End-Time Prophets - a seven-part series (Part 2)

by Michael C. Garrett

Good afternoon friends welcome to Owensboro, Kentucky. Welcome to the weekly church service of the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ. My name is Michael C. Garrett.

Now, back when I was a teenager, there was a television show which came on an American broadcasting station, and it was a copy of what had become popular in England. And it was called the TW3 - That Was the Week That Was. It was a comedy show, a parody show. They took news items and had a lot of fun with it. And I always thought it was a very unique sense of humor, and as a teenage boy, I enjoyed it and got a lot of information out of it. That Was the Week That Was.

Make America Great Again

Well, with that in mind – all I can say is – here we are November 12th, 2016. And on Tuesday evening the results of our presidential election came rolling in. Many of us stayed up – some into the wee hours of the morning – waiting for the results.

And, all I can say is, “Wow! Who would have thunk it!?” Maybe something Yogi Berra would have said.

Well, most of the polls missed it, most of the talking heads, pundits, analysts, and so-called experts failed to predict it. For those who stayed awake into those wee hours of Wednesday morning of November 9th, we heard eventually the television anchor say, “The next President of the United States – the 45th President of the United States – will be Donald J. Trump!” And, what a shocker!

This is, undoubtedly, the most stunning presidential election results in the history of our republic. And with the electoral college scoreboard on Fox News seemingly stuck at 254 – keep in mind you have to have 270 electoral votes to win an election – for what appeared to be two or three hours I began to dance around the dial to view other news programs, and I was simply amazed by what I saw and what I heard! The commentators on these Far-left networks were in a state of complete shock and utter denial! They were beside themselves! And, some were near-complete meltdown! They were seemingly totally unhinged! They simply could not believe what they were seeing.

Well, from my viewpoint, from my observation, my analyses, my opinion – just one man’s opinion here – and you’re free to have a different opinion and I won’t get mad at you if you have a different opinion. And hopefully, you won’t get mad at me, because of the opinion I’m about to state. But from my viewpoint – millions and possibly tens of millions of everyday down-to-earth, hardworking, God-fearing (or at least God respecting), normal Americans took the opportunity during this presidential election to express their grave and profound doubts – serious doubts – concerning the honesty and the integrity of the Democratic candidate. Herself a forty-year veteran of the political left – and sometimes Far-left. And these tens of millions of Americans also took their disgust and repudiation and rejection of the Far-left politics, positions, practices over the past eight years of the present administration, and the prospect of four or even eight more years of the same, and this silent majority – these “forgotten Americans” – took the opportunity at the ballot box to say, “Enough is enough! This radical turn to the left and to the Far-left, and even to the radical left, must stop! We may not fully understand at this point in time where this ‘new guy’ is going to take us, but we must take the chance and give him the opportunity to lead us in a different direction!”

Now the task which awaits this new president-elect will not be easy. It will not be without challenges. The main-stream media and the leaders of our popular culture and entertainment will do everything within their power to demean, to diminish, to destroy this new president and his policies, and his public standings. And the leaders of the Opposition Party most likely will do everything within their power to thwart, to block, to discredit, and derail his goals and objectives. His job is probably going to become very difficult.

Now, as students of the Bible, our desire, hope, and prayer, should be that this new leader – according to the Word of God - be given and granted wisdom, courage, and divine direction and inspiration. In our sermons at the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ, we are extremely reluctant to express or espouse political views. However, we do very much believe that we are to follow the admonition of Jesus Christ as in the teaching of Mark 13.

And if you would turn there. This is a passage that I will occasionally talk about. And, it’s talking about the end-time – and Mark 13, Luke 21, and Matthew 24, the “Olivet Prophecy” are all talking about end-time events. And Jesus says in verse 30 – “’ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation …’” – He was talking to a future generation. He wasn’t necessarily talking to the people of that day – almost two-thousand-years ago. But He knew that in saying it, it would be recorded and become a part of Holy Scripture. So, He did say that ‘this generation,’ speaking to someone – I tend to think He was speaking to this generation. “ … ‘this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.’” – the things in which He had described in Mark 13, Luke 21, Matthew 24. He said – verse 31 – “’ Heaven and earth [theoretically could] pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 32) But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’” – the Father only at that time. And, I’ve said before – I have to believe that after nearly two-thousand-years thereabouts of Jesus Christ being at the throne of God – at His right hand – that the two of them have probably shared this information. And I would think that now the two of them are working together to identify that proper time. But we don’t know – no human knows. And I’ve tried to say this over and over – if somebody comes to you and says, “Well, I know when Jesus is going to return!” or “I know when the end-time is going to occur!” RUN and get away from that person – he or she is a charlatan and a con artist – they are trying to control you, bilk you, manage you. Just get away from them because they DON’T know!

And you will never hear me say in this present time that I know. Because I don’t. And, as I’ve said before, the end of this age could come in three years, or five years, or ten years, or twenty years, or thirty years, or fifty years – I don’t know.

But, He does say in verse 33 – “’ Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34) It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, …’” – whatever mission we are to do in this life to help fulfill His will. “ … ‘and commanded the doorkeeper to WATCH. 35) Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning - …’” – we simply do not know.

But we are told one thing – watch. Watch and pray. Watch, pray, and analyze, and try to discern – through God’s gift of discernment – what is happening and why it is happening and where we are going.

Verse 36 – “’ lest, coming suddenly, he [the master of the house] find you sleeping. 37) And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!’”

And so we here at the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ – we do watch. We are not actively engaged in political thought, however. But politics, no, I’m not going to bore you with it too often. Again, we do watch, and we indeed will pray, and if needed – and if appropriate – we reserve the right to comment. And that’s what I’m doing now, I’m saying more about the presidential election now than I have for the past year and a half. I’ve been very reluctant to get involved in it. Yes, I have my private thoughts. But, it’s not my job to try to convince you that my private thoughts are correct. It’s my job here to show you what the Bible says. Because we are all about understanding, knowing, appreciating, comprehending, the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God.

But I would like to read an article. This appeared in the Friday edition of the Owensboro Times on the opinion page. This article was written by Kathleen Parker, who works for The Washington Post – think far to the left political ideology. And this woman has been hard on Donald Trump for a year and a half. And this woman has been extremely praiseworthy of Hillary Clinton for the past year and a half. In fact, some of her articles are so strident I refuse to read them! Because I don’t think she’s been a very fair arbiter of what’s been going on as a journalist. But she was amazingly full of insight when she wrote this article.

November 9, 2016 – What Clinton didn’t understand

“As regular readers of this column know, I rejected Donald Trump on Day One and have spent the past year — in columns, on TV and in speeches across the country — highlighting the many reasons I found him unacceptable for the job of president.

My opinion hasn’t changed, but as Hillary Clinton said in her concession speech, “Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead.” And Trump, in his victory speech, said without irony that now it’s time to heal the wounds of division. …

To begin, there needs to be an honest assessment of what just happened. It isn’t really that complicated or mysterious, if you’ve spent any time in the America where Trump voters live. …

And she goes on to say:

Two weeks ago, I began saying that Trump would win, whether I liked it or not. Today, I offer a clarification: He didn’t win the election. Clinton lost it.

For voters who couldn’t stand Trump, she was a terrible alternative. Never a great candidate, she was also, tragically, a Clinton when people were ready to move on. She received several million fewer votes than President Obama did in 2012.

And speaking of Obama, he also lost this election to Trump, despite exit polling that showed the president’s approval rating at 50 percent-plus.

Now, time out, these are my thoughts. I have not been a fan of President Obama, and his policies. But I will say – he’s conducted himself as a very honorable husband and father to his family, and he is a very intelligent man and he is a very well-spoken man. And, for the past year and a half, the attention hasn’t been on him, it’s been on the seventeen Republican candidates and the four Democratic candidates and their primaries – which eventually became Donald on one side and Hillary on the other. All of the news has been focused on them. And in this era, Obama’s approval rating has gone up. Because he seems to be a decent fella – as far as family and the way he conducts himself. Now I’m going back to the said article –

The 2016 election was as much a referendum on Obama’s legacy as it was on the candidates themselves. When people want the country to change course, they don’t typically vote for a third term of the current president.

Thus, a vote for Trump was really a vote against Obamacare and the rising costs of health insurance. It was a vote against the doubling of the national debt to nearly $20 trillion under Obama. It was a vote against a foreign policy that saw the Islamic State’s expansion rather than its defeat.

Clinton’s promise to continue Obama’s policies was a suicide agenda to a majority of Americans, especially those whose lives haven’t improved during the economic recovery [so called] of the past eight years. Clinton also embraced much of Bernie Sanders’s socialist platform, –

My thought. Was America – is America - really ready to become a socialist-like or a socialist-lite country!? Obviously, the answer as of Tuesday is - no! The vast majority – no! Now, maybe on the far-Left coast. Maybe on the far-East coast. But here in flyover country – no! Not ready for it! Now I’m going back to the said article –

– which no conservative-leaning voter could support.

And, yes, too, some Trump voters probably resented the exacerbation [the increase] of racial discord under Obama’s watch when Americans had hoped for the opposite. …

But leaning primarily on racism, bigotry or sexism to explain what happened Tuesday is too facile [too weak] by half. –

And yet – my thoughts – here for the last five nights we have seen scenes on our television sets where all across this country – major cities – hundreds and thousands of young people are protesting – that’s what they call it. I call it anarchy. When you go down the middle of the street and block traffic, set fires, take baseball bats and smash in store-front windows and car windshields, beat up unsuspecting Trump voters – that’s not a protest. That’s anarchy! And I have no compassion for it and no appreciation for it at all.

And, sooner or later the authorities have got to get a grip on this. Now I’m going back to the said article –

– Missing from the audiences that television cameras focused on were millions of others — Republicans, independents, libertarians and maybe even some Democrats — who would rather be horse-whipped than attend a Trump rally but were compelled to vote “R” against the likelihood of a more liberal Supreme Court, laxer immigration laws and an increasingly costly health-care system, among other concerns.

The giant X-factor about which I have written — the however many who would never admit to voting for Trump but did — was enormous, indeed.

Trump captured a moment and promised to make America great again. He also said that he’ll be the president for everybody. Let’s hope he wasn’t just reading from a teleprompter — and that the word trickles down.”

(https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-clinton-didnt-understand/2016/11/09/97ff0476-a6be-11e6-ba59-a7d93165c6d4_story.html).

I thought that was an amazing article. Especially when it was written by a woman from The Washington Post who has dogged Trump the entire election season and who has had Clinton up on a giant pedestal. Well, I guess the people have spoken - and Hillary was deemed unfit to be the next president. And America is ready to take a chance on a political unknown than to have four or eight more years of this liberal garbage we are living under.

united we stand, divided we fall

At the conclusion of this commentary, we will again state the obvious – the results of the presidential election of the past week have been stunning, shocking, even earth-shaking. The reverberations of which are sure to be felt around the world and for years to come. And I think that it’s safe to say that in some manner, shape, and or form, the aftermath of this recent election will have a part in the unfolding of end-time prophecies.

Now, what do I mean by that!?

Well, you think about this past summer – we had the Brexit vote (be sure to read God’s Promises To Abraham – a seven-part series which explains that the UK voting to break away from the European Union directly has implications for future fulfilled prophecy) in the United Kingdom for the British Isles to leave the European Union. That was an earth-shaking event – whose reverberations are still being felt around the world!

And, we have had over the last year or two massive influx of Islamic immigrants into Europe – and that was a large part of the Brexit vote. We have seen, and we are seeing and will continue to see, growing resentment among the populous of those European nations. We will see the rise of political parties and movements which will resist in Europe the influx of these Islamic foreigners. And these political movements will take encouragement – in both the Brexit vote and America’s move from the left (and you can also call that Socialism or near-Socialism) – to a more vocal and aggressive drift to the right. And we indeed will see that in the coming months and years. The nature of Europe is soon going to change and is going to become much more hardened, and much more militaristic.

And there’s another ramification of this presidential election on end-time prophecy.

Here’s another article piece by Matt Sedensky of the Associated Press:

November 10, 2016 - After blistering campaign, Americans wonder how to heal

“DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — For an hour they stood shoulder to shoulder, those who supported Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, praying together in a service of postelection healing. Noting the painful labels and divisions of the just-finished campaign, the Rev. Jenna Faith Strizak said, “We’ve got to figure out how to live together. And not just live together, but be one.”

That could take a miracle: To bring together those elated by Trump’s ascension to president-elect with those who see him as an embodiment of the country’s worst instincts and a threat to its future. …

“It’s shattering,” said Byron Beck, a writer in Portland, Oregon, who supported Clinton. While harshly faulting Trump, he cast the moment as a dilemma for all Americans. “We have lost our way, and I don’t know what that reset button will look like, but I know that I will work for it or I’ll leave the country.”

(https://apnews.com/6f425edf6175482fbaffdc98dd292bfe).

The past year and a half and the past eight years have been so politically upsetting to so many groups of people – on both sides of the issues – that it almost makes you think that the rift between the Far-left and the Far-right is so great – that the chasm is so great – that never again will we as a country come together in a united form. Now, I don’t know, maybe it will change – much of this will depend upon Mr. Trump and his policies and how they are enacted and if they’re beneficial. But, you’re beginning to see a country that is being torn apart! Literally – torn apart! And, here is what was so ironic – there were people who were against Trump, who said, ‘If Trump loses, his followers will be out in the streets with machine guns, pitchforks, and shotguns. And will be causing mass chaos!’ Well, guess what!? It wasn’t the people on the right who did that – it was the people on the left! Who often say that they are tolerant and filled with love. They’re the ones out in the street burning, looting, smashing windows, attacking people! There are some very serious problems in this country! And if we don’t get those solved and don’t get that problem healed we as a country are going to have a very difficult time going forward into the future and being a solid unified group. It’s like the phrase - first attributed to Founding Father John Dickinson in his song “The Liberty Song” - by uniting we stand, by dividing we fall! Now, what did Jesus say, “’ If a house is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.’” Jesus also gave another analogy where if you build a house on a rock it’s very strong, but if you build that same house on sand – that’s very unstable – that the house someday will come tumbling down. Well, is it possible that we as a nation could tumble!? As much as I hate to say it – the prophecies of your Bible give that as a result.

I saw on the front cover of The New Yorker – a left-to-center publication – just a few days before the election they had a caricature of Donald Trump and across his face were the words loser. And it almost reminds you of November 3, 1948, in which the Chicago Daily Tribune headlined – Dewey Defeats Truman.

And, our newspapers – our opinion-makers – talking about the Far-left, they have been so wrong about this presidential election.

Review

If you would turn to Acts 2 – we covered this briefly in part 1. This is very important. Peter said in his powerful sermon on the Day of Pentecost – verse 22 – “’ Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know – ”

How do we prove that Jesus Christ was indeed the Christos – the Messiah – the Anointed Son of God!? How do we know that!? Is it because the Bible tells us!? Well, we know about it because of this Book – but the proof (and it really comes down to two areas):

1. Jesus Christ said to the people of His era who were questioning Him, ‘How do we know who You say You are!?’ And He said to them, “’ As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth’” Now, never, ever, had any other human being said that! Or even had the audacity to even think it! But He boldly said, ‘This is the one true sign!’ And He did it! And the people who were around Him and near Him, they recorded this historic document - and this spiritual document we call the Holy Bible the New Testament – to demonstrate.

Now these men who had recorded it, many of them were themselves martyred. Do you really think that if they knew that story about Jesus was a fraud – that He had died and they stole His body and they hid it – they would have gone to the point of torture and death if they knew the story was a lie!? No, they knew the story was true because they saw it and they wrote about it! So, that’s one powerful proof that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah and the Messiah yet to come!

2. Now, anybody can claim anything. There are church people right now that say, “Well, we represent God!” Anybody can say that. And there’s really no way to disprove it other than to follow the fruit of their life. “’ You will know them by their fruits.’” And so when a group says, “Well, we represent God!” and yet they trash people and they tell lies and they make up stories – the fruit of their existence is very negative and false. And not to be believed.

But the other fruit of their life is if the people involved in that religion were to have the power to give sight back to the blind, to give hearing to the deaf, to eradicate demonic possession and mental disease, to restore withered limbs, even to restore people who had previously been dead back to life, either now or in the future.

And I’m not talking about some fake people. There once was a man on television always dressed in white – an Israeli televangelist, known for his “Miracle Crusades” – and he would put on “a really big shew” as Ed Sullivan would say. He was a religious charlatan. And a part of his show – he would ask people to come up on stage and he would throw his hand out near their forehead and they would just fall away backward. And had attendants catching these people. And then he would claim they were healed. I saw a lot of showmanship, and games being played up on stage. Well, in 2017, federal investigators raided his Grapevine office with a search warrant for financial crimes. Also, in 2017, an article reported that he, sweating, had wondered how an actual handicapped person made it past security. Well, that was all show business folks! Not much more than a glorified magicians act.

So, one way to see proof that a man truly represents the will of God is if God and Jesus Christ would grant that man the gift of healing. And that’s what God the Father did with Jesus – notice again, “Jesus of Nazareth, a Man [approved] by God …” God the Father put His stamp of approval on Jesus Christ “to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know [to be true].”

And that’s what is going to happen to the end-time prophets. They’re going to be granted the gift of miracles, and the gift of healing.

Now, to understand what the end-time prophets are going to do, you must understand what Jesus Christ did! And He said, ‘greater works than these he will do.’ And so to get an appreciation for what the end-time prophets are going to do – to fully understand it and to fully appreciate it – you’ve got to go back and study every single miracle performed by and through Jesus Christ.

And so a part of this seven-part series on the end-time prophets we are going to go through and study every miracle that was a part of the life of Jesus Christ. And in doing so we will begin to understand the power that will be with these end-time prophets. And then we’re going to talk about what the Bible says specifically about the end-time prophets and the Two Witnesses – and what their job is going to be.

‘in mighty signs, wonders, and deeds’

If you would turn to Romans 15. I would like to continue establishing some background. Verse 13 – “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 14) Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish [instruct] one another. 15) Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16) that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17) Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18) For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient – …” – he’s basically saying, ‘I’m just going to speak the things I know and of things which I have witnessed. Verse 19 – “in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

But how was this great statement made!? Sometimes you have to have some miraculous power in order to get people’s attention. This is what happened to Jesus Christ, and this is what happened to the Apostle Paul.

Now notice if you would 2nd Corinthians 12, verse 1 – again, this is the Apostle Paul speaking. “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.” – now, that within itself is a miracle – to be given a vision from God. To know things miraculously from God that nobody else knows through God’s Spirit – well that’s a miracle.

And now Paul is speaking in the third-person. Verse 2 – “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago …” – Paul is indeed speaking of himself. “ … – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body [in other words, in the mind] I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the third heaven.” The third heaven is the throne of God. Again, the Bible talks about three different types of heaven. The heaven which is most often mentioned in the Bible is – what we would call the atmosphere. That’s where the word heaven normally means. There’s also, in the Bible, times where the word heaven is referring to what we would call outer space. And it’s not used too often. And the third location and description of the word heaven is the present throne of God the Father and Jesus Christ. And here Paul labels it ‘the third heaven.’ Verse 3 – “And I know such a man – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows –” – whether it was happening in the body or happening in a vision – in his mind. Verse 4 – “how he [speaking of himself] was caught up into Paradise …”

So, Paradise being the throne of God – the third heaven. What we have here – Apostle Paul is describing a situation in either he was actually there by his body being transported by the power of God, or it all occurred to him in the theatre of his mind. That he saw it like we would see a television show. Even though I’ve never been to Hawaii, many times I have seen Hawaii because of the means of television or movies. “ … and heard inexpressible words, which is not lawful for a man to utter.” – he was hearing things that no human being normally gets to be a part of. A fantastic miracle! Verse 5 – “Of such a one I will boast; …” – he’s saying – ‘This was a powerful moment in my life! One which I’ll never forget! One which once again proves to me that I was serving the living God and the Messiah – the living Son of God Jesus Christ!’ “ … yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities [my weaknesses]. 6) For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.”

Paul is saying, ‘I’m being really careful how I tell you this story because I don’t want you to think that I’m special.’ What he’s saying is, ‘I’m the recipient of a miracle and it proves that God is very special.’

Verse 7 – “And lest I should be exalted above measure …” – recall in the first of the series we talked about Acts 3 & 4? When the lame man was healed the people outside the gate called Beautiful began to look upon Peter and John as though they were “great holy men.” And Peter said, ‘Don’t look upon us as though we did this – we didn’t do this! We spoke the words, but the actual healing was done by Jesus Christ!’ And he wanted to disavow that he was somehow special. He was special in that God used him – but the power came from Jesus Christ! Paul is saying the same thing here. ‘Don’t look upon me as something special because I had this vision or this event. What is special is that I got to see it!’ “ … by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”

What are the traits that can destroy the Spirit of God inside a human being? Well, bitterness will do it. Paul talked about, ‘lest a root of bitterness spring up from within you defile you.’ And bitterness can sour people. It can take them from having their name written in the Book of Life and having that name scratched out! And, jealousy. The petty jealousy which takes place within church groups is just astounding! Also, self-righteousness. As Jesus defined in the Book of Luke, chapter 18 – “some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.” They think of themselves more highly than they ought to think. Righteousness does not come from a human being, righteousness is poured into a human being from the Spirit of God – the very presence of Jesus Christ! His words, His Spirit, His mind! Remember what Jesus says about the two great commandments? ’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul [your life], and with all your mind.’ And He says the other is like unto it, ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Now, do you see the problem there!? If you don’t love your neighbor as yourself, you’re not really following the will of God. And if you despise others – which self-righteous people do, they look down smugly upon others, they’ll trash them, tell stories about them, they’ll try to destroy their reputation, mock them, demean them – all the time thinking how wonderful they are. I meet people all the time and talk to people all the time who – because of their training and background they think that being uber-righteous is somehow pleasing to God. “I won’t keep the Day of Atonement for one day, I’ll keep the Day of Atonement for two or three days! I’ll be uber-righteous and God will love me even more!” Folks, there’s nothing you can do to impress God except the following:

Submit wholeheartedly, completely, to Him and His will – with a humble and contrite spirit.

So, getting back to 2nd Corinthians 12. Paul has been describing this great event where he saw the throne of God! And I dare say that doesn’t happen too often to mortal human beings. But he says because this gift that he had been given was so great that God allowed him to struggle as he says, “a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8) Concerning this thing …” – and it was probably his eyesight. “ … I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.” And every time Jesus said directly to him – verse 9 – “ … ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities [my weaknesses], that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong [in God’s Spirit].”

Now, that’s not the way most people think. Most people think – well I’m riding high and everything is going well, a good job, a family, a house, a career, good health, I’m being blessed by God. But in truth – for the true servants of Jesus Christ – often their life is filled with issues. Problems. And, the problems keep them humble. The problems keep them sort of tampered down so that they never forget that they need Jesus Christ every moment! “I need thee, oh, I need thee; Ev'ry hour I need thee!” A beautiful song! Every hour, every minute, every second, we need Jesus Christ! And sometimes we just need to be reminded of that. I know in my life there are things that keep me sort of – at bay. And the lesson to learn from all of this – is that while I’m still in this flesh I’m going to look to Jesus Christ and God the Father and the Word of God and the soon-coming Kingdom of God! That will be my focus.

Verse 11 – “I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; …” Paul is saying. ‘You guys don’t respect me the way you should.’ “ … for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though [in your eyes] I am nothing. 12) Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.” – Paul was saying, ‘I may have my sight problem, but you know from the miracles that God the Father and Jesus Christ is truly backing me.’

That’s what these end-time prophets are going to say.

Turn with me if you will to John 14. This is one of the final sermons that Jesus Christ gives as a human being. It’s not going to be long after this until He is arrested and tried mockingly and He ends up dying on a cross. This is one of the last chances He has to speak to His disciples. In John 14 there is something that is utterly and completely remarkable! And it’s easy to read by it and not really ponder the significants of it. But I want you to see this – because it directly ties into the topic of the end-time prophets.

He says in John 14:12 – “’ Most assuredly, …’” – which means, in absolute truth! “ … ‘I say to you, he who believes [on] Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.’”

And then in verse 16, He talks about the Comforter – God’s Spirit. Verse 17 – “’ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees [it] nor knows [it]; but you know [it], for [it] dwells with you and will be in you.’” And, verse 21 near the end, “ … ‘and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.’” Verse 23 – “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word [he will believe My word]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.’”

John 15. Verse 26 – “’ But when the Helper …’” – another name for God’s Spirit, the very mind of Jesus Christ being within you. “ … ‘comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, [it] will testify of Me. 27) And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.’”

(Be sure to read our article Proving the Truth!, which explains that the Greek language didn’t have a neutral pronoun and that the Holy Spirit is not a “He” – not a person, but rather the power which emanates from God the Father and Jesus Christ).

Now, what these two passages point out – there in John 14:12 – ‘the things which I have done, you’re going to do the same – and greater!’ I believe that He’s speaking about the end-time prophets. And, He says in chapter 15, near the end, ‘I’m going to send you My Spirit – the Spirit of God is power and a part of that power is able to produce miracles – and you shall be My witnesses.’

The end-time prophets are the end-time witnesses for Jesus Christ, for God the Father, for the Word of God, for the Plan of God. And the final two will be called the Two Witnesses. Because their job will be the most spectacular of all! ■

Additional items of possible interest:

Is Halloween Biblical? - the greater majority of Americans will be observing and celebrating what is known as Halloween. Yet, is this holiday - or rather, this world's "holy day" - biblical!?

What Must I Do? - Well biblically speaking a good place to start – good old fashion religion here – the ten commandments.

Through Faith, God Healed Bud! - And I ask the question: By what standard!? By what means and methods does an individual examine and evaluate the condition and the status of their spiritual health and the level of their spiritual maturity!?