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No Prophecy of Private Interpretation

There is one point that I should explain before continuing to relate these events. 2 Peter 1:20 says that no prophecy is of "private interpretation." I am not sure just what Peter had in mind by this. Translations vary. But I can give my take on it.

I have heard from many who claim to be "Elijah" or "David" and even "Christ." Some women claim to be the Bride of Christ. Some no doubt are just delusional, but others do have a genuine revelation which they often take too personally. The Bride of Christ is a body of people, not a single individual. On the other hand, many individuals in Scripture have been types of the Bride and have lived out these things in their own personal walk with God.

Likewise, John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), but he himself confessed that he was not Elijah (John 1:21).

Joseph was a type of Christ, but he was not THE Christ. David was a type of Christ and is even called the "anointed" (Messiah), as was also King Cyrus of Persia (Isaiah 45:1). So is there more than one Messiah? No, there is only one Messiah--Jesus Christ--but there are many types of Christ, just as the Body of Christ is composed of many members. No single individual is the Body of Christ, or Elijah, or David, but there are many who are part of those bodies and who function (at least at times) in those callings.

Scripture shows us that many in the past have been "living prophecies," such as Joseph and David and Hosea and Paul. Their personal experiences were prophetic of something relating to the body. They were required to live it out personally in order that their lives might reveal the mind of God to the greater body of people about what God is doing in the bigger picture.

So the bottom line is that no prophecy is of private INTERPRETATION, but certainly there are private people who experience or personally live out the prophecy. It has always been this way from the beginning. Such things neither began nor ended with the Cross. I am testifying by word and by experience the things that I have seen and done over the years, not to elevate myself above my brethren, but to teach people how to be led by the Spirit. The reward of participation is that we are able to see more clearly the divine plan in the earth today.

It would be ideal if all who were so led were able to share their experiences, for this would contribute toward a fuller knowledge of the divine plan. Unfortunately, this is not possible, because no one knows everyone else, and there are too many people out there with remarkable stories to tell. Being an American, much of my calling and experience has to do with my own country, but I have met others from other nations who experience similar things in regard to their own countries. Each of our experiences have certain inherent limitations, because no single person can experience everything or know everything.

It is my hope and prayer that God will use my own experiences to enlighten people from all nations, and that God would raise up many to engage in intercession and spiritual warfare on behalf of their own part of the world. Yet I have found that the biggest obstacles are ignorance and separation. Most of them live separately and never meet each other. Thus, we are unable to benefit from each other's experience. Each one usually has to learn the first principles by personal experience--and then they wonder if they are the only ones in the world to have such experiences or revelation!

My purpose in sharing these things is to encourage others and to supplement or confirm the things that God has shown them. For many years, I valued my privacy. The last thing I wanted to do was to come out into the open where I would be an open target for those who oppose the Kingdom of God. If there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that spiritual warfare is very real. It affects people's lives and can even become a life-and-death issue. The biggest problem is that Christians are not very well schooled in the art of spiritual warfare, but those in witchcraft, satanism, etc. are trained very well. I have a healthy respect for them.

We do spiritual warfare in order to bring life and peace. They do spiritual warfare in order to kill and destroy in order to gain power over men and nations. Jesus said in John 10:10,

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life and might have it abundantly."

Over the years, both sides have met on the spiritual battlefield, and earthly events have been shaped by the outcomes of these battles. Much has been accomplished, but many have died, and still others are prisoners of war. It is serious business, and like any war, it requires training and experienced leadership. I have battle scars of my own from times when I was vulnerable through disobedience. By the grace of God, however, I lived to fight another day.

At present, we are again engaged in an escalating battle that began August 17. No doubt it is the result of these latest web logs, which have set me up as a prime target. But it was necessary to write these things in order that the Body of Christ would benefit as well. For many years, I only revealed these things privately. But when the Father began to press upon me last month to share these things in a public way, I knew that this was the beginning of a major change about to take place. It appears to me that He is bringing things to a head now, and He has baited the opposition, seeking "cause" against them. Judges 14:4 says,

"But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that He sought an occasion against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel."

In other words, God intended to overthrow the Philistines, so "He sought an occasion" against them. You see, because of Israel's sin, God had sold them into the hands of the Philistines. By law, God could not just come and deliver Israel without some legal justification. So He sought occasion against the Philistines, which would then allow Him (legally) to deliver Israel.

So it is with America. We were sold to Babylon, and we will not be delivered until the law has been fulfilled. But God is now seeking occasion against Babylon by instigating this spiritual warfare. Because we have been attacked, we have "cause" against those attacking us. Spiritual warfare is won or lost in the courtroom of divine law. The ones on the right side of the law are declared the winners. But each case is complex, and one must follow the advice of the Attorney. Our Attorney (Advocate, or Paraklete, "Comforter") is Jesus Christ. He's the best in the business.

On August 31 we were given "cause" against our opposition. The warfare now begins in earnest. Tomorrow I will be going to South Africa. I am aware ahead of time that this will be a time of spiritual warfare. Please pray for my protection and for the protection of all those around me. Also pray that the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out and that many will respond to the Gospel of the Kingdom. And above all, pray for yourselves to remain under God's umbrella of protection at all times.

I will try to post some web logs while I am there, so you may want to check the site periodically for updates. I probably won't try to continue this series while out of town, because I cannot take my record books with me. I should be back on Sept. 29.