Prophetic Dream: Victorious Church in the End Times (Rev.

12:7-12)
I. PROPHETIC DREAM ON FEBRUARY 13, 2009 A. I was speaking at a conference in a baseball park inside a large fairground. About 40,000 people were presentmany leaders from different charismatic streams, and people from all these groups. I saw one particular leader who was representative of other leaders in the Body of Christ who seek to walk in Gods power and who have an excellent spirit. We were enjoying warm fellowship together. B. I preached on prayer, Gods power and end-time judgment. I spoke at two afternoon sessions. In the break between the sessions, people were debating what I was preaching. Some IHOP-KC people debated each other, while others were speaking to believers from different ministry streams. They were discussing God's power and His end-time judgment in a friendly way; there was no hostility, only sincere dialogue with humility and love. It was enjoyable and intellectually stimulating but none of the different points of view stirred up real faith or revelation. C. Immediately as I finished the second session at 5 PM, I saw a token of a few of the events that John prophesied in Revelation 12:7-9 when war breaks out in heaven between Satan and Michael the archangel, resulting in Satan being cast to the earth at the beginning of the Tribulation. 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satanhe was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Rev. 12:7-9) D. I did not see SatanI saw demonic principalities being cast to the earth. They looked like large snakes (over 100 yards long and 50 feet thick), each having a huge head that looked like a dragon, and many of them were coming from the sky down to the earth. E. Everyone at the conference was filled with panic; most were terrified. No one had understanding or faith that was mature enough to respond in the power or confidence that I had just preached on, myself included. I ran as I felt the terror of the event. The leaders and their people were terrified; everyone wanted to get

out of the fairground quickly. Most people were in confusion, including those from IHOP-KC. F. These snake-like demonic principalities and the demonic hosts with them were filled with rage against the people. They were angry and even humiliated about being confined to the earth. Satans rage is related to the short amount of time he has before going to prison (Rev. 20:1-3). 12 Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath (fury), because he knows that he has a short time17 The dragon was enraged he went to make war with the restwho have the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 12:12, 17) G. Soot like wet, muddy, thick ash was raining down from the sky. It darkened the sky as it fell on the people who were running. I ran out of the vast fairground to the park offices at the entrance. Wet ash was all over me as I ran. Many did not get out; they were bitten by the large snakes. H. There were evil policeman at the entrance. They told me, You have to go back into the fairground or we will put you in jail. They were callous about the danger I would face if I went back into the fairground. Then I understood that they were part of the Antichrists system. I was in a dilemma. I thought, I just escaped from the most intense danger imaginable and now I have to go back in! There will be no natural way out of this crisisthe only way will be by the power of the Spirit. I. When standing by the police I thought, I wish IHOP had taken the events in Revelation 12 more seriously in the early days, and had prepared more urgently when we had time. I said to myself, The debate about power is much bigger than the power we actually walk in. I woke up with an urgency that the IHOP leadership needs greater zeal to walk in the things of the Spirit. J. After I woke up, I understood that fear and confusion will NOT be the condition of the entire Body of Christ when the events of Revelation 12:7 literally occur. Many will have understanding and be in a place of mature faith. The Lord was showing me what it would be like if these events happened today with the Church in its current condition (being unprepared in understanding and faith). K. The message of the dream was that we at IHOP need to be more urgent in going deep in our walk with Jesus, in growing in faith to operate more in the

Holy Spirit right now, and in "eating the scroll" in order to have much more understanding now and in that specific hour. 20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly. (Jer. 23:20) L. I felt strongly that IHOP and other streams in the Body of Christ have empty arguments about power and their insight into the end-time drama. Most arguments, in either direction, do not actually prepare people to go deeper in Jesus, His Word and Spirit. They are not helpfulrather, they are empty. M. In this dream, the Lord was warning me to set my face toward Him and His Word and to refuse the temptation to invest time in seeking to look wise to others. What is coming is so much more intense than we imagine. Even those with the most insight do not understand the intensity of the events in Revelation 12:7-12. N. The point of the dream: neither the IHOP leadership nor I are mature enough in our understanding to entertain debates and casual arguments that will arise much more in the Church in the future. O. The "now" word of God must be confirmed with power. The only way to be culturally relevant in society is to move in power to confirm the Word. Without this, many in the Church are looking for ministries with trendy language and clothes, interesting technology, or to talk about current affairs together. Many are trapped in an abyss of entertainment. P. We will only penetrate that bubble by power and the real fear of the Lord. People will not get free from the vice of our pop culture without it. People must walk away from their gatherings knowing that He is involved in their lives in power. We must experience manifestation of His majesty that makes us tremble, and be moved to repentance and servanthood by His kindness. II. A LITERAL WAR WILL BREAK OUT IN HEAVEN IN THE END TIMES A. Some teach that the war in heaven described in Revelation 12:7 occurred at the cross and that Satan is now confined to the earth. Satans host operates in the heavenly places in this age. 12 We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against

principalitiesagainst the rulers of the darknessagainst spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph. 6:12) B. Christ defeated Satan at the cross. However, the full scope of His victory has not yet been fully manifested on earth. This is the "already and not yet" paradox of the kingdom in operation. At Christ's ascension, Jesus was seated at Gods right hand, far above all authority (Eph. 1:20-22). Jesus disarmed the demonic powers and made a public spectacle of them (Col. 2:15). C. The windows of heaven will be opened and demonic principalities will be punished. Demonic spirits and evil kings will be put in prison, like Satan, as prophesied by Isaiah. 18 The windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth are shaken. 19 The earth is violently brokenthe earth is shaken exceedingly...20 Its transgression shall be heavy upon it21 In that day that the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones (demonic principalities), and on the earth the kings of the earth. 22 They (demons and kings) will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit (bottomless pit), and will be shut up in the prison (Rev. 20:1-3); after many days (1,000 years) they will be punished (Lake of Fire)the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion (Millennium) (Isa. 24:18-23) D. One of the most unique dynamics of the Tribulation is that Satan and all his demons will be cast to the earth (Rev. 12:9) and Satan will give his throne to the Antichrist (Rev. 13:2). Hundreds of millions of demons now in the bottomless pit will be released (Rev. 9:3, 16). Billions will be engaged in Satan worship. There will be more demonized people on earth than at any time in history. 2 The dragon (Satan) gave him (Antichrist) his power, his throne (Rev. 13:2) 21 There will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world22 Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved... (Mt. 24:21-22) E. The saints will overcome Satan in the Tribulation by the blood of Jesus, by their testimony and their commitment to Jesus, even unto death. 10 I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and

strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethrenhas been cast down. 11 They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev. 12:10-11) F. The praying Church will overcome Satan and the Antichrist (Rev. 12:11; 15:2; 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7). The miracles of Exodus and Acts will be combined and multiplied on a global level. Fear need NOT dominate our spirit and extinguish our faith. We need not fear the Tribulation as powerless victims seeking to escape it. 12 The works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do (Jn. 14:12) G. End-time believers will engage in the prayer of faith to bind and loose according to Gods will. This passage will be fulfilled on earth in the Tribulation by a victorious Church operating in power: 18 On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Mt. 16:18-19) H. The Antichrist will be the greatest oppressor the world has ever seen. Isaiah 42 is one of the main passages about the Second Coming; it emphasizes justice. People do not rejoice in judgment until an oppressor is in power. Jesus will bring justice to the earth in the context of the Antichrists oppression. I. Jesus will only confront the oppressor to the measure that the prayers of the saints ascend in faith. 4 The prayers of the saints, ascended before God5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth (Rev. 8:4-5) 7 Shall God not avenge (bring justice) His own elect who cry out day and night to Him8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily (in the Tribulation). (Lk. 18:7-8)

J. The most dramatic events in world history will occur in the context of the greatest prayer movement contending against the greatest oppression, to see the greatest justice movement fulfilled across the whole earth. What will be released in fullness then is released in part now. III. JESUS WILL SUPERNATURALLY HELP THE CHURCH COME TO VICTORY (REV. 14) A. The message of Revelation 14 is that Jesus will supernaturally anoint the Church to walk in victory. B. In Revelation 14:1-5, Jesus will stand on Mount Zion in Jerusalem with 144,000 prophetic singers. Revelation 14:6-13 reveals four prophetic promises and proclamations that the Spirit will release conviction on; He will confirm them with signs and wonders to strengthen His people. 1. In Revelation 14:6-7, we will receive angelic assistance and great power that we might succeed in preaching the gospel to all nations in the presence of hostility (Mt. 24:14; Rev. 7:9). 2. In Revelation 14:8, the anointed proclamation of the defeat of the Harlot Babylon stirs our faith. 3. In Revelation 14:9-11, the anointed proclamation of the certainty of eternal judgment coming on all who worship the Antichrist will embolden the saints to resist, even unto death. 4. In Revelation 14:12-13, the anointed proclamation of the certainty of receiving eternal rewards for being faithful will strengthen the Church. 5. In Revelation 14:14-20, we see two separate end-time harvests that will be released by prayer: the harvest of souls is seen in Revelation 14:14-16 and the harvest of sin in Revelation 14:17-20. These two harvests demonstrate the effectiveness of prayer in releasing power for salvation and the removal of evil.