A Word for 2024
Prelude to the Word
I believe in prophets for today’s church. Of course, it’s biblical, but I also experienced it during my early ministry as an evangelist and a prophet and over the past forty years, prophesying in churches and conferences worldwide. I have also received some very accurate prophecies from many prophets. So, I write the following with much sobriety, love for Christ and his Church, and hopefully with humility.
From my observations and extensive study, I find no basis for present-day ‘national prophets’ similar to those in the Old Testament. At the time, Israel was a theocracy, the only nation under a monotheistic God. But under the New Covenant, God’s sovereignty extends over every nation on this globe, whether they recognize it or not. I confess that as an amillennialistic, I don’t believe that a Christian theocracy will exist until after the consummation of Christ and His bride.
In Matthew 16:3, Jesus tells the Pharisees and Sadducees “…you know how to discern the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” 1 Chronicles 12:32 says the sons (children) of Issachar not only discerned the times, they knew what to do. The tribe had contextual knowledge of the times and seasons of God by discerning the spiritual climate, culture, economics, and more. For example, Hudson Taylor was called to the apostolic mission of Matthew 28:18-22. To win thousands to Christ in China, Taylor discerned and contextualized his entire methodology without changing the gospel message.
Now, I am not so bodacious as to declare the following as a prophetic word, but it is in my purview an Issacharian word; a discerning of the times.
Confluence
With the above explanation, my Word for 2024 is a sort of confluence in the context of what I know, see, sense, and hear from a heavenly and earthly perspective.
What I Know
First, from my earthly, realistic Issacharian perspective, 2024 will progressively look more like George Orwell’s 1984 book: a portrait of a dystopian world. My father gave me the book to read when I was a nineteen-year-old iron worker on the Verrazano Bridge in New York. 1984 exposes progressive totalitarianism. It shows how repressive governments use propaganda, surveillance, disinformation, denial of truth (double-think), manipulation and erasing recorded history in books and tearing down statues. All suppressive governments do this. This has been and is happening now across many nations and greatly affects Christian life within these nations. Christians worldwide are going through terrible and extremely turbulent times.
Watch Your Back!
If that’s not enough Pentecostals and charismatics will be under accusations of heresy by ardent dispensationalists renouncing the nine power gifts of the Holy Spirit: talking in tongues, deliverance, healing, prophecy, being slain in the spirit, and other ecstatic expressions. Also denouncing apostles.
Now, that’s not new; what is new is some ardent dispensationalists have developed conspiracy theories labeling all charismatic ministers as dominionists – and that a few of these are to blame for inciting the crowd to charge into the U.S. Capital Building on January 6, 2021. They further conflate the Seven Mountains teachings with the theology of dominionism as well as replacing Jesus with Trump, as some charismatic leaders do. I find that an amazingly preposterous assumption.
Now, all, or at least most, charismatic leaders are being defined as conspirators trying to take governmental dominion over the United States by establishing a Christian national theocracy. Yet when you add up the Christian sects that were at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, Baptists and evangelical fundamentalists plus Catholics and Christians from other denominations they by far outnumber the charismatics!
I see this as a time when dispensationalists and continueationists must realize that there are common external forces set against both and NOW is the time for us to stand together against the oppressors of the voice of the Church and against whatever is evil and sinful. We must stand for peace and love expressed by scriptures and be led by the Holy Spirit!
What’s Happening to Christians Worldwide
Presently, Christians of any type are the most attacked and persecuted people in the world. So-called ‘free nations’ are legislating against Christians speaking out about biblical beliefs. In northern Nigeria and India, Christians are being tortured and murdered. We all know Israel is under attack and antisemitism has skyrocketed worldwide. The liberal, leftist, and tyrannical agendas are being forced upon every Christian.
Where Are We Going
Despite the attacks from the secular anti-Christ people and the ‘Christian’ anti-charismatics and vehement dispensationalists, the charismatic movement is growing throughout the world. The Charismatic movement is expanding and charismatic churches are arising!
This coming year will experience revivals preaching repentance and mass evangelism among young adults throughout the globe. Apostolic-type churches reaching young adults and developing compassionate and evangelistic missions in their localities will have expansive growth.
This is already happening in Africa, Mexico, Central and South America, and Asia. Apostolic leaders from those countries are planting churches in Europe, America, and Australia. The ten largest churches in Europe are led by apostolic leaders from Africa. This is now emerging within America, Australia, and soon Canada.
The Charismatic Movement is Growing in America
The hundred fastest-growing churches in North America last year, whose majority membership was made up of 20- 40-year-olds, were Charismatic. They are led by apostolic-type leaders with a strong emphasis on the centrality of Christ, displaying the love of Christ with the development of a plethora of compassionate missions, and preaching/ teaching the scriptures have the answers to all of life’s issues. Plus, they are seen as a blessing to the community.
Most of their shepherds are in their 30’s and 50’s Praise the Lord! There are also some Pentecostals within the illegal migration coming across the American border who are integrating into Hispanic established churches as well as planting Pentecostal churches in America.
What is God calling us to do?
We must evangelize the lost and disciple the found.
We must Pray and fast for revivals.
We must pray for the peace of Israel (Jer. 23:28).
We must discern the news in the context of Scripture.
We must know what the Word says about life’s issues.
We must Stand Strong together in the battle against principalities and powers opposing His Church.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:10-12 KJV).
Be encouraged – we have Jesus on our side!
See you on the battlefield!
John P. Kelly