The "Storm of Darkness"...and the Rising Priesthood

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!

But above all, this rising priesthood will shine with the light of the Lord Himself.  They will have total authority over the darkness.