The last time I heard my friend Neville Johnson speak in California, he spoke of being in the transition from the church age to the Kingdom age. At the time, that did not fit with any of my “pre-conceived” eschatological understanding, so I put Neville’s teaching on the shelf and waited for the Lord to give me more revelation. As I have sought the Lord over the last few years, He indeed has given me more understanding and I have come into agreement with Neville’s statement. In the same way the “Book of Acts” introduces us to the ways of the Lord in the fact that God works and seasons and times according to His own purpose and plan. They are outside the realm of man’s understanding but are part of the mysteries concerning the ways of God. The disciples asked the Lord at His ascension this question; Acts 1:6-7 (ESV)
“So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”
The words “times and season” are the Greek words “chronos” and “kairos”. Chronos refers to the succession of time in general and Kairos refers to times of opportunity or seasons. The bottom line, The Father is in control of it all. In the succession of time in general, there are opportunities of God specifically moving in situations where seed has been sown and a harvest is expected. These “opportunities” operate under the Father’s authority. See Acts 3:19-21 (ESV)
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.”
As I understand this verse, Jesus will not return until all things are restored according to the Father’s plan. This seems to fit what Jesus said In Matthew 24:10-14 (ESV)
“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
One of the great mysteries of the Kingdom is the future “revealing” of the “sons of God” (Rom 8:19). This was certainly the hope that the Spirit gave the Apostle Paul. A revealing that is also under the timing of the Father according to Galatians 4:1-7 (ESV)
“I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Is it possible that the next “Kairos” moment in God’s “chronology” is the revealing of the “sons”? I believe it extremely probable. I believe that this is how the “knowledge of the glory of the Lord” (Habakkuk 2:14 ESV) will fill the earth.
There is principle that must be learned. We must rid ourselves of all “learned” behavior of the former seasons as we move into this new season. There is an “re-alignment” coming to the Western church that will shake it to its core. The Holy Spirit spoke of this through the writer of Hebrews and the Apostle Peter. First, the writer of Hebrews; Heb:12:5-29 (ESV)
5 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Now the Apostle Peter;1 Peter 4:17
7 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Before His crucifixion, Jesus emptied the temple of the “merchandizers” for a second time. He will do it again before the revealing of the “sons”. He said this is Matthew 21:13 (ESV)
“13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
“Laser-focused” prayer will be the weapon in this nest season (Eph 6). We will see nations changed in a day through via a royal priesthood who engages in fervent, priestly prayer for the nations.
Secondly, Jesus never followed methods and formulas; He only did what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19). As we move into the season of the Kingdom of God, the biggest hurdle for the present day “Charismatic” and “evangelical” western church will be to rid themselves of the formulas, methodology and programs; “sacred cows” of the church age. Jesus never said that following Him was living by such. He said “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” John 10:27 (ESV).
John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord this way in Mathew 3:2
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
John did not say “the church age is at hand”. We must realize that in the Kingdom, there is only one king, and we are a “royal Priesthood” under the authority of the King according to both the Apostle Peter and the Apostle John. Jesus is the head of the church, not the pastor.
Jesus also made a startling statement in Luke 17:20-22 (KJV)
“And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.”
All you need is already within you; “the hope of glory” is already resident in your spirit. Imagine when the “sons of God” release the internal presence of Jesus in all its manifest glory! The day is approaching soon!!
Why is this transition necessary? Because the western church has become too much like the world. It has lost its effectiveness in the destruction of strongholds and principalities (Eph 6:12) and has become filthy with money and idols. We worship big name Pastors more than Jesus. That’s about to change in a big way. The Apostle Paul wrote this to the church of Rome; Romans 12:2 (ESV)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
God will have for Himself a chaste bride that will reflect His glory in the earth. It’s coming and I can hardly contain myself with excitement. I love Jesus more and more every day! Do you?
So, what is our posture as we move into the Kingdom? Live a life of love, repentance and humility. Spiritual maturity will not be about anointing and gifts. Maturity will be known by walking in humility, love and obedience. Therefore, we must allow the Lord to soften our hearts so that we respond to His voice immediately. Let love, not ambition for ministry be the rule of your life. It will not be enough to simply believe intellectually in Jesus and state that you’re a “Christian”. The mark of a true believer will be one who hears Jesus’ voice and “follows” the Lord in everything.
Parents, don’t teach your children how to be close to the world, teach them to hear Jesus’ voice. You might have been turned off by the church. I have been too! But knowing and loving Jesus will be your only hope to survive the falling away that is already begun in the earth. When all is exposed as it must be, there will be a huge falling away. Remember, “THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!!” Stay close to Jesus and adopt the attitude of what Paul said our attitude should be in Philippians 2:4-11 (ESV).
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“Lord! As we move into the age of “Your Kingdom”, may we be obedient to put off and release all the behaviors and methods of the “church age”. May we “put on Christ” and be obedient to your voice. We desire to be worthy and faithful “ambassadors” of the age which is to come, becoming a portal of the wonders and mysteries of God to restore all things to Jesus, our savior, redeemer and king. Most of all, our desire is to be faithful to Him, to His kingdom and to one another. May love for Jesus and one another be the motivation of our being!” In Jesus name, Amen!!”