The Sunday after Thanksgiving was one to remember at my home church.  A prophet was invited to speak who had attended during the early years of our church and on a number of occasions prophesied the message before it was given.  I was floored by what came forth and wondered to myself how many churches would dare take the chance on releasing such a word.  I have always loved my home church’s prophetic edge and determination to follow the Holy Spirit.  But this word pushed the limits of every boundary.  The prophet said that, due to rebellion in America, judgment was coming in the form of war on our own soil in 2017, as China would invade San Diego, CA.  We all sat there with our mouths open thinking, am I really hearing this correctly?  How do we judge prophetic words that declare judgment for rebellion?  Here are some guidelines I like to apply:

(1)    Is the prophet prophesying out of his own offense over sin?  The common thread that precludes that in Scripture is the prophet tastes the adversity or pain parallel to the rebellion.  This guarantees he or she moves in the right heart attitude: pleading for repentance and change rather than condemning and judging.  All the prophets tasted the adversity they were forced to preach!

(2)    When judgment is proclaimed, the promise of restoration follows the judgment.  Is there a strong thread of restoration?  Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel promised restoration.

(3)    Repentance and intercession can alter divine judgment.  Throne-Room prophetic words we receive and embrace should have redemption at their core.

(4)    Do we see the potential for fulfillment?

(5)    Colossians 3:15, in effect, says to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, as an umpire settling with finality all questions of the mind and spirit.

Discerning and judging prophetic words is essential for the last days.  Remember we are Christians first and Americans, Canadians, Australians and Puerto Ricans and other nationalities second!  Are we ready?  God established Himself among His people as a Man of war.  Psalm 78:5-8 says, “For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”  Are we setting our hearts aright?  Are we positioning ourselves to represent the Judicial Christ?  It may be the only way to avert war!

If our prophet friend is correct, the only thing I can see that averts war on our soil is for the believers to humbly repent, then rise up in the Judicial Christ and pray judgment on those who are turning our nation toward sin.  When the early church prayed, Herod could not keep his position!  Are we repenting in behalf of our nations?  Are we continuing faithfully, in prayer, to stand against the tide of evil?