In all my study and research of the scripture over the last few years, I have concluded that we are getting ready to come into an incredible “Golden Age”! If you study the patterns of scripture, the Lord never leaves His children without hope. Even when things seem the darkest, God is using it for His purposes. He always has a redemptive plan.
When Adam and Eve lost the innocence and glory in the Garden, God promised the coming of a redeemer.
When evil and wickedness so gripped the world during the time of Noah, God provided they Noah and his family would be preserved by the ark.
Even Joseph was vindicated years after he was betrayed by his brothers. The Lord used all the events of the world to set the stage for Joseph to provide for his family.
The nation of Israel was saved after 400 years of Egyptian captivity. In fact, they left Egypt with all of Egypt’s wealth and Pharoah with no slave labor to rebuild his nation after all the destruction following the 10 plagues. That’s why Pharoah pursued Israel only to be destroyed by drowning in the Red Sea.
Even the darkest three of days of history when Jesus was in the tomb, He was at work fulfilling His promises of setting the captives free. Jesus’ own words speaks of His destination to the repentant thief on the cross, Luke 23:43
“And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Some Christians believe, that after his death, Jesus’s soul went to heaven to be in the presence of the Father. But verse 23 doesn’t say that Jesus would be in the presence of God; it says he would be in the presence of the thief (“Today you will be with me in paradise”), and based on the Old Testament and Luke 16, it seems likely that the now-repentant thief would be at Abraham’s side, a place of comfort and rest for the righteous dead, which Jesus here calls “paradise.”
Following his death for sin, then, Jesus journeys to Hades, to the City of Death, and rips its gates off the hinges. He liberates Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, John the Baptist, and the rest of the Old Testament faithful, ransoming them from the power of Sheol (Psalm 49:15; 86:13; 89:49). They had waited there for so long, not having received what was promised, so that their spirits would be made perfect along with the saints of the new covenant (Hebrews 11:39-40;12:23).
The Apostle Paul refers to this in Ephesians 4:7-10 (ESV)
“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Meanwhile on the earth, his disciples were living in defeat and fear.
The last few years have been the most difficult in many ways. However, I believe we are set up to see God move in an unprecedented way. Study these scriptures and see if you don’t agree; Acts 2:17 (ESV),
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;”
Pentecost was a beginning, not a consummation. The second verse is Matthew 24:13-14 (ESV)
“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.”
The gospel of the kingdom will be preached to every nation in the earth. I believe this will coincide with the outpouring of the Spirit. The gospel is not about saying a prayer and being ready for heaven, the gospel is about the restoration of all things. Those that seek Him will have everything restored by the power of the Holy Spirit. The world is in a great restructuring and rebuilding behind the scenes that will soon be evident to all. Back a few years ago when we started to receive intel about things happening by the “white hats”, we had absolutely no idea of the scope of all that God was doing and how large it was. We have been in a World War III as the kingdom of light has been battling and winning over the kingdom of darkness. And we’re here to witness it all happen. Here is the scope and power of the blood and the kingdom, Luke 4:18019 (ESV)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
What’s our response to this? Don’t be discouraged by looking at all the negative stuff happening around you. Keep your eyes on Jesus and know that He is working behind the scenes to bring His purpose and promises to pass. I close with exhortation from Jesus in Luke 21:28 (ESV)
“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Keep looking up, the best is yet to come!, After all, Its in the pattern of scripture!