Almost every prophetic person I know stated that 2012 will be “the best of times and the worst of times.” I think this has proven true, but I think it will be increasingly true with each passing year. We are entering the most challenging times in world history and the best time there has ever been to know and walk with the Lord. As I have said too many times to count, we are living in the times of Isaiah 60.

     It now appears that more than half of the people in America are at least beginning to believe that there is an intentional dismantling of America’s strength and the basic pillars of our Republic. This includes an increasing number from the President’s own party.

      I have been a devoted student of history for more than forty years, but it has been only over the last several years that I have felt compelled to understand our foundations as a nation. I was surprised to see that we truly were a nation built on sound biblical principles. The Scriptures give a lot of instruction about righteous governments, and The Great Commission was to make disciples of all nations, not just individuals.

A new type of Christian is beginning to emerge. They are prophetic and devoted to an uncommon depth of knowledge and understanding. They are not unique in history, but because there could be so many, they are. They are also practical and want to apply their revelation and understanding to the times. These prophetic thinkers, who are also hard-working builders, are cause for great hope. We are obviously getting close to when the gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world, as the Lord said it must be before the end of this age can come (see Matthew 24:14).

        So far, we have highlighted the four basic principles to understanding the Book of Revelation:

We have discussed two of the most basic elements of a healthy, thriving church life. One element is openness to both the old and the new, which would be both the historic church and the new breakout movements in our own time. For this to be demonstrated in local church life would mean having a ministry for children, youth, and the elderly, with a healthy interchange between them.

As we are in a place of looking at some of the ways that church history effects us today and because there are so many questions about the book, The Da Vinci Code, which makes many assertions about church history, I think we need to address some of these questions before proceeding. (NOTE: This is basically covered in a recent Special Bulletin also posted on this website.)