Darkness Descends E-Book

Riaan Engelbrecht

• Herausgeber: Riaan Engelbrecht
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

It is time for the Church to wake up and wake up fast!  The world is slipping into spiritual darkness, and this is a very slippery slope yet it seems the spiritual watchmen – the believers in the Lord – are not raising an alarm on the hills.  We are dangerously ignoring Ezekiel 33 which speaks of the watchmen who should be alert to the dangers that come against the Truth.  This is the same danger that is threatening to envelop the Church from the inside, for the insidious nature of the enemy’s strategy and plots to steal and deceive is going on unchecked.  The spiritual realm is more real than the natural and the principalities and authorities of darkness have one plan which is to draw the world – Christian alike – into its web and snare. It is like a huge spider waiting and waiting and waiting and it waves its magic like the Sirens of Greek Mythology. For once caught in this world, drawn by intrigue and by the allure of innocence and excitement, then the trap is sprung and getting out becomes more and more difficult. The enemy is real and he is very active. And in this time as spiritual darkness descends on the world, we need to shine the light of Christ to pierce the blackness of deception and enslavement!

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Darkness Descends (Perilous Times, #5)

Arise, awake, and heed the Lord’s call

Time to arise from our slumber as darkness descends

On guard against gathering threats

Learning from Rome’s folly

The true light vs the false illumination

The rise of spiritualism

Onslaught of the occult

New Age and the Cosmic Christ

What are we manifesting as children of God?

The dangers of New Age alternative techniques

Bowing the knee to Babylon – the great betrayal

A false centre of worship

The beguiling nature of divination

The baffling deceptions of the scribes

Perishing because of a continuing lack of knowledge

Deception signs of magic instead of God’s miracles

Worship God alone, and not the cult of Angelmania

Cult of the celebrity

Witchcraft and paganism in the Church

Seeds of paganism

Destroying the strongholds of “Dagon” and “Baal”

Modern day inquisitions and witch hunts

Allegations and accusations – the devil’s playground

The great resistance to God’s truth

Also By Riaan Engelbrecht

About the Author

Series of work by the same author:

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Perilous Times

In Pursuit of God

The Holy Spirit

The Disciple of God

Deliverance

Crossroads to Freedom

The Kingdom of God

The Prophetic

Apologetics

End-Time Remnant

Perilous Times Vol 5: Darkness Descends

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The author’s intellectual property rights are protected by international Copyright law. You are licensed to use this digital copy strictly for your personal enjoyment only: it must not be redistributed or offered for sale in any form.

Scriptures quotes from the New Kings James Bible, Amplified, and the New International Version.

FOR MORE FREE STUDY material visit www.avishuaministries.wixsite.com/avishua

Table of Contents

Arise, awake, and heed the Lord’s call  

Time to arise from our slumber as darkness descends

On guard against gathering threats

Learning from Rome’s folly  

The true light vs the false illumination  

The rise of spiritualism         

Onslaught of the occult

New Age and the Cosmic Christ

What are we manifesting as children of God?    

The dangers of New Age alternative techniques  

Bowing the knee to Babylon – the great betrayal

A false centre of worship    

The beguiling nature of divination    

The baffling deceptions of the scribes       

Perishing because of a continuing lack of knowledge 

Deception signs of magic instead of God’s miracles 

Worship God alone, and not the cult of Angelmania 

Cult of the celebrity   

Witchcraft and paganism in the Church

Destroying the strongholds of “Dagon” and “Baal” 

Modern day inquisitions and witch hunts

Allegations and accusations – the devil’s playground 

The great resistance to God’s truth

Arise, awake, and heed the Lord’s call

THESE ARE INDEED GLORIOUS days of the movement of the Lord. These are days of Joel 2 when we will see the outpouring of the Spirit – greater, tumultuous and overpowering.

These are the days to arise, to awake and heed the Lord’s call.

Come all down the valleys, from the mountains, over the rivers, out of the dark, out of slavery, to heed the Lord and to praise Him. Praise the Lord oh my soul; praise Him, for the Lord establishes His Kingdom to reign eternal and true.

Let the watchmen, the obedient and the faithful and the true arise with a song and a hope in the strength of the Spirit.

The Lord is calling, establishing foundations, restoring order, calming the waves of fearful notions and setting the spiritual captive free. Come one and come all, for the harvest is here – shall we reap the lost or shall we weep for our own lack of gain?

These are the days for the spiritual fire to fall as in the days of Elijah when the Lord sifts and refines His Bride while declaring Himself Lord and King. Yet by fire and Spirit, He will shake all things, every foundation and stronghold and every altar and every word and every deed that stands against Him.

These are the days of the outpouring to birth the rivers of life – spiritual rivers within the darkened soul and within the caged mind.

These are days of purification, refinement and revival for a time and a season. This is a time for the birth of His glory within His Bride. A time and a season have been granted to gather the Harvest until the one of lawlessness comes. This is the time and season for His power and might to flow for His manifested glory, for His manifested presence and for Him to turn us back to His heart in an intimate embrace.

My prayers are with all in these days – the lost, the struggling, the persecuted and the valiant - where darkness seems to settle on the earth, yet the Lord is calling for His daughter [His Bride] to rise in their splendour so that His glorious light might shine to drive back the shadows.

These are such days where He is reminding His people who He is – He is the only and true Living God, and He should be our only hope, strength, life and joy. There is no other, and only in Him can we trust for He is faithful and true. He reminds us that we exist for He exists and He is the essence and the existence of all. Why then shall we doubt or fear the terrors of the night or the burdens of the world? For in Him is the liberty and glorious eternal promise of freedom.

The Lord remains active and seated on the Throne. He is moving, seeking those who will follow Him and not merely a religion. What more can we say except that all toil and labour and effort and achievements in this world fade to dust and passes into a distant memory, for all that remains and is of worth and effort is that we are remembered by the Lord eternal.

We may conquer lands, invade empires, build bridges, be glorious in thought and deeds, yet it fades with the passing of summer to winter, over time and age, over blossom and harvest time, from springs to ice caps, yet all that is important is when we lay down to sleep the deep sleep that out of the darkness, a waking occurs where we hear our name being whispered to awaken unto His presence.

Shall we rather than not through humility and a sound resolve of being a servant strive to please the Master and make a contribution to the eternal empire where the sun never fades instead of striving to impress our vanity and ego upon this world?

What then can we say except that we are made in spirit to return unto the spirit, to strive to be rid of the temporary, to rise above the mundane, to soar in the liberty of the Spirit so that we may seize the eternal magnitude of being given life – a life bound by a deep sense of belonging to divinity and a paradise prepared unto us.

After all the striving and toil, all that remains is the truth that we have been created by divinity, destined to be returned unto divinity, where all earthly strive for knowledge, understanding and wisdom collapses like a soldier weary from the battle.

What then can be said that we must work in faith and in the Spirit to be free, to be liberated, to be reborn, to rise, to awake from our slumber and to embrace the Lord? Shall we then not all seek His glory and majesty for is He not enough? Shall we then not let go of the chains that bind and together arise in the splendour of the freedom that was paid by Blood?

For in Him, and in His glorious Son and in the glorious Spirit there abides a rest and the abounding and ever eternal peace and joy – joy and peace beyond the human comprehension or beyond the human understanding.

He is the Living God who holds man in His right hand. There is none like Him for there is no other. Only those who seek Him and yearn and long for Him as their hope and delight, and only those who take refuge in Him and who seek Him as their strength, shall see the Promised Land.

May the Lord bless you, may He keep you, may His countenance shine upon you and may He lead you from glory to glory.

Time to arise from our slumber as darkness descends

1 THESSALONIANS 5: 1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

It is time for the Church to wake up and wake up fast!  The world is slipping into spiritual darkness, and this is a very slippery slope yet it seems the spiritual watchmen – the believers in the Lord – are not raising an alarm on the hills.

We are dangerously ignoring Ezekiel 33 which speaks of the watchmen who should be alert to the dangers that come against the Truth. 

This is the same danger that is threatening to envelop the Church from the inside, for the insidious nature of the enemy’s strategy and plots to steal and deceive is going on unchecked.

Take a stroll through any bookstore. What sells is paranormal. What intrigues people is the occult. What draws interest is anything that has to do with New Age, with vampires, werewolves and the gothic lifestyle.

Teenagers are being bombarded by the world of magic. Worse of all, the occult and the paranormal are being presented as being hip, good, alright and wonderful. Magic, séances, mediums, voodoo and spiritualists are being ‘preached’ from the pulpits of Hollywood and from the bookshelves yet the world – Christian alike – is gobbling it up as if it is the food of gods.

Charms and books on spells are being promulgated and advocated as if they hold no danger. When is the last time the Church has taken a long hard look at what types of books are being sold to the general public?

It doesn’t take a whole lot of discernment to notice that these books are opening up a very dark spiritual world and its intent and purpose are not fantasy but reality. The spiritual realm has been made into a joke and has been made cheap. Voodoo is no game. To be Goth is not a trendy lifestyle, but dangerous.

Fortune tellers and palm readers, if genuine, operate in a dark realm. Such practices are forbidden for a reason – they open doors to evil. Charms, spells, magic, the occult and new-age literature are no longer taboo – and it is not innocent. If we think that Ephesians 6 which speaks of the dark spiritual forces is a joke, then deception has already taken its toll.

The spiritual realm is more real than the natural and the principalities and authorities of darkness have one plan which is to draw the world – Christian alike – into its web and snare. It is like a huge spider waiting and waiting and waiting and it waves its magic like the Sirens of Greek Mythology. For once caught in this world, drawn by intrigue and by the allure of innocence and excitement, then the trap is sprung and getting out becomes more and more difficult.

Lives are steadily destroyed, marriages fall apart and teenagers end up suicidal, aloof, or addicted to all kinds of substances. The Church needs to wake up and wake up fast. The dark world of video games and the onslaught of Hollywood regarding the occult is very much real and it is targeting the soul of those who buy into it. Ever noticed how many stories there are on TV and on the big screen when it comes to the “supernatural” and the “spiritual”?

But all of them have a very dark slant to them. When will we wake up to realise that the enemy is getting a foothold in people’s lives, from young to old, daily and the work is increasing in regularity? When will we wake up and start exposing the insidious darkness? Yet, we still scoff, we still joke, we still laugh and we pretend it is all make-believe and a game. The Exorcism is no fantasy movie.

The enemy is real and he is very active. Attend a true deliverance and tell me otherwise. And so the world and the Church are drawn into the snares of the enemy, and trust me when the reality of such a world becomes more real in one’s life, then it is no longer a laughing matter. Please watchmen it is time to arise and stand up. 

Deuteronomy 18 speaks directly about the forbidden practices – not forbidden by society, but by God and it is done for a reason. 9 “When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. 14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you.

Strangely, these days all the forbidden practices are now legal and God has become an outcast in society. 

On guard against gathering threats

1 PETER 5 (NEW INTERNATIONAL Version): 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

During World War 2 the world was plunged into a time of darkness and uncertainty, with the rise of Communism and Nazism threatening to engulf nations in its grip of fanaticism.

In regard to this historic event, Dr Condoleezza Rice, US National Security Advisor was reported to have said in 2004: “Historically, democratic societies have been slow to react to gathering threats, tending instead to wait to confront threats until they are too dangerous to ignore or until it is too late. Despite Nazi Germany's repeated violations of the Versailles Treaty and its string of provocations throughout the mid-1930s, western democracies did not take action until 1939. The US Government did not act against the growing threat from Imperial Japan until the threat became all too evident at Pearl Harbour”.

Indeed, the world was slow to react to the gathering threat of Hitler and also the Russians in the East. The inability to see the danger coming led to a bloodbath that lasted many years, costing millions of people their lives while the world also witnessed the Holocaust.

Less than 2000 years ago servants such as Peter and Paul also warned the followers of the Lord that the devil will keep on prowling and will keep on with his work until the coming of Jesus.

The church at the time was warned repeatedly that there is an impending danger, not only from the Romans but internally from false teachers and ‘prophets’ proclaiming a different truth.  Future generations were forewarned of the devil’s schemes, of the subtle threats of his invasions and tactics, summed up in the epistles and Revelation.

The church was also forewarned to resist his traps and temptations, lest we fall spiritually and are found wanting on the day of the Lord’s coming.

2 Peter 2 (New International Version): 1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Apart from the danger signs flickering hundreds of years ago, just like the world was warned of the rising threat from Germany and Russia, the Church has still repeatedly fallen into the devil’s trap and schemes, allowing him to roam free sowing chaos and disaster.

Too often, those who have been forewarned and equipped with the means to resist him have not done so effectively enough.

Since the death of our Lord, the storm of the enemy has been raging around the Church, as it has plunged the world deeper and deeper into its own spiritual darkness.

Yet we were given the Holy Spirit to lead us in all truth, and we have been given the Blood of Jesus, and we have been freely given His Word and we have been given free access to His throne. We have been called not only to stand against the devil’s temptation but also to keep on highlighting his work and to expose it.

We have been called to be the salt and light as ambassadors of His Kingdom so that those who have been caught up in the chaos of the storm will find their freedom in the Lord.

It is time that we all come to the point and take note once again of the gathering threats against the Bride, against families, against the young, against the truth, against sound morals and values and even against the Lord’s reality.

These threats are real and we are called to stand as watchmen – watchmen over our own hearts and those in this world lest they be deceived.

It is time we move with the Spirit, return unto His truth, and lay hold of His Kingdom so that His light may shine through the darkened clouds.

For we have been forewarned and we have been equipped – let us then stand fast on His truth, in Spirit, and let us return unto Him and let us proactively and with deliberate intention, through action and word, proclaim His love, mercy and grace so that the broken world will be healed and the spiritual captives are set free.

Learning from Rome’s folly

THE ARMY OF THE LORD is on the move – a vast network of soldiers, watchmen and skilled labourers seeking to bring an end to the barbaric tyranny of the devil’s kingdom.

The army of the Lord in some ways is reminiscent of the Roman Empire's rule – especially when it comes to warfare and campaigns. It should, however, be noted that while the Roman Empire sought to bring the whole world under its dominion, and therefore bringing forth the Pax Romana rule through its civilised code of living, the Empire of the Lord seeks to bring the world under the dominion of the Blood of Yeshua, bringing forth a world free from tyranny and darkness.

Just as the Roman Empire, through an effective network of soldiers and skilled labourers consisting of the free and the slave, the barbarian and the Roman, of every tongue and tribe, stretched across the world, so does the Kingdom of the Lord stretch across the entire world, seeking to touch Jew and Gentile, the free and the slave along with every tribe, tongue and nation.

Yet, while many comparisons can be drawn regarding the two armies, it should be noted the Romans however negotiated with the enemy, failed eventually because of internal strife and failed to provide the necessary resources to the most distant outposts. The rise of the enemies of Middle East and the Far East also contributed to the Empire’s collapse.

However, the Kingdom of the Lord does not seek to negotiate with the enemy but sets an ultimatum to convert, and it is grounded on solid rock so that it shall not falter because of discord. The Lord is One and the availability of resources is endless.

Yet, it is also true that within the Roman Empire, especially after the establishment of Caesar's dominion, that strive within and without was vigilantly eradicated, but at the same time, it caused greater disability. Yet, under the banner of the Lord, strife and discord are also set as a priority of eradication for Jesus Himself said a house cannot be divided against itself.

The only time there was a rebellion against the rule of the House of the Lord was when Satan, similar to the times when the senate rose up against Caesar, rose up against God but was cast out. And while it was difficult in the days of the Roman Empire to secure internal politics within the walls of Rome, it was just as hard to secure external peace among the legions and common folk throughout the Empire.

Similarly, within the Kingdom of God, known as “heaven”, eternal and secure peace is established, yet here on earth throughout the lands division and discord also reign among the servants and masses serving the true King. For it is true that while the Roman Empire had one ruler, governed by the senate, across the lands generals, field commanders and soldiers sought fame, glory and honour for their own gain. Pride and arrogance were the order of the day for a Roman – and so their behaviour was not always in line with Rome’s vision and mission. Just so, our Kingdom is ruled by the Lord who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with elders and angels by His side, yet here on earth in every city and town we have labourers, soldiers, priests, workers serving in the marketplace, serving within churches, serving globally and locally, yet we also find a constant movement of strive and jostling for power, fame and prestige for sadly man is man.

One reason for the reign of the Roman Empire was the evolution of the Roman Empire into a superlative fighting machine that came to dominate Europe to the Rhine, parts of Asia, and Africa. This however did not happen overnight. Rome’s military strength, unity in purpose and presenting the world with a new order of civilisation was the key to its success. Just so the army of the Lord, those who fight in blood and flesh against the spiritual forces, have over time evolved, shaking off the restrictions, bondages, legalisms and man-made traditions that have curtailed their growth. The army of the Lord, just as the one settled in heaven, needs to evolve to a point of military strength bonded in united purpose, while presenting this broken world with a new order of God’s way, truth and life.

Rome would not have been all-conquering if it was not for their might in battle and for waging countless successful campaigns across a number of continents against countless foes. Despite internal and external strife, Rome did reign supreme for 700 years. The reason why we live in our broken world is that the army of the Lord has for a long time struggled to be united, with so many factions (denominations) and leaders waging their own campaigns and so many times for their own benefit. Yet, just as the Romans and its subordinates waged war for the purpose of strengthening Rome, be it against the Gauls, Celts, Visigoths, Huns, Persians or Greeks, the army of the Lord is also called to wage various and differing campaigns across seven continents yet for the sole purpose of strengthening the Kingdom of Heaven against ONE enemy – Satan.

Yet, campaigns are fought for own gain of stature, prestige, and wealth and to build own kingdoms and empires – and so often the enemy is not Satan but pride and arrogance that have caused the legions of God to claw at each other’s throats in order to rise to the top. This is the sad state of affairs – the church has not been fighting a cohesive, collected, selfless and united war, stretched across seven continents, against ONE enemy. And this warfare will indeed consist of many campaigns, strategies and tactics but for His glory and for the demise of Satan. We wage not a war for ourselves but for the King.

Such “demilitarisation” of the army of the Lord is due to many factors with demilitarisation implying a lack of truly walking in the authority of God in destroying Satan’s kingdom. Worldwide philosophies, secular humanistic movements, political upheavals, and the secular enlightened evolvement of man based on reason above faith have done much to break down God’s truth, His purposes, His plans, His vision, His mission and His campaign of warfare in the hearts, minds and spirit of His followers. Science, evolutions of technology and the tidal rise of false doctrines and teachings have further divided the army of the Lord.

All the while, the inner battle of man, struggling with his ego, pride and arrogance, along with temptations, has caused an even deeper faltering of seeking God’s Kingdom above all.

The Romans understood about waging different campaigns against the enemy differed and so did the territory. The Roman Empire began like the part-time Greek army, with farmers returning to their fields after a quick summer campaign. Then it changed into a professional organization with long terms of service far from home. 7-time consul Marius is considered responsible for the change of the Roman army into its professional form. He gave the poorest classes in Rome the opportunity to be career military, gave land to veterans, and changed the composition of the legion.

So too, the army of the Lord needs to understand that we also have to wage different campaigns in different countries and different towns, and even though we fight ONE enemy, it remains true that Satan has his own legions. Yet, all these campaigns fought with different tactics and strategies, are for the purpose of exalting God’s Kingdom and not ours (Haggai 1).

And just as the Roman Empire evolved, just so, the army of the Lord started with 12 disciples of the poorest class, mostly fishermen. The only exception was Matthew, the text collector. Yet with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, imparting gifts and empowering the disciples and future followers of the Lord, one had the army of the Lord evolving to fight warfare on a higher level. Now they had “weapons” of discernment, prophecy, wisdom, tongues and so on.

Before we look at the fighting unit of Rome, it should be noted that just as Marius allowed the poorest class to become soldiers, this is exactly what happened during the Reformation. For a long time, the “priesthood” of the Catholic Church were affluent men and the layman was considered ill-equipped to even read the word. The class separation between clergy and layman also caused demilitarisation of the church as so few were really waging war against the enemy. Yet, with the Reformation the Word and the chance to serve was extended to the masses, allowing for the evolvement of the army in size and strength.

Sadly, still today the divide between clergy and laity is of big concern, while the postmodern world and the Age of Enlightenment have caused so many denominations and one-man bands to spring up like mushrooms declaring their own brand of truth. Yet there is only one truth and that is God’s truth.

After all, by the time of Paul’s teachings and writings, it was evident that the Lord had different callings and purposes for every believer, who was imparted with certain gifts, and endowed with certain talents and abilities to contribute to the army of the Lord. The idea was always not to have a divide of clergy and laity, but to have the entire Body of Christ ministering, serving each other, and supporting each other in whatever calling or purpose, all for the sake of establishing His Kingdom at the expense of the dark.

The Roman army was after all very powerful in unity and so it helped in conquering the lands and provinces. The army had different-ranking soldiers commanded by the Emperor. The emperor gave the orders to centurions who passed them on to decurions, who then passed them down to the soldiers. The army had soldiers from all over the empire.

To Augustus fell the difficult task of retaining much that Caesar had created but on a permanent peace-time footing. He did so by creating a standing army, made up of 28 legions, each one consisting of roughly 6000 men. Additional to these forces there was a similar number of auxiliary troops. Augustus also reformed the length of time a soldier served, increasing it from six to twenty years (16 years full service, 4 years on lighter duties). The standard of a legion, the so-called aquila (eagle) was the very symbol of the unit's honour. The aquilifer who was the man who carried the standard was in rank almost as high as a centurion. It was this elevated and honourable position that also made him the soldiers' treasurer in charge of the pay chest.

A legion on the march relied completely on its own resources for weeks. To make camp each night every man carried tools for digging as well as two stakes for a palisade.

Looking at the Roman army structure, we have to take into consideration that the army of the Lord is also much diversified, yet working for the same goal of defeating the enemy.

Within the army of the Lord, one also gets various ranks, but such ranks are not based on one’s performance but rather on God’s Sovereign choice. Yet none of the ranks is above the other, yet some come with greater responsibility, just as a centurion had the task of leading many men.

And so, within the structures of the army of the Lord, one finds various “legions” of people scattered across the world. And each and every person has an important and critical part to play in the last days of warfare. And so the Lord calls some to lead a small group, and others to lead a bigger group.

And just as the Roman army and its various legions were fighting different campaigns, engaging in battle with a variety of foes across a variety of landscapes, so we too are fighting various campaigns, engaging in a variety of demonic foes and across the seven continents.

And just as each soldier has special talents or gifts, we must remember that these campaigns against whatever form of the enemy will be different to another campaign, just as it is different for the Romans to fight in Gaul than to fight the Celts in Northern Britain or the Persians or the Egyptians. Different enemies, different strategies, and different tactics yet the same purpose of extending the Empire and defeating the opposition.

Today, the army of the Lord is stretched out across the seven continents, advancing His Kingdom, and we also have to be aware that campaigns vary, so does the foe, so does the landscape, and so does the strategy and the tactics. For this reason, we have been given our own set of talents and gifts, yet the Lord puts “legions” and centuries together to engage in certain warfare to achieve a specific task.

For this reason, we have to realise that we are constantly engaged in warfare. Praise and worship are warfare, for it causes confusion in the enemy’s camp. Preaching and teaching the truth sets the captive free from the bondage of deception and ignorance. The workings of the Spirit in healing and deliverance break the hold of the enemy. Prophesy and declaration of the word set people free, liberated cities and set lands free from the grip of the enemy.

We might always consider it so, but yes, healing is warfare for it sets us free, and sometimes free from a demonic working. Our greatest weapons are after all love and truth in the Spirit as we drive back the darkness.

So we need to know that the Lord uses everyone in the Body for different tasks and campaigns, sometimes corporately, sometimes individually, and sometimes in smaller groups, to achieve a certain mission by deploying a set piece of tactics and strategy that will help defeat the foe over certain terrain.

Yet, all these campaigns and missions lead to one purpose which is to extend and establish the Kingdom of God on earth while driving back the barbaric demonic force.

And where the Roman Empire had to call up troops, so the Lord calls forth the lost to come under the Blood and so be grafted into the army. And just as the Roman army had many tactics, we also employ various tactics. Just consider David, Joshua, Samson, and many other great men of the Bible.

The Romans for example, when they attacked an enemy group, they were in lines that were supported by other ones. The front row would throw the javelins at the enemy and then they would sword fight with the swords and when the front row was dead the second row started to attack and that is how it was. With these fighting tactics, it is not surprising that the Romans won every battle as they were so well organised. They also had people behind with bows that shot the arrows and then knelt down while they recharge in order for the others to protect them.

Behind them were the bearers (ferentarius) and the light infantry, whom now we say are the supporters and the infantry, shield-bearers (scutum) with darts (plumbata), swords (gladius) and , armed just as are nearly all soldiers today. There were likewise bowmen (sagittarius) with helmets (cassis), coats of mail (catafracta), swords (gladius), arrows (sagitta) and bows (arcus). There were slingers (funditor) who slung small stones (lapis) in slings (funda) or cudgel-throwers (fustibalus). There were artillery-men (tragularius), who shot arrows from the manuballista and the arcuballista.

The army took soldiers from some provinces and put them in others to fight against an enemy. They mixed primary troops which were the well-trained ones and the Auxiliaries which had a position which was cavalry or they were not as well armed or trained as they were usually prisoners of war.

The tactics employed by the Romans varied between battles and for what type of enemy it was. The turtle was a position where the soldiers all grouped up and used to hold the shields over their heads and some to the side while others on the outside held spears and weapons to protect each other from the enemy. The main use for this was to penetrate into forts and other enemy strong points.

They separated the empire into provinces so that it was easier to control as tribunes controlled different parts and collected which were then brought to Rome where they were put in the treasury before they were used in some parts of the empire.

What is however very fascinating is that the Roman soldiers were excellent builders, just so we are called to build the Kingdom of God. Soldiers could build a bridge to quickly cross a river.

They quickly erected wooden fortifications The Romans built temporary fortifications such as camps inside a wall. They had tents that were set up in a special way so that the command tent was in the centre of the other tents. It was all set up so that everything was in a certain position for easier access. They had a pole that had all the insignias and the Roman eagle over it outside the command tent. There was a wooden wall around that was built of trunks pushed into the ground so that it could be aligned in a line.

They then put up a walkway so that the centuries could look out of the fortifications. The outside had a moat and also there was a gate where there were sentries which let no one except the people who had to go in. There were also watchtowers at the gates. When the Roman army travelled they always had to build roads that were as straight as possible so that everyone could travel fast in case of need.

Think therefore in the Bible how the Israelites were called to build, such as the tabernacle, the temple of Solomon, the broken wall and city after the exile into Babylon and so much more. We are not just called to wage war, we are called to also build – we need to build the Kingdom in the hearts of man, and we need to build the House of the Lord (Haggai).

Another distinction between the Roman legionaries and the Kingdom of God is when it comes to the armour that soldiers of both camps wear.

It says in Ephesians 6: 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

This picture painted by Paul was borrowed from the Roman legionary. Note, he speaks of the helmet, the breastplate, the belt, the sword, the sandals and the shield.

Now, typically armour is one of the most important parts of any soldier's equipment. This holds true today and was true for the soldiers of Rome. The technology of armour has changed, but the principle remains the same: protect the wearer during battle.

While modern armour is mainly centred on protecting against bullets, the armour of Rome was designed to protect mainly against projectiles such as spears or javelins, arrows, swords, or daggers.

For this reason, Paul speaks about quenching all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

It says in Isaiah 54: 16 “Behold, I have created the blacksmith

Who blows the coals in the fire,

Who brings forth an instrument for his work;

And I have created the spoiler to destroy.

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,

And their righteousness is from Me,”

Says the LORD."

In his mindset, the enemy employs projectiles in the form of attacks and curses against the children of God. But just like the armour of the Roman soldier was designed to protect and ward off such attacks, just so those who wear God’s armour will stand against the ways of the wicked.

The armour of the Roman Army in the end was one of the many factors that made it the best fighting force in the world.

Just so, we need the armour of God in battle, for we are fighting a war.

At the time of the Roman Empire, the soldiers had a warfare mindset. And this we also need to cultivate – a mindset that we are involved in a battle, every day and all day. We are in a battle to overcome, to bring others to Christ and to even fight for our fellow brothers and sisters.

The Lord wants a mighty army roaming the planet – full of God’s fire and holiness, full of His Glory and Power. But we need to walk in Spirit and Truth, and we need to seek Him above all.

And once we move in unity and diversity, learning from the mistakes of the physical Roman Empire, we shall be victorious, driving back the darkness, claiming territory, laying siege to strongholds and breaking down the fortress of darkness.

We can overcome and we can be mighty in battle, but only when we bow the knee to our Supreme Commander and give Him the Glory.

How the Lord is looking for an army to march through the lands, fighting in Spirit and Truth, with the high praises in their mouths, and by that praise cause confusion in the camp of the enemy and restoring the Lord’s ways in the broken lands and homes.

Let us arise until sheep become lions until children become men, and until warriors take their place on the Lord’s battlefield.

The true light vs the false illumination

JOHN 8:12 WHEN JESUS spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Right from the beginning of the creation of this world, God created light out of the darkness. God has always been the true Light for mankind and has always been the true guide out of the valley of spiritual darkness and corruption.

Jesus said He is the Light. John 1 speaks of Jesus being the Word that from the beginning was with God. Jesus, the Son of God, is the Truth, and the Way and the Life. He is the Word of our Salvation and Redemption. It says in Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

The Scriptures testify to the glory and beauty of Jesus who is our Light when it comes to our spiritual walk, as we strive to become more like Jesus and to seek the will of the Lord. As we follow the light of the Scriptures, we follow the Light of Jesus. And thus it says in "John 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." According to John 3:16, Jesus came to be a sacrificial lamb so that all who believe in Him may be saved.  Jesus was the great mystery in the Old Testament that was revealed in the New Testament when both Jew and Gentile have been brought into the house of God by the Blood of the Lamb.

The Light of Jesus was indeed a mystery, but at the chosen time, it was revealed unto all mankind so that we who abide in Jesus (John 15) may walk out of darkness and into the light of His Glory.

Paul writes about this mystery in "Romans 16 (NIV): 25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."

Ephesians 3: 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

The mystery is that through Jesus there is Salvation for both Jew and Gentile, that Jesus is the head of the Church, that He is the source of our wisdom and knowledge and the resurrection of the saints.

We read in the Scriptures of this mystery of Christ and what it means to the new priesthood of believers: 1 Corinthians 2: 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” -  the things God has prepared for those who love him-  10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 15: 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

Ephesians 1:9-10: He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Ephesians 3: 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness- 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Ephesians 5: 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, is our Life and Light. This mystery has not remained hidden but has been revealed to the world. It is the Great Commission of the Church to reveal this true Light unto the world of darkness because only this true Light can bring hope and joy to a world broken by the devil and by the corruption of sin.

It says in John 3: 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

Jesus reminds us in "John 12:35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.”

He reminds us to continue walking in the Light lest we fall into darkness. He is the Good Shepherd who shows us the way – if we follow Him not we will get lost spiritually and we may end up in spiritual darkness. Indeed, it says in 1 John 1:5: [Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness] This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Paul writes in "1 Timothy 6:15-17:  God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen."

Glory to God! It is God who lives in unapproachable light. This we need to remember – God has always been the only true Light unto the world, and there is no other light to show the way of salvation, and there is none other who is our hope, joy and strength.