Prophecy Today was originally a bi-monthly printed magazine. Within our archives, there is a treasure trove of messages from God to the Church at that time. Over time, we plan to put all of our archived material onto the web for those who wish to search for it. But certain messages, as well as being of historical significance, also still have something to speak to the Church of today. With that in mind, over the month of August, we will be publishing and featuring some of these messages.

In this piece, from September 1988, Clifford Hill wrote of how God works out his purposes even through the actions of those who are wicked, and calls God’s people to be prepared for a time of greater persecution, with the shaking of the nations increasing in intensity – including environmental changes, diseases, and the advancement of secular humanism and Islam.

Remarkable things are happening in Russia! The nation that appeared to be unshakable is beginning to shake. The Communist Party that appeared to have an iron grip upon the nation, that ruthlessly quelled any sign of discontent and silenced every dissident voice, is itself under threat.

Glasnost, or ‘openness’, has set in motion the forces of liberation that soon will become unstoppable. What is now a trickle will become a flood-tide. The desire for freedom is an innate part of our human nature. It is part of God’s creation of our humanity. Freedom of expression and individual liberty cannot forever be suppressed in a nation. The oppressors may flourish for a generation or more but the day will come when the cries of the oppressed and the suffering of those enslaved will give rise to a new movement of liberation.

Oppression

But oppressors do not willingly relinquish their power. Throughout history there is no record of an oppressive regime willingly resigning its position of power, privilege, and prestige. Power is usually wrested from the oppressor, very rarely without bloodshed. The ruthless dictator is usually overthrown by uprising or invasion. The record of history shows only too clearly how violence begets violence and those who hold power give way only to a greater power. In our own day numerous dictators have been overthrown by violence or died still clinging vainly to power – Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Khruschev, Brezhnev, Mao Tse Tung, Amin, Franco, Duvalier, Marcos.

So what is happening in Russia? Why this movement towards greater openness and even critical debate of the country’s economic and social situation? The answer lies in the situation inside Russia today. It is doubtful if there had been any great change of heart on the part of the Russian leadership, but they do at least have a leader in Mikhail Gorbachev who is willing to look honestly at the stark reality of the economic and social plight of the nation.

Bankruptcy

Economically Russia has been heading for bankruptcy for a number of years, with a creaking, inefficient agricultural policy based upon a communal system at the root of the problem. This is compounded by an enormous expenditure upon armaments and the maintenance of a massive military machine. Russia spends more than twice as much of its gross national product on military personnel and weapons as America or Britain or any major western governments. This is an unbearable drain upon its economy that cannot be maintained without compromising both industrial and agricultural productivity.

It became clear several years ago that the policies pursued by the Old Guard Russian leadership would inevitably lead the nation to economic ruin and national disaster. Reluctantly, the Kremlin turned to a younger man to generate some new life into the ailing economy and to try to encourage greater productivity from the workers. But Gorbachev had only been in power a few months when the nuclear power station at Chernobyl exploded.

Chernobyl

Chernobyl changed everything. There was no longer time to introduce gradual economic reforms. Radical measures had to be undertaken. The Ukraine, breadbasket of the Soviet Union, was polluted with radio-active fallout. The nation was facing famine on a massive scale. Grain had to be purchased from the West. But this required foreign exchange. Two things became essential for survival: first, a lessening of tension with the West and withdrawal from Afghanistan so that military expenditure could be reduced, and secondly, revolutionary changes in industrial and agricultural production. These latter could only be achieved by changing the attitude of the people. They had to be changed from unwilling workers to willing participants in a social and economic revolution that alone would ensure national survival. Hence Glasnost, the new policy of openness, the only way of conveying fresh vision to the people that would transform them into willing partners in the drive to transform the nation.

Cyrus

What is the relevance of all this in an editorial headed ‘The Strategy of God’? Simply this – God very rarely, if ever, intervenes directly to change the course of human history. His strategy is to use even the evil actions of unbelieving men to work out his purposes. There are many examples in the Bible of this occurring, as when he startled the whole Hebrew nation by announcing that the pagan Persian emperor Cyrus was his ‘anointed one’ to carry out his purposes of liberating the enslaved Israelites from Babylon and sending them back to Judea to rebuild Jerusalem (Isaiah 45:1). Such a pronouncement must have shocked every pious Jew, but it underlined what we now know as the ‘sovereignty of God’. “He holds the nations in his hands as a drop in a bucket,” the prophet declared (Isaiah 40:15). This does not mean that God directs all the affairs of mankind. It does mean that he is able, through the intercession of his people, to use even the evil actions of men to further his own good purposes of bringing salvation to all the nations.

Shaking

We are seeing in our generation the fulfilment of the promise first given through the prophet Haggai that God would one day shake the nations and all created things (Haggai 2:6). The interpretation of this prophecy was given in Hebrews 12:26-29, where it is said that God will actually use this shaking of the nations to establish his own kingdom on earth.

We are privileged to live in the generation when this promise is being fulfilled. We are seeing the most incredible array of destructive forces sweeping around our world. The effects are seen in violence and bloodshed in this century on a scale never seen in the history of the world. We are seeing the breakdown of the moral code in the nations of Europe and the consequent weakening of family life. We are seeing destructive economic forces driven by selfishness and greed.

But the strategy of God is to use the forces of evil to accomplish his own purposes. As people cry out to God because they are being driven by uncontrollable forces, the spiritual channels are opened so that he can pour his transforming power into the nations.

All these things are the effects of the spiritual powers of darkness that are conspiring to encompass the destruction of mankind. But the strategy of God is to use the forces of evil to accomplish his own purposes. As people cry out to God because they are being driven by uncontrollable forces, the spiritual channels are opened so that he can pour his transforming power into the nations. This is already happening in many parts of the world. China is the prime example of a nation that has been shaken to its foundations and is now experiencing the greatest spiritual awakening in history with ten million new believers committing their lives to Christ each year.

New Phase

Russia has been under the heel of oppression for seventy years. A new phase in the shaking of this nation is now beginning. For several years I have been hearing warnings about famine hitting the nations of the northern hemisphere. The agricultural and economic problems of Russia and eastern Europe are becoming intense at the very time when drought has hit the Mid-West grain-producing area of the USA. If the Kremlin finds it impossible to feed Russia’s vast population this may well hasten the day when they release all those who wish to leave the country…

Be prepared!

What I hear the Spirit saying to the churches is “Be prepared to stand fast in times of turmoil”. God’s strategy for strengthening his people is to bring each one into a personal relationship with himself through the Lord Jesus and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

I believe God is using the shaking of the nations to demonstrate that in repentance and turning to God is the only hope for the nations. At the moment there are no signs of such a turning and I believe that the worldwide problems will intensify. What I hear the Spirit saying to the churches is “Be prepared to stand fast in times of turmoil”. God’s strategy for strengthening his people is to bring each one into a personal relationship with himself through the Lord Jesus and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In this way believers are not dependent simply upon priests and preachers, but each one can stand in the strength of the Spirit, having put on the whole armour of God. Paul’s instruction to the Christians in Ephesus should be top on the agenda of every church today:

“Therefore put on the full armour of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground” (Ephesians 6:13).

Gideon’s Army

There are lessons to be learnt from modern warfare. The day of massed armies has gone. One single tactical nuclear weapon can wipe out an entire army of massed infantry. But individual fighters trained in guerrilla warfare cannot be defeated even by powerful nations, as the USA discovered in Vietnam, and Russia realised in Afghanistan.

Today God is raising a modern Gideon’s army in every nation – small bands of believers able to support each other or stand alone: each one knowing the tactics of the enemy but confident in God and relying not on human wisdom, might or the power of man, but on the Spirit of God (Zech 4:6). These small bands will in time be brought together to form a mighty army for God to use in the coming conflict.

Warnings

In my times of prayer and waiting upon the Lord I am constantly hearing warnings of a time of persecution and great difficulty for believers worldwide. This time will accompany the shaking of the nations that will continue to grow in intensity. The onslaught of secular humanism and Islam, combined with increasing violence and lawlessness, will further destabilise the nations. There will also be diseases among humans and cattle plus major environmental changes through the effect of pollution and deforestation.

The onslaught of secular humanism and Islam, combined with increasing violence and lawlessness, will further destabilise the nations. There will also be diseases among humans and cattle plus major environmental changes through the effect of pollution and deforestation.

Revival

But in the midst of these troubled times revival will come – a great new move of God will sweep around the world bringing multitudes into the kingdom as men cry out to God in the turbulence. God is now preparing his church for this time. We are already in the period of the ‘first-fruits’ of the harvest that is a promise of the great harvest to come.

Evangelism

Many nations are experiencing a great spiritual awakening as God is building his church and strengthening his people. In Britain the forty years of decline is over, the church has begun to grow overall despite continuing decline in the traditional sectors. The time is right for evangelism – Spirit-led and Spirit-filled. The next few years will see thousands of new believers because the nation has been shaken open to the Gospel.

But the shaking will continue in both nation and church. Unbelievers will drop away, and true believers will be tested. It is in preparation for this that God is strengthening his church and calling for greater maturity and a people open to him, dependent upon his word and filled with his Spirit.

Feasting or Fasting

I am sorry if what I am saying is out of step with those Christian leaders who are predicting revival and times of great blessing. I wish I could join in that chorus. I would love to go to big celebration events and sing the songs of victory. But how can I proclaim ‘Peace! Peace!’ when I hear God saying ‘There is no peace.’ The war is not over. The enemy is gathering his forces for a mighty onslaught. We must be prepared and not be caught unawares while feasting and celebrating.

I do not like being called a prophet of gloom, but how can I proclaim a feast when I am told to call for a fast? I thank God for my brothers whose ministries are building faith and encouraging the people of God. Time alone will tell who is hearing from the Lord. But I do plead with my brothers and sisters in Christ not to misinterpret the signs of the times, not to be lulled into false complacency or easy triumphalism. The battle is not over. It has only just begun!

Much of what Cliff shared here has been borne out over the last 30 years. We are still in the midst of a great battle, which is even now intensifying. But as evil abounds, and the shaking continues, we must be ready to declare God’s purposes and goodness to those crying out for answers.