There's a shift in the air. I don't know if you've noticed, but things have been and times are going to be changing quickly in recent events and coming years.
With that, I've noticed an uptick in biblical prophesies and people revealing what God's placed on their hearts. But as Christians, how can we differentiate what's true and what's not? I mean, even in what I've felt God placing on my heart, I've wrestled with it at times, asking "God, how can this be true? Why would you reveal this to me? Why is this your plan? What do I do with this information?" Slowly, slower than I'd like sometimes, God has been revealing to me what His plan is and He slows down my rapid-fire brain to stop and focus on the moment, not jumping too far ahead.
For example, I've been listening to some testimonies people are claiming to have dreams and visions from God. Biblically, that makes sense, because Joel 2 says that the Spirit would be poured out, and that men and women would prophesy, with men dreaming and seeing visions. This happens all just before Christ's return, as in verse 30-32, Joel describes Jesus's return on the day of the LORD and how anyone, everyone, "who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Joel 2:32). Then God will protect survivors in Jerusalem and Mount Zion, but will judge the nations and wipe out the wicked.
However, that doesn't mean everyone coming with a dream or vision or prophetic word is from God. So how can we differentiate the two? Those who are receiving these gifts from God, and those who are making them up for attention?
Well, for one, always let the Holy Spirit lead and guide who is trustworthy and what to believe (if you follow Jesus and have received the Spirit, that is). Two, compare what they're prophesying with what the Bible says. If it's contradictory, it's not true and they can't be preaching and teaching and sharing dreams from God, so it must be false and they must not be worth listening to. If what they're saying matches Scripture or lines up, or makes sense based on biblical teachings such as in Joel 2, then it's worth listening to what they're saying with a grain of salt that there may still be deception involved if you're not careful (unless the Holy Spirit has said they're okay to listen to, then they can be trusted).
For three, I'd say it's also worth looking at their reach. If they have a large following and their followers/ those listening to them are agreeing from an un-biblical perspective, are full of violent, wicked, or deceptive responses, or still yet are recommending ungodly teachings, they're probably not worth listening to. That being said, not every follower is going to agree or be the same, but if as a whole the following is leading towards darkness instead of light, don't listen. I think the number of followers plays a role too. I've dug around a bit and found lots of little youtube channels with people sharing, for the first time some of them, biblical prophecies of what God had placed on their heart or revealed to them in recent times. They're not big channels, but they're individuals seeking to share God's teachings and revelations. I've been very careful to still compare what they say with the Bible, so as not to be led astray, but it's worth noting that a lot of bigger channels are looking to get views more than to share truth and can get click-bait-y with things, which is not encouraging.
Finally, and this is the most important I think (I'll explain why in a minute), God said to me, "If anyone gives a testimony or prophecy in my name, but not of love for my people, it is false and not of me. Even in my sharing and revealing of wickedness, evil, and judgment to come, it is always out of love for my people, that they might be saved, and warned of what's coming, so that they might not be afraid." God loves His own, those He's called to Him, Jew or Gentile, slave or free, sinful or redeemed, black or white or anywhere in between, and He wants to save everyone, but will only save those who seek Him and love Him and accept His free gifts - eternal life and His Holy Spirit.
That being said, I've found some individuals who I've come to trust the Word of, because they do all of these things (preaching and teaching from love, not contradicting Scripture but supporting and interpreting it, sharing love of God, and the Holy Spirit has given me the "okay" about them), plus they've given prophesies that have 100% come true. That way, you know what they're saying must be from God. If anyone gives a false prophesy, or says something will happen and then it doesn't, then it must not be from God.
Side note: if it just hasn't happened yet, and no time frame was given, it could be coming soon, so keep watch.
"As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the end," says the Lord. "where the hearts and thoughts of men are only evil, all the time, except for those whom I have called and chosen and whose names are found in the book of life. It's coming, and soon, as I have told you you'd see since you were a child." The Lord told me this the other day, which is true. Ever since I was 12 or 13, I've had this sensation or feeling inside that I was going to live to see the end times, that I would see Jesus come back in my lifetime. As a child, I didn't think much of it, because I knew I could still live another 80 years before that might happen! But as the day draws nearer, I don't think it's gonna be that long.
One thing God has been encouraging me of, is that to the Lord, a day is like 1000 years and 1000 years like a day. In 2 Peter 3, Peter's talking about how the last days there will be scoffers, but that judgment is still coming soon despite what they're saying, just like God made the heavens and earth, so He will judge the world. Then Peter writes about how "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9). Jesus is still coming soon, and honestly I've understood something now that I never have before... In it's context, Peter is writing that from beginning to end, a day is like 1000 years to God. God made the world in 7 days, 6 days of work and one of rest. God's been working and opening His heart to people for the last 6,000 years or so (not super sure on the specific number of years, but give or take). But God also promises in Revelation 20, that for 1,000 years Jesus will reign on the earth before everything is made new. That's 6,000 years of work, and 1,000 years of Sabbath rest with Jesus as our Lord and Savior, ruling the world. That's not to say there won't still be work to do (Ezekiel 39 describes some of it to come after the war of Gog and Magog in chapter 38 is completed), but it is to say we'll enjoy peace and quiet rest (or a not-so quiet party) with Jesus, not worrying about the world or what's going to happen, but just simply participating in a peaceful, Sabbath rest with Jesus for 1,000 years while He reigns on the earth.
How awesome is that? I've never made that connection before, but today it just kind of clicked. God is really working all things for good! Amen, hallelujah!
People have been saying that Jesus is coming soon for a couple thousand years, and that's been true and is still true, but now more true than ever. We don't know the exact day or hour, but I believe it's approaching quickly. It'll be here soon, sooner than most people think (though not as soon as others seem to believe).
I know I've written about this before, but I believe that once the six seals or Revelation 6 have been broken, Jesus will return. He'll save His people from the wrath of judgment to come for those who are wicked. Soon, we'll see it happen. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise that Jesus will come before tribulation, for 2 Thessalonians 2 teaches that the antichrist must be revealed first, before Jesus returns. He's released in the first seal (from my understanding, you may disagree), and he will have his day, his reign, on earth, but only for a time. It will not last compared to the goodness of God, and Jesus will return and restore things to how they should be, freeing His people from pain and sorrow and suffering, and reigning in eternal life. God is so good!
It's gonna be hard for a little while in this judgment period, but we'll come out the other side stronger if we just stay in the faith, don't give in to the devil, deny the antichrist and his power - refusing to worship him or take the mark of the beast, and stay close to God and in His Word, putting it on our hearts at all times. Ephesians 6 has a whole armor of God it describes, and it's time for us to be preparing and equipping ourselves for the fight, or perhaps it's not time to prepare but to fight in the good fight God's calling us to. I don't know for sure where we're at in the prophetic timeline, but I know Jesus is coming soon, and that's enough for me.
Is it enough for you? Turn to Jesus and be free from death and from punishment for sin before it's too late. Don't live for yourself or for the world, but for God and for other people. It's worth it, not easy, but worth it.
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