Another Coffee Break - By Regner Capener
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Another Coffee Break:
Pictures of Tribulation & Wrath, Part 2
Pictures of Tribulation & Wrath, Part 2
Felicitations and
Blessings!
Before I get into
today's Coffee Break, I have an issue that needs attention. One of our primary
forums for publishing these posts -- Multiply.com -- has decided to cease
operating in its present form. Our forum -- http://RegnersRangers.Multiply.com
-- has already been closed to any updating. It is up to date as of a couple
weeks ago, but eight years worth of Coffee Break archives will vanish as of
December 1, 2012. With something on the order of 100,000 readers who access the
30+ Multiply forums on which these columns appear will suddenly be without
access. That means we will have to scramble to move the Coffee Breaks to a new
site -- and that site has yet to be determined. If any of you are looking for
something to do and you have the necessary skills to create a whole new site
from scratch, please contact me immediately.
Secondly, for
about the umptieth time, my MSN account was hacked and a large number of you
received spam messages which purported to come from me. Once we are able to get
a substitute website up to replace the Multiply site, I will be dumping MSN as
an email provider. Even though I've been with MSN for nearly 20 years, the fact
that privacy issues are not a priority with them, and the fact that --
increasingly -- users of MSN are nearly as prone to hacking as AOL users makes
it necessary to make these changes.
Anyway, onward
and upwards!
Let's begin today
by drawing a completely different picture of tribulation than the one (or ones)
referred to in the previous Coffee Breaks. First, let me lay a foundation for
this from Revelation 5:9-11.
"And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the
seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out
of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast
made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the
throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands."
(Note: The KJV
translates the Greek zoon as "beast."
This is a somewhat misleading translation since the word actually should
translate as "living being" or perhaps more accurately, "living creature,"
without actually identifying the kind of "being." That, however, is a separate
discussion for some later time.)
In sharing the
Revelation of Jesus Christ, one of John's opening remarks (see Revelation 1:5-6)
goes like this: "And
from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath
made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory
and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
Where we're going
in our picture of tribulation that John is instructed to share is preceded by
the fact that we are FIRST AND FOREMOST "kings
and priests unto God;" and that being
the case, we are given an assignment and a responsibility, specifically:
"and
we shall reign on the earth."
OK, so far? The
ability to "reign on the earth" is a direct byproduct of overcoming each
of the enemies described in the seven letters -- and this is important to our
understanding of where John is taking us next.
Notice also that
the 5th chapter of Revelation opens with John seeing the Lord Jesus Christ as
the Lion of Judah being handed a book which was sealed with seven seals. Each
of those seals had a prophetic significance for which John now receives
understanding and revelation.
Chapter 6 is a
clear description of the opening of the first six seals and gives us an
understanding of events which have been taking place in the earth since the
day(s) that John was first given this Revelation.
The first seal is
opened by the Lord, a sound of thunder (the Greek word, bronte: a roar,
an explosion of sound) is heard and John sees a white horse and a rider
with both a crown and a bow going forth to conquer. What John is seeing is the
spirit of antichrist. The particular Greek word used here is the same word
(actually the root) which appears in Revelation 2:6 and 2:15 as "Nicolaitanes."
In previous Coffee Breaks (and in a forthcoming book titled SEVEN NATIONS,
SEVEN LETTERS) I have dealt
with the "doctrine
of the Nicolaitanes" as well as
"the
deeds of the Nicolaitanes" which the Lord
specifically labels as "which
thing I hate!"
The unique thing
about the word "Nicolaitane" is that it is a reversible contraction of two
words: nicos [or nicaos] --
meaning, power; and laos -- meaning,
the common people. As previously noted, depending on how you
contract these two Greek words you wind up with "power over the
people" (or hierarchical
church structure) or "power to the
people" (more simply
described as democracy in the church) or "congregational" church government. No
matter how you slice it, you come up with humanism and humanistic control --
i.e., "man in control" -- rather than the government of
God.
It is antichrist
because it substitutes mankind -- whether that be power filtered down through
tiers of leadership, or power exercised by the masses -- in place of the Lord
Jesus Christ and/or the leadership of Holy Spirit. It presupposes that a man
(or men) lack the individual ability to hear what Holy Spirit is saying and how
He chooses to lead His people; and it substitutes man-made decision-making for
direct leadership AND THE ANOINTING of Holy Spirit.
Thus, depending
on how you render nicos and
laos, you have a
single individual (or a small group of individuals through tiers of leadership)
exercising the power to conquer the masses in the body of Christ; or you have
the masses in the congregations dictating (through the taking of votes) who
their leader is to be, how that leader is to lead, and what he (or she) is
permitted to preach or teach. You have a form of Godliness. You have some
real, genuine preaching of parts of the Gospel, but the demonstrable authority
of Holy Spirit is missing; and the promised signs to follow the believer are
absent. There is no "gospel of the Kingdom" with the attendant authority and
power to demonstrate.
In this
illustration (in Revelation 6:2) of the rider on the white horse, you see the
false Christ going forth "conquering, and to conquer." It was already happening
in John's day, and it certainly is happening today!
John next sees
the second seal opened, and with that seal a rider on a red horse who was given
the ability to steal peace in such a way as to cause men and women to turn on
each other with accusations, personal attacks and even kill each other. You'll
observe that John describes this particular rider as having a great sword. What
you are seeing is a classic picture of a religious spirit being driven and
motivated by the Fear of Evil. The word in the Greek text translated here as "a
great sword" is the word machaira, and it is a
commonly-used term meant to describe the execution of judicial
punishment.
Although this
spirit is certainly alive and well and operating in the earth today -- with a
vengeance, I might add -- it is my personal conviction that John saw the
tribunals under the various Roman Emperors and the Inquisition that took place
in the Dark Ages in which false accusations were leveled against Christians, and
they were put to death through absolutely unbelievable methods. Torture,
mutilation, beheadings, being burned at the stake, thrown to the lions, used as
target practice for gladiators -- these were but a few of the means used to try
to get Christians to recant their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (If you
haven't read Foxe's Book of Martyrs, I strongly recommend it to
you.)
Tribulation?
Yesssirrrreeee!!! We're at war, folks! We are at war against Satan, his
hordes of demons and his agenda of lies and deception against the people of
God. He opposes us. He opposes the Lord Jesus Christ. He opposes the Plan
that Father God put in place before the foundation of the earth. Anyone who
thinks they can live in this world and walk as lights in this generation without
suffering tribulation is simply deluding him- or herself. So long as we walk
with the Lord we will be opposed, persecuted and fought against with death as
Satan's purposed objective.
Now John sees the
third seal opened, and with that seal the release of a black horse with a rider
whose primary objective was to change weather patterns that would alter growing
seasons in such a way as to ruin crop harvests, bring drought and release
pestilence. His plan? To starve people through famine and release plagues of
diseases across the earth. Have we seen this? You bet! So that you understand
that John was seeing something that was about to unfold in the near future --
let alone the distant future! -- between 400 AD and 800 AD, the population of
Rome lost 90% of its inhabitants due to famine and
starvation.
Let me bring this
more up to date. Between 1810 and 1849, four famines raged throughout China
taking 45 million lives. Between 1959 and 1961, a continuous cycle of famine
took another estimated 43 million lives in China. Even more to the present, in
2009 an estimated 10 million Kenyans lost their lives due to famine and disease,
and that doesn't count those in Somalia, Ethiopia, East Africa and Niger. And
we haven't even begun to talk about the famines that have occurred within the
past decade in Russia, Siberia, Vietnam or North Korea!
Let's continue
with the opening of the seals. Let me remind you that we are NOT seeing the
wrath of God! This, folks, is tribulation -- GREAT tribulation -- and it is
going on (and has been ever since John was allowed to see
it!)
The fourth seal
is opened, and John sees a pale (Greek: chloros > green)
horse. The rider in this instance is Death, and John tells us that "Hell
followed with him." In this instance we have the picture of death having
authority over a quarter of the earth. Specific delegated authority was given
to kill with the sword (persecution, wars and conflicts), famine, pestilence
(all kinds of diseases -- some of them exotic diseases) and with wild beasts
(Greek: therion > savage
beasts, venomous creatures).
Here again we
have a picture of something that has been going on nonstop for the past 2,000
years. I will remind you that literally millions of Christians were killed at
the hands of the various Roman emperors for their testimony. Wars of one kind
or another and conflicts have raged throughout the centuries. The significant
difference was the beginning of the 20th Century in which -- for the first time
in history -- much of the entire world was engaged in a conflict. The world was
still recovering from World War I when Hitler came to power in Germany, Stalin
came to power in Russia and Mussolini came to power in Italy.
Everyone thinks
that Hitler was the measurement standard of all that is evil when he slaughtered
six million Jews, (and we're not arguing that) but no one thinks about the 13
million Christians and Jews (and people in general who opposed Stalin) murdered
during Stalin's regime. Add to that the estimated 1.25 million killed under
Mussolini's regime and you have more than 20 million people who were murdered
under these three dictators between 1939 and 1945.
Let's make it a
bit more recent. How about the uprising in Tahrir Square in Cairo? How many of
you saw the news piece on CNN and on MSNBC (on February 2, 2011) where they were
covering the uprising? In the video clip there is a very clear picture of a
pale green rider on a pale green horse riding into the crowd. The rider has a
sword in hand, and two angelic beings accompany him. Suddenly the rider and the
accompanying beings disappear as though they simply faded away. The appearance
of this rider really caught the attention of the news media, but Christian
commentators latched onto it immediately as a sign of a prophetic event
unfolding. Perhaps you've seen the news being reported in the past few days by
FOX News, the Washington Times, World Net Daily and other news media where the
Muslim Brotherhood is crucifying Christians on trees in plain sight for the
world to see.
Now, let's add to
all of this the incredible famines we've already talked about; and then there
are all the stories in the news about pets turning on their masters and killing
them, zoo animals escaping and killing people in the streets, wild animals --
cougars, bears, mountain lions (you name it) -- coming into communities and
attacking people. OK, you say, but we've heard these
kinds of stories for years! Sure you have, but how many years?
10, 20, 30 years? Compared to the last few centuries, folks, these stories are
increasing dramatically.
The picture now
changes as the Revelation continues to unfold for John. The fifth seal is
broken and John sees the great altar with the souls of the thousands and
millions of people throughout time who had been murdered because of their
testimony, and because of their faithfulness in standing for and upon the Word
of God. He hears the cry coming forth from them asking the Lord how much longer
the wicked would be permitted to continue before the blood of those slain was
avenged.
The Lord lets
John know that white robes (wedding garments) were given to all of them, and
that they should just relax a bit longer until those who still remained who
would be killed were put to death. If you understand this picture, then you
understand that the tribulation and persecution seen when the second and fourth
seals were opened was still incomplete, and that there was yet an additional
number of believers to die because of the Word of the Lord in them, and because
of their testimony.
Let me pause for
a moment to comment on remarks I've heard from numerous Christians over the past
few years. A common point of contention among many is that a loving God
would never put His people through such persecution and tribulation, allowing
them to be murdered in cold blood because of their testimony. What
these misguided Christians fail to see and understand is that, first of all, God
is NOT a sadist! He isn't the one doing all of this.
This is the work
of Satan who opposes and exalts himself above all that the Lord Jesus Christ is
(and has been) doing. With every cell of his existence, Satan seeks to prevent
the Lord from receiving His inheritance in a people who are His exact
counterpart, His other self, His precise image! These are a people who
victoriously rise above the persecution, the opposition, the tribulation and the
threat of death to overcome every effort of the Enemy to prevent them from being
that counterpart of Jesus Christ.
Death is no
threat to them whatever! They have no fear of death! The comfort of their
flesh is irrelevant when compared to the Glory of the Lord being revealed IN
THIS HOUR!!! And John saw it! He could testify firsthand to it. Let's not
forget that when John was given this Revelation of Jesus Christ and put it down
in writing for the body of Christ to read, the Roman Emperor, Domitian, had
tried to put John to death. Failing that, he tried to torture John by dipping
him into a vat of boiling oil. John came out of that vat unscathed and
unmarked. When that failed, he exiled him to the Isle of Patmos so as to rid
the empire of John's influence. Even that failed! John could therefore write
the Revelation as a victorious survivor and overcomer.
If we are to
believe historical documents, John lived to the year 116 or 117 AD, finally
dying in Ephesus at an age easily exceeding 110 years. The early church father,
Polycarp, who suffered martyrdom himself, was a disciple of John being mentored
in the Gospel by a man who clearly understood the message of the
overcomer.
Here's how John
saw it, personally experienced it, and described it: "And
I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and
the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our
brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word
of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the
death."
Get it? John is
seeing the final moment of victory when every effort and every device of Satan
is put down because of (1) the legal authority given to the believers by and
through the blood of Jesus, (2) the faithful testimony of the overcomers as they
testified to what the blood of Jesus accomplished in defeating Satan, and (3)
they never let the threat of death deter them, even though -- for many --
torturous death did come as Satan tried to force them to change their
confession.
I've said it
before and I'll say it again! Great tribulation? You bet! Getting raptured or
caught away out of it so that you don't have to experience great tribulation?
NOT if you want the Glory of the Lord to be revealed in the here and now AND
gain the final victory that Jesus has given us over Satan!
Next week we'll
look at the breaking of the sixth seal and the significance of the events that
John saw, and if we have the time to do it we'll look at the eighth chapter to
see the wrath of God.
"A phenomenal opportunity to encounter and embrace our Heavenly Father is being given to the Church around the world today. It is one that must be welcomed and protected. With the dawning of this new day in Church History, the anointing of Heaven is disbursed in the spiritual atmosphere so those truly seeking Truth can lay hold of it and obtain great insight with understanding. As Sons of the Kingdom ask with sincerity for this deposit, it will be received. Our spiritual eyes will be illumined to see the Scriptures from Heaven's perspective, not merely man's.
The spiritual realities that are being birthed in the earth now will have no end. They will literally flow into the Millennial age and the coming manifestation of His Kingdom on the earth.
Though we do not know when those days will be fully revealed, we do know that the purposes now being birthed will advance directly into that age. We will begin to taste the good Word of God and the power of the age to come. Like the beloved disciple John in his notable revelations, we will be allowed to eat the open book containing the full manifestation of the Lord's redemptive plans and purposes. This will be the tasting of His Kingdom Word and a demonstration of Kingdom might, in order to wonderfully introduce the Lord Jesus in truth and power, to an entire generation. (Prophetic Word from Paul Keith Davis)
Blessings on
you!
Regner
Regner A. Capener
CAPENER MINISTRIES
CAPENER MINISTRIES
709 South
7th Street
Sunnyside, Washington 98944
(509) 515-0133
All Coffee Break articles are copyright by Regner A. Capener, but authorization for reprinting, reposting, copying or re-use, in whole or in part, is granted – provided proper attribution and this notice are included intact. Older Coffee Break archives are now available at http://regnersrangers.multiply.com/journal/ and are being slowly added at http://www.AnotherCoffeeBreak.com. Coffee Break articles are normally published weekly.
If you would like to have these articles arrive each morning in your email, please send a blank email to: Subscribe@AnotherCoffeeBreak.com. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to Unsubscribe@AnotherCoffeeBreak.com.CAPENER MINISTRIES is a tax-exempt church ministry. Should you desire to participate and covenant with us as partners in this ministry, please contact us at either of the above email or physical addresses, or visit http://www.RiverWorshipCenter.org.
Sunnyside, Washington 98944
(509) 515-0133
All Coffee Break articles are copyright by Regner A. Capener, but authorization for reprinting, reposting, copying or re-use, in whole or in part, is granted – provided proper attribution and this notice are included intact. Older Coffee Break archives are now available at http://regnersrangers.multiply.com/journal/ and are being slowly added at http://www.AnotherCoffeeBreak.com. Coffee Break articles are normally published weekly.
If you would like to have these articles arrive each morning in your email, please send a blank email to: Subscribe@AnotherCoffeeBreak.com. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to Unsubscribe@AnotherCoffeeBreak.com.CAPENER MINISTRIES is a tax-exempt church ministry. Should you desire to participate and covenant with us as partners in this ministry, please contact us at either of the above email or physical addresses, or visit http://www.RiverWorshipCenter.org.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Another Coffee Break:
Pictures of Tribulation & Wrath, Part 1
Pictures of Tribulation & Wrath, Part 1
Greetings &
Solutions!
Without any ado
let's get right to today's discussion. By the way, I do have a French Press
brimming with some very dark roasted French Roast. Come on over and set a spell
with me.
In keeping with
the theme of the past two discussions, this Coffee Break can be regarded as part
III of the Antichrist series as I seek to clear up some confusion in the body of
Christ concerning some of the end time teachings and doctrines we've all been
exposed to. Again let me begin with I Corinthians
13:9,10,12):
"For
we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is
come, then that which is in part shall be done away...... For now we see through
a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I
know even as also I am known."
As already noted,
my sharing with you comes out of the revelation Holy Spirit has downloaded in me
and that which I have been walking personally -- especially during the past 30
years. I do not claim to have all of the blanks filled in yet so bear with me
if some of what I share doesn't seem to click in your
spirit.
In our last
Coffee Break, I noted that Paul used the Greek word thlipsis in Colossians,
and here we have it translated "afflictions." Let's take a look at that for a
minute.
"Although
you were previously alienated and hostile in your thinking by virtue of the
wicked deeds you were engaged in, yet He [Jesus Christ] has now reconciled you
to the Father through the death of His fleshly body [on the Cross] in order to
present you before Him holy, blameless and beyond reproach -- if indeed you
continue in the faith firmly established and immovable, and not removed in any
way from the hope of the Gospel [of the Kingdom] which you have heard, and which
was proclaimed in all creation under Heaven -- that of which I, Paul, was made a
minister. I rejoice now in my tribulation and sufferings for your sake, and in
my flesh I do my share on behalf of His Body (which is the Ekklesia) in filling
up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions. Of this Ekklesia I was made a
minister according to the administration and stewardship from God imparted upon,
in and through me for your benefit so that I might completely carry out the
preaching and teaching of the Word." (Colossians
1:21-25, my translation & amplification)
We actually see
the word thlipsis twice in this
passage -- once translated as Paul's tribulation and sufferings, and once as the
afflictions of Christ. Notice what that thlipsis produced in
Paul.
It resulted in
Paul's being able to share from a personal standpoint the afflictions that Jesus
went through on our behalf. It produced the change of Paul's nature in such a
way that the Lord imparted a stupendous anointing. That anointing resulted in
the efficacy of Paul's being able to share a revelation of Jesus Christ such
that 2000 years of fellow-believers have been able to profit and grow in their
relationship with the Lord as a result.
Next, take a look
at Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians.
"[We]
sent Timotheus, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow-laborer in the
Gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith:
that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we
were appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before
that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass and ye
know."
(I
Thessalonians 3:2-4 KJV)
Here again,
twice, we see the alternate translation of the word thlipsis as "afflictions"
and "tribulation." Again, Paul is telling us that tribulation and afflictions
for believers [who press forward in Christ Jesus] is the norm! Tribulation
isn't something abnormal for the believer! Tribulation is a normal part of our
existence as believers. To create an imaginary picture -- a fantasy, if you
will -- in the mind that tribulation is something to be avoided is -- once again
-- a lie of antichrist. It is a false Christ that says You don't need to
go through tribulation! I'll just snatch you out of the way and keep you safe
in Heaven during "the great tribulation." It is a false Christ -- a
substitute Christ -- that suggests that A loving God would never put His
people through tribulation!
We've been
quoting this verse from John's Gospel in the previous Coffee Breaks, and here it
is again! Jesus said (and continues to say!):
"These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world."
(John
16:33)
It's NOT the Lord
that is putting us through tribulation and afflictions. These things are a
byproduct of the fact that sin is at work in the world. We are enemies of sin.
We are residents and representatives of a Kingdom that is in the midst of
overthrowing Satan's dominion in the earth today. For us to think we're going
to somehow escape experiencing tribulation is an absolute fantasy. It is a
demonic fantasy!
Let me take this
another step. What about our fellow-believers in China today? What about our
fellow-believers in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and other Muslim countries where
folks worship a god who hates Yowd Hey Vav Hey (Jehovah) and His Son, Jesus
Christ, with a purple passion?
Father and
mothers kill their sons and daughters who convert to Christianity, and they feel
absolutely justified in doing so. They cut off the hands or the feet of
believers. They starve them to death in prison. They hang them on public
display in order to demonstrate their utter hatred of the Lord Jesus Christ and
all who believe in Him. They drill holes in the heads of Christians and string
wires through them, connecting those wires to electric current in order to
hopefully destroy their brains and rid them of any thoughts of serving the Lord
Jesus.
Tribulation! It
goes with the territory, folks! The overwhelming majority of the tribulation
that committed believers suffer today is a direct product of other religious
people (and very often those who call themselves Christians) who oppose them as
heretics, or simply do not want to hear a Gospel preached that requires them to
be anything other than passive "believers."
I'll share with
you some personal experiences for the sake of
illustration.
You all know that
I grew up in the arctic, and that my parents were pioneer missionaries who went
into communities where people either were hearing a watered-down Gospel, or they
were still steeped in ancient traditions under the rule of shamans. The
churches that did exist in those communities were not challenging the status-quo
and any concept of deliverance from evil spirits was
non-existent.
We saw a move of
the Spirit in the late 1950's and early 1960's equal to anything you read about
in the book of Acts. After several years of being absent from the far north, I
returned in the late 1970's to Barrow, Alaska. It was not my intention to start
another church fellowship when I went, and I expected to work with the pastor
who was serving in the church I'd helped my Dad build.
He was a fairly
young man and one who was not confident in himself, nor in the relationship he
had with the Lord, nor in the church denomination he was with. When I returned
to Barrow, I had long been away from the denomination my father was a part of --
not out of any antagonism towards the denomination, but simply because the Lord
had opened up doors of opportunity for me to minister across denominational
lines. By that time, I'd served in a conservative Baptist church, spent a year
ministering in a Methodist church, filled in for a Lutheran pastor while he took
a sabbatical, preached in multiple seminars with Roman Catholic priests -- some
of whom were among my best friends, spent a year teaching classes on the
Priesthood of the Believer in a Mormon ward, done Charismatic seminars with
Lutheran and Episcopal denominational leaders, etc., etc., etc. You get the
picture. I went where the Lord directed me to go and He gave me the necessary
grace and favor.
Because I was not
a part of my father's denomination any longer, all of a sudden I was a threat.
The current pastor of that church in Barrow I'd helped Dad to build made it
clear that I was not welcome there. At the same time, elders in the local
Presbyterian church who had known me from years prior came to me and asked me if
I would serve in an interim capacity while they awaited the appointment of a
permanent pastor by the Missions Board of the denomination. I accepted gladly
and served there for four months. The new, permanent pastor and I became good
friends and we were able to fellowship together freely.
When people in
the community realized that I was not going to serve at the Presbyterian church
any longer, and that I'd been declared persona non grata at the other church,
they asked me to begin another non-denominational fellowship, and that I
did.
I began to teach
and preach deliverance from evil spirits, from the traditions of man, and began
to teach on the reemergence of the Tabernacle of David (a society of praisers
and worshipers) as a practical and operational event in the body of Christ,
religious opposition began to rear its ugly head. When I began to teach and
lead people in the realm of spiritual warfare, I became the target of real
warfare and persecution.
My name was
spoken of in the pulpit of the very church I'd helped my parents to build, and
it was bandied about as that of a heretic. However my name was used, people
were encouraged to do everything in their power to drive me out of the
community.
For months my
phone would ring and a muffled voice on the other end would say words to the
effect of, "The next time you step out the door, you're going to get a bullet
through the face." Hate mail filled my mailbox. My two youngest children were
repeatedly attacked and beaten on their way home from school. My oldest
daughter was shot at six times.
Driving one day
from my office, I heard a thud on the side of the van I was driving. I wasn't
sure if I'd hit something so I stopped to take a look. There was a bullet hole
that had punctured the side of the van just behind my seat. The bullet passed
through the van and out the other side. Not long thereafter, I was standing in
a construction shack with one of the elders in our fellowship on property we had
acquired for building a worship center. We'd been standing in front of a window
studying the building plans when suddenly Holy Spirit yanked us apart. In that
same split second, the window exploded as a bullet passed a couple inches from
my face.
I opened the door
to the shack and saw a man standing out on the road some 300 feet or so away
with a rifle and a scope. Running toward him as fast as I could, I hollered at
him, "Hey, what do you think you're doing?" That obviously was the last thing
he expected. He turned to run and dropped his rifle. He stopped to grab it off
the ground and ran to a waiting vehicle with the motor running and sped
away.
A few days later
when the construction crew was at work on the same property getting ready to
sink piling into the ground, a group of young men showed up with rifles in hand
and told the construction foreman that "You either stop now, or we will kill you
and your crew." He came to see me a few minutes later and told me that they
were all boarding a flight for Anchorage. "Call me if you ever get this mess
straightened out," he said. "If we can actually get on with the work, let us
know and we'll come back. Otherwise, we're out of here!"
We had leased the
community center from the city for our fellowship gatherings. The building was
in a severe state of disrepair, so we set about to restore the building. We put
in new flooring, linoleum and carpet, painted the place and installed new
bathrooms. Not long after the work was complete, we showed up one Sunday
morning for our services and the place was a wreck. The city manager had rented
the place out on Saturday for some parties and no effort had been made to clean
it up. When I went to report it to the city manager, he let me know that the
building was not ours to use any longer and that our lease was
terminated.
I'd been
operating two for-profit businesses in Barrow as a means to fund our growing
ministry operations and to provide capital for the expansion of the ministry of
the Christian Broadcasting Network in Alaska. In the eight weeks that followed
the loss of the community center, my store was broken into six times. Every
time I tried to restock the merchandise (it was a high-end stereo and TV
business), the store was broken into and the place
cleaned.
In the middle of
these robberies, two employees who were managing my communications business
embezzled $145,000 in cash and fled the town.
What's funny is
that in the midst of all this turmoil we were seeing miracle after miracle take
place in the lives of individuals. In my mind, all of these things just went
with the territory. I'd seen Dad and Mom suffer persecution and opposition for
the sake of the Gospel. Why should I think it would be any different with
me?
I sent my two
youngest children out of town to be with my parents for their own safety and
protection. My oldest daughter felt she could stick things out. She was
nearing graduation from High School and didn't want to leave her
friends.
The repeated loss
of merchandise in my retail store eventually brought me to the place where I
didn't have the necessary cash to keep refilling the shelves, and I couldn't pay
for the merchandise that had been stolen. It forced me into
bankruptcy.
Within a matter
of weeks after filing, there came a knock on our door. When I answered the
door, police officers stood there with guns drawn. They announced that they had
a search warrant and told me to get out of the way. When I asked them what they
needed or what they were looking for (and that I would be glad to get for them
whatever they thought I had) they pushed past me and began ransacking the
house. They took clothing, bedding, personal papers, and some very expensive
stereo equipment that I had in the living room, and left.
Because I was
closely linked to CBN in Virginia Beach at the time, I first called Lyn Barnes
(who was Director of National Ministries and my direct supervisor at CBN), and
then called CBN's Chief Counsel to let them know what was happening. Lyn’s
reaction (and mirrored by CBN’s Chief Counsel) was to be expected, "This can't
really be happening in America! This is not the Soviet Union! How do they
think they can get away with this?"
In the end, I had
no attorney to represent me -- none of the local attorneys (and they were few!)
wanted to touch the case -- and by the time I was able to get an attorney in
Fairbanks (over 500 miles away) things had really gone downhill fast. In the
end, none of the items taken were ever returned, and the stereo equipment wound
up in the homes of two of the police officers.
Despite the furor
and confusion, the opposition and the persecution, we were seeing the Gospel
spread through Christian television into the native communities scattered
throughout Alaska. We were hearing miracle after miracle after miracle of
changed lives, people receiving healing, folks being set free from evil
spirits.
The story I've
just related to you is a fraction of all that took place. There's a whole lot
more that I could share, but you've gotten the picture. It would fill a volume
to just talk about the tribulation and the persecution. You see it don't you?
This was not the wrath of God! This was nothing more and nothing less than what
Jesus assured believers they would experience....remember?
"These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world."
Jesus spoke this
promise in order to ensure that we would be at peace in the midst of it.
Tribulation, persecution and opposition all pale into insignificance when you
see Holy Spirit at work otherwise. None of it moved Paul. Consider what he
said as he prepared to be taken to Jerusalem: (See Acts
20:22-24)
"And
now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things
that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city,
saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these
things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might
finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord
Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
Later on Paul
would write to Timothy and say, "But
thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,
longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which
came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I
endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all
that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (II Timothy
3:10-12)
Now look again at
the last half of verse 11: "what
persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered
me."
I've often
wondered why so many Christians are anxious to avoid suffering, persecution,
affliction and tribulation when God's Word makes it repeatedly clear that this
goes with anyone who "will live Godly in Christ Jesus."
Without quoting
the entire passage (and I refer you to II Corinthians 6:4-10) Paul makes the
point that Father God demonstrates the difference between those who have His
approval and those who do not by the grace with which they live through
tribulation, afflictions, tumults, imprisonments, necessities, distresses and
every other form of thlipsis. How so? By
the way in which He vindicates His Word!
I've run out of
time today to take this where I wanted to go, so we'll continue with this topic
next week, but let me finish up today by saying that in the midst of all the
persecution, the opposition, the losses that I suffered, the accusations that
were leveled against me, and all the attempts that were made on my life, when
all the smoke cleared away, the Lord vindicated His Word -- that same Word He
had sent me to Barrow to deliver -- in ways that simply left me breathless and
astonished.
Tribulation?
Yesssirrrreeee!!! Anyone who thinks they can live in this world and walk as
lights in this generation without suffering tribulation is simply deluding him
or herself.
Great
tribulation? You bet! Getting raptured or caught away out of it so that you
don't have to experience great tribulation? NOT if you want the Glory of the
Lord to be revealed in the here and now!
Next week I'll
take you into the sixth chapter of Revelation for a picture of great
tribulation. Then we'll look at the eighth chapter to see the wrath of God
poured out.
"A phenomenal opportunity to encounter and embrace our Heavenly Father is being given to the Church around the world today. It is one that must be welcomed and protected. With the dawning of this new day in Church History, the anointing of Heaven is disbursed in the spiritual atmosphere so those truly seeking Truth can lay hold of it and obtain great insight with understanding. As Sons of the Kingdom ask with sincerity for this deposit, it will be received. Our spiritual eyes will be illumined to see the Scriptures from Heaven's perspective, not merely man's.
The spiritual realities that are being birthed in the earth now will have no end. They will literally flow into the Millennial age and the coming manifestation of His Kingdom on the earth.
Though we do not know when those days will be fully revealed, we do know that the purposes now being birthed will advance directly into that age. We will begin to taste the good Word of God and the power of the age to come. Like the beloved disciple John in his notable revelations, we will be allowed to eat the open book containing the full manifestation of the Lord's redemptive plans and purposes. This will be the tasting of His Kingdom Word and a demonstration of Kingdom might, in order to wonderfully introduce the Lord Jesus in truth and power, to an entire generation. (Prophetic Word from Paul Keith Davis)
Blessings on
you!
Regner
Regner A. Capener
CAPENER MINISTRIES
CAPENER MINISTRIES
709 South
7th Street
Sunnyside, Washington 98944
(509) 515-0133
All Coffee Break articles are copyright by Regner A. Capener, but authorization for reprinting, reposting, copying or re-use, in whole or in part, is granted – provided proper attribution and this notice are included intact. Older Coffee Break archives are now available at http://regnersrangers.multiply.com/journal/ and are being slowly added at http://www.AnotherCoffeeBreak.com. Coffee Break articles are normally published weekly.
If you would like to have these articles arrive each morning in your email, please send a blank email to: Subscribe@AnotherCoffeeBreak.com. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to Unsubscribe@AnotherCoffeeBreak.com.CAPENER MINISTRIES is a tax-exempt church ministry. Should you desire to participate and covenant with us as partners in this ministry, please contact us at either of the above email or physical addresses, or visit http://www.RiverWorshipCenter.org.
Sunnyside, Washington 98944
(509) 515-0133
All Coffee Break articles are copyright by Regner A. Capener, but authorization for reprinting, reposting, copying or re-use, in whole or in part, is granted – provided proper attribution and this notice are included intact. Older Coffee Break archives are now available at http://regnersrangers.multiply.com/journal/ and are being slowly added at http://www.AnotherCoffeeBreak.com. Coffee Break articles are normally published weekly.
If you would like to have these articles arrive each morning in your email, please send a blank email to: Subscribe@AnotherCoffeeBreak.com. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to Unsubscribe@AnotherCoffeeBreak.com.CAPENER MINISTRIES is a tax-exempt church ministry. Should you desire to participate and covenant with us as partners in this ministry, please contact us at either of the above email or physical addresses, or visit http://www.RiverWorshipCenter.org.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Another Coffee Break:
Wrath vs. Tribulation
Wrath vs. Tribulation
And a
supercalifragilistic morning to you! Well, OK! Expialidocius,
too!
WOW! Guess I
should have seen it coming, but didn't realize my last Coffee Break would stir
up such a hornet's nest. Talk about angering religious spirits! Even had one
preacher call me the Antichrist because of what I shared. Oh well! I know that
when you begin to address long-held doctrines and traditions, this comes with
the territory. Nevertheless, I'm bound to share that which Holy Spirit
directs.
This Coffee Break
can be regarded as part II of the Antichrist series, and yet I'm dealing more
with the confusion that has developed in the body of Christ as a result of
"antichrist doctrines" -- or doctrines which essentially cheat the Lord Jesus
Christ out of receiving His due inheritance in His people. Before I get into
the things I need to share, let me build a "fence" around this discussion. In
case you haven't figured it out yet, I don't know all there is to know.
(Grin!) The apostle Paul put it like this (see I Corinthians
13:9,10,12):
"For
we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is
come, then that which is in part shall be done away...... For now we see through
a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I
know even as also I am known."
I can share to
the extent of the revelation that Holy Spirit downloads in me, and to the extent
that I walk out and experience that which He imparts. I used to look back a
decade or so and think, Wow, the Lord sure has taught me a lot!
What was learned during a period of ten years ago in time past has accelerated
enormously as we draw closer and closer to the Day of the Lord. Now I look back
a matter of months and say, WOW!!!
Now, let me make
a few quick corrections to some statements made in the last Coffee Break. I'm
indebted to a good brother in the Lord and fellow-laborer in the Gospel, Keith
Gerner, for steering me in the right direction. Keith is a true apostle. He
has overseen the move of God in Ireland for more than 50 years, and is one who
has literally been responsible for tens of thousands of people (and even more)
coming into the Kingdom of God. That said, Keith received his degree in history
from Oxford, and was able to help me get some facts straight concerning Margaret
MacDonald and the influence of the Scofield Reference
Bible.
First, Margaret
MacDonald was not an adherent of pre-trib rapture. Some of her writings are
available online, and as she wrote in an article the year before she died, she
saw the rapture coming AFTER "the tribulation, being the fiery trial which is
to try us," and for "the purging and purifying of the real members of the
body of Jesus."
Secondly, the
doctrine of dispensationalism, along with the doctrine of a pre-tribulation
rapture was the product of a "revelation" by two Jesuit priests in Spain in or
around 1830. As they began to share these doctrines within their sphere of
influence, it drew the attention of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. They
were subsequently excommunicated, eventually leaving Spain for France where they
fell in with local leaders of the newly-spreading Plymouth Brethren
movement.
These teachings
became part and parcel of the Plymouth Brethren, and began to spread into the
Reform denominations -- along with that, the Presbyterian leadership in
America. C.I Scofield was converted in or around 1879 and mentored by James
Brookes, then pastor of Walnut Street Presbyterian Church of St. Louis. Brookes
had become a strong adherent of J. N. Darby (Darby's Translation of the N.T.)
who was a pioneer in the Plymouth Brethren's beginnings. Darby was a strong
proponent of the dispensationalist pre-trib teachings. As a result, Scofield
was mentored under those doctrines.
I originally
stated that Scofield's Reference Bible was published in the late 1890's, but in
fact, Scofield only had his New Testament notes and commentary at that time.
His complete reference Bible was published by Oxford Press in England in 1909,
replete with Scofield's notes, references and cross-references.
OK. Enough of
that. Let's move on.
Over the past
years, and especially the past few months, we have had numerous discussions with
various brethren concerning the confusion surrounding the difference between
tribulation and the wrath of God.
As I noted in the
last Coffee Break tribulation is something promised by the Lord for all
believers. Jesus put it like this:
"These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world."
(John
16:33)
Before we get too
far along in this discussion, it's necessary for us to look at the Greek word
used throughout the New Testament which gets translated "tribulation." This is
an interesting word. Thlipsis (there's a
tongue-twister for you!) literally means: pressure, afflicted
(affliction), burdened, trouble -- and of course, the two uses we most
commonly associate with: persecution, tribulation. This word
comes from the root: thlibo, which means
to squeeze into narrow places, to crowd.
Pretty clear so
far, right?
One of the
translated uses of thlipsis in Paul's
letters is the word, affliction(s). I'll come back to this
momentarily.
The word "wrath"
which appears in the New Testament Greek as the word orge (and comes from
its root, oregomai) occurs some 45
times. It literally means: violent passion, justifiable ire or
abhorrence, and by extension, punishment; indignation,
vengeance. This is one of those picture words in the Greek language
which creates an image of the mind literally stretching forth in violent
excitement in order to execute righteous judgment.
Now that we have
these definitions, let's take a look at some appropriate applications in the
Word so that we can clearly understand why tribulation is a necessity for God's
people; and why, in contradistinction, those in love with the Lord and committed
to Him will not experience His wrath.
Pardon me, folks,
if at first this comes across pedantically or too much like a lesson from a
Bible College class. I don't want to bore you, but it is necessary to lay a
foundation so that you can understand the real picture of tribulation and
rejoice in the midst of it because of what the Lord is doing in
us.
Consider Joseph.
Here's a guy who had some real revelation from the Lord. He goes to share it
with his family and gets mocked by even his father. In fairly short order, his
brothers kidnap him and sell him to some Ishmaelite slave traders. He gets sold
to Potiphar, Captain of Pharaoh's personal guard, as his personal
slave.
Despite the
betrayal of his brothers and the unbelievable change of circumstance, Joseph
manages to refrain from becoming accusatory or bitter. He behaves with
integrity before Potiphar and in the process of time is given charge over all of
Potiphar's household and business affairs. Things are looking
up.
Potiphar's wife
decides that she's going to have Joseph and attempts to entice and seduce him.
Nope. When she tries to lay hands on him and force him into a compromising
situation, he breaks loose leaving his outer garment in her hands. When she
cries "Rape!" Joseph is immediately seized and thrown into prison without a
trial or any opportunity to defend himself. Still he refuses to become
embittered.
Once again, the
Lord is with Joseph (He has been all along in the midst of this tribulation) and
he gains the favor of the prison warden. Once again, Joseph is given complete
charge -- this time over all the prisoners and over the operation of the
prison. Something like five years pass. Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker get
caught in events which anger him and they get thrown into prison, only to be
placed in Joseph's care.
A few months pass
and both dream dreams. Because the Lord is with Joseph he is able to interpret
these dreams. The cupbearer is going to be restored to his position and the
baker is going to lose his (and his life). Joseph pleads with the cupbearer to
remember him to Pharaoh when he is restored. Sure enough the baker is executed
and the cupbearer is restored to his position. Unfortunately, the cupbearer
forgets his promise to Joseph.
Two more years
pass. Joseph has now been in prison for seven years. He was 17 years of age
when his brothers sold him into slavery. He is now 30 years of age. 13 years
have passed -- years of trial, trouble, pressure, false accusations and -- for
the last seven -- imprisonment. These are years of severe tribulation for a man
who has had dreams and visions from the Lord, and promises that are forever
etched in his being.
Now it is
Pharaoh's turn to have some dreams -- two of them. No one among Pharaoh's wise
men and advisers have any clue as to what they mean. All of a sudden the
cupbearer remembers Joseph and tells Pharaoh about him. The long-awaited call
comes and Joseph is retrieved from prison, cleaned up and dressed in appropriate
garments to be presented to Pharaoh. As Pharaoh unfolds his two dreams the Lord
reveals the prophetic picture to Joseph, which he in turn shares with
Pharaoh.
In less time than
it took for Joseph to share with Pharaoh the prophetic implications of his
dreams and make recommendations to him, Pharaoh changes Joseph's status from
former slave and prisoner to Prime Minister of Egypt. Now Joseph is second in
command over the entire nation.
What am I getting
at?
The tribulation
that Joseph experienced wasn't God's doing, it was man's! But God used those 13
years for Joseph's benefit, his training and preparation to rule. He took what
was meant for Joseph's harm and turned it to Joseph's benefit, the benefit of
Joseph's family, the preservation of Pharaoh and all of Egypt, and the
preservation of surrounding nations.
Consider David.
Like Joseph, he was 17 years old when his life took a very unexpected turn.
Anointed by Samuel to become King of Israel, he came to Saul's attention in
fairly short order after the Philistines sent their champion warrior, Goliath,
along with the armies of the Philistines against Israel. Sent by his father,
Jesse, to bring bread and goodies to his brothers who were on Israel's front
lines of battle, David sees and hears Goliath's taunts against the Lord and
against Israel.
The Spirit of God
rises up in David when he hears these taunts and he lets it be known that if no
one else is going to take on Goliath, he will -- and the Lord will be with him.
Saul is glad to have someone who will challenge the giant but wants David to
take on his armor before going to battle. Saul is a big man, standing somewhere
between 6'6" and 7' in height. David is nothing like that, and Saul's armor is
way too big. David shrugs off the offer and takes on Goliath announcing and
decreeing the Word of the Lord as he heads toward him.
As a
sling-fighter, David has developed deadly accuracy, and with divine guidance
directing the stone from his sling, David drops the giant with a single stone to
the center of his forehead. Leaving nothing to chance, David rushes over, grabs
Goliath's sword and cuts his head off. Seeing their champion dead, the
Philistine army turns to flee the scene of battle. Israel's army under Saul's
leadership takes off after them. That day, tens of thousands of Philistines
die.
Saul decides this
is too good a warrior to waste anywhere but at his side, and he takes David into
his court. Jonathan, Saul's son, has a heart for the Lord and a bond of love
and fellowship develop between the two of them. In the celebrations and victory
dances that followed the slaughter of the Philistines, the women of Israel --
throughout all the cities of Israel -- began to sing and chant, "Saul has slain
his thousands, and David his ten-thousands!"
In that moment,
hatred of David is born in Saul's spirit, along with fear and jealousy, and he
determines to find a way to kill David. During the next thirteen years, David
will find himself at the wrong end of Saul's spear, conspired against, falsely
accused, on the run constantly for his life, and occasionally taking refuge
among the enemies of Israel, the Philistines.
Interestingly
enough, it was during these years of tribulation, trial, persecution and being
on the run for his life continuously that men and women began to join themselves
to David to stand with him. Initially we are told (I Samuel 22:2) that some
four hundred men (not counting women and children) joined themselves with
David's company. Later, we see that group growing to more than
600.
Despite all that
happened to him, David learned to conduct himself circumspectly with honor and
integrity, displaying the grace, the love and the mercy of the Lord God in the
sight of the entire country. When at last Saul died at the end of a spear the
men of the tribe of Judah crowned David as their king. Another seven years
would pass before the rest of Israel would determine that David should be king
over the whole nation.
It isn't
necessary for me to recount all that David did, or the life he led. We all know
that according to recorded history, David was considered by the Lord to "be a
man after God's own heart." David became the king by which every other king in
the nation's history was judged and measured.
Why? It wasn't
just the way he ruled. It was the way he functioned even in the midst of great
persecution, trial and tribulation. He became not only the standard for kings,
he was a classic example of grace, love and mercy in the face of tribulation and
persecution.
Let's skip ahead
to the apostle Paul. Tribulation? Hmmmmm..... The way I see it this man's life
epitomized tribulation. How much more do you want to see in the way of
opposition, attempts on one's life, false accusations, imprisonment, hunger,
thirst, shipwreck, etc., etc., etc.?
How did Paul put
it? "Are
they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more
abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of
the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice
was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night
and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often,
in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by
mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in
the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea,
in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness,
in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness." (II Corinthians
11:23-27)
Last time I
checked, that counts as tribulation. How about you? Care to try all that, and
then suggest that Paul didn't experience great
tribulation?
So what was the
fruit of all that tribulation? For Joseph, it was the ability to show mercy to
his brethren -- the same ones who started him on his 13-year journey through
Hell -- and rejoice because of what the Lord did with him as a result of it
all.
For David, it was
a picture of love, grace and mercy demonstrated to the grandson of the enemy who
tried to hunt him to his death. It was a picture of mercy and grace toward a
son who betrayed him and tried to take the throne away from him. For David, it
resulted in the development of such character that God promised a new covenant
with His people predicated in "the sure mercies of David." (see Isaiah 55:3,
Acts 13:34)
For Paul, it
produced in him the ability to communicate to every succeeding generation the
love of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Now, let's talk
about the wrath of God.
Remember when
Korah rose up against Moses along with Dathan and Abiram and 250 elders of
Israel? Remember their rebellion against God's choice of Moses to lead Israel
and their jealousy of him? Remember their accusation against Moses and against
the Lord, saying that Moses had simply led Israel out of Egypt to kill them?
(Read Numbers 16)
Despite the fact
that God had delivered Israel out of the hands of Pharaoh and his great
oppression, performing spectacular sign after sign with the ten plagues, the
crossing of the Red Sea, the water out of the rock, the manna from Heaven, and
everything else that God did, Korah and his conspirators were accusing God of
having ulterior motives. Because they took their anger and jealousy out on
God's anointed and chosen leader, Israel got to see the wrath of God in action
in a way they'd never forget, and at the same time see God's vindication of His
choice in Moses!
"And
Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these
works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die
the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all
men; then the LORD hath not sent me. But if the LORD make a
new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that
appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall
understand that these men have provoked the LORD." (Numbers
16:28-30)
And that's
precisely what happened! The earth opened up and swallowed Korah, his
household, his family, his tents and all that belonged to him, and then slammed
shut. Then fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 elders that had
joined in the rebellion. But it didn't stop there! 14,700 people who had stood
by in tacit agreement with the rebellion were consumed by a plague. That, my
friends, is a classic example of the wrath of God.
There's a whole
lot more to this picture and we'll pick it up there in our next Coffee Break
titled, PICTURES OF TRIBULATION & WRATH.
"The deep things of God are known only to Him, but are
revealed to us through His Spirit. That is the promise of 1 Corinthians 2.
Therefore, it is our expectation to witness an unprecedented outpouring of His
Spirit and unfolding Last Day mysteries that will perfect the bride and empower
the Sons of the Kingdom.
Mere human
knowledge is not sufficient to bring in the great harvest. We must be endowed
with God’s supernatural provision that is clearly promised for this hour. To do
so, every saint of God must come to the realization that Christ is "all in
all."
He is Light; He
is the Way, Truth, Life; He is the Resurrection; He is Wisdom; He is
Righteousness; He is Goodness; He is Understanding; He is Alpha and Omega; He is
the Beginning and the End; He is All in All.
To merely acknowledge these as doctrinal truth is not sufficient. They must become experiential reality through personal encounters with the Living Christ. The Lord is standing at the door knocking with a personal invitation for profound fellowship and the unveiling of Latter Rain revelation. For those who will forsake all else to dine with Him, this will be an age of greater glory and personal transformation into His very image. (Prophetic Word from Paul Keith Davis)
Blessings on
you!
Regner
Regner A. Capener
CAPENER MINISTRIES
CAPENER MINISTRIES
709 South
7th Street
Sunnyside, Washington 98944
(509) 515-0133
All Coffee Break articles are copyright by Regner A. Capener, but authorization for reprinting, reposting, copying or re-use, in whole or in part, is granted – provided proper attribution and this notice are included intact. Older Coffee Break archives are now available at http://regnersrangers.multiply.com/journal/ and are being slowly added at http://www.AnotherCoffeeBreak.com. Coffee Break articles are normally published weekly.
If you would like to have these articles arrive each morning in your email, please send a blank email to: Subscribe@AnotherCoffeeBreak.com. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to Unsubscribe@AnotherCoffeeBreak.com.CAPENER MINISTRIES is a tax-exempt church ministry. Should you desire to participate and covenant with us as partners in this ministry, please contact us at either of the above email or physical addresses, or visit http://www.RiverWorshipCenter.org.
Sunnyside, Washington 98944
(509) 515-0133
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