTEOUSNESS IN A DECEPTIVE WORLD

We live in a world where every aspect of our lives is bound by law. This is the age of institutionalization through laws, made to hide the taskmasters, rulers of men. Our society has transformed into a worldwide corporation, necessitating us all to stop our lives as they were to come together to produce goods that for the same reason, we have learnt to need. As craft that was previously household specific was commercialized and mass produced in what we now call school, other important virtues of humanity have been forgotten. 

The more power we give to institution, though seemingly to protect ourselves from the errors of men, the more opportunities for the expression of human kindness we forfeit. We have ceded too much "power" to institutions. This includes the church, in its strict legal being as an institution. Other culprits are the state, companies, international conventions and governmental institutions. 

The state is bringing up children, besides educating, housing and feeding men. This has bred a cold, inhumane generation, bred solely to be an endless supply of labour, among other things that the same institutions depend on men for. 

For the reason of our conditioning and breeding, right and wrong have become institutionalized too. When making decisions, we often revert back to our conditioning. What our education has taught us. What is presented as right is not necessarily righteous before God. Neither is what is presented as the truth, and godliness.When thinking of how to treat our neighbour, we first think of what the law is in our favour. This is because the law of men has been presented as being at par with the laws of God. We need to awake from this deception.

Not all power wielden by men is bad. Mercy, love, patience, empathy, faith, self control, peace, hope, goodness, Godliness, gentleness and most important, righteousness are all powers given by God to men. Institutions do not have the same powers. They are incapable of mercy. It is therefore easy easy to forget these virtues of humanity when reasoning in the manner of our laws, governments and offices. The word of God remains firm. If the laws and institutions demand or sanction a thing that is merciless, iniquity, sin, it is a deception, a bait. Do not fall for it. The world is under the sway of the wicked one. He devours by mischief and he is an accuser, a law specialist. Even the greatest can fall, so when you think you stand, watch out, lest you
fall.

THE VANITY OF USING NON EXISTING INSTITUTIONS

The institutions of this world are paper tigers. Like idols carved out of dead wood or stone, they have no power, but men stand in their stead, impose and mete out their harsh sentences, and ascribe it to the establishment.

These laws (which form the basis of democratic, social and economic institutions) while some for ease of governance include iniquity, and when other idols stand before God to receive their due according to their works, so will the system.

We cannot slay, covet, commit adultery, idolatry, steal and blame it on the liberties of the constitution, government or corporation. All these are non existent apart from the imagination of men. Works of men vainly hiding behind obscurities. But where on earth, heaven and hell can God not reach. He is King over both men and gods, and His sceptor.

God's expectation of every thing in existence, is righteousness. This will be attained in time, and so, why not build our empires on the basis of Gods principles, not the vanity of usury. Only such will survive beyond the current fast passing age.

THE HIDDEN WICKEDNESS OF THE SYSTEMS OF OUR AGE

The social, economic and political systems of this world, while increasing population of humanity, has supported and necessitated abortion, killing of children, wars, famine, poverty and hides in obscurity, like UN peace pact. Many are born into broken homes and live with no direction as parents are busy keeping them alive. The vanity of all this is that the children grow up to replicate the same life. But each is precious before God, and required to honor Him. Greed and pillage has led to increased anxiety as the world has been divided and assigned to few olygarchs. It is great men that hide behind the corporate and institutional veils to avoid accountability from men. They will be hidden from men, but certainly not from God. Justice needs to be restored to economic, social and political institutions in these last days. Men are human before markets, votes, subjects and servants. God would rather have mercy than sacrifice. Men in authority are hiding
behind systems and Laws. Both will be held to account.

LEGALISED LAWLESSNESS; THE DECEPTION OF OUR GENERATION.

Our generation is deceived into lawlessness by the entrenched legal institutions of our countries. The laws of righteousness should guide our interactions with our leaders, social, political or other relations.

The Angel of the almighty God is guided by the laws of righteousness and does strike against lawlessness. The deceitful legalisation of lawlessness by men in form of rights, freedoms, and even form of governance is therefore a bait for our own destruction.

Avoid this sword of lawlessness that hovers over us by submitting to all authority, live right, truth, goodly in godliness. From 'right' derives righteousness. 'Truth' is the wisdom of God, despite mens inventions of lawlessness and vanity.

God is good and therefore 'goodliness' sums up the character of God - love, joy, peace, patience, righteousness, godliness, goodliness, also the fruits of His Spirit in men. Live according to these laws, to avoid the lies of men, and to avoid being withstood by His Angel. Live Right.

LEGALISED LAWLESSNESS; OUR GENERATION.

Our generation is deceived into lawlessness by the entrenched legal institutions of our countries. They are made by men, not God, and should all be subjected to a higher law, the law of Christ, who sits above all principalities(called nations in these days.) Our laws and systems have become a false veil of what is good and what is not, and thereby made it impossible to attain righteousness by conscience and by faith. The judges that have been instituted by the systems of this world are taking advantage of the writings of men to legalize lawlessness. The more that is legislated upon, the more of it is turned into lawlessness. Have not an excuse of the authority of the state to sin. 

The entire system especially the political system of the entire world is fashioned out of rebellion, and is doctored to have within it rebellion as an important function. This is why we do not think it is strange to arise against authority. Regardless of the law, rebellion is rebellion. It is lawlessness. Freedom of speech by the name of the deception. Not by God. The entire world is built on a principal of vanity, things that wear down and do not have benefit. So what happens to gentiles who have not the gospel, but the word of their governments telling them that right is wrong and wrong is right? Deception into sin. Our laws, and this is the entire world (thanks to globalization) are a sword waiting against our lives. The constitution is not the word of God. It is the word of the rulers of this age, most of it tailored to deceive against  obedience to God. Now remember this world is under the sway of the wicked, until the age passes, when the true law, the law of truth, will be imposed.

2 Timothy 3:13 | Read whole chapter | See verse in context

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The laws of righteousness should guide our interactions with our leaders, social, political or other relations. The Angel of the almighty God is guided by the laws of righteousness and does strike against lawlessness. The deceitful legalisation of lawlessness by men in form of rights, freedoms, and even form of governance is therefore a bait for our own destruction. Avoid this sword of lawlessness that hovers over us by submitting to all authority, live right, truth, goodly in godliness. From 'right' derives righteousness. 'Truth' is the wisdom of God, despite mens inventions of lawlessness and vanity. God is good and therefore 'goodliness' sums up the character of God - love, joy, peace, patience, righteousness, godliness, goodliness, also the fruits of His Spirit in men. Live according to these laws, to avoid the lies of men, and to avoid being withstood by His Angel. Live Right, Live truth, Live goodly/ in Godliness.

THE PREGNANT VIRGIN AS A SIGN OF THE COMING AGE

Mary's life was a prophesy (Isaiah 7:14) reenacted in flesh. She represents, even now, a 'virgin' age pregnant with a new dispensation.

God does, severally, refer to nations, like Israel(Amos 5:2, Is 37:22) and Babylon(Isaiah 47:1) as virgin daughters. At other occasion though, He called them whores(Jer 3:2,9, Ez 16:17, 20:17,18,19). Whores who get restored, as was with Hosea's wife(Jer 31:4).

Our age is similarly espoused a virgin to Christ. Blinded with the powers of the age, the chosen age / generation has whored after other gods, but she remains the virgin daughter of Christ, espoused and pregnant with a new age, a dispensation that will know righteousness.

FREEDOM! WE ARE NOW IN THE WILDERNESS.

God, with great power, liberated Israel, and us from bondage in the hands of Egypt. Then came the wilderness. This wilderness experience had Israel confused. At times, the bondage they had been freed from, as has been our age, seem attractive. They desired Egyptian meats, spice, and even gods, and sinned greatly with murmuring and rebellion.

Our age is likewise free, and we need to endure the wilderness for just a little while. In the wilderness is where the law was established, the priesthood set aside, and the house of God established. It is a place of purging, of separation of the believers, from the doubters. At the same time, God rains down manna, the grace that is just enough, to test us if we will be appreciate, or desire the meats of Egypt.

Do not let the thirst for water in the wilderness or the bites from the serpent distract you as even then, Christ was lifted up and He healed them.

MANIFESTATIONS OF CHANGING PRINCIPALITIES ON EARTH

Changes in the Kingdoms, the principalities and powers of the earth happen only occasionally, especially at the helm. Their times and seasons are ordained, set by God. We do live in an age ruled by the powers of darkness. For a set time. A time fast running out for her Kings and Principalities;

Matthew 24:29 | Read whole chapter | See verse in context

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

I will liken the changes in these heavenly principalities to the change of Authority in the lions Kingdom. When a lion takes over a new pride, his efforts concentrate on securing his throne. He ensures his security by destroying the next generation of rulers sired by the preceding, and takes over the fathering. The same happens in the spirit, and on the earth, manifesting as wars and most importantly, targeting children for destruction. When the season changed and a new king arose in Egypt, this happened. He saw the strength of Israel had increased and threatened, increased the burden, and ordered destruction of the children, the sons. Same with Herod on the birth of Christ, the new King as the wise men of the East informed him. All children born in Jerusalem at around the same time with Christ were killed. This was an attempt at curtailing the rise to power of a new dispensation. I doubt there has been an age whose dead have surpasses ours. This is the chosen generation;

1 Peter 2:9 | Read whole chapter | See verse in context

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

The reigning principalities of the earth are usually enjoined with the seed of man, but this will not work perfectly for the last days(Daniel 2:43). Also expected is a need for worship by the new power, to be thus enjoined to the rest of the people. Expect also an increase in supernatural manifestations of the miraculous and witchcraft from this new generation of men, of the rising powers. The new changes account increased darkness. Remember the residual hedge. That will help the chosen, while the wicked shall be exposed(Daniel 11:33-35,) to be tested and tried.

DAWN OF AGE NEW WORLD ORDER?

Whatever happens on this earth, is always a replica of the spiritual realm, the spiritual principalities.

The times and seasons of principalities are laid out by God, who is the ultimate King, above all these powers of this age.

The same principalities have been overturned, and the great powers of this world have been divided. Those who once were bound have been released and given authority alongside the powers of this age. This marks the dawn of a new age, a new world order albeit in the spirit. This has to manifest in the physical world.

The new powers of the age are the once destroyed and bound nations, part of a generation that is appointed for destruction. Remember Christ said, this generation shall not pass before we see His second coming. The generation He left is on its way out with this shift of principalities, which means His coming is very, very close.

THE PROTECTIVE HEDGE AND SEASONS.

The book of Job gives an insight into the spiritual protective hedge covering all appointed to life. It was so effective that that the devil complained(Job 1:10,12.)

Note that the eventual, gradual removal of the hedge was not his(Job's) fault he was perfect-Job 1:1], and it ushered in a season of war, physically and spritually(Job 7:11-15). This is typical of current spiritual seasons of war, which may last long but are not permanent. There is also always a residual protective hedge, which the devil in all his might cannot cross(Job 1:12,2:6).

The protective hedge remains the sustaining power of God for his elect even now, all that have been appointed to eternal life. The hedge is also an angelic fortress. Stay hidden in it, and await your time of glory, when vengeance, which belongs to God shall come against the devil. It always does.