January - February, 2002

Word of Prophecy

NEWSLETTER

SAVE YOUR FAMILY

AT ALL COSTS

-- HERE'S HOW --

We are running out of the most valuable commodity that God ever endowed a nation or individual with -- TIME! The precious golden moments which God has given us to use according to His will and purpose are almost gone -- FOREVER! A terrifying storm of violence and persecution engulfing God's saints with its deafening fury and deadly destruction is so near as to give a discerning saint of God nightmares instead of beautiful dreams. The swiftly descending, fast approaching tribulation of God's judgments is devastating! Horrifying! Is there any hope that God's people can save themselves and their families, and perhaps a few dear friends from paralyzing fear and catastrophic calamites that are so near? There is time if we move with haste -- with a sense of urgency and the fear of God upon us -- with great determination and perseverance as Noah did in his day. Hebrews 11:7.

The Lord directed me to write this message in the same words He used to direct His prophet of old: "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables [tablets], that he may run that readeth it." Habakkuk 2:2. Beloved, run first to the altar -- run to where you can hear God's true message and revelation -- run to and fro among your family members and loved ones warning them. Move with the Fear of God upon you quickly. Don't be a foolish Christian like Lot and his wife who waited until it was too late to save their family. "Remember Lot's wife," warned Jesus -- Luke 17:32. "Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children," cried the prophet of the approaching storm. Joel 1:3.

A RACE AGAINST TIME

Two Signs to Our Generation

Jesus, as a prophet, had a sign for His generation that He had God's message, and that He was sent from God. "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the Prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." Matthew 12:38-41. Jesus is showing that every true prophet's message as Jonah's was, is always, "REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17. God's message to the church of today is still "REPENT OR

PERISH." Revelation 2:4-5.

Jesus left a prophetic message to our generation of this endtime in which He gave two men and their families as our signs -- Noah and Lot. Noah is the sign of a victorious, holy, sanctified saint who moved with fear and prepared an ark to the saving of his house. Lot is the sign or type of a worldly Christian without spiritual sensitivity, who "sat in the gate of Sodom" until he lost his family and all his possessions foolishly. Genesis 19. These two men are our signs! Jesus foretold, "The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe [Noah], so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:22-30. These activities of individuals and nations became signs when practiced without moderation or intemperately.

NOAH: OUR SIGN OF A VICTORIOUS SAINT OF GOD

Noah was a prophet to his generation. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7; Ephesians 3:5. God revealed "the Gathering Storm" to Noah with the message for his generation -- making him an example to that sick and corrupt society. "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." Genesis 6:12-13. Noah had a deadline to beat -- he raced against time -- he must move with haste and determination to beat the storm -- there could be no delay. So "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Hebrews 11:7. Thus Noah became a sign or type to our generation of a just man, a man of faith, a perfect man, a man who walked with God, and a man who feared God and preached righteousness. Genesis 6:9; II Peter 2:5.

Here is the Lord's characterization of this man of faith and holiness which we must measure up to: "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he." Genesis 6:22.

Beloved, if we will listen to God, He will listen to us about ourselves and our families -- this is the epitome of our victory as we race also against time. The terrible truth, however, is that an individual who will not listen to a true prophet of God, will not listen to God. I realize the burden of proof that a man is a true prophet sent from God is that prophet's responsibility to the church and nation to which he is sent with God's last message. Here was Noah's proof: (1) Noah and his family believed that the Great Flood which God told him of was coming even though they had never seen it rain. By faith, he moved with fear (the fear of God) to prepare an ark for the salvation of his family. He was responsible to do what God required of all others for his own deliverance. God is no respecter of persons. What God required of Noah and his family to escape the devastating judgments and wrath of God, He required for all men and their families. Noah

fully met God's requirements and fully carried out his sobering responsibility; thus, we see that God used Noah as an example or sign for that whole generation. Acts 10:34-35: "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." (2) Noah was a preacher of righteousness (holiness). He had the responsibility of telling his generations the warning of God -- that their degeneracy and moral corruption had angered God. Repentance could have saved that society as it did Nineveh who repented at the warning and message of Jonah: "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." Jonah 3:10. Noah preached righteousness which is holiness and godliness -- likewise he and his family lived what he preached -- they were models for that generation to pattern their lives after -- living examples of what God required in a holy life-style. "By the which [example] he condemned the [ungodly] world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Hebrews 11:7b. God used this one family who conformed to His holiness to project the image of godliness which God only would accept, and demanded the same of all those who would be delivered from the Gathering Storm of destruction. Noah and his wife lived so carefully in obedience to God that their whole family had enough confidence and respect for them to believe the message and warning from God. They had no "Credibility Gap" as most parents today do. (3) Thirdly, the proof that Noah was God's messenger with God's revelation is revealed in this scripture: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations [his life spanned several generations], and Noah walked with God." Genesis 6:8-9. Praise God for such a sign to us -- for such a godly pattern and model! A Just man! A Perfect man! Completely Holy! And, he walked with God! He lived in this manner for several generations as an example by God's requirements -- what God demanded of every parent and family! God said, all who do not live holy, just, perfect, and walk with me, I will destroy -- and He did! Genesis 6:17.

OBEDIENCE PRECEDES DELIVERANCE

After Noah had done all that God had commanded him, "The Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." Genesis 7:1. Noah, in his race against time to save himself and his family from the devastating storm of God's judgment, beat the deadline by one week! Genesis 7:4. (4) Then, the greatest miracle of all happened -- God's Spirit moved with the Fear of God upon the animals and fowls. Those who sensed the swiftly descending Storm came bellowing, roaring, and screaming out of the forests, up the gangplank into the ark, fleeing for their lives. Those foolish, worldly, insensitive sons of God looked with apathy and disbelief upon God's last warning to them. Genesis 6:1-2; 7:13-15. God's time clock struck midnight -- God shut the door to the ark -- thousands of God's sons who would not believe His last message were locked out and destroyed. This is recorded in I Peter 3:18-20. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient [were only partially obedient], when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." Partial obedience will not save you and your family from the destruction of the Great Tribulation, dear mother and dad. Full obedience is necessary and vital! This prophetic revelation is directly from God and is fully corroborated by His Word.

RECONCILIATION

Most children have lost respect and trust in their parents -- Jesus foretold this in Matthew 10:34-35:

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law ..." Jesus also foretold of a worse "communication gap" or "generation gap" between parents and their children arising in the very near future: "Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death." Mark 13:12. How Horrible!

The ministry and work of reconciliation to the families of this end-time can only be effected by men with a special anointing of the spirit of Elijah. The last prophecy of God's old covenant was: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers ..." Malachi 4:5-6. This was fulfilled first in John the Baptist (Luke 1:15-17) -- Elijah in person will return to prophesy, but his spirit and anointing shall come first upon specially prepared prophets in this end-time. God spoke to me in Jamaica (1971) saying, "I have anointed you with the spirit and power of Elijah, and you will turn many of my people's hearts back to me -- and many parents and their families will be reconciled to me and to each other." The spirit of Elijah fell triumphantly in that great revival.

Not every righteous man has saved his family. Remember that Lot didn't! Jacob didn't (Hebrews 12:16-17)! David didn't! But, praise God, Job did (Job 1:4-5)! Even Rahab the harlot did, because she listened to God's warning! Joshua 6:25; Hebrews 11:31. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31. Just believing alone will not save you and your family -- you must obey! "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" James 2:20. Real believing is obedience and works of faith which God alone will accept.

Here is where to begin: God has commanded godly parents: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates." Deuteronomy 6:5-9. This must be practiced consistently, daily.

REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE

Speaking prophetically, Jesus warned, "Remember Lot's wife." Luke 17:32. Lot is the sign to our generation of a worldly Christian, a careless father and husband, caught in the grip of materialism -- the quest for popularity, world-conformity, money, pleasure, and ease; who failed to win his family to God or to be a godly example to condemn the ungodly society about him. Lot's wife became a symbol of a mother and Christian whose heart was overcharged with surfeiting, drunkenness, and cares of this life as expressed by Jesus in Luke 21:34-35, and her love for the world became a trap. The truth of the matter is that Brother and Sister Lot were like most Christians in today's affluent society -- they possessed more in their hands than love for God in their hearts. Like the church members of Revelation 2:5 that Jesus warned, "You have left your first love, so REPENT! QUICKLY!" World-conformity ruined Lot and his family. These parents had no godly influence over their family because of a love for the world, thus becoming a type of foolish virgins and not a raptured saint. Noah warned his family; they believed him, and were saved. Genesis 6:18. Noah was a perfect and holy man -- Lot, a worldly man, lost his family. This worldly man

was "just" but was not perfect, did not fear God, nor walk with God. II Peter 2:7. His sons and daughters scorned his warning about the destruction of Sodom. Genesis 19:12-14. Lot escaped only because of Abraham's intercession with the Lord: "And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt." Genesis 19:29. Beloved, if you are not sanctified holy, reaching for perfection with striving, and walking with God daily, let me warn you -- you had better, very quickly, identify yourself with some holy man of God who stands for the whole truth of God's Word, fasts and prays, who will make intercession to God for you and your family. This is the only hope of deliverance for a worldly Christian and his family.

Don't seek a miracle worker for God's message as this untoward generation is doing. God's messenger and prophet may be like John of whom Jesus said, "Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist." Luke 7:28. But the scriptures reveal also, "John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true." John 10:41. Seek God's true message and Holy Ghost revelations carefully with haste! Seek as God's true prophet has exhorted God's true saints to do in this end-time, judgment-bound generation: "Before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." Zephaniah 2:2-3.

WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND

TREMBLING

If the Holy Ghost commands each Christian to individually "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), then how much more pressing it is upon us to do so as parents who are responsible for our families as Noah was. Hebrews 11:7. Jesus said, speaking of entering the Kingdom of God, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Luke 13:24. "Striving" is an extreme effort, while "seeking" is a mild effort. "Strive" means to push, shove, elbow, and exert all our energies into the effort -- being relentless, untiring, and persevering! Noah is our sign -- a pattern and example for end-time saints to emulate -- one who strives! Lot and his wife are signs as warnings to worldly saints who make only half-hearted efforts for perfection and true holiness.

GOD SEEKS MODEL SAINTS

God's people are not reading their Bibles well -- nor listening to God's message. God seeks men and women, parents, who will be patterns of godliness to a perverted and degenerate society -- and to a deaf and blind church. God also seeks the youth of today to be sterling examples of the purity of Jesus: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers [to other Christians who haven't been taught holiness], in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." I Timothy 4:12. God has commanded mature Christians to teach worldly and "baby" Christians by setting themselves up as a pattern: "But speak thou [teach] the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men [mature] be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged [mature] women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness [that is, set an example], not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that

the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." Titus 2:1-8. Praise God! The Holy Ghost says in verse 8 for us to be a pattern of holiness, not be ashamed of it, and let the worldly Christian be the shamed one! Amen!

Some preach the following scripture as being God's plan or message to save a believing man or woman and the whole family -- this message is not complete, only the beginning of a revelation: The Philippian jailor cried out to the apostle Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:30-31. That was not the whole message -- only a part. The next verse (32) continues: "And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." The complete message of God's family plan was not recorded here -- only the first step! Many believers in Christ have lost their families because they stopped there -- that is, just believing on Christ, but failing to go on unto perfection. "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection." Hebrews 6:1. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." II Peter 3:18.

LIVE IN GRACE, NOT DISGRACE!

STUMBLINGBLOCKS

A worldly Christian is a stumblingblock to a weak brother in Christ and to the unregenerate. In the rising tribulation period God foretells, "I will consume ... the stumblingblocks with the wicked." Zephaniah 1:3. God is raising up prophets in America to perfect God's saints, to bring them into "the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man." Ephesians 4:11-13! Like Noah, a perfect man in his generations whom God used as His model or example to other sons of God, the Holy Ghost is working mightily through this prophetic message and revelation to prepare examples and patterns for God's saints in this last generation. "Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." Psalms 50:5. God is not speaking here of an animal sacrifice as the law required. "For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalms 51:16-17.

OUR BODIES ARE GOD'S TEMPLES

If our bodies are the temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in, they must be completely holy, outwardly and inwardly. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God [the human body], him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." I Corinthians 3:16-17; I Corinthians 6:19-20; II Corinthians 6:14-18.

Do you want to be saved from the destruction of the Gathering Storm? And save your family? Then you must do what God commands: "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." II Corinthians 7:1. Perfecting holiness! But you won't without the fear of God upon you and your house!

There is no parleying or compromise with God and His Word! No shortcuts! Shortcuts will lead you and your family into complete disaster. Your body as a saint cannot be defiled with cigarettes, wine or strong drink, beer or cocktails, lying, cursing, narcotics, or scanty attire, exposing your nudity. God seeks patterns! Examples of the people of God! If Jesus Christ is in you, you must not conform to worldly fashions of dress, entertainment, or lustful appetites. God says, "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world ... prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1-2. God seeks modest and shamefaced saints!

God said to Noah about the construction of the ark: "Pitch it within and without with pitch." Genesis 6:14. You see, both the inside and the outside must be prepared with perfection -- total preparedness! Our heart, soul, spirit, and body must be perfect for our ark to survive the Gathering Storm. We must do all that God commands us to save our whole family. It is either complete holiness or complete disaster. Time is running out! Move with the fear of God upon you now! Be an example to your children and loved ones! Let your light shine!

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14. Don't be a stumblingblock to the poor, the maimed, the blind, and the halt by failing to live holy. "Make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." Hebrews 12:13. Most Christians today are libertines as they profess liberty in Christ -- but it is sin! The Holy Ghost warns, "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak ... And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish [be lost], for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." I Corinthians 8:9, 11-12. It's a matter of love! Love for God and your neighbor! Mark 12:30-31.

God commands us as saints, "to possess his [our] vessel in sanctification and honor." I Thessalonians 4:4. Our body is that vessel in which the Holy Ghost seeks to dwell. He will depart from an unclean vessel or temple.

OUR CHILDREN MUST HAVE GODLY EXAMPLES

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture [teaching] and admonition [discipline] of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4. Parents, be an example! Talk godly! Dress godly! Dress your children in a holiness (godly) manner! "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old [mature], he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. Don't let these soothsaying preachers misguide you, telling you that God just looks on the heart! It is a lie! God looks on the body and it must be kept holy in every respect. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves [the body] in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array [decoration]. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." I Timothy 2:9-10. A godly woman will put off her jewelry, pearls, makeup, eye paint, pants, miniskirts, bobbed hair, bathing suits, and sexy dress, to be a pattern of godliness for others. This is a matter of love -- a real love for God, for your neighbor, and for your family! To do less is pride. The middle letter of pride is "I". Godly parents will not dress their children, especially their little girls, in these ungodly fashions either. Parents, you must watch your children's entertainment and what they read. Teach them the Word of God daily and pray with your children and for your children. Don't be foolish and be content with saying, "My child belongs to the

IN MEMORIAM

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalms 116:15. My precious old mother, Sister Leona Pringle, at 89 1/2 years, of Cortez, Florida, went to be with her Lord and Master, Jesus, on January 25, 1979. She was a true saint of God for 61 years of her long life. And, in the years of my lifetime I've never known of a failure, a lapse of faith or faithfulness, or a sin in her life. Jesus was her life and she trusted him fully for everything! She lived and died trusting God for her healing. She was perfectly healthy when she died while sitting in a comfortable chair -- just falling asleep in the arms of Jesus. On the day before her death, she spoke softly to me, "Son, I wish I could go to heaven." Twenty-four hours later her request was granted. Mama believed this scripture fully: "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: For we walk by faith, not by sight: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." II Cor. 5:6-8.

Few indeed are blessed with the rare privilege of being born of such a mother whose whole life is a symphony of total trust and faithfulness in the Lord, lived in pure holiness and godliness that has enriched my life.

She willed her property to me, because she desired the assets that she and my father acquired through hard labor, would be used in God's work. Praise God, we have my mother's last bequeath invested in this ministry to God's Glory and to that blessed old saint's reward in glory. As it was written of righteous Abel so shall it be of my mother's legacy: "God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." Hebrews 11:4.

A rare saint has passed on, but her legacy which she left to me, and in me, will continue to bless many thousands and enrich their lives through this ministry.

I want it to be said of me, a son given and brought up by this saintly mother to be a prophet of God, by those who know both my mother and me: "I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first ... in thy mother Eunice [Leona], and I am persuaded that [is] in thee also." II Timothy 1:5.

My mother was a real prayer warrior -- anointed with continuous intercessory prayer for her family, her relatives, her friends, the church and our nation. We cannot fill her shoes, but we can emulate her methods of victory over the flesh, the world, and the devil through a dedication to follow her sterling example of motherhood and discipleship by much prayer and fasting which she faithfully practiced.

By a loving son,

Bro. Ray Pringle

HOLINESS AND HAPPINESS

"Unless one is born again, one cannot be happy in this world. For it is not possible in the nature of things, that someone can become truly happy who is not holy."

-- John Wesley

Word of Prophecy Newsletter

Published by: Word of Prophecy Fellowship

P O Box 10200, Jacksonville, FL 32247

Editor Bro. Ray Pringle, a prophet of God

and an ordained minister of the

Calvary Chapel Church of God, Inc.

Associate Editor ... June Carpenter

Copyrighted - All rights reserved