It has been placed in my spirit of late that God is not only establishing His end-time Bride to endure and overcome perilous times, but to also raise messengers/witnesses for such a critical time. After all, we know the end times will be spiritually very intense, as the spiritual war wages and deception along with rebellion deepens to incredible levels of apostasy (especially within the Babylonian church system).
The true Bride – therefore the remnant who has not bowed the knee to Babylon like the 7000 mentioned by God when encouraging Elijah – needs to be fully prepared, trained, equipped and empowered to stand (in accordance with Ephesians 6) for such times. Paul warned in 2 Thessalonians 2 that BEFORE the coming of Christ we will see the great falling away (which applies to the church, also see 2 Timothy 3, 2 Timothy 4 of rejecting truth) and then the man of sin/lawlessness will be revealed. The rebellion in the church has been in motion for a long time, yet the intensity of the apostasy is quickening and bounds unchecked it seems to into greater calamity and spiritual conflict (also read 2 Peter 2, Book of Jude).
In such times, the remnant will be called to not only remain standing and resisting the agendas, schemes and brainwashing of the devil but also to overcome and fulfil the Great Commission in the power of God. After all, the urgency of OVERCOMING is highlighted in the letters to the churches in Revelation. The remnant will need to know how to OVERCOME, how to thrive in the storms, and how to remain standing in the truth and not bow to the spirit of error, deception, wickedness and lawlessness.
Matthew 24 says, “4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Wherever you look, there is a great deception at work. Because we live in the last of the last days and are rapidly heading towards the end of the age, we must be alert to the fact that the devil is attempting to groom and modify both the church and the world, to receive the man of lawlessness, who is, of course, the Antichrist. A massive undertaking is being executed to lead mankind into a state of epic lawlessness (rebellion), which will open the doors to greater demonic onslaughts.
We can see how people’s minds are being inundated with false information and a celebration of various forms of lies and deception, including a deluge of false propaganda about human sexuality, Christianity, religion, the true and the false, and the good and the bad. This is a last-day attack of seducing spirits bent on modifying the collective mind of society and those whom satan will take captive, within the church, to do his will – yes, in the church. Thus creating a way of thinking that is free of moral restraint.
In the midst of all of this, God is raising end-time messengers/witnesses to equip and prepare the remnant. This will also messages of correction and rebuke, for we have strayed dangerously away from God’s ordained ancient of paths. We need to understand such messengers are specifically called for a specific task, and this is different to the mandate given to all disciples to be messengers of the Gospel in accordance with the Great Commission. For this we have been empowered (Acts 1:8) to show Christ to the world, yet the message of the Gospel is for the lost and unsaved. Paul wrote in “2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear.” Paul was called to be a messenger to the Gentiles of the Gospel, so that the Gentiles may also be saved by the Blood of the Lamb. He fulfilled this task diligently (see Acts 20:7). Yet the end-time messengers/witnesses will deal specifically with the remnant, and be carriers of various but very specific messages.
It needs to be made clear such messengers are not necessarily prophets. God is restoring for example intercession (prayer) and worship in the remnant (who is the true Bride/Ecclesia). He is restoring the truth of His Kingdom in the hearts of the true worshippers of Spirit and truth. The remnant shall be prepared and equipped for spiritual warfare. There will be many messages vital for preparation and equipping, which means messengers of all gifting and calling will be raised for such end times.
Such messengers and messages do not negate the great need to continue training and equipping the Bride to be true disciples in service of the Kingdom. Ephesians 4 makes it clear God has empowered some individuals (what we know as the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers) to train disciples for the work of ministry. It should be noted there is no such thing as the clergy vs laity (this is a man-made concept). All disciples of God are called to be activated and mobilised to fulfil the Great Commission, which includes being witnesses of the Gospel and making disciples.
John, who wrote the Book of Revelation, was an end-time messenger, for the end time already started with the ascension of Jesus and the outpouring of the Spirit. God used the apostle John to write messages addressed to seven notable church leaders, and these leaders would then share the messages with the rest of the church. His message is very specific and is still used to prepare and train the Bride in wisdom and knowledge of how to overcome and be prepared.
John the Baptist was also a messenger, for he came to prepare the way for the Lord and to declare the powerful message of repentance and baptism. Such messengers God is now raising will be like both John, for they shall prepare for the coming of Christ. Others will be like John who wrote Revelation, for their visions, dreams and revelations will serve to strengthen the remnant with knowledge and truth. Indeed, such messengers will be writers, some will be speakers, some will dream, some will see visions, some will be prayer warriors, some will be worshippers, and some will prophesy, some will teach and some will just walk in God’s manifested power! As John was sold out, these end-time messengers will be called to be sold out for God. As God separated John from the world, just so do not be surprised that God will separate such messengers in the end-times from the world. After all, God’s Kingdom is not of this world! Yes, they must burn in the Spirit for God, seeking holiness, truth, and God’s will, way and Kingdom above all.
The validity and importance of such messengers shouldn’t come as a surprise, since angels function as messengers. Revelation 14:6-12 deals the proclamations of three angels. One says, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water,” the other proclaimed “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,” and the third angel said, ”If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.“ So we find the angels sharing specific messages designed for a specific and yet powerful purpose and function.
Revelation 1:20 says, “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.” The Greek word angelos simply meant “messenger”; usually the word was used for supernatural “messengers” from God. However, sometimes the word was applied to human messengers of God’s Word: John the Baptist is called an “angelos” in Matthew 11:10 (Kings James).
In the last of last days, such divine activity to prepare the Bride and declare God’s truth shall be accomplished through heavenly and natural messengers. They shall walk and function with God’s servants for together the remnant in unity and love shall accomplish God’s end-time purposes. They shall not function as lone guns but will be supported and ministering with the watchmen, the intercessors, the worshippers, and those called to train the Bride in the Word of God (known by some as the five-fold ministry). The messengers shall not endure isolation, for the devil roams and seeks to devour. They shall become an integral part of God’s remnant, seeking to strengthen other witnesses/messengers, and helping the remnant to overcome, thrive and be victorious in her mandate.
In Revelation 11:3–12, we find a description of two individuals who will help accomplish God’s work during the tribulation: “I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth” (verse 3). Nowhere does the Bible identify these two witnesses by name, although people through the years have speculated. Some say Moses and Elijah because of the nature of the miraculous powers to accompany their message (Revelation 11:6). What is important is that no one will be able to stop them in their work (verse 5), until God’s purpose for them has been fulfilled. They may be killed, but we read how they will be resurrected and, in full view of their enemies, ascend to heaven (verses 11–12). God has placed it on my heart that we will not only witness TWO such messengers in the last of last days, but there will be many more. They have a specific task, carrying specific messages and God will empower them mightily to fulfil His mandate.
What is important is that many messengers/witnesses will be known for signs, wonders and miracles, for God’s power will flow through them to fulfil the purpose of the message. This calls for such messengers to be sold out for God, to seek Him, to become more sensitive to His Spirit, and to yearn for His Presence. They must remain humble, pure of heart, and completely yielded to God, for they are not special, but simply chosen for a time like this. God in His Sovereignty, like He chose Cyrus, is preparing his end-time Bride and He is choosing individuals to fight the good fight like never before. We may live in perilous and intense times of danger and threats, but intense also will be the power of God working through the messengers! After all, Revelation 1:20 reminds us that the “stars” are held in Jesus’ “right hand”, which reminds us that the Lord Himself protects, upholds, and guides those who serve Him with His strength and wisdom.