A CORNER TURNED

© Morris Ruddick

A ministry couple I am close with recently embarked on a well-deserved vacation. On the drive to one of their tour venues, they were told that a local shaman/medicine man would be performing a simple ritual to “culturally cleanse” their tour group. They made it very clear to their guide, that as Christians they would have no part in any witchcraft ritual – and would leave the group if necessary. At their destination, they stood away from the group and observed this shaman begin his ritual. But he suddenly stopped – and then left without finishing. As they began the return trip to their hotel, the Lord then spoke to this couple to pray, that there was going to be an accident. And pray they did. There was an accident. A head-on collision of their tour bus with a large truck at high speeds was narrowly averted. It could have been catastrophic, but only minor injuries were sustained.

This encounter reminded me of the one described in Acts 27:22-24 when the angel of the Lord appeared to Paul telling him that their ship would be wrecked, but they would suffer no loss of life.

As I prayed about my friend’s incident, the question was very heavy on my heart: “is there something this occurrence points to about what is going on behind the scenes spiritually-speaking?”

THE TURNING POINT
In this ongoing battle against evil, we cannot afford to bask in the glow of the positive outcome of unseating of Saddam Hussein’s regime. In understanding the times, a corner has been turned. We need to be more alert and aware of the enemy’s schemes. And we need to be more cognizant of the principalities at the forefront of the evil one’s agendas.

Those operating ministries that pierce the heart of darkness need to be raising their “alert-levels”.

This is not a fear-thing. It is a reality thing. It’s about recognizing the state of alert and level of discernment needed for the days we have entered. We’ve turned a corner. It’s not about giving the evil one more credit than we have to; but it is about being aware and wise to his schemes.

Likewise, it is not even a question of being “prayed up” or “in the Spirit” or “in faith.” That’s a given. And there is no question in my mind about my friends being prayed up and in the Spirit and in faith during their recent encounter with the shaman.

But the fact is that the days are evil – and we need to be seeking the Lord for more. Much more. Yesterday’s means of handling things will not be enough. The Lord is able – but the levels of faith that have been sufficient for us in the past are going to have to be increased. We can’t be satisfied with the level of faith we have been operating with in times past.

What we have before us is what scripture refers to as “the day of His power.” But in the wisdom described by John the Baptist, “we must decrease, while He must increase.” It’s a time to reexamine our old wineskins – a time for new wineskins. It’s a time to be alert for snares and traps. It’s a time to be gaining the strength needed from being in alliance with other members of the Body. Each of these are points and principles we all agree with and embrace – we just need to be pressing in for more.

THE TRANSITION IN THE ENEMY’S MODUS OPERANDI
But what was it that took place with my friends during their recent vacation? As I’ve spent time praying about this matter, I’ve been cautioned not to oversimplify. Their encounter seems to have had ties on several levels. First, as already noted, a significant corner has been turned. The unexpected jolt that September 11, 2001 inflicted on the free world resulted in a major paradigm shift. In days past, the enemy’s primary mode of operating has been something akin to guerilla activity.

Remain hidden, then hit and run. Infiltrate and undermine. Distract and weaken. Sow discord, and let it take its course. Penetrate seats of power and influence and reset the standard. But that mode is changing. It’s escalating.

The dynamic illustrated in the flashpoint-encounter my friends recently experienced lies in the issue of the enemy’s “hiddenness.” The enemy is being forced out of the closet. The enemy is becoming bolder.

As we approach the time of the “day of His power” – the enemy’s lairs are being uncovered. The global connections and structures the enemy has used as the “prince and power of this world” are starting to be exposed for what they are.

THE ENEMY’S NEW VENUE
But while the enemy is being forced out of hiding, there simultaneously is a move to bring acceptability to evil while discrediting righteousness and the confrontation of evil.

My friends were traveling in an area of extreme poverty. It is a region with its roots deep within the international drug trade. The link between poverty and the drug trade is significant. It reflects the historic, biblical alliance between mammon and sorcery. The Babylon and Chaldea referred to in Jeremiah 51.

Today’s Western perspective tends to view the primary evidence of mammon as being greed. And indeed it involves greed. But the real operation of mammon is fueled by an alliance with sorcery. Witchcraft. An alliance evidenced by the destruction that results from the operation of its wicked, corrupt power.

Mammon that operates in this mode tears down the communities and ultimately entire regions around its operation. Across the globe, the major clue to this alliance between mammon and sorcery is a region distinguished by abject poverty. And the poverty is tied to false religion. In regions marked by poverty, a frail or no middle class, a minimum of entrepreneurial activity and perverse religious activities, it is very likely to be an area dominated by this alliance between mammon and sorcery.

In Mark 4:22 Jesus said, "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.”

As we enter “the day of His power” much that previously had not been seen, in terms of the enemy’s operations, will be uncovered. Uncovered and forced to the surface. But with this dynamic is emerging a transition from the enemy’s subtle and surreptitious mode to one that will manifest with greater boldness in the thrust of this age-old alliance between Babylon and Chaldea – mammon and sorcery.

Stratfor’s Morning Intelligence Brief for May 16, 2003 provided an apt illustration of what is manifesting behind the scenes spiritually in its analysis of al Qaeda’s strategic options following their multi-pronged attack in Saudi Arabia:
In the past, al Qaeda has maintained a fairly slow tempo of operations, with attacks being spaced out over a period of time. The reason for this appears to be security. Coordinating multiple attacks in a narrow time frame increases the possibility of detection of all operations. Keeping them separated by time and space decreases detection. That argues for lots of anxiety but no attacks. However, we are in a different situation now. Al Qaeda must prove its viability—indeed its robustness. And it tries to change its actions so as to remain unpredictable. Therefore, we tend to agree that there remains dramatically increased danger, but would expect al Qaeda to strike in unexpected places if they strike at expected times.

It is my perception that my vacationing ministry friends stumbled into a stronghold of mammon and sorcery. The shaman was caught off-guard when – as he began his ritual – he sensed the power reflected in their anointing and overreacted in his attempt to curse and destroy the bus they were a part of.

This shaman was tied to a key principality of mammon and witchcraft in his area. And he was exposed. The presence of my anointed friends very well may have pre-empted an initiative being planned via this alliance. This alliance between mammon and sorcery will be found embedded deeply within the infrastructures of the drug cartels of the Latin America; in the oil cartels of the Middle East; in totalitarian political regimes; as well as in perverted religious fanaticism – to offer just a few illustrations. Each reflects obscene levels of wealth in the hands of a few, within an environment surrounded by abject poverty.

THE CYCLING STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL
Over the ages this alliance between sorcery and mammon has manifested in cycles that ultimately result in a clash of civilizations. Outright clashes between good and evil at the highest levels of power.

The central issue is dominion. The cycle goes from one stage of evil seeking dominion to another. Seducing and controlling the masses through fear, poverty and superstition – superstition based on a perverse merging of religious and occult practices that become tolerated and then accepted. Even atheistic totalitarian movements will be found with the occult operating in their inner circles. It is the basis for the developing unholy alliances between Muslims and former communists.

Penetrating and infiltrating the seats of power and structures of the world’s system – through a subtle alliance of sorcery and mammon. As evil establishes itself, it perverts the perception of what it is doing so that in the conflict marking its rise to power, it gains a voice of acceptability. Simultaneously it seeks to undermine the thrust, credibility and acceptability of God’s genuine initiatives, and those representing the side of good, or righteousness.

In grasping the significance of this cycle, and of the times we are entering, there is something to be learned from the years leading up to and into World War II.

The times prior to WWII were times of economic distress. Times of struggle and disruption to such a degree that the forces of good became very distracted and in-bred – and essentially turned their back on the creeping evil emerging in world seats of power. Hitler’s rise to power was a turning point in evil’s quest for world domination. As his power base was strengthened, his regime increasingly created messages that called evil good, and good evil. He leveraged tolerance and ignorance to his benefit, until he was firmly entrenched, in control and in power. Astute people, both within Germany and within world seats of power were beguiled.

The people on my friend’s tour who submitted to the shaman’s “cleansing” were beguiled. Cultural cleansing? Right!! Those submitting themselves to this witchcraft ritual opened the door to bondages and curses to be operating in their lives.

The source of Hitler’s power, as well as the agendas he promulgated were fueled by the evil one. Evidence supports the operation of this alliance between mammon and sorcery in Hitler’s inner circles. As Hitler ascended to power, he employed two key strategies to further his agendas. The first was the “big lie.” The second was the concept of the “scapegoat.”

Hitler’s concept of the “big lie” was based on the premise that if “half truths” were preposterous enough, they would be believed. The concept of the “scapegoat” served a twofold purpose. It provided a rallying point around which his support and power grew both within and outside of Germany. In his quest for world domination, Hitler convinced some of the brightest and most religious of his perversions of truth. He was convinced that to destroy – to “cleanse” the world of God’s chosen people, the Jews, that he would create the order solidifying his world domination.

The concepts of the “big lie” and the “scapegoat” are perversions of truth forming the basis for the persecution of Christians and Jews around the world today. They are perversions of truth that have fueled anti-Semitism across the centuries. They are perversions of truth underlying the basis of what today’s media has come to call the “Palestinian conflict.” They are perversions of truth linked to this alliance between mammon and sorcery. They are the perversions of truth that will lead us into a worldwide clash between good and evil – a clash of civilizations that will open the gateway into Armageddon.

THE STAGE OF THE CYCLE
Few recognized the significance of what was emerging in the 30s with Hitler’s rise to power. Likewise, today’s so-called “Palestinian conflict” carries an insidious parallel. Its leaders are terrorist thugs and they employ the same beguiling strategies as used by Hitler.

The operation of the “big lie” and the concept of the “scapegoat” extend from training children to become suicide bombers to Palestinian claims that Israeli Arabs are victims of Jewish conspiracies to take advantage, malign and usurp the rights of the unsuspecting innocents. Claims that offer perverted distortions of reality in the form of press releases that are then amplified as factual information through the media systems of the world. Claims that once again extend the “scapegoat” message that the Jews are at the heart of the world’s problems, which is the “big lie” that undergirded the Nazi quest to eradicate the world of those the Scripture refers to as God’s chosen – the apple of His eye.

The big lie today is at the stage that suggests the outrageously distorted proposition that while we can wage war on terrorism – where Israel is concerned, terrorism is justified. Yet, not unlike the days of Hitler’s rise to power, this is a premise being embraced by leaders around the world – some of whom it is designed to destroy.

THE COUNTERBALANCE
However, there are two factors operating today that were not operating at the inception of World War II. The first is the fact that there is a mobilized, connected, informed Body that is praying.

The second factor is tied to what I refer to as Jewish identity. The astounding rise of the Messianic Jewish movement since the late 1960s is a first and very significant step in this factor of Jewish identity. Recent years have seen the emergence of a handful of progressive, anointed Christian ministries that have provided teachings on the Jewish roots to the Christian faith. The acceptance of their Jewish identity is the Jewish response to these parallel truths on the Jewish roots to the Christian faith.

Jewish identity is uniquely tied to Jewish revival. Jewish identity is tied to Jewish heritage and Jewish heritage is tied to a people whose foundations were birthed and developed by God. A people, entrusted with the oracles of God. A people through whom salvation will come to a lost, hopeless and dying world. A people who will be the catalysts for worldwide revival, once they begin to get this identity issue right.

Israel is the apple of God’s eye. Isaiah 66:12 indicates a time when “Peace and prosperity will overflow Jerusalem like a river. The wealth of the nations will flow to her.” In Zechariah 8:23 it says: "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."' " And in Romans 11:15 we are told “For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”

The combination of a praying Body and the Jewish people embracing their God-given identity will provide a significant counterbalance to the current evil emerging.

TODAY’S PIVOT POINTS
During the past few years I have prayed into and written much about the wealth transfer and God’s move into the marketplace – led by a group of modern-day Josephs. The wealth transfer is about dominion. It’s about a time in the end, when the final clash between good and evil begins emerging prior to the return of the Lord. The pivot point is over dominion. Dominion hits two key areas, power and people – each of which have core spiritual and financial considerations. At the root of this very pivotal throne-room end-times alignment is that which is precious to the Lord – His people Israel.

Likewise, at these pivot points will be found emerging an unusual, anointed group whose roles will parallel those of Joseph and Daniel of the Bible. Josephs and Daniels, who will be catalysts in the wealth transfer. Instruments of God’s purpose in the emerging struggle over seats of power and finances. And because there is a mobilized, connected praying Church; and because there is a mobilization of Jewish believers who embrace and are communicating the role and identity of their people for these times – the Lord will be releasing some unusual initiatives. Initiatives that will counter the results of today’s alliance between mammon and sorcery. Initiatives tied to what Proverbs 13 refers to as the “wealth of the wicked being stored up for the righteous.”

The enemy hates anything genuinely tied to God. That is because it brings exposure to the counterfeit nature of the evil one and his cohorts. The encounter my friends recently had on their vacation was precipitated by their refusal to submit to the shaman’s authority. Likewise their presence ushered in the presence of the Lord, to a degree which not only threatened and exposed the shaman’s operation, but very likely wrought havoc in it. God IS greater, and the enemy knows it.

THE PERSPECTIVE
A corner has been turned. An article by George Melloan in May 20th’s Wall Street Journal began with these words:
“ Germany and Japan, according to first-quarter GDP numbers made public last week, are teetering on the brink of recession. In once-vibrant Hong Kong, hotels are nearly empty as SARS fears smother Asian travel. Two shattered Latin economies, Argentina and Venezuela, are victims of gross political mismanagement. In short, the global economy is in a rather sad state.”

A corner has indeed been turned. It is a time in which, the Body needs to be mobilizing, working together in unity and giving priority to the role of the Church in standing along side of Israel. And in standing along side of Israel, there is a central need to identify with and support our Messianic Jewish brethren, who will be at the forefront of reestablishing Jewish identity within today’s largely secular Jewish community, who just want to be like everyone else. But they’re not. They are chosen. God’s chosen.

Segments of the Church that emphasize the Jewish roots of our faith and support Israel will flourish, while replacement theology adherents will flounder. A corner has been turned and there is a clash of civilizations emerging around us. These are serious and sobering times. It’s a time to avoid playing church, and to be genuinely about His business and agendas. It is a time to grasp and to act on the Issachar anointing, “to understand the times and know what to do.”

Scripture tells us that in the time of the end, men’s hearts will fail for fear. The reason terrorists are called by this name is because their goal is to promote terror and fear. Along with poverty and religious perversion, fear is a mark of the alliance between mammon and sorcery.

Terror and fear and deceit are the means by which the enemy makes his attempts to dominate and control. There will be much opportunity to respond to fear in the days we are entering. But the choice is not unlike that faced in the days of Moses by the Israeli scouts who were sent in to spy out the promised land. The right choice is in believing and acting on “the Lord’s report.” The right choice is in understanding the corner that has been turned and operating boldly but wisely in the authority entrusted to us as believers in standing against the evil one’s wicked schemes.

And the perspective in facing these issues and times is from Luke 10:19:
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

We have authority over the devil’s power. That’s significant, because there is no place in Scripture that indicates the devil has authority over believers. He doesn’t – but he tries to usurp it through fear and deception.

But the New King James Version’s rendering of the word TRAMPLE in this familiar passage offers additional perspective. We have AUTHORITY to TRAMPLE over ALL the power of the enemy!

While the enemy may be coming in like a flood, the Lord is raising up a standard against him. We are approaching the time referred to in Scripture as when all Israel will be saved. We are entering a time in which God’s people are going to be reclaiming the dominion God originally intended. God is on His throne and judgment is coming to those whose quest has been rebelling against the Lord, exalting themselves and attempting to eliminate His people.

Jeremiah 50:14-31 "Put yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the LORD. Shout against her all around; she has given her hand, her foundations have fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of the LORD. .... A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. How the hammer of the whole earth has been cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations! I have laid a snare for you; you have indeed been trapped, O Babylon, and you were not aware; you have been found and also caught, because you have contended against the Lord. The LORD has opened His armory, and has brought out the weapons of His indignation; for this is the work of the Lord God of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. ... Woe to them! For their day has come, the time of their punishment. .... Declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God.”