Dear Intercessors,
This is a little dated but so important as a word of encouragement. Reflections on the prayers for the Trump inauguration will come later as we process that discernment.
The last Discerning the Times blog article regarding the 70 nations gathered at the Paris Peace Conference was part of a global movement of the Holy Spirit inspiring intercession for Israel.
A Call to Intense Intercession
All day Saturday and Sunday (the conference was on Sunday, January 15th), I was caught up in intercession praying for protection for Israel and praying that Satan’s Kingdom would be divided.
It was not until exactly 4:30 am (EST) on Sunday morning that the Holy Spirit lifted from me and I could finally go to sleep.
Visions and Strongholds
During that restless night, I saw images of demonic figures who I suspect were representations of the high level demons at work in the strongholds of Radical Islam as well as in “liberal progressivism” and “reactionary conservatism” all joining forces to implement Satan’s plans for replacement of God’s way of truth, revealed in the Bible and the Torah, and the genocide of Jews and Christians.
It was hideous! It seemed that Gog, Moloch the lawless one, and the Antichrist were all haunting me in waking dreams as I persisted in intercession, praying in tongues. In visions, I saw Satan’s unified front crumbling and Satan’s plans for that assault being confused.
One of Many in a Worldwide Prayer Campaign
It was shortly after this that I was relieved of prayer duty and went to sleep. From the communications I received and reviewed on the internet I realized that I was one of many intercessors called into this engagement in the Holy Spirit’s worldwide prayer campaign.
Praise God!!!! Below is a report from another prayer ministry reporting on the results of our prayers. I was immensely encouraged at the results and the clear indication that intercession matters.
The Significance of 70 Nations
Before getting to that, however, I was puzzled by the apparent fact that 70 nations, many of them Islamic, were gathering at this conference to decide the fate of the Palestinian Authority and Israel – neither of whom were present. What is significant of 70 nations?
I received this email from a Messianic friend:
As I read your email and the linked blog I was a bit rattled by the fact that 70 nations were involved in this conference. My wife and I are taking advantage of the long holiday weekend to visit relatives so we were not in services yesterday morning.
The Rabbi of our new congregation gave a message on the need for intercession about the conference.
The number 70 has significance in Judaism. According to tradition it was 70 nations that accompanied Israel out of Egypt in the Exodus and at Sinai the Ten Commands were uttered in 70 languages.
In the 2nd temple period, members of the Sanhedrin had to know 70 languages.
All of that came rushing to mind as I read the blog. I read it at the breakfast table this morning to my wife, her sister, and my brother in law. She mentioned something about a passage in Revelation that talked about 70 nations coming against Israel.
Then we got a call from a friend of ours at our new congregation: Our Rabbi gave a message yesterday about the conference calling for our congregation to fast and pray concerning it.
I have forwarded your email both to him and to others. Praying for this country and Israel.
So this was an amazing “concert of prayer” with some of the results seen in what is reported below.
Paris Conference Nosedives! Five Significant #Fails
by Ron Cantor — January 17, 2017
On Sunday, representatives of 70 nations gathered in Paris to release a document condemning Israel for building in the areas captured in the Six-Day-War (including the Jewish Quarter of the Old City), and calling for the creation of a Palestinian state and an end to the “occupation.”
There was deep concern from Israel-loving believers around the world that the “kings of the earth” would “rage” (Psalm 2) in their anger at little Israel.
A Third Outrage
This would be the third outrage against Israel in about a month.
First, the United Nations condemned the Jewish nation in December while the United States–who customarily uses its VETO to stop such unjust and lopsided condemnations–chose to teach their ‘friend’ Israel a lesson, and let this condemnation pass.
Then, secondly, in the middle of the Jewish Feast of Hanukkah, a holiday that commemorates the victorious Jewish uprising against her oppressors, a clearly angered and agitated Secretary of State John Kerry unleashed a scathing rebuke on the world’s stage against Israel.
It appeared that this third condemnation involving 70 nations (a biblical number, interestingly enough associated with the idea of ‘all nations’), standing together in unity against Israel would lead to a fourth outrage, which would be a stronger, more aggressive, Obama-backed U.N. condemnation of Israel and, who knows, possibly the recognition of a Palestinian State.
The timing would be unprecedented (although I would like to write unprecedented), as President Obama has just four more days in office and his successor has made it clear that he doesn’t agree with how Obama has treated Israel.
#NotNice! It is very rare that a lame duck president (a president on his way out) would be so aggressive in establishing policy.
While the Paris Conference did release a statement condemning Israel, it was lacking the teeth they had hoped for and it came and went with little fanfare. I am sure that God heard the prayers of His people on this.
Five Things to Know about the Failed Paris Conference
1) There was little unity, as can be expected when you have 70 different delegations. They could not agree on the wording. Therefore, the softer wording won out.
2) John Kerry called up Prime Minister Netanyahu.
After a month of chilly ties between Washington and Jerusalem, Kerry updated Netanyahu about the steps he was taking to “soften” the text of the final communique, which was to be issued by the conference participants later in the day.
3) Not only did Israel refuse to come, but also the Palestinian Authority didn’t even send a delegation. Would Paris just dictate a final decision and email it to the Israelis and Palestinians?
4) Great Britain, in what was seen as a goodwill gesture to the incoming President Trump, refused to even send their Ambassador to France or their Foreign Minister. This was a huge blow to the conference’s momentum.
A Foreign Office statement said:
We have particular reservations about an international conference intended to advance peace between the parties that does not involve them – indeed which is taking place against the wishes of the Israelis – and which is taking place just days before the transition to a new American President when the US will be the ultimate guarantor of any agreement.
There are risks therefore that this conference hardens positions at a time when we need to be encouraging the conditions for peace.
5) And best of all, in his phone call to Netanyahu, Kerry said there would be no additional push in the United Nations before Trump takes the oath. Kerry promised Netanyahu that there would not be any follow-up action to the Paris conference and that Washington would oppose any further political action at the Security Council.
Which only underscores that that was the original plan (or else he could have told him that before the conference).
Continue to Pray That Satan’s Kingdom Would Be Divided and His Plans Blocked
What a great article!
Just to remind everyone: the call to pray was to pray that Satan’s Kingdom would be divided and that his plans would be exposed and blocked.
Praise God this very much seems to have happened.
Praise God!! The global response to this conference confirms that our PRMI stream of intercession was part of a true concert of pray through which the Holy Spirit blocked Satan’s plans and advanced the Father’s Great Commission plans.
In Christ,
Brad Long
With the Discerning the Times Discernment Team
Learn More: Presbyterian-Reformed Ministries International
Yes praise Jesus– may we not become complacent but continue to intercede for Jesus is Lord now & forever!!!! Lois mader
“To God be the glory.” And thanks to Brad and all who felt the call to intercede! The battle is only in “pause” and will need to be continually in our prayers!
Excellent Article Brad. The Paris Summit is a great example of Your teaching in your new books in action.
Praising God for His call to pray and the results of the prayers!
Our little cohort at FTPC in Tukwila will be praising God this Monday night for His faithfulness. Thank you for the report. It’s very encouraging! We are keeping on keeping on. Watching what the LORD is doing on
Israel’s behalf.
Praise the Lord! I had peace about this prayer item fairly early…like it was no worriess it was covered! This confirms it!
B;lessings!
Russ Graff