The Consequences of Prophecy-
The Humble Wife Who Received a Five Fold Blessing

While many people are excited about the concept of receiving a double portion of anointings for their faithfulness, He desires to bless us even more greatly. Cursed with barrenness and taunted by her romantic rival, a desperate woman turned to G3D and was showered with more gifts than she ever dreamed of, but at the cost of her greatest treasure.

Hannah is introduced during the time of the Judges. There was no centralized government at the time and Israel was just a loose association of confederated tribes, which only banded together during military emergencies. This lack of unity unfortunately blended into families and households as well.

Hannah is the wife of Elkanah, but she is not his only wife.

Elkanah has a second wife named Peninnah, and she has birthed multiple children for her husband already, which gives her great pride and status over the barren Hannah. Peninnah would torture and mock Hannah for her lack of children, provoking her severely and making her miserable every opportunity she had.

It is implied, because she is listed first amongst Elkanah’s wives, that Hannah was Elkanah’s first wife, but it is quite clear that he loves and favors Hannah despite having no children by her. When making the yearly trip to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord, Elkanah would give portions to Peninnah and to her sons and daughters, but Hannah would receive a double portion because of his devotion to his adored wife.

Nevertheless this double portion from her husband could not be enjoyed.

Whenever the family went up to Shiloh to offer sacrifices at the Tabernacle, Peninnah would torment Hannah so intensely that, Hannah could not eat the double portion that her husband had especially set aside for her because she was so overcome with grief and wept with an intensity that shook her soul.

Elkanah saw the distress his beloved wife was experiencing and asked why she wailed with such great sorrow and refused to eat the double portion that he set aside to display his favor for her. He asked “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” failing to understand why she mourned.

After the rest of the family finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah went to pray at the entrance of the Tabernacle, where Eli the High Priest sat watching the festivities of the yearly pilgrimage.

Hannah was filled with bitterness in her soul, weeping in anguish, as she prayed to G3D. She made a vow, “O Lord of Hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give me a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head”.

Eli, the High Priest, watched Hannah as she prayed to the Lord, and noticed that her lips were moving but she was not saying anything aloud. He didn’t realize that she was praying within her heart so her voice was not heard, and confronted Hannah, thinking that she was intoxicated.

After chastising her, Hannah answered back in tears that she had not had anything to drink, but that she was filled with sorrow in her spirit and was pouring her soul out to the Lord. She was not a wicked drunkard, but was so burdened by her pain and misery that she could not speak till now.

The High Priest was moved by her pain and pitied her, sending her with a blessing: “Go in Peace, and the G3d of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him”.

Rather than continuing in her anguish, she thanked Eli for his sanctifying words and went back to her family and ate and her face was no longer overcome with sadness.

The next day they rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord and returned back to their hometown where Elkanah knew his wife Hannah. The Lord remembered her and she conceived and bore a son whom she called Samuel, because G3d had fulfilled her prayer.

The next year when the family was preparing to visit the Tabernacle at Shiloh to worship, Hannah stayed behind. She planned to finish nursing him before she gave him forever to the Lord.

After Samuel was weaned, Hannah kept her promise and brought him and three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine as sacrifices. After slaughtering the bull, they brought the child to Eli and presented Samuel as a lifelong servant to G3D.

Hannah continued to care for her son after presenting him at the Tabernacle, bringing him a little robe every year when she came up with her husband Elkanah to perform the yearly sacrifice. Eli repaid Hannah’s faithfulness in bringing Samuel with a blessing that “The Lord give Hannah children for the loan that she gave to the Lord”.

And G3D continued to bless Hannah so that she conceived three additional sons and two daughters.

While Hannah was originally ridiculed by Peninnah for not having any children, Peninnah having at least two sons and two daughters, Hannah may have been blessed with more children ultimately with a total of six children, five of which she was able to raise with her husband. In addition, her first son Samuel became the 13th Judge and one of the great Prophets of Israel.

G3D gave excessive blessings to Hannah because she came to Him with an earnest heart, but more importantly, she kept her vow to give her first born son in service to Him. She desired so greatly to simply be a mother, but this yearning was not greater than her devotion to G3D. For this, He gifted Hannah far more than the double portion of food that her husband gave her, she had five additional children in addition to her legendary son Samuel.

We look forward to receiving greater blessings, but often fail to recognize what we will have to give up in the process in order to obtain them. Hannah wanted to be a mother but it also meant that she would have to give up her first born son. By trusting G3D, she not only gave birth to a righteous and great man, she had five more children to bring her great joy. When we are diligent and faithful to Him, He will not stop short by simply giving a double portion, our blessings are often multiplied many times over.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

The Consequences of Prophecy-
The Wife of the Royal Clothes Keeper & The King Who Tore His Garments

The Prophetic is often filled with surprises that you will typically fail to notice, until someone more experienced points it out to you, like my beloved prophetic wife did for me. When a young king became distraught over a terrifying prophecy and tore his clothes in anguish, the king did not search for his royal clothes keeper, but the wardrobe minister’s wife. Ironically, it was because the king destroyed the beautiful material that her husband was in charge of, that the king and his administration were spared.

Righteous King Josiah is a favorite of Judah’s kings for writers to extol over, and someone who we’ve already previously written about. His fascinating royal lineage, which ran through to King David, and his complete rejection of his father Amon’s administration re-instituting multi-faith worship in the Temple make for dramatic narratives. Even his birth had been prophesied several hundred years previously, foretelling of how he would tear down the graven images his predecessors had erected for idol worship and even go so far as to exterminate the priests and desecrate their graves and even burn their bones on their corrupt altars.

Despite overwhelming religious reforms that he started when he rose to the throne at eight, King Josiah’s major project during his reign was the reconstruction and restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem. Hilkiah the High Priest found a copy of the Book of the Law of the Lord, who passed it along to Shapham, King Josiah’s scribe. When Shapham the Scribe read the book to King Josiah, the king tore his clothes in anguish over what he heard.

His heart was spurned over the sins of his fathers before him and how they had not kept the words that had been written. Even more, King Josiah recognized that the Lord’s Wrath would justly be poured out on them for their failure to maintain their sacred covenant with Him.

Josiah instructed a small detail of five righteous men, possibly symbolically mirroring the five books of the Pentateuch, which was most likely the scroll found, to go inquire of the Lord. This band of holy travelers included Hilkiah the High Priest, Shapham the Scribe and his son Ahikam, Asaiah, one of the king’s servants, and Abdon the son of Micah.

During the time of Josiah’s reign, two prophetic giants were well known in Jerusalem. Jeremiah, who would later be known as the Weeping Prophet after the destruction of The Temple and Jerusalem, but who had been preaching redemption and a returning of the hearts of Israel back to G3D since before Josiah became King. Jeremiah was also suspected of having been an associate of Shapham the Scribe, due to his extensive list of writings. Zephaniah, who was the mentor to Jeremiah, and one of Josiah fiercest supporters for his religious reforms, is thought to have helped shape Josiah’s insistence on making his entire country follow The Covenant, rather than just making it something done by the aristocracy, whom Zephaniah criticized for their adoption of foreign gods, values, and even wardrobes (Zephaniah 1).

But King Josiah’s party did not contact either of these men, but instead sought out a prophetess named Huldah, who was Jeremiah’s relative and the wife of King Josiah’s wardrobe keeper, Shallum.

While we tend to take it for granted that there are many prominent female prophets/prophetesses today, there are only a few listed throughout the Bible. This is not because they were rare or purposefully excluded, but because they tended to spend their time attending to the spiritual affairs of their fellow women. Huldah the Prophetess was in the college, sometimes translated Second Quarter, where she is traditionally said to have taught the women of Jerusalem.

She did not mince words and quite bluntly declared “Thus says the Lord G3D of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the King of Judah, because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger will all the works of their hands. Therefore My Wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched”.

But despite the prophetic declaration of ruin upon the city, there was good news for the young king.

The Prophetess changed her tone as she addressed King Josiah’s men again, “But as for the King of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord G3d of Israel: Concerning the words which you have heard-because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before G3D when you heard His Words against this place and its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you.”

Huldah, ended her prophecy of destruction for Israel, with a one of hope for Josiah, “Surely, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants”.

There is a great sense of irony in the fact that rather than turning to his wardrobe keeper after having torn his royal garments when distressed, Josiah’s men instead turned to Shallum’s wife, Huldah the Prophetess. Further, it is because King Josiah tore his clothes and wept, that G3D chose to hear his prayer from his tender and humble heart. When trouble begins to arise, fools will often turn to the professionals who are filled with human understanding and knowledge, while wise men will instead inquire of the Lord.

Here at PMT, you will sometimes hear Prophet Kent Simpson say “The Gift’s the same, Only the Clothes have changed”. But even thousands of years ago, He wasn’t concerned with the quality or style of our clothes, but the gentleness of a heart turned towards Him. No matter how soft Josiah’s linens, velvets, or silks were, Huldah’s Words from God were an even greater comfort.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

The Consequences of Prophecy-
The Politician Who Hid in the Shadows, but Saw the Light

While the concept of a corrupt self-serving politician is a universal icon, the righteous civil leader seems to be illusive. While Christ was publicly accosted many times by the religious and political heads of the region, one came under the cover of darkness. Rather than attack Jesus, this man wanted to know the secret to Eternal Life, and ended up witnessing the fulfillment of the Prophecy of the Resurrection of the Dead.

After Jesus had cleared the Temple courts of the money changers during the First Passover of His Ministry, He continued to preach and perform signs and many people began to believe in Him (ref. John 2: 13-23). One of these believers was Nicodemus, a Pharisee, who were known for their insistence on setting themselves apart from things and people they considered unclean.

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do apart from the Presence of God.”

Christ understood what question was truly in Nicodemus’ heart and replied “Truly, I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born from above”.

But this puzzled Nicodemus, who answered, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”

Christ clarified, “Truly, I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. You shouldn’t be surprised at my saying ‘You must be born again’. Doesn’t the wind blow wherever it pleases? You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit”.

Nicodemus was still left jumbled, asking “How can this be?”

Jesus challenged him, “You are Israel’s teacher and yet you do not understand these things? We speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you still do not accept our testimony.”

Trying to help Nicodemus understand His frustration, Christ continued, “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; why would you believe if I speak of Heavenly things? No one has ever gone into Heaven except the one who came from Heaven-the Son of Man”.

Alluding to the famous scene in the Wilderness to help explain His Point, Christ explained, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the Wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have Eternal Life in Him”.

Answering Nicodemus’ silent question, Jesus famously quipped “For God so loved the World that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have Eternal Life”.

Challenging the prejudiced views of the powerful Pharisees who thought the Messiah was sent to judge and destroy Israel’s neighbors, Christ followed, “For God did not send His Son into the World to condemn the World, but to save the World through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the Name of God’s one and only Son”.

Recognizing that the Pharisees awaited the Messiah to serve as Judge over the Earth, Christ declared, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the World, but People loved Darkness instead of Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and will not come into the Light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the Truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” (ref. John 3:1-21).

Nicodemus would remember Christ’s words concerning Light and Truth during a future confrontation that Jesus would have with the Pharisees.

Over a year later, during the Fall Festival of Sukkot, Jesus’ signs and wonders had the Jewish worshipers at the Temple wondering if He was a prophet or indeed the long anticipated Messiah. But there was division amongst the crowds which extended to the Chief Priests and Pharisees. They were in a rage and questioned why none of the temple police had arrested Jesus when people started to speculate about who Jesus was.

The guards replied, “No one has ever spoken the way this man does”.

The Pharisees criticized the Temple guards’ inaction, challenging, “You’ve been deceived by him too?! Do any of the rulers or fellow Pharisees believe in him? No! But these fools who know nothing of the Law-there is a spell upon them”.

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus at night during His first Passover, was amongst the Pharisees who heard the guards’ testimony and postulated “Does our Law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

His fellow Pharisees tried to embarrass Nicodemus for the region he grew up in and where the majority of his landholdings were. Galilee was on the northern border of Israel next to their Gentile neighbors and because the land was near non-Jews, people from the region were considered unclean for living so close to Greek and Romans.

“Aren’t you from Galilee, too?” the Pharisees taunted, “Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee”.

But, they were wrong.

Despite their years of learning, their prejudice against outsiders had blinded them to basic Truths. Several prominent prophets had indeed come from Galilee: Micah (ref. Micah 1:1) (from Moresheth-gath, in Galilee), Elijah (ref. I Kings 17:1) (from Gilead), and Jonah (ref. II Kings 14:25 & Joshua 19:13) (from Gath Hepher, also in Galilee).

Though Nicodemus did not side with his fellow Pharisees concerning who Jesus was, Nicodemus did believe in the Resurrection of the Dead, which the Pharisees defended against their rivals the Sadducees, who did not believe in the Resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits (ref. Acts 23: 6-8).

On the final day of the Festival of Sukkot, the Pharisees brought forth a woman caught in adultery. When they tried to trick Jesus into condemning her, Jesus famously replied “Let he who is without sin throw the first stone” after which the crowd of blood-thirsty Pharisees began to leave one at a time, till all had left. After dismissing the woman and telling her to leave her life of sin, Jesus addressed the people, reminding Nicodemus of the conversation they’d had over a year ago.

Christ declared, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life” (John 8:1-12).

It was at this moment that Nicodemus fully confirmed his belief that Jesus was truly the Son of God and the Messiah.

Around five months later, Christ triumphantly rose his friend Lazarus from the grave after four days. The report of Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead, filled the chief priest and Pharisee’s with a greater desire to kill Jesus. But Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead, confirmed Nicodemus’ belief that even if they succeeded in killing Jesus, He would not remain in the grave (John 11; 12:9).

A few weeks later, during the beginning of the Passover Ceremony, Jesus was killed.

After Jesus’s Crucifixion, His Body was taken by Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, who had followed Christ in secret because he feared the Jewish leaders. Nicodemus the Pharisee, who had also believed in Christ in secret, brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds, and they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices, in strips of linen, in accordance with Jewish burial customs at the time, and placed His Body in a new tomb (John 19: 38-42).

Three days later, Nicodemus’s belief was confirmed when “the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people” (ref. Matthew 27:52-53).

While Nicodemus had to conceal his belief in Christ, just like Joseph of Arimathea, he was able to see past the prejudices of his fellow Pharisees and recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. While he remained in the shadows, he saw that Jesus was the Light of the World, and was the first resurrected. As more and more Christians begin to see the Power of God working through His Believers today, we are excited to share in the emergence of those who have shed their previous religious expectations and fully participate in what God is doing prophetically in this Age.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

The Consequences of Prophecy-
The Priest Who Lost His Voice for His Lack of Faith

It is often taken for granted that those who are deeply involved in church affairs, through ministering within churches or even holding high respected public positions, should have incredible amounts of Faith. But Zechariah the Priest, the future father of John the Baptist, doubted the prophecy delivered to him by Archangel Gabriel, inside the Temple. Despite being described as a righteous man, for his doubt, he was punished.

Zechariah had an extremely impressive heritage. Both he and his wife Elizabeth were from the priestly class of Aaron and were described as blameless in observing the commandments and ordinances of God. Though they were seen as honorable people, they had not been blessed with any children because Elizabeth was barren and were both well advanced in years (ref. Luke 1:5-7).

Zechariah, due to his priestly bloodline, was required to show up for ministerial service twice a year with the other members of his family line (the course of Abijah), and three additional times during Sukkot, Passover, & Pentecost with the entire priest class. Our previous article “The Voice Crying in the Wilderness” goes into further detail concerning when Zechariah served and how the rotating calendar can narrow the date of John the Baptist’s birth.

During his family tribes’ rotation week, Zechariah was chosen by lots to perform the incense offering in the Temple of the Lord. While Zechariah was ministering, within the Temple, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the Altar of Incense. Zechariah was rightfully terrified at the angel’s presence, but the angel urged him to not be afraid, for God had heard his prayer for a child. The angel announced that his wife Elizabeth (relative of the future Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus) would bear a son who would be a great joy and delight to his parents, and he was to name the child John.

John would be great in the sight of the Lord and many would rejoice because of his birth. John would not be allowed to have wine or any fermented drink and would be filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born. He would bring back the hearts of many Israelites to return to the Lord their God. He would go before the Lord, in the Spirit and Power of Elijah, to even turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the Wisdom of the Righteous-making the people ready for the Lord” (ref. Luke 1:7-17).

Despite his religious family background, despite his years of service in the Temple, despite previous stories of the patriarchs and matriarchs being able to conceive in advanced ages, despite having an angel appear to him as he was offering incense to the Lord; Zechariah was filed with doubt and unbelief.

Zechariah questioned the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” (ref. Luke 1:18).

The angel revealed himself to be Archangel Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. Because Zechariah had received this message of good news, and did not believe Gabriel’s words, Zechariah would be disciplined by being unable to speak until John was born (ref. Luke 1:19-20).

Those outside the Temple who were waiting for Zechariah became worried that he was inside for so long. When he finally came out, he was unable to speak, but the audience understood that he had had a vision in the Temple (ref. Luke 1:21-22).

Zechariah finished his two weeks of service (course of Abijah + preceding Feast of Weeks), then returned home. Afterwards, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant (ref. Luke 1:23-24).

When Elizabeth finally gave birth, she did indeed have a son, like Gabriel prophesied. Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives celebrated this miracle with her, recognizing that the Lord had shown her mercy. On the eighth day, when the baby was to be circumcised, Elizabeth informed the family that the boy would be named John. When asked what to name the child, Zechariah motioned for a writing tablet and wrote “His Name is John”.

Immediately after this, his mouth was opened and his tongue was set free and he began to speak, praising God. Those who witnessed these signs and miracles were struck with awe and word spread through the region, with people asking what would become of this child who had the Lord’s Hand upon him (ref. Luke 1:57-66)

Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy. His revelations became known as the “Benedictus” or the “Song of Zechariah” (ref. Luke 1:67-79).

Zechariah the Priest was perfectly positioned to eagerly and faithfully accept the prophetic message that Archangel Gabriel gave to him regarding his future son. Not only was Zechariah a part of the priesthood class, but he would have known the stories of the previous Great Men and Women of Faith who were blessed with children in their later years. Zechariah had served in the Temple for years and both he and his wife were considered to be upright and perfect in keeping God’s Commandments and Statutes. Even as he was ministering and offering incense in the Temple and had an angel appear to him, Zechariah’s human side presented itself and he doubted the prophecy he received.

In our modern age, many of our ministers are more highly educated than ever before, often having to earn Masters or Doctorate Degrees in Theology, with years of previous experience, before they are considered to lead even small churches. Some of them even have dissertations focused on aspects of Prophecy, yet, despite all this human learning, when confronted with the Prophetic, they stumble and question God’s Messengers.

Unfortunately for many of these Great Learned Men and Women of God, their disbelief will cost them. Because they have been blessed with higher status, greater positions, and more responsibilities, they should lean on the Lord far more than their own understanding or schooling. In the case of Zechariah the Priest, his voice was taken away for nine months. Modern Pastors and Church leaders have much more examples of God’s Modern Workings than ever before, but their failure to hear His Messages will result in them losing far more.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

The Consequences of Prophecy-
The Prophet that Challenged the Path of an Apostle

While Great Men of God are often given impressive commissions to carry out, their paths must constantly follow the direction of The Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul would carry the Gospel to the known world, but when he tried to return to Jerusalem, he was confronted by a prophet who tried to warn him of consequences of his journey.

Little is known about the life of the Prophet Agabus, but what is written about him shows his profoundly faithful character. He was one of the early followers of Christ and is listed amongst the Seventy Disciples/Apostles whom Jesus commissioned and sent to the towns ahead of Him to declare His Message (ref. Luke 10:1-24). Coptic Orthodox Tradition also states that Agabus was amongst the Apostles who were in the upper room on the day of Pentecost who were infused with the Holy Spirit and given the Gift of Tongues.

Agabus was among a group of prophets who had come down from Jerusalem to meet with the growing congregation at the Church in Antioch. While fellowshipping with his fellow Christians, Agabus stood up and through the Holy Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world which would crush the economy during Emperor Claudius’ reign (ref. Acts 11: 27-28).

When Apostle Paul arrived at Tyre, he and his companions sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. The Holy Spirit moved through theses Brothers and Sisters in Christ who all urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. But Paul was steadfast in his conviction that he should return to the capital city. At the end of seven days, the disciples and their wives and children accompanied Paul out of the city of Tyre and knelt on the beach to pray together before Paul and his travel companions boarded the ship (ref. Acts 21:3-6)

When they later reached Caesarea, they stayed with Philip the Evangelist, one of the Seven Deacons chosen to attend to the ministering of food in the early Church in Jerusalem. Philip had been blessed with four daughters who all prophesied. It’s unknown whether they gave Paul similar prophetic warnings concerning Jerusalem (ref. Acts 21:8-9)

While Paul was staying in Caesarea with Philip the Evangelist and his daughters, Prophet Agabus came down from Judea and confronted the Apostle and put on a prophetic performance, reminiscent of Prophet Jeremiah’s displays, for the group to fully understand what was being revealed. Prophet Agabus took Paul’s belt and tied his own hands and feet with it declaring “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.”

When the audience heard the ominous prophecy, they begged and pleaded with Paul to reconsider his plans to go to Jerusalem.

But he would not be dissuaded.

Paul responded humbly “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Recognizing that Paul was resolved to go no matter what they said, they accepted Paul’s decision and declared “The Lord’s Will be done” (ref. Acts 21: 10-14).

Paul would later be subjected to riot violence, false arrest, was nearly illegally flogged, tried before the Sanhedrin, was the target of an assassination plot, was tried before the governor, tried again by the replacement governor, and finally tried by the King of Judea Herod Agrippa before finally being released after being acquitted.

Though Paul’s path was laid out for him by the Lord, it did not mean that he would never experience any troubles. In fact, Paul was warned at least twice by his fellow Christians through their Spirit provoked pleas for him to not go to Jerusalem. If that was not enough, the prophetic performance by Prophet Agabus before Paul and his companions further drove the point that Paul’s treatment in Jerusalem would be cruel and humiliating.

But Paul’s faith stood strong and he was ready to be imprisoned and even die on behalf of his mission to continue spreading the Gospel.

Perhaps one of the hardest things to distinguish prophetically is the difference between the Spirit warning of punishments for being disobedient, differentiated from the Holy Ghost telling us that there will be pain and suffering while obeying.

At first glance, Prophet Agabus looks to be trying to turn Paul away from Jerusalem, just as his companions in Tyre had done and how the audience in Caesarea similarly reacted to Agabus’ prophecy. But it seems that through his previous experience prophesying the famine, as well as his time associating and learning from his fellow Prophets of Jerusalem, Agabus came to realize that this epic cataclysmic event damaged both believers and heathens alike. When warning Paul of his impending arrest, Agabus recognized that Christ’s Followers were not immune to trials and tribulations, even when following God’s Will. Unlike Paul’s well-meaning companions, Agabus doesn’t insert his personal feelings into what the Holy Spirit is trying to communicate; he simply prophesies what he has been told and performs exactly as he has been shown.

You will constantly hear in our recordings and read in our articles that “it is not enough just to hear God, you also need to know what He means”. Unfortunately that cannot come from simply reading the scriptures, but through an intense relationship with Him, spending time with other mature prophetic people, as well as by experience practicing the gift of prophesying.

When Agabus confronted Apostle Paul, he was not chastising him for going to Jerusalem, he was ensuring that he was mentally and spiritually prepared for the figurative and literal trials he was about to endure. Likewise, many prophesies foretelling of future troubles are not meant to stigmatize you for having been unfaithful or disobedient to God, but are blessings letting you know in advance of the things to come and how you can prepare yourself.

Just as the world has been thrust into chaos as we navigate through this pandemic, we must recognize that it is not necessarily meant as a punishment. Both Believer and Unsaved alike have been affected, just like the famine during Emperor Claudius’ reign. There will be future cataclysms and if we listen to God’s Modern Prophets, we can prepare ourselves materially, mentally, and spiritually for them and come through stronger just as Apostle Paul after his own trials.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator