[Anatomy of a Nation in Decline] 11 – Reference Point: We are Living in the End Times

7/31/2019 [Anatomy of a Nation in Decline] 11 Reference Point: We are Living in the End Times

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2012SCOTT WEBSTER MINISTRIES. Page 1 of 6

P r o p h e t i c B r i e f

Anatomy of a Nation in Decline #10

Reference Point #3: We are Living in the End Times

I was standing at the check-in desk of the hotel when I realized it was May21, 2011 just about one year ago. That was the date some guy hadpredicted the return of the Lord and the end of the world. I had forgotten allabout the crazy prediction since I didnt believe it in the first place; I haddismissed it out of hand and simply wasnt keeping track. The guy inquestion had made prior obviously incorrect predictions based on somemathematical formula. I remembered a similar situation when an engineerturned theologian wrote a booklet entitled 88 Reasons Jesus is Coming in

1988. When that failed he wrote another one: 89 Reasonsno kidding.Thank God he stopped before he wrote 90 Reasons, I think because he hadtoo many 89 books unsold.

What I had a hard time understanding was why people were so quick tobelieve the date setters. We have clear Scripture that indicates no one knowsthe day or the hour of Christs return (Mt 24:36). It cant get much moreplain than that yet some followers racked up debt they thought they wouldnever have to pay, or took their kids out of school and travelled across theland to convert people before the declared date.

Two Extremes

It was as I was filling in the hotel form and wrote down the date that I

remembered the prediction, laughing and saying we would all be here

tomorrow. The hotel clerk laughed too. He was an unbeliever and said

something about going out later to get drunk and waking up with a hangover

just to spite the whole prediction business. As much as I disagreed with his

philosophy of life, I could understand his disregard for those who made

such foolish statements. His contempt, however, was not just for the

prediction, he was disbelieving that the ultimate event would occur at all

ever.

Right before me stood the two extremes. On the one hand the crazy

prediction man and all his devotees, consumed with false zeal and filled

with a wrong emphasis about end time events. On the other was the frontdesk clerk who completely dismissed spiritual reality and was quite happy

to deny the coming of the Lord at all. He lived in a world defined by human

rationality. His response reminded me of Jon Stewart, a TV personality who

hosts a program called the Daily Show on Comedy Central, a program that

focuses on a comedic look at news and world events. Steward held a rally

called The Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington, DC in October 2010 in

order to promote reasoned discussion and to move away from the political

extremes characterizing the nation. He was especially targeting the religious

right and their views about the world. While I didnt watch the rally or

New Video Series

We are living in an unmatched time

in the earth; a time when crisis is

erupting through natural disasters,

pol i t ical destabi l izat ion, and

economic meltdown.

Politicians and religious leaders areall weighing in on these events, but

they dont seem to have the

answers to a world in intense

distress, and are rightly wondering:

What in the World

is Going On?

In this series of Prophetic Briefs,

Scott Webster addresses questions

that are on peoples minds, andbrings prophetic perspective to the

events happening in the earth

today, so that we can stand

effectively in a day when so many

things are falling apart.

View the full six episodes in the

series What in the World is Going

On at scottwebsterministries.org.

ISSUE 504 MAY 23RD 2012

Insight and Analysis for the 21st Century
http://www.scottwebsterministries.org/category/prophetic-briefs/videos/what-in-the-world-is-going-on/http://www.scottwebsterministries.org/category/prophetic-briefs/videos/what-in-the-world-is-going-on/http://www.scottwebsterministries.org/category/prophetic-briefs/videos/what-in-the-world-is-going-on/http://www.scottwebsterministries.org/category/prophetic-briefs/videos/what-in-the-world-is-going-on/


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know anyone who participated, I saw a news clip in which Stewart said

about the rally These are hard times, not the end times.

The crazy prediction guy had billboards and followers who traveled around

America trying to convert others, but the cult of rationality has far more

disciples people who are committed to a carnal world view that

completely dismisses Gods purpose. These rationalists would say we are

childish because we have faith in that which we cannot see, and they

would scoff when we speak about the return of the Lord. There is a battle

for insight raging in the unseen realm, and the easiest targets in this war are

those who swear there is no such conflict.

Exact Hour vs. Knowing the SeasonMatt 24:36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in

heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah,

so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the

flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,

up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what

would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it

will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Lets be very clear about the fact that no one can make statements,

predictions or implied timetables of the Lords return. In addition to the

fact that we just dont know it could be 5 years, 50 or 500 it is also

unproductive and unhealthy to place the weight of consideration on a date.

That is why Jesus said No one knows about that day or hour, not even the

angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Mt 24:36). No one

knows is an all inclusive statement, and just in case there is room for

doubt Jesus underscores it by saying not even the Son but only the

Father knows the day and hour. Anyone who predicts a date or time

should be flatly rejected because it is that clear.

But then Jesus shifted and began to describe the conditions that would

occur in the season leading up to His return because He wants us to

Matt 24:36-39"No one knows about that day or

hour, not even the angels in heaven,

nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it

will be at the coming of the Son of

Man. 38 For in the days before theflood, people were eating and

drinking, marrying and giving inmarriage, up to the day Noah

entered the ark; 39 and they knewnothing about what would happen

until the flood came and took them

all away. That is how it will be atthe coming of the Son of Man.


But then Jesus shifteda n d b e g a n t od e s c r i b e t h econditions that wouldoccur in the seasonleading up to Hisreturn because Hewants us to recognizethe season in which

He w ill return . Aseason is a generaltime frame, not anexact day or time,and one way we canrecognize the seasonof the coming of theLord is it will be like

the days of Noah.There are two keyaspects of Noah thatare mentioned anda p p l y t o o u r understanding of theEnd Times.


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recognize the season in which He will return. A season is a general time frame, not an exact day or time, and one

way we can recognize the season of the coming of the Lord is it will be like the days of Noah. There are two key

aspects of Noah that are mentioned and apply to our understanding of the End Times.

1.There are two sets of people that exist in the End Times; those who know and are aware of the

importance of the season, and those who are completely unaware.

Noah was very conscious of the season of Gods moving in the earth. He had insight and knowledge into Gods

purpose, just as we are meant to be aware of the season of time we are now living in. God does not want us

ignorant and He expects us to know. The contrast of knowing the time and season vs. the actual day and hour is

repeated by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians.

1 Thess 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say,

"Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they

shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You

are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as

others do, but let us watch and be sober. (NKJV)

Paul speaks of two sets of people just as Jesus did in Noahs day. The first set is taken completely by surprise at

the coming of the Lord. They live in a place of spiritual ignorance and darkness, and the coming of the Lord

overtakes them like a thief in the night. The allegory of a thief in the night indicates that the coming of the Lord

will take people completely off guard and be a total shock. After all, a thief does not phone you up and declare I

will be there to rob your house at 3 a.m., otherwise you would be prepared and vigilant.

But then he makes a clear contrast that differentiates between those who are aware and those who are ignorant:

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief (1 Thess 5:4). It is plainly

stated the coming of the Lord will not shock us or catch us unaware and unprepared because we know the time

and seasons. We are sons of light and of the day, we have illumination even when the earth is in great darkness.

2.Knowing the time and season empowers us to engage in correct building activity.

The second key aspect revealed through Noah is that knowledge of Gods purpose and discernment of the season

empowered him to engage in powerful building initiatives. On the other hand people who didnt know were

eating, drinking and marrying right up to the day Noah entered the ark and they knew nothing about what would

happen until the flood came and took them all away (Mt 24:37). Those who were unaware engaged in activity

that was not relevant to the times.

As it Was in the Days of Noah

Noah represents a powerful prophetic and apostolic people living on the earth at the time of the End. He heard



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God with precision and clarity regarding the dimensions of the boat to be

built. Noah operated in a powerful prophetic spirit that was not blessing

oriented but building focused. He received one word from God which

sustained him for 120 years he certainly didnt run from one prophetic

seminar to another to get more words, nor was the content of the word

frivolous and light. It was filled with sobriety and warning and it placed on

Noah massive responsibility. When Noah heard God he moved with holy

fear (Heb 11:7) to build the ark; the prophetic was filled with weight and

it had the power to reconfigure Noah into a powerful builder of Gods

purposes and a measuring rod of Gods timetable in the earth. The prophetic

was tied to obedience; Noah didnt just rejoice and celebrate the fact that

God talked, he put great emphasis on obeying and bringing to fulfillment

what God spoke.

Noah also represents the release of an apostolic building reality; he is a picture of an apostolic people who have

received a command from God to build and they have diligently labored in the power of that command. Building

accurately for God over a long period of time, and faithfully executing Gods instructions to a point of

completeness, allows God to act. It was Noahs obedience to build that determined Gods time table for judging

the earth, forGod waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built (1 Pet 3:20). He was awarethat his efforts as a mortal man in obedience to a Divine command had ramifications for the entire earth. That

wasnt arrogance or presumption; it was accepting the responsibility of walking in heightened levels of

partnership with God.

Dont Sleep; Watch and Be SoberPaul said that since we know the season of the Lords return that we should not sleep as others do, but let us

watch and be sober (1 Thess 5:6). We are commanded to watch and be sober. The word watch is gregoreo, it

means to keep awake and not be sluggish or dulled by the need to sleep. The word is used twice in the description

Jesus gave for his Second Coming:

Mark 13:35 "Therefore keep watch (gregoreo) because you do not know when the owner of the house will come

back-whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do

not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"(gregoreo)

Watching is contrasted with sleeping. Sleep here is not referring to physical rest but to spiritual dullness and

lethargy; it is to be unconscious of the Lords times and seasons. What does sleep mean to us?

To be asleep is to be living in 2012 with crisis breaking out on every side and, rather than recognize the

sings of the times simply hoping that the economy gets fixed or that life returns to normal.

To be asleep is an inability to discern the importance of building initiatives to Gods end time purposes,

and to therefore engage in activity that is not relevant to the season in which we live.

To be asleep is to become lax in keeping our responsibilities as stewards in the house because the

Master has not yet returned

Sleep is a lack of proper sobriety and seriousness regarding the End of the age. It is to let the passing of time and

events serve as intoxicants that dull our discernment. In contrast being watchful is to be very aware of events that

are occurring, and to understand the meaning of things in terms of Gods purpose. Being fully aware of the season

of the Lords return is a Biblically approved last days attitude; it is filled with hope and expectancy, discernment

and sobriety.


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Application to this Prophetic Word

This series of newsletters is about The Anatomy of a Nation in Decline, and this Reference Point indicates that it

is impossible to separate what is happening in America from the events that are unfolding that are ordained of God

to take us to the end of time. Life is devolving in the U.S. and the events that are taking place are not just national

in scope. What is happening in this nation is in the context of the End of the Age massive movements have

taken place to bring the earth to its present point and life in America is bound by those broad, macro movements.

Just as it was in Noahs time, there is no reverse gear that will cause things to back up or revert to a previous order

of life. The ark was being built and when it was completed rain would fall and the earth would be flooded by

Gods decree. Gods mind had been made up, He found a man to partner with Him and He began to move things

towards a place of finalization.

Likewise, things are progressing relentlessly forward toward ultimate

outcomes in our time. By that I mean: a) society is continuing to devolve

and become more ungodly, more immoral and more worthy of impending

judgment b) conditions in the nations are becoming more chaotic and

rulers have fewer solutions and less wisdom to the perplexing problems

of the earth c) the problems facing the United States will not go away or

be fixed there is no political solution because the core of the problem isnot political. To understand what is happening in this nation requires that

we see how events in America are tied not only to global realities, but to

Gods end time purposes.

The focus for us as believers, then, must be targeted on being part of the

Noah dimension that is acutely aware of Gods end time purpose and

actively building so that we can be part of the tool God utilizes to bring to

pass His ultimate purpose. We must be good stewards who are awake and

keeping watch when the master returns to His house. We are in a state of

readiness and we watch and pray!


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1. Crisis is Global Though we are focusing on U.S. specifically, a series of crises hasbeen released upon the earth and all nations will be impacted

2. God is SovereignGod is above the crises and they have not taken Him by surprise.He is superintending the events of the earth and even the criseshave a part to play in Gods unfolding plan for the earth.

3. We are Living in the

End Times

The dealings of God in the earth (and the U.S.) are part of end

time movements and realities

4. Behind Nations is aSpiritual Reality

Therefore behind the natural decline that we can see there is aspiritual source. It manifests as political, economic and social butthe source of it is unseen. What is pushing the earth is notnatural and it cannot be perceived by earths intelligence

5. Gods Heart isRedemptive

Gods judgments are redemptive, and the heart of this isn't angeror an anti-American stance, it is Gods desire to move us towards

correctness

6. This is a Call toAwareness

This is not a call to repentance so that God will change the courseof a nation, it is a call for us to be spiritually aware so that we canprepare and move into heightened levels of partnership withGods end time purposes.

Reference Pointsn order to correctly understand this prophetic analysis we first must deal with the context of our knowleabout key principles and platforms. I am calling these Reference Points, and to benefit from this prophword they must be understood, accepted and referred back to while reading.


Releasing The New Prophetic Dimension Activating The Capacity To Build Obeying The Command To Finish

[Anatomy of a Nation in Decline] 11 – Reference Point: We are Living in the End Times

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