Consumed with Zeal: Transforming Hearts, Churches, and Nations – Mike Bickle
Forerunners Proclaiming the Coming of Jesus
Forerunners Proclaiming the Coming of Jesus
I. Introduction
A. In my opinion, we are in the early days of the generation in which Jesus will return. I believe that there are people alive today who will see the return of Jesus. It may be the 20-year-olds or it could be the 2-year-olds who see His return. I do not know. No one can know this with certainty.
B. The Lord will raise up forerunners in the generation in which He returns. What is a forerunner? Forerunners proclaim the coming of the Lord and the unique events directly related to it.
C. Isaiah prophesied about end-time forerunners who would prepare people by lifting a “banner message” to the ends of the earth that declares the full manifestation of Jesus’ salvation.
10Prepare the way for the people…lift up a banner for the peoples [the nations]! Indeed the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the world: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salvation is coming; behold, His reward is with Him…’” (Isa. 62:10-11)
D. The angel Gabriel prophesied that John the Baptist would be a forerunner who would prepare people to receive Jesus at His first coming (Lk. 1:11-19; Jn. 1:23; Isa. 40:3).
17It is he [John the Baptist] who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah…so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Lk. 1:17, NAS)
E. John prepared the people by ministering as a prophet and also as an evangelist, calling many to come to Jesus. He announced Jesus’ coming, while winning souls to the kingdom and making disciples by teaching them to pray, fast, and live righteously (Mt. 9:14; Lk. 3:3-18; 11:1).
F. The apostles went into various cities before Jesus in order to proclaim His coming.
52[Jesus]…sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. (Lk. 9:52)
G. John the Baptist and the apostles were first-century forerunners who prepared people to receive from Jesus. When we look at the first-century forerunners, it gives us insight into the life and role of forerunners in the end times. Just as the first-century forerunners proclaimed the first coming of Jesus ahead of time, so also the end-time forerunners will proclaim the second coming of Jesus ahead of time.
H. God is beginning to prepare forerunners from many different streams in the Body of Christ worldwide. These forerunners will function in many different ways. They include those called as evangelists, pastors, teachers, media missionaries, artists, singers, musicians, actors, writers, and those in the marketplace. Many will focus on making disciples by leading small groups in their church, university, or workplace. Some homeschooling moms are effective forerunners, teaching their children about Jesus’ second coming and its implications. The forerunner ministry is not reserved for some elite group—it is a calling available to any who are willing to prepare for it.
II. Jesus’ earthy ministry: in two time frames
A. To understand the fullness of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we must consider the two time frames that are related to His first and second comings. Jesus’ earthly ministry includes both time frames. There is a dynamic continuity between them. Therefore, we must not see these as separate realities, but rather as the same power of Jesus being manifest in two different time periods.
B. The first time frame started with His 3½ year ministry and extends through all church history. The second time frame starts with the unique events occurring during the 3½ years before His coming and extending through the Millennium referred to as the Day of the Lord.
C. The greatest miracles in Jesus’ earthly ministry will be released through His Church during the final 3½ years of this age, when He releases signs and wonders against the Antichrist that are similar to those He released through Moses (Mic. 7:15; Jn. 14:12).
15As in the days when you came out of…Egypt, I will show them wonders. (Mic. 7:15)
12The works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do… (Jn. 14:12)
D. Jesus referred to the days just before His coming as “the days” of the Son of Man (Lk. 17:26) because of the unique demonstrations of power that will be beyond any time in church history.
26As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man… 30Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (Lk. 17:26-30)
E. The victory that Jesus accomplished at His first coming will be fully manifest in all the nations in the unique events related to His second coming. At His first coming, He paid the price for our sin and sickness, defeated Satan, and released the power of the Spirit in and through His people, so that they might live in victory over sin and make a dynamic impact on the nations in this age.
F. At His second coming, He takes it all a step further by openly manifesting the fullness of His victory in every sphere of life in the Millennium. Imagine the power that He will exert as He raises every believer from the dead, casts Satan into prison, fully transforms every area of society, and removes the curse of sin from creation by restoring all things, including the animals, atmosphere, and agriculture. These are aspects of Jesus’ earthly ministry in the Millennium.
G. Some only focus on the benefits of Jesus’ first coming as it relates to His power being manifest over the last 2,000 years of church history. Others focus on the benefits of Jesus’ first coming as it relates to the events of His second coming. These two periods are joined together as one reality in God’s greater purposes. We must proclaim the whole counsel of God, which includes His saving power being manifest on earth in both time frames (Acts 5:20; 20:20, 27).
H. Simply defined, the forerunner ministry announces the coming of the Lord and prepares the unprepared to receive the future ministry of Jesus in the midst of the unique dynamics of the end times, while also functioning in the power of the Spirit to release the present ministry of Jesus.
III. Forerunners Live in Two Time Frames
A. Forerunners live both in the now and in the future. They press into the kingdom in the now, while preparing for the future dynamics occurring just before Jesus returns. They see the significance of the years leading up to His return, at which time unique dynamics, both positive and negative, will occur. These will include the greatest outpouring of the Spirit in history, one that will surpass the book of Acts. It will include Satan’s most intense rage against the human race and God’s most severe judgments being poured out against the Antichrist’s empire.
B. We do not need to choose between now and then. It is our inheritance to walk in the fullness of what God intended for both time frames. End-time forerunners announce the second coming of Jesus while they win the lost, heal the sick, and make disciples.
C. Forerunners emphasize the unique events related to Jesus’ second coming. At the same time, they proclaim the benefits of His first coming, as they win the lost, heal the sick, help the poor, and walk in love and holiness.
D. Noah is an example of a forerunner who lived in two time frames, seeking to live in the fullness of God’s purposes in the now, while preparing for the fullness of God’s purpose in the future. He poured himself out in preaching to unbelievers in the now, while he was preparing an ark for a future storm that would not occur for many decades (Heb. 11:7; Mt. 24:37; 2 Pet. 2:5).
37But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Mt. 24:37)
IV. Forerunners Prepare the Unprepared
A. Not all feel called to emphasize Jesus’ second coming and the events related to it. Those who do must prepare by gaining understanding of what the Scripture says about the end times. Forerunners proclaim from the Scripture what will happen before it occurs, including the end-time revival, judgment, deception, and persecution. Forerunners prepare people to respond rightly to Jesus by giving them understanding of His end-time plans, so that they will be able to agree with what He is doing in that hour, instead of resisting it.
B. Forerunners prepare the unprepared by informing them that Jesus is returning to the earth as the King of kings and specifically by changing their expectation and interpretation of the unique events related to His coming.
C. If people lack understanding of what is happening in the end times, they will be more likely to yield to fear, offense, confusion, compromise, and deception. Their ignorance of what the Scripture says about the events occurring in that hour will cause them to make wrong decisions.
D. As intense events unfold, many will lose their perspective and objectivity in seeing God’s love and wisdom. People will need to see what is happening from a biblical perspective and to understand the events as an expression of God’s love and wisdom. Forerunners will bring this understanding of God’s love to the context of the unique end-time events.
V. Forerunners Bring Understanding of the Judgment of God
A. The purpose of God’s judgments against the Antichrist’s empire is to remove all that hinders love. Those who misunderstand God’s judgments will be offended and angry with Him. One thing that forerunners do is to help people understand Jesus’ love in the midst of His judgments.
B. It is not enough to make known the fact that God’s judgments will be against the Antichrist’s empire. We must give the reason for them. We give the why behind the what.
C. God’s judgments will deliver the oppressed and stop oppressors. Think of the implications of a God who would not intervene to stop oppressors. Think of a father who would not intervene to prevent a man harming his children. God’s judgments are an expression of His love for His children. In the midst of His judgments, God offers mercy to the oppressors if they will repent and receive it. The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness through judgment (Isa. 26:9).
VI. Forerunners Prepare Themselves in the Word
A. Forerunners prepare themselves by going deep in God through studying the Word in the context of prayer with fasting, ministering to people, and learning to operate in the gifts of the Spirit.
B. Forerunners must grow in their understanding of the Scripture. There are over 150 chapters in the Bible that focus on Jesus’ second coming and the events associated with it. In comparison, the four gospels that give us a record of Jesus’ ministry at His first coming total 89 chapters. The gospels focus on Jesus’ ministry that redeemed us from our sins. The 150 chapters on the end times focus on His ministry when He will fully manifest His rule over all the nations.
C. Many of God's people neglect these 150 chapters without considering that they come from the same Bible, reveal the same Jesus, and manifest the same power of the Spirit as the gospels.
For free notes on the “150 chapters on the end times,” see www.MikeBickle.org.
For free notes on the “150 chapters on the end times,” see www.MikeBickle.org.
D. Forerunners will take time to gain understanding of what the Scriptures say about the end times so that they may declare it to others (Isa. 62:10-12; Jer. 23:20; 30:24; Dan. 11:33-35; 12:9-10; Joel 2:28-29; Mal. 4:5-6; Mt. 17:11; Acts 2:17-21; Rev. 11:3-6; 13:18).
E. Jeremiah prophesied that in the last days God would give His people a supernatural understanding to perceive His loving purposes in sending His judgments (Jer. 23:20).
20The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly. (Jer. 23:20)
F. Jeremiah went on to prophesy that God’s messengers (forerunners) would consider, or search out, the Word to gain understanding of God’s heart behind His end-time judgments (Jer. 30:24).
24The anger of the LORD will not return until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will consider [search out] it. (Jer. 30:24)
VII. preparing for Partnership with Jesus Now and Then
A. Some spend time preparing to engage in partnership with Jesus now with no thought of preparing for partnership with Him in the uniqueness of the end-time events. Their rationale is that we do not need to prepare because Jesus will just take care of things then. There is a contradiction in this mindset. They correctly see the need to prepare to walk in ministry partnership with Jesus now to change the world. However, they are wrong in thinking that we do not need to prepare for an even greater measure of ministry partnership with Jesus in the years just before He returns.
B. Jesus desires partnership with His Bride in every stage of His work in this age and the age to come, especially in the world-changing events that will occur just before He returns. As He heals the sick and stops oppressors through the prayers of the saints now, He will do the same then.
C. We must be as intentional about preparing to partner with Jesus in the end times as we are now. The unique dynamics and the intensity of life at that time will require deeper understanding.
VIII. Praying for mercy and not to release God’s Judgment in this Hour
A. The end-time saints will proclaim and pray for God to rescue the oppressed by destroying the Antichrist’s evil empire. As Moses prayed to release God’s judgments against a reprobate Pharaoh (Ex. 7-12), so the saints will pray for judgment against the Antichrist’s evil empire.
B. The only time the saints pray for the release of judgment against the Antichrist’s empire is in the final 3½ years of this age. God’s judgments will be focused on the Antichrist’s reprobate empire. Reprobate people are so hardened in their hatred of God that they have no desire to repent.
C. In this age, the saints are not to pray for judgment against ungodly nations. We are to cry out for God’s mercy to triumph over judgment in the midst of ungodly nations as we pray for their salvation and deliverance. At this time, we do not pray to release God’s judgment, but to stop it.
IX. The End-time Hope for All the Nations
A. The return of Jesus is called the blessed hope (Titus 2:13). The earth will not come to an end. Rather, Satan’s kingdom on earth will end. The devil will be thrown into prison and all evil laws and leaders will be replaced by righteous ones (Rev. 20). This is the greatest hope imaginable for our future. Jesus will come in person to rule all nations. The nations will enjoy an open heaven with unprecedented prosperity and righteousness as the land, water, and atmosphere are cleansed and the conditions of Eden fill the earth (Isa. 11:6-9; 35:1-8; 51:3; Ezek. 34:29; 36:35; 47:6-12).
B. The Church will experience great advancements of God’s kingdom before Jesus returns, but it will increase even more dramatically after His return. There is a dynamic continuity between our labors and victories before He returns and the victories that He will establish after He returns. Jesus comes to bring to maturity the work that the Church has been involved in for 2,000 years.
X. Jesus Commanded His People to Know the Generation
A. Jesus commanded one generation of believers to know that His return was near. The generation that would be alive to “see all these things” (the signs that Jesus prophesied of in Matthew 24) was to know that His return was near.
33When you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors… 34This generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place… 36“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Mt. 24:33-36)
B. No one can know the day or hour of Jesus’ return, yet it is possible for those who are alive in the generation of His return to observe the biblical signs and know that they are the final generation.
C. My opinion that we are in that generation is based on observation of the biblical signs, not on personal revelations. We must insist that our faith be based on what the Bible says, not on personal revelations about the timing of His return.
D. A generation in Scripture ranges anywhere from 40 to 100 years (Gen. 15:13-16; Num. 32:13; Ps. 90:10; Mt. 1:17; Acts 7:6). Moses spoke of Israel’s captivity in Egypt as lasting 400 years or four generations (Gen. 15:13). Thus, a generation could refer to 100 years.
13Your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs…and they will afflict them four hundred years… 16But in the fourth generation they shall return here… (Gen. 15:13-16)
E. Those who are alive in the generation of His return are commanded to recognize it. The point is that only when we know it is drawing near, can we look up to see our redemption drawing near.
25There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations… 26men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth… 28Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. (Lk. 21:25-28)
F. Jesus connected the timing of His return to specific events and trends. There are sign events and sign trends predicted in Scripture that alert us to the timing of Jesus’ return. As these trends accelerate at the same time, on a global level, making headline news, we are to understand that we are in a unique season in history, leading to Jesus’ return.
G. For the first time in history, most of these trends and some of the necessary developments that will lead to the sign events are accelerating at the same time, and on a global basis.
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