The Lord has been speaking much to me in the book of Joel, Chapter 2, since the spring of 2002. During the entire month of February 2008, He had me pray daily through the restoration aspects of this chapter and again 40 days prior to the recent elections, both the repentance and restoration verses. One of my favorite Jason Upton songs, Lion of Judah, contains a bridge with the declaration, “Raise up an army like Joel saw.” I have taught this message when ministering in children’s church a number of times over these years, and was led to teach it again this past Sunday as our family ministered at a church in the Cities.

I begin teaching by setting off an enormous alarm clock, as there truly has been an alarm ringing in the spirit since about 2000, and I’ve been particularly tuned into its ringing regarding this generation, this nation, the culture and the direction we have been moving. The ringing is increasing in intensity as we begin to move from a transition season to crossing over (For more on the Joel 2 teaching read,The Unopened Gift, under Identity in Christ on this site.)

When I am in worship, I see the Lord, the Lion of Judah, mighty in battle on a white horse, leading an army of kids and youth who are radical and passionate about Him – He is their hero – and they follow Him wherever He leads them, forcing back the darkness (Ephesians 6:12) and advancing the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. Jesus is their everything and He is who they worship. They live to be in His presence and there is nothing they wouldn’t do for Him because they understand how much He loves them, who they are in the fullness of Him, and they have committed themselves to wholehearted abandonment and obedience to Him and His purposes. Purity and holiness are the very essence of their being because they are the very essence of His being.

This army of love, purity and holiness – a generation (a multigeneration, as the covering and wisdom of the older saints of all ages is very necessary and very much a part of His plan – read Rick Joyner’s, The Torch and the Sword) – takes back this nation for the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is the love of this generation. They carry the heart and will of Heaven because they belong to the Kingdom of God. They are not lured by the normal “stuff” of this culture. As kids and youth they enjoy all that He has blessed them with to use as tools in carrying out His Great Commandment and His Great Commission…but they are not distracted or lured by anyone or anything…they have no idols…their devotion is to the One who has won their hearts. They know and desire His presence 24/7. They are the pure and spotless Bride that He is making ready for His return.

The recent timing and release of The Chronicles of Narnia series (Aslan is on the move again), and One Night with the King (the story of Esther, who was used to rescue her nation) were not coincidental…nothing is in the Kingdom – everything has its perfect time (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Psalm 8:2 is one of my favorite verses for this generation: “You have taught children and nursing infants to give you praise, they silence your enemies who were seeking revenge.” (NLS) “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” (NIV) The Lord sees our children as weapons in His hands; Psalm 127:4-5, “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born of one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.” We are living in what is about to become the most exciting day of the Church…He has been saving the greatest revelation of His glory yet to be released in this generation…His Kingdom come and His will be done here on earth just as it is in Heaven.

Creation has been groaning for the revelation of the sons and daughters of the living God to be revealed…we are living in that generation. What happened to the babies when the Lord brought forth Moses on the earth to be the Deliver of His people? They were killed. What happened to the babies when the Lord sent His Beloved Son to earth to become the Deliver of all mankind? They were killed. What’s been happening to the babies for the past 40+ years; 50 million so far? Abortion…just think about it. Satan knows his time is running short. Again…nothing is coincidental in the Kingdom of God. The fullness of Christ is about to be revealed in a generation of all ages…from the youngest to the oldest…and they will roar with the Lion of Judah as they take back all that the enemy has stolen from the Kingdom of Heaven…beginning with the children and youth that the enemy has been targeting not only through abortion, but through the media machine (Read Ron Luce’s new book, Re-Create), and through our schools and universities. (Read Understanding the Times by David Noebel to see how specific unBiblical worldviews have deliberately infiltrated our educational system.)

It’s time for those who have been hidden in Christ…hidden in the wilderness…to come forth…to be revealed…to arise and shine (Isaiah 60). God is still God, regardless of what anyone in the culture says or does to try to prove otherwise (including the new humanist billboard advertising campaign on our nation’s bus systems just in time for Christmas). The One true, living God still sits on the Throne of the United States of America. He has been preparing His sons and daughters to carry His glory and power (the glory and power He referred to when He said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father,” John 14:12) throughout the earth, and He will reap an abundant harvest through a mighty move of His Spirit and a powerful Joel 2 army who knows their God; who knows the identity that Jesus purchased on their behalf; who knows the voice of the Holy Spirit intimately; who understands that obedience brings blessing and bears much Kingdom fruit.

I want to emphasize that this army is different than any army that’s ever walked the earth before. What’s different about it? It’s an army of worshipers…an army of love that releases the love of the Father through the power of the love of His Son to manifest all of the love and goodness of Heaven here on the earth to a world so desperately in need of salvation, healing, miracles, signs and wonders, provision, protection, freedom, peace, rest, etc… Acts 2:17-21, “‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God say, ‘That I will pour forth of my spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see vision, and your old men shall dream dreams…and it shall be, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” This army will know the Word of God, be filled with His Spirit, will know and obey His voice, and will accomplish great and mighty things in the name of Jesus…the lover of our souls! It’s all about reconciliation…restoring a generation, restoring the Church, restoring families and individual lives, restoring the arts – music, art, dance, writing – restoring the media, etc…it all belongs to the Kingdom of Heaven and a generation is about to take dominion on the earth as the Lord instructed Adam (Genesis 1:28); Jesus Christ came to reconcile intimate relationship between the Father and His children, which also brought reconciliation to the Kingdom of Heaven taking dominion on earth through His people. In His name and in His power it will be reconciled and restored.

For those who regard the final book of the Bible (Revelations) as just an historical account of what transpired during the time of John on the Island of Patmos (there are a number of Christians who believe we are not to add anything to that teaching and that the Bible is just a history book rather than the living Word of God), there is about to be an awakening regarding the truths and unfulfilled contents of its pages (Additionally, I believe much revelation and unfulfilled prophesy will come forth from other books, such as Daniel). Christians who hold endtimes estachological perspectives (Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, etc.) are tuned in to what the Spirit is saying in the midst of these days we are living in. The Lord Himself addressed these times (Matthew 24:6-35; Mark 13:7-31 – also note Joel 2:30-31). Ryan Wyatt’s, The Antidote of Heaven, November 19, 2008, www.elijahlist.com is an excellent article for additional reading and confirmation of what the Lord has been speaking to this generation…the Joel 2 army is about to arise for such a time as this…Glory!