The Demise of a Generation
The world has changed dramatically over the last two decades.
A new millennium generation has been born into a world of disenchantment.
On so many fronts it would seem that this world is sinking into a mire of the lack of basic decency and morality.
The prophet Isaiah said that in these days the darkness would cover this earth.
Corruption at all levels of society plagues the nations. Global warmth is beginning to threaten our way of life and the future of our planet.
This is fostering a plague of hopeless and disenchantment eating into the very fabric of so many lives, breeding a sense of profound futility.
The loss of trust in our government leaders continues to erode confidence in their ability to changed things for the good, adding to the loss of hope for this planet, and mankind cannot survive without hope.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish,” Proverbs 29:18.
The Hebrew word for vision here is khaw-zone meaning VISION a sight (mentally) i.e. a dream, revelation, vision.
There are many prophetic passages in the Bible that describe this time in history. The most graphic are the prophesies of Isaiah especially chapter sixty.
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee,” Isaiah 60:1-2.
Even many in the church today have abandoned hope for a better world and are just waiting to be raptured out of it.
However this mentality is contrary to what God’s purposes are for this end time church and the restoration of this world. God is not about to abandon this world.
Adam gave away his authority over planet earth to Lucifer. This of course had far reaching ramifications which would require man – a human being – to take this planet back.
Being born again was just the beginning of this plan. This world was lost by a man and can only be redeemed by the corporate man, the true church.
Jesus has done what needed to be done to make this possible, now it’s up to the church to finish the task.
“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool,” Hebrews 10:12-13.
What is the LORD waiting for here?
He is waiting for the church to finish the task: that of taking back this planet from the Devil. The prophet Isaiah gave us two sides of the coin to this predicament
“For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee,” Isaiah 60:2.
This world is ripe for harvest!
The true church will become the greatest light in the history of this world. It’s time to rise and shine. For you now are the light of the world.
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,” Matthew 5:14-16.
The greatest harvest the world has ever seen is now ready to be reaped.
Countless millions will be swept into the Kingdom of God.
However it is vital that we understand that we are not just making coverts we must make disciples out of these new Christians.
The first wave of the harvest must be trained to become soldiers in the army of the LORD, not pew sitters.
I’m not saying it will be easy but it will be worth the battle, because we have read the last chapter, WE WIN.
We are not fighting for victory we are fighting from victory Jesus said; “IT IS FINISHED”.
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost,” John 19:30.
Now the battle is not against flesh and blood but against a spiritual demonic army. We are called to do good and bless.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust,” Matthew 5:44-45.
“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good,” Romans 12:20-21.
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Jesus clearly stated that before He returns, the gospel of the Kingdom has to be preached to every individual on this earth.
God cannot bring judgment upon those who have not heard the Gospel, the good news of salvation.
“The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world,” John 1:7-9.
NOW: In these last days the true gospel of Jesus Christ will be made known to the whole world before Jesus returns.
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come,” Matthew 24:14.
There are still many many tribes around the world that have never even heard the Name of Jesus.
In China alone there are millions who know nothing of Christianity and have never heard the name Jesus.
But they will, this gospel will be preached to every nation. It will not take a long time to achieve this and it will be totally supernatural.
Why is there a seemingly difference between the Gospel and the Gospel of the Kingdom?
The simple gospel is the good news of salvation. The gospel of the Kingdom, is also the good news of salvation, however it is more than that.
It is the good news of a Kingdom, the Kingdom of God.
This Kingdom rules overall way out into the vast universe. It is more than the Kingdom of Heaven.
The centre of God’s rule is of course in heaven where God rules from His throne, but His Kingdom is far reaching and goes on across realms we know little about.
“The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all,” Psalms 103:19.
God does not create at random, He creates with purpose. God’s purpose in the ages to come for the universe we live in, is shrouded in mystery.
Why is the universe there? And what is its purpose?
The Kingdom of God rules over the whole of creation.
Adam was given rulership over this one planet in the universe EARTH. Why?
What would have happened if Adam had not fallen and sinned?
What would this world be like?
The fact that Adam failed God’s role for him on this planet did not deter or change the purposes of God.
It just caused a six thousand year glitch or hiccup. Now we are about to get another shot at it.
That six thousand year glitch provided a training ground for sons of God to prove themselves worthy to reign with the LORD in the coming thousand years, the millennium rule of Jesus on this earth.
Thus bringing the rule and culture of heaven to earth.
The Gospel of the Kingdom is about preparing sons of God to reign with Him starting in a brand new earth wherein will be a thousand years of peace.
This is the hope this generation needs, it is more than just the gospel it is the Gospel of the good news for this planet.
A thousand years of peace and wholeness. Planet earth will be changed into a glorious planet where there will be no global warming, no hate, and no injustice.
A place where man will become one with nature, under the rule of God who is pure love.
This is the message of hope that this generation needs, which will be preached to every nation.
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14.
This end is just the end of the first phase in God’s purposes and mysteries for this existence of the universe. It is good news for this generation the truth that this generation needs to hear.
The loss of hope is eroding this generation like never before. Hope for this planet, hope for peace, hope for a better wold.
This gospel of the kingdom need’s to preached bringing hope and optimism for this earth and the people living on it.
The LORD will not return until this Gospel of the Kingdom has been preached to the whole world, and this gospel will be authenticated by the greatest miracles of healing and demonstration of the power of God previously unknown to the church and the world.
The Bones of Joseph
When the children of Israel left Egypt they carried the bones of Joseph with them.
Why did they not leave the bones of Joseph in Egypt?
It was going to be hard enough for them without carrying the mummified bones of Joseph.
“And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt,” Genesis 50:24-26.
Twelve men from each tribe took their turns in carrying this strange Egyptian coffin through the blazing sun and difficult terrain for 40 years, why?
We then find this recorded in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 22,
“By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones,” Hebrews 11:22.
Why was this recorded in the scriptures as a great act of faith?
There must be a tremendous truth here for it to be recorded in the Bible as a great act of faith.
It is interesting that Abraham’s cave at Machpelah was where Abraham and Sarah were buried and also Rebeca, Jacob and Lea.
It was very important to them where they were to be buried. Then we find Joseph giving instructions for his bones.
Many years later Pharaoh said that he would destroy the children of Israel, but there was a coffin in Egypt full of bones that says this will not happen.
“And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you,” Exodus 13:19.
The question is, why must these bones be taken to a specific place?
Egypt had been good to Joseph, why not be buried there?
And why must Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Rebeca, Jacob, and Lea, be buried in this specific place?
Joseph was a seer a prophet, and he saw something way down more than one thousand seven hundred years in the future that he wanted to be a part of.
He saw an event taking place a glorious event that he wanted to participate in.
He made arrangements for his body to be buried in the area that this event would happen.
Why was this event in the future so important to Joseph?
This event is found in Mathew 27:50-53.
“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many,” Matthew 27:50-53.
Abraham as well as Joseph saw down through the ages to this event. They saw something coming that they wanted to be a part of and they ordered their lives and affairs to be a part of this glorious event.
They were the first of the Old Testament saints to be raised from the dead.
These were the fore runners of the coming sons of God
There is a company of people who see something more than just dying and making it to heaven.
They see that it is God’s high calling for them to become manifested sons of God.
Yes, there is a high calling that many are beginning to understand and by faith are beginning to reach for this high calling.
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne,” Revelation 12:1-5.
If you can see what is coming you can be a part of it
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren,” Romans 8:28-29.
To become like Jesus before you reach heaven was the high calling that the Apostle Paul spoke about.
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you,” Philippians 3:13-15.
Even creation is aware of this and longs for us to move into this high calling
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” Romans 8:19-24.
Jesus was the forerunner, for those with understanding and faith would follow in His footsteps.
Jesus was baptised in water in the river Jordan, where the Holy Spirit descended upon Him.
He then continued on to Transfiguration, which occurred at the end of the 6th Day.
“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him,” Matthew 17:1-3.
Baptised in Water, Baptised in the Holy Spirit.
But there is more if you believe.
Transfiguration. Reaching the fullness of our salvation, being conformed to the image of Jesus, even before the rapture.
Joseph and Abraham saw something coming and prepared for that event.
Do you see something coming which is beyond being born again and being spirit filled?
The way forward is to press toward this high calling.
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 3:14.
The word press in this verse is the Geek word dioko, meaning: to pursue or to run towards. Strive for.
This is something we must do – Joseph saw something that seemed outlandish, impossible, but by faith took hold of it and became part of the glorious event.
The gospel of the Kingdom is a gospel of salvation and hope for a brand new world of peace, justice and God dwelling among mankind.
God is about to raise up a people who are like Him – a people who will finish the task that was given to Adam.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish,” Proverbs 29:18.
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee,” Isaiah 60:1.
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid,” Matthew 5:14.
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God,” Romans 8:19.
~ Neville Johnson ©
The late Neville Johnson of The Academy of Light. Neville was in full time ministry for over 40 years. During that time he founded two Bible schools training ministers and missionaries who are now serving the LORD in fifteen nations. He was Director of Living Word Academy of Light in Australia. With great effect Neville preached the Gospel and taught the Word of God in over thirty nations and ministered in countless ministers seminars around the world. He was burdened for the lost with an apostolic calling to the nations.
Neville returned to be with The LORD on September 1, 2019.