The dawning of 2007 marks a change of seasons for the church.  Acts 1:6,7 says;  “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel ?’  And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.’”  The Greek word translated “authority” is ex-oo-see-ah and is often used for the rule of government.  This verse declares the government of God rules over all changes of seasons in the Spirit.  The disciples had an eschatological expectation based on prevailing preaching, just as the church today expects the rapture.  They were paying attention to a future time and season potentially missing what God had prepared, just as we are if we are looking for the rapture now.  The glorious victorious church must emerge!

Their first problem parallels ours: they were looking for a future manifestation of Kingdom while neglecting a present one.  Jesus had told them the Kingdom of God was at hand.  He told them it was within, manifested by certain signs and wonders.  His Kingdom wielded authority over satan’s kingdom through faith and the  anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Sicknesses were healed and demons were cast out as proof of the presence of Kingdom reign through believers.  God has greater Kingdom manifestations ahead.

While many are waiting for the rapture, Kingdom manifestations reflecting a seasonal change are pooling for a dramatic breakthrough as Jesus promised in Luke 18:1-8:  “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Avenge me of my adversary.’   And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’  Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said.  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?’”

In verses 3 and 5 ek-dik-a-son, translated “avenge,” is used as the aorist imperative of ek-dik-eh-o, meaning to “execute justice,” “grant a fair verdict” or “punish on the basis of what is rightly deserved.”  In verses 7 and 8 a dramatic change occurs in the words Jesus uses.  He now switches to ex-dik-a-sis, the technical term for obtaining administrative judicial decisions.  This passage declares a season available by faith where the church can obtain Divine Judicial Decisions.  Paul obtained one in Acts 13 and moved God’s hand blinding his adversary.  Why would anyone want a premature rapture when birthing such a governmental anointing would save nations, make the Jew jealous and demonstrate the Messiah expected by Israel for thousands of years?  This season is at hand!  God expects us to develop the faith to move His hand.  Jesus questioned whether we would!  The decision is ours!