The Timely Work of The Holy Spirit

Three Stages of Blessing In The Spiritual Realm

 Message from Rev. Daniel Kim

 


As we read through the entire Bible, we find that the work of the Holy Spirit has been manifested in unique and diverse ways(Eccl. 3:1; Mt. 24:45-47; Acts 1:7-8). Even though God is one and the same Spirit, He has ministered in many different ways throughout the ages. The Bible testifies to the era of the Old Testament awaiting the Messiah to come and the time of the Advent of Jesus in Israel. The Bible testifies to the beginning of the New Testament Church with the promised Holy Spirit after the ascension of Jesus. The Bible also testifies to the new chapter of God's ministry in the end time that will be accomplished by the seven Spirits throughout the whole world prior to the visible Second Coming of Jesus Christ(Rev. 10:11, 4:5, 5:6).

I Would like to share God’s marvelous blueprint for those who are living in these last days. This is for those who are waiting for the Lord’s promise of His second Advent to be fulfilled. We will be guided by God's timely work and prepare for His coming and be equipped with His power and we will victoriously fight against the evil forces(Amos 3:7-8; Rev. 1:1, 2:26-29). I would like to focus especially on the timely work of the Holy spirit based on the Gospel message. I would like to discuss a timely message on ‘The Three Stages of Blessing in the Spiritual Realm’. I would tell how the entire Body of Christ will play a major role in the work of the Holy Spirit in carrying the Great Commission of Jesus to the whole world.

 

The First Stage of the Spiritual Realm

The beginning of the first stage of the spiritual realm is marked by the planting of the Gospel seed when Jesus came two thousand years ago and preached the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Israelites. It refers to His redemptive work and enables whoever repents and believes in Him to be saved and to enter into the Kingdom of God(Mt. 4:17, 23).

The central message of the Old Testament-the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms-testifies to Jesus Christ as the Messiah(Lk. 24:44). God assumed human form for the sake of the Israelites who had waited 4,000 years for the Messiah to come. Unfortunately, His own people did not accept Him. They became rebellious and rejected the blessing of the Gospel of the Kingdom through Jesus(John 1:10-11). Since they were so hardened by legalism and spiritually blinded, they could not recognize the Messiah who was the fulfillment of the law and the embodiment of the Gospel. Their spiritual dullness prevented them from discerning the things of the Spirit of God(Mt. 5:17). Consequently, they mocked Him and sinned against Him by crucifying the Son of God.

Accordingly Jesus rebuked their lack of spiritual perception by quoting Isaiah, "...By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed..."(Mt. 13:14-15).

 

1. Jesus' Words to their Spiritual Darkness

Jesus expressed to the disciples His sorrowful heart in this way. "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes"(Lk. 19:41-42, 11:31-36; Mt. 6:22-23).

To the religious leaders and people who strayed from the faith that God required and fell into formalism and hypocrisy, Jesus warned, "Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?... Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel... Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also"(Mt.23:16-26).

 

2. Israelites Sought Worldly Blessings

Jesus came to the world and desired above all else to reveal His spiritual blessing to the Israelites. However they did not follow the spirit and judged the words and the works of Jesus according to their worldly opinions(Mt. 12:7; Mk. 7:6-8).

The misguided spirituality of the Jews was illustrated by the Pharisees who judged the Kingdom of God by their secular views(Lk.17:20-21). Jesus says in His conversation with Nicodemus: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again"(John 3 :6-7). The Scripture teaches that they were seeking physical and temporal benefits. When they gathered together after witnessing the miracle of feeding the 5,000 people with the five loaves and two fish, Jesus said, "Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life..."(John 6:26-27).

If we become blind in the same way, we will not be able to discern the spiritual things that the Lord will do in the end time. We must stay awake in our prayers and keep our spiritual eyes open.

Let us not repeat what the people of Israel had done. We must not use our enthusiasm to thwart the ways of God in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Thus He exhorts us to be onh our guard and pray at all times(Mt. 24:42; Lk. 21:36).

 

3. Spiritual People a scarcity

The majority of the Israelites closed their spiritual eyes and turned against God's plan for their nation. However, there were the remnant people whose eyes were open and who longed for the coming Messiah. The Bible testifies that this was the case of godly people who were led by the Spirit to perceive the incarnation of Jesus. They welcomed Him and testified to His divine Sonship: Elizabeth(Lk. 1:41-43), Simeon(Lk. 2:25-32), Anna the prophetess(Lk. 2:36-38) and John the Baptist(John 1:29-32).

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting and was filled with the Spirit, she exclaimed, "...Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"(Lk. 1:42-43). Simeon likewise confessed his faith and blessed God by saying "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel"(Lk. 2:30-32). John the Baptist, who encountered the Son of God at Bethany, was moved by the Spirit and declared,"...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world"(John 1:29).

These spiritual men and women recognized, welcomed and testified to the Incarnate Lord because their spiritual perception was enhanced by the Holy Spirit. God searches in every generation for the faithful and the spiritually awakened to reveal His plans and the thing s to come.

 

4. Jesus: Model of Exemplary Prayer in ministry

Jesus spent 30 years training Himself for a three-year public ministry. It began when He went into the desert for 40 days of fasting. He overcame Satan's temptation there. After being fully immersed in the power of the Spirit, He began to proclaim the Kingdom of God(Mt. 4:1-11, 17; Mk. 1:12-15: LK. 4:1-2).

He preached the Good News and healed the sick during the day. Often He went alone to quiet places to pray during the night to renew the power of the Spirit(Lk. 5:15-16, 6:12; Mk. 1:35). He received revelation from the Father to deliver messages from God (John 12:49-50).

He constantly urged His disciples to pray(Lk. 21:36, 22:40, 18:1-8). He emphasized the power of the Spirit that comes through prayer and caused one to be a witness to the Gospel(Acts 1:8; John 20:22-23). Up to the moment of His crucifixion, Jesus prayed all night with great effort and His sweat became like great drops of blood. He lived the exemplary prayer life, demonstrating that there was no other way to win but through prayer(Mt. 26:38-39; Mk. 14:34-35; Lk. 22:40-44).

The lessons from the prayer life of Jesus must not just be limited to Him and His disciples as a record of history. It should be applied to all believers today. The first Adam, without a prayer in the Garden of Eden. sowed the seed of disobedience and fell before the temptation of the deceiving serpent. This happened in spite of having the abundant blessing of paradise provided by God. On the other hand, Jesus the Second Adam, with a prayer filled  life in the Garden of Gethsemane, sowed the spirit of obedience. He became the everlasting milestone of victory to the world even though He was rejected and persecuted by His
own people(Rom. 5:17).

 

5. The Holy Spirit: Spiritual Empowerment

The work of God and His spiritual life are made possible through the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus declared that He came to bring the fire of the Holy Spirit to the Israelites for their spiritual renewal and desired it to be kindled(Lk. 12:49). The sad news was Israel's devastated spiritual condition which was due to their sinful nature that looked for the natural restoration of the Kingdom. Even the disciples who always followed the Lord renounced their faith at crucial times because they were not spiritually prepared(Mt. 26:40-41, 72-74).

Knowing the formula of success, Jesus emphasized that they could overcome temptation only if they were fully attuned by prayer(Mk. 14:38; Lk. 22-45). They could perform divine tasks as apostles of Christ if they were properly equipped in the power of the Spirit(John 20:21; Acts 1:4-5).

The bible testifies that the key to victory in spiritual matters is to take heed of God and to pray persistently(Lk. 18:1-8; James 5:16-18; 2 Pet. 4:7). The purpose of spiritual armament is so that one can be totally controlled by the Holy Spirit. Our goal is to activate His power for the Great Commission in every mission field in the world. The King's Business does not depend on our own efforts nor on our strength, but on the power of the Spirit(Zec: 4;6). Since this is so, we need to be equipped with His Spirit to receive His revelation on how to complete His work. This creates triumphant witnesses.

In summary, God chose the Israelites. Jesus' incarnation and the Gospel of the Kingdom were based on spiritual blessings and our salvation. The Israelites decided to follow their own sinful desires. They chose the way of disobedience and faithlessness. The Lord expressed His disappointment for their lack of spirituality(Lk. 19:41). He warned strongly against the religious leaders who fell into formality and hypocrisy(Mt. 23:1-39). Though they were the chosen people, they rejected Christ and nailed Him to the cross because of their spiritual blindness.

The Israelites abandoned their God, despite their being the first to receive the blessing of spiritual birth into the Kingdom of the Lord(Mt. 8:11-12, 19:28, 23:37-39; Rom. 11:25).

We gentiles were under a curse and darkness without the covenants of God. When the Lord decreed after His resurrection that we would receive the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we became the Children of Light through Him(John 1:11-17). We were freed from the law of sin and death and we inherited the promise given to Abraham of spiritual blessing through Jesus(Rom. 8:1-3, 9). This is the grace of the Lord and the unconditional love of Christ for us.

Therefore christians are indebted to the love of Jesus(1 Pet. 2:9). This is the reason that our eyes should be opened to receive the revelation from God. We must be armed with the Holy Spirit so the Great Commission entrusted to us by Jesus be fulfilled. His Second Coming will come about through the proclamation of the Gospel to the whole world(Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:47-48; Acts 1:8, 20:24; Rom. 1:16-17).

In the next chapter we are going to discuss how different the apostles were after their infilling with the Holy Spirit. We will also see how the Lord opened a new and wonderful era of ministry through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Counselor.

 

The Second Stage of the Spiritual Realm

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth"(Acts 1:8).

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance"(Acts 2:1-4).

Although the disciples followed Jesus, their spiritual development was shallow because they did not pray fervently. They remained mere mortal men pursuing their fleshly desires in an earthly kingdom. They did not receive the revelation of the Kingdom of God and therefore they did not desire a spiritual kingdom. They were fearful and powerless even after the resurrection of Jesus(Mt. 28:16-17; Mk. 16:14). This was the sad spiritual condition of the disciples before they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Lord greatly emphasized the importance of prayer and baptism with the Holy Spirit.

To these weak disciples a monumental encounter with the Holy Spirit occurred when the 120 gathered and fervently prayed in the Upper Room. They were waiting for the promise of the Father that the risen Christ had mentioned before His ascension(Acts 1:4-5, 14, 2:1-4; cf. John 16:7). The disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit and they were transformed into new creations. This is the key of Christianity. It is the second stage of the spiritual realm from which the empowered disciples carried out the Great Commission preaching the Gospel of Grace.

For 2,000 years believers with the legacy of Pentecost have become powerful witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus christ to the Gentile nations. They have proclaimed that He is the Way of Salvation(Mk. 16:15-20; Acts 1:8, 4:33). This is the second blessing from the Spirit of Truth, the Counselor.

Now let us discuss how the Bible testifies to the Holy Spirit who empowers this wonderful and powerful ministry of the Gospel of Grace to the whole world. We will discuss who the Counselor is, what He does and what He speaks.

 

Who is the Holy Spirit, the Counselor?

1. He dwells permanently in the hearts of Christians

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ... but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you"(John 14:16-17).

 

2. He comes in the name of Jesus to teach

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you"(John 14:26).

 

3. He testifies about Jesus Christ

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning"(John 15:26-27).

 

4. He convicts the world of sin

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"(John 16:7-8).

 

5. He guides into truth and reveals things to come

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you"(John 16:13-14).

The Bible states the work of the Counselor is to dwell in the believer's heart. His work is to teach and cause people to understand the truth, to reveal things to come and to help testify of Jesus Christ. The Counselor is the mainspring of the ministry with the Gospel of grace and the energizer of world missions to the nations. He is the Third Person of the Godhead and has been the same Spirit from Pentecost until now.

 

What Did the Apostles Writes about the Counselor?

 

1. The Apostle John's Testimony

The Spirit of Truth testifies of Jesus through the water and the blood.

"Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one"(1 John 5:5-7).

The Spirit teaches truth through the anointing.

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him"(1 John 2:27).

 

2.  The Apostle Paul's Testimony

The Spirit of Christ frees from the law of sin and death.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.... For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit... But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his"(Rom. 8:1-9).

The Spirit Intercedes for the saint's weakness.

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God"(Rom. 8:26-27).

The Spirit reveals the deep mysteries of God.

"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God"( I Cor. 2;10).

 

3. The Apostle Peter's Testimony

The Spirit predicts the future.

"Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven..."(1 Pet. 1:11-12).

The Spirit raises up a royal priesthood.

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"(1 Pet.2:9).

The apostles received the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, as Jesus promised. Empowered by Him, they prayed through Him,walked with Him, received His revelation of things to come and testified about the Gospel of grace. He gave them an unshakable faith. This is the very result of the Counselor's ministry.

The Lord sent the Counselor to guide us to ask things we do not know and to obtain answers through prayer. We cannot accomplish by our own strength what is in His domain to do. Only by His Spirit can His work be achieved(Zec. 4:6; Jer. 33:2-3). This is the way we acknowledge that He alone is God who enables the weak to become strong, gives wisdom to the foolish and grants light to the dull.

 

How To Receive the Holy Spirit

The Scripture describes baptism in the Holy Spirit as a three-fold process. This is clearly outlined in the Book of Acts.

 

1. Through Earnest Prayer

When the 120 joined together in fervent prayer, trusting in the Lord's promise, the Holy Spirit came with dramatic signs and power(Acts 1:14, 2:1-4). As the Jewish authorities increased persecution of the believers, the church fervently prayed with one accord and was equipped with mighty power. Thus, the Word of God spread like ripples in a pond. The number of disciples increased rapidly as great manifestations of the Holy Spirit were given through prayer(Acts 6:7).

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"(Lk. 11:13).

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all"(Acts 4:31-33).

 

2. Through Hearing the Word of God

Cornelius was a godly man, a Roman Centurion who sought and revered God. He was generous to the poor, prayed regularly and was ready for the Gospel. As the Good News was opened to all people, the Lord touched those who desired to know Him and He sent Peter to Cornelius. When Peter preached the Word of God the Holy Spirit came on Cornelius' household. This incident helped the early church realize that the Gospel was for both Jews and Gentiles.

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God"(Acts 10:44-46).

 

3. Through Laying on of Hands

Peter and John laid hands on the Samaritans.

"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost"(Acts 8:14-17).

Ananias laid hands on Saul(Paul).

"And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost"(Acts 9:17).

Paul laid hands on the Ephesians.

"He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost... When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied"(Acts 19:2-6).

The Holy Spirit came on Christians and ministered to them through the Word of God, prayer and the laying on of hands, The methods are the same today, although centuries have passed, They are available to all people, in all places, at all times for the same purpose to endow those who minister with power.

 

Ministries of the Holy Spirit, the Counselor

 

1. The Ministry of Salvation of Soul through the Gospel of Grace

We join God's kingdom when we repent of sin and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. We are cleansed by the power of His atoning blood. His Holy Spirit delivers our souls as we hear the Gospel and believe in Jesus Christ(Acts 15:11, 16:31, 20:24). He helps others enter in and enjoy the same grace of salvation, when we share God's love and the goodness of Jesus with them(John 3:14-17, 13:34-35; Rom. 1:16-17).

 

2. The Ministry of the Former and Latter Rain

The former rain of the Holy Spirit caused the disciples to preach the Gospel all over the world after the ascension of Jesus(Acts 2:14-21; Joel 2:28). Its seed was sown in the soil of men's hearts and was cultivated and grew by the Spirit of God. He as the Latter Rain of the end time multiplies His power to expand the Kingdom of God throughout the whole world. He is ministering through His laborers today who are called into His vineyard and He is caring for the branches so they will produce fruit(James 5:7-9; Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-20; Act 1:8).

 

3. The Ministry of Indwelling

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Counselor came to care for and guide the disciples. Since that time He has dwelt in the hearts of believers and taught them the truth of Christ(John 14:16-20, 15:26-27, 16:7). He is a person with attributes. He reveals the will of the Lord to Christians.

 

4. The Ministry of Sealing Believers

God frees us from our sins by the precious blood of Jesus. He offers us eternal life, strengthens our faith and empowers us to declare the resurrection of Jesus. He causes us to serve as royal priests by sealing our hearts with the Holy Spirit(Eph. 1:13, 4:30; 2 Cor, 1:21-22; 2 Tim. 2:19; John 6:27; 2 Pet. 2:9).

 

5. The Ministry of Impartation

God gives us various supernatural gifts for edifying and serving each branch of the Body of Christ(Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:7-11). The purpose and function of the gifts are different but they are all from one Spirit. The Counselor helps us with diversities of gifts so we can build up one another and produce the fruits of the Spirit(1 Cor. 12:4; Eph. 4:3-6; Gal. 5:22-23).

 

6. The Ministry of Divine Healing

Divine healing and exorcism are two of the most remarkable manifestations of the Counselor. When the apostles obeyed the promise of Jesus and practiced his methods, dynamic healing power was demonstrated by sings and wonders. This happened because they simply and faithfully followed what the Lord said, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; ... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover"(Mk. 16:17-18).

Our God is the Master Healer(Ex. 15:26; Ps. 103:3). Jesus by His stripes and His blood paid the price for our spiritual, physical and emotional healing on the cross of Calvary(Is. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24). By the Holy Spirit we are made whole, strengthened and released from every infirmity(John 8:32; 3 John 1:2).

 

7. The Ministry of Spiritual Armor

Paul, Filled with the Spirit, proclaimed his faith in Christ, I can do every thing through Him who gives me strength(Phil. 4;13). He asserted that we as earthen vessels must put on the full armor of God to win spiritual battles and fulfill divine mandates.

He also exhorted us to pray always in the Spirit and with every kind of prayer(Eph. 6: 10-20; Rom. 8:26-27). The Counselor guides us as long as we remain in His will and enables us to boldly proclaim the mystery of the Gospel(1 Cor. 4: 1-2; Col. 4:2-4).

 

In summary, the second blessing in the spiritual realm is made possible by the Spirit of God. He is called the Counselor and the Spirit of Truth. Only through Him can we have spiritual insight, become mighty witnesses of Jesus and fulfill our mission effectively(John 15:26-27, 16:13-14; Acts 1:8). The Counselor takes the initiative to complete these endeavors.

The powerless disciples had no revelation or understanding, but became powerful ambassadors of Christ after being baptized with the Spirit of God. This manifestation of the power of the Spirit for over 2,000 years continues still. We are entering a time when many Bible prophesies are being fulfilled. To reap the harvest before the precious fruit drops during the time of the Great Tribulation, we must, as end time harvesters, be armed with the mighty power of God's Spirit and His end time truths.

In the next chapter we will discuss the distinctive ministry of the seven Spirits and the particular revelations and blessings the Lord uses to equip His end time servants.

 

The Third Stage of the Spiritual Realm

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches..."(Rev.22:16).

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand"(Rev.1:3).

"And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand"(Rev.22:10).

Through the Gospel of grace the fields of souls are ripened and are waiting for the harvesters of the last great crop. The Church, the Body of Christ, has to be alert and well equipped to prepare herself for the Great Tribulation. The church must prepare for the wrath and judgment that will come upon the whole word before the visible second coming of Jesus. God has prepared a special plan for equipping and blessing Christians in the last days. It is the ministry of the seven Spirits of God in the third stage of blessing in the spiritual realm.

This third stage blessing is the final plan of God designed for His end time servants. They will be especially equipped with a seven-fold portion of the Holy Spirit's power to enable them to overcome the satanic forces in the final spiritual warfare(Rev.1:4; 3:1, 4:5, 5:6). End time missionaries will be equipped with this spiritual authority of the seven Spirits. They will reach the whole world, proclaiming the end time message and God's sealing work. (Rev. 14:6-7, 14-16, 7:2-3).

Now we will learn about the marvelous work of God through His seven Spirits to prepare ourselves for the great spiritual revival. This also is the tremendous harvest and the warfare against the forces of darkness.

 

The Work of the Seven Spirits in the Book of Revelation

We know that God is One. We also believe that the Trinity, consisting of The Father(He Who is and who was and Who is to come), the Son(Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords), and the Holy Spirit (the Seven Spirits of God) is the source of all truth(Rev. 19:11).

While the identity of the seven Spirits of God, referred to four times in the book of Revelation, has been unclear to most of us, the ministry of the Seven Spirits is basically unknown to the Church(Rev. 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6). God's purpose was to have John write the book of Revelation to disclose this secret, not to keep it hidden. I believe with the help of His seven ministering Spirits we will be able to understand the overall and deeper works of God(Is. 11:2-3).

 

1. Full Revelation Unveiling from the Throne of God

"John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;"(Rev. 1:4).

John addressed the seven churches in Asia Minor in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He described the name of the Holy Spirit as, "the seven Spirits before the throne of God".  In Revelation the number seven symbolizes the perfection and completion of God's work. Upon Christ's return, God's plan of salvation will accomplish the full restoration of all things that were lost because of Adam's disobedience. He will establish a new heaven and a new earth which will enable us to enter the Holy City, New Jerusalem(Rev. 21:5, 22:3-5, 13).

 

2. Full Revelation of Jesus

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead"(Rev. 3:1).

When Jesus was to begin His public ministry in Israel, the first thing that happened was the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove during His baptism(Mt. 3:16). After His ascension, He is seen sitting on the right side of the throne of God and working with the Seven Spirits, He is holding the seven starts in His hands which refer to the end time servants of God(Rev.3:1, 5:6, 2:28). They are the faithful, the called and the chosen for the preparation of His return. They will be faithful to the work of the Lord even to the point of death. Jesus embraces them by the seven Spirits, shielding them from evil forces and guiding them to His full revelation(Rev. 17:14, 6:11, 2:10, 12:11).

 

3. Full Revelation of the lamp of God

"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God"(Rev. 4:5).

Lighting and thunder speak of God's dreadful wrath. His plagues and judgment are intended for all the wickedness that has been done on earth. God reveals His plan of severe judgment of the world by means of His seven Spirits.

 

4. Global Revelation of Jesus

"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth"( Rev.5: 6).

Jesus is the Lamb of God,the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of  David. He proved Himself worthy to break the seals and open the scroll as He was perfect in His obedience to God. He had proved Himself by dying on the cross for the sins of the world, rising from the dead and demonstrating His power and authority over evil and death. As He breaks the seals Hs reveals God's plan for the end of world in the little scroll.

"But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets"(Rev. 10:7).

Jesus is interceding for us at the right hand of God with authority and power to conquer the forces of sin, death and Satan. He destroys all of Satan's forces with His seven horns. He supervises with His sevens eyes searching all conditions throughout the world and ruling over them.

The work of the seven horns and the seven eyes is the mighty ministry of the seven Spirits of God. Their work is the anointing with spiritual authority so that all the end time missionaries be instructed and equipped to prepare for the second coming of Jesus. Even now the Lord desires to make known His full revelation by the seven Spirits to all His saints and servants(Rev. 14:6-7, 17:14, 19:14-16).

 

God's Word to the Church through the Seven Spirits of God
 
While all the other disciples had finished their races and laid down their lives for the Lord, John was banished to Patmos to live in isolation. He received amazing visions and revelations from Jesus during this times of exile and profound prayer. The Lord personally visited him and laid hands on him because of the importance of  His revelation and showed him secret things to come through the seven Spirits(Rev. 1:9-20).

 

Satan's Strategy Hindering Christ's Return

 

1. Satan's Deception and Goal

Satan's primary intentions are to deceive, deprive, destroy and murder. Then he plans to steal the glory that rightfully belongs to God. Lucifer, once positioned as an archangel,attempted to usurp the throne of God(Is. 14:12-14; Jude 1:6). He appeared in the garden of Eden as the Serpent and tempted Adam and Eve to sin(Gen. 3:1-6; John 8:44). He even came to rule over the heavenly realm of fallen angels and principalities of the world(Eph. 2:2; Rev. 12:7-8). Then he came to Jesus during His 40 days of fasting in the desert and tempted Him(Mt. 4:1-11).

We believe that the devil is completely defeated by the precious, atoning Blood of Jesus offered for all on the cross(Col. 2:15; Gen. 3:15). The Kingdom of God, however, is not fully established on earth until Jesus' return. Satan, the defeated foe, was ousted from heaven. Now he opposes God by taking control of evildoers and manipulating them to do his will.

Therefore the scriptural mandate is not only that the task of the redeemed is to serve the Lord but also to engage the enemy in spiritual warfare(Eph. 6:11-12, 2:2; Lk. 10:19; Rev. 6:3-11, 12:3-4, 7-17, 13:1-18, 16:13-14).

 

2. The Lord's Mandate for Spiritual Warfare

The Book of Revelation is one of the most detailed and intensive books in the Bible, describing fierce spiritual warfare and giving a full account of Satan's evil activities. It clearly exposes his methods and shows how he arms his army with spiritual power and demonic authority. He opposes God and works against God's people who have the testimony of Jesus Christ(Rev. 13:4-7, 15, 17:13).

"Know your enemy and know yourself to be victorious." This proverb teaches us that we need to know the methods and strategy of our enemy. Then we can engage victoriously in key high level spiritual battles against the power of Satan. For this reason, especially, the Lord reveals Satan's plans to us. He exhorts us to be fully armed with His mighty weapons. They are the sword of truth, which is the Everlasting Gospel, and the shield of faith which is the seal of the Living God. Also he issues orders through the seven Spirits that we may fight the enemy and overcome him.

He directs the war against the woman on the beast.

The woman on the beast represents the worldwide religious powers that have strayed from the truth. She sheds the blood of the saints(Rev. 17:5-6) and acts in the unity with the forces of the beast. These forces are the idolatrous government systems and the false prophets that stand against God and His people on the earth(Rev. 17:7). The Bible assures us that Jesus and those vitally joined with Him will be victorious over the power of the beast.

"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful"(Rev. 17:14).

He commands the battle against the unholy Trinity.

One of the characteristics of Satan is to oppose God's deity. In the Trinity there is the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. Satan appears as a false trinity to rebel against the Godhead. He is called the ancient serpent, the Devil and Satan(Rev. 12:9). He is also called the Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet. Three frog-like unclean spirits come out of the mouths of the unholy trinity(Rev. 16:13-14). He is symbolized as the red horse, the black horse and the pale horse(Rev. 6:3-8); the Angel of the Abyss, Abaddon and Apollyon(Rev.9:11); and the mark 666(Rev. 13:18). In these last days, since Satan is building up his forces for battle, we will be able to subdue his evil forces only by arming ourselves with the truth of God, his power and the spirit of martyrdom.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death"(Rev. 12:11).

He commands the battle against idolatry.

Satan's final temptation in the wilderness was to suggest that Jesus worship him. It was presented under the guise of offering Him the splendor of all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus' answer to Satan was the same as the end time message in the Everlasting Gospel commanding that "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve"(Mt. 4:10; Rev. 14:7).

The main goal of Satan, the beast and his image is to rob the glory and honor that is due God, but they will all be destroyed by Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. In His visible second coming, Jesus will ride a white horse, tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of the Almighty, and overthrow the lawless one with the breath from His mouth. Also He will pronounce judgment on the wicked from His white throne(Rev. 14:9-11, 19:2, 11-16; 2 Thes. 2:8).

The servants and saints of the last days must fully equip themselves with unshakable faith in Jesus and the power of the Holy spirit. They will then be able to discern Satan's tactics that hinder the worship of God, and defeat the adversary's power under the guidance and instruction of the seven Spirits.

"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters"(Rev. 14:7).

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus"(Rev. 14:12).

He commands the battle against the forces of Satan.

According to the Bible, Satan falls from his place in heaven and later comes up from the Abyss to slander God and attack His saints(Lk. 10:19; Rev. 12:7-8, 11:7, 9:1-3, 20:1-3, 7-9). He also appears on the multi-dimensional stage: He is seen establishing a united front, entering world governments and counterfeit religious systems. He is also seen taking over principalities and the wicked and manipulating them to achieve his plans against God(Rev. 13:1-18, 6:15-17, 21:8).

All members in the Body of Christ, therefore, must be overcomes and make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. They must become a threefold cord in Christ, building a strong base for spiritual warfare against the foes who are visible and invisible(Eph. 4:3, 6:11-17; Eccl. 4:9-12).

He commands victory over all forms of evil.

One of the most fiercely invisible battles in this world is the fight for the souls of human beings. Satan's Strategy is to degrade value systems and pollute human hearts with atheistic thoughts and moral depravity and hinder God's plan of salvation. For this purpose Satan is not only establishing his strongholds but also is expanding his territory into all areas of the earth as described below:

In this way Satan attempts to exercise his influence over all the areas mentioned above. As we carry out the Great Commission of our Lord, each of these  areas will be a front line of spiritual warfare. As soldiers of Jesus Christ, we establish His Kingdom on earth by seizing the territories of Satan. We do not have to fear the enemy even though he seems to be great and powerful. Victory is assured if we stand against him under the command of the omnipotent God and His perfect seven Spirits.

 

Spiritual Warfare Through Prayer
        
The Bible teaches that we should submit to God and resist the devil(James 4:7-8; 1 Pet. 5:8-9). We should engage in effective spiritual warfare against the enemy. We need to understand the spiritual dynamics of his tactics. Since he is at work visibly as well as invisibly, we can set him back not by our own might, but only by the power of the Spirit. The end time saints, therefore, must come under the control of the Spirit. They must be kept alert by ceaseless prayer and equipped with His empowering Word. Then they will be able to overthrow the Devil in spiritual warfare(Eph. 6:10-19; 1 Pet. 5:8-9; 2 Cor. 10:4-5; Rev. 12:11). Constant prayer is another way of joining the battle. Christians must become great warriors offering prayer without ceasing to the throne till the Day of the Lord(Lk. 18:1-8, 21:33-36; Rev. 8:3-4). Now let us find how to fight for the Lord.

 

1. Utilize the Might of Prayer
        
Christians are called upon and have responsibility for the battle against the powers of darkness. Whether they want to or not, God has given them this charge. One of the most often used basic strategies of Satan is to prevent the saints from praying, to keep them weak and helpless, and not let them enter into a deeper prayer life. This tactic must be resisted diligently. When Christians pray, they should do spiritual battle with real and specific prayer concerns. They should be led by the Spirit, get clear direction and have their spiritual eyes open. God's strategy is to command His consecrated ones with detailed instructions and raise up prayer champions. He is marshaling His forces for the final spiritual battle(Is. 13:3-4, 62:1-4; 2 Tim. 2:3-4).

"I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle"(Is. 13:3-4).

 

2. Utilize the Weapons of God
        
The most powerful weapon in spiritual warfare is prayer. It gives access to God's authority and is also a powerful weapon to bind the enemy's forces(James 5:16-18). God has reserved mighty weapons for His army to use in war. I would like to discuss these weapons which are both supernaturally effective and essential in spiritual battle. I pray that you will have a lear knowledge of the power of each weapon and sing triumphantly as you use them in faith on your battlefields.

The authority of the blood of Jesus
Jesus has already paid the price required for spiritual warfare by the shedding of His precious blood and bearing our infirmities and transgressions on the cross of Calvary. He has also freed us from the bondage of sin, disease and death through His resurrection(Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8). Christians are privileged to call on the authority of His shed blood and on His authoritative name in spiritual warfare. The devil is stopped short by the powerful working of the blood of Jesus(Phil. 2:9-11; Rom. 8:37; 1 John 5:4-5).

Authority of the word of truth
Our faith is in the Lord who created the entire universe by His Word. The Bible attests that the Word is a living, powerful and authoritative weapon sharper than a two-edged sword(Heb.4:12; Prov. 30:5). We trust the written Word of God and proclaim the given 'Rhema' Word revealed by the Lord when we ask for it in prayer. His life-giving Word and supernatural power frees the prisoners from the forces of darkness and releases the power of God(John 8:32).

 

As ambassadors of our Lord on this earth, we have the right to apply the authority of His Word in practical ministries. We should be able to acquire expanded territory, as a result of victories over the enemy, to the Lord our King(1 Tim. 4:5; John 17:17).

 

Full armament and absolute implementation

Paul, an expert in spiritual warfare, presents in detail vital elements that warriors need to use by illustrating the parts of the armor that the Roman soldiers wore in battle(Eph. 6:10-17). By putting on the full armor of God, we can not only be protected from the fierce attack of Satan, but also pull down strongholds and take possession of the gates of hell(2 Cor. 10:4-5).

End time Christians, especially, are given fully adequate tools for victory. Only when they are fully armed with the end time messages in the Everlasting Gospel can they have that victory. They end time shield with the seal of God and the end time supernatural power of the seven Spirits of God are also used for victory(Rev. 14:6-7, 7:2-3, 5:6).

Fasting

By fasting 40 days and by being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, our Lord Jesus defeated Satan's temptation in the desert. After that He began His public ministry(Mt. 4:1-11). He taught His disciples the importance of fasting when they confessed to their failure to drive out evil spirits. He said, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting"(Mt. 17:21; Mk. 9:29) The prophet Daniel also gained victory in spiritual warfare by fasting for three weeks(Dan. 10:1-21).

Fasting is an exercise in self-denial for spiritual strength, to restrain from fleshly desires and to give our whole being as a living sacrifice to the Lord. When we utilize the method of fasting that pleases God. He enables us to fight a good fight more effectively. Fasting binds the adversary's power, but releases the Lord's power(Mt. 18:18-19; Is. 58:6-9).

"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?"(Is. 58:6).

Authority of the iron scepter

The church in Thyatira represents a church that was spiritually depraved by a harlot spirit. It was pictured as a false prophetess like Jezebel who led the Lord's servants into fornication and idol worship. The Lord provided the authority of the iron scepter for His people so they could overcome counterfeit religions.

This iron scepter is not a metallic instrument but signifies the authority of God's Word. It is an indispensable weapon especially for prayer warriors in the end time so they can gain supremacy over the enemy. They need to extend a hand to the unreached throughout the world and reap a final harvest before the Lord's return.

"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father"(Rev. 2:26-27).

Authority to reign and judge

Jesus, the Chief Judge of all, calls us to be kings and judges. He grants us authority of kingship and judgeship to reign over His kingdom with Him(Rev. 20:4-6; 2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6). As we are participating in the battle for the great King Jesus, we must use our God-given authority in spiritual warfare to put every creation and adversary under His control.

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them... they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years"(Rev. 20:4-6).

Authority through hands raised in prayer

Exodus 17 records an amazing success story about Moses. Joshua, a general of the Israelite army, led the attack against the Amalekites at the battle of Rephidim. Moses raised his hands in prayer for his forces while Joshua was fighting against the enemy. His intercession for his army resulted in divine intervention and something monumental happened. Whenever Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed. Whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek prevailed. So Aaron and Hur stood by Moses' side and held has hands up. Joshua conquered the Amalekites and there was a tremendous victory. Likewise, we need to "lift up the hands" of our spiritual leaders and warriors who are at the front lines of spiritual battles. Then we can also praise the Lord with the battle drum of victory.

Satan's primary concerns and goals are to hinder Jesus' return to the earth. He wants to distract the saints, keep them from prayer and stop them from establishing the Lord's Kingdom on earth. Satan knows his destiny and that he will be thrown into eternal destruction upon Jesus' return. So he never rests from his maneuvers on the spiritual battle field.

We are not fighting alone because Jesus Christ is commanding innumerable companies of angels. They will join forces with us to help carry our mission. If our spiritual eyes are opened by the seven Spirits of God, we can be fully assured about this(Rev. 19:11-16, 12:7-8; Heb. 1:14; Dan. 10:13, 12:1; 2 Kings 6:15-17).

We, the army of the Lord, should make the most of our God-given weapons as they are fully backed by the Bible. We can break through the enemy lines. We can crush the enemy's strong hold that is standing against the Kingdom of God being established on earth(Rev. 11:15).

 

Reward of Blessings for Overcomers

To establish the kingdom of the Lord requires sweat, tears, labor and even martyrdom by those who are branches of the body of Christ. Christians must be faithful workers serving the Lord in every way(2 Cor. 6:1; 1 Cor. 4:1). How can a farmer expect a fruitful and abundant harvest in his vineyard if he has not taken care of the vines(Gal. 6:7)? After his hard toilsome labor, he will rejoice with great shouts of joy as he reaps a bountiful harvest(Ps. 126:5).

To overcomers who wage war against God's enemy who is hindering the final harvest, the Lord promises amazing blessings such as:

 

1. Fruit from the Tree of Life

Satan knew that Adam and Eve would live forever of they ate from the tree of life in the garden of Eden. So he enticed them to commit sin against God by eating the forbidden fruit. They ate the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, so they were evicted from Eden. At His second coming the Lord will restore this lost paradise and reward overcomers with the blessing of eating from the Tree of Life(Rev. 2:7).

 

2. A Crown of Life

The Lord never promised His faithful ones that they would be excluded from suffering or persecution. On the contrary, He encourages them to set their eyes on Him and bear suffering for Him. He promises the crown of life for those who are faithful to death. He will share His throne with them for a thousand years then He returns as the King of kings(Rev. 2:10, 20:4).

 

3. Freedom from the Second Death

All who experience physical death will be resurrected to stand before the judgement seat of God. They will be judged according to their faith and their deeds. The righteous will be resurrected to eternal life with the Lord, but the wicked will be cast into eternal punishment which is the second death(Rev. 2:11, 20:12-15; Mt. 25:46).

 

4. Hidden Manna

God provided manna for the Israelites when they journeyed with Moses to the promised land(Ex. 16:13). This was a supernatural provision and Jesus, the Bread of Life, will furnish the end time saints with hidden manna. While they go through the tribulation toward the millennial Kingdom, He will give them miraculous sustenance(Rev. 2:17).

 

5. The White Stone

David, and adolescent with unshakable faith in God, confronted a great challenge in the Valley of Elah. He defeated the giant Goliath with a smooth stone in a sling(1 Sam. 17:40-54). Jesus, the everlasting Living Stone, will give His hand-picked troops a white stone with a new name. The word of Truth for the end time is that they will conquer all idolatrous powers on earth. Whatever hinders the second coming of Jesus will be removed by the Lord's power through His saints. This refreshes the heart of the Lord(Dam. 2:31-35; Is. 13:3-4).

 

6. Authority of the Iron Rod

Overcomers will be given the authority of the iron rod, a ruling scepter. They will engage in a death struggle with the power of the harlot and will vanquish it(Rev. 2:25-27).

 

7. The Morning Star

Jesus, the bright Morning Star, will make overcomers into morning stars. He will cause them to shine brilliantly when the night is coldest and darkest before dawn. He, as the righteous Sun, will use them to prepare for His glorious return(Rev. 2:28, 22:16; Is. 60:1-3).

 

8. The White Linen

Those who are steadfast in the Lord will be dressed in white garments and walk with Jesus. They will be set apart for the Lord and will be kept pure(Rev. 3:4-5, 19:18).

 

9. Recorded in the Book of Life

Even though there will be tremendous sufferings for those who refuse to worship the idol and the beast, the Lord will honor them by recording their names in the book of life. He will usher them into the city of god and acknowledge them before the Father and the angeles(Rev. 3:5, 13:8, 21:22-27; Is. 62:2).

 

10. Pillars in the Temple of God

Those who overcome the difficulties and faithfully complete their divine tasks, Jesus will make pillars in the Temple of God. He will inscribe the Name of God, have the name of the New Jerusalem and His own name on them(Rev. 3:12).

 

11. Resident of the New Jerusalem

In Genesis, Satan appears to be triumphant. Tears are shed with deep sorrow for the sin that has entered the world. The garden and the earth are cursed. Paradise is lost and people are condemned to death. In the book of Revelation, Satan is defeated and sin is eliminated. There are no more tears or sorrow. The City of God is glorified and the earth is renewed. Paradise is regained, death is defeated and believers five forever with God. The overcomers enter the New Jerusalem, the new world that God has restored(Rev. 21:1-7, 22:1-7).

 

12. The Seal of the living God

One of the amazing blessings for end time servants is that the Seal of the Living God is put on their foreheads. they will be supernaturally protected by the Lord during the tribulation period(Rev. 7:2-3). These sealed servants will boldly proclaim the Everlasting Gospel to the whole world: Jesus is the coming King of glory. They will serve Him as the righteous, the prophets, the apostles and the martyrs preparing for His visible return to Earth(Rev. 14:1, 22:4; Ez. 9:4; Rev. 17:14, 19:11-16).

Moreover the overcomes will keep their faith with Jesus until the end. They will be rewarded with all the blessings promised in the book of Revelation.

 

End Time Missionaries: Ministries with the Seven Spirits of God

 

1. The Ministry of Prophecy Again

One of the most distinctive ministries of the seven Spirits of God is to prophesy again(Rev. 10:11, 1:3). This ministry has several phases:

 

2. The Ministry of Watchman

There will be a Great Tribulation prior to Jesus' return that included seven plagues with seven trumpets, seven bowls of God's wrath and His judgment. All immature faith during this time of distress will be shaken by the tornado like great tribulation unprecedented in the history of mankind. Therefore, the seven Spirits will warn and prepare the saints for the imminent and great disasters that are approaching(Rev. 7:2-3, 8:13, 13:, 15-18; Ex. 33:1-9; Jer. 6:17-19).

 

3. The Ministry of Harvester

End time missionaries will labor to develop fruit and reap a harvest through the seven Spirits as they go into the fields of ripened grain that have been sown upon the whole world by the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, who came on the day of Pentecost(Rev. 5:6, 14:1-7, 14-16; Deut. 11:14-15; Joel 2:23; Acts 2:17).

 

4. The Ministry of Battle for Christ's  Return
  
Revelation says that those who will overcome their trials and tribulations and keep their faith in the lord will be blessed. They will be rewarded with all that God has promised in the Bible(Rev. 2-3). Jesus will fight with the sword of His mouth against all forms of sin not yet confessed and repented of(Rev. 2:16). The rider on the white horse will go out conquering and to conquer the other three riders of the red, black and pale horses in the book of Revelation(Rev. 2:8, 19:11). The army of the Lamb will prevail over the forces of Satan. They will fight for the Lord without fear and without sparing their lives(Rev. 17:14, 6:9-11).

 

5. The Ministry of Measuring the Temple

The two witnesses, empowered by the seven Spirits, will measure the temple of God and the worshipers in it with a measuring rod. It represents the Word of God that is used to separate the wheat from the chaff(Rev. 11:1-2; Zec. 2:1-2).

 

6. The Ministry of Revealing Secrets

Like the two mighty prophets in the Old Testament, Moses and Elijah, God's two appointed witnesses will perform powerful and miraculous works. They will have authority to shut the sky, so that no rain will fall during the day of their prophesying. They will proclaim the secrets of the little scroll worldwide, and they will have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague. They will be able to do this as often as they desire. They will glorify God with their lives by accepting martyrdom(Rev. 10:2-3, 11:3-6).

 

7. Full Armor and Complete Ministry in the Authority of God

The Devil of the world is equipped with power and authority he usurped to fight God's servants in the last days(Rev. 9:10, 13:1-18). End time missionaries will be able to carry out their divine missions and win the victory only if they are fully armed with the supernatural power of God. The Spirit of God will equip and work for His servants with the seven-fold authoritative Spirit in order to complete the redemption of man through Jesus Christ.

Therefore end time missionaries will be empowered by the seven Spirits to witness to the Everlasting Gospel and the seal of the Living God. They will strike the scoffers who hinder the Second Coming of the Lord. They will be rewarded with the crown of righteousness, the crown of life and the crown of glory on the day of His return. To recognize these timely works of God and to perceive the underlying characteristics of Satan and complete the Great Commission, our spiritual eyes must by opened through the seven Spirits of God(Rev. 2:26-27, 14:6-7, 7:2-3; 2 Pet. 3:3-4; 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Pet. 5:4; Rev. 2:10).

 

Conclusion

We are the chosen and privileged generation who are entrusted with the precious task of gathering the final harvest through the greatest spiritual awakening in history. This will occur before the visible second coming of Jesus Christ.  We are also called the recruited army of the Lord. We are living under a state of spiritually heightened tension caused by the final round of war against Satan. He is hell-bent on delaying and hindering Jesus' return.

God hears and answers the request of His servants when they pray earnestly in faith. The prayers that the Christ-centered, Spirit-filled and Word-based are not only essential, but are also a most powerful key in fulfilling the will of God on earth. Jesus, the Great High Priest, wants all christians to be faithful in the ministry of intercession and the performance of effectual war-like prayer in faith. He wants us to make the most of the spiritual authority and weapons He has given us to use as His ambassadors.

The will of the Lord is to open our spiritual eyes to His end time blueprint for the Body of Christ by the seven Spirits of God. Then all of us can arrive at unity of faith and the knowledge of the son of God. We can arrive at mature manhood and the stature of full-grown men in Christ. He trusts and expects us to be fully equipped with His power and perform His great Commission on earth. For this reason He clothes us with spiritual might so we can effectively participate in His redemptive work until the day of His visible return.

There are numerous books published on the subject of the Holy Spirit, but very few focus exclusively on the end time ministries or the revelations of the seven Spirits of God. I trust the Lord that the seven-fold Spirit is taken seriously and becomes a central figure in the spiritual realm so the ministries of the Body of Christ will be revitalize. I hope that this message is a mighty eye-opener and will inspire the Church to wake up. For that purpose I have here simply provided a starting point from which to build on.

I sincerely pray that all the servants and the saints will perceive the work of the seven Spirits in these last days; that by asking in prayer they will be fully equipped; that they will apply themselves to the harvest ministry.  As a result, a great spiritual revival and awakening will explode by His seven-fold ministry and will cover the whole world. This is my utmost prayer these days, for this is what the Lord revealed to me as He commanded me to share with the Body of christ. If there is any misunderstanding or error, it is due to my lack of perception or lack of skill in delivering this message, not because of His revelation.

I am praying that all end time missionaries will be revitalized by the three-stage messages in the spiritual realm as their spiritual eyes are opened wide through the seven Spirits. As they proclaim the Everlasting Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Good News of the seal of the Living God will be heard by the whole world. Then the way will be paved for the visible Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Lord, disclose all the secrets that show what you will do in these last days through the Seven Spirits; and fulfill your plan for mankind as promised and prophesied in the Bible; and receive all glory through it. Amen.

 

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"(Amos 3:7-8).

"Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not"(Jer. 33:2-3).

"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth"(Rev. 5:6).

"...And he said unto me, ... worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy"(Rev. 19:10).

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen"(Rev. 22:20 - 21).

 

As you read this, please pray fervently that the Seven Spirits of God will guide you to the end time blessings in the Everlasting Gospel, the Seal of the Living God and the secret of truth in three stages(Amos 3:7; Jer.33:2-3; Rev. 2:17; 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6; 19:10).

When God reveals this to you, please share what God has shown you. I am eager to get to know you and would like to share the wonderful blessings of God with you soon.  

 

ⓒ 2000 International Everlasting Gospel Mission, Inc. E-Mail comments to Webmaster