Tag Archives: Prophecy

Is Heaven Really Our Home?

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Heaven is our home where we’ll reign forever
Shining like the sun with our King forever
Every sorrow gone we’ll rejoice forever
Heaven is our home
— Kathryn Scott, Heaven Is Our Home

It’s a catchy tune, but this just ain’t so. Heaven isn’t our home… at least, it’s not “our home where we’ll reign forever.”

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” — Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV)

If we die before Christ returns, we will spend a time in Heaven with him… but our eternal home is on Earth. God will bring the celestial “City of Peace” down to earth, and make his home here with us. Isn’t that amazing?! He will pitch his tent among us, and never again take it down! Never again will ichabod (“the Spirit has departed”) be uttered! God has decreed that he will humble himself to live among us on Earth for eternity.

I hope that mind-blowing thought lets a little bit of Sunday spill into your Monday. :)

Derek Webb Read My Mind, Then Made It An Album

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Yup, that’s right: Webb has apparently tapped into some latent telepathic ability, and is now using it to steal song ideas right out of my head! It’s so strange that it has to be true! :lol:

So what am I talking about? Well, I downloaded Webb’s Mockingbird album for free and gave it a listen… and it’s downright freaky how much the two of us think alike. I mean, really: each and every song tackles some issue I’ve been wrestling with at one point or another over the past five years. It’s crazy! Maybe we’re both prophets. ;)

So anyway… get your own free copy of the album at freederekwebb.com—and don’t worry, the link will stay on the site for a long time, thanks to the “tower” banner over on the sidebar. :)

(UPDATE: freederekwebb.com is down now, and the free downloads are no more. It was fun while it lasted, but you can still purchase Mockingbird, which I recommend.)

Reformed and Charismatic: Prophetic Accuracy

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SICKNESS UPDATE: We’re still sick. I’m back at work, but the cough hangs on… and the girls fluctuate between “mediocre” and “miserable.” Prayers are appreciated. Anyway, that has nothing to do with the subject line…

I’m one of the folks who risks being branded a “closet cessationist” — if not an outright heretic — for one particular reason: I am fully convinced that if the Spiritual gift of prophesy is active today, it must be 100% accurate.

See Apprising Ministries‘ article on the accuracy of the Word of God, and you may see where I’m coming from.

Prophesying Lies?

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“I’ve seen people in Western Churches worshiping as if they’re already in heaven. Then someone invariably brings a comforting message, like, ‘My children, I love you. Don’t be afraid, I’m with you.’ I’m not opposed to such words, but why is it that nobody seems to hear a Word from the Lord like, ‘My child, I want to send you to the slums of Asia or the darkness of Africa to be my messenger to people dying in their sin.’?” — From “The Heavenly Man” by Brother Yun

Brother Yun is part of the Chinese “underground church.” The Holy Spirit really moves over there. Inside these shores, however, we’re usually happy if He tickles us a bit. Some churches aren’t as guilty as others in this, but overall I have to agree with Brother Yun’s assessment. Some churches love big buildings, others are just addicted to Starbucks… but the far-too-common thread is a love of the things of this world.

I think the church needs more guys who’ll give us a prophetic knock-upside-the-head when we need it, like Steve Taylor in his song Easy Listening:

We’re King’s Kids, dang it, and we used to know what a housekeeper was for / Tickle my ear and I’ll pay for your show / Sing about stuff that I already know / Whisper sweet nothings, pour a nightcap / Gimme that old-time easy listening

EDIT: Check out Chuck Baldwin’s sermon, “Lying Prophets“—good food for thought! (Chuck Baldwin was the Constitution Party’s Vice-Presidential nominee last year.)