The Lord gave me a word from a young prophetess I know and trust very well that sums up much of what has been going on this past month. First, she saw a castle under attack. The enemy forces were flooding across a river in boats, shooting arrows at the castle, shouting, “We want war!” She saw me standing in the top tower window as a watchman in armor, crying out, “War! Summon the King!” Another soldier in a lower window was saluting while dodging an arrow.

Then she had this word that went along with the picture.

The sun has gone. There are rain clouds in the sky.

Watchmen on the wall warn the King; “War is here!” they shout.

The people are scared. There is fear in the warriors’ hearts.

No one will stand up to fight.

What are YOU going to do?

Peace, Peace

I see three meanings of the cry of the false prophets who say, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. First it tells disobedient people that they are at peace with God when it is not true. Second, “peace” can suggest “prosperity,” and in many verses of prophecy these two words are used together. This hearkens to the Laodicean condition, a people who have been told and so think that they are prosperous — which they interpret as being physically wealthy — yet the Lord sees their true condition — their spiritual reality — as wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

But the third meaning is most appropriate in this present season, for “Peace, peace” is a cry NOT to fight, NOT to pray, NOT to fast, NOT to repent; the false prophets and teachers do this since they do not perceive the threat of war, despite hearing the warning. Why do they hear the warning signs but still refuse to rally the people to the call of repentance? Maybe several reasons: blindness, hard hearts, but it may be because they are afraid. They fear the enemy more than they trust in the Lord, and shy away from believing what they actually do see. The carnal fear of the enemy is unlike the Holy, spiritual fear of the Lord, and you can’t really have both in your heart at the same time. My wife was given this verse this month, from Isaiah 57:11

“Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have been false to me, and have neither remembered me nor pondered this in your hearts? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me?”

The reality is we are at war against a host of enemy forces which are working first to open gates in our lives, churches and communities to import all manner of evil, wickedness, disease and sin.

But what is more serious is that this may not yet even be the main attack.

I think these gates are being opened and prepared for a coming coordinated onslaught that will surly shock and mystify the church when it happens.

I only realized this tactic recently and do not think many people understand the urgent need of true repentance. We are at war. I think we need to wake those who are asleep, to strengthen what remains and is about to die, and release the Lord’s perfect love into the hearts of the fearful since it is this perfect love that casts out fear. But we first must develop our own spiritual authority which is a measure of our intimacy with the Lord and comes through repentance and continuing obedience to His holiness. The people indeed are afraid to fight.

But what are YOU going to do?

Edward Johnson

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