When we finally get to have what we always hoped for, the fulfillment of our heavenward vision. When all our tears will be swept away in the embrace of the One that we longed to see all our life. When all our works will be rewarded in full. When our heart’s cries will be over.

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD,
“when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.” – Amos 8:11

God’s voice is being sought for by the people again, especially the youth. If we are sensitive enough we could easily realize that God is already speaking to us right now! Right now, He is already declaring His beginning statements. And if we are listening , He is laying down the initial orders for the army He is personally assembling. Out of all generations since the beginning up to now, He has never given a special task such as this one He has given to this current generation (the youth of today). This generation was given the anointing to be victorious in the imminent battle that will surpass the greatest battles of all time. The prophet Joel prophesied long ago that “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” The prophet went on to say “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams” as you may have noticed, the prophecy although God’s Spirit shall be  poured upon all people the prophecy gave emphasis to the young men. We are in the end times, but much more  signs , wonders, and miracles  will be done these days than all of those throughout history combined. He “saved the best for the last (generation)” if I may say it that way.

This army of disciples He is forming is favored among other generations of disciples because they are not prophesied to be weaklings, but prepared for war; not going to fight alone, for they are fighting alongside the armies of heaven.

< < D R A F T > >

The winds of change are rushing into our faces while we are standing still. The heralds are running everywhere shouting “It’s time! Change is here!” No one can deny it, its evident. The tides are turning.

The manuals of revolution had been burned but the great desire to see a new nation is still burning in the hearts of a new generation of young men and women. There is a new revolution rising to complete the unfinished work of it’s predecessors. The shift of government that happened twice didn’t only worsen the situation but made it more hopeless. We’ve got nothing to lose anymore, because we’ve lost everything.

How are supposed to run if our feet are stumbling from history’s heaps of rubble? We must the road we are marching on as we forget the past that deeply disappointed us. A new dawn is breaking forth ahead our path. We may now be treading on a pitch dark road but we hope that soon a brightness greater than the day light will shine on us. Our future is not like our our past or our present, it’s much like the visions we see in the night amidst hopelessness.

beat the war drums, and shout our battle cries.

]]> http://endtimerevolution.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/its-time/feed/ 0 suslijah http://endtimerevolution.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/i-see-a-future/ http://endtimerevolution.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/i-see-a-future/#comments Fri, 01 May 2009 05:17:07 +0000 suslijah http://endtimerevolution.wordpress.com/?p=57 ]]> Now, may not be the time that i see. It’s a realm a lot different from what i see today, but I’m sure it’s here where I stand, here in this land, in the near future. I do no longer see wickedness from the high places of government, despair striking the poor and death ridding the hopeless. But I see a future unlike before, a new Philippines has risen not from ashes as to connote destruction, but from the murky waters. Then suddenly a shower of fire from the heavens came rushing towards the islands, each island was devoured and was no longer drenched. A huge and thick smoke covered the whole Islands. It was dark for three days and no one from the surrounding or from the above can see through it. But after three days a glistening radiance broke through the thick smoke. A great brightness drove out the smoke and the light coming from the islands blinded those nearby, especially Indonesia. The light shone upon the dark places where martyrs died. The light was carrying those who bring the gospel, as far as the light can reach.

I see a future where perversion and corruption is absent. The people are ever vigilant of their freedom and their rights. They don’t just represent the voice of God, but they themselves have been given the Word of God. They are no longer bastards they are legitimate sons and daughters of the Most High, having authority and right to have dominion over the resources of the land.

Wicked men and women are cut off, oppression is driven out. The people no longer have to leave their place of birth, they flourish in their homeland.

Jesus no longer has rival in the Philippines. The idols have been torn down and no one follows the sinful religious anymore. People are devoted to delve into a deeper relationship to God.

Today is a thing of the past.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:26

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” – Luke 9:24

If we don’t abhor the sins we’ve committed, then we really wouldn’t understand how to hate our own life. If we would only throw away our life and put on the new life offered by Jesus we can easily testify about these verses. We haven’t experienced repentance yet if we still didn’t dislike the deeds that we deliberately committed before. We should be ashamed of the acts that we did before but not feel guilty about it anymore, because Jesus already took it to death. Our old life is gone and we live a new life, a life devoted for God’s pleasure. We are no longer objects of God’s wrath but His love. This change should be evident as we follow the footsteps of Jesus, who is an example set before us.

And when we live in His will and purpose, we invest our own life for eternity. Only when we learn not to love this life that we could save it for its continuation in the next age (when we’ll finally live with Christ). So every beating of our hearts should be for the Lord, every remaining breath should be allotted for His purpose for us. And when some will finally rest for a while from this life, the phrase “to be continued” should fit being written in their tombstone.

ikaw ako tayo ang pagbabago bangon!

It was in the 2004 Elections that our Spiritual Director ran for the Presidency. I was only thirteen years old then, but my eyes were already fixed on the destitute state of the people. I can no longer keep my eyes shut and escape reality. Just like the heart of our Pastor, I had the heart for the people.

I wasn’t yet involved in the youth ministry then, but when I knew that the KKB (JIL’s youth arm) in our chapter (composed of teens 15 yrs. old and above) were helping in the campaign efforts, I joined in. We glued the Bangon Pilipinas posters on street walls and hung the banners at the streets and even at the side wall of NLEX. That’s all i could do then.

But when circumstances arose, like meeting other youth who doesn’t even have a clue who Bro. Eddie is, I felt the urgency to speak from my conviction and share what I’ve known about him (excluding personal experiences of course). Dealing with people who know a bit of constitutional provisions like the “separation of church and state” became challenge to me, but as I continued to encounter similar people, I harnessed my grasp of the defense and make my argument plausible — i did this at 13 years old. But at the same time, I keep to myself my hidden motive (in the first place, i was compelled to support my pastor in his campaign for presidency because i realized that if he wins, it will be easier to evangelize the Filipino citizenry).

Campaigning in the form of engaging on one-on-one talks became common. I usually began stating the unqualified candidates who merely wanted to gain more power and wealth. After that i proceed to informing them of the possibilities of seeing the nation recover from its economic crisis. But, of course because of politics these possibilities will always be a dream as long as these corrupt politicians are around. At this point I give the alternative from the traditional  politicians, Bro. Eddie. Later I discuss the “winnability” and how the campaign machinery of that time would work miracles, and it did. Then I expound the capability of this pastor to run the nation with righteousness and about his proficiency in dealing with economics, as he was a former economics professor. The various plans to uplift the dampened status cannot be limited because if God is placed on the scene no plan is going to be foiled.

Dealing with the brethren can be dealt differently though. One proposition that stands out is about choosing the leader from among the brothers. This proposition can easily be accepted by most, especially after discussing the “winnability,” because most of them know that capability won’t matter as long as he has God’s ability.

The last grand meeting before the election was held at Quirino Grandstand. I was one of the millions who attended the gathering and claimed to have witnessed history unfold before our eyes. Literally I saw a sea of yellow all the way beyond the Rizal Monument. People wearing yellow shirts flowed into the area non-stop until before midnight (imagine that). My older brother and I was about to board a ship bound to Nasipit that night.  While waiting for a taxi that would take us to the port, i was mesmerized at the sight of seeing people from different sectors clamoring for change. I took my last glimpse of history then i boarded the taxi.

We arrived to Nasipit then went on to Butuan City. My cousin informed me that the local JIL Church’s youth group (composed of teens 15 yrs. old and above) were also busy in their campaign for Bro. Eddie. I knew how exciting this activity is, and besides I find no problem dealing with people who are older than me, so I joined them immediately. We posted posters of Bro. Eddie and went around the city playing the campaign jingles sung by the late Yoyoy Villame. If i remember it right they called it “recurida?” I also found out that Bro. Eddie himself would come to Butuan City and conduct a gathering there. So while we were going to every corners, dead-ends, rough roads and remote barrios we also announced Bro. Eddie’s crusade, i mean gathering. After all the speakers were exhausted after repeating the announcement for maybe a hundred times, they suggested that I should take the turn. They all know I’m not proficient in bisaya but i tried and practice makes perfect, so I spoke fluently on no time (fluent in speaking the announcement only).

Bro. Eddie’s motorcade from Surigao became was a trip that got us going around in circles. Our vehicle (the KKB’s vehicle) were not quite on the track which made us trailing somewhere in nowhere. The supposedly “greeters” as what they call the group weren’t able to greet at the supposed place but they also had the chance to greet. Evening came and we’re lost and hungry.

Then the election.

Awful results were the only things that we saw as we went from voting precincts after voting precincts. Then I went back to my Lola’s house. The adrenaline and the tiredness that came out of frustration mixed around my body. My limbs were almost giving up because of the pressure of disappointment, but that’s the way things are. Without any other thought I looked forward to 2010 convinced that this thing will happen again but in a different light. I know the man I’ll look up to as an image of Righteous Presidency and will someday follow, would not take his first love for granted. Wala nang kasing bigat pa ng Bundok Sierra Madre. I knew he’d run, I didn’t lost hope. I knew the man who said “Ang pagmamahal sa bayan ang kasing bigat ng Bundok Sierra Madre” will never betray his own words.

The greatest problem of today is not the way people live (it’s secondary), but the way people think. The greatest need for people everywhere is the change of mindset.  People should be freed from the perverted worldviews that dictate their wicked lifestyles leading to their own lives’ destruction.

Unless we do something to change the status quo we’ll end up being forced to live in a lost generation whose corrupted worldviews provoke God’s judgment on every side. The Church of Christ faces a formidable opposition from the enemy, but with faith, discipline and courage we can stir up change in the realm of thoughts. We cannot afford to lose or even back out at a confrontation, especially when we are defending the Truth. Even if our lives are on the line for the sake of the Truth of God’s Word, there should be no hesitation. A revolution is needed.

The Apostle James told us that by not doing what we ought to do, we sin. To avoid this sin we should declare with boldness the truth of who Jesus really is. Unless they’ll know the true Jesus, their minds will forever be corrupt. Transformation of their minds will surely follow when they come to know the true Jesus they’ve never known before.

When I hear the song God of this City by Chris Tomlin, I’m always reminded of the fact that God is the owner of the heaven and the earth. By this, I mean, no man ever owned anything on earth. When I read the account of Noah in Genesis, at the time when he offered his thanksgiving sacrifice to the Owner of the earth, a phrase in the following passages shook my mindset.

But first of all we should know what right has man over earth. Genesis 1:28 states the entirety of the dominion that was given to man. God didn’t give Adam the ownership over the earth he just gave the rulership over the fish, the birds, and anything that moves along the ground. Therefore anyone who wants to rule over the things that were not included in the list is guilty of insubordination. Anyone who wants to rule the things that are not mentioned should first ask the Lord for his permission. Especially when ruling a people or a nation.

Back to where we left off. The phrase that brought God’s revelation to me was “I have set my rainbow in the clouds.” The word “my” was emphasized, because it was the word that changed my point of view. It is like “wait a minute, who is this that claims the rainbow in the sky as His possession?” Well, He is God. As I was stunned by the insight I pondered on the fact, and remembered Psalm 24:1.

When we expound on the proposition on Psalm 24:1 (The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;), we can arrive at some conclusions that is very coherent to  God’s Word, biblical in short.

When we say that the earth is the Lord’s possession and everything in it, the world, which signifies the affairs of men and all who live in it; we can only imagine God pointing at the creation and hear Him saying:

That’s my earth.

That’s my sky.

That’s my rainbow.

That’s my ocean.

That’s my mountain.

That’s my oil.

That’s my gold.

That’s my field.

That’s my river.

or even

That’s my Juan Dela Cruz

That’s my people.

That’s my nation.

That’s my government.

That’s my Philippines.

Unless we recognize the rightful owner of our nation, our nation will never rise up from its destitute state. The Philippines is God’s Philippines. The Filipinos are God’s Filipinos.

Not everyone has the right to ask permission from God to rule a people. Only those who are born of God are qualified for the task of governing the land. We can see different candidates all over the Philippines and some of them are seemingly better than others. But even though they seem to be promising politicians to us, they still may never have God’s approval and our land would still suffer from its worsening desperate state despite their diligent efforts. Only the man after God’s own heart was anointed by the Prophet Samuel to replace King Saul. King David, after ruling the flock of sheep, ruled God’s People in the Golden Age of Israel. Today, this scenario strikes a similar resemblance to current politics, amidst a host of unqualified presidentiables a “David” is about to emerge as the President of the Philippines. Bro. Eddie Villanueva, after shepherding God’s sheep (the Church) will shepherd God’s people into its glorious rising, just like what King David did.