The Man of Lawlessness? - MERCY MAGNIFIED

The Man of Lawlessness?

7/28/2016

Plain as day. Dark as night. I have been meaning to blog for several weeks now...and my uneasy spirit has been further stirred by early-morning whispers from the Lord. Three, to be exact.

Around 4:00 am on 27 of May I awakened from a sound sleep with a simple, silent phrase spoken to my heart:

"The Man of Lawlessness"

While we were in Albania I was awakened a second time (July 9) in a similar fashion. This time the phrase:

"Author of Confusion"

burned into my consciousness until I was awake once again.

Finally, on the morning of 17 July I was roused with:

"Stern Countenance"

The third incident startled me, since a vivid image accompanied the spoken words. I found myself staring (eyes closed) at a close up of the president's face. A strand of saliva dripped from his mouth down his chin.

I realized it was time to take these warnings a bit more seriously. I recognized that the words I had been given made reference to the anti-Christ. They come straight out of Scripture (2 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians and Daniel 8). I decided to look to the Hebrew and Greek for clarification...

'lawlessness' - from the Greek 'apoleia' - meaning ruin, destruction, pernicious (destructive, injurious), waste

'confusion' - from the Greek 'akatastasia' - meaning instability, disorder, commotion, confusion, tumult

'stern' (or fierce) - from the Hebrew 'az' - meaning vehement, harsh, power, strong, greedy

I am hesitant to draw any definite conclusions about what the Lord is saying, although I have strong impressions. Those impressions were dramatically reinforced this morning when I awakened and read an excerpt from the president's speech at the Democratic National Convention last night. He spoke in reference to the Republican presidential candidate, but my gut tells me his words carry a deeper, far more sinister message:

"Our power does not come from some self-declared Savior
promising that He alone can restore order,
as long as we do things His way.
We don't look to be ruled.
Our power comes from those declarations first put to paper
right here in Philadelphia all those years ago.
That we the people can form a more perfect union.
That's who we are.
That's our birthright.
The propensity to
SHAPE OUR OWN DESTINY."
(caps not in transcript, used for emphasis)

Could it be that the Man of Lawlessness,
the Author of Confusion,
the Man of Fierce Countenance
has just removed his mask?

Rick

7/28/2016 05:36:37 am

Ann, the CAPS you include for "savior" and "he" are not in the transcript of the speech--those words are in lowercase in the transcript. Obama was clearly referring to Trump when he used those terms, not God. Also, no disrespect intended, but I've always been curious about how someone knows God is talking to them as opposed to simply having a dream that's been influenced by our waking thoughts or beliefs. The images that come to me for Obama are "Man of Dignity", "Author of Progress", "Compassionate Countenance".

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Anne

7/29/2016 01:57:29 am

Hi Rick, thank you for pointing out my neglect to note the CAPS added for emphasis. I have edited the blog accordingly. In regard to your question about how to discern when God is speaking, as opposed to 'having a dream that is influenced by our waking thoughts or beliefs', I will try my best to answer. You probably noticed I mentioned my hesitance to 'draw any definite conclusions.'
Though I share my thoughts, I believe that people need to seek the truth for themselves...not form opinions based on what others believe.

When Henry and I were first married I was a mess. I was plagued by guilt from having been divorced from my first husband five years earlier. A well-meaning pastor told me during a counseling session that I would 'risk losing my salvation' if I divorced my husband and chose to remarry someday. I believed him. My marriage was a wreck and my husband refused to get help, so I divorced him in spite of the dreadful warning. I had a nervous breakdown, followed by debilitating panic attacks, which continued for five years while I was a single mom and well after Henry and I were married. I believed I was doomed to hell because of my choice to divorce and remarry.

About five years into our marriage I was driving home after dropping the kids off at school. I turned on the radio. A world renowned Bible teacher named Kay Arthur was telling her story. As she spoke a veil began to lift for me. Her life had been much like mine...she had suffered a disastrous marriage, had two small children and chose divorce. Her life was a mess...then her ex-husband committed suicide. She was devastated and the guilt was too much. She literally dropped to the floor and prayed, asking God to forgive her for the mess she had made of her life. She asked Him to take over and redeem the mess she had made...Now a grandmother, she travels all over the world teaching others how to study the Bible for themselves.

When I heard about her life I realized that the well-meaning pastor who had counseled me was wrong. I was NOT doomed to hell because I had remarried. For the first time since my divorce I realized I could be FORGIVEN. I HAD HOPE!

When I got home I went into our bedroom and lay down, sobbing with relief. I thanked the Lord for dying so I could be forgiven and I told Him the rest of my life belonged to Him.

At first I was livid with the pastor who had misled me, then I realized that 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.' The fear I had actually softened my heart for surrender to Jesus.

From then on I had a ravenous hunger to read the Bible...I wanted to KNOW what it said...I didn't want to be vulnerable to the consequences of bad teaching/misinformation. Every morning, after the kids were at school and Henry was at the office I opened my Bible and began to read/study/memorize. The panic ebbed and my faith grew. For the past twenty years I have taught Bible classes, determined that no one should suffer as I had because of ignorance.

I know this is a long-winded answer to your question, but it is years of study and prayer that have helped me KNOW the Lord in a personal way and recognize when He is speaking. Jesus told His disciples: "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me." He promised that His sheep would recognize His voice. Still, Paul cautioned all believers to 'test' what we hear, measuring it by the Scriptures, because of the potential for deception.

When I awoke with the phrases during the past eight weeks, I recognized that they had sprung right out of the Word. (2 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians and Daniel). The only book I had read recently was Daniel, so I knew something unusual was going on. In fact, though I recognized them, I had to use my concordance to determine where the first and second passages were located in the Scriptures.

Jesus promised He would send the Holy Spirit, to be our 'Teacher.' The Spirit takes the Word He has planted in our hearts through study and meditation and uses it to speak to us. He knows we are most receptive in the wee hours of the morning when we are rested and peaceful. Through prayer, study and conversation with other followers of Jesus His Word is confirmed.

Rick, I hope this helps!
Love you guys!
Anne

Reply

Rick

7/29/2016 04:33:49 am

Thanks, Anne, for your detailed and honest response!

Mary Reitzug

7/28/2016 06:48:19 am

Anne, you are becoming increasingly disturbing. I guess if you stay in Scotland, you won't have to worry about any of the political issues going on over here. That's all I have to say, except "Long live Hillary and the Democratic party!!"

Reply

Anne

7/29/2016 02:08:53 am

Mary, I understand that my reflections are disturbing...and though we live outside the U.S. the situation effects us deeply. We have grave concerns about the implications for our family and the future of the nation. I hope we are wrong...
Love you,
Anne

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