This issue of Rhema Now recounts two recent words that the Lord spoke to us just last month, in July 2023. As we sensed the urgency of speaking forth this message from His heart sooner rather than later, we will return to talking about this decade of Historic Transition in the next issue.

Even as the Lord has spoken that this is a Historic Transitional Decade that requires the Preparation for the Times (issue #2), and that the 1st of Nisan 2023 was a transition into this intense seven years of running in preparation (issue #6), He is still continuing to speak out of His zeal for us.

This is because He desires each and every one of His people to awaken to not only the seriousness of the times, but to start running now in Preparation for the Times.

What a perfect and zealous Shepherd and Commander we have!

We need to take careful heed of His words, examine ourselves, and not assume that we have responded. Scripture is clear that if we are only hearers and not doers of His word, we deceive ourselves (Jas. 1:22). May we not be deceived!

Even as we share this urgent message for the hour, just as we had emphasized previously (issue #3), our confidence and discernment of truth are not based on visitations and dreams, but on the Word of God and in the leadership of Jesus.

The Call to Run in Preparation


Click above to watch “The Call to Preparation”

 

In the early morning hours of 7 July 2023, Kay-Chong (Director of IHOP – One Thing Ministries) was awakened by an angelic visitation.

He was terrified with the fear of the LORD because it was a mighty angel — the same angel from Revelation 10. The angel carried a silver shofar in one hand and a scroll in the other.

He began to blow the shofar, which sent forth a strong blast with a clear message from Joel 2:1–2:

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming, for it is at hand: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness…”

The angel then proclaimed that this was more than the sounding of the alarm to be awakened, but to run. It is time to be intentional in Preparation for the Times!

While some of us may have been awakened to the seriousness of the times and the global escalation of darkness, this may not mean that we have responded to put our hands to the plough in preparation.

The time is short and the days are evil. It is high time to throw ourselves fully into these seven years of Preparation for the Times that the Lord has clearly marked out for the Body of Christ!

The angel then communicated that the scroll represented the preparation plan for God’s people — there is a general plan for the corporate Body of Christ, but there will be specific plans tailored for different ministries and individual believers.

If we are asking, “What does preparation look like for me?” let us diligently search His Word and seek Him on how He wants us to respond as individuals. For sure, it will require each of us to re-order, re-align, and re-prioritise our lives in accordance to His plan for preparation.

However, the end goal is the same: we are intentionally preparing ourselves now so that we may arise as the mature Sons of God and equally yoked Bride of Christ unto becoming the John 17 generation!

The visitation ended with the angel giving two Scriptures:

Jeremiah 12:5 — “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?”

Matthew 11:19 — “… But wisdom is justified by her children.”

Truly, God’s message to His people is that there is a requirement to prepare that is commensurate with the glory and crisis that is to come!

It goes beyond simply hearing and knowing in our minds. It goes beyond minor adjustments while holding on to the self-driven pursuits of our life.

This requires a radical, committed, and sustained response from God’s people!

Becoming Real, Deep, and Authentic


Click above to watch “Becoming Real, Deep, and Authentic”

 

Around 11 days later, on the morning of 18 July 2023, the Lord gave Kay-Chong yet another encounter — a prophetic dream.

In the dream, he was taken before the Throne of God where Jesus appeared as the Transcendent and Almighty King who was ready for battle as the Captain of hosts.

Jesus spoke a very strong message to him:
“Tell them not to be impatient! Tell them not to be casual! Tell them to be wise!”

The Lord then threw a tablet of stone towards him. On one side was written “Daniel 11:32–33” and on the other “Matthew 16:18–19”.

Immediately the LORD gave a stern exhortation to take heed of His words:

“Be diligent and be intentional to prepare yourselves to become the Daniel 11:32–33 people (which is the OT version of the John 17 generation). The divine blueprint has been given. Take heed WHAT you hear! Take heed HOW you hear! For wisdom is justified by her children!”

Then He continued, “Be wise to build firstly on the right foundations: walk in intimacy with Jesus (the Living Word), be grounded in the Written Word of God (the Transcription of Jesus’ soul), and be established on the Highway of holiness! It is upon this three-fold Rock that I, the King of glory will give you the keys of the Kingdom!

For many seek the keys of the Kingdom without firstly being established by Me on the Rock of who I AM! For many seek to walk in the authority of the Ekklesia without firstly becoming AUTHENTIC as My Ekklesia! Didn’t I say to seek FIRST My Kingdom and My righteousness?”

Then He warned, “If you are impatient, you will cause great harm and turmoil to yourselves and to many people!”

Kay-Chong felt much pain and sorrow especially with the last statement.

While the angelic encounter emphasised the urgency to run in Preparation for the Times, this prophetic dream emphasised the focus and heart posture as we run in preparation.

It is not about using our own human wisdom and strategy, but about submitting and yielding to God’s plan of preparation that He has given.

It is not about running to and fro with activities, but about running in preparation — prioritising the cultivation of a real, deep, and authentic relationship with the Lord.

It is also not about “making something happen” in our own strength, but about waiting patiently on the Lord for Him to work in us and through us.

Time to Run in Preparation
Truly the Lord’s heart is for His people to be made ready. Thus, He has spoken again to awaken and bring us into alignment with His divine plan and His timeline.

May we take heed of what we hear and how we hear! Let us put our hands to the plough and run in Preparation for The Times now!