My grandmother passed away in 2001—just a few days after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon—at the age of 97. I was really close to my grandmother. As we were growing up, my brother and I often stayed with her while my parents worked. She lived through two World Wars and raised four children in rural Texas during the Great Depression. My grandmother was a hard worker all of her life. She left her last job at age 85, but only because the clothing store where she worked finally went out of business!
My grandmother had a friendly smile for everyone… even when she was just getting a picture taken for her bus pass. That’s how I remember her—almost always in a good mood, with a friendly smile for everyone. She didn’t have an easy life, but she had no use for self-pity. She stayed busy, and she was always willing to help anyone in need.
As an adult, I used to visit her in the same house where she had kept us while we were growing up. She would sit in her recliner, and I would sit on her couch, and we would talk for hours.
Her couch now sits under the mantel in my home. On the mantel, is an old clock that used to sit on my grandmother’s bookshelf. My grandmother prided herself on keeping everything neat, tidy, dust-free and in its place. The mantel clock was clean, shiny and in perfect working order when I brought it home from my grandmother’s house. I’ve tried to keep it that way. Two weeks ago, the clock finally stopped working. It ticked its last tock.
That clock obviously has sentimental value for me. Seeing it stop working distresses me because of that, but I also believe that sometimes things happen for a reason. I wonder if there might be a deeper meaning to that clock stopping at this particular time. I wonder if God might be sending a message to let us know that we’re entering a new season; and that the times that my grandmother knew are over.
The Angel’s Declaration
During John’s experience in the book of Revelation, he saw a mighty angel coming down out of heaven, with his face like the sun and legs like columns of fire. The angel set one foot on the sea and his other foot on the land. His shout was like the roaring of a lion. At one point, the angel raised his right hand to heaven and made this declaration:
“He swore by the one who lives forever and always, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, and said, ‘The time is up.’”— Revelation 10:6 (Common English Bible)
We may have come to one of those junctures in time. It may be that the time is up. What has been prophesied by so many for years is finally here.
For several years, established prophetic voices have been telling us that rough times are coming. John Paul Jackson described these times as a Perfect Storm of calamities involving economic, political, and religious events; along with wars and catastrophic events in the weather and in nature.
Wake Up Little Susie
On September 14th, just a few weeks ago, I had a dream in which I saw a record label on an old 45 single that read, “Little Susie”. I had a sense that this was a theme song. I turned to look at a member of my church who was standing there also. She was crying, or had been crying, and had tears rolling down her cheeks. I don’t know her very well in real life, but in the dream I asked her, “I wonder why this is the theme song?” Then I immediately turned back to look at the record label, and now I could see the full title. It was “Wake Up Little Susie” by the Everly Brothers. As soon as I saw the full title of the song, I heard the Everly Brothers singing it.
My sense was that it was not just a theme song for the dream, but for all of us, and the time in which we are all living. We all must wake up. We are living in a very different time that may become much more intense soon in many areas. We may need to prepare and make adjustments to new circumstances that change without much warning.
Neville Johnson’s Announcement
You may not know the name Neville Johnson. He is a respected church leader in Australia. Paul Keith Davis named Neville Johnson as one of only a handful of people who understands the spiritual realm better than anyone he knows. On August 6 of this year, in Lancaster, California, Neville Johnson made a bold announcement. He declared that Yom Kippur this year would mark the cutoff point for us, especially for those of us in America. That date would mark the close of one period in time and the entering in of some very different times.
Yom Kippur begins this Friday evening, October 3rd.
You can watch Neville Johnson deliver that message on YouTube by clicking here.
Why is This Happening?
The short answer to the question of “Why?” is that we, as a society, have forgotten God. We have turned away from Him, forsaken His ways, and walked away from the protection that came with obedience to His commands. As a result we have left ourselves vulnerable to forces that could be very destructive.
Before the children of Israel entered their Promised Land, Moses took great pains to caution them, over and over, not to forget the God that brought them there:
“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.”— Deuteronomy 4:9 (NASB)
“So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you.” — Deuteronomy 4:23 (NASB)
“Then watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”— Deuteronomy 6:12 (NASB)
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today.”— Deuteronomy 8:11 (NASB)
Over and over and over, Moses cautioned Israel not to forget God. But at times, Israel did forget the God that created and blessed them. When this happened, Israel went through some difficult times until they cried out to God, as a nation, and returned to Him again. Almost the entire book of Judges is the story of Israel going through the same cycle:
- Forgetting God
- Experiencing times of great difficulty
- Seeking God again; crying out to God for deliverance
- Experiencing times of peace and prosperity
… and… then forgetting God again… and repeating the cycle… over and over and over… for generations.
It’s Time
It seems that we are now entering one of those difficult times. It’s a time that many established, respected leaders in the Church have been prophesying for decades. The time is now upon us. So, what should we do? What is the best way to face this time, which may bring many difficulties?
Some of the most popular images of our day are the ones that show the British royal crown at the top with the slogan, “Keep Calm and Carry On,” or variations on that theme. That’s a good start. Keep calm. The Bible exhorts us many, many times to “Fear not.” Fear only opens the door to more problems.
Since God, Who loves us enough to send His Son to die for us, tells us not to be afraid, it must mean that there are better ways to respond to our circumstances. Fear does nothing to help the situation, and if it leads to extreme panic, it can actually prevent us from finding meaningful solutions to difficult situations. So fear is not an option. Fear will do us no good, and could do a lot of harm by keeping us from finding solutions to problems; and it could actually open the door to other problems.
We must realize that God has known that this was coming for a long time. It is no surprise to Him. He knows what is coming, and He knows the best ways for us to prepare and to respond to these situations. So our first priority must be to draw close to Him. He’s got the answers we need. If we draw near to Him, He promises to draw near to us (James 4:8). Ultimately safety and provision can only be found in Him.
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!” – Isaiah 31:1 (NASB)
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” - Psalm 20:7 (NKJV)
“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” - Proverbs 18:10 (NLT)
Be Watchful
This passage of Scripture could well be applied to our situation today:
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” - Luke 21:34-36 (NIV)
Jesus admonished His disciples to “Be always on the watch…”, but what should we be watching? What should we be on the lookout for?
At the same time that Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, He also described certain signs that would indicate that the time was upon them. In our time, there have been many messages from established, respected prophets that have described signs that we should be watching for and be prepared to respond to. Some of these prophets have given detailed descriptions of signs and appropriate responses. The signs they have described have included economic events, political events, religious movements, wars, and events in nature and the weather. John Paul Jackson has called this time of calamities “The Perfect Storm” because so many of these events may be happening at the same time and have the effect of making all of it seem more intense. By watching and praying, we can be prepared for what is coming and hear God’s voice to tell us how to respond in the moment.
“Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”—2 Chronicles 20:20 (NKJV)
Here are some of the prophetic voices that have spoken to warn us and to help us prepare:
- Neville Johnson Academy of Light
- John Paul Jackson Joseph’s Pantry Preparing for the Perfect Storm
- Rick Joyner The Oak Initiative Prophetic Bulletins Prophetic Perspectives on Current Events Publications
- Terry Bennett Messages
Keeping Watch
As different signs or warnings come to my attention, I will plan to share them in future newsletters so that we may help each other to be prepared.
But our goal during these difficult times is not just to prepare for our own survival. That is the very lowest level of goals. We watch, pray and prepare in order to best be able to reach out to help others when needs arise in their lives. Together, we will not only survive; we will overcome!
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”— John 16:33 (NKJV)
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