morningstar prophetic bulletin-2003 by rick joyner

7/23/2019 MorningStar Prophetic Bulletin-2003 by Rick Joyner

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MorningStar Prophetic Bulletins - 2003

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the forces of truth and righteousness that will prevail and conquer during the most difficult times the

world has ever faced.

As a reminder, and for those who may not have read the last Bulletin, the "four winds of the earth" that

are addressed in Revelation 7 are: 1) military power, 2) religious power, 3) political power, and 4)economic power. These are the four great forces from the earth that have dictated the course of

human history. These should be distinguished from the "winds of heaven" (Daniel 7:2; 8:8) that are

divine influences. We also want to distinguish the religious power here as being religions that "come

up out of the earth," or are of human origin rather than that which comes down from above. As

Revelation 7:1-3 declares:

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the

earth, so that no wind should blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.

And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and

he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the

sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants of

our God on their foreheads."

We see here that there will be a time when these four winds will be held in abeyance until the

bondservants of God are sealed. Also implied in this is that they will be released to do harm after the

bondservants of God have been sealed. We are fast approaching that time.

Author ity Over the Storms

On December 31, 2002, I was awakened early in the morning with a warning that these winds were

going to begin to be released, and that great storms would begin sweeping across the earth. I was

also told that those who are under authority would be given great authority, even over the coming

storms. As a confirmation I was told to turn on the television to The Weather Channel. When I did, a

section of their programming called "Storm Center" was on. They were highlighting a tornado warning

that was the result of a strong line of thunderstorms moving across the Gulf coast area. It looked like

these storms were only about an hour from striking the very place where my family was at the time in

Gulf Shores, Alabama. I was greatly disturbed because my family was in danger, so I went into

another room to pray for the Lord to calm these storms. When I came back to get an update about a

half hour later these storms had calmed down, and the tornado warning area had been reduced to a

strong thunderstorm watch area.

Did these storms die down in response to my prayer? Yes. I am sure that the Lord intervened

because I prayed. I also believe if I had not prayed, it could have been tragic, which was the messageof the dream that woke me--a call to wake up to our authority and responsibility. In this I was also

reminded of Acts 2:17- 21:

"And it shall be in the last days," God says, "That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; and

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old

men shall dream dreams;

Even upon My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit and they

shall prophesy.

And I will grant wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vaporof smoke.





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The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of

the LORD shall come.

And it shall be, that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

It should be noted here that the Spirit is going to be poured out upon His "bondslaves." These are the

same ones the angels have been sealing that are written about in Revelation 7:1. Therefore, one of

the crucial questions is: "Who are the bondslaves?"

Not all professing Christians are bondslaves, though we are certainly all called to be. A bondslave

exists to do the will of his Master. A bondslave does not just go out freely spending money because it

does not belong to him--he is a steward of his Master's resources and lives that way. A bondslave

does not just wake up and decide what he wants to do that day--his time belongs to his Master. He

wakes up asking the Master what He would have him do that day. Again, a bondslave does not live

for himself, but to do the will of his Master.

In truth, most professing Christians go on living their lives for themselves, thinking that the Lord lives

more for their benefit than their having been called to serve Him. The distinction made in the verses

we have quoted are for "bondslaves," not just in word, but in truth. This is the primary call going forth

in the earth at this time, the ones who the angels of God are now sealing. When the number

appointed have been sealed the winds of the earth will be released.

One of the results of the Spirit being poured out on the bondslaves is that they will prophesy and be

granted "...wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth below..." (Acts 2:19). According to the

Scripture, one of the great evidences that we are in fact entering the last days is the pouring out of the

Spirit, prophecy, dreams, visions, wonders, and signs. These have all been increasing for the last one

hundred years. This increase has tended to come in waves, with each one being more powerful than

the previous one. This is the same pattern that birth pangs tend to come in, with the contractions

coming upon the mother with more intensity and more frequency as she gets closer to the birth. This

is now happening in the church because she is about to give birth to the last day ministry, which will

become the body that is here to do His will, as we read in Hebrews 10:5-7:

Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering Thou hast not desired, but

a body Thou hast prepared for Me; in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast taken no

pleasure.

"Then I said, `Behold, I have come (In the roll of the book it is written of Me) To do Thy will, O GOD.'"

If you are under conviction that you really have not been living as a bondservant, there is still time torepent. However, the longer we wait the more costly our disobedience will be. As we read in II

Corinthians 6:1-4:

And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain--

for He says, "At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you";

behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation"--

giving no cause for offense in anything, in order that the ministry be not discredited,

but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God in much endurance, in afflictions, in

hardships, in distresses,





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This is the time to cast off our selfishness and to live for the will and purposes of the Lord. As a last

call the Lord is sending a special kind of storm to help us.

Ice Breaks Through

At our New Year's Conference for 2002, (December 2001) Bob J ones gave a word that an ice storm

was coming that would "break the drought and wash away the refuse of lies." North Carolina was

experiencing one of the worst droughts in its history. Also during that same period, the enemy

seemed to have stirred up more lies than we have ever had to face in our history, so this was a very

encouraging word to us.

Even before the conference was over an ice storm was forecast for the area and we started to rejoice

in how fast it seemed that the Lord had confirmed His Word. This one was just a token--however, it

was a minor ice storm and the drought was not broken.

Then, just before our last New Year's Conference for 2003, (December 2002), we had the biggest ice

storm in our history, and the most costly. This was the beginning of two months of wave after wave of

rain, snow, and almost every other form of precipitation coming to the state. The rain deficit from the

drought has been made up, the reservoirs and water tables are full, and they are now overflowing.

The spiritual atmosphere seems to have followed the same pattern.

We also need to understand how and why this ice storm was so costly for our state. Tens of

thousands of people lost power--for weeks! The power company lost millions. Why? The ice brought

down trees on the power lines. If these trees had been properly pruned away from the lines as they

should have been, this could have been avoided. I'm sure that those who were in charge of keeping

the trees pruned and away from the lines thought that they were actually saving the company a lot of

money, but ultimately their failure to prune ended up costing them much more.

Likewise, the Lord is going to send storms to break the drought that so many of His people are in.

They will begin by pruning those things in our lives that should have been removed a long time ago.

This is grace from the Lord. It will be costly because it was not done when it was supposed to be

done; but it will be even more costly if they are not pruned now. We cannot allow these things to

continue to exist in our lives any longer.

A part of Bob J ones' prophecy was that this ice storm would "wash away the refuse of lies." At first I

rejoiced in this because so many things were being said and written about us that were not true, and I

thought the Lord was going to send a storm to deal with these things. However, the Lord showed me

that this was not what He was talking about--it was the branches in our lives that should have been

pruned and were not-- the lies that He was sending the storm to wash away.

Fruit trees are pruned to remove the branches that do not bear fruit. These branches are just

consuming the nutrients and resources of the tree without producing anything. We also tend to have

many things in our lives that are just producing wood and not fruit. They consume our time, attention,

and our resources, but give nothing useful in return. These are the "lies" that His storm will wash

away. These lies will be removed from our lives so they will not continue to dissipate the life that we

have been given.

There are lies that the devil is spreading about God's people that the Lord will also deal with. In

dreams and visions lies are often represented as flies. One of the titles for Satan is Beelzebub, which

means "the lord of the flies." Flies feed on refuse, dung, and other filth. This is how they spread





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disease, and likewise how the devil spreads many of the spiritual diseases that have afflicted the

spiritual health of Christians for so long.

Another relevant characteristic of flies is that they swarm to battlefields to feed on the dead and

wounded. After some of the large Civil War battles it was said that the sound of the flies coming to thebattlefield made a loud, dreadful roar. Have you ever noticed the way lies multiply around spiritual

battlefields as well—like church splits or other conflicts between people? The devil is "the father of

lies" and "the lord of the flies," which are really the same. There is a great storm coming that will wash

away many of these lies from the church. When it is over we will not be so prone to believe evil about

one another.

Take Your Stand

The good news for the coming times is that we are going to learn just how much authority the Lord

has given to His people. The bad news is that we are going to begin reaping the consequences for

not praying or using the authority that we have been given.

We are entering the times when the Lord is removing His common grace from the earth. Common

grace is the grace that He gives to all men, causing His sun to shine on both the just and the unjust. It

is a grace that we can, and have, taken for granted. For us to continue to do this will be increasingly

devastating. We must begin praying for His grace in everything, including the weather.

We must also begin to pray for protection from the storms that are going to be coming from the stirring

up of the "four winds of the earth." The Lord will hear our prayers in regard to problems from the

military, religious, political, and economic powers, which will become more and more out of control.

It is important for us to understand that the Lord is beginning to remove His common grace from the

earth. It will not happen all at once nor will the "four winds of the earth" be released all at once. It will

be as if the gates for each one will be opened gradually in certain regions of the world. Military forces

may go on a rampage in one region, political upheaval will break out in another, religious conflicts

somewhere else, and economic storms in yet another place. Then gradually they will start joining so

as to increase in power, wreaking even more havoc.

Again, this will unfold gradually. With some of the great world problems we are now facing we may

think that the worst is already upon us, but we are just seeing "the beginning of birth pangs." If these

things were to happen all at once the entire social structure of the earth would collapse. Grace and

patience are basic to the Lord's nature, and we are still experiencing a lot of His grace. These forces

would have destroyed the earth long ago if it were not for His restraint. Basically the earth is headed

for the final and ultimate demonstration of what life is like without God. There are no remedies forhuman problems without God and the whole earth is about to learn this.

We must also understand that He restrained these forces for the sake of His bondservants, so that

they might be sealed, and prepared for their purpose. These "winds of the earth" are now being

released because His bondservants are maturing. These storms are also going to help in their

maturity, not only to prepare them for the culmination of this age, but to reap the full benefit of the very

purpose of this age-- training for reigning for those who are called to be joint heirs with Christ.

The Abiding Ones

Intercession is no longer just an option for the church. The basic calling of the church is to be "... ahouse of prayer for all nations..." (Mark 11:17). In Hebrews 7:25 it says, "...He is able to save forever





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those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

When the Lord ascended He did not just sit down and wait for the end. The Lord J esus is right now

interceding for us! He is performing His duties as the High Priest of God. All of those who are abiding

in Him will also be devoted to intercession. That is our calling as priests.

We will soon see prayer become the chief purpose and focus of the church, above any other activity.

Churches that are devoted to prayer will soon be sought out far more as the spiritual homes of

believers than those that have even the greatest preaching, teaching, music, hospitality, facilities, or

even great youth and children's ministries. Prayer is soon going to become our greatest devotion

because the true believers, the bondservants are going to know that He answers prayer.

This is not to imply that we should esteem the other important functions of the church any less than

we do now, but we must esteem prayer more. It must become the main focus of the church as it is

supposed to be. The Lord never said that His house would be called a house of preaching, or singing,

or fellowship, or even evangelism, etc. These things are important, and are supposed to be in His

house, but they were never intended to be the main room of the house. In fact, we will not be able to

continue to expect the grace of God upon these things without prayer. Again, we will come to know

that the Lord answers prayers, and we will also come to know the consequences of not praying.

Watchmen to Your Stations

In the Old Testament prophets were often called watchmen. Intercessors were also called watchmen

(see Isaiah 62:6). It is no accident that the words "prophet" and "prayer" are first mentioned in the

same verse in Scripture (see Genesis 20:7). These two are inseperable. Not everyone who prays is a

prophet, but every true prophet prays. Prayer is part of our ministry as priests and the foundation of all

ministry. However, there is a special need for the combining of the prophetic and intercessory

ministries at this time.

In Scripture the watchmen were found in three different places--1) on the walls (see Isaiah 62:6), 2)

walking about the streets of the city (see Song of Solomon 3:3, 5:7), or 3) in the countryside (see

J eremiah 4:17, 31:6). The Lord is likewise raising up watchmen for these three stations today.

The watchmen on the walls are those who have an elevated place of both vision and protection. They

can see either the enemy or the Lord coming from a distance. It was their job to communicate to the

elders who sat in the gates what they were seeing so that the elders could determine how to respond.

Of course, if it was the king or his representative, the elder would command the gates to be opened

and sound the alarm that would begin the proper protocol for welcoming them. If the ones

approaching were deemed to be a threat, the elder would then close the gate and sound the alarm to

mobilize the forces protecting the city. Every congregation and city needs these spiritual watchmen intheir places at this time. Those who do not have them will be victims of that which could have

otherwise been prevented.

Today's counterpart to the watchmen who walked about the streets of the city are those who are

called to move about the body of Christ watching for problems that are arising from within. They not

only guard against robbers and thieves which have somehow gained entry to the church, but also will

be the first to spot fires or other dangers. These were also the ones who called out the times as they

walked, and represent the modern "sons of Issachar" (I Chronicles 12:32) who were called to know

the times and what Israel should do.

The watchmen in the countryside were commissioned to guard the fields (see J eremiah 4:17), as wellas the borders of the nation. Today's counterpart to this type of watchmen are those who have been





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given vision for fields of ministry and missions, as well as the borders of spiritual movements and

domains such as large ministries or denominations.

All of these watchmen had to be trained in their duties, and commissioned by the leaders of the cities,

the farmer's whose fields they watched, or the leaders of the nation whose borders they patrolled.Likewise, leaders of congregations, missions, and all other ministries must invest in training and

deploying watchmen or they are going to suffer increasing loss and unnecessary tragedies.

Discerning Our Place

The Lord who called us before the foundation of the world began to prepare us for our stations in

ministry long before we were aware of it. When the Lord spoke to me in the dream mentioned earlier

in this Bulletin about taking authority over the weather, this was very familiar territory for me. As a

professional pilot my office was the sky. I lived in the weather every day, I studied it continually, and to

this day I watch The Weather Channel more than any other channel, even though I only fly a few

times a month now. Over the years I witnessed quite a few "weather miracles" that enabled me to get

out of problems I encountered when flying. My faith for seeing the Lord intervene in weather situations

in answer to prayer has grown steadily over the years. Like healing ministries who do not see

everyone they pray for healed, I do not get everything I ask for when praying for the weather, but I

have probably more faith for weather miracles than I do for healing miracles. Of course, some of my

favorite prophetic stories in the Bible are those that deal with weather, such as J oseph's interpretation

of Pharaoh's dream, and where Elijah declared that it would neither rain nor dew except by His word.

The Lord compared knowing the signs of impending weather to knowing the signs of the times.

Consequently, I want to have an even greater understanding of the times and major current events

than I do the weather. I also want to have spiritual authority in the economy, in major political trends

that will affect the gospel, as well as having authority to stop famines caused by droughts in both the

natural and spiritual realms. Discerning Our Authority

The Lord is raising up different people to have authority over different areas. Some may have a

special burden for diseases and plagues, while others may specialize in watching over political trends.

Some are called to be watchmen over schools, who watch and pray for the schools in their

neighborhood, or maybe even in their city. As they grow they may be given increasing spiritual

authority over education in their nation. Others who are called as watchmen over their offices will

grow to have authority over companies and will grow up even further to become seers for whole

industries.

We must be able to see how things in the natural are reflected by spiritual realities. The church needs

to then grow in faith and spiritual authority to affect the areas that we have been given to watch over. This will usually come by the watchmen developing a good relationship with the elders who are called

to "sit in the gates" or have authority to make judgments over that domain. It should not surprise us to

be given such authority. We are being groomed to even judge angels, as Paul wrote in I Corinthians

6:3: "Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, matters of this life?"

Romans 10:17 states, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." The reason I

had faith to take authority over the line of storms that were threatening my family was because of the

dream I received in which the Lord told me I could do this. I also confess, that in spite of the dream I

do not know if I felt more faith or fear in this situation. I was deeply alarmed and concerned for my

family. I also felt the Lord remind me that it really does not take much faith even to move a mountain,

and that my prayers for things such as calming storms was an act of faith. We cannot go on feelingsin such things, but in simply determining what the word of the Lord is.





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We only have true spiritual authority to the degree that we are in unity with the King. This is why our

first responsibility as watchmen is to watch for the Lord, as we read in Habakkuk 2:1: "I will stand on

my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to

me..." In Micah 7:7 the prophet says, "But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD..."

Psalm 5:3 states, "In the morning, O LORD, Thou wilt hear my voice; In the morning I will order my

prayer to Thee and eagerly watch." The phrase "in the morning" could be interpreted as "early." If we

are becoming prophetic we should be able to see farther and farther into the future so that we are not

continually surprised by events. Then we can also begin to pray earlier.

As a pilot it became my goal to know weather so well that I was never surprised by any conditions that

I found enroute or at my destination. I want to get to the same place spiritually, knowing the times and

what the Lord is doing so well that I am never surprised. I still have a long way to go in this. I believe it

is not only possible but it is our calling.

When I started flying, weather forecasting was not nearly as reliable as it is now, so I had to

determine that I was going to know the weather better than the forecasters. This was not done in

arrogance, but because I felt my life depended on it. They sat in warm offices. I was out there nightly

in the ice and storms. My hands were usually full just flying the planes and navigating even without

unwelcome weather surprises. I came to the place where I could look at reported conditions around

my destination and see quickly that the forecasts were probably wrong. The forecasters were rarely

offended when I pointed out such things, but rather appreciative. I think it was this kind of humility for

most weather forecasters that has enabled them to get to the place that they are today, which is

almost always correct. Today, if they are wrong at all it is usually more a matter of degree than being

completely wrong.

As bad as weather forecasting was when I first became a pilot, it was still much better than having no

forecasts at all. They never could have become as accurate as they are now, if they had not beenallowed to learn from their mistakes. The same is true of the present state of the prophetic ministry. It

is still young and immature, but it is maturing and getting much better. Even in its most immature

state, I think it is much better to have the prophetic ministries than not. Those who want a mature

prophetic ministry will need the faith and humility to endure an immature prophetic ministry while it

grows up. Those who are not willing to do this will be without any prophetic ministry, without any

watchmen, and at the very worst of times, blind.

The time will come when those who are now acknowledged to have prophetic gifts will deserve the

title of "prophet." They will rarely be wrong. However, they will not be able to get there if they are not

allowed to learn from their mistakes as they mature. Presently, there are very few safe places where

they can go and do this, but they are increasing. As we read in Acts 2:17-21, one of the signs that wecan expect in the last days is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit which results in dreams, visions,

prophecies, signs, and wonders even in the heavens. These are the times that the prophets of old

desired to look into and you have been chosen to live in them! Embrace the pruning of the Lord so

that you can fulfill your purpose as a part of His body for which you were born on the earth.

Summary

Psalm 115:16 states, "The heavens are the heavens of the LORD, but the earth He has given to the

sons of men." He gave the earth to man to rule over. This is why He will not do major things on the

earth unless we pray. We are entering a time when we will learn just how true this is. The church is

growing in spiritual authority, and we must learn to use it.





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Proverbs 4:18-19 says "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and

brighter until the full day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they

stumble." By this we see that the light gets brighter and brighter like the dawn for the just, and darker

and darker for the wicked. As it gets lighter you can see farther as well as more clearly. That should

be the nature of our walk. II Corinthians 13:5 exhorts us to: "Test yourselves to see if you are in the

faith; examine yourselves!..." This is one of the most basic tests. If we are on the path, our spiritual

vision should be growing so that we can see both farther and in more detail. This is a call to grow in

both vision and authority.

Overall the prophetic ministry today still needs the same kind of humility that the weather forecasters

had thirty years ago. We must always keep in mind that the Lord gives His grace to the humble and

we need His grace much more than we need any human acknowledgment. Even so, the prophetic is

maturing and getting more and more accurate and useful. Also, many of the mistakes that are now

attributed to "the prophetic" are being made by people who are not really called to that ministry, but

have presumed they were, and are causing trouble for everyone. But this can also help the prophetic

if we will just embrace the humility. Amos 3:7 is the Word of God and we can be sure that it is true:

"Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the

prophets."

MorningStar Ministries News

As a ministry the last few months were were some of the most difficult we have ever experienced and

also some of the most fruitful. The loss of Stephen Coffey and Laura Elizabeth Dunnagan from our

team has been by far the most painful experience in our history; however, it quickly began to bear

much fruit in waking everyone up and imparting a new resolve to follow the Lord in all things. Now the

ministry seems to be experiencing a significant spiritual advance in every area.

The distribution of our materials has been breaking our previous records, and in almost every servicethere is a noticeable growing intensity. Not only does there seem to be more focus, there is more

revelation and power being poured out than we have experienced before. We seem to have been

prepared for this in almost every way except for our meeting facilities. With the exception of the early

morning service on Sunday, most of the meetings in Charlotte are overflowing with many people

standing. The early service is also growing quickly. However, if you are planning on visiting the

Charlotte church, this is the best meeting to come to. If you are planning on attending any of the other

services, please come early to get a seat.

We are still trying to acquire much larger new facilities in Charlotte, and have a deal pending for great

facilities with room to expand, which we hope can be done by this summer. However, in the meantime

we intend to be thankful for the facilities we have and to do the best we can to make everyone ascomfortable as possible.

The Wilkes and Winston-Salem congregations are often filled to capacity. We are hoping to begin

construction on our new facilities at West Meadows this Spring (the Moravian Falls area), and are

presently negotiating for new, larger facilities in Winston-Salem.

After the first of the year we began School of the Spirit meetings in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, and

they also seem to be growing fast. There seems to be an increasing hunger everywhere, and we have

been experiencing a number of what we consider noteworthy miracles in the last month. It also seems

that prophetic clarity has grown dramatically since the beginning of the year in our congregations and

in every class of our MorningStar School of Ministry (MSM). However, they represent but a few inevery congregation and in each class of MSM. I can discern them because they are so different.





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While others are growing spiritually, these are growing radically. While others are having a good time,

these are studying, praying, going out onto the streets and witnessing, casting out demons, and

praying for the sick to be healed. That is their good time.

There are some aspects of our ministry, such as our Christian day school, the Comenius School forCreative Leadership (CSCL), that I have been commanded to steer more and more to the develop-

ment of the children who are called to be a part of this force. I have had to steer some of my own

children to other schools because they were not called to be at CSCL. This was a difficult thing for

me, and it is hard for many of our parents and even our teachers to understand. I honestly do not

expect everyone to understand it, at least not until some future events begin to unfold. Fortunately,

there are also many other great Christian schools available that most of our children should attend. I

am not steering our entire ministry to fit into this group, but there are some necessary things that we

have had to do to accommodate them. These things are certainly not to everyone's liking, but they will

be to everyone's benefit. Misunderstanding is a price I am very willing to pay, but I do not suggest you

do what we are doing unless you are responding in obedience to a clear directive from the Lord.

The perfect church is perfectly modeled after the Lord's own ministry. He had a ministry to the

multitudes and He had another, smaller group that He gave more attention to. He then had a very

small group that He shared everything with. This is why I believe that the Tabernacle of Moses and

the temples that were built all had three sections.

If we only want to minister to the "elite" and do not have something for the multitudes we will become

unbalanced and possibly delusional and divisive. If we only minister to the multitudes and do not have

a group that we are helping go farther, deeper, and higher, then we will tend to be very shallow and

possibly even promote lukewarmness and unsanctified mercy.

J ust as the Outer Court was the largest section of the Tabernacle where the most people could

always be found, I think the largest part of every ministry needs to be that which will draw in themultitudes. However, once someone is in, they need to understand that they can go as far in the Lord

as they desire to go. This is their calling.

Those who would go on also need to know that the standards for those who will minister in the Holy of

Holies are very different. The things that you can get away with in the Outer Court can get you killed

in the Holy Place. The way is open to all, but you must go to the altar and die, go to the laver and be

cleansed, and understand that when you enter the Holy Place there will be no natural light there. The

only light we can see by when we have entered there is the light of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. As

we proceed on into the final, smallest compartment the only light is that of the glory of the Lord.

To be able to stand and minister in the anointing and in the glory, is beyond what many can do. Manydo collapse and are "slain in the Spirit" just by getting close. However, we must learn to stand and do

our duties even in His manifest presence. The mature have learned not to fall down. More than

anything else we need those who can stand--stand in His presence, as well as stand against any

onslaught of the devil. The Lord is again asking the great question that He asked through J eremiah.

"But who has stood in the council of the LORD that he should see and hear His word? Who has given

heed to His word and listened?

"Behold, the storm of the LORD has gone forth in wrath, even a whirling tempest; It will swirl down on

the head of the wicked.





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"The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His

heart; in the last days you will clearly understand it.

"I did not send these prophets, but they ran. I did not speak to them, but they prophesied.

"But if they had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people, and

would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds. (J eremiah 23:18-

22)

Source URL: http://www.morningstarministries.org/resources/prophetic-bulletins/2003/perfect-storms



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Doctrines of Demons

Mo rningStar Prop he tic Bulletin No . 56 (2003)

Rick Joy ner

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The New American Standard Bible (NASB).

In recent years a number of ancient heresies have begun sweeping through the church again,

deceiving thousands, even sidetracking whole movements. These are the very same deceptions that

tried to seduce the first century church, which much of the New Testament was written to combat.

They gain inroads by the most subtle, seemingly innocent ways but quickly begin to erode the very

foundations of Christianity to the point where those who continue in them are actually "severed from

Christ" in the very way that the Scriptures warn this will happen. As we read in I Timothy 4:1-6:

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to

deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience

seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created

to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it

is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of J esus Christ, nourished in

the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed (NKJ V).

Because these doctrines are so blatantly contrary to Scripture, we did not think that they had a

chance to succeed in the church. We were wrong, and have been shocked as we have seen some of

the most seemingly solid, faithful believers carried away with these deceptions. Most quickly become

isolated and then are deceived to the point of even denying the cross and return to various forms of

legalism for righteousness and even the Law of Moses, just as the Scripture above warns we would

see in the last days.

One doctrine that is seeking to make inroads into the church requires Christians to eat in accordance

with the J ewish law, which declares that if one does not do so they are not only in disobedience to

God, but are opening themselves up to demons. Some even go so far as to say that those who do not

comply with these dietary laws cannot be healed by the Lord, and are even in jeopardy of losing their

salvation.

In the Scripture quoted above, "commanding to abstain from foods" is named as a doctrine of demons

empowered by deceiving spirits. This seems to be the entry point of a host of other deceptions that

begin to erode the very foundations of the biblical Christian faith. As this verse declares, in the last

days this form of legalism is a major way that many will "depart from the faith." The biblical antidote to

these heresies is also given, which is, "If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good

minister of J esus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have

carefully followed" (I Timothy 4:6 NKJ V).

Because so much of The New Testament was written to counter these very doctrines that wereassaulting the first century church, these heretical teachers must undermine the authority of the New





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Testament to spread their deception, and they do. After seeking to have believers return to the Old

Testament as the true basis of faith, they begin to challenge especially the apostle Paul as a deviant

teacher. Of course, they overlook the fact that all of the apostles and elders of the early church

agreed with Paul, which was clearly established in the Council of J erusalem, and repeatedly affirmed

in their own epistles to the church. The conclusion of the Council in J erusalem was summed up in

Acts 15:22-29:

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from

among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--J udas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading

men among the brethren, and they sent this letter by them, "The apostles and the brethren who are

elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.

"Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you

with their words, unsettling your souls, it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select

men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the

name of our Lord J esus Christ.

"Therefore we have sent J udas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of

mouth.

"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these

essentials:

that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from

fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell" (NAS).

In his letters Paul addressed this issue of dietary legalism with clear and specific teaching, not only

because it would emerge to some degree in every generation, but because, as he stated in I Timothy

4:6, in the last days it would be backed by demonic power and promoted by deceiving spirits. The

demonic power of deception now accompanying these heresies is obviously increasing dramatically,

subduing many with a spirit of deception that seems nearly impossible to penetrate.

Deception is deceptive, and those who fall to it obviously do not know it. Even though the

contradictions in these doctrines are often so blatant that they seem ridiculous, unfortunately they

cannot be seen by those who come under their spell. Soon even the most clear biblical teachings that

encounter these deceptions will have no effect on them as they will often boldly and shockingly twist

Scriptures to verify these false doctrines. They shamelessly try to apply every reference in the New

Testament to commandments or laws-- to the Law of Moses in place of the "new commandments" of

love that the Lord gave to us--which actually fulfills the law and the "perfect law of liberty" (J ames 1:25NAS) that they actually refer to.

These heresies are modern attempts to again bring the church under the yoke of the Law. Because

some have their origin in Messianic movements, many are starting to strongly react to all Messianic

movements. This is unfortunate as many of the Messianic leaders that we have discussed this with

not only recognize these heresies for what they are, but likewise are alarmed and are beginning to

take strong stands against them. Some readily consider these heresies another form of replacement

theology.

Other Messianic groups are still wrestling with these issues, but those who are sincere lovers of truth

will come out of this with a strong devotion to the liberty that we have been given in Christ. That libertycan never be compromised without the most tragic consequences for anyone who trusts in the





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atonement of the cross. In Galatians 2:11-14, we see that in the first century even Peter, the "apostle

to the J ews" along with Barnabas and others, were temporarily ensnared with this deception while

visiting Antioch.

There can be no compromise with the one essential truth--any doctrine that attempts to displace thecross of J esus as the atonement for sin and the only source of righteousness, is a heresy of the most

dangerous kind. As the Scripture warns, this can actually sever us from Christ. As we are assured,

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: `You shall love your neighbor as yourself"

(Galatians 5:14 NKJ V).

Those who are currently being carried away with this modern form of the ancient heresy usually do so

exactly as we are told in Romans 10:3-4:

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness,

have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to

everyone who believes (Romans 10:3-4 NKJ V).

The Law itself declares that if one is guilty of not keeping a single commandment they are guilty of

breaking the whole Law. If one is going to keep the whole law they will have to return to making the

sacrifices required by the Law. This includes not only the stoning of adulterers (see Leviticus 20:10),

homosexuals (see Leviticus 20:13), and those who seek to entice us away from the Lord (see

Deuteronomy 13:6-11), but even stubborn, rebellious children (see Deuteronomy 21:18-21), as well

as anyone who breaks the Sabbath (see Numbers 15:32-36). Because of this, modern J udaizers

blatantly pick and choose the parts of the Law that they think should be kept today and disregard the

rest. This, among other things makes for many contradictions in their teachings that are amazingly

overlooked by their followers. Again, deception is deceptive. As Paul tried to warn those who were

foolishly falling to this in his own time,

For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall

live by them (Romans 10:5 NKJ V).

And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law

(Galatians 5:3 NKJ V).

If we adhered to the Law of Moses today how many of us would have had to kill our own children?

Indeed, if our parents had held to this Law, how many of us would be here now, especially those of us

who grew up in the 60s? How many of us who now serve the Lord in truth would never have made it

through the adultery that many of us lived in B.C.? How many homosexuals would have had no

chance for deliverance and salvation? And how could anyone escape the kind of judgment the Lawbrings when the simple act of picking up sticks on the Sabbath resulted in death by stoning?

The Law established the standards of God's righteousness and the fact that the consequences of sin

is death. However, it was a tutor to lead us to Christ, compelling us to fall at the foot of the cross for

our salvation and to find our righteousness in Christ. God's only remedy for sin is the cross, and the

mercy of God that triumphs over judgment is only found there.

Because the Law simply could not be "digested" by fallen man, those who returned to the Law for

righteousness in the first century were referred to as "dogs." This is because dogs will return and try

to eat their own vomit. This is why Paul wrote in Philippians 3:2-9:





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Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true

circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ J esus and put no confidence in the

flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put

confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of

Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as

to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More

than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ J esus my

Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may

gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law,

but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith

(NAS).

In Revelation 22:15, the Lord says concerning His city, "Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and

the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices

lying" (NAS). This is not a very good group to be included in, but such is the lot of those who try to

return to the law to establish their own righteousness.

God's Method of Revealing Salvation to the Gentiles

What would be harder for God, to redeem a food group or an entire people group? He revealed to the

apostle Peter that His salvation was for every people group and that he could now eat things that

were formerly condemned by the Law. God went to great extremes to prove to Peter that He could

cleanse anything and anyone as we read in Acts 10:9-20. This led to Peter opening the door of faith

to the Gentiles by going to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. As he was preaching the

gospel, he and his party of circumcised J ews were amazed as they witnessed the outpouring of the

Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles gathered there. Even in light of these remarkable events, the Jewishbelievers in J erusalem contended with Peter about the salvation of the Gentiles, "saying, `You went in

to uncircumcised men and ate with them!'" (Acts 11:3) Nevertheless it was true. God had cleansed a

people group by convincing Peter he could also cleanse a food group which he had seen in his vision.

It is noteworthy that this took place in J oppa, the same city where J onah rejected God's call to the

Ninevites. Thankfully Simon Barjona was willing to receive new revelation from God even though it

went against centuries of teaching that dominated the J ewish mind set, when God wrought a

substantive change in many dimensions by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ J esus. Yet this

issue continued to plague the young church. For this reason Paul wrote to the Corinthian church:

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; for "the earth isthe LORD's, and all its fullness (I Corinthians 10:25-26 NKJ V).

To the church at Rome he wrote:

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who

eats; for God has received him.





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Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be

made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully

convinced in his own mind.

He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord

he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not

eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die,

we are the Lord's (Romans 14:1-8 NKJ V).

Paul was convinced by the Lord J esus Himself that nothing is unclean of itself.

I know and am convinced by the Lord J esus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who

considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean (Romans 14:14 NKJ V).

When Paul used the Greek word koinos for unclean or common, it was the word both Peter and the

Lord used in Acts 11:8-9. "But I said, Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time

entered my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God has cleansed you must

not call common" (NKJ V). If God could not cleanse all food, how could He cleanse all of mankind?

To the Colossians Paul wrote:

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which

are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding

into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to

the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the

increase that is from God.

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the

world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--"Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all

concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and

neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh" (Colossians 2:16-23

NKJV).

J esus Himself addressed this same issue:

And after He called the multitude to Him again, He began saying to them, "Listen to Me, all of you,

and understand: there is nothing outside the man which going into him can defile him; but the things

which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.

["If any man has ears to hear, let him hear."]





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And when leaving the multitude, He had entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the

parable. And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that

whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him; because it does not go into his heart, but

into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.)

And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from

within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,

deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.

All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man" (Mark 7:14-23 NAS)

J esus taught that what is in a man's heart is what defiles him, not what enters through his mouth. That

is why heart faith is required to purify a man--heart faith in the work that J esus Christ has done on our

behalf. It is His blood that has cleansed us, not our adherence to any body of laws.

Eating for Health

While it is true that eating habits have a significant affect upon one's health, it is also clear from the

sum of both J esus and Paul's biblical teachings--they did not teach eating according to the Levitical

code as a New Covenant commandment from God. They taught the very opposite.

To follow one's conscience in areas not specifically addressed in Scripture is a fundamental aspect of

New Testament freedom for which the Lord died. It is also clear that the church is not to establish

such dietary rules as either commands or requirements for its membership. Each individual is free to

adopt his or her own code of diet, and should not apply pressure upon one another in these areas. "It

was for freedom that Christ set us free..." (Galatians 5:1 NAS). Let us therefore have the courage and

resolve to maintain the apostolic charge:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again

with a yoke of bondage.

Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify

again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have

become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ J esus

neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything, but faith working through love" (Galatians

5:1-6 NKJ V).

Circumcision was a main issue made in the first century by the J udaizers, but the same principles

hold true for any aspect of the Law that is thrust upon believers as a means of establishing theirstanding before God in place of the cross. The main inroads of the modern version seems to be re-

establishing the dietary rules of the Law of Moses. This is an inroad that seems to inevitably lead to

other heresies. However, there are some who advocate eating according to the Law simply for health

reasons, and these should not be confused with those who compel believers to keep the dietary laws

as a form of obedience to God.

A Devastating New Form of Slavery for Afr ican Americans

One of the offshoots of these aberrant teachings is the attempt to J udaize African Americans by

making them think that they are members of the lost tribes of Israel. Compelling believers to return to

the Law was referred to by the New Testament apostles as bringing them again under the yoke of slavery, and this is precisely what this new form of the ancient heresy is attempting to do. When it





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especially targets African- Americans who have only in recent history been freed from physical

slavery, this spiritual slavery is even more than ironic--it is the kind of tragic cruelty that only the devil

is capable of.

As several Messianic and other leaders have observed, those who fall to this kind of deception are inmost cases those who are lacking in a strong personal identity, and are therefore easily drawn to

seeking an identity as one of "God's chosen people." This can only happen to those who fail to

understand that the ultimate identity is to be found in Christ as a "new creation." As we are told in II

Corinthians 5:16-17:

Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; even though we have known

Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new

things have come (NAS).

As stated, such deceptions are only possible because of a basic lack of understanding of the new

creation that we are called to be. However, many Christians lack these very basic foundational

teachings. This is not only making inroads among African-American churches, but throughout the

church. One of the most popular forms of this teaching is called "British Israelism" that tries to

establish the British as the lost tribes of Israel (the northern ten tribes that were scattered and lost to

history). There has also been a book published seeking to establish the Japanese as one of the lost

tribes of Israel. It seems apparent that sooner or later they will try to convince everyone that they are

from the lost tribes of Israel. Actually, the arguments are quite compelling, and there probably is some

truth to it. In fact, it is not unlikely that all races now have some ancestors from these lost tribes.

So what? Those who are in Christ, who are of the new creation, are first generation decendents of

God! Only those who are lacking a very basic understanding of who they are in Christ would be so

concerned about who they are in the flesh. Only those who are weak in their identity in Christ will be

drawn to being made to feel special, or to be included in a special group in such a way as this. The

fact is that many are weak in their identity in Christ, and they are easy prey for such deceivers.

At tacking the Only Name by Which We Are Saved

Another aberrant offshoot of this doctrine seeks to establish that the name "J esus" is a pagan name,

and we should therefore only use the name Yeshua, which is the "proper Hebrew name." They also

reject all other names for the Father but Yahweh, which in itself is a human derivative for what is

supposed to be "the un- pronounceable name of God." If it is "un-pronounceable" why try to

pronounce it at all? Even so, what kind of father would demand their children to call them by their full,proper name before answering them? This may seem too outrageous for anyone to buy into, but

many have.

God is not as petty as some foolishly suppose. The Lord still heals in "the name of J esus." Even the

demons recognize that name and obey it. The Lord knows when you call upon Him regardless of

which language you use. Witchcraft is based on formulas and incantations, and we must grow up and

start rejecting such ridiculous doctrines as these foolish and deceived people are trying to impose

upon believers. If you accept them, you will drift from being a believer to one who tries to establish

your own righteousness by being a performer--severed from Christ who is our righteousness. We

should also keep in mind that there are many solid believers who prefer to use the name Yeshua for

various reasons, which should in no way reflect on their spiritual character. However, we mustunderstand that demons hate this name because they know its power, and we should be wary of any





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person who seeks to undermine the name of J esus in any form. Those are obviously being

demonically influenced at best.

The Antidote

The antidote to these poisons which some are trying to feed the church is found in the first verses we

quoted in this message from I Timothy 4:1-6. We must instruct God's people in these things, and

fortify the basic doctrines of the faith that many are drifting from.

In this Bulletin we have only superficially dealt with these heresies, and have refrained from naming

specific teachers of these doctrines or their books. However, we are not adverse to naming them in

order to protect the church, which has an obvious precedent in the New Testament. If these continue

to make inroads in the church, we will deal with them as necessary, probably addressing them in

future editions of The Morning Star Journal, which has an even wider circulation than this Bulletin.

We have also taught on these heresies and will be making the tapes and videos available through our

catalog and website. We must confront such heresies or we will never be true shepherds or

watchmen. If they are making inroads into your church or movement, they must likewise be

confronted if you are going to be a true shepherd or watchman.

Everything we need to confront in such aberrant teachings is in the New Testament, which was

written primarily to confront the roots of false doctrine that continuously try to gain access to the

church. The book of Galatians was specifically written to address the heresy we have addressed

here. I strongly recommend that every believer read the entire New Testament every year, which can

be accomplished in just over six months by reading a single chapter a day.

We should also not let this kind of aberrant teaching cause us to overreact and keep us from reading

the Old Testament. Every place in the New Testament that mentions "the Scripture" is in reference to

the Old Testament. We must however, have a strong foundation of understanding of the New

Covenant, in order to see how the Old Testament points to and prepares us for the New Covenant in

Christ. Basically it is "all about J esus." We must reject anything which tries to eclipse Him as the only

One who is the Way, the Truth, and our Life.

Source URL: http://www.morningstarministries.org/resources/prophetic-bulletins/2003/doctrines-

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The Harvest and The Feast of Tabernacles


Rick Joy ner


Over the last twelve years, the world has experienced the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit in

history. During the time of this great spiritual advance, the church in the West seems to have been

going in the opposite direction, suffering one setback after another. This is about to change.

The great advances that have been taking place in Africa, Asia, South and Central America may

seem to be cooling off a bit, but this is just a rest and consolidation before they begin another greatthrust forward. We are soon going to see great spiritual awakenings in America, Europe, Russia,

China, and the Pacific rim nations. Australia will experience the conversion of more than 10 percent of

its population in a short period of time. New Zealand will get a second wind for its great spiritual

advance.

All of this will help to equip and send out those who are called to be a part of one of the most

important spiritual awakenings of all in the Middle East. Ultimately, the whole world is going to be on

fire with the truth of the gospel.

What is coming will be like a fire, and it will also be like a flood of irresistible force. This is not some-

thing which will be contained in our present spiritual waterways. It is going to go places we did not

think it could. As a testimony of this, many of the places which are now deserts will start receiving rain

again, and becoming fruitful.

In Matthew 13:39 the Lord said, “…the harvest is the end of the age...” The end of this age is going to

be the greatest harvest that this world has ever known. In numbers of conversions to Christ, there is

no question that we are presently in the greatest ingathering in history. However, the harvest is not

just about numbers, but it is about the maturing of the fruit. In regard to our spiritual maturity, it is

obvious we still have a long way to go. Therefore, without neglecting the ingathering of souls, we must

increase our devotion to the spiritual maturity of the church until she becomes the pure and spotless

bride that she is called to be.

God’s Timetables

God placed many timetables in the Scriptures. You can see an unfolding of the six thousand years of

man’s history in the first six days of creation. An unfolding of church history is seen in the birth of

J acob’s twelve sons (in their sequence, the meaning of their names, and the prophecies given to each

one by J acob and Moses). You can see it in the Tabernacle of Moses, and in the seven churches the

Lord addressed in Revelation. You can also see a timetable of history in the feasts which the Lord

commanded the children of Israel to observe.

It was not just a coincidence that J esus was crucified at the Passover, or that the Holy Spirit fell on

the Day of Pentecost. These feasts prophetically foretold these events, and the Lord is always right

on time. However, there was a third feast which came at the end of the J ewish calendar year—theFeast of Tabernacles, which is also called “The Feast of the Ingathering.” It was called this because it





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was a celebration of the harvest which had just come in (the J ewish calendar year ends in late

September or early October of the Roman calendar). This feast came at the end of the J ewish

calendar year as a prophecy of the harvest that would mark the end of this age.

During the Feast of Tabernacles, the nation of Israel was called to leave their individual tribes andusual dwelling places to come together as one nation to worship their God in more or less common

dwellings. In this way there was a freedom for them to all get to know each other on a personal,

individual basis. Nobles and the wealthy would all live in tents during this time right next to the less

fortunate or less powerful. This promoted a fellowship and interchange which would have otherwise

not been very likely. As we approach the end of this age, the Lord is calling His people to do the

same.

Practically speaking, we need a time at least once a year when we leave our usual dwelling places

and get together on more or less common ground. To promote more of this kind of interchange, which

we believe is essential for the church to accomplish its last day mandate, we have moved our Fall

Harvest Conference from being a conference to becoming a festival. MorningStar Publications and

Ministries has joined with Stony Point Christian Publications to host Harvest Fest 2003. This is going

to be very different from anything we have done before.

Harvest Fest will be held on September 25-28 at the Van Hoy Campground about 45 minutes north of

Charlotte, North Carolina (one block off of Exit 65 on Interstate 77). We chose to hold this during the

Feast of Tabernacles because we are coming to the time of the fulfillment of what this great feast

prophesied. In the past, The MorningStar Fall Harvest Conferences have each drawn thousands of

believers from as many as fifty nations, as well as almost every major denomination and movement.

One of the ways we are going to honor The Feast of Tabernacles is by providing a format that will

promote more interchange rather than just gathering in meetings.

We will have two main meetings a day under a pavilion which can hold about 10,000 people. We willalso have a children’s conference taking place at the same time. We are bringing in some speakers to

join our own team who we feel have a timely prophetic message for the church. We will also have

some world-class musicians and recording artists who will be joining our own worship teams. Even

so, the main meetings will not be the main events of this festival.

The main purpose of this gathering will be taking place at “Tent City.” Right in the heart of the

grounds, we will have more than a dozen food vendors, and up to a hundred tents for churches,

movements, ministries, Christian schools, publishers, etc., to rent. They can use them for hosting

small gatherings, providing ministry teams, having representatives share the vision of their church or

ministry, and offer their materials, etc. We are asking publishers to bring some of their popular authors

to meet with people. We are also asking Christian music labels to bring some of their popularrecording artists, and worship leaders. Because the Feast of Tabernacles was mostly for fellowship

and interchange, we are encouraging all who lease display tents to provide lawn chairs, etc. for

visitors to sit and get to know them personally, and minister to one another.

Harvest Fest will be held on the Van Hoy campgrounds, which for many years hosted The Fiddler’s

Convention and has drawn as many as 30,000 people to a single event. There are also hundreds of

campsites on the grounds and we are also reserving other campgrounds close by, and blocks of hotel

rooms for many miles around.

We believe that some of the greatest miracles, prophetic ministry, worship, intercession, and maybe

even messages, will be taking place in Tent City, or breaking out at different times throughout thecampgrounds, or even at the hotels. J ust as Barnabas had to go and get Paul before either of them





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could be released into their ultimate calling, there are divine connections which many of us need to

make to go to the next level of our ministry. We are expecting many of these to take place at Harvest

Fest.

Because an important message for this festival may come through anyone, we are going to be opento spontaneously choosing some speakers from those attending. We are therefore asking everyone to

come prepared to be used by God in any way He chooses. Even if you are not called on to speak in

“the main meeting,” please keep in mind the “main meeting” here is not “the main meeting.” The most

important thing that could happen at this entire festival could be at any campsite or any one of the

tents or hotels. God is no respecter of persons. He has always done some of His greatest works in

the smallest groups. We must keep in mind that our goal is to celebrate the Lord, and seek to have

fellowship with Him as we fellowship with His people.

This is going to be a very important gathering at a very important time in our history. We know that

many of the future leaders of the church will be attending. We ask all who are coming to expect

relationships to form which can have a significant impact on your future. We also do not think it is an

accident that Van Hoy Campgrounds is located on J ericho Road. After so long in the wilderness, it is

time to cross over and start possessing our Promised Land.

We also know how this type of gathering can be a bonding place for those who come together as

groups, so we are offering a big discount for group registrations. We are also asking all who have

banner and processional ministries to come prepared to be a part of the worship.

We sincerely hope you can join us for this important time. It will likely be the first of many more to

come, but there is always something special about being at a birthing. If the Lord is quickening you to

be there, do not let anything keep you from this divine appointment.

Source URL: http://www.morningstarministries.org/resources/prophetic-bulletins/2003/harvest-and-

feast-tabernacles



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The Trumpet Will Sound


Rick Joy ner


I was praying about our upcoming Harvest Fest Conference, when a trumpet appeared in front of me,

turned, and was blown right in my face. I knew immediately that this is what the Lord is about to do--

the church will soon receive an "in your face" message from heaven.

In the military, as in biblical times, different trumpet sounds mean different things. When entering

military service, one of the first things taught is how to distinguish the commands given by the trumpetor bugle. This is why Paul wrote in I Corinthians 14:8, "For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound,

who will prepare himself for battle?" What is the message we are about to hear?

When I saw the trumpet appear in front of me and then blown in my face, immediately I knew what the

message was because of something which happened to me when I was in the military. Normally,

reveille, the call to wake up, was played over the loud speakers in the barracks. However, if someone

did not wake up to reveille when it was played over the speakers, a more drastic measure was taken.

They brought a trumpet in and blew it right in your face! This seldom had to be done more than once

to a recruit. When this happened, not only did you awake faster and more completely than ever

before, but from that day on you were especially keen to hear and respond to the sound of any

trumpet call. When I saw the trumpet about to be blown directly in my face, I felt we were about to

receive just such an "in your face" wake up call, one which we would not soon forget.

We see repeatedly in Scripture, especially in the book of Revelation, that a trumpet will sound from

heaven before the great events at the end. One is about to sound. This trumpet blast is intended to

awaken us to prepare for the great event which is to follow. We are on the verge of something very

significant. Even though I saw this while praying for the Harvest Fest Conference, this does not

necessarily mean it will come then, but I am praying earnestly that it will.

My prayer is that this trumpet call would come as an anointed message which will wake us up, and

not another major tragedy. Either way, the church is desperate for a clear trumpet call--a clear

message from above. We cannot waste any more time sleeping or drifting about without clear

direction. We must devote ourselves and prepare for what is to come with clear vision and strategy.

"Fall In"

A rude awakening is coming so that we do not miss the coming "Great Awakening." Like the Navy did

for those who did not hear reveille through the speakers, the Lord has been sounding His trumpet

through many different "speakers." Very few are in fact responding to them, so more drastic measures

are going to be used. This is grace from God. We will wake up.

Much of the church presently lives in a state which ranges from lukewarmness to a deep spiritual

slumber. As the Lord warned in Revelation 3:16, lukewarmness is the worst state a Christian could

ever fall into. Many, who are at least to some degree awake, do not know what time it is. The Lord isgoing to graciously sound an alarm that will wake us up, and declare the time to us as well.





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I was also told that in recent times Christians have found just about every way there is to fall, but now

we are going to learn to fall into line. After this spiritual reveille, there will be another call to muster into

ranks. In the future the church is going to begin looking far more like the military than the social club it

has often been. There is a reason why the most common title of God used in Scripture, which is used

more than ten times as much as all of the others combined, is "the Lord of hosts," (I Samuel 1:3) or

"the Lord of armies." The great mobilization is now, and the most intense training and discipline are

coming for those who respond to the Lord's trumpet call.

Knowing the Times

After the 9/11 attacks, people poured into churches like never before in our history. Then, several

weeks later, fewer people attended church than before the attacks because they did not find the

church or its message relevant to the times. However, God and those who are awake and staying

close to Him will know the times. Those who are faithful seekers will soon experience a great increase

of words of knowledge, words of wisdom, and prophecy to keep us ahead of the times.

In Matthew 16:2-3, the Lord rebuked the people for knowing how to discern the weather, but not

knowing the signs of the times. When the Lord used such metaphors it was because there was a

relationship. Discerning the signs of the times is actually similar to understanding weather. As a

professional pilot I had to learn how to discern the weather because my life depended on it. We are

likewise coming to the point when our lives will depend upon our knowing the times. One thing I

learned early in my flying career was that I could not rely on the professional weather forecasters if I

was going to be a safe pilot. I was certainly thankful for the professional meteorologists who gave

themselves to knowing the present conditions and making forecasts, but I had to know the weather

myself and I had to be able to foresee conditions which the professional weather forecasters might

not see from their remote offices. This is true for Christians as well. We should be thankful for those

who are devoting themselves to knowing the times and we should listen to them. However, this does

not negate our personal responsibility to know the times, and to know what the Lord is saying to uspersonally.

For a weather forecaster, the penalty for getting a forecast wrong was a bit of humiliation. For the

pilots, who understand that the majority of aircraft accidents are weather related, the stakes are much

higher. I therefore determined that I was going to know weather better than the professional fore-

casters. I studied relentlessly, constantly making my own observations, and talking to every

experienced pilot or meteorologist that I could. My goal was to never be surprised by the weather

conditions which I found en route or at my destination. We need to have this same goal for

understanding the times.

After a few years of flying professionally, I was so good at knowing the weather that I was rarelysurprised by it on a flight. Now I want to know the signs of the times so well that I am never surprised

by what comes. At this time I am still far from this goal, but I am resolved to keep getting better. One

of the ways I am pursuing this is by getting closer to those with the same devotion. I know the Lord

would not have rebuked us for this if it were not possible to know the signs of the times better than we

know the weather.

People still make jokes about the weather forecasters, but the truth is that in the thirty years that I

have been involved in aviation, weather forecasters have become amazingly accurate. It used to be

rare for them to be accurate, but now it is rare for them to miss. Even so, I am amazed at how many

people, especially among the older generation, have a perception that weather forecasters are wrong

most of the time. This is definitely no longer the case. I have watched with curiosity as some of these





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people seized a single missed forecast to re-enforce their opinion, not seeming to regard at all the

overwhelming majority of amazingly accurate forecasts.

The same is happening to the church's prophetic ministry. It too is moving from a place of being a

laughingstock to becoming increasingly accurate. It will continue to do so until we rarely hear of amiss. Even so, the perception of many, especially among the older generation, will be that it is rarely

accurate even when the reverse is true. This can be discouraging, but we must not let it be. We just

have to keep getting better at knowing the Lord's voice. We also need to view every mistake as an

opportunity to learn, and to humble ourselves knowing that the Lord gives His grace to the humble.

We are going to need much more grace for what is to come.

The Great Warning

One of the Lord's primary warnings through His teachings when He walked the earth was about being

asleep when we should have been awake. From those who were not ready for the wedding feast to

those who did not have oil in their lamps, sleeping when they should have been awake resulted in

terrible spiritual tragedies. These were warnings for us. Sleeping when we should have been awake

has already been more devastating to the church than possibly all of the sin and other deceptions

combined. It will be even more so in the future.

We must wake up and learn to be alert watchmen. We must learn to see, and discern what we see.

Ministries over the last decade such as: The Watch of the Lord, started by Mahesh and Bonnie

Chavda in Charlotte, The International House of Prayer, started by Mike Bickle in Kansas City, The

House of Prayer for All Nations, started by Tom Hess in J erusalem, and many others are devoted to

twenty-four hour prayer and prophetic watching. They have been sent by the Lord to help prepare the

church for the times. All of these are helping people learn to be disciplined in their sleep, and to learn

to watch even when they are tired.

Those who are awake and know how to see may continue to be ridiculed by the generation which is

passing, but they will soon be greatly sought after by the nations. God is the answer to every human

problem. All of our problems are rooted in mankind trying to do what God created us to do, but without

Him. The end of this age is approaching and will demonstrate for eternity the consequences of trying

to live without God. In contrast to this, the church that knows and walks with God is going to have

both the wisdom and the power to overcome any problem or opposition. The world is going to see this

demonstrated.

The King Is Coming

The contrast between the kingdoms of men that are collapsing and the kingdom of God which isarising will become increasingly distinct. This is the fulfillment of Nebuchadnezzar's dream about the

statue which represented his and the future kingdoms of men being struck by a little stone that grew

into a mountain, and then kept growing until it filled the earth. That little stone was J esus, and the

mountain is His kingdom, which is even now growing upon the earth. As we are told in Daniel 2:44-45:

"And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be

destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these

kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.

"Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the

iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what willtake place in the future; so the dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy."





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Those who are a part of the kingdom of God will be mobilizing and coming into increasing order, while

those who are building their lives on the kingdoms of this present world will fall into increasing chaos.

As one of the great wake-up calls in Scripture, Isaiah 60:1-3 declares:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

"For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise

upon you, and His glory will appear upon you.

"Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

As these verses make clear, at the very time when darkness is increasing in the world, and deep

darkness covering the peoples, the Lord's glory will appear on His people, and this will cause the

nations to come to us. For years I have quoted this Scripture probably more than any other because it

is one of which I am constantly being reminded. We really are coming to this time.

This is why we are also told in Proverbs 4:18: "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

that shines brighter and brighter until the full day." If our lives are not filled with increasing light that is

getting brighter and brighter, and our way becoming more and more clear, then we have somehow

missed the path. The call which is coming is going to help all who call on the name of the Lord to get

back on the path of life.

Don't Sleep on Your Watch

However, those who respond to the coming wake-up call, and again hit the "snooze button" to go

back to sleep, their next wake-up will come with the enemy's gun in their face. When the church is

awake and watching, the enemy will be restrained. When we sleep the thief will come, he will enter

our house, and he will not only steal, but he will kill and destroy.

I have received this warning for years, and given it often--if the church in the West does not wake up,

we will very soon be fighting the enemy in our own house, or on our own soil. You may contend that

9/11 is evidence we are already doing that, but that was just a foretaste of what is coming if we

continue to sleep on our watch. We have entered the times when we can never again go to sleep

spiritually without paying a terrible price.

The church is called to be a watchman for the nations. Even if the world is asleep, we must be awake

and alert. If you were caught sleeping on watch while in the military, the penalty was most severe. If

you were caught sleeping on watch during wartime, the penalty could be death. This was a just

penalty because if you slept on watch, you were not only risking your own life, but the lives of your

fellow soldiers, and possibly even jeopardizing your country. We are entering the time of the greatest

conflict between light and darkness--the ultimate battle between good and evil. For the church to

continue sleeping during these times will be a similar criminal act which will result in increasingly

severe penalties.

The Four Steps

There are four basic steps to making an effective soldier. The first is mobilization. After gathering

those who are being mobilized, you must then train them to fight. Only after training are they

equipped, or given their weapons. Then they must be deployed, or sent to their units for duty in the

Army. The church has been given "divinely powerful weapons" for destruction of the enemy'sstrongholds. Though it may now seem that few really have them, or are using these weapons, the





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church which is obedient to the Lord, knowing His voice, and having been effectively trained, is going

to be given great power. I recently went through a period when I was given a prophetic dream every

night for nearly three weeks. Many of these dreams continued the same theme; we are going to see

J ohn 14:12 fulfilled:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater

works than these he will do; because I go to the Father."

In one dream I was shown that we would move literal mountains just as the Lord said in Matthew

17:20, "...if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here

to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you" (NIV). I was told that this must be done to

verify the Lord's Word that it could be done. We are coming to the times when the greatest miracles

the world has ever seen will be witnessed. However, we must never forget that this power is given to

witness to the truth, which we have been given to preach.

When even the greatest miracles are done on the earth, the angels are bored. They saw the Lord

create the universe, and they see Him upholding it with His Word. His Word is the foundation of

power, and those who are the strongest in His Word will ultimately be those who are trusted with the

most power. Healing, miracles, and prophecy are crucial elements of true church life, but we must

never forget that the most powerful weapon that we have been given is the truth.

The Third Day

The Scripture I was given when I saw the trumpet blown in my face was Exodus 19:16-19:

So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes

and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were

in the camp trembled.

And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the

mountain.

Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke

ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.

When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with

thunder.

That this happened on the morning of the third day was no accident. As II Peter 3:8 declares, "But do

not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years,

and a thousand years as one day." If we added the genealogies of Scripture, it has been about six

thousand years since Adam was created. If we see each one thousand years as a day, as Peter

indicated, we are coming to the end of the sixth prophetic day, and the third prophetic day of the

church age.

In the writings of the early church fathers, it seems that this timetable was commonly understood. It

was believed that when the apostles of the early church talked about being "in the last days" (Acts

2:17) it was in reference to being in the last days of the prophetic week. The Lord J esus called

Himself "the Lord of the Sabbath," (Matthew 12:8) or the Lord of the seventh day, because that will be

His one thousand year reign on the earth.





In his extensive letter, Barnabas wrote, "And elsewhere he saith; If thy children shall keep my

sabbaths, then will I put my mercy upon them. And even in the beginning of the creation he makes

mention of the sabbath. And God made in six days the works of his hands; and he finished them on

the seventh day, and he rested the seventh day, and sanctified it. Consider, my children, what that

signifies, he finished them in six days. The meaning of it is this; that in six thousand years the Lord

God will bring all things to an end. For with him one day is a thousand years; and himself testifieth,

saying, "Behold this day shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six days, that is, in six

thousand years, shall all things be accomplished (15:2-5).

As described in the text from Exodus 19, we are coming to the time when the Lord is going to again

descend on His mountain, His government (the rock that became a mountain). This is going to begin

with "a very loud trumpet sound." It will cause all who are in His camp to tremble. We need to be

shaken with the understanding of the awesome God we serve. If we are shaken with that

understanding, we will receive and build our lives on the kingdom which cannot be shaken. The Lord

is then going to descend upon His mountain with fire, and all of His messengers will be flames of fire.

This fire is coming to consume the "wood, hay and stubble," (I Corinthians 3:12) and purify "the gold,

silver and precious stones." What is our life presently composed of? It is time to wake up and examine

ourselves so that we are ready for the times for which we were born.

Source URL: http://www.morningstarministries.org/resources/prophetic-bulletins/2003/trumpet-will-

sound

morningstar prophetic bulletin-2003 by rick joyner

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