When it comes to an authentic move of God, what we need to look for is the same message the apostles preached, the same kind of lifestyle Jesus lived, and same kind of impact on society that we have seen in previous moves of God.  On that note, these "four markers of the next move of God" are what I believe we will see in the next great move of God, both in America and in the nations. As we move throughout this year, I'm going to dedicate all my teaching to restoring these foundations:

Marker #1--The Spirit of Truth

Look for people who hunger for the Holy Spirit to bring deeper conviction, increasing Wisdom, and weightier revelation.  The kind of community we need to build is one where we are eager--not only to receive revelation--but to respond to what the Spirit is saying and doing because we are hungry to become His resting place and His habitation.  This is why Jesus said:

"When He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." — John 16:13

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." — John 14:15-18

Jesus wants us to be filled with the Spirit of Truth, to have the Spirit of Truth living inside of us.  The fruit of this indwelling is that we are never alone and we never have to live "as orphans."  This is because the Spirit of Truth is the voice of our Father, giving conviction when we step off the path of Life, revelation of how to move forward, and Wisdom that will help us to overcome in every challenge we face.

Marker #2--The Apostolic Gospel

The message of the Apostolic Gospel is the primary message that the true end-times church will carry.  I include the word "apostolic" because the gospel I am referring to is the same gospel that the apostles preached: It is a gospel that releases great salvation, healing, and deliverance on many because it harnesses all of the power of Christ's death and resurrection.  The main purpose of this message is to apply the atonement of Christ's blood to our lives.

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power."--1 Corinthians 2:2-5

"God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood--to be received by faith..."--Romans 3:25

Marker #3--The Father's Glory

Salvation, healing, deliverance, and personal transformation are all part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  However, the real heart of the matter is restored fellowship with Father God.  This is why Jesus said to the Father:

"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."--John 17:3

Everything else that happens in our lives flows from the renewed relationship we have with God, from our intimate knowledge of who the Father is.  This means that if we draw closer to God and build the kind of intimacy with the Father that Jesus enjoyed, we will see much more restoration in our own lives and in the lives of those we touch.  

First, we need to have the "spirit of adoption" that allows us to truly see and relate to God as our Father:

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”--Romans 8:15

When we really know the Father in this way, we will treat other people just like the Father would, which is with unconditional love:

"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen."--1 John 4:20

Last, as our relationship with the Father grows in depth, we will have His heart towards others and begin to step out to "do what He is doing" and "say what He is saying," just like Jesus did:

“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."--John 5:19

Marker #4--Greater Works

The first three "markers" I have outlined allow us to reclaim the source of conviction, the message that brings transformation, and the lifestyle that will give us Christlikeness.  However, the last marker indicates the kind of fruit we can expect once these other foundations have been restored.  For the "greater works" of power--including creative miracles, resurrection, a vast increase in the number of souls saved, and a greater impact on society, will only come once the other foundations have been properly restored.

If you carefully study Bible prophecy and the words of trustworthy contemporary prophets, you will find that the "greater works" of power are one of the primary markers that we have crossed the threshold into the last and greatest move of God:

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."--John 14:12

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."--Matthew 24:14

Restoration Happens through Biblical Community
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The context in which these things will be restored is Biblical community.  We cannot afford to be isolated from each other because the restoration we need was handed to us like a boxed jigsaw puzzle.  All of us have been given only a "piece" of the restoration--and the bigger picture can only take shape when we meet together regularly.  Of course, this does not mean that every community will look the same.  For example, there are communities of prophets, where stewarding revelation from the Spirit of Truth is the primary mission.  There are small groups meeting in homes where applying the power of the gospel to the practical concerns of life and encouraging each other is the primary mission.  And there are evangelistic events where preaching the gospel and demonstrating the greater works are the primary mission.  So, our goal must also be to find where we fit in the Body, to know our mission, and to zero in on it like a laser beam.

As we continue to build our lives as a launchpad for the next move of God, may the Spirit of the Lord reveal to you where you fit in the picture!

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."--Romans 12:2

“The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.”—Psalm 68:17

Background
Over the last two decades, the Body of Christ has begun opening its eyes to see the significance of the ancient Hebrew calendar—or what Bob Jones called “my Papa’s calendar.”  Throughout these decades, the Lord has shown many leading prophetic voices the significance of the major feasts and holy days of the Bible, including the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hoshanna) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

Some leaders, such as prophet Chuck Pierce, have been led to consistently steward revelation about each new Hebrew year.  Other prophets, such as Bob and Bonnie Jones, Lyn Kost, and Bobby Conner, have regularly received revelation on Yom Kippur for the upcoming year—an encounter that began in Bob Jones’ ministry when the Lord visited him dressed as a high priest every year on Yom Kippur.  In more recent times, the viral spread of Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s teachings has allowed many believers to see and accept the prophetic significance of the Jewish calendar, even if they are outside of charismatic or prophetic streams.

What is Happening?
In the early morning hours of September 1, 2018, the Lord led me to begin researching the astronomical events that would occur during Rosh Hoshanna.  Since Jewish days begin at sundown (not sunrise), the new Jewish New Year [5779] officially begins on the evening of September 10, 2018.

On September 9 and 10, a green comet called “Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner” will pass through the constellation Auriga.  It enters this constellation before the 10th and is released from Auriga like a ball of fire on the evening of the 10th, just as the new Jewish year begins.  In addition, there is an active meteor shower coming from this constellation which began on August 25 and concludes exactly on September 10.

Auriga is not one of the constellations of the Zodiac, but it was known in antiquity and is associated with the chariot in most ancient cultures.  In Greek tradition, Auriga was the inventor of the four horse chariot and in most modern portrayals of the Auriga constellation, Auriga is seen with the reins of the chariot in his right hand and a goat draped over his left shoulder.  Even in Chinese tradition, this constellation is associated with the grain harvest and portrays five chariots of five kings—which we may interpret to be represent the five fold ministry accelerating to new levels to bring in the harvest! (see Ephesians 4:11)

Why does it matter?

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 

God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 

God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.”—Genesis 1:14-18

When the ancient order of the Magi used the stars to find the Christ-child, they were not relying on occult practices or pagan traditions.  Rather, they were relying on the mysteries of Wisdom and Revelation that Daniel entrusted to a company of wise men and scribes 600 years before!  This ancient order of wise men, who relied on the Spirit of God to understand signs in the heavens, was raised up when Daniel was given authority over everyone else after interpreting the handwriting on the wall.  Presumably, he used this authority to compel them to forsake their pagan ways and retrain them in the ways of the Lord, thus raising up the ancient order of the Magi (see Daniel 5).

As we move closer to the last and great move of God, prophetic revelation will not only increase in terms of dreams, visions, and encounters.  We will also be given more wisdom and understanding about everything in nature, learning to see significance in many things we could not see before, including the stars in the heavens, which God placed there to mark times and seasons.  In this context, the events of the comet are important markers of the new season we are now stepping into.

What does it mean?

While we eagerly await the literal second coming of Christ in clouds of glory, this is not the only “return” we have to look forward to.  For we also have the promise of “Christ in us, the hope of glory” which we have been entrusted to cultivate right now—on this side of eternity (Colossians 1:27).  The promise of total communion with the Living Christ is something that remains largely neglected in most of the Western church, but the Lord is now going to begin raising up prophetic teachers who will teach the Body how to walk in greater maturity and “abide in Christ” continually so that He may “abide in them” continually (see John 15).

My primary interpretation of this comet is that it points to prophets and teachers rising to new levels of power and wisdom that will far eclipse what came in previous generations.  It is like the difference between an infantry soldier on foot, a cavalry soldier mounted on one horse, and a charioteer drawn by many horses!  The Lord is graduating his people from one level to the next and if we don’t “keep in the step with the Spirit,” we may well get left behind! (See Galatians 5:25, Jeremiah 12:5)

As Rick Joyner and Bob Jones have said in the past, the new gifts being released in this time will be like spiritual weapons too powerful for one person to steward alone.  This new level of prophetic ministry will not be given to “lone rangers,” but to prophets who are as unified as horses harnessed together—and each with their reins in the hands of the Lord.  Like the charioteer in the heavens, the Lord will hold their reigns in His right hand and control their every direction.  Instead of only turning aside to seek the Lord from time to time, those God is breathing on now will subject their lives to His Lordship and delight to let His whisper guide them every step of the way.  For this reason, they will be the heralds of the full reality of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” being released into the Body of Christ in this next season.

The number one aspect of this next level of prophetic ministry is Christ’s total lordship over their lives and a deep travailing desire to see Christ’s abiding glory released into His people.  In order to bring these things to pass, there are revelations coming forth that will far eclipse anything that came before, for the chariot also speaks of heavenly ascension and translation.  As you may recall, Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire in a whirlwind when he reached the Jordan (see 2 Kings 2).  It is no accident that Elijah’s ascension took place at the Jordan, which points to baptism and death to ourselves.  In the same manner, it was at the Jordan that Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.  There is a great transference taking place at this time from one generation of the prophets to the next, from one generation of teachers to the next, and from one company to the next, but those who will receive the most are those who have learned to lay everything aside and die to themselves.  The only thing that will bring us to the place of glorious death is a glimpse of what awaits us on the other side of our Gethsemane.  These kinds of higher ascension experiences and translations will only be entrusted to those who have already died and refuse to listen to any voice other than the charioteer’s. The chariot also points to Enoch, the only other prophet in scripture who ascended to heaven without dying.  In this hour, we need more than Elijah’s prophetic spirit.  We also need revelation about how to walk with God consistently so that we will lack nothing, even in perilous times.

Green Glory

I believe this green comet points to the green emerald glory, which is a bright yellow-green like Chrysolite (a form of olivine).  When I wrote The Burning Cloud, I recorded an encounter I had with the Lord.  He appeared before me as high priest and a light green stone lit up on his breastplate.  In my own relationship with the Lord, this yellow-green Chrysolite stone has always pointed to the raising up of a mature priesthood who knows how to function in heaven and on earth, even traversing time to do the Father’s will.  For this reason, I believe this green comet points to a mature priesthood in the order of Melchizedek will now rise.  However, it also points to a restoration of what Bob Jones referred to as the “inspired teachers.”  For example, Ezekiel wrote about the Zadok priesthood:

“They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.  In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges…”—Ezekiel 44:23

This mature priesthood will be marked by a high level of spiritual judgment and discernment because they will have the light of the Lord on every matter they look into.  For those who want to dive deeper into this topic, I recommend researching the two comets that Bob Jones saw during his ministry—the first pointing to the restoration of the prophetic ministry and the second pointing to the restoration of the apostolic ministry.  Because of its precise timing and rich prophetic symbolism, I consider this comet to be just as significant as these predecessors.  My conclusion is it is time for another great reformation in the Body of Christ, a reformation that will make us mature enough to carry the greater glory that has been promised and lay hold of the kinds of ascension experiences Christ released to us when He prayed,

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” (John 17:24)

This is not merely a promise of encountering heaven “in the sweet, by and by.”  This is a promise of heavenly ascension and transformation glory on this side of eternity.  A mature priesthood will not only understand that they have free access to the Father according to what the scriptures promise.  A mature priesthood will learn to use that access to see and hear what the Father is doing, and to behold the full glory of Jesus, so they can begin to reflect that glory and carry it all through the next and greatest move of God.

Join Stephen Powell and I at the REFORMATION SUMMIT event at Fresh Fire Ministries on September 7-9, 2018 in Fort Mill, South Carolina.  We will be diving deeper into this revelation at this mountain-top event! ​Check out our Facebook pages or the events tab of this site for more information (no registration fee).

Available in paperback and e-book at the link below: 

In the summer of 2016, the Lord took me into a heavenly encounter in which I was shown a massive “storm of darkness.”  In this encounter, the storm was far larger than the scale of any ordinary Atlantic hurricane—Its vast expanse reached from New England all the way down to Florida.  However, the Lord made it clear that I was being shown something far more important than a natural weather pattern: I was seeing the approach of a “perfect storm” of spiritual darkness.

There are several characteristics about this storm that are important to highlight in this watchword:

• The “eye” of the storm, the center around which all the darkness was organized, was characterized by HATRED and LAWLESSNESS.
• This inky-black storm made it easy to fear and hate others.
• Those who had not already trained their minds to abide in the Lord and resist the enemy were easily drawn into the darkness of the storm, which was influencing the vast majority of people in the nation for about two years before the next move of God began.  Eventually, even families and churches were fractured by the spreading hatred, lawlessness, and fear if they did not have strong foundations.

Even though I wrote about this storm in chapters 2 and 3 of The Great Acceleration, I’m releasing this watchword to recap this revelation because what I have seen unfolding in the last year and a half looks and feels like a partial fulfillment of what the Lord showed me.  (I am grateful when people buy my books, but this word is too important to limit to that format and I’m compelled to share it!)

A PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
Although I only speak out on political and cultural issues when I feel prompted to, I felt it was imperative that I explain how the warning of the “storm of darkness” is playing out right now:

• Every major news network has now made it the “new norm” to violate traditional rules and customs of journalism, including a commitment to telling the truth and present a balanced, objective perspective.  Most major networks are now in full-blown LAWLESSNESS.  (This is a drastic shift from about 30 years of traditional media, when major networks at least made an attempt to fair.)
• These same news networks are primarily motivated by HATRED and seek to stir up hatred.  To be fair, this is a trend that can be seen on both sides of the aisle and is setting us up for dangerous times if it continues to go unchecked.
• In our culture, lawlessness is currently celebrated through every media network, through movies, through music, through fashion, and through the cultural norms we now deem to be “acceptable.”  Believers who oppose these trends are increasingly hated by those who want to protect and promote a lifestyle of lawlessness.
• Hatred and lawlessness has also seeped into the church through those who have begun to yield to the dominant culture of lawlessness in the nation.
• The youth of this nation are being trained in dangerous “protest” tactics, such as organized mobs, destruction of public property, and even threats towards innocent civilians.  Regardless of how “moral” a cause may be, immoral forms of protest come from the kingdom of darkness and can only advance the kingdom of darkness.
• Lawlessness also reflects a breakdown in healthy structure.  In every sector of society, healthy structure is vanishing as basic moral values are ignored.  This is true in families, in major corporations, in our government, in education, and even in our military.  This breakdown in structure may be one of the most disturbing and most overlooked trends because it has happened slowly over decades and is only now beginning to reach "critical mass."

A PRIESTHOOD WILL RISE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE

The Lord never leaves us without hope or strategy.  The primary theme of the rest of The Great Acceleration and its sequel, The Burning Cloud, is that the Father is raising up a holy priesthood.  He is training them in secret places and they are unknown to the world.  They are already having dramatic prophetic encounters that give them a depth of relationship and union with the Lord that far outshines any previous generation’s experience.  They will be unshaken by anything that happens on earth because they will be planted in heaven and serve as ladders and bridges to bring heavenly realities down to earth.  He is raising up harvesters, who will have the authority to release the prisoners of darkness and bring them into the saving light of Jesus Christ, rescuing not only their souls—but their hearts and minds as well.  But above all, this rising priesthood will shine with the light of the Lord Himself.  They will have total authority over the darkness because they will carry the light of love, authority, holiness, and truth that shines from the Lord's face.

NOW is the time for training if you are part of this rising priesthood.  NOW is the time to re-consecrate your life and ask for the Lord’s perspective on everything around you.  NOW is the time to re-train yourself and re-fine your gifts, wherever you are planted in the Body of Christ.  NOW is the time to learn to love, for only love can overcome the darkness.  Last, NOW is the time to commit to a lifestyle of holiness and obedience to the still, small voice of the Lord—for only obedience can make us joyful overcomers in the race ahead.

A FINAL WARNING

When I was shown this approaching “storm of spiritual darkness,” I was warned by a heavenly escort,

“From this vantage point (in heaven), we can see what is coming more clearly than you can.  Still, it is surprising that more people have not seen the gathering storm of darkness.”

Most people have fallen asleep because they’ve been looking for severe wars, earthquakes, volcanoes, and other end-times events that are easy to recognize.  But this creeping storm of darkness is far more dangerous because it has been growing slowly over time.  Our job then, is to stay awake—to watch, to pray, and to draw nearer to the Lord than ever before.  This does not mean the other signs will not come, but that as watchmen, we must be ever-mindful of the spiritual things unfolding in our nation too.

This storm is not the end.  This storm is only one of many things that will ripen the masses for harvest!

In July of 2013, the Lord showed me a warning vision of a massive dust storm sweeping across America. It had a reddish hue to it, which made me wonder about its origins.  When I saw it, the Lord warned me that, "There will be a summer when nothing can be grown," if America comes under more severe judgements. It was an open vision that terrified me and I wasn't sure what to do with it.  A few days after this experience, I came across a prophecy from John Paul Jackson predicting that "dust will be measured in inches" (from his prophetic teaching on The Perfect Storm).

This evening, the Spirit of the Lord reminded me repeatedly about that vision, this time with a sense of persistence and urgency. I said, "Lord, this can't be. The nation is covered is rain and snow right now. Why are you showing me this now?"

He explained, "I'm giving you six months to pray and prepare."  

Historical Precedent
Have you ever heard, "If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it?" Before you dismiss this word, please consider a few historical facts and current events:

• The dust bowl of the 1930's was a real and catastrophic event that deepened the Great Depression.
• The dust bowl era was so heavy that people would often find everything in their homes covered in half an inch of dust in the morning. They would place wet towels along doors and windows to try and keep the dust out.
• The dust bowl was THE RESULT OF IRRESPONSIBLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, partly from over-farming during World War 1.
• Many of our agricultural practices today are EVEN MORE harmful than what was practiced in the early 20th century.  Our poor stewardship of the earth has already paved the way for the next dust bowl.

Biblical Foundations
In scripture, dust is a symbol that points us back to the curse of the fall. For example, the serpent was cursed to eat dust and man was cursed to painful toil (see Genesis 3).  As believers, we are no longer under this curse because Christ removed it through the power of the cross.  Now, our greatest prayer strategy is to simply apply the power of the cross, repent on behalf of our nation's sins, and release Christ's restorative power over the land.  

However, dust is not always associated with the generalized "curse of the fall" that came in the beginning.  God also warned Israel that if they rebelled against God, then this would happen:

"The Lord will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed."--Deuteronomy 28:24

Just as rain storms are generally a sign of God's blessing, dust storms are generally a sign of the removal of that blessing.  Our ultimately goal then, is to receive God's blessing and release it on the land.  This often requires us to do some research and look for any area of sin in our nation, our region, or our own lives that might be "blocking" the full blessing we inherit through Christ.

Regional Judgements and Regions of Refuge
Just as God warned Israel (a specific nation), some judgements come upon specific nations--or even specific regions within nations--because of deliberate and repeated sin and disobedience in those areas.  Consider how Jesus described the "birth pangs" of the last days:

"There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All of these are the beginning of birth pangs."--Matthew 24:7-8

Notice that Jesus didn't say, "there will be famines and earthquakes everywhere."  These kinds of judgements will hit some regions in dramatic ways, while other regions will not experience their impact in the same way.  

One of the clearest words the Lord gave me for 2018 is that it is time to begin raising up "regions of refuge" across the nation and around the world.  These are places where we properly apply the power of the cross, receive God's blessing for ourselves, and release His restorative power on the heart of man and on creation.  These "regions of refuge" will be places of great glory, mass harvest, and safety within nations that are otherwise being greatly tested and shaken.

The Strategy of "Drawing Near to God"
Regardless of where you are at right now, you can begin setting aside your own home and property as a "region of refuge" by spending time with the Lord often, applying the power of the cross, hearing His voice, and obeying what the Spirit leads you to do.  This simple lifestyle of consecration and obedience is what re-positions us from being fearful children who don't know what to do in times of shaking...to becoming a powerful priesthood who literally "reigns on earth" (Revelation 5:10).  

October 31 of this year marked 500 years since the Protestant Reformation (1517-2017).  In light of this important marker, the primary reformation we need still involves a return to the basics that Martin Luther preached—salvation by faith, the priesthood of believers, and a return to the scriptures as the sole authority for testing and proving our doctrine.  In many ways, I expect the “next reformation” to take us even deeper into these simple truths.  For example, we can take our faith in Christ much higher, believing Him for much more.  We can learn to live holy and empowered lives as priests who walk closely with God and bless everyone in our sphere of influence.  And we can dive into the scriptures to find precious truths not seen before.  However, these were not the areas the Lord highlighted to me on reformation day.
 
The Lord surprised me on October 31 with a set of “blueprints” for reforming the prophetic movement.  It was the first time I saw charts and graphs in a vision.  These blueprints include three warnings against specific imbalances and excesses which are happening, as well as a model for what a mature and healthy prophetic movement looks like.  As I was seeing this series of charts, I was reminded of when Jesus spoke to the seven churches of Asia Minor and gave them a balance of correction and encouragement so that they could grow (see Revelation chapters 2-3).
 
Three Areas of Prophetic Emphasis

The Lord showed me three primary areas that are emphasized by different prophetic ministries.  First, He showed me the color green to represent churches and ministries that emphasis using revelation gifts to cultivate a close walk with the Lord and live a prophetic lifestyle.  This aspect of the prophetic movement trains people in how to hear the Lord for themselves, but also how to test what they are hearing and obey the Lord’s voice so that He can move through them to impact others.  As a result of revelation and obedience, believers are led to “greener” pastures in their walk with the Lord (see John 10, Psalm 23).  The ministries in this category teach people to live the kind of lifestyle that Jesus described when He said that He, “can only do what He sees the Father doing” (John 5:19 NIV).
 
Second, the Lord showed me the color pink to represent ministries that emphasize personal prophetic ministry (or prophetic ministry between different members of a congregation). For me, pink usually represents health and healing and those who steward these ministries help to bring healing to the Body of Christ by bringing encouragement, comfort, edification, and correction when it is needed.
 
Last, he showed me yellow to represent prophetic ministries who receive clarity for understanding what God is doing in different times, seasons, in the nations, and in the Body of Christ.  The yellow signifies the throne of glory, from which every high-level prophet of this nature receives clear words to trumpet to the Body of Christ in each season. 

For the last two years, every time I prayed about 2017, I saw it light up with shining rays of pure gold. I believe 2017 will be "the golden year," a remarkable time when we will see the kingdom advancement we have been longing for and praying about for a long time.   This is the year to build and establish the kingdom of heaven on earth in a new way, but also to build and establish new things you've been praying into for many years.

1. Financial Breakthrough
I saw the storehouses of heaven opening with endless provision in 2017.  However, we must understand the purpose of this provision.  The coming resources will enable us to build the "latter house" that will hold the greater glory (see Haggai 2).  As the glory rises, the nations shake, and the harvest unfolds, we will need new buildings, new media, new resources for discipleship, and much more.  Of course, when the harvest reaches its full number, the church will not be able to contain it.  This is why many will also have grace and provision to acquire new properties this year, including large swaths of rural land for stewarding youth revivals and "Christian woodstocks," where the sounds of heaven will be released in the decades of harvest to come.  Based on the promises of Malachi 3:10, I believe the provision that is coming will be "more than we can hold," but it is only being released to those whose hearts long to build "a resting place for the Lord" (see Psalm 132:13-18).  Those who have this desire will be able to properly steward and multiply what they are given.  Those who don't have this desire will find provision slipping through their fingers and being lost like grains of dust in the wind.  This is why it is important to get our hearts right before God now, before this time of provision opens up.  A good way to prepare for the coming provision is to write down what you need, why you need it, and then present it to the Lord in prayer.

2.  The Returning Glory
In addition to the outpouring of financial provision, there is a much greater outpouring of God's glory coming, which I believe will begin in March of 2017.  This word was confirmed by others, but I am repeating it because I believe it is something we should be praying into.  As I discuss later in this post, I do not believe our experience with the glory will be a one-time event, but a continual flow of "rising water levels," like the tide coming in.

3.  Reformation Leaders Rising in a Time of Shaking
I believe the great shaking and reformation we are seeing in civil government will increase as the economy is also shaken this year.   However, this shaking in the government and the economy is now going to be mirrored by a much greater shaking and reformation in the government and finances of the church.  A new generation of prophets and apostles is rising to build the latter house and to properly steward the "greater glory" it will carry (see Haggai 2, Ephesians 2:20).  This includes new ministry models and new theological blueprints to help us understand the next move of God by grounding it in the scriptures.  The coming financial shaking will also break old wineskins: Churches and ministries who cannot adapt and form new models of ministry will have great difficulty.  However, the reformation leaders who are rising will have unprecedented grace to weather every storm because their core desire is to build a resting place for the Lord (see Psalm 132, Zechariah 4:6-10). 

4.  Stair Steps and Rising Water Levels
As I have prayed into 2017, I have continued to see rising stairs with increasing light, beginning in December of 2016.  This points to an important concept:  If He was to give us all of the glory He wants to reveal next year at one time, it would destroy us. If God was to give us all of the financial provision we need at once, much of it would be lost.   Because of His mercy, He is going to reveal His glory in stages like rising water levels, so that the level of Holiness and Christ-likeness in our lives advances in spurts throughout the year.  The returning glory is not coming as a one-time event, but like a rising tide that lifts everyone into His presence to receive corporate revelation.  These are things I have already released in The Restoration of All Things, a prophetic parable the Lord gave me about the next move of the Spirit.

5.  Keep in Step with the Spirit
If you skip a step when you're climbing a staircase, you risk falling down the stairs.  In order to navigate the stairs properly, you have to take every step before you in sequence.  Likewise, we must learn to "keep in step with the Spirit" throughout this next year (Galatians 5:25).  The way we do this is by allowing our lives to be led by the Spirit all the time.  This is why Paul wrote: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25).   The Lord wants to direct every step in our lives, so that everything we experience will prepare us to carry more of His glory.  Another parable for understanding this year is found in Ezekiel 47, where the river of God gradually rises in depth from ankle deep to knee-deep to chest deep to over our heads.  God wants to bring us deeper into His glory, but He is going to lead us deeper in stages so that we can properly steward the new truths He is imparting without drowning or losing the things He wants to restore.

Unlike others in the Body, I have not been called to weigh in on politics very often.  However, I saw Donald Trump facing a crisis this year of a similar magnitude to the events of 9-11.  I don't waste time trying to convince people that Trump will govern well.  The Lord told me, "If he governs well, his good governance will vindicate him."  This time before his inauguration is a critical window for us to be praying for his presidency, asking the Father to give him wisdom and understanding so that he truly will govern well (I don't take this word for granted, but consider it to be a call to prayer!)

Recently, as I was praying with a group of intercessors, the Lord showed me a clear vision concerning the three branches of U.S. Government. 

First, I was taken to the oval office, where a golden lampstand was raised up.  It was suspended like a chandelier, hovering at the ceiling, from which its light could flood the whole house.  The Lord said, “Pray for the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to be fully installed in the White House.”

Then I was taken to the rotunda of the Capitol building, where I saw a golden lampstand “installed” at the highest point and in the same manner.  The Lord said, “Pray for the Seven-fold Spirit of God to take root and grow in both houses of congress.”

I expected to see the same golden lampstand erected at the Supreme Court.  However, to my surprise, I saw the Hannukah scene playing out before my eyes there.  Just as in the Hannukah story, Greek culture had come to oppress God’s people and darkness was hanging over the land.  The Lord rebuked me and said,

“Do not pray for three, four, or even five righteous judges on the Supreme Court: Pray for NINE righteous judges to break off the oppression of Greek culture.  I will remove the lampstand of any unrighteous judge who does not repent and I will install those who will shine with the Spirit of Wisdom and the Spirit of Holiness.”  As He said this, I remembered the Hannukah story, how the oil was supernaturally supplied to give God’s people more time to make more consecrated oil.  In this story, there was a handful of warriors raised up to restore the temple, most notably Judas Maccabeus, who led the revolt against the Seluecid Empire.

Interpretation:
The Lord gave the interpretation when He gave me this vision—obviously, this is a clear call to pray for our three branches of government.  However, the image of the golden lampstand points to a spiritual Wisdom that transcends ordinary politics or good intentions.  The golden lampstand points to a deeper spiritual Wisdom that flows from above, where the Seven Spirits of God, which are the seven eyes of God, burn continually before the Lamb.  If we pray, our government will be greatly influenced by these seven burning flames!  The primary way the Spirit of Wisdom works is to reveal things from God’s perspective instead of from man’s perspective, because the Seven Spirits of God are His eyes.  

Second, the lampstands point to priestly influence in all three branches of government, as many of our incoming leaders already have solid relationships with the priesthood of believers.  Many people have been predicting that prophets and apostles will have more influence on government.  However, as a “kingdom of priests,” we must recognize that our greatest authority is expressed through prayer and prophetic declaration of what the Lord is saying.  When we faithfully pray and declare His words, we exert priestly influence over the government, even if we never set foot in Washington, D.C.

As I have prayed for President Obama and President-Elect Trump, I have been strongly prompted not to try to defend Trump from those who point out his foolish words and rash actions.  The Lord said, “He can only be vindicated by good governance.  A national crises is coming that will signal a great awakening in this nation.”  I believe this crises will set us up for a time of national awakening, revival, and restoration…NOT national destruction.  It will be a turning point.  Just as George W. Bush was regarded very differently after the way he handled the 9-11 attacks, Trump is going to be regarded very differently if he governs effectively and wisely in a time of national crisis.  I have not been shown what this crisis will be.

As I researched the Capitol rotunda, I found it is the highest point in the Capitol building and is described as its “symbolic and physical heart.” God does not want to only influence policy and law…He wants to capture the hearts of every politician, from every party.  

The word about the Supreme Court is harsh, but also alludes to Christ’s words of rebuke to the Church of Ephesus.  I have included the context because it also refers to the key symbols of the vision:

(1) These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. (2) I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. (3) You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

(4) Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. (5) Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (6) But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

(7) Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

We must recapture “the love we had at first,” or in earlier chapters of history, in our nation: Love for God, Love for each other, Love for nation, Love for freedom.  We must “consider how far we have fallen” so that we can “go back and do the things we did at first.”  Of course, any student of history can tell you that there have been great injustices in American history.  However, we must re-capture the righteous foundations that stood in spite of these injustices.

The Greek word “Nicolaitan” literally means “against the laity.”  One of the primary things judges on the Supreme Court will have their “lampstand removed” for is for making rulings that stand against the will of the people and the rule of law.  If we pray, the era of Judicial activism can come to a decisive end.  

To be clear on prayer strategy, the Lord said that He would remove their lampstand if they did not repent.  Our job is not to curse judges we deem to be unrighteous, but to ask the Father to turn their hearts and lead them to repentance.  As we pray, let’s have faith that some of the judges we strongly disagree with will actually repent and make some surprise rulings in favor of righteousness and freedom.  

Biblical Context and Background: 
As a prophetic intercessor, I frequently ask the Father to bless my own life and others with the Spirit of Wisdom.  The scriptures encourage us to specifically ask for the Spirit of Wisdom (see Ephesians 1:17, James 1:5.  Likewise, Proverbs explains why we need to find Wisdom and embrace her at every opportunity (see chapters 1-4).

When I see a greater need for Wisdom, I pull out the heavy artillery and invoke all Seven Spirits of God by name, as listed in Isaiah 11:1-3.  I have always seen great fruit from this invocation.  The names listed in Isaiah identify exactly who the Seven Spirits of God are:

• The Spirit of the Lord
• The Spirit of Wisdom
• The Spirit of Understanding
• The Spirit of Counsel
• The Spirit of Power
• The Spirit of the Knowledge of the Lord
• The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord

While we can find many other names for the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible, these seven names are special because they are the seven flames of the golden lampstand.  As a kingdom of priests, we have a responsibility to walk in the light of this lampstand and also let this light shine on others.  The importance of the Seven Spirits of God is also emphasized in Revelation 4:5, where we see them burning continually before the Lamb.  These Seven Spirits are the “seven eyes” of the Lord—The reason that they burn continually before the Lord Jesus Christ is because the Seven Spirits of God are how He sees, judges, and restores all.  When we invoke the Seven Spirits of God, what we really get is Christ’s perspective because He gives us His eyes.

Join me in praying for the golden lampstand to be "installed" in all three branches of government, for great spiritual influence to come from the prayers of God's people, and for Wisdom to turn our nation back to God in a time of national shaking!

Check out chapter 9 of Paths of Ever-Increasing Glory for more detailed teaching on the Seven Spirits of God...