And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, wearing sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes; anyone who wants to harm them must be killed in this manner. Revelation 11:3-5
No doubt everyone out there can see how things are escalating in the world and how we’re facing the tribulation. I know many of you have read prophecy and have prepared for these times. There are many prophetic voices out there that have given warning to us and for them I am grateful. They have called us to be awake to the storm, keeping us abreast of the anti-Christ agenda that barrages us daily in the news. They have called us to be a sign of hope in the world and given us practical measures of things we can do. I have often wondered how what I write fits into all of this. And I just keep coming back to the same two things. But before I expound on that, I wanted to share with you some excerpts from a famous book we all know. I read the book long ago, but my friend Ashley recently refreshed my memory on some of what was written. The book is the Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis. For those of you who haven’t read it, it is written from the perspective of a demon. Here is an excerpt from the book. I have chosen to bold some of the writing;
Our business is to get them away from the eternal, and from the Present. With this in view, we sometimes tempt a human (say a widow or a scholar) to live in the Past. But this is of limited value for they have some real knowledge of the past and it has a determinate nature and, to that extent, resembles eternity. It is far better to make them live in the Future. Biological necessity makes all of their passions point in that direction already, so that thought about the Future inflames hope and fear. Also it is unknown to them, so that in making them think about it we make them think of unrealities. In a word, the Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity. It is the most completely temporal part of time – For the past is frozen and no longer flows, and the Present is lit up with eternal rays. Hence the encouragement we have given to all those schemes of thought such as Creative Evolution, Scientific Humanism, or Communism, which fix men’s affections on the Future, on the very core of temporality. Hence nearly all vices are rooted in the future. Gratitude looks to the past and love to the present; fear, avarice, lust and ambition look ahead. …..
He (God) does not want men to give the Future their hearts, to place their treasure in it. We do.
I was astonished in rereading this. It is a profound understanding of what the enemy is trying to do to us. Friends, we can know something is coming, but we don’t know exactly what. It is good to stay awake and prepare in various ways. But the Future should not consume us, because we are called to love and mercy in the here and now. These are the two witnesses. Love and Mercy.
Now before anyone jumps on me, I do believe there could be two actual witnesses that the book of Revelation speaks of. I do not doubt God’s layers of meaning. But for me, in reading this passage, I know this is a call to love and mercy now, in all of your interactions and in all of your relationships. Because the honest truth is, you never do know what tomorrow brings, and if God were to take you tomorrow you would want your soul judged not on your preparations for the future you didn’t get to see, but on how you loved and gave mercy in the life that you lived.
I was awakened in the night on February 11, 2023. I wrote in my journal what I felt God speaking. As always, if the church were to say what I have written in wrong, then the church is correct and I am wrong. I speak of future things, but hopefully it invokes no fear, because the call from the Lord is clear. Act when God tells you and prepare how He tells you. Leave all else aside, and keep working for the Kingdom at hand.
Beloved Lily of the Father,
I AM sending my two witnesses to the earth to call you back to me. They come in the form of sickness and hunger. These witness to those who think they have control. They do not. Men are small. I call you back to My Authority to rely totally on Me.
In sickness you are called back to love. Health can deign one to think they are invincible. Sickness reminds one that they are not and draws you back to love that which is important. If you are open, you are drawn back to witness to my love. Love is about relationship not about preserving the physical body at all costs. My witness looks like Damien of Molokai. Those who think they can outsmart or out-science my witness will get devoured by the fire of loneliness and despair, loss of relationship more fierce than any sickness could ever be.
Hunger will come and show you how truly small you are and bring you to complete reliance on My Providence.
Prosperity can bring pride and condescension. Hunger reminds mankind of how little control you really have. If you are open, you will see the miracle of My Providence as this witness taken up with total trust shows himself to be a mercy. Mercy in the provision of My Providence. This witness looks like Anthony of Padua, steeped in poverty by choice, merciful in feeding the hungry. It’s all about mercy.
Love and Mercy become the two greatest witnesses. Those who think they can outsmart or out-science my witnesses without turning to Love and Mercy, will have no peace.
My Peace comes in the midst of sickness and hunger. My Peace is love and mercy lived. The beast will try to devour Love and Mercy making a god of science. But Love and Mercy will rise to heaven and pour out as blood and water from the wounds of My Son, showing all who they really are. Heaven and earth will be silent. You will know who you are. The remnant shall persevere in Love and Mercy.
- Abba
Turn all you do towards Love and Mercy and have gratitude for what the Lord has allowed to come your way. It’s fine to prepare for the future, but do not do it out of fear, but out of obedience and love. Love Now. Have Mercy now.