AND WHEN THE DRAGON SAW THAT HE WAS CAST UNTO THE EARTH, HE PERSECUTED THE WOMAN WHICH BROUGHT FORTH THE MANCHILD. AND TO THE WOMAN WERE GIVEN TWO WINGS OF A GREAT EAGLE, THAT SHE MIGHT FLY INTO THE WILDERNESS, INTO HER PLACE, WHERE SHE IS NOURISHED FOR A TIME, AND TIMES, AND HALF A TIME, FROM THE FACE OF THE SERPENT. Revelation, Chapter 12, Verses 13-14.
The Great Tribulation is a time of testing for the Institutional Church. Like the Children of Israel during their Wilderness experience after leaving Egypt, the Church will find itself needing to trust God for their daily needs. During times of famine God will supernaturally provide food for His children. There will be water shortages and God will provide water for His children supernaturally. God can and will provide everything the Church needs supernaturally. Just as God supplied all the needs of the Children of Israel in the Wilderness, He will also meet the needs of His people in this present Wilderness.
The Great Tribulation is not a time for murmuring and complaining in the Wilderness like the Children of Israel did. GOD FORBID that we fall into the trap of Satan and not believe God for provision in the time of need. The Just live by Faith, and without faith it impossible to please God. He was not pleased with the Children of Israel in the Wilderness because of their unbelief. He will likewise not be pleased with those who fail to believe and trust Him during their Wilderness journey.
Many Christians will actually flee to Wilderness areas and Refuges God has prepared for them to escape the economic woes and persecution that will take place. There are many Churches and Organizations who have been and are preparing places of refuge for the evil days which are ahead. Like Joseph, God has given many people the task of feeding multitudes of refugees. I call this the JOSEPH ANOINTING. These Refuges are not just for Christians, but for many others who find themselves in dire need of food, clothing, water and shelter.
AND THE SERPENT CAST OUT OF HIS MOUTH WATER AS A FLOOD AFTER THE WOMAN, THAT HE MIGHT CAUSE HER TO BE CARRIED AWAY BY THE FLOOD. AND THE EARTH (Spirit) HELPED THE WOMAN AND OPENED HER MOUTH, AND SWALLOWED THE FLOOD WHICH THE DRAGON CAST OUT OF HIS MOUTH. Revelation, Chapter 12, Verses 15-16.
The flood coming out of the mouth of the Dragon are lies and false accusations Satan brings against Institutional Christianity and the followers of Christ. Of course, the lies and false accusations contrived by the Dragon will not hinder the Church from fulfilling the Great Commission to preach the Gospel to all who will believe and receive Christ as Lord and Savior during the Great Harvest which takes place during the Great Tribulation.
In 2017 the same twelve stars of Constellation Virgo will again appear over the Sun, and the Moon will appear beneath the Sun as it did during the birth of Christ. This is another sign in the Heavens which will occur during the Great Tribulation.
AND THE DRAGON WAS WROTH WITH THE WOMAN, AND WENT TO MAKE WAR WITH THE REMNANT OF HER SEED, WHICH KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST. Revelation, Chapter 12, Verse 17. (And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their Testimony: and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation, Chapter 12, vs. 11.
Of course, the REMNANT are the people of God who live during the time of the Great Tribulation. The Dragon persecutes those who have the TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST. Many Christians will be reviled, persecuted and martyred during the Great Tribulation because of their faith, and their refusal to deny Christ. ALL WHO LIVE GODLY WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.
Jesus is coming back for a Church without spot or wrinkle. He is coming back for a Bride who has washed her garments in His Precious Blood.
BORN TO BE PERSECUTED
BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE: FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. BLESSED ARE YOU, WHEN MEN SHALL REVILE YOU, AND PERSECUTE YOU, AND SHALL SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL AGAINST YOU, FOR MY SAKE. REJOICE, AND BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD: FOR GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN: FOR SO PERSECUTED THEY THE PROPHETS WHICH WERE BEFORE YOU. Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 10-12.
To be “reviled” means to be criticized, censured, condemned and attacked. These things are what we are called to endure for Righteousness sake. These are the PURPLE HEARTS we receive which bring honor and glory to Christ.
On March, 26, 2015, I had a dream about the persecution of the Church. Over the years I have had several dreams and visions of the persecution of the Church during the last days. In the dream I saw a woman dressed in a long robe with a veil over her head. I could tell she was pregnant. I watched as her belly grew larger and larger. I could tell she was ready to give birth to her child.
At first I thought she was a Nun, but I realized she was not a Nun, but represented the Institutional Church in the above verses of scripture. After all, Nuns are supposed to be celibate. Like the Virgin Mary, who brought forth the man child Christ, this virgin (Virgo) woman was about to give birth to a child. After the child was born she walked over to me and placed the child in my hands. The child then looked up at me and said “I was born to be reviled and persecuted.” I tried to assure the child that what it was saying was untrue. Then I realized this child represented the Church at the end of the age. FOR THE EARNEST EXPECTATION OF THE CREATURE (speaking of creation) WAITS FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD. FOR WE KNOW THAT THE WHOLE CREATION GROANS AND TRAVAILS IN PAIN TOGETHER UNTIL NOW. Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 19 and 22.
Later as I walked by the woman who had birthed the child, I saw she was bent over with her tongue hanging out of her mouth groaning in pain.
I believe the greatest time of persecution for believers will begin in 2017 when the Constellation Virgo again lines up with the Sun and the Moon. The Church will have to go underground because laws will be changed that will prohibit the worship and teachings of Christ in public places. Many Christians will be tortured and put to death for their faith in Christ. They are not intimidated by the threat of bodily harm or death. They have overcome the world by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their Testimony.
A mother suffers much pain before her child is born. In its final hour the Church will be BORN through great suffering, sorrow and pain. WHO HAS HEARD SUCH A THING? WHO HAS SEEN SUCH THINGS? SHALL THE EARTH (Spirit) BE MADE TO BRING FORTH IN ONE DAY? OR SHALL A NATION BE BORN AT ONCE? FOR AS SOON AS ZION TRAVAILED, SHE BROUGHT FORTH HER CHILDREN. SHALL I BRING TO BIRTH, AND NOT CAUSE TO BRING FORTH? SHALL I CAUSE TO BRING FORTH, AND SHUT THE WOMB? SAYS OUR GOD. Isaiah, Chapter 66, Verses 8-9.
The above Prophecy was speaking about Israel becoming a Nation again in 1948. It is also a reference of the end time event when the Bride of Christ is finally united with Christ in Holy Matrimony and becomes a HOLY NATION in Him. The Nation of Israel has always been a type and shadow of the Body of Christ.
The Church was BORN in persecution. Christ was reviled and persecuted; nailed to a Cross and became the First Fruits of a new Creation. IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST HE IS A NEW CREATURE (creation). OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY AND ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW. 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 17. The early Church followed in the footsteps of Christ and were reviled and persecuted. Persecution has always made the Church stronger.
A Pastor from the United States was visiting an underground Church in China during a time of great persecution. One of the Chinese Pastors asked the visiting Pastor to have the people in the United States pray for them because of the persecution. The visiting Pastor told the Chinese Pastor they would pray that the persecution would stop. “Oh no,” said the Chinese Pastor, “we just want you to pray that we will be able to endure the persecution.” It is written, “ALL WHO LIVE GODLY WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.”
We must always keep in mind that we are chosen to be VESSELS OF HONOR carrying the message of the Kingdom of God to the World. This is the greatest honor that can be bestowed upon mankind. Being called to be persecuted following in the footsteps of Christ is the greatest calling one can receive. We must not forsake the opportunity and privilege to be reviled and persecuted as we walk the path of Holiness in the Heavenly Realm of God’s POWER and GLORY. Following in the Footsteps of Christ we will become like Him. When we become LIKE Him we will see Him in all His Power and Glory.