Dear Friend, How are you? Hope you had or are having a good day, today? We're celebrating Lunar New Year in Korea, soon. In November last year, I read a series of the book, The Ambassador of God. It was written by one of the elders in my Korean church and he used to serve the nation as an ambassador to China and as a minister of the Department of North & South Korea Reunification, before retirement. I used to watch some of his testimonies in YouTube and found them so interesting and encouraging and found him an amusing speaker. Then, one day in November last year, I took a nap on the sofa and in the middle of the nap, somehow the name of the elder and author came into my mind and I felt the Lord wants me to read his books. Though I listened to many of his testimonies in YouTube, I felt the books would have different impact so that I ordered his books. The author’s late mother was a faithful Christian, but he stopped going to church since he went to the university. And he married an unbeliever and her family had the Buddhist background. But, later, the author and his wife became Christians and the author had a really remarkable experience. He was baptized with the Holy Spirit, while he was on the phone. Later, he couldn’t drink alcohol at all, as even one sip of alcohol made him vomit. He actually received the prophecy from a Christian lady that he would never drink alcohol again and he would ask the Lord for every single matter and He would answer him. So, his story was like the stories of Joseph and Daniel who served the kings of the nations as God’s ambassador. And just like David, the author asked the Lord what he should do or whether he would do something or not. And He answered him. Not only He answered him, but He gave His Words to those he interceded for. Each time, the author wrote down the Words He gave and delivered them when he met them in person. The recipients were moved into tears or were in awe, as His Words gave them assurance that He watches over them and He cares for them. While I was reading the first book of the series, I moved into tears and I repented. I said to the Lord, “Father, I’m sorry that I’ve been lazy in intercession. Though You gave me the gift of the tongues, I’ve been lately so lazy. Please forgive me and wake me up early in the morning. I’d like to intercede.” Not only that, but I also repented of disliking my President, as he is the leftist. When I read the elder’s book, he shared some of the episodes on two ex-Presidents he served in person. One of them committed suicide after he finished his term and was under investigation. Even during his term, I didn’t like that President, nor respect him. One of the reasons was that he is the leftist. But the author wrote in his book that he would not disclose details, but whenever he interceded for that President, he knew how much God the Father loved him. It really made me repent. The late President was not a believer and he was the leftist. Later, he killed himself. I only criticized him, thinking he lacked in courage so that he killed himself. I never had compassion on him. I had no heart of our Father. He loves everyone, no matter whether he is a believer or whether he is a communist or not. But I didn’t like some of our Presidents, if they are leftists or unbelievers. I complained of them when they were in the office. So, I repented and started to intercede for the current President. I know his late mother was a Catholic, but I don’t think he believes Jesus so that I prayed for his and his family’s salvation, for his revering the Lord and for the wisdom during his office. Then, I also prayed for one of the former Presidents from the conservative party who was our first female President and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. I prayed for her in the past, reading the prophecy that she already met the Lord in prison, but we should pray against the spirit of suicide over her. And in the recent news, she was reported to be hospitalized for orthopedic treatment. And it said she also met a psychiatrist, as she had some fears. So, I kept her in my prayer. Soon enough, after I started to pray for these Presidents, I watched the breaking news that the current President decided to release her from prison. And it seemed to be his own decision without any discussion with others. So, there seemed to be some negative opinions among the leftist party, the current President’s party. When I heard the news, I was in awe and said to myself, “Is it because the Lord heard my prayer?” I recalled Derek Prince’s book title “Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting.” I haven’t read it yet, but the book title encouraged me to pray for the nations and their leaders. And now I am more encouraged to pray for our leaders. Actually, I found my heart changed, after repentance and after starting to pray for my President. I don’t dislike him anymore, but feel compassionate, when I see him aging a lot. I think it’s from a lot of stress. Friend, I’d like to encourage you to pray for one another, pray for those who have different opinions or those who give you a hard time and pray for your leaders and the governing authorities. We tend to think miracles are something like healing the sick and casting out demons. I think they are. But praying in the secret closet and seeing your heart changed is also a miracle. And if we pray in His will, we will see our prayers answered in His time. Have a bliss! Happy Chinese New Year! Yunee Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1~2) Dear Friend, How are you? I’m well. Today, I would like to share more on my thoughts on the Rapture and the Bride of Christ, following my previous blogs, The Spirit of Fear and Preppers. I shared some backgrounds earlier as to how my view on the timing of the Rapture changed from the post-Trib to pre-Trib. I know it’s a controversial subject and many faithful servants of the Lord all have had the different opinions. When we meet the Lord in person on that day, we would know what view was right. But by that time, we would even care less, as the joy of being with Him would be so great. Yet I’m sharing my view, as I think listening to the Holy Spirit and what He is speaking to each one of us in person is more important than listening to what others preach or prophesy. In the autumn last year, I was reading the Scriptures that I had written down on my notebook earlier that year. One of them was “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (Matthew 5:13)” While I was meditating this popular and well-known verse, I was reminded of what David Pawson taught. I recall that he mentioned the salt is used for seasoning, but it’s also used for preservative. So, Christians should live as preservative in the world that is full of sins. And the verse kept lingering in my mind after I read it from my notebook. Soon enough, I happened to listen to Pastor John Fenn and Sister Margaret Seaward mention that we are the salt of the earth, when they taught the anti-Christ and the Rapture with the verses, 2 Thessalonians 2:6~10: “And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” And I got to learn that after the Spirit-filled believers, the salt, the preservative are raptured, then, the anti-Christ will be revealed, and the lawlessness will abound. When I repeatedly heard the same message on these verses, after meditating the verse that we are the salt of the earth, I felt with no doubt that the Holy Spirit spoke to me. Like I shared in my previous blogs, I had the fear when I thought of the post-Trib rapture. And it actually distracted me, as I thought what I should prepare for the perilous days, in the physical or material perspective rather than the spiritual. I believe the Lord didn’t want me to live in fear nor waste my resources, but to be comforted and to prepare in a right way. There have been many good teachers and preachers who believe in the post-Trib Rapture, but I felt the Holy Spirit was talking to me through the repeated messages at the right time. Then, I also found out another controversy among the so-called pre-Trib Rapture believers as to who would be raptured. Some say all believers, i.e. the Body of Christ will, but others say the believers who long for His return and who live holy, i.e. the Bride of Christ. Pastor John Fenn talked about the context when Paul wrote I Corinthians to a very carnal group of believers with envy, strife, division, sexual immorality and so on in His YouTube channel. Paul said they would all ‘make it’ one the rapture, dead or alive – for after trying to correct all their carnality, all their strife, all their sinfulness in chapters 1-14, he teaches in chapter 15 all those dead in Christ, and all those alive at that time, will all go ‘up’. Yet, Pastor John also mentioned the Scriptures: “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Hebrew 9:28), saying his heart is that we eagerly look for Him; “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?” (James 4:4~5) I believe that Jesus is coming for His Bride who longs for Him, just like in Hebrews 9:28. When I talked about Christ’s return to some Christians, I found they had a long face or even got angry. Yes, they are Christians, but ironically, they don’t want to see our Lord, our Bridegroom soon. They might like the image of spirituality, as a religious person or they might need some protection and blessing from Him in this world. But they don’t want to meet Him face to face anytime soon, as they love the world and the things the world gives to them so much, just like James warned. Imagine that you are a bridegroom, and you find out your fiancée doesn’t wait for the wedding, but her heart is still on her ex-boyfriend or someone new. Would you like to marry her? I rather imagine that if these Christians are raptured, they wouldn’t appreciate it, but want to go back to the earth, to enjoy the world. Remember Lot’s wife. I read the book, Resurrection Glory by William F. Beirnes that Sister Margaret Seaward shared in her class, The Last Days. From that book, I made sense that 24 elders in Revelation chapters 4 & 5 symbolize the Bride who are raptured before the Tribulation: And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9~10) The 24 elders have crowns of gold on their heads. (Rev. 4:4) Then, from chapter 6, the Great Tribulation starts. In the middle of it, there are still believers on the earth. Chapter 7 describes a multitude of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues who come out of the Great Tribulation. Sister Margaret pointed out that they have palm branches in their hands, but not crowns of gold on their heads like 24 elders. It makes sense to me that they are either martyred or raptured or just died in the disasters and so forth, after they miss the first rapture. I think that some Christians who miss the first rapture, in addition to some of unbelievers, would repent, after they realize they are left behind. And they would start to experience the early part of the Great Tribulation and they would be changed to live holy and be eager to meet the Lord. They would have the heart of the Bride by then. After the pre-Trib Rapture of the Bride makes more sense to me, I was reminded of the dreams I had last year. I shared them in my blogs, Double Portion, Will You Marry Me? and Gold last year, if you are interested. And now I could interpret the dreams as some revelation on the Bride and the Rapture. Especially at my dream in Double Portion, I got so amazed to read that I saw 24 people, and the notes “white” and “salt” in the dream. In addition to the dreams and the interpretation in my heart, I believe Jesus’ warning that He will vomit out the lukewarm, the Laodicean church in Revelation 3 suggests that we should long for our Bridegroom and live here on earth as His pure Bride. And He also said to His disciples: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34~36) Friend, You may or may not agree with me. I’m sharing my thought and might share more on this later, hoping I could encourage you to long for our Bridegroom and live holy daily, as He is holy. And I’d like you to be comforted, not to live in fear, when we see foreshadowing of things to come. Have a bliss! Yunee Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. (Revelation 3:10~12) Dear Friend, How are you? I’m well. I would like to share the latest story of mine on Spiritual Warfare. In January 2022, Sister Margaret Seaward started to teach Spiritual Warfare and the Book of Revelation via Zoom meeting. In all honesty, Spiritual Warfare is my least favorite subject, as I know there would be some demonic attack, if I tried to learn more on this subject. Yet, I know I must not ignore this, and I also wanted to take her class, as she had been faithfully and passionately teaching her students. Then on January 6th, I had a dream. I felt there was an evil spirit or demon and it was on my side, more precisely, on my cheek. I wanted to move my body, but I couldn’t. I felt as if I were frozen. Finally, I was able to move and wake up. It was around 1:30am. I felt horrible. Then, I felt the room was quite cold, and I felt chilly. I’ve never felt that bad in my body for the past few years. So, for that moment, I had a fear that I would be very sick. Then, I found out my mom closed our bedroom door, which she normally didn’t. As our bedroom is colder than the living room with the heater on, we used to open the door for the air circulation. Anyway, when I saw our bedroom door closed, I opened it. But, my mom, not sleeping, but going to and fro the restroom, she kept closing the door. I became so sensitive and annoyed. As I was utterly gripped by the fear that I had a chill and I would be sick, I bluntly told her not to close the door. But it never helped her understand and be reminded, due to her dementia. And I also felt that the enemy didn’t really want me to attend the Spiritual Warfare class that would start at 10am. Recently, I felt mom very demanding on her breakfast whenever I had Sister Margaret’s class. So, for the moment, on my bed, I debated as to whether I would not attend the class live, but watch it later on demand in YouTube, thinking the enemy would bother me every time. While my mom kept closing our bedroom door, I lost my temper and I also lost my sleep. On my bed, I also heard my mom talking to herself. Interestingly, she brought up the subjects that reminded me of the bad memories a few years back when I got so weary from the Spiritual Warfare. Yet, I said to myself, “I’m not earth-bound, but Heaven-bound and my inheritance is in Heaven. I have Christ in me, the hope of glory.” A few hours later, it was around 8am. I was still on my bed, after getting some sleep. Then, my mom opened the curtains of our bedroom, which she normally didn’t. I am the one who open the curtains after mom wakes up. If I sleep in or she gets up early, she doesn’t open the curtains, not to wake me up. But on that day, she did, and I was really annoyed and got angry at her. Later, when I got up, I gave her breakfast, but not feeling good at all nor smiling at her. Then, I picked up my Bible to read out Colossians 1:13~14, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” The Scriptures came into my mind, as I recalled Sister Margaret’s sharing her testimony when she delivered a Christian lady who was under demonic influence. The Holy Spirit told Sister Margaret to read Colossians 1:13 out over her. I thought I had been under the attack since the dream, as I kept getting angry at mom. And I felt this is not against flesh and blood, i.e. my mom, but against the power of darkness. After reading it out loud, I also asked the Lord to give me His love and His heart so that I would be kind and gentle to her. Then, I thought I would go to grocery store and bakery before the class, to get mom’s favorite ice-cream and breads. So, she wouldn’t interrupt me during the class and I also wanted to give her some pleasure and be kind to her. After my prayer and reading the Scriptures, I felt better and I noticed mom also felt my attitude was changed and she became happy and kind, not like earlier in the day. Later at 10am, the class started. To my amazement, the first Scripture Sister Margaret asked a student to read out was Colossians 1:13. During the class, I felt why the Lord allowed me to go through the situation overnight and in the morning. It was a hands-on training and learning. And everything Sister Margaret taught was simply real. Friend, I would not write everything I learned from the class, but would like to share some of them: none are immune to Spiritual Warfare; the moment we are born-again, we become involved; satan desires to sap our strength by using people and circumstances; wrong attitudes toward it is indifference, carelessness, tiredness, weariness, passivity, discouragement, hopelessness. Spiritual apathy is dangerous. The fear gripped me when I had the dream on the evil spirit and felt so cold and weak when I got up. And I became so angry at mom and talked to her bluntly. It was all the enemy’s attack, but I felt so annoyed at mom. I was grateful, as the Lord reminded me of the Scriptures, helped me understand whom I should deal with, and gave a heart to love her. You know what? My mom was super happy all day long, since I asked Him to pour out His love on me. Not only she didn’t interrupt my class, but she was happy till she went to bed. Friend, You and I are not immune, yet we have good news. We have the whole armor of God, as written in Ephesians 6. And when you feel you or your loved ones are under the attack, I would like to encourage you to read Colossians 1:13~14, as His Words are the Sword and they have Power. While writing this blog, I smiled, as I just happened to hear Pastor Joe Sweet in Lancaster, CA mention Colossians 1:13 during Thursday worship live meeting in YouTube. Over the past few years, the Lord made me smile many times, as He repeated the messages just on time! Friend, I’m being very assured that this is for you, too. Have a bliss! Yunee He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13~14) Dear Friend, How are you? Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! On December 17th, 2021, I read a few verses from Psalms 119. While I read the verse 38, “Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared,” I said as my prayer, “Father, please confirm Your promise to me that You may be feared.” I did wonder in my heart how He would answer my prayer. I think it was a couple hours later in that morning. My eyes were on the Scripture calendar standing on the table in front of the sofa. I bought it for mom last year. I also tried to read it daily, but sometimes I forgot to flip over the calendar for the day. Then, when I saw the calendar on that day, I flipped over one page to find the Scripture for December 17th. To my utter amazement, it said, “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)” And there was a comment under the Scripture that God is a Promise-Keeper. I was in awe and grateful for His answering my prayer. Later in the day, I watched Shekinah Worship Center’s Thursday meeting and sang along the worship songs and felt amazed, as I kept hearing the lyrics that God is a Promise-Keeper. A few days after, in December 20th morning, I said to my mom that I would be back soon, after throwing away our wastes. I took a few waste bags to the basement floor where the wastes of the residents in the building are collected. After that, I stopped by the lobby floor for an errand. I didn’t talk about it to mom, as I thought it would not take long. While I was running an errand, I heard an elevator behind me open and heard a familiar voice. Turning back, I saw my mom come out of the elevator, holding the arm of a security guard. I was surprised and asked him what happened. He said he was on patrol on our floor and saw her on the corridor unable to go into our place without a key. And he brought her to the lobby, not knowing I was there. I was so surprised when I unexpectedly saw her there, in her pajamas and indoor sleepers. Yet, I couldn’t thank God enough, as I felt He indeed watches over my mom. He sent the security guard just at the right time to our floor to find her and bring her to my presence. It really assured me that He won’t sleep nor slumber, but watches over us, no matter what happens. I was thankful for His faithfulness. Friend, I do not know what you went through for the past few years. Sometimes you may feel that you are forgotten. But I would like to encourage you today to hold on to the Promise you received from God. It might be the Scriptures, dreams, visions, prophecy or still small voice in your heart. This would be personal between the Lord and you and you know it’s from Him, as His sheep hear His voice. Looking back at some dreams and visions I had, I realized that not all of them would come to pass anytime soon. Just like Abraham, Joseph, David and many others in the Bible, we might receive His promises well before we see them come true. And I learned we need both faith and patience. Recently, I was not able to recall anything after I had a dream. Yet one thing I recalled was the song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” I don’t remember whether I sang the song or heard someone sing it, but it was clearly in my mind. I felt the Lord repeating His messages to me that He is a Promise-Keeper. And after I wrote the draft of this blog, I listened to Pastor David Guzik’s podcast sermon on 1 Samuel chapter 1. Interestingly enough, he mentioned the verses 17~18 and his insight enlightened me: Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. (1 Samuel 1:17~18) Pastor David said that Hannah, the barren woman took Eli’s word and believed it would come true and her face was no longer sad, even before she became pregnant and became the mother of Samuel. She trusted the Lord and His promise. Friend, I would like to encourage us to hold on to what He spoke or showed to us. Unlike men, He doesn’t tell a lie but keeps His promise. We believe His power and trust His faithfulness. Have a bliss! Yunee But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) |
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