The Church of Pergamos

Aesculapius, god of medicine

"To the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 
These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no man knows except him who receives it."

Revelation 2:12-17

Jesus has a 'sharp two-edged sword' coming out of His mouth (Rev 1:19). Nothing is hidden from Him. He can divide between the soul and the spirit of man knowing the intents of the heart. Pergamos was the center of emperor worship, having a 200 ft statue of Zeus. They also worshipped Aesclepius, the god of healing whose symbol was the serpent. Doctors today still use this symbol to identify their profession. I am not saying the use of medicine is wrong, but putting medicine or doctors in the place of God is wrong!

Pergamos was the center of political, religious, and social idolatry in Asia. No wonder Jesus said it was where Satan dwells. Satan lived in Pergamos and had his throne there and Pergamos is in modern day Turkey. (It is not surprising to me to find that many of the last-day wars either begin with or involve Turkey. Although it has been in NATO and friendly to the U.S. and Israel, expect that to change.)

Smyrna was not the only church to suffer persecution. Here in Pergamos Antipas was martyred. This social and political pressure from the government of Pergamos not only led to some in the church compromising with idolatry but also to sexual immorality. Faced with martyrdom for being too obedient or different, many were willing to allow the world to have an inroad into the church. Satan was able to deceive them with the spirit of Balaam. (You remember Balaam, who could not curse Israel so he instead advised Israel's enemies to entice her into immoral relationships, knowing this would weaken her.) Pergamos also had those who held to the teaching of the Nicolaitans,  which Christ hates.

Why does Christ react so strongly to sexual immorality? Because, the Church is called to be the Bride of Christ and sexual impurity is the same as apostasy and the breaking of covenant relationship.

The same spirit is at work in the Church today. Rampant divorce and remarriage amounts to the same problem Pergamos had. Jesus likens it to adultery.

"But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two shall become one flesh; so then they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. 

In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Mark 10:2-12

The Apostles also taught the same thing (Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 5:11. 7:10-11, 18-20). This is a serious problem. Adultery will keep us out of heaven! But, is it a more serious problem than any other sin? No, because all sin is a result of lawlessness. Jesus taught -

"Because lawlessness (wickedness) will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved." - Matthew 24:12-13

Paul even addresses the situation of a believer and an unbeliever being married. He teaches that if the unbeliever is willing to stay married, the believer should not  divorce, but if the unbeliever leaves, the  believer is not to blame. Yet, they are not given the right to remarry (1 Cor 7:11, 12, 15, 17).

What do believers do if they divorce and remarry as believers? The same as you do for any other sin - repent. Until you do, the devil has a foothold in your life. Nevertheless, even though you can be forgiven, that may not erase the harm that has been done, especially if children are involved. Many people have been divorced and remarried before they became believers. To them, the Scriptures say remain in the situation you were in when you came to the Lord.

The best approach is to teach God's standards and live by them. Then believers should not be yoked to unbelievers. Don't rely on the hope that you will change them after marriage. Why hope that God will honor your prayers after you have rebelled and disobeyed Him? I do not say these things in a legalistic way. The only way to bring peace and stability into our lives is to obey God's rules for living.

We have come to a time in history when we can no longer trust society, it is too spoiled by lawlessness. We must trust only God and His precepts. The political system is corrupt and truth takes a back seat to power. The education system is presenting false idols of humanism (the religion of man) as the standards to live by. The religious system, like Pergamos, has allowed the world to influence it. Society is filled with violence and sexual immorality.

Judgment is about to fall on America because the shedding of innocent blood through abortion and because of lawlessness. Only those who take the message given to the church of Pergamos to heart will be protected from it by the Lord.

Jesus gives the way to overcome these deceptions - the sword of the Lord. Paul also refers to this sword as the word of God -

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Eph. 6:17

Before Jesus Christ returns, the Church must purge itself of all impurities, as it declares in Revelation 19:7 -

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

Notice, it is the Bride that makes herself ready! There is a separation coming between the holy and the profane, between the fully committed and the 'lukewarm', between the 'faithful even unto death' and those who compromise with the world system because it is easier.


Even so, come Lord Jesus, Maranatha!

To the Church of Smyna

Saint Ignatius and the Lions

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’ – Revelation 2:8-11

Jesus is dictating a letter to seven churches in Asia Minor through John. We know historically that there were more than seven churches at that time but, these were selected to represent messages to all churches in any circumstance. Smyrna is the second church selected by Jesus, and the only one identified as experiencing persecution. Does this mean they alone suffered persecution? No, we know historically that this was not the case. It is rather a message to the Church at large about how to act in the midst of persecution. They were not an affluent church and besides suffering persecution also suffered from poverty.

No one likes to think about persecution, but, all the writers of the New Testament warn us that we will suffer persecution. Paul writes, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” – 2 Timothy 3:12. Even Jesus promised His followers would be persecuted – Luke 21:12. What is the source of this hatred? It is Satan. Jesus said, “If they have hated Me, they will hate you, for the servant is not above his Master.” As Jesus warned the church of Smyrna, this persecution will mostly come from ‘religious’ sources. Remember, who was it that persecuted Jesus? It was basically religious Jews. The Roman Pilate went along with it to keep peace, but Jewish religious leaders were the force behind it. Jewish synagogues, (or congregations), who didn’t want to embrace the truth of the Gospel persecuted those in Smyrna. However, this is not just a Jewish problem for true followers of Jesus have always been persecuted by the ‘religious’ church down through the centuries, and it will intensify at the end of the age. Catholics persecute Lutherans, Lutherans persecute other Protestants, and they all have persecuted each other from time to time. Today Christians are persecuted and martyred in China by Communists, in India by Hindus and Muslims, and all over the Mid East by Muslims. It is even beginning in western countries, although not as violently but the threat is there.

Muslims march in England

Notice, in the letter to the church of Smyrna, Jesus refers to ‘poverty’ before He mentions the persecution. That is because when pressures of poverty strike any people they look for a scapegoat, and the devil sees to it that Christians are blamed. We are seeing this happen in our day. In Egypt people are rioting, even over-throwing their government – why? There is no food and what food is available is too expensive for the common people to buy. Now the Coptic Christians are suffering just as much as the Muslim Egyptians but, the Muslims used it as an excuse to turn on the Christians, burning their churches, killing Christians, and causing them to flee Egypt. The lack of food and its associated problems are behind many of the revolts going on around the globe. This problem is not going to go away, but is intensifying for the following reasons:

1. The World Bank declares 44 million people around the globe are living in extreme poverty because of the increase of food prices – up 36% since June, 2010.
2. Water shortages in Middle East lead to food shortages. Saudi Arabia will have no more wheat production by 2012.
3.  In the United States, extreme weather and floods cut food production and depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer could produce another ‘dust bowl’.
4. Plant diseases such as UG99 wheat rust are wiping out increasingly large segments of the world food supply.
5. Rising oil prices may be the biggest factor of all.
6. The commodity price of wheat has approximately doubled since last summer.
7. The commodity price of corn has also about doubled since last summer.
8. The commodity price of soybeans is up about 50% since last June.
9.  The commodity price of orange juice has doubled since 2009.
10. 3 billion people around the globe live on $2 a day and the world was already on the verge of economic disaster before this year began.

These are just a few of the reasons why riots and violence against Christians will increase in the days ahead.

Another reason for the persecution will be rebellion against the truth. As Christians live godly lives, they will automatically be a witness against ungodliness. Their light will expose the darkness – and those in darkness will not like it, even though they may have a name for following Jesus.

“Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” – Psalm 2:1-3

But to those who suffer for Christ’s sake, He has a word of comfort – it will only last 10 days, in other words, a short time. If we are faithful, He will give us the “crown of life” which is eternal. “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” Remember, we must all die once but, the second death will come to the unfaithful at the judgment throne of God as they are thrown into the lake of fire to be forever. Instead of that death, the faithful saints will have the crown of eternal life.

The Church of Ephesus

"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and had patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. 


Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place - unless you repent." - Revelation 2:1-5


The Book of Revelation begins with a vision of Jesus, not as the suffering servant He came as at first, but as the Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, the sum of all God wants to be to mankind. John, His 'beloved' apostle fell at His feet as dead when he saw Jesus in all His radiant glory and power. After John was recovered, the first act of Jesus was to dictate letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. These were real churches, but there were many more churches than these, even at that time so, these churches must have been representative of the messages Jesus wanted to send.


First, and foremost we see Jesus standing in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, which represent the churches. The message is clear - the Church belongs to Jesus! Even though the final church, the Laodicean, had Jesus outside, knocking at the door, Jesus is the head of every church and if you want to be part of the Church of Christ, you must submit to Him! 


Now the church at Ephesus had many laudable qualities: they labored for Christ, and they tried to maintain a standard of truth - testing false apostles and false doctrines, such as the Nicolaitans. Since this false doctrine was specifically named we should pay attention to what it was. Some scholars believe it was like the agnostics and taught licentious living. Years ago when first studying this group, I asked the Holy Spirit who they were and what they taught. Here is what He told me - The word is compounded from two Greek words, nicol and laity. Nicol means to get the victory and laity means the people. Taken together the word means to get the victory over the people. I believe the Holy Spirit showed me this was where the separation of the priesthood and the laity began. I also have no doubt that these leaders also led licentious lives. Christ never intended there to be a separation in His body in fact one of the reasons for the new song song to Jesus, the Lamb, was that He had "made us kings and priests to our God and we shall reign on earth" - Revelation 5:10. Do we have spiritual leaders in the Body of Christ - yes. But they never lord it over us. When Peter wrote to the other elders he said "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder ..."-1 Peter 5:1. Jesus taught, "He who be great among you, let him be the servant of all." But, once this Nicolaitan spirit took hold, we see the domination practiced by priests during the dark ages.  and even to this day.


Why did the church at Ephesus fall? When Paul wrote to them in the epistle to the Ephesians, he said such things as -

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" - 2:10

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." - 3:20

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." - 2:4-6

In this letter he taught them many great doctrines of the Church, such as the five-fold ministry of the church and how to walk in the "power of His might" and defeat the devil and his forces. So what was their downfall?


They became so busy doing God's work that they forgot Jesus. They forgot that the good works were not really their works, but God had prepared the works for them to walk in. They really had absolutely nothing without Jesus Christ. Jesus said it this way -

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." - Revelation 2:4

The church that will overcome in the days ahead will not be one with beautiful buildings, or many programs, or even many members and a large budget. It will be made up of people who remember this - "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ." They will be those who defeat the devil by "the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives even to the death." - Revelation 12:11.


May we all strive to be that kind of people.

Over 50 years ago, while a Junior in college, at a little country church, I went forward and asked a Lutheran Pastor form Norway to introduce me to Jesus. He led me to this verse -

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with with him, and he with Me" - Revelation 3:20

The pastor asked me to read it out loud and I did. Nothing happened so, he said read it again. After reading it three times, I suddenly realized what Jesus was saying - if I would open my heart's door, HE WOULD COME IN! I did ... and He did. It was glorious and I couldn't stop laughing for about half an hour. We 'dined' together that night, my Lord and I, and we haven't stopped for 50 years or more. Oh, I've missed supper from time to time but, the table is always set, waiting for me.

I have come to realize that this verse isn't just a salvation verse, but a life long call to keep the door of my heart open for the Master. He is so polite, He will always knock but, He will not force His way in, though He could. The Laodicean church, who received this message, was so blessed materially and they didn't think they had any need. They were so busy making money and enjoying it that they hardly had time have a relationship with Jesus. The Laodiceans thought they were rich, but, Jesus saw them as "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked". We here in America are especially susceptible to this temptation because we are so rich materially. Satan uses it to snare us and keep us from fully depending on our only true source of strength - Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. They fell into the trap of the "Sunday Christian Syndrome", where one day, and that for only a few hours, seems enough out of our busy schedule for the Lord. It isn't! The first Christians met daily, from house to house but, now we find it a chore, an imposition, to meet more than a few hours on Sunday.

Nearly 2000 years have passed since Jesus dictated this letter to the Laodicean church and there isn't much time left. In the days ahead we will all be sorely tested and our only strength will be a strong relationship with Jesus in which He washes our feet free from the 'dirt' of this world thus refreshing us for the testing ahead. I urge you to open the door to your heart and invite Jesus in to dine with you. You need to do it every day. But, be assured, He will come in.

David Wilkerson Vision - part three

Tsunami of Filth

A Flood of Filth


In 1973 Dave Wilkerson saw in a vision a 'flood of filth' sweeping over the earth and especially the United States. If you saw pictures of the tsunami in Japan, sweeping all the debris before it, you can get an idea of what he saw.

"This moral landslide will surpass anything the human mind can conjure. Already a demonic spirit of lust is sweeping over many nations, bringing with it nudity, perversion, and a flood of filth." - The Vision, pg 43

He described "Toplessness on Television" saying "I predict that network programs will soon attempt bare-breasted scenes." Then after an initial outcry of alarm dies down they will follow with scenes of full nudity. It will be done 'tastefully' at first until society becomes used to it, then anything will go. Even certain clergymen will applaud nudity on TV explaining it as a healthy development. "Triple-X Rated Movies on TV after Midnight" will soon follow. It takes him ten pages to describe all the sexual decay he saw. Homosexuality will be accepted, even protected, and TV programs will laud this as a normal part of life. Sex education in Public Education will be the vehicle used to promote these attitudes to the younger generation. The church will not be exempt from this corruption.

"Divorce and immorality will be more and more commonplace among ministers. A growing number of priests will be involved in sexual affairs and will leave the priesthood. Others will continue in the priesthood but will carry on secret affairs. An ever increasing number of Protestant ministers are going to "fall" into sexual sin, much of it carried on secretly." - The Vision, page 52

We see this right now. Sex is the main ingredient in much of advertisement these days, from Victoria's Secret to Cialis. Nearly every TV program flouts the 'sex' theme at some point in the programming. And, as Wilkerson predicted, violence is mixed with sex in much of it. Half the TV programs being aired have some 'law and order' theme and a majority of them have sex and violence as their theme. 

A "spirit of Persecution" is Coming ... 


"I see an hour of persecution coming such as mankind has never before witnessed. This will be a persecution of true Jesus believers that will soon arise like a many headed-monster out of the sea. It will begin slowly and subtly, coming at a time when religious freedom appears to be at a peak. It will spread throughout the United States, Canada, and the entire world and will finally become a kind of madness." - The Vision, pg. 73


He saw the antichrist spirit entering the hearts of certain men in high places; in government, the judicial system, and education. It will cause these officials to engage in legal maneuvers designed to harass independent churches, missionaries, and ministers. This will effect all religious radio and TV programming with a myriad of regulations and restrictions making it difficult for them to stay in business.


At the same time he saw new conferences and dialogs taking place between various main-line religious groups, such as Protestants and Catholics, aimed at forming one new church - a Super World Church. Much of the persecution of true saints of God will arise out of this church. Doctrines of the Bible will be re-interpreted to allow this super church members to coexist and it will be more political than spiritual in nature. Any who oppose its re-interpretation of Scripture will be forced out and persecuted. Homosexuals and lesbians will be accepted within its ranks and even allowed to become ministers. Increasingly occult practices will be allowed in this church.


The Rise of the Supernatural Church ...

"I saw a great and supernatural union of all the true followers of Jesus Christ, bound together through the Holy Spirit and mutual confidence in Christ and His Word. This supernatural church of Bible believers will become a kind of underground fellowship and will include Catholics and Protestants of all denominations. It will bind together young and old, black and white, and people of all nations." - The Vision, pg. 81

As the 'super world church' gains political power, this supernatural church will receive Holy Spirit power to continue preaching and spreading the gospel until the ends of the earth have heard. Already, believers are beginning to meet in fellowship around the world. They are largely underground, not because they are hiding, but because they do not seek to make a name for themselves by boasting large organizations or church structures. Many of them meet in homes and most of them are small in size as this lends itself best to the Holy Spirit working through each member as they meet - 1 Corinthians 14:26.


This vision was given in 1973 and printed in 1974. At the time, it seemed like nonsense to many. Today, it is like reading the newspaper or surfing the internet. What hasn't actually happened yet can easily be seen forming in society. God has given us nearly 40 years to get prepared and we must all ask ourselves - are we yet prepared?


Anyone who thinks in his or her heart - "I am ready!" does not understand the Scripture, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!" We all have areas of weakness and failings but, we also have a sure word of promise - "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." - Philippians 1:6 and "for if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things." - 1 John 3:20.


God has warned us, not to make us fearful but to help us prepare for what is ahead. As Proverbs says it, The wise man foresees evil and hides himself; but the fool pass on and are punished. - Proverbs 27:12.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit Today

“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” – 1 Corinthians 13:8-10

Many Christian ministers say the gifts of the Spirit were done away with after the first century and they quote this verse, but, if this verse is for today, why are they still having Seminaries and bible schools because this verse also says “knowledge will vanish away” as well. Obviously, “that which is perfect” is speaking about the time when Jesus comes back and sets up His kingdom on earth. That has not happened yet and we still need all the Holy Spirit’s help!

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” - 2 Timothy 3:5

There many Christians today who try to live the Christian life intellectually – in the power of their mind, however, it cannot be done. From the very beginning of the Church it was supernatural. The wisdom of man is foolishness with God, then and now. Man today is not any smarter than the Jews of 2000 years ago were and it is arrogance to think so. Men needed a supernatural work by the Holy Spirit then and we need it now. We cannot repent by feeling sorry, but only by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We are “born of the Spirit”, not by the will of man but by a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot just ‘decide’ to accept Christ. He is made real to us by revelation from the Holy Spirit. And we cannot follow Christ by our intellect alone – we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost." - Jude 1:20

The Bible teaches that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, but how do we hear something that is spiritual in nature with natural ears? By the Holy Spirit! Jude tells us we can strengthen, or ‘build up’, our holy faith by praying in the Spirit, not by praying with our intellect. Paul makes it very clear that ‘praying in the Spirit’ involves praying in tongues.

"For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified." – 1 Corinthians 14:14-17

Is praying with your intellect (understanding) wrong? Certainly not. Is praying in tongues wrong? Certainly not. There is a place for both, but to say pray only with your understanding is like trying to work with one hand tied behind your back. God gave us two spiritual hands so why not use both?

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

It is strange how men today want to do away with tongues, with prophesy, or with mysteries saying “love is better.” But, the same passage also says love is better than having knowledge or doing works of charity and they do not want to do away with those! That is because they think they can control works of charity or the gaining of knowledge but, they cannot control the gift of prophesy or the gift of tongues. The truth is none of these gifts are done away by love, only enhanced.

There are many kinds of tongues; tongues of men (some of which are dead, forgotten to mankind) and there are tongues of angels as well. The Holy Spirit is not limited and He knows all things – that includes every tongue ever spoken by man or angels. But, we must remember one thing. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given for one purpose – to build up the body of Christ. So, when you are alone in your prayer closet you can pray in tongues. You may not understand what you are praying but God does and you will still be ‘built up in your most holy faith’. But in the church we should act in a way that edifies all present. Therefore if we bring a message in tongues, it should be interpreted, so all can understand it. This ‘bringing a message in tongues’ is a gifting as well that not all are used in. It is separate from the tongues we all receive when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit. We may all pray and sing in tongues, but the Holy Spirit does not give all of us a message in tongues for the body gathered together. When we let the Holy Spirit have His way in our meetings, all will be done decently and in perfect order. It is when man tries to manage the work of the Holy Spirit that we get into trouble.

Some ministers teach that the giftings of the Holy Spirit are not for today, because they are not used this way. But, there is no Scripture that ever says they stopped. Their attitude is like saying dreams and visions stopped because they don’t have any. Maybe the problem is with them and not with the Holy Spirit? Or maybe, the Holy Spirit in His wisdom just decided not to use them in a particular gifting. However, Paul teaches that “you can all prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:31) and he also declares “I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than you all: …”(1 Corinthians 14:18).

Paul’s conclusion is to use all the arsenal of Holy Spirit weapons which He has given to build us up, only “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

David Wilkerson Vision - part two

Bankruptcies of Major Corporations

Nearly every day my emails describe or predict a looming financial crisis. Nationally we have witnessed  the failure of financial markets, corporations, and  banking firms with mega-sized bailouts. Bailouts that our government had to borrow money from China, England, Japan, to name a few, to accomplish. Both Republican and Democrat administrations were responsible for a debt that was impossible to cover without printing more paper money backed only by the promise of payment. This has led to major inflation, even though our government is refusing to admit to it by changing the definition they use for inflation. Regardless of what the Obama administration is telling us our food has inflated on the average of 30% and gasoline even higher. God revealed this to David Wilkerson in 1973 and he printed it in his book The Vision in 1974 -

"I believe we are going to witness the bankruptcies of some of the nation's major  and most popular corporations. I see tremendous difficulty arising for credit corporations. There are going to be many people unable to pay off their heavy obligations to major credit card companies, causing near-chaos. ... The President of the United States will make one, and possibly two national radio and TV appearances to reassure the nation that all is well and that the best of economic times is just ahead. It will not work. People will distrust these statements, and their fears will lead to a revolution at the polls.

The Auto industry is going to be hurt badly. Makers of recreational vehicles are going to get hit very hard....Almost every economic indicator will be gloomy. It will be spotty at first --but will eventually affect nearly all industry."

We already have seen major banking firms go down, Fanny May and Freddie Mack (major credit corporations) go bankrupt, and two of the three major car companies go bankrupt. So far the Obama administration is amassing some $14 trillion dollars in debt, $1.6 trillion this year alone. To put this in perspective - if you spent $30 million dollars a day from the time of Jesus until today, you still wouldn't quite cover it!


He also saw a "rush to the country" and today many secular financial advisors are saying the same thing. They see the inevitable food shortage and inflation problems that will hit the cities. He also saw unions in a dilemma - whether to strike or not. Unemployment will cause great problems and inflation will make it too costly to strike but business owners facing tax and inflation costs will be unwilling to negotiate higher wages and benefits. He also said hoarding goods, gold or silver will not help and there will be a rise in riots and demonstrations around the nation. All of this we here in Wisconsin have seen over the last two years. He also mentions some advise to those who will listen -

"I have some advice for those who believe the message of this chapter. I believe the advice is from the Lord. Don't buy anything unless it is needed. Avoid going into debt - at all, if possible. Sell or trade off all questionable holdings. No matter what sacrifice is involved, pay off as much debt as possible and get your cash flow needs down to a minimum."

The ability to hear God and the willingness to obey what you hear will be the only security in these times. God has always shown His people how to prepare for disasters: Noah, He told to build an ark; Jacob, He sent Joseph ahead into Egypt to prepare; Elijah, He sent to a widow; and the first disciples He warned to flee to the mountains when they saw Jerusalem surrounded by armies. 


This second installment of David Wilkerson's vision is happening before our eyes right now so, we must do what we can and leave the rest to God. We must not fear but have faith in His plan for our lives. His word states "He is faithful to finish the good work He began in us." - Philippians 1:6.