I wrote this article three years ago, and I still see issues surrounding the purposes outlined here. It seems to me that more and more, there is a dividing line in the prophetic. We all have different functions and ways of receiving what God has to say to us in this hour.

In lieu of this, there are different categories of messages from God, with all of them having their purposes for us.

There are voices that almost always speak of our prosperity and success. Others share encouragement and still others, pinpoint our triumph and deliverance from the enemy. Thank God that we do have this; it is needed and necessary.

And yet, I know of the many words given to me and others that speak of the severe judgments of God that are coming. Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me, (Ezekiel 3:17).

We have those voices that are warning us and preparing us for what lies ahead. We need to know what is around the corner… If one were rowing in a boat or a canoe, wouldn’t they want to know that there were rapids ahead, or something dangerous around the next bend in the river? The same is true in the prophetic. Without those prophetic voices that warn us, we would not be prepared, and we would be blind to what is ahead of us.

One could consider that “doom and gloom” is the central message of a particular segment of these types of prophetic words. But when I begin to think this way, I am reminded that even in the midst of catastrophes and deluge, there is always that voice that also says, “I will provide a way for those who trust Me and keep My Word.”

Even in great calamity and danger, the children of Israel found that the pillar by day and the cloud by night were guiding and protecting them. However, now we have that same spirit, that same guiding force “inside us,” rather than outside us and “upon us.” His Holy Spirit now dwells in us.

We have but to look at the prophecies of Isaiah. For here we have judgment, mercy, and hope mingled together like a fine wine:

As Seen in Judgment:
“Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the LORD hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the LORD GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place,” Isaiah 28:1-17.

As Seen in Mercy and Hope:
“O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.
And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the LORD GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill. And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands. And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust,” Isaiah 25:1-12.

We just must not forget that our Father warns us because He loves us. An earthly father would warn and tell his young child to not venture out into a nearby busy street to protect them. So we must remember that it is out of love that God tells us even about the dark days that are ahead… He wants us to be prepared and ready.

Can we pray and intercede so that these things won’t come? I believe that we must continue to pray and intercede for our nation and world of course.

I however, also believe that we’ve gone past the point where those prayers would change what is coming. The safety net has been lifted, and judgment has begun. And yet we also need to know that God takes care of his own.

Not matter how the economy is, or where our bank account balance is, or the hurricanes or floods, we have a heavenly father who will take care of us. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

I Own the Cattle on a Thousand Hills

October 2, 2004

But the safety net has been removed from over our nation. This happened a few years ago, and while we should continue to pray and intercede, nothing can truly prevent many of things that have come, and that will continue to come. We quote the scripture,

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

And yet, many continue in their wickedness, and although a handful continue to pray, the pendulum has become its travel.

A Word from 2011 about The Safety Net Being Lifted

“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,” 2 Peter 1:19.

The Spirit of the LORD showed me a man who was riding upon a horse and he then took what looked like a spear and placed it in the ground and he lifted up a huge net and took the net off of from where it had been.

The LORD then said to me:

I believe our prayers will help others to know the truth of the hour, but that hour will still be dark and will come.

But in that hour of darkness that is coming, and that has already begun, we can know that the comforter, the building light of the Father’s spirit, will indwell “in us.” And He will lead us down roads of preparation of these things.

But as we can see, there is always a way out. There is always hope in the midst of the storm, and God will continue to be a refuge to those who put their trust in Him. He wants us to prosper, he is a God of promises and hope, and yet, He is also one that sends judgment upon a nation and a world.

Selah`.

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

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