Understanding Prophecy

Yesterday I released what I believe is a prophetic word for Great Britain and Europe, regarding Brexit, nations, revival and prayer (read it here). Garnering thousands of reads overnight, while many were obviously quite used to national prophecy and found it inspiring in some way, some others were confused by it. Please allow to add a few words of instruction about how to understand such prophetic words:

God’s timing and purpose aren’t always worked out through our political preferences

While some passionately pray for their political preferences, the purposes of a prophetic ministry and indeed God’s own purposes may be quite different to ours. Many were puzzled that Jesus did not arrive 2000 years ago and speak of overthrowing the Roman occupation, a Jewish obsession (quite naturally!) at the time. Instead He only spoke of “loving your enemies” – In other words, God’s agenda was quite different to the human one. If anything, Jesus brought more of a fight to the politics of religion (the Pharisees etc), than he did to the Romans. There are times when God will be silent and slow over what we see as priorities, and times when He will act in areas we consider irrelevant. He sees our world from a very different perspective to us.

“God is not into nations, lands and tribes”

Some have said to me that “God is not into nations, tribes, borders and lands.” Even a speed read of the scriptures would show that this is not true – from beginning to end it is about people groups, lands, (promised lands even) and tribal families. One quarter of the bible is prophecy, and much of it is about nations, wars, powers, borders, invasions, monarchy and promised lands.

God created the concept of languages and tribes in Genesis 11, and one day every tribe and distinct people group will stand before His throne! I will stand worshipping Him as a “Cooper saved by grace” and also a Welshman, a Brit and lover of Europe and indeed a lover of the world. The bible doesn’t show us a God of a “bland one-world uniformity”, but a kingdom of different people groups, united under God despite our beautiful diversity, all saved by graced and cherished in our differences!

When it comes to nations, politics and lands the bible says He sets appointed times, seasons, nations and boundaries:

“He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21

“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” Acts 17:26

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:9-10

Nations, tribes, languages, people groups, borders, seasons and all our beautiful diversity is part of God’s glorious unfolding plan – and one day we will all gather before the throne, united in love, but wonderfully diverse.

Are you saying the EU has been an evil influence?

Some have asked “Are you saying the EU has been an evil influence?” No!

Firstly God loves people – ALL people, and personally, unless God tells me something is evil, I consider it none of my business to judge…so this prophecy is not saying that!

But that does not mean that all types of political organisation, man’s expressions of authority and all powerful international groupings are always divinely right for every season. God adjusts, nudges, lifts up and pulls down. The prophecy I have brought is about a change in season – not a judgement for or against a political system. That is beyond my remit.

But even at a local church level, what is right in one season can become wrong in another – the same can be true of nations and agreements. If a person’s “season in God” has ended, someone may be called to leave my church (O yes, a fabulous church) and step into a season of thriving and release in another church (fancy that!)… Does that mean my church is evil? Of course not; it’s as much about seasons, purpose, and divine timing as anything else. The latter blessing is not a slur on the former situation, but simply the next step in a journey. And the same is true of grand international themes, as well as individual people.

To recap –

• God does not deal with situations in the way we would prefer, He is God.
• God does appoint seasons for nations, language groups, peoples, borders and tribes as He wills, and both His written and prophetic word speak into this.
• If God adjusts the placing of a person or of a nation, that does not necessarily denounce everything connected to its former condition. Let’s leave those judgements to God unless clearly instructed otherwise.

I hope that helps those confused by experiencing prophecy of this sort.