Matthew 4:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

 

The year was A.D. 43, ten years after the Crucifixion of Christ. The early Church was growing and spreading all throughout the Roman Empire. We know this area as the Middle East today. It consisted of the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and what we now know as Europe.

 

In those days, the people had no knowledge of any other part of the world, so when we read in the Scriptures passages about “all the world” it is referring to the Roman Empire. The example at hand is Acts 11:27-28 And in these days came Prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great drought throughout all the world: Which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

 

We must remember that prior to Christ's coming, the Lord spoke to His people through the Prophets. The Holy Spirit would visit the Prophets and give them Messages for God’s people. There were two types of Messages: Foretelling and Forthtelling. They are by no means the same.

 

Foretelling is a Word from the Spirit in regard to something that would happen in the future. Forthtelling is a Word from the Spirit that brought confirmation, edification, encouragement, and/or comfort to the people of God. Words and Messages of Prophecy are intended for the whole Body of Believers, NOT an individual person. The title and Office of the Prophet are widely misused in the Church today but that is a subject for another time.

 

The fact is, Agabus stood before the Church and gave a Foretelling Prophecy that would impact all the world. The Spirit of God used him to warn the people of an upcoming drought that would affect the people throughout the entire Roman Empire. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great drought throughout all the world: Again, this pertained to all the world they knew of at that time which was the Roman Empire.

 

Luke wrote of the response of the Body of Christ in Antioch upon hearing this Prophecy. Then the Disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea. (Acts 11:29) They all gave according to their means. No one gave beyond what they were able to give and no one gave to receive something in return from God.

 

The Word of the upcoming drought and famine came to them from the Spirit of God through the mouth of the Prophet. The people heard the Word, believed the Word, and acted upon the Word. They had faith in the Word of God spoken through the Prophet of God. They believed that drought and famine were coming so they pulled together and helped each other in advance. They all gave what they could and sent the offering to the Church in Jerusalem by way of Barnabas and Saul. Which also they did, and sent it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:30) The Prophecy did indeed come to pass approximately one year later in the year A.D. 44.

 

The Word of God tells us that drought and famine are coming. And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My Name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8) Hear the Word of the Lord.

 

 

God is about to……….turn the tide

 

I pray we are all ready,         Doreen

 

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