ONETHING CONFERENCE 2017 – MIKE BICKLE

The Lord is Raising Up Messengers: Be a Voice, Not an Echo

I. THE GENERATION OF THE LORD’S RETURN

A. Unique dynamics: The generation of Jesus’ return will have unique dynamics—unprecedented
pressures (darkness) along with an unprecedented outpouring of the Spirit and revival.
2For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will
arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. (Isa. 60:2)
17“…in the last days…I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy…20before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.” (Acts 2:17-20)
11For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it? (Joel 2:11)

B. Scripture highlights one generation much more than any other. God’s plan in the end times and
eternity is the focus in 150 chapters of Scripture —see mikebickle.org/resources/resource/2888.

C. People must understand the biblical narrative of what will happen and why it will happen, or 

they will be left, by default, to embrace a secular narrative which will cause people to be far more
vulnerable to fear, offense, deception, and lust (often in seeking to self-medicate their pain). Only
with the biblical narrative will people process the pressures in a way that helps them grow in love.

D. The message of the kingdom includes forgiveness and walking in God’s power and the reality that a
King is coming from heaven to rule all the nations after He confronts and removes all resistance.
9“They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for 

My name’s sake. 10And then many will be offended…11false prophets will…deceive many…
14This gospel of the kingdom will be preached…to all the nations, and then the end will come...
21There will be great tribulation…22Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be

saved…” (Mt. 24:9-22)

E. The Lord’s “Justice Masterplan” includes an unprecedented outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
sovereignly raising up the Antichrist, and allowing demonic activity and sin to come to fullness 

(to give one generation the unique opportunity to freely chose to mature in love for God or to
pursue the deep things of Satan and sin; Dan. 8:23; Rev. 9:21; 14:18; 17:5; 18:5), resulting in an
unprecedented persecution of the Church and Israel (including the imprisonment and/or martyrdom
of some; Rev. 12-13), an unprecedented release of judgment on the nations (Antichrist’s empire;
Rev. 6-19), an unprecedented destruction of cities with a death toll reaching half of the earth’s
population (Rev. 6:8; 9:15), a great falling away from the faith (2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 

2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:3-5), and a loving but intense divine discipline of the Church and Israel.

F. The Lord’s “Justice Masterplan” will result in a purified Church (Dan. 11:33-35, 12:10; Rev. 19:7), 

a great ingathering of souls (Rev. 7:9), Israel’s national salvation and millennial glory (Isa. 60),
and the earth being filled with God’s glory (Hab. 2:14) including every sphere of society being
filled with love and justice (Isa. 42:4) and the garden-of-Eden conditions restored to nature.
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G. Because Jesus is in control of all things, we know that He will use the negative issues redemptively
and will reward His people abundantly for being faithful to Him and trusting His leadership.

H. Jesus commanded one generation of believers to “know” that His return was near—this command
was for the generation that would be alive when all the signs He prophesied in Matthew 24:5-15
come to pass. The Lord indicated that a generation may last up to 100 years (Gen. 15:13-16). 

The biblical signs of the times include events and trends that are predicted in Scripture. Now, for the
first time in history, most of these are increasing and making headline news on a global level.
33When you see all these things, know that it is near34…this generation will by no means pass
away till all these things take place…36Of that day and hour no one knows… (Mt. 24:33-36)

I. There is power in knowledge. The Lord will raise up “people of understanding” who will make
known to “many” the biblical narrative of the end times (Dan. 11:33; 12:10; cf. Jer. 23:20; 30:24).
33And those of the people who understand [God’s end-time messengers] shall instruct many; 

yet for many days they shall fall [be martyred] by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering…
35to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end… (Dan. 11:33-35)

II. THE FORERUNNER MESSAGE IN ISAIAH 40

A. God is raising up messengers—via speaking, singing, writing, sharing, social media, acting, etc.

B. Isaiah issued a call to the Lord’s messengers to prepare the way of the Lord or to “make straight a
highway of truth” by preparing people spiritually to respond rightly to Jesus’ coming (40:3-5). He
anchored this “messenger mandate” in an end-time context when all nations see God’s glory (40:5).
3The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight…

a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain…brought low; the
crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; 5the glory of the LORD shall
be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together…” (Isa. 40:3-5)

C. John’s forerunner message prepared people by “making it clear” how to walk in agreement with
God’s values and plans. He prepared a “highway” by calling people to repent (to embrace God’s
values; Lk. 3:3-14) and announcing Jesus’ coming (and actions associated with it; Lk. 3:16-17). He
preached a highway of purity (God’s values) and a highway of understanding (God’s plans).
3And he went…preaching a baptism of repentance…4as it is written in…Isaiah…saying… 

“Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight…” 16He will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and fire17…but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire. (Lk. 3:3-4, 16-17)

D. The message includes the truth about humanity in this age—both its enemies and opportunities.
C.T. Studd wrote, “Only one life, t’will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
6The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, and all its
loveliness is like the flower…8The grass withers…but the word of our God stands forever.” 

(Isa. 40:6-8)

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E. A great shift needs to take place in how we define success. We must cast off the “fog of this age”
that defines success only by what is celebrated in this age. The “fog of this age” blinds our hearts

to the false illusions of grandeur in this age. Strength and joy are found in embracing Isaiah 40:6.

For more on the “Forerunner Message in Isaiah 40” see https://mikebickle.org/resources/resource/3851

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