Friends,

John Paul Jackson is a prophet (i.e. feels called by God to give us a message). He has been predicting an upcoming “Perfect Storm.” I don’t tend to take these folks very seriously, but as I was researching him, I see that some of his prophesies have become real. He seems very upright and real to me.

The first video is about what he believes God has shown him concerning the next ten years, a “loving God chastening His children…,” that the current problems in society/world are for the sake of the church “to become a living Light again.”

The second video is his take on what he feels is our time—a time of Jacob’s trouble—
and how we, the Jacob generation (Psalm 24), are to prepare for upcoming turbulence, and how God has been fashioning us specifically for this time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...U9WE&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...IE0s&feature=related

There’s also an interview with him on Sid Roth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...Q8o0&feature=related

Sorry for the delayed response, Shasha. Very interesting.

I'm wondering about this whole matter of "portals," however.
- see http://www.etpv.org/2006/heport.html

JPJ apparently believes that some special opening to the higher realms exist on the land purchased by his ministry, and this facilitates his reception of prophetic messages. He also believes that witches come onto the land to set up altars to block these portals.

I dunno . . . doesn't sound much like the kinds of messages that come from prophets in praise communities.

Hmm... that's interesting but weird about the idea of portals. Too much Stargate? Or did he watch "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" one too many times in his youth?

I live a few miles from a town called Bethel here in PA. There's a mountain spring halfway up the nearby mountains that was named Pilger Rue--Pilgrim's Rest--by the Moravian Count von Zinzendorf mentioned in the portal article. Further up above the spring is a rocky ledge on the face of the mountain; it's always been a blessed place for me, however I'm sure that's simply because of the physical nature of the place.

Then, too, after a trip to Arizona with my family as a kid, I was pretty determined, even till recently, that at some point I wanted to move near Cathedral Rock in Sedona, AZ. A friend later told me she heard New Agers believe the area is some sort of portal. But again, I think Cathedral Rock, as its name suggests, simply speaks of transcendence due to its appearance.

I'm skeptical about the portal idea, but who knows? It's an interesting thought.

FWIW, Cathedral Rock in Sedona, AZ is considered by some to be a vortex (?), not quite a portal, apparently. http://arizonahealingtours.com/vortex/sedonatour.html
(I know this is getting off the idea of portals, and I'm not denying that the place is awesome, as is my favorite rock ledge above Bethel, PA, but, to borrow a phrase from Mr. Rogers: "Can you say 'idolatry'?")


Phil or Shasha:

I haven't watched the videos yet at home, since my dial-up connection is too slow for Youtube. I did, however, read a written summary given by JPJ about the Perfect Storm, as well as some "What We Believe" statements from his ministry.

I have some questions, as well as an admission that, though from an Evangelical background, I tend to avoid this kind of subject. But some people I know (umm, well, my brother in law, actually) are really into this sort of thing, and I don't want to completely blow it off just because I find it a depressing subject.

Having said that, I have a couple of problems with JPJ's basic premises from what I read.

First, he says this stuff will happen to the US--IOW, God will discipline the US more than other countries to get us back on track-- because we were founded as a uniquely Christian nation. I don't think that's true. I know some of the founding fathers were distinctly Christian, but I thought most simply subscribed to Deism.

Second, JPJ said the discipline will also be because many Christians don't believe the Bible is the infallible, inerrant word of God. I'm perfectly willing to believe that (the "infallible, inerrant" thing), but I don't. And that's not through willfulness on my part. I have an orthodox belief in Christian doctrine, but needing the Bible to be infallible and inerrant isn't part of it.

I think JPJ is very sincere, and actually being used of God, probably, but still...I question some of his assumptions.

http://www.faithofourfathers.net/

Judging by the excerpts from letters written by the founding fathers quoted at this link and others, it does look as though many had specifically Christian beliefs.

Well, I know this is straying alot from the thread topic, so I'll be brief. But I continued reading different historians' surmises on the faith of some of the more well known founding fathers, and it seems that few of the famous ones were distinctly Christian. But my reading on this subject has been pretty superficial and spotty over the years, so what do I know.

It's a hot issue right now because some people want the Texas School Board to mandate an explicitly Christian take on American history, and this (they argue) because the founders were explicitly Christian in their intent.

My cursory impression: Certainly the Pilgrims and the Puritans intended to establish Christian communities, but other 17th century settlers had purely commercial aims in mind. As for the 18th century, many of them do come across as Deists in Christian clothing.

A long NYT article (too long for me to read!) is here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02...-t.html?ref=magazine

Friends,

Thank your for sharing your reactions here...I appreciate your candor and thoughtfulness.

About portals...hmm...don't know what to make of that. I tend to trust JPJ, on the whole, but I've seen/heard so many prophets "go off the deep end" so to speak. Clearly, we don't *need* to be under a portal to receive blessings or revelation or Grace from God. That doesn't mean they don't exist nevertheless...

Ariel, your questions about two of his basic assumptions (revelations?) on the WHY of the storm are good ones. Thanks Derek for pointing out that bit of American history. I wonder if JPJ recieved these whys as revelations from the Father or if he is using his own intuitions in this regard...?

Ariel, I can relate to your second question of the "infallible" Word of God as meaning the broader issue of the church leaning toward the "no absolutes," post-modernism stand that erodes Bible-based truths (e.g., there is a God, Jesus is the only Son, there is such a thing as sin, etc.).

JPJ is suggesting that the coming storms are the result of a loving Father who is correcting His children by calling them closer to Himself through these calamities. That much makes sense to me.

Derek, thanks very much for the link. I read part of the article and I'm going to finish it.

Shasha: I guess I'd better watch the videos before commenting! Thanks for the clarification on what JPJ may mean by the "infallible" Word of God. Certainly, I agree with that meaning of the term. I think in the article I read from him he may have used the phrase "infallible and inerrant" which in Evangelical-speak has a specific meaning, but I could be mistaken.

I'm just putting him through the wringer because of my experience as/with evangelical Christians.

Speaking of mystical experiences, here is JPJ's testimony on being brought before the throne of God, much like John's description in the Book of Revelation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...f9uM&feature=related

Elsewhere, he shared that it was two years before he gave God permission to take him there again for the *terrifying* power / holiness of the encounter. I can believe it!

Ariel,

I don't mind you "putting him through the wringer." You're likely interpreting him correctly here; it just doesn't bother me or detract from his overall deep wisdom/ message.

BTW, I laughed at your spending time reading SP in lieu of purgatory...or preparing for it?

Shasha, I do believe God still gives the gift of prophecy, so I might well be open to JPJ's message if I actually saw the videos! ( I can get high speed internet here--I just don't feel I need it usually--so I'll watch them the next time I'm at a library.)

I'm hoping reading some of JB's posts without hauling out my heavy unabridged dictionary will be considered penance.

quote:

...

I'm hoping reading some of JB's posts without hauling out my heavy unabridged dictionary will be considered penance.

Girl, you are too funny!

I'm hoping to get some time to summarize the second video in a few lines. But seeing JPJ's eyes on film is really special. His eyes are a-blazin'...

quote:

Originally posted by Shasha:
Ariel,

I don't mind you "putting him through the wringer."

Shasha,

Thanks for saying that, because I did hope I wasn't being offensive. Roger Buck talked about not being "knee-jerk" and "reactionary" regarding another subject, and that reminded me that I need to be aware of my own temptation to react quickly and thoughtlessly fueled by past experiences.

Specifically, I'm wary of some of the Evangelical eschatology and statements made by people such as Pat Robertson--who I don't think I'm judging, as I've seen very little of him. So I know I over-react with a defensive skepticism in places where I probably should keep judgment at bay till I have more information.

Ariel,

I think most of us struggle with those issues to some extent, and I appreciate your honesty here.

I also need wisdom for clear thinking and discernment to separate out what is godly and pure from messages that contain stuff that seems wrong or repulsive.

Here's a rough summary of some of JPJ's points on the second video concerning how to prepare for difficult times ahead. Much of it is basic wisdom for living but may be more urgent in times of crisis.

Perfect Storm, part II

Coming troubles are God’s loving correction.
God wants to make the church strong and vibrant again.

How can we live to prepare for upcoming troubles?

1) Don’t overreact to media hype and spin; do not panic.

2) Simplify and streamline your life; reduce spending time/money in things that don’t
count

3) Connect with friends and family

4) Rethink your focus; live by your principles. Get the vision that God has for you.

5) Be a loving influence wherever you are.

6) Take more time to listen to God.

Will you believe that God will use everything you go through for his Kingdom purposes or sour along with those who base their relationship with God on their prosperity?

Tough times prove our faith. He allows crises so that massive change is the result.

Order your conversation to reflect the kindness of God. Don’t diminish or stop your financial giving in difficult times.

We’re living in a time much like Jeremiah described as “Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:5-9). David wrote in Psalm 24 about the Jacob generation. Great things are in store for those who seek God’s face.

1) What do we, who live in the Jacob generation, do? We will truly seek God’s face and see Him.

2) What are the qualifications for seeing God? You must have “clean hands and a pure heart.” Repent for hurting others and not be self-promoting, etc. There will be a much clearer definition of what it means to be a Christian.

3) You will live in the thick, Holy Presence of God; you will hear Him and be guided by Him.

4) The gates of heaven will be open to you; the difficult spiritual questions will become clear to you.

5) The everlasting doors will be open to you; ancient spiritual truths that have been hidden will be revealed to you.

6) The might, strength, and power of the Lord will come into your circumstances and fight on your behalf.

7) The Glory of the Lord will rest in your house.

Amen.

Shasha,

That sounds like good counsel, come what may.