THE END TIME

AYOMIKUN C. ADENIRAN FEBRUARY 2012

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INTRODUCTION
We live in a world filled with disturbances, discrepancies and uncertainties. Yet, one thing remains sure and certain the Word of God. Surely the grass withers and the flower falls but the Word of our God stands forever. Everything that is built upon the sands of time will eventually be gone and erased. Only those things that have the Word as their foundation will remain for all of time and eternity. In the word, we read of several men and women and how they lived their lives, either in anticipation of their end or of the coming of the Lord, as well as the events and circumstances that surrounded them as they sought to redeem their time on earth. The Bible declares that all these things

happened to them as examples; and it is written for our warning on whom the ends of the world have come. We who live in the time of the end are greatly privileged yet also have a great
responsibility. Whereas all of creation eagerly awaits this ultimate generation that will usher in the coming of our Lord (which we are privileged to be a part of), it behoves us to discover the nature of the times we are in and what we, the Israel of God, ought to do. This book gives a prophetic insight into these matters. Hence, we focus on three(3) major themes in the book: +Discerning the state of things in the world and especially in the Lords Body. +Discerning what the Israel of God ought to do. +Discerning our Lords return and our place in it. In the first chapter, we take a look at the state of things in the world as evidenced by all the ongoings around us. The several tsunamis, earthquakes, civil unrests, political mayhems in different nations indicate the fulfilment of several prophecies by men of God including Daniel and even Jesus Himself. However, our concern is not with the world but with the Zion of God that dwells in her midst. In the second chapter, we discover the present state of the church and focus specifically on the characteristics of these times manifest in her. As we do this, we seek to discern the Lords Body, not in order that we may stand as a ruler and judge over her, but instead that we may beware of every unwholesomeness in her midst and alert others of this situation. In the third chapter, we take a detailed look at the parable of the ten virgins and the implications for the church at this present time. There are several rooms that we need to enter into by the Spirit and allow His working in our lives. It is only then that we can be the spotless and blameless Bride, fitting to be presented unto Him, who is both our Head and Groom. The fourth chapter is the major emphasis in the book. The sons of Isaachar, were in their day unique, not only because they could decipher the times and the seasons, but also because they properly interpreted these for the benefit of all Israel. Hence, their brethren were at their command. Thus, we see by the light of the Spirit, the expectation of God in revealing the times and the seasons to us. It is not to show off neither is it for the purpose of oppressing Gods heritage rather it is for her awareness and edification, that she may know the truth and live by it.

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Lastly, in the fifth chapter, we see our Lord in His return to the earth, coming on the clouds, to reign both as King and Judge of all. Moreover, He comes with a reward in hand for every man and for every work and deed done in the Body. It is our desire that the Lord will help us to be prepared for His appearing and to continually look forward to it even as we live our lives in the light of His Light. There are several reasons why books such as this are written. May we clearly state at this juncture that this work in your hands is not a product of some mans creative thinking but rather a result of a burden on Gods heart for the Body of Christ at this time. Thus, it should be read and treated as such. Whereas we do not claim it to be perfect and without any errors, we make bold to say that we are only channels of the Central theme and message of the Book, which is entirely His. It is our prayer that, as you read through prayerfully and with an open heart, the Lord will, by His Spirit, open your eyes to behold wondrous things and grant you the grace to see and to do what He would have you do. We are nothing but recipients of His mercy and channels of His grace. In His service, A.C. Adeniran October 2011.

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CHAPTER 1
THE END OF THE AGE
And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world? (Matt. 24:3) And teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age. (Matt. 28:20) The world today is characterised by a lot of events and happenings. While some are good and healthy, others are dangerous and even disastrous. Many inventions have come up in several fields of human endeavour. Truly, and more evidently in our days, we see the fulfilment and reality of these scripture verses:

The heavens, even the heavens, are Jehovah's; but the earth He has given to the sons of men. (Psa. 115:16) The heaven of heavens is for GOD, but he put us in charge of the earth. (Psa 115:16) (MSG) Lo, this only I have found, that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions. (Eccl. 7:29)

Thus, we see that in these times, man has found a way of inventing and creating so many things, some deliberately, others by accidental discovery. In all of these, one thing seems to stand out clearly the world seems to be moving at an increasing rate, spinning towards an inevitable end. From the stone age, man moved to the computer(or information) age and now we are in the jet age. Science evolutionists postulate that man first appeared as Homo Habilis(primitive man) from which he evolved into Homo Erectus(upright man) and finally the Homo Sapiens (man with intelligence) evolved. Notwithstanding the falsity of the claim, one unspoken conclusion in this theory is the fact that man is headed for an ultimate end from which no further species will evolve. Even in church history, there has been the Pentecostal age, then the dark ages followed, after which the church experienced several moves, renaissance and revivals e.g. the Welsh revival, the Azusa street revival etc. Consequently, several denominations and denominational groups were birthed the Baptist, Methodist, Anglican, Pentecostal and Charismatics, to mention a few. Gradually, the church is winding up her stay on the earth as she expects her Lords return and the worlds end. Consequently, it is important that we consider all that our LORD had to say as touching the end of the age, its unique characteristics and the implications for us all. Several studies and approaches have been taken as touching this matter. We, however, trust God not to do a scholarly, man-pleasing treatise but instead to receive of Him the burden on His heart for us in this very hour.

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VARIOUS NOTIONS ABOUT THE END OF AGE

There are several groups with different notions about the future of our world and the close of the age. Most of us have heard of theories that postulate that the world will either be submerged by water or consumed by fire ultimately. Some Pseudo-Christian groups talk of inheriting the earth after others have been judged. Many religions believe in a day of judgement coming soon which only God knows, in which good will be rewarded and bad judged, righteous men congratulated but evildoers condemned. There are some however who believe in incarnation and reincarnation. For these, life is not singular but plural, in the sense that a man who lives and dies today may tomorrow return to live as a human or an animal depending on the nature of the previous life he lived. This chain they believe will continue indefinitely. For this category of people, the issue of the end of the age may be of little or no importance to them. Then, there are also a minority who, perhaps foolishly, believe that things will forever continue the way they are (either by their spoken words or unspoken actions and behaviour). It may be proper to so address them because even nature itself, coupled with history, teaches that the only constant thing in life is change. Whereas several of these notions are wrong, one thing that almost all agree on is that there is a time limit for the earths inhabitants as well as the earth itself. Since existenc e is temporary, it is therefore imperative that we have an idea of the span and duration of life. As Christians, if we believe in Christs second and imminent return and afterwards the millennial reign and the judgement, we must properly discern the transient nature of our lives and the close of the age in relation to things happening around us and what God expects us to know and do. So, like the psalmist said, our desire is that our Maker and Owner will teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

CURRENT EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS

And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must occur; but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matt. 24:4-8)

In our world today, there are several pointers and indicators to the end of the age and the second coming of our Lord. Notice that the bottom-line to most indicators as seen in the above passage is the fact that this concluding period is marked by sorrows. Several of the events already occurring and others yet to occur indicate an increase in the level of sorrow worldwide. Tsunamis and Earthquakes are no longer news. The occurrence of these is no longer limited to some specific world zones and continents. Floods are gradually on the increase as we see weather alterations on many sides of the globe. Fire outbreaks are rampant alongside so many other natural disasters.

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Most of us are aware of the feud and smouldering rivalry between the West and Arab nations. Indeed, it is no longer a secret with the onset of the September 11 attacks and conversely, the strong American presence in nations like Afghanistan and Iraq. Not only these, there are state and cross-cultural insurrections e.g. the different wars in Nigeria, South Africa, Liberia, and Sudan, the last one most recently concluded. Then just earlier this year, the world witnessed such an unusual sweep of awakenings across the Arab world. This led to the dethroning of some formerly seemingly invincible governments. On the other hand, the world seems to be witnessing different levels of synergies across ethnic, state, national and continental boundaries. Evidence of these abound in printing and adoption of common currencies by several groups of nations, world bodies coming together to tackle issues similarly affecting them e.g. financial issues, drug trafficking and terrorism of all kinds. These all point to the eventual emergence of a one world united government overseeing the affairs of all peoples and all nations and with just one supreme head. This unique head from all indications will inevitably be anti-Christ and be under the full influence and authority of the prince of this world. For Christians and Christianity, this is one of the most crucial times in history. Firstly, the Christian world has witnessed a lot of persecution and killings from the days of the apostles. Even now, there are yet many places where believers are being persecuted and killed on a regular basis for holding on to their faith tenaciously. Unfortunately however, there are some who are denying their Lord also while others are giving up their lives for His sake. In many developed countries and in the cooperate world, people are daily denying the Lord by their unspoken yet obvious actions. Though some openly deny and denounce him, others do the same by their ashamedness to identify with him, speak for Him, stand up for what He stands up for and stand against what He stands against. Thus, the true picture of Christ and Christianity has been distorted in the view of the unbelieving world, leaving many confused, others unconverted and several hardened. The other side to the church story is the proliferation of all sorts of ministries and messages. Whilst we cannot deny the unprecedented influx of light to the church, a lot of false teachers and false teachings have come in alongside. Some truths and even some irrelevances have been overtly illuminated at the expense of other equally(or even more) important truths. All these are indicators of the times and seasons which we are in and which allude to the truth of Jesus statement in Matt. 24:4-8. Let us bear in mind however that despite all these, the end is near but not yet.

THE ANTI-CHRIST & SPIRIT OF DISOBEDIENCE

Little children, it is the last time. And just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have risen up, from which we know that it is the last hour. (1Jn 2:18)

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And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the antichrist you heard is coming, and even now is already in the world. (1Jn 4:3) In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. (Eph 2:2)

Many of us have read or heard of the anti-Christ and his coming. However, the spirit of the anti-Christ is already at work in the world. Just like the Spirit of Christ was at work in the world long before Jesus showed up in human flesh, so also is the antichrist spirit already present and manifest in our world ahead of his physical manifestation. How do we know this is so? First, in Johns day, the evidence of this spirits presence was its denial of Christs coming in the flesh. Just as the Spirit of Christ has been working in different ways at different times and in different generations, so also the antiChrist spirit is not static in its working and operations. For us who live today, the antiChrist spirit is manifest in several ways today: Turning humans against Gods ordained pattern of man-woman sexual relationships and encouraging all sorts of perversions and lusts, bringing false religions and sects that invert Gods order e.g satanism, pseudo-christian cults etc. This same spirit encourages religiosity whilst denying the power thereof . It is one of the numerous operations of this spirit that Eph.2:2 describes as now at work in the children of disobedience. This spirit of disobedience ensures that people(both believers and unbelievers) no longer follow divine order and principles, despise authorities and speak/act in rebellion. A quick summary of such men in whom this endof -the-age spirit operates is seen in Jude 8-16,19.
In the same way also, these people have visions which make them sin against their own bodies; they despise God's authority and insult the glorious beings above. Not even the chief angel Michael did this. In his quarrel with the Devil, when they argued about who would have the body of Moses, Michael did not dare condemn the Devil with insulting words, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" But these people attack with insults anything they do not understand; and those things that they know by instinct, like wild animals, are the very things that destroy them. How terrible for them! They have followed the way that Cain took. For the sake of money they have given themselves over to the error that Balaam committed. They have rebelled as Korah rebelled, and like him they are destroyed. With their shameless carousing they are like dirty spots in your fellowship meals. They take care only of themselves. They are like clouds carried along by the wind, but bringing no rain. They are like trees that bear no fruit, even in autumn, trees that have been pulled up by the roots and are completely dead. They are like wild waves of the sea, with their shameful deeds showing up like foam. They are like wandering stars, for whom God has reserved a place forever in the deepest darkness. It was Enoch, the seventh direct descendant from Adam, who long ago prophesied this about them: "The Lord will come with many thousands of his holy angels to bring judgment on all, to condemn them all for the godless deeds they have performed and for all the terrible words that godless sinners have spoken against him!" These people are always grumbling and blaming others; they follow their own evil desires; they brag about themselves and flatter others in order to get their own way. These are the people who cause divisions, who are controlled by their natural desires, who do not have the Spirit. (Jude 1:8-16,19) (GNB) For many are walking, of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, those who mind earthly things. (Phil. 3:18-19)

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May the Lord preserve and deliver us from this spirit already at work in the world and even in the lives of several believers like the second passage clearly indicates. A major index of the spirit of disobedience at work is the abundance of iniquity. Sin is at an alltime high in our society today with so much degeneration and invention of new sins and new methods of sinning on a daily basis. All these are but a few of the things that characterize the already-manifest presence of the antiChrist prior to his physical manifestation on earth.

The Spirit of Christ at work on earth

Jesus Christ's physical presence on earth

The spirit of the anti-Christ at work on earth

The anti-Christ's physical presence on earth

Fig. 1: Diagram showing the timeline of manifestation of the Christ and the antiChrist.

BELIEVERS AND THE GREAT COMMISSION

Having seen all the foregoing, we must not go on without a final look at this allimportant matter. This is due to the statement of Jesus Himself in this verse:
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come. (Mat 24:14)

Thus, if the end is to come, we have a major role to play. If indeed we look forward to His return(as we ought to), then we must hasten it by taking up the responsibility of reaching out with the whole word to the whole world. Currently, the gospel has been heard in several nations and languages of the earth yet there are so many others who have never heard about Jesus nor known who He is and why He came. How is this scripture to be fulfilled? First, scripture talks of the general going-out of all believers on this mission as seen in the above passage. In addition, our lives as believers is to be an example to all men wherever we are or have access and influence, proclaiming much more than our mouths can preach. Then also, it talks of one of the ministry gifts which He who ascended gave to men evangelists. These are called into this office to specifically proclaim the good news through various media e.g. loudspeakers, crusades, TV and Radio, Films, Music, Hospital, Prison, Bus, Street outreaches etc. Every other ministry gift together with the nine spiritual gifts are primarily for this same purpose proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom. Dear reader, do you know this Jesus yet or are you still separated from Him? If you have received Him, then great! However, if not, then do so today and youll have the kind of life He gives true and eternal life!
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May the Lord help us to spread the fragrance of His grace unto others all around until the knowledge of the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea and then the much awaited end comes. Amen and Amen!

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CHAPTER 2
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE END TIME IN THE CHURCH
Know this also, that in the last days grievous times will be at hand. For men will be self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unyielding, false accusers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good, traitors, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; even turn away from these. (2Tim. 3:1-5)

Having looked at the various notions about the end of the age and several happenings on the outside showing that these times are upon us already, we go ahead to look more specifically at the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ which is the major focus of heaven in these times. Since our Head is in the heavens preparing a place for us, His foremost concern is His body on the earth; her welfare in these end times, her present state and her level of preparedness for His return. A lot of things are evident in the church today both on the positive and negative side. Some have been passed down from the early church fathers through the ages whilst several others have evolved over time. Whereas we do not presume to be suitably qualified to sit as judges over Gods heritage, we may well catch glimpses from the perspective of heaven and evaluate our situation in the light thereof. For with You(Him) is the fountain of life; in Your(His) light, we see light. Thus, we will look at some of both the positive and negative characteristics of the end time as evidenced in the church.

LIGHT
But as it is written, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard," nor has it entered into the heart of man, "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. (1Cor. 2:9-10,12) For it is God who said, "Out of darkness Light shall shine;" who shone in our hearts to give the brightness of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2Cor. 4:6) (Emphasis mine)

Light here talks about seeing and knowing from a particular perspective. Different perspectives produce different seeings and consequently different knowings. For example, when white light falls on plants, the resultant colour we see on the leaf is the green pigment. However, if another colour of light falls on the same plant, then the leaf
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will reveal another colour. Though the leaf has not changed, yet our perception of it has been altered. In these last days, light and revelation are at such an all-time high all over the Body worldwide. Whereas light is good, yet no single man can lay claim to have complete/ perfect light about any matter on this side of eternity. Several have also used this good thing improperly. Many have brought forth distorted pictures and conjured these as revelation especially as it suits their personal desires and/or philosophies. Notwithstanding this however, the light in our day is so tremendous as things previously hidden from past generations are now revealed to us for as the writer of Hebrews said, that they without us would not be made perfect. Notice that the things God is revealing in and to us in this present day and hour are things the angels desire to look into. This is the major beam holding the church today in place light and revelation (knowledge).

DEMONSTRATION OF THE KINGDOM

And it shall be, in the last days the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow into it. (Isa. 2:2)

In these last days, the demonstration of the Kingdom is very paramount to the church. Many in Jesus day were looking for a physical kingdom in which the Messiah would come and rule like other kingdoms of this world. However, Jesus made them know (i) His Kingdom is not of this world (ii)The Kingdom they were looking for was already present with and among them. Like in the Lords prayer which He taught the disciples, we see that there are 3 major areas of Gods rule and Kingdom dominion that He emphasizes for thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever. We thus evaluate briefly the demonstration of the Kingdom in these last days under 3 sub-headings viz: The Power of God, The Wisdom of God and the Wealth of the Kingdom. The Power of God
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (1Cor. 4:20)

Each time people hear about the power of God at work in some place, what comes to their minds more often than not is the ability to heal the sick, cast out demons, and possibly raise the dead etc. However, the power of God is that force that is at work wherever God or His word is. It may sometimes manifest itself in such ways as expressed earlier but several other times it may be silent. Take for example the ministry of our Lord Jesus. On the day he raised Lazarus, the power of God was present to raise the dead man. Likewise, when He climbed up on the mountainside and taught the beatitudes, the power of God was equally present to enlighten the eyes of mens hearts even though none was recorded physically healed that day. Now, in these last days, the Kingdom of God is being fully manifest in such power like has never been witnessed before in all of history. In all operations of ministry gifts, we see a measure of the power. Whether in the evangelists ministry, the prophetic and apostolic, the pastoral and teaching ministries, we see Gods power at work in reaching out to men.

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Because however, like we saw earlier, there is a corresponding great release of light upon us, the power would be manifest alongside the ministry of the word. The Wisdom of God

He did this so that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm. (Eph 3:10)(ISV)

We are in a season of sonship and one of the hallmarks of this season is the wisdom already in demonstration and that yet to be manifest by the sons of God. Remember the invitation by the Father to a son: My son, give me your heart. It is consequent upon our obedience as sons to this simple instruction of the Father that we are brought into our place of wisdom operation just like the Father is. What we are saying is that in these last days, as many as will yield themselves unreservedly to the Spirit will soar upon His wings into a higher plane of divine light and understanding than all principalities and powers in the heavenlies. Notice that this present worlds Babylonian system is governed from the sub-heavenly realm above the earth. But for as many will take their place with Christ, the wisdom of God, who is seated far above all principalities and powers, they will demonstrate a high and divine wisdom, which will both supersede and confound the spiritual powers that rule the earth. This is the plan of God that by so doing, the Kingdom will be thus demonstrated and the name of the Lord Jesus magnified all over the earth. The Wealth of the Kingdom

And you will be known as the priests of the LORD, The servants of our God. You will enjoy the wealth of the nations And be proud that it is yours. (Isa. 61:6)(GNB) But you shall remember Jehovah your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, so that He may confirm His covenant which He has sworn to your fathers, as it is today. (Deut. 8:18)

Wealth has been previously associated by many with evil. However, when our Lord spoke He made it clear that it is not money but the love of it that is the root of all evil. In Esther 1:3-8, we see a king who is a typology of the King of kings organizing a unique banquet to last for about 187 days. Imagine a feast running daily and concurrently for half a year! What great wealth he must have had there! What is of more essence to us in this, however, is the motivation in king Ahasuerus heart, for this will help us cap ture that which is in Gods heart for His release of wealth in this generation.
In the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants. The power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, were before him. And he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, a hundred and eighty days. And when these days had expired, the king made a feast to all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both to great and small, for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace. White, green, and blue hangings were fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble. The beds were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red and white, and pearl, and black marble. And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, the vessels being different from one another, and royal wine in abundance, according to the hand of the king. And the drinking was according to the law, no one compelling, for so the king had commanded every chief of his house that they should do according to every man's pleasure. (Est. 1:3-8) (emphasis mine).

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It is clear from the above verses that this king had such a large and elaborate party but not without a fundamental and cogent reason. It was the kings desire to display His wealth and make His subjects partakers of it. First, there was a feast for all his nobles and princes from all over his kingdom and domain of rulership. This first feast was to show forth the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty. This lasted for 6 months. Afterwards, there was a second feast for all in his palace which spanned seven days. This second feast was primarily for the showing forth of the internal riches and glory of the king. The first revealed His riches all over His territories and the diversity of the honour and majesty accorded him across multiethnic boundaries the world over. The second feast on the other hand, has the Shushan palace as the primary location of its showing forth. The feast is not only held there it is held there with the intention of showing it forth in all its beauty and grandeur. The climax of this second feast is meant to be the showing forth of that which is most precious to the King i.e. His Queen. Wine is freely served in different and unique goblets without restraint. However, the only restraint to the drinking is each mans thirst and appetite level. The implication of all these for us is seen as follows: Christ is our King Ahasuerus. We(His church & bride) are His most precious possession on the earth which He would show forth last in His latter feast. All through history, God has demonstrated His power, riches and glory to men via the display of His external, visible riches which men appreciate. But in a shorter time frame these end times, God is set in this second feast (to which he has called us as workers in His vineyard, ministers in His Presence and His palace household members), to reveal to us that which Paul describes as the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. The major means of expression here is illustrated by the wine of the feast which symbolizes the Holy Spirit who in this second feast is released upon all without measure. This feast far outshines the earlier one because the riches of His palace are inexhaustible and whereas the initial feast only revealed tangible riches and wealth, this second one reveals and releases not only the physically tangible but also the spiritual, intangible riches with which He has blessed us in heavenly places. Remember that as His Queen-Bride, all that He has is ours. Hence, all that Hell be doing in these last days is revealing in us and through us all things which are ours to the viewing eyes of the principalities, powers, rulers of this age and the entire unbelieving world. In the end, His desire is to bring forth His shining, beautifully prepared and packaged church in the seventh day of the feast for the world to: (i)glorify and exalt His name, manifest in the colour and beauty seen in the church (ii)see the owner of all the things He has previously revealed in their sight(i.e. His Bride), for as Paul says to the church All things are yours. Hallelujah!

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SICKNESS IN THE BODY

Having looked at some of the important, positive directions of the churchs advancement in these last days, we then proceed to take an equally important look at the negative directions and conditions we see and will yet see in these times. One of the dictionary definitions of the word Sickness is an unsound or corrupt condition. Thus, as we view the Body of Christ in generality, we see some unsound conditions currently manifest in her. Whereas we do not claim the position of a ruler or judge over her, for she has only one Master and Lord before whom she either stands or falls (and He is able to make her stand-see Rom.14:4), we however, seek to discern the state of the Lords Body in these last days of which we are a part and hence, (1)watch out for all unwholesomeness that the Spirit reveals in our midst and (2)sensitize others to the unsound condition so they can watch and pray also. False Teachers, Apostles And Prophets
And many false prophets will rise and deceive many. (Mat 24:11) For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders; so much so that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the elect. (Mat 24:24) For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (2Cor. 11:13) But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who secretly will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. (2Pet. 2:1) (Emphasis mine)

Notice the repetition of the word false in all these scriptures. This clearly indicates that there is an original and true for each false. In these last days, as much as light has multiplied greatly, so also has heresies and false teachings alongside the false teachers who propagate them. False prophets are daily bombarding people with false prophecies. This trend is not altogether new, for in the Old Testament we see God speaking concerning such as in the following scriptures:
And Jehovah said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in My name; I did not send them, nor have I commanded them, nor did I speak to them. They prophesy to you a false vision and a worthless divination, and a thing of no value, and the deceit of their heart. (Jer. 14:14) Jehovah says, Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams and tell them, and cause My people to go astray by their lies and by their lightness. Yet I did not send them nor command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says Jehovah.( Jer. 23:32)

There are also false apostles, workers of darkness who are, like their master the devil, transformed into agents of light. For all these false workers and ministers, their end is sure doom as pronounced by the Lord. For they are wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their own shame. They are wandering stars for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever. (Jude 1:13) The most important thing to us now is how to discern all these false men along with their false messages and practices and contend earnestly for our most precious faith. The book of Jude says, For certain men crept in secretly, those having been of old previously written into this condemnation, ungodly ones perverting the grace of our God for unbridled lust, and denying the only Master, God, even our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4).
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Thus, we see that the mode of entry of such men into the Body is highly subtle and done in such an inconspicuous manner. Their acts and doctrines also come into the church in a similar way. As the days go by, the gap between the false and the true is gradually closing up and there is even some level of intermingling of the false and the true. That way, it becomes hard to discern the true from the false. However, thanks be to God for His Holy Spirit, for He is the one who leads us into all truth. Also, we have the true word of God which is a unique worker as described in Heb. 4:12. Thus, the only solution we have is to get deeply soaked in our communion and interaction with these two. That way we are sure to walk in high-level discernment and thus be able to distinguish between that which is of God and that which is otherwise. Divisions
But I say this, that every one of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1Co 1:12-13)

One other very evident sign of unwholesomeness in the church these last days is the divisions that are manifoldly manifest within our ranks. Several today have one special pastor or apostle they are so much in love with at the expense of Christ. Some, like Peter in the Transfiguration scenario, are already constructing tabernacles for Christ along with their General Overseers and Senior Pastors. Indeed, it is sad to note that some of the spiritual leaders who are the subject of such divisions in the fold, are actually those fuelling and encouraging such fleshly divisions in the Body of Christ. It is important to note that Christ who is the Head of the church is not divided neither is His Spirit the Author of confusion. We must be careful what we follow and beware of all such divisive tendencies. Like the Apostle Paul says:
You were running well. Who hindered you that you do not obey the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens all the lump. (Gal 5:7-9)

Empires and Do-it-all-alone ministries Just like in the case of divisions above, we see that there is also a wave of churches, fellowships and ministry establishments which are nothing other than empires built around some men. Several of these men go by different titles e.g. Pastor and Founder, General Overseer, Senior Pastor etc. This is not to condemn those who bear such titles but to expose the wave of such empirical ministries. More often than not, there is a man whom the people see more than they see Jesus and it is this head that runs the whole show. Another similar case is the existence of several do-it-all and do-it-alone ministries. Though these ministries have a measure of Gods call, grace and giftings, they take it upon themselves to be all-in-all to their members, either preventing them from feeding alongside other sheep in other pastures or not allowing other people with different callings and ministries from other places access to their sheep. One important thing to note in all these is: No single member of the Body has full right over another members life. Whatever we have was received from above. Also, though we have all received of His fullness, no single member of the Body can claim to have access to all His
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fullness. It is only as we walk in union with other believers that we have access to the full supply of the Head to the Body. Hence, we see God calling us to a point of appraisal. Am I walking in union with the Head and the whole Body? Am I enjoying the full supply of the Body or am I caught up in a Do-it-all-alone group/ministry? Is Christ lord over my denomination/fellowship/ church/ministry or is it someone else? Etc. Handling such questions as these sincerely under God will help reveal our true state and set us right as we ought to be.

THE SLEEPING CHURCH

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (Mat 25:5)

The state of the church in this parable Jesus gave is likened to that of sleep. Because there was a delay in the Bridegrooms coming, as there is today an apparent delay in our Lords coming, all the expectant virgins became drowsy and went to sleep. Notice that all were involved with the exception of none. Hence, this is a very serious matter because we all are involved in this late-hour sleep. One may ask, How are we all involved? The characteristics of sleep are many-fold. First , there is the issue of unconsciousness as regarding things and people. Many important events that are supposed to be looked forward to eagerly are hardly anticipated nor mentioned in our fellowships and assemblies e.g. the second coming of Christ, the Judgement Seat of Christ, the subject of heaven etc. Also, in sleep, a man forgets things issues he would naturally hold as important when awake are all removed from him. This second characteristic is easily seen in the way we have often, and even now, forgotten several of the ancient landmarks of our faith. Several important matters are no longer considered important in the church or in some cases outrightly forgotten. The third characteristic which we can note amongst several others is the fact that sleep implies partial death. Several altars today have become ash heaps and the fire almost gone out. Several churches and fellowships that once were red hot are now barely surviving. As a result of this sad state, we are seeing two things in the church like never before: (i)sin and carnality (ii)worldliness(Babylon in the midst of Zion). The good news is that the sleep only tarried till the midnight hour when the wake-up cry was sounded and all ten virgins woke up. Thus, as all slept, even so also must all wake up. Later, we will look at this cry and its implication in some detail but for now it is comforting to know that the sleep is temporary and will soon be over. Amen.

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MOCKERS & SCOFFERS

First, knowing this, that there will come in the last days scoffers walking according to their own lusts and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. (2Pet. 3:3-4) They kept telling you, "In the last times mockers will appear, following their own ungodly desires." These are the people who cause divisions. They are worldly, devoid of the Spirit. (Jude 1:18-19)

The above scriptures clearly indicate the appearance and manifestation of such men. Notice that the basis of their scoffing at holy things is in the fact that Christs coming seems delayed and to many, now looks like a wild dream and so anything goes. However, the Apostle Peter debunks this in this way:

But, beloved, let not this one thing be hidden from you, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2Pet. 3:8-9)

Let us therefore be careful lest we walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful. Let us be discerning so that we do not follow ungodly desires nor ungodly men. Rather, let us walk continually in the Spirit, keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. As we do this, let us keep our eyes focused in looking up, for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed.

BEWARE OF ELDERS
Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1Co 11:1) Brothers, be imitators together of me, and mark those who walk this way, for you have us for a pattern. (For many are walking, of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, those who mind earthly things.) (Php. 3:17-19)

In every society, some level of respect is accorded to elders. Actually, we are all brought up to honour those ahead of us one way or the other. Indeed, we all are supposed to learn from those who have gone ahead of us in several spheres of life and imitate good examples. An adage says that a child who is carried by an elder sees farther than he would have seen, standing on his own feet. Whereas this is good and must both be taught and encouraged, in these last days however, we need to be careful of what we learn/imitate and from whom we learn them. In these last days, we see men who have been idolised by other men as infallible and as such are followed in to-to. We must remember the statement of Paul even as we look up to our elders(pastors, fellowship leaders, overseers, senior brethren in the faith etc): Imitate me as I imitate Christ. As we look at what should be our attitude to elders, we also take a look at the other end How should an elder behave in relation to younger ones? Let us quickly examine two stories in the Bible and consider their implications as relating to this subject. (1) Luke 15:11-32 tells the popular story we have so often read and even termed as the parable of the prodigal son. However, it appears from the context of the passage that there are several other things on Christs mind as He related this story. One of these is the role of the elder son in the Fathers house and his reaction as relating to his younger brother. Obviously, he wasnt happy that his brother had gone off wasting the fathers
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wealth. However, he was also yet unhappy that the erring son returned home and obtained the fathers forgiveness. Hence he refused to enter the feast. Let us remember like Paul said, that as Brothers, if a man is overtaken in a fault, you the spiritual ones restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. The attitude of elders must be that of the Father, who though he knew where the son had been and what the son had done, yet accepted him and got him restored to his proper place and position. (2) John 9 also tells of another set of people. This time, we see a man who was born blind get healed by Jesus. Afterwards, he is quizzed by the Pharisees council. Our major concern here is not the Pharisees but rather his own parents. The glory of the fathers (parents) is supposed to be their sons(children) and vice-versa. However, we see something faulty in this particular parenting which we need to be careful of. Though the parents knew quite well what had happened to their son, they chose to be silent about it and maintained the regular status quo. Whereas the man who had never seen Jesus but was healed of Him was ready to take his stand for him even without adequately recognizing Him, the parents who had both heard of Jesus and knew Him better stood aloof rather than lend credence to their son's belief. Eventually Christ revealed Himself in person to the one who stood unashamedly for Him. Hence, what do we see here? As the Lord moves in fresh ways doing a new thing and laying His hand upon 'younger ones'(Joel 2:27-28), it is imperative that the older ones should give all the support needed for the younger ones to find their feet and thus be a blessing to them such that they would climb up on their shoulders and thus see farther. However, by standing aloof from what God is doing or criticising it unduly, the older ones (in trying to maintain friends, relationships and external ministry/career standing before men) may end up losing that which matters most - the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, He is no respecter of persons. Let us learn from Peter, James and John who after Paul's conversion and introduction to ministry, gave him, together with Barnabas, the right hand of fellowship(see Gal. 2:9). That way the gospel multiplied, Christ was further revealed and God the Father was ultimately glorified. Amen.

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CHAPTER 3
BELIEVERS IN THE END TIME
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour. (Mat 25:1-13)

Though the above scripture is a little long, it nevertheless captures the major part of what well be looking at here. Even though this parable-story seems to have been narrated casually by our Lord, the depth is quite profound and the story loaded with spiritual, prophetic insight. However, it takes that same Spirit of Christ by whom it was given to decode that which is embedded therein. Hence, our part is to yield to and listen to the Spirit for as the Son of Man says in Revelations over and over again, Let him who has an ear, hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Let us start by saying that there a number of key issues well be highlighting and discussing as much as the Spirit will permit us to. From the above passage, we see a number of key words: oil, lamps, midnightcry, amidst several others. Beyond the superficial meaning of these words, there seems to be some certain spiritual and prophetic connotations they each carry. With regard to discovering what the Lord is saying and revealing to us as believers living in the end time, we take a look at the following: The Preparation Room The Waiting Room The Oil The Midnight Cry The foolish virgins

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THE PREPARATION ROOM

Let us be glad and rejoice and we will give glory to Him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. (Rev 19:7-8)

From the above passage, we can infer that there is a unique garment for the wedding occasion and the bride has to be clothed in a particular attire. Hence, there is a definite need for preparation on her part and consequently, a major need for a dressing/ preparation room, especially since here we are talking about ten virgin-brides. In our various times and cultures, we have all seen brides fully arrayed in the traditional (white) wedding garments. Some of us have also seen where the bride is being prepared or made ready for the wedding service. One who has seen this will testify to the fact that the preparation of a bride is no small matter. In the case of Christ and the church which is our focus, we see that there is a place that the Lord and Groom has prepared for us to get into and come out looking ready. Actually, what He is looking for is His own Image. His desire is that He will present to Himself and to His Father a Bride that is without spot nor wrinkle and is in every way like Himself who is the Head of the Body.
He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. (Mat 17:2 WEB) His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. (Mar 9:3 WEB) You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. And they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. (Rev 3:4)

These verses are examples of the characteristic appearance of our Lord and Groom. Hence, in order that we may be like Him, He has made provision for us in a major way:
Therefore He says, "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men." And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (Eph 4:8, 11-13)

Hence, what do we see here? Christ has made provision for the church by releasing upon her the five-fold ministry gifts, callings and offices. Each of these offices have a specific assignment of preaching and teaching for the eyes of mens hearts to be opened to see and be transformed to become like our Lord by the instrumentality of the Word and the Spirit. The eventual result He expects to see is seen in the following verses:
And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes, and have whitened them in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev 7:14) Let us be glad and rejoice and we will give glory to Him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. (Rev 19:7-8) Page | 20

Thus, we see from the above that the job of preparing the Bride is not for angels nor for some other external beings. It is for the Bride to prepare herself using the Cosmetics and Make-up kits provided by the Groom. In order to see this picture, let us take a quick look at the analogy in the book of Esther.
And it happened when the king's command and his order was heard, and when many young women had been gathered to Shushan the palace, into the hand of Hegai, Esther was also brought to the king's house, into the hand of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the young woman pleased him, and she received kindness from him. And he quickly gave to her purifiers and her portion. And seven young women who were fit to be given her, out of the king's house. And he moved her and her servant women to the best place in the house of the women. Esther had not revealed her people nor her kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her that she should not show it. And Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women's house in order to know how Esther did and what was to become of her. And when the turn of each young woman had come to go in to King Ahasuerus, after she had been purified twelve months, according to the law of the women (for so the days of their anointing were done, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with the perfumes of the women). And in this way the young woman came to the king. Whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house. She went in the evening, and on the next day she returned to the second house of the women, into the hand of Shaashgaz, the king's officer who kept the concubines. She did not come in to the king any more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name. And when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her for his daughter, had come to go in to the king, she asked nothing but what was chosen by Hegai the king's officer, the keeper of the women. And Esther had favour in the sight of all who looked on her. (Est 2:8-15)(all emphasis mine)

It is clear that Esther being a bride to the king Ahasuerus, is a type of the church-bride of Christ. Her entering into the house of the women was the beginning of her preparation for the marriage to the king. Notice that there was a unique purification and preparation process for all who came to that house which lasted a full year. Though this seemed long, it had its implications any lady-virgin who was to meet the king must be prepared to meet his taste. The result of this process is that the Bride is presented perfect, complete and lacking nothing to her Lord and King.
Epaphras greets you, he being of you, a servant of Christ, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Col 4:12) Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (Jas 1:4 GNB) Whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Col 1:28)

Thus, this is the sole aim of all the ministry gifts distributed to the Body to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Note that Christ did not give these gifts to all in the church but he gave them for the benefit of all in the church. The five-fold ministry workers however have no cause for pride. Why? Firstly, all they have was received from above. Also, their choice is a product of mercy and grace and carries with it great responsibility. A very good illustration is this: Picture a man trying to set up a charcoal fire. There are a selected few which he initially concentrates upon and fanning them
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specifically and intentionally, not because of any special characteristic(s) of theirs but for the sake of others. Once these few are fully burning, he can relax and watch all others contact the fire from them. Remember the story of the five loaves and two fish. Notice that Christ didnt distribute it to the people directly but called a few men and then gave these ones who in turn handed it to all the people present. In the same way, God has set these gifts in the Body, not to exalt some men above others, but instead to be touchpoints for reaching the entire Body of Christ. So, what we are saying is that God has made a place ready, a place of preparation for all who are part of the Body to be prepared for His appearing. This is so that when He comes we will not be found to be like that man in the parable Jesus told who was found in the wedding hall without a wedding garment and as such was cast out of the Wedding Feast. May we key into all that has been made available for us in the Body so that when He shall appear, we will not only see Him, we also shall be like Him. Amen.

THE WAITING ROOM

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out. But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there be not enough for us and you. But rather go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they who were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.(Mat 25:5-10) (emphasis mine)

It seems that there is an unstated assumption here which we have tried to place some emphasis on. First, no one can go out to meet another person unless he is initially inside some enclosed place/environment. One virgin asking another to go buy oil somewhere else indicates also that they are assumed to be in the same place/room. Also, slumber and sleep is only possible in a room where there is some level of comfort. Lastly, going into a program or function and shutting the door means that there was a room where these people are coming from and there is a door to that room which they have opened in order to go out to meet the One they have long been expecting. What we are trying to say in all of this is that there is another room apart from the Preparation Room, in which those who have passed through the dressing/cosmetics application place will have to stay until the expected One (the Groom) shows up. This we choose to call the Waiting Room. This nomenclature comes from the fact that it is not a permanent room for the expectant virgins. Rather, there seems to be a transition from one room to the other; from the place of preparation to the place of anticipation. Much of what is expected of the Bride-Church as she waits here will be discussed in detail in the next chapter. However, we need to state here that once the Bride gets in here, theres no turning or going back. It doesnt matter whether the reason for going out is good and legitimate, the emphasis of the Spirit who is the Seal and endorsement of the Groom upon the Bride is this: no man having put His hand on the plow and turning back is fit for the Kingdom.

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And He said to another, Follow Me! But he said, Lord, first allow me to go and bury my father. Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow You, but first allow me to take leave of those in my house. And Jesus said to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:59-62)(emphasis mine) Remember Lot's wife. Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. (Luke 17:32-33)

Notice that from a human perspective, Lots wife had a good and even legitimate reason for looking back. Can you imagine having lived in a certain city for many years, being asked to leave all in just a day without picking anything substantial? So, we could possibly excuse her actions as proper and even expected. However, the moment she turned back, her fate was decided and sealed. Thus, we see the Spirit sending the same warning signals to us as we enter this final room. This room is final in the sense that it is the last in our transition from the present earthly tabernacle into the Presence of the Lord. We therefore need to be like the Psalmist who says thus: For the Lord Jehovah will help Me; therefore I have not been ashamed. On account of this I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. One more thing we want to point out here is this: There appears to be a 50-50 rule concerning those who will make it into the final door and those who will not. Notice this in the following analogy Jesus gave:
I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed, the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two shall be grinding together, one will be taken, and the other left. Two shall be in the field, one will be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said to Him, Where, Lord? And He said to them, Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together. (Luke 17:34-37) (emphasis mine).

Notice from this passage two key things, firstly, the Waiting Room is a place for the gathering of the Body. It is evident that all the eagles will gather here. However, the second thing to note is that not all that are gathered will remain and be ready for the appearing of the Groom. Whereas physically, two are in one bed, one is ready, the other is not. Actually, it is either the other virgin has spiritually gone back to seek for oil or she has not allowed the full work to be done in her in the Preparation Room to prepare her for his arrival. So, if at all this second set of five are to be ready at all, there is already a time lag between the Grooms appearance and their readiness. In sober reflection, we may need to check our lives right away to decipher where we are in the whole timeline of events. Are you still refusing to get into the Preparation Room where Gods Spirit, through the instrumentality of the five-fold ministry gifts and callings, is preparing for Himself a Body? Or are you in one of the classes in the Preparation Room and have chosen to build a permanent tabernacle there without moving further in the school of the Spirit? Have you come into the Waiting Room and are rejoicing that your journey is almost complete when in fact your oil supply is soon to run out and cause you to go back for extra? Will the Bridegroom meet you both waiting and whole? Or is there something lacking in fullness which needs to be made up before His return? All these questions need to be addressed individually and collectively
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without further delay. The Spirit is saying: Now is the time to act!. May we rise up and follow the divine prompting so we are not found wanting when He eventually shows up.
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was grieved with that generation and said, They always err in their heart, and they have not known My ways. So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest." Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. (Heb. 3:7-14)

THE OIL
We now come to the major matter in the whole story the oil itself. What is the oil and what is its significance? Several have given different meanings and interpretations to it. We seek to approach this matter from a holistic view First, what does the lamp symbolize? We may see the lamp as the spirit of man which is the candle of the Lord.
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inward parts of the heart. (Prov. 20:27)

This indicates that like natural lamps, there is a unique make-up of the lamp that will burn brightly for God to be able to use it for His heart-searching purposes. The oil therefore is the flammable fuel inside the lamp upon which the burning and the shining of the light depends. We may well say that the oil here is the Word of God in mans spirit. As the Spirit breathes upon the word in a mans spirit, the fire lights up.
For You will light my lamp; Jehovah my God will make my darkness light. (Psa 18:28)

It is the word received into the tank/ reservoir of the heart of man that the Spirit of God comes and breathes upon to light the lamp which God uses to weigh and assess that man. Thus, as we look again at the story of the ten virgins, we see that what the Groom was looking for in each one was the fire burning in her lamp. However, to maintain the fire and keep it bright and burning despite the long, protracted waiting for the Groom, they needed to get extra oil the extra-Word measure in their spirits that will sustain them through the long, cold night. This extra is what the Spirit works in those who are patient enough for Him to completely finish His work in the Preparation Room.
But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. (James 1:4) But also in this very thing, bringing in all diligence, filling out your faith with virtue, and with virtue, knowledge; and with knowledge self-control, and with self-control, patience, and with patience, godliness, and with godliness, brotherly kindness, and with brotherly kindness, love. For if these things are in you and abound, they make you to be neither idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2Pet. 1:5-8, 11) For you have need of patience, so that after you have done the will of God you might receive the promise. (Heb. 10:36) Page | 24

We now take a quick look at two stories in line with what God will have us know concerning some other implications of the oil. (a) Worshipping and Wasting: In John 12:1-8, we see a familiar story of Jesus visit to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. As he sat at table, we see a unique thing which Mary did. From the natural perspective, we could conclude that what Mary did was a wastage. This is rightly so even from the spiritual perspective! What we need to see here however is the essence and direction of the wastage. First, whereas others are either standing to serve Him or sitting to feast with Him, we find one person kneeling in awe of Him and pouring her utmost to anoint His body. What a unique wastage! The Lord does not condemn this woman but rather commends her because hers was a waste with a meaning. The only reasonable place to waste is at His feet. Hence, we see the oil here being released from the cask in order to anoint the Lord. This makes it evident to us that Our Treasure is for His Pleasure. (b) The third day morning & the anointing of the Body: The second story we take a look at is found in Mark 16:1-4. On the third day (otherwise called the resurrection morning), three women awoke and went up early to the tomb of Jesus. They took along with them spices( or oils) they had previously purchased to use in anointing the Body of the Lord. Whereas, prior to His death, the Mary of Bethany had pre-anointed his body before burial, these ones were going for a post-burial anointing. The understanding of the Spirit in this seemingly casual story is this: there is a generation God is raising who will be willing to go all the way, despite all inconveniences, to anoint the Body of Christ in these last days. On that day, these women had a number of challenges and limitations that should have stopped them from achieving their aim e.g. the early, dark and probably cold morning, the officials and guards posted at the tomb mouth, the huge stone covering the tomb etc. Nevertheless, they surmounted all these and in a figurative way achieved their aim. Presently, the Body of Christ seems to be in such a fragmented state that poses a lot of hindrance to the flow from one part into another. However, since the anointing is poured upon the whole Body for all to be partakers, God is raising a set of seemingly inconsequential people, like these women, who will not mind all the cost and price to be paid but will go all the way until they reach the whole Body and anoint her with the measure of the oil they have received from the Head. Are you willing to be used of God to reach the entire Body of Christ? Are you a part of this company? May the Lord stir our hearts to find our place in this move and be used of Him to anoint and bless the Body. Freely it has been given to you, freely give.

THE MIDNIGHT CRY

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him.

(Matt. 25:6) Having seen all the other factors in the equation, we now consider the last major universal event of that night. Universal in the sense that this was the last thing that happened both to the wise as well as the foolish. As the virgins all waited, they all fell asleep. But the Groom had yet set a voice in the dark, who would break the chilly silence of the night with an all-important cry. We can look at this Voice/Cry from several perspectives:
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(a) Nehemiah and the Trumpeter by his side: In the book of Nehemiah, we see a very important scenario which depicts this cry.
For of the builders, each one had his sword tied by his side, and built. And he who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, far from one another. In whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather there to us. Our God will fight for us. (Neh. 4:18-

20). Christ is our Nehemiah and in the process of this building-cum-battle, we see that the Lord has made arrangements for mouthpieces through whom He would send out necessary alarm(s) to the church on the field. Notice that, armed with the sword by his side, each man built. Hence, we may well conclude that each of these men had passed through the Preparation Room and were now functioning with all they had received, together with their proper work garments. On one hand, the trumpet was to alert the workers of impending attacks from the enemy or summons to battle. On the other, it was to gather them and call their attention to their leader and head Nehemiah. We have been called as co-labourers with God and are supposed both to build and to fight in our assigned places. Are you standing where He has placed you? Or have you moved somewhere else? Are you still fully strapped with your armour and sword the sword of the Spirit? Is your ear attentive to the call of the Spirit? We must never get carried away with duty or ministry at the expense of the sound of the trumpet. (b) The trumpet call in Joel: The book of Joel reveals another instance of the trumpets sounding.
Blow a trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn gathering. (Joel 2:15)

This trumpet call seems to be a sober call to a state in the Church not in line with the Lords desire for His Body. Remember that at this point of the night, the virgins are all asleep. Though weariness and tiredness from the long wait may have led to this, it is not the Lords desire for His Body to be in such a state. Hence, there is a trump call sounding in the ears of Gods people, calling us out of our jamboree state into a penitent state where the Lords desires, plans and timings can be made known unto us. (c) The Watchmans trump call: The watchman is one who is posted upon a wall to report events and happenings on the outside to those on the inside. God, in His Omniscience, has placed men, gifts, ministries and callings in strategic areas for the purpose of alerting His people of happenings in the realm of the Spirit. Most especially, He has posted watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem. These are supposed to ensure that no evil comes to the people of God without pre-alerting and pre-informing them. The watchmen, in addition, have a duty of raising cries up to Gods ears concerning His church and her state per time.
And you, son of man, I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore you shall hear the Word from My mouth, and warn them from Me.(Ezek. 33:7) I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, who will not always be silent all the day nor all the night; you who remember Jehovah, do not be silent. (Isa. 62:6) The burden against Dumah: He calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning comes, and also the night; if you will inquire, inquire, and come again. (Isa 21:11-12)

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So are you a watchman placed by God in some specific location in the Body? Are you keeping your watch in your assigned position? Can men be sure to inquire of the Lord through you? Can God depend on you to blow the trumpet He has placed in your hand as the need arises? Remember, this is the final hour and the sleeping church needs to be awakened by the trumpet call. May the Lord find you dependable in this assignment. (d) The trumpet call of the Spirit: In the letter to the seven different churches in the book of Revelations, we see a major message from the Lord to the church aptly summarized in the following words: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Johns encounter with the Lord in these visions reveals to us a major truth The Spirit is ever speaking to the church through the angel of the church. However, it is only those whose ears are spiritually open that can hear what He is saying per time.
I came to be in the Spirit in the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Rev. 1:10) After these things I looked, and behold, a door was opened in Heaven. And the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you what must occur after these things. (Rev. 4:1) The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him- the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of advice and power, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. He will gladly bear the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear. (Isa 11:2-3 GW) The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of them that are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as they that are taught. The Lord Jehovah hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward. (Isa 50:4-5)(emphasis mine)

Is your ear opened by the Lord to hear the Voice of the Spirit the trumpet call of God in the Spirit and by the Spirit? Are your ears trained to distinguish the sounds in the Spirit? Or are you rebellious to the ear trainer? Remember, it is only by the daily yielding of our ears and our hearts to the Spirit that we are trained of the Lord to adequately recognize what the Spirit is saying to the churches and what we are supposed to do consequently. One very important thing we sense the trumpet call of the Spirit saying is for the church to return to the 3 unique things that abide: faith, hope and love. Faith here is in the sense of what Jesus spoke about in Luke 18:8.

I say to you that He will avenge them speedily. Yet when the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)

The Lords desire is that the church will hear the call of the Spirit and return to her place of walking in and by faith. It must go beyond our confession(s). Indeed, it must determine our daily actions and be manifest in the way we wait on God and hold onto Him. Remember the Syrophoenician woman as well as the widow in the Luke 18 parable. God is seeking for a people who when others go, will say to Him like Peter and the other disciples, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. The Hope in the Spirits emphasis here is the longing and looking forward to things beyond the here and now. Much of our world today (and even in Christendom) is caught up in the present things and forget that they are only transient, like the grass that blossoms today and withers tomorrow. Because men have lost sight on eternity they live as though there is no other place beyond here. But as Paul says, if all our hope is in this world, we are of all men most miserable. Thus, Gods desire is that the light of hop e
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is kept alive in our hearts until His appearing. Remember, with the light of hope, we look at the things unseen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things unseen are eternal. Love is the greatest of the three, we all know. However, our focus here is that the call of the Spirit to love is the greatest call of all times. This is because it is by this love demonstration and manifestation in her that she will enter unity, maturity and fullness. The truth is being manifest in the Body but for her to reach her full purpose and potential in Him who is her Head, the truth must be expressed and manifest in love. Thus, as the Lord expresses Himself to us in these issues and several others, His desire is that we have an open(or more precisely, opened)ear and a willing heart. May we not be hard of hearing as the Lord, in these end times, seeks to communicate to us the burdens on His heart and cause us to know the times and seasons together with what He will have us do. Amen.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let the one hearing say, Come! And let the one who is thirsty come. And he willing, let him take of the Water of Life freely. (Rev 22:17)

THE FOOLISH VIRGINS

Oftentimes, we have thought the story of the ten virgins ended when the Lord shut the door to the foolish five. However, there seems to be more to the story. This portion is added not just to satisfy human curiosity but to expose the fate of the foolish and thus help salvage the situation before it is too late. If we trace back the wedding story, we will see that the Lord does not pass a conclusive judgement on these remaining five. Rather, He simply says to them I know you not. Hence, though the door is shut against them, there may yet be another way for them to get to meet the Bridegroom. Imagine a bride who misses her wedding train and is jilted by the groom on her wedding day! Oh, what a shame it would be for her as she returns back to face all sorts of comments from her family, friends, colleagues and even enemies or detractors. However, there are two available options for her either she accepts the verdict as final and refuses to make any further attempts to see her groom or she could choose to do all it takes to get herself back into His loving arms and embrace. Now, the choice is no longer his to make but hers. Whatever she decides will determine what happens to her afterwards and the level of hostility she will have to bear. If she chooses the first option, many would pity her, others would tell her it wasnt worth it after all and probably advise her to go after another man. However, if she chooses the second option, she would have to be ready for all the criticism and persecution that will follow on her path to seeing her groom again. What we are saying in this analogy is this: For the five virgins who are left behind and unraptured by the Groom, there is yet a plausibility of their seeing His face again. However, it is a not-too-pleasant path riddled with all forms of trials, hardships, criticisms and persecution. Theirs would be the inevitable path of martyrdom shedding their own blood in the process. Those who choose not to bother themselves with this will end up in another sure marriage that of the beast. For every man on earth must be married, either to the Christ or to the anti-Christ. Needless to say, that though the initial outlook of this pseudo-wedding may look glamorous, it is a dead end for all who are involved. May the Lord preserve us so that when He comes, we will be found in Him, ready, whole and waiting with our lamps burning brightly. However, for those who
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remain unraptured, the Lord in His mercy, has provided a path, howbeit a hard one, for them to meet the Lord again.
Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. (Rev. 16:15) And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire. And those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. (Rev. 15:2) And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4)

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CHAPTER 4
WHAT OUGHT WE TO DO?
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? (Act 2:37 ASV) Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? Your lives should be holy and dedicated to God, as you wait for the Day of God and do your best to make it come soon---the Day when the heavens will burn up and be destroyed, and the heavenly bodies will be melted by the heat. But we wait for what God has promised: new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will be at home. And so, my friends, as you wait for that Day, do your best to be pure and faultless in God's sight and to be at peace with him. (2Pet. 3:11-14 GNB)

Having come thus far in this study, we believe that the Spirit of God has begun to work upon our hearts a unique conviction in righteousness. Hence, we may well seek to get light as to what is Gods desire for us in the now. We have seen the nature of the times we are in and the several arrangements that God, in His grace and mercy has made available for us in the Body. However, like the sons of Isaachar, our desire is not just to know the times and seasons but to understand what the spiritual Israel ought to do with this knowledge. If we follow the trend of Gods divine workings all through history, we would discover that there has never been such a time when God reveals something about the times and seasons without a corresponding expectation in His heart of what men should do in reaction to such revelation(s). Hence, it is important that we seek to know the heart of God concerning our responsibilities in our various capacities as Body members. Hence, in line with this background and in response to the Holy Ghosts leading, we seek to find out what we ought to do in these end times. We shall consider a few sub-headings namely: Occupy till He comes Looking Unto Jesus The Kings Call

Even though these sub-topics may not exhaust the whole length, breadth and depth of all that we ought to do in the now, we nonetheless, trust the Lord to grant us access to the issues embedded in each of them.

OCCUPY TILL HE COMES

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said to them, Occupy till I come. (Luke 19:13 Webster) And he sent for ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds and said to them, Do business with this till I come. (Luke 19:13 BBE)

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For it is as if a man going abroad called his own servants and gave them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his ability. And he went abroad at once. And going he who had received the five talents traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two, he also gained another two. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the earth and hid his lord's silver. After a long time the lord of those servants came and took account with them. And so he who had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered five talents to me. Behold, I have gained five talents above them. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered two talents to me. Behold, I have gained two other talents above them. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. And he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Lo, you have yours. His lord answered and said to him, Evil and slothful servant! You knew that I reaped where I did not sow, and gathered where I did not scatter, then you should have put my money to the exchangers, and coming I would have received my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will abound. But from him who has not, even that which he has shall be taken away from him. And throw the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matt. 25:14-30) The above passage is a familiar account of the parable of the talents. The story comes just right after the Master narrates the parable of the ten virgins(which has been our major focus in the previous chapter) and then he just continues right into this story, hence its suitability at this time in our study. Occupation has to do with work, assignment, study or business. The Master, having finished His assignment on the earth and leaving for the Throne from whence He came, assigned to each of His servants talents and tasks commensurate to those talents. Whereas our focus is not on the current implication of this amount in our present monetary system, it is quite clear to us that the amount given out by the Lord here is quite appreciable with respect to the assignments each man was given. Notice this unspoken yet salient issue: Though the same words were used by the Master to each of the servants, yet His yield-expectation from each of the three servants was different. In other words, divine investment determines divine expectation. Let us begin then to examine ourselves. First, what gifts, talents, physical and spiritual endowments has God released upon my life? Or, better put in business terms, what is the level of capital that has been invested by the Lord into my life? Consequently, what level of profit is the Lord expecting from my life? This evaluation will help us to know where we stand as regarding the Lords expectation of us as His servants. Whereas there are specific requirements for each servant in the Lords vineyard, there are however general expectations. Let us take a look at the following as relating to our general requirements concerning talents usage i.e. the things that are required of us all. (a) Priests and Kings: In Rev. 1:5-6, we see a very important and, I believe, a well-known scripture.

even from Jesus Christ the faithful Witness, the First-born from the dead and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and made

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us kings and priests to God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.(Rev. 1:5-6)

God, who through Christ, has redeemed us to Himself by washing us in His own blood, has made a great and eternal investment over our lives making us both kings and priests unto Himself. What a glorious destiny! However, with this honour and privilege comes the great responsibility of pleasing Him in these offices. As priests, we have the duty of both bringing men before and unto God as well as presenting God before and unto men. Each believer has been made a new creature by the washing in the blood of the Lamb. Though the salvation of each mans soul lies with the Spirit of God, we however, like Paul says in 2Cor. 5: 17-20, have the responsibility of reconciliation. So again, we ask ourselves How faithful am I in reaching men for my Lord? Notice that each one was given a unique talent(s). Hence this implies we are all to reach men through various means e.g. through singing, preaching, teaching, helps, giving, dramatizing etc. The most important thing is that we all achieve the same result of bringing men to God. As kings, we are to rule and reign upon the earth. The implication of this can be seen in Ps. 110:1-3. The Lords rod of rulership is to be sent forth or extended out from Zion. Hence, though the church is in the world, she is meant to reign and extend the Lords dominion over all His works. So wherever we find ourselves, we are not supposed to be the tail but the head. In other words, we are meant to take charge and dominion over matters and situations as the Lords emissaries for as He is, so are we in this world. Again, we need to evaluate our lives in light of this: Am I truly taking charge where I am? Am I a true leader in word and in deed? (Each believer is a leader in at least one area of life or the other) Is the rod of the Kingdom being extended through me i.e. Am I enforcing the Kingdom of God(the uncontested rule of Gods word in any and every situation) where I am? Our kingship is now needed to be demonstrated more than ever before, for we are in the day of His power in which His people shall be willing. May the Lord help us to be true kings and priests using our various gifts and talents to draw men to Him and enforce His Kingdom at every time and in every place. (b) Arise and Shine: In Isaiah 60:1-3, we see a very important yet familiar scripture. We are the sons of God and of light. Notice that scripture refers to God as the Father of all lights. Hence, since like He is, so are we on the earth, we can conclude that we are lights. Indeed, our Lord Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness talked about in Mal. 4:2. Hence, we may safely say that we are also suns of righteousness for all of us who are sons. The implication of this is that we are to also rise up and shine as suns with healing in our wings over our land and over the lives of men all around us. Now, God is counting on us to bring forth his light, truth and healing in every place via our shining as suns. Notice that though Christ shined in His day, He yet shines in His night which is our own day on the earth, through His shining forth in our hearts to give the knowledge of the glory of God manifest in His face. Hence, let us evaluate our lives in this light and at this time: Am I shining in the midst of the darkness all around me? Is my presence felt wherever I am privileged to be? There are two sides to our operation as sun-lights just as there are two sides to a coin. In Acts 3, we see a popular story of how Peter and John were used to raise a lame man at the Beautiful Gate. In raising him up, Peter applied these 2 things the Word, in addition to works. He did not stop at speaking the word of faith necessary for the mans healing, he also held him by the hand and pulled him up. Put in another

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form, prayer must be accompanied with corresponding action. The apostle James puts it this way: faith without works is dead. (c) The Treasure and the Field: Notice the following scriptures:
Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which when a man has found it, he hides it, and for the joy of it goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. (Mat 13:44) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (2Cor. 4:7)

These passages refer to a very important principle for us in the end times as we seek to occupy/do business till He comes. Christ likens the Kingdom to a man who goes forth and then expectedly or accidentally discovers some unique treasure hidden in the ground of some field which is not his originally. He then covers it again with wisdom and goes to do all it takes including selling all he has just to buy the field and thus freely have access to and own the treasure. In the recent past, we have heard of people who struck oil or some other natural resource and then did just like the man in this story and became wealthy overnight. There is a spiritual principle in operation which we want to briefly examine: First, we need to be deliberate in seeking for something in order to talk of finding. Matt. 6:33 talks of seeking first the Kingdom and then all other things being added to us. Hence, we must be ready to seek if we will find. Next, is the field itself. For each one who has been saved, we are called into the field of service to labour alongside the Lord. It is in this field that we are to be fully occupied. In other words, all of the christians sphere of operation whether secular or spiritual is within this field frame with one unique end in mind the Kingdom. Unknown to us, the Lord and Owner of the Field has hidden all the treasure we need for life and godliness in this same field. Hence, He says we should seek first the Kingdom. The reason is that only as we seek in that field do we find not only the Kingdom and its righteousness which is our primary aim, but in addition we get unquantifiable treasure which our Lord has embedded in the field for seekers only. Just like we see the demonstration of this principle in Gen. 43:19-23, the Lord through Joseph had hidden treasures for the sons of Jacob in their sacks. Notice that in coming to buy grain, this was not their expectation, yet in addition to the grain they got, they also received silver, each mans portion in his sack. Thus, as we seek God for His kingdom and righteousness, all the good things that others go outside to get will be freely added to us at no extra cost. Indeed, we will gladly sell all we have because the possession of true riches will give us exceeding great joy. May the Lord help us to gladly give up our all as we seek Him, His Kingdom and its righteousness and to therein discover all the embedded treasures of life and godliness with exceeding great joy all embedded for us in the field. Amen. (d) Prosperity and Wealth: When the Master committed the talents to His servants, He had this very important issue in mind the prosperity of the Kingdom and of His servants(Psa. 35:27, 3 Jn. 2). Hence, it is only natural to look at the prospects of wealth handling in the process of our occupation with the divine business and assignment of the Master. First is the issue of Needs Vs. Wants. In Ps. 23:1, we see that it is Gods desire for us to be blessed & to have all our needs met. Once He is your own Shepherd, He will see to this. However, He further desires that we are blessed so we will not only have all our necessities met but that we will help supply the necessities of others also.

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Yea, you yourselves know that these hands have ministered to my needs, and to those who were with me. I have shown you all things, that working in this way we ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:34-35) Let him who stole steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, so that he may have something to give to him who needs. (Eph 4:28)

May we say here, that whatever riches, wealth, influence or power God allows any citizen of Zion in Babylon to have is for Zions sake. In the early church, we see the example of the demonstration of this principle of wealth reception, usage and distribution. Those who have more are expected to be a blessing to those who have less like in the example below.
The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had. With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God poured rich blessings on them all. There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, and turn it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed according to the needs of the people. And so it was that Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "One who Encourages"), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and turned it over to the apostles. (Acts 4:32-37 GNB)

There are things we need to guard against as the Lord blesses, prospers and increases us. These include greed, unnecessary accumulation, comfort leading to laxity amongst others. The gold that is improperly handled or kept will get corrupt.
Your gold and silver have corroded, and their poison will be a witness against you, and will eat your flesh as fire. You heaped treasure in the last days. You have lived luxuriously on the earth, and lived wantonly. You have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. (James 5:3,5)

In occupying till He comes as we remain in the Waiting Room, it is important that we understand that our stay here is very short and transitory and will only last a little beyond midnight. Hence, the wise thing the Master expects us to do is to convert all our resources, including all the wealth and treasure he brings our way into eternal wealth and everlasting riches. We must constantly remember that whatever unrighteous mammon is in our hands now is very little compared to the true riches that are to be committed into our hands shortly. In addition, that which we presently possess is a test of our faithfulness and determinant of what will eventually be committed to our care for all eternity. Hence, we must tread carefully so that when He shall appear, His word shall be to us Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.

LOOKING UNTO JESUS

Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1-2 RV).

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Gods desire is for the attention of all to be focused on the Son. However, His desire will only be accomplished first in the church, and then through the church. While on earth, we see examples of this desire manifest. First, at Jordan, as soon as He came out of the water, the heavens opened and the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove and then God the Father declared Him before men as His Beloved in whom He was well-pleased(Luke 3:22). On the Transfiguration Mount when the Father wanted to glorify Him before the eyes of the disciples, He again caused the two men that appeared with the Lord in glory to be swallowed up in the cloud and again declared Christ as His Beloved in whom He was well-pleased and to whom they must listen. Thirdly, in John 12: 28-30, we see God the Father interrupting the Sons teaching to declare that He will glorify His Name again even as He has done before. Lastly, on the cross when He cried out and breathed His last, the Father caused unusual darkness, earthquakes and resurrections that indicated He wanted all attention focused on the man of Calvary. Look and Live Having seen that it is the Fathers desire to catch and capture our attention fully on Jesus, we consider in some detail a number of reasons why God is asking us to look and keep looking unto the Son. In the times in which we are, there are several directions to which men look or are made to look by people and/or situations. Sometimes people look to the left and right things and people around them e.g. friends and colleagues, other times we look back at our past and history/background. Also, another direction men look is down at their present status or situation and all that is encompassed therein. One other direction which we all look is forward things and programs ahead of us, people ahead of us e.g. bosses, mentors, leaders etc. However, whilst all these are not wrong in themselves, they are only our secondary directions of attention. Our primary direction of focus must be LOOKING UP. (a) Our Citizenship is in heaven:
For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Phil. 3:20)

As people on the earth, there is a great tendency to mix with the on-goings here below that we virtually forget our real parentage. Hence, the Lord tells us to look up because we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free which is Jerusalem and Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. In other words, we are born from above and thus we carry the identity card of heaven here on earth. Hence, the best way to live is to keep in touch with our King, our Melchizedek who is the King of this new Jerusalem. With our sights fully focused on Him, we will live to His pleasure here on earth. Notice that it is impossible for a man to focus on two different places simultaneously, hence as we look to Him all of earths beauties and glories diminish in our eyes and heavens glories sparkle brighter. Also, in looking up to our Country of Citizenship, we receive directions, instructions, commendations, provisions, protections and alerts from there. Our economy is not driven by this present worlds Babylonian system which is passing away. Rather, we are financed by the treasury of heaven and are influenced only by her rates of exchange. So, where do you stand in this? Are you fully set on heaven or are your sights on the earth? Whereas we must yet do business here and occupy till our Lord comes, ours is that of businessmen who trade but do not hold on tightly to their profits or losses, for they look forward to the True Riches yet to come. Someone once spoke about three types of believers the 12 oclock, the 6 oclock
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and the 6:30 type of christians. The first group have all of their focus on heaven and lose all forms of earthly relevance whilst the third group literally forget their citizenship in heaven and build permanent tabernacles on the earth and lose heavenly relevance. The second group however is our focus the 6 oclock type of believers. Our lives must be such that we seek to always live in touch with heaven, with our focus on Him who is King there and from there draw all we need to reach and fulfil the divine purposes of God on the earth. However, it is obvious that the longer hand points upwards and the shorter downwards at 6 oclock and the order ought not to be reversed. May our lives always focus in the right direction and never lose the right scale of priorities in the divine order and pattern of our homeland. Amen. (b) Our Treasure is there:
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Mat 6:19-21)

As citizens of the new Jerusalem, we are not meant to lay up our treasures in the foreign land where we now dwell, for our sojourn is but for a short while. All we treasure must be stored up above. The first thing is our Lord Himself who is our Pearl of inestimable value. He is up above and so our eyes are fixed on where our Treasure is. Oh dear believer, is Christ Your dearest Treasure? Are your eyes surely and firmly fixed on Him? Or are you focusing on something or someone else? In heaven, He is the Very Centre of all attention, the Cynosure of all eyes. If you are from there, why then would you fix your gaze elsewhere? Yes, He came to earth seeking for us but now Hes in heaven and demands that we turn our eyes on Him. The other treasures we are to keep up above are too numerous to mention. However, one may ask, How can I do this, seeing I dwell on earth and am not presently in heaven? The good news is this: We have the Holy Spirit and He is our Transport Medium. Thus, when we have any good thing which is physical or a virtue here with us, we are to transport it via the Spirit of God into our heavenly account. Let us show a quick illustration You want to bless another brother who is in some financial need. You can choose to just hand him the cash and go away or you may well put that same cash in your brothers hand with joy and with this vehicle of the Spirit, transfer that same amount simultaneously into two accounts the brothers earthly account and your own heavenly account with the Spirit taking care of the earthheaven exchange rate. An example of this is seen in Phil. 4:17-19. Here, the sacrificial giving of the Philippian church went not only to Paul but also into their heavenly account. May the Lord help us as we deliberately and daily seek to store up our treasures in the heavens where neither moth nor rust doth destroy neither do thieves break in and steal. (c) Our Help is Above and from above:
I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where shall my help come from? My help comes from Jehovah, who made Heaven and earth. (Psa 121:1-2)

Oftentimes, we are like the Psalmist who was caught in a situation and needed help. He had several options of where to look but he chose to look up. The Creator of life has designed that there are situations within our ability and capacity i.e. which we can handle without any aid. However, there are others beyond our normal, natural abilities and hence for this we need help. Like we saw earlier, several look to different directions for help and assistance down, around, behind and ahead. However, the Psalmist
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understood the location and placement of his help from God, up above. It seems that the use of the hills here is not arbitrary. In actual fact, one can see God wherever he/she chooses to look. But in this case, it is clear that the location of hills with respect to man is up and above. Thus, in the same way, the location of our Help and our Helper is above. We are naturally inclined to look to some particular directions in several instances but our primary Source of help must be the Lord. There is a philosophy that says that when all fails is the time to look up to God, the One who cannot fail. Although this statement is not wrong in itself, it emanates from a wrong perspective of life that emphasizes all other things prior to God. For us however, it ought not to be so. For our God is no. 1 and must have the pre-eminence in all things. He is not supposed to be an after-thought when other helpers have failed. Our God is not to us our last resort but our very first. Let us take a quick look at Isaiah 31:1 and see what God expects of us.
Cursed are those who go down to Egypt for help, and who put their faith in horses; looking to warcarriages for salvation, because of their numbers; and to horsemen, because they are very strong; but they are not looking to the Holy One of Israel, or turning their hearts to the Lord; Though he is wise, and able to send evil, and his purpose will not be changed; but he will go against the house of the evil-doers, and against those to whom they are looking for help. For the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit: and when the Lord's hand is stretched out, the helper and he who is helped will come down together. (Isa 31:1-3 BBE)

Notice here that God is Jealous over His people Israel and will not share His glory with anyone, no matter who such a person is or what he or she has. He is the Help and the Helper of Israel and all her help must come from Him and from Him alone. So, are you looking to Him for your help or are you looking or going elsewhere? Note that God watches over His people, neither sleeping nor slumbering as He watches their every way and censors their every move. When He is sidelined and He is not given His proper place as Help and Helper, He will rise against both the helper and the helped and cause both of them to fail and fall together. Oh that we may learn to rely on the Lord alone for He is our Help and our Helper in the midst of lifes situations. (d) Our Salvation is nigh and from above:
And when these things begin to happen, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near. (Luke 21:28)

We all know, I believe, that Christ is our Saviour. First, He saved us when we came to Him, causing our spirits to be regenerated with the Breath of God. But then Hes still working on and in us to save our souls. Lastly, we believe He will, on the last day, also save our bodies. However, in another sense, we see that Christ Jesus is not only the Saviour of those who believe but of all men (see 1Jn. 4:14 and 1Tim. 4:10). The implication here is this the solution to our world today is only UP ABOVE. Just like the Israelites bitten by the grave and deadly serpents sent amongst them by the Lord, so also are the vicious issues of life we see, experience and will yet be experiencing in these latter days. However, the solution to these is not with us nor amongst men in this present worldly system. It is that UP ABOVE and AHEAD that was symbolized in the Brazen Serpent. The lifting up of the Son of Man in His second coming/appearing is not just for the sake of rapture alone. Actually, it is for the sake of our total salvation in these last days! But even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to Myself. By looking up and permanently looking there, not only are our worries diminished; solution to our snake bite situations will occur. For as we look up and see Him lifted up,
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He will both draw men to Himself as well as deliver us from all our destructions. The ultimate consummation of this will be in the Rapture of the Saints when, as the Sun of Righteousness, He comes with healing in His wings and we see Him fully as He really is. Then, we shall be fully like Him(for in the now we are like Him but in a less measure). And afterwards, when we shall return with him for the one thousand years rule on the earth, every other thing left will be healed and our world fully restored aright as in the beginning. Thus, having this understanding, let us look up, for our Salvation is at hand and is from above. Amen.

THE KINGS CALL

The kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who made a marriage for his son. And he sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they would not come. Again he sent out other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage. But not caring, they went their ways, one to his field, another to his trading. And the rest took his servants and treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard, he was angry. And he sent out his armies and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the exits of the highways, and as many as you shall find, invite them to the marriage. So the servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. And the wedding was filled with reclining guests. (Matt. 22:2-10)

The above passage is of utmost importance to us because it seems to carry the major message God is passing across to us in this chapter. Whereas the parable may not be new to us, there is yet a unique matter in Gods heart which He is calling our attention to here. In this feast, we understand that the Kings son is getting married to his beloved bride and the father being a king is organizing a lavish party to celebrate the union. Thus, as expected, He sends out invitation to guests people under his domain of rulership who have served him and whom he has been king over. Now it is time for his own event/party and naturally, it should be expected that this news will be received with much joy by his subjects and all the invitees. However, we see a stunning reaction which is our major concern here. Instead of feeling joy and honour at this invitation, they act in such an unworthy manner, defying the King and his messengers, even killing some of them. Then the King reacts by dealing with all those men in his anger and goes ahead to open the invitation to all kinds of people, both good and bad, who were not initially considered worthy enough to be invited. And thus the Banquet takes place with the dining room full and no wastage. The implication to us is seen as follows: Clearly, the King here is God the Father, the occasion is the Marriage feast of the Lamb as He weds His beloved Bride the Church. He sends out His emissaries to invite men and women of the Kingdom to this glorious and long-awaited event in the Kings courts. However, it appears that the very people he had longed to see and prepared for were busy doing their own things. Luke renders the story this way:
Jesus said to him, "There was once a man who was giving a great feast to which he invited many people. When it was time for the feast, he sent his servant to tell his guests, 'Come, everything is ready!' But they all began, one after another, to make excuses. The first one told the servant, 'I have bought a field and must go and look at it; please accept my apologies.' Another one said, 'I have bought five pairs of oxen and am on my way to try them out; please accept my apologies.' Another Page | 38

one said, 'I have just gotten married, and for that reason I cannot come.' The servant went back and told all this to his master. The master was furious and said to his servant, 'Hurry out to the streets and alleys of the town, and bring back the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.' Soon the servant said, 'Your order has been carried out, sir, but there is room for more.' So the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the country roads and lanes and make people come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you all that none of those who were invited will taste my dinner!' " (Luke 14:16-24)

It is quite important to note that all these excuses were quite legal and even all look tenable and acceptable before men. Indeed, it is most likely that all of these breakthroughs and expansions in life and ministry that these people of the kingdom had were all products of the Kings benevolence. Hence, we would say the King should understand. However, the Kings furiousness indicates that there is something which all these His subjects dont seem to understand that what matters most is the Kings call. Do you see what the Spirits emphasis here is? THERE IS NOTHING AS IMPORTANT AS TO TAKE US AWAY FROM ANSWERING THE KINGS CALL. His call must be answered with all urgency, with every other thing left behind as inconsequential. May we say, soberly and with all seriousness, that this is the singular major reason many people in the Kingdom will yet miss the coming of the Lord Jesus busyness at the expense of the Kings call. No matter what we may have been doing, irrespective of our calling and peculiar giftings, irregardless of what we are currently achieving in life and the several breakthroughs and open doors set ahead of us, the King deserves and demands our attention. Hence, we must be ready to put aside everything on our hands at any given time in order to answer His call and meet His demands. Let us remember that we are no longer our own but that it is He who bought us at a price and owns us that we may glorify Him both in our spirits and in our bodies which are His. Elishas Example:
And he left there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, and he was plowing; twelve pairs of oxen were before him, and he was with the twelfth. And Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, Please, let me kiss my father and my mother, and I will follow you. And he said to him, Go back again, for what have I done to you? And he turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave it to the people, and they ate. And he arose and went after Elijah, and ministered to him. (1Ki 19:19-21)

The life of this servant of God is an example for us to follow. Whereas he was obviously busy with his twelve yoke of oxen, as soon as he sensed the call of God via Elijah, he responded immediately and followed. Within that short period of time, he killed a yoke of oxen and not only did he butcher the oxen, he also destroyed the oxen instruments. Having burnt his bridges behind him, he set out to follow his master, never to return to the oxen business anymore. How many of us are ready to leave all that is in our hands presently, no matter how precious they are to us, and follow our King, answering His call? This seems quite difficult. However, Jesus says in Luke14:26:
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26)

Hence, we sense the lord saying here to us that whosoever is not willing to forgo everything for His sake at any time is not worthy to be in His feast. May this not be our lot. After serving Him faithfully in our various places of ministry and assignment, may our seats at the Marriage Table never be taken over from us. Let us remember however
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the nature of our Lord that With the faithful You will show Yourself faithful; with the upright man You will show Yourself upright. With the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the perverted You will appear perverse.

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CHAPTER 5
MARANATHA COME LORD JESUS!
He who testifies these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly, Amen. Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

(Rev 22:20) As we draw the curtains on this study, it is important that we look up and see the One we are expecting. It is necessary for us not only to anticipate His coming but also to see Him in the offices in which He will be manifest at His appearing. In other words, our major focus here is to discover the Lord through the eyes of the Spirit so that when He will be made manifest, we will neither be ignorant nor caught unawares.
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light. For the Lord Jehovah will do nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

(Psa. 36:9)

And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show to His servants the things which must shortly be done.
(Rev 22:6)

But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.
(1Cor. 2:10-12)(all emphasis mine)

The above scriptures indicate that Gods desire is not to keep us in the dark. Rather, it is obvious that He desires that we know all that He has freely given us through the Spirit. Since the Spirit searches the mind of the Father and uncovers the mysteries in the mind of the GodHead, we who are His and to whom the Spirit has been released, must press in to know and experience all that He has in stock for us. Whereas we have come to know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and the Messiah, anointed to save us from all our sins and sicknesses, we need to know Him as the Resurrected One. Whereas we have seen Him as the Son of Man humbly born in a manger, we need to see Him as the Son of God returning upon the clouds of glory. Even though we have known Him as the Lamb, it is important that we also know Him as the Lion. We have previously seen Him in the darkness of Calvarys hours, now we see Him in the bright clouds of His glorious return. There are thus two unique offices in which He will be revealed to us and we briefly examine these: The Soon-Coming King The Soon-Coming Judge
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THE SOON-COMING KING

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1Tim. 1:17) For He in His own time will reveal who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, (1Tim. 6:15) These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them. For He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those with Him are the called and elect and faithful ones. (Rev 17:14)

The Scriptures talk of our Lord in several capacities. Right from the old testament, we see our Lord being referred to as King. When Christ was on earth, He gave a number of parables indicating His Kingship and Lordship. Hence, His Kingship is not news to us. However, we need to see Him in the context of His Kingship at His coming especially (1)as a King Himself (2) as King of all other kings. (1) As a King Himself: Let us briefly look at the following verses of scripture as touching this.
My heart is welling forth with a good matter: I say what I have composed touching the king. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer than the sons of men; grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. (Psa. 45:1-2 Darby) Buckle on your sword, mighty king; you are glorious and majestic. Ride on in majesty to victory for the defense of truth and justice! Your strength will win you great victories! Your arrows are sharp, they pierce the hearts of your enemies; nations fall down at your feet. The kingdom that God has given you will last forever and ever. You rule over your people with justice;. (Psa. 45:3-6 GNB) You love righteousness, and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows. (Psa. 45:7)

This passage is full of exultations of our King and demonstrations of the unique qualities of His personality. First, is the issue of His appearance and countenance. Our King is fairer then a thousand men and so He is wonderful to behold. Even though He was manifest as a man, yet He is much fairer than all the sons of men put together. Not only is His countenance beautiful to behold, His personality is sweet and charming. Remember, He is the Churchs Groom and He is the fairest of ten thousand to her. First, we rejoice in this unique quality of our perfect, spotless and flawless King. Then, we also see Him in His speech. A Kings speech is as the rain, much waited-for and cherished. As for our King, His speech is filled with grace for the Father hath poured unlimited grace into His lips. This can be easily seen in the way He spoke while on earth. On one occasion, even the soldiers sent to arrest Him got transfixed and returned to their senders remarking "No man ever spoke like this man!". Thus, it is important that we view the quality of our lives also. Can our lives be said to be fair to behold both within and without? Is the same beauty seen in our King manifest in us? Then, what is the quality of the speech that emanates from our lips? Is it filled with grace and seasoned with salt? As for Christ, by virtue of this grace, we see that the Father has blessed Him forever. May we here say this: What makes a man special or precious to God is a function of what and how much God has deposited into his life. Thus, the more a man has received of God, the more the man becomes precious to Him. Hence, because the Fathers unlimited grace is upon the Son, His unlimited blessing is poured upon His head. The beauty of this for us is that as He, our King is the Head, we are His Body upon which the whole blessing falls. Thus, as the Father hath blessed Him forever, that very same blessing rests upon His Body also(Ps. 133:1-3). Hallelujah!
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Having seen His personality as a(our) King, we proceed to see Him in His goings-forth. He is the glorious and majestic King who has His sword buckled and strapped on. In ancient times, kings led their armies to battle in order to fight for new territories or to defend and establish their already-gained domain of rulership. As for our King, His throne has been established from of old because His goings forth have been from of old. He goes forth to fight the battles of truth and justice. And He gloriously rides on in majesty to win all His battles and claim all His victories. By the sheer size of His strength, He wins His victories. What does this portend for us? First, we may rejoice because our King is strong and mighty enough to win any and every battle. Thus, as long as He is our King, we are sure that we will never lose any battle, whether in the now or in the future. Next, we may rejoice because our King is fully strapped with His armour especially His sword. It is this same sword we see issuing forth out of His mouth and smiting all the nations gathered against Him (Rev.19:15,21). All He needs do is to release this double-edged sword and the battle is won. The apostle Paul refers to this sword as the sword of the Spirit. It is with this that we can silence every enemy attacks and/or opposition. Hence, we will do well to ask ourselves: Is my life constantly tied to the Sword? Is the sword permanently strapped to my side? Our victory is tied to our proper possession and use of this sword. Little wonder that Jesus said to the disciples, He who has no sword should sell his garment and buy one. In other words, none of our basic life necessities(which is exemplified by our clothing) is as important as possessing and getting strapped with the Word. In addition, the arrows that go forth from Him are sharp and piercing. They always hit target, bringing down all His enemies and those who have set themselves against Him. Nations and peoples are brought to bow and submit at His feet. The word of the King is sharper than any two-edged sword and in going forth will never miss target but achieve success in whatever He sends it to do.
For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12) For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and does not return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring out and bud, and give seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do. (Isa 55:10)

Next in the list of the Psalmist is the duration of His Kingdom and dominion. Every natural or physical king has a tenure of rulership. If not terminated during his lifetime, it will definitely be terminated as soon as he dies. However, our Lords throne and dominion is ancient and remains forever. He has never been dethroned neither will He abdicate His throne to another. Once again, we may rejoice on account of this. For as long as He is enthroned, we have nothing to fear for He is ours and fully on our side. Also, the sceptre of righteousness and justice in His hand with which He rules indicates that He reigns in our favour. Kings of the earth are inclined to be biased in their judgements thus rendering such judgements unfair, undependable and imperfect. However, our King not only reigns in majesty, He reigns in authority with righteousness and justice as His standards, hence His judgements are faithful, true, perfect and final.

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Note very importantly the last characteristic mentioned in the passage. This King loves righteousness and hates iniquity and consequently has been anointed with an anointing superseding that of His fellows. In ancient Israel, every king that was to be enthroned must of necessity be anointed into this office. Hence, since our Lord is a King from the lineage of David, he also had to be anointed by God for this assignment. But then what distinguishes Him from every other king is the unlimited level of His anointing(for upon Him the Father released the Spirit without measure). This is due to this unique love and hatred which He has. Hence, as we look to our King, let us see ourselves in His light. Are we truly lovers of righteousness and haters of evil and all iniquity? Or do we love righteousness yet tolerate some form of sin or indulgence contrary to the divine nature? God is looking for such vessels like Christ who will hate sin with all their being and at the same love righteousness with all their heart. It is upon these ones He desires to release the same unlimited grace and anointing of His Spirit. Are you meeting this requirement in a balanced way or are you tilted to one side at the expense of the other? Let us take note that God desires balance in both our running away from sin as well as our running after righteousness. May He help us to be like Him in this respect and thus experience such unlimited release of His anointing like Christ did. Amen. (2) As King of all other kings: Not only is our Lord King over His established domain, He is also the King over every other king whether past, present or future. Furthermore, there are two sub-categories of His Kingship over other kings. First, He is the King of saints and then He is King over all the kings of the earth.
And You made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign over the earth. (Rev 5:10) And made us kings and priests to God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:6) And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are Your works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Your ways, O King of saints. (Rev. 15:3)

From the above verses, we see that not only has the Lord enthroned us as His kings and priests commissioned to reign, he has also made our Lord and Christ head over all the saints. Much of His functions and peculiarities in this capacity has already been looked at under the previous section of His kingship. One more thing we want to state here is this: In the present, He rules in us and through us but when He appears, He will rule together with us. In other words, we will sit with Him in His throne and rule alongside Him. What a privilege for us! Hence, His ordaining us as kings and priests does not terminate when He appears, for then we shall be fully enthroned with Him and we shall reign forever under His Kingship and Lordship. Are you presently reigning as a king in your assigned domain in your family, class, work, school, business, health etc? You can only reign to the degree to which you have submitted to His rule in your own life. Are you fully yielded to His reign in your life now? Are you also preparing to reign with Him when He appears? May we fully experience His reign in our lives in the present and be qualified to reign with Him when He appears. Amen. Then, also He is the King over all the kings of the earth. Whether by willing submission or by divine conquest, He reigns over them all. By virtue of divine proclamation, Christ has been declared King over every other king, leader and ruler on the earth.

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Even from Jesus Christ the faithful Witness, the First-born from the dead and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, (Rev 1:5) All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Jehovah, when they hear the Words of Your mouth. (Psa. 138:4) So the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth Your glory. (Psa. 102:15) And I will make him My first-born, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psa. 89:27)

There are those who willingly submit to His leadership and surrender to His rule. However, despite this divine pronouncement, some kings and rulers will still try to prove difficult for our Lords dominion. Thus He is also King by divine conquest for He rides forth in victories and His right hand has brought Him the victory in all cases. The height of His conquest was manifest at Calvary where he defeated the very rulers of this world and their chief prince himself. Hence, all must submit to His Headship and Lordship over them whether by choice or by force.
Say unto God, How terrible are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. (Psa. 66:3 ASV) Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psa. 110:1 ASV) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers plot together, against Jehovah and against His anointed, Yea, I have set My king on My holy hill, on Zion. And now be wise, O kings; be instructed, O judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled in but a little time. Blessed are all who put their trust in Him. (Psa. 2:2,6,10-12)

Hence, what is our take in this? We are the church, the Zion from which He will extend His rule and reign to all the parts of and over all the kings and rulers of the earth. Hence, we need to deliberately fit into our strategic offices so that He can both reign in us and also reign through us.
Jehovah shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion; rule in the midst of Your enemies. (Psa. 110:2) And many nations shall come and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob. And He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths; for the Law shall go forth out of Zion, and the Word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. (Mic. 4:2) Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of Jehovah has risen on you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah shall rise on you, and His glory shall be seen on you. And the nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawning. (Isa. 60:1-3) For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea. (Hab. 2:14)

THE SOON-COMING JUDGE

We have seen our Lord as the coming King appearing in glory as both the King of saints as well as the King of all other kings of the earth. Analogous to this truth is this: our Lord

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is coming as Judge of all, first as Judge of saints and then as Judge of the whole world. The following scriptures confirm this.
The foes of Jehovah shall be broken to pieces. He thunders in the heavens upon them. Jehovah shall judge the ends of the earth. And He shall give strength to His king, and exalts the horn of His anointed. (1Sam. 2:10) And He shall judge the world in righteousness; He shall judge the peoples in uprightness. (Psa 9:8) And the heavens shall declare His righteousness; for God Himself is judge. Selah. (Psa 50:6) before Jehovah; for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth; He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth. (Psa 96:13) For Jehovah will judge His people, and He will have pity on His servants. (Psa 135:14) Because He has appointed a day in which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead. (Act 17:31)

These verses along with several others confirm the fact that our Lord will be sitting as King and as Judge and will decide the fate of all men either living or dead at the time of His appearing. First, we look at His qualifications as Judge.
For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son, (John 5:22) But to the Son He says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your kingdom. (Heb. 1:8) Then is the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He makes to cease all rule and all authority and power. for it is right for Him to reign until He has put all the enemies under His feet... For He put all things under His feet. But when He says that all things have been put under His feet, it is plain that it excepts Him who has put all things under Him. But when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subject to Him who has subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all things in all. (1Cor. 15:24-25,27-28)

Thus, we see that God has chosen the Son and authorized Him as judge over all men and all things. The qualification is based on the Fathers choice and decision and none can argue with it. Right from creation, Gods method of rulership has been via the sons of men. However, when satan invaded the garden of Eden, he usurped mans birthright and authority, hence he became the prince of this world. But the Father again made a Man to come in the fullness of time to restore that which man had lost. Actually, Gods purpose in creation was that of a hierarchy of rulership and delegated authority. Man would rule over all the earth and all works of creation and God would be Lord over man. Hence, in the restoration, God, not willing to change the original plan, sent His Son in the form of a man to restore to all of mankind their lost place in this divine hierarchy. So, together with the Son of Man, we are placed in the heavenly realms and sitted with Him form where He reigns over all things through us the church(i.e. all who have been brought into union with Him). Presently, through the church Hes reigning in the world but this is a limited rule. However, when He shall appear, He will take His rightful place as King of all and Judge over all. And then, we His Body will have all things brought under our feet and yet being subject to Him. He also will thus have all things under His feet and also be subject to the Father, thus making the Father King and Lord of all. Amen. (1) As Judge of Saints: The Lord will sit as Judge first over the household of faith and this He will do together with the apostles who were with Him as seen in the following scriptures.
Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Page | 46

Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (Eph 2:19-20)(emphasis mine) For the time of having the judgment begin from the house of God is come ; but if first from us, what shall be the end of those who obey not the glad tidings of God? (1Pet. 4:17) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to that which he has done, whether good or bad. (2Cor. 5:10) You are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I appoint a kingdom to you, as My Father has appointed to Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:28-30) For Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver, Jehovah is our king; He will save us. (Isa. 33:22) Therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no more be a prey. And I will judge between lamb and lamb. (Ezek. 34:22)

The first implication of these scriptures is that God through Christ will start His judgement from the church which will begin from her very foundations the apostles and prophets to whom Christ handed the baton and they in turn will sit with Him to judge over the twelve tribes of Israel i.e. all of the spiritual Israel redeemed from the earth. What then should be our attitude as we await this judgement? Notice that this judgement of the Saints popularly referred to as the Judgement Seat of Christ is not supposed to be a sad event for us if we prepare well for it. How then ought we to live our lives as that Great Day approaches?
Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again. (Matt. 7:1-2) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then shall each one have praise of God. (1Cor. 4:5) For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (1Cor. 11:31)

We should live our lives in daily anticipation of His appearing as the Great and Just Judge; judging ourselves and not passing judgement on others except as led or directed by the Spirit. That way, we would have saved ourselves a lot of condemnation. One very important thing we need to understand and apply is seen in the following verses:
And if any one hears My Words and does not believe, I do not judge him, for I do not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My Words has one who judges him; the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:47-48) A king who sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes. (Prov. 20:8) And His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head many crowns. And He had a name written, one that no one knew except Himself. (Rev. 19:12) Is not My Word like a fire? says Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jer. 23:29) For any other foundation can no one lay than the one being laid, who is Jesus Christ. And if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is. If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire. (1Cor. 3:11-15) (all emphasis mine)

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From all these scriptures, we get a revelation by the Spirit embedded herein. Christ the Judge will try each of us with the fire of His word. The same word that emanated from Him as speech will in that day manifest as fire from His eyes as He sits as King and Judge and will try us and the quality of all our work on the earth. Each work will thus remain or be burnt depending on the quality of the material in line with the specifications of the Word(the Fire). Hence, knowing this, what can we do ahead of time? What is the expectation of God in revealing these things to us by His Spirit ahead of time? Clearly, the Lord desires that our work will survive the fire-test. But how can this be?
Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. (2Cor. 5:16 ASV) For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light. (Psa. 36:9)

This is the solution God has made for us! Since the Fountain is with Him, all that we need both in life and in Judgement emanates from Him. Thus, His expectation is that we live by the light of His Word and Spirit on a daily and perpetual basis. If that light will Judge us on that day, it can also guide us as we live today. Hence, we only need to get to Him humbly and ask to be guided, not by self-light nor by other peoples opinions and judgement (including that of our spiritual leaders), but only by that same Light that will come from His fiery eyes to try all our works. It is only as we walk by this light that we will no longer judge people, things and situations according to a human perspective but we would judge just like He would do in any situation. May the Lord help us to see light in His own Light and thus know no man or work or situation according to the flesh but in accordance with the light of the Spirit. (2) As Judge of the whole world: The believer is privileged in that he will be judged first and hence will not be judged along with the rest of the world. Indeed, He will actually sit with Christ on His throne to judge the world and even the angels. What a glorious truth!
Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit in all nations. (Psa 82:8) Then shall the trees of the forest sing out at the presence of Jehovah, because He comes to judge the earth. (1Chr. 16:33) Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels, not to mention the things of this life? (1Cor. 6:2-3) And if any one hears My Words and does not believe, I do not judge him, for I do not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My Words has one who judges him; the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:47-48)

Hence, it is clear that the world will not go unjudged. Thus, we who are to judge the world need to come out from among her and be separate. Only then will we be qualified to stand and judge her in that day. Note, however, that our separation from her does not imply being aloof without any impact as we have previously seen. Rather, it means we are not to be unequally yoked with her, whether in her ways, cultures and practices. Rather, we are to union with Christ, shine as lights in her and then we will be qualified together with Him, to also sit in judgement over her. Hence, it is important that we know our place and fully occupy it. First, we are to keep shining as lights in this present world, both reaching out to her with the love of the Saviour(in our words as well as our deeds) and interceding for her before God. May our place not be taken at the Judgement Seat on that day. Amen.

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BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY AND MY REWARD

And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is. (Rev. 22:12)

For every test there is a result, and each result will lead to a reward. The reward can either be positive or negative but it will always be in line with the result of the test. Thus, after the test of fire to be administered at the Judgement Seat, both of the Saints and of the rest of the world(i.e. the Great White Throne Judgement), there will be a result which will be unique to each man. This result will be the product of the fires working upon every man and his work(encompassing all his thoughts, words and deeds).Gods desire is that our work will not be burnt but be found blameless at His appearing.
For any other foundation can no one lay than the one being laid, who is Jesus Christ. And if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is. If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire. (1Cor. 3:11-15)

The worth of any work is to be determined by its weight. Notice that the heavier the substance of the work, the more precious and eternal the work will be. Hence, God is not concerned about the magnitude of our work but about its quality and weight. It is only such heavy work that qualifies a man before God and count as true riches in His sight.
I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be clothed, and so that the shame of your nakedness does not appear. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see. (Rev 3:18) So that the trial of your faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire) might be found to praise and honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1Pet. 1:7) Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day; and not to me only, but also to all those who love His appearing. (2Tim. 4:8)

Therefore, we ought to watch and pray as we work daily, being continually guided by His light. That way when He appears, we will not suffer loss. Rather, our work will be as gold, being found to praise and glory at His appearing. Note that His judgement of us is not the end in itself. Instead, it is so as to determine the reward to be allotted to us in the new Kingdom. The crown of righteousness is for those whose work pass the test of fire to be administered in that day by the Righteous Judge. Hence, like the apostle Paul, let us work the works of Him who has sent us while it is day, for night cometh when no man can work. As we work, let us focus not on quantity, but on quality and weight. Let us not be guided by any other light except that same one which will be used in testing us on that day. Thus, we who read this say, Maranatha Come, Lord Jesus! Oh, that You would appear, thou Soon-coming King and Judge of all the earth. But, even more importantly we say, Oh help us to be prepared for Your glorious appearing and cause our work to be done in such a way and manner that will pass through the fire and come out shining as gold to the glory and praise of Your Name. Even so let it be. Amen!

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POSTSCRIPT
BEHOLD HE COMES
Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and those who pierced Him will see Him, and all the kindreds of the earth will wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. (Rev 1:7) When it was time for the Lord to go He comforted the disciples with these words I go to prepare a place for you For in my Fathers house are many mansions And if I go I will come again To receive you unto Myself That where I am there you may be also And where I go you will go with me Now Hes been gone over two thousand years Quite a long time ago Yet His words stand sure As sure as the night and the day However His coming is closer now than ever Closer now than when we first believed For the midnight cry is now sounding Go ye out to meet Him Can you not hear the sound? His chariot steeds are near at the door. Anytime now Hell march in with His hosts Triumphant in glory and in Majesty Oh that I may be found in Him Having no righteousness of my own But fully clothed in His blood-washed robe Spotless to stand before His throne Oh how we shall reign with Him on high For a thousand years, nay, even for eternity Then all of lifes good and times will seem Like just an hour gone by His coming is sure and very soon For He said so in His word Page | 50

How I long to see Him when He appears In glory on that blessed day So are you ready for His coming? For lo He cometh already Anytime now the archangel will sound his trumpet And the clouds will reveal the long-awaited One First the dead in Christ shall rise And then the rest of us will meet Him in the air Then we shall see Him as He is And we shall be changed incorruptibly How then ought we to live our lives Whilst we await this glorious event? For His coming is for a prepared church Without spot and without wrinkle We must live each day like tis our last For no one knows when the day shall be Neither the Son of man nor the angels Except the Father who is in heaven Woe to you then you worldling For though you rejoice now, it is temporary Away with those who nailed Him For your joy shall soon be short-lived Alas, we who wait must watch and pray For the enemy of our soul is on the prowl He knows he has but a short time Cause his doom is near and sure Will you now fully yield yourself to the Holy Ghost While He works on men in the Preparation room? For there men are clothed in their wedding garments And the oil is released to the wise in extra measure Oh that He would meet us ready and waiting for Him With our lamps trimmed and our garments clean Moving with Him into His Banqueting Hall Where His banner over us is Love Thus the Spirit and the Bride say Come And let him who hears say Come And let him that is thirsty Come Yes, Even so Come Lord Jesus, Amen! Page | 51

About the Book & About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ayomikun C. Adeniran is a child of God. He is a graduate of Pure and Applied Mathematics from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. As an undergraduate, he served God as a member of the Ibadan Varsity Christian Union(IVCU-NIFES). By the grace of God, he served as the pioneer President of both the Mathematics Students Christian Fellowship(MSCF) and the Faculty of Science Christian Fellowship(FSCF) both in the 2008/09 session. During his N.Y.S.C., he was also privileged to serve as the General Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Corpers Fellowship (N.C.C.F.), Adamawa State Chapter. His desire is to see the Body of Christ experience true light through being a divine channel and mouthpiece for God.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This book is a product of a burden upon Gods heart. With the trend of things in our world today, we are no doubt at the end of time. As believers therefore, it is not only important to know this but also, like the sons of Isaachar, to know what the Israel of God ought to do. Oftentimes, we have been told that our Lord is coming soon and thus we should be ready. The matter therefore is what to do to get ready whilst we wait. Hence, this book seeks to give insight into the heart of God for us who live in such a critical time as this not only to know the times and the seasons we are in but also to discern what we ought to do therein.

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