The start of 2012 is here. Whew! Thank God, many are saying. 2011 is over. What a year! There are few people who are sad about the passing of this last year.

Well, if you thought that was difficult, you haven’t seen anything yet. What did you think all this was going to be like as we move to the soon return of Jesus to collect his Church, the seven-year tribulation period, Armageddon, and then the 1000-year rule of Jesus from Jerusalem?

It has now been about 22 years since God so dramatically called me to a totally different life. The years since have been amazing, astounding, difficult, hard, with his continuing revelation of himself and what is to come and his tireless training of me. If you are open to it, God is always refining.

God is real, Jesus is real, the Bible is true, the Holy Spirit is real, the devil is real, demons are real, angels are real---all this is a big thing to get down and adjust to. Most on earth, even those who profess to be Christians, do not live as if they believe that is true. If they did, they would have to obey all Jesus said, all God said. They would have to have Jesus as Lord of their lives. I don’t see too much of that, do you?

It’s time, I think, to look at the fundamentals of where we are and what God has called us to do. What is the message of this ministry?

• The return of Jesus is imminent.

• Jesus took care of everything that separates people from God. How many times have you heard my saying this? It’s true. Everything. Sin, sickness, death, curses of the law, lack, shame, regret, and so on (see our CDs – What Did Jesus Do? – Parts 1, 2, and 3). Now it is up to you.

• It is finished. Jesus said this as his last words on the cross in the book of John. At this time it has at least two applications:

•      “It is finished” relates to the point above: he took care of everything that separated people from God. All that was necessary to reconcile people to God had been done.

•      “It is finished” also is a good description of the age we have been living in since Jesus was on earth almost 2000 years ago. This age, called the church age, is finished - oh, yes, there may be days and weeks and even a few years, we just don’t know the precise date of his coming, but his coming is imminent and this age is finished.

• By Jesus stripes you have been healed and made whole. How many times have you heard me say this? This is a phrase you should know and apply daily to yourself and others. 

That is our message. And we pursue it under the specifics of God’s call on my life. He began to give me that many years ago and has updated and modified and added to it since. Here is the most recent update of God’s basic call on my life that I am able to share:

MY CALL – (This was received the morning of June 20, 2011, a couple days after doing a Day of Healing program in Georgia.)

John, preach good news to the poor,

Heal the brokenhearted,

Give sight to the blind,

And tell people I am coming soon.

The good news of course is the gospel message, the account of what God has done through Jesus. And the poor are all those meek enough, humble enough to be open to hear the message and receive it.

The brokenhearted are all those on earth who have come to the end of their ball of yarn. Like all of us, they have worked hard at living to fulfill what they have understood was their role, and they have worn out, or crashed, or come to the realization they just don’t know what to do. Their marriages, or careers, or family relationships, or inner peace and happiness in life, just haven’t worked out. They don’t know what to do. Now God can work on their hearts, and they can really move forward with him.

The blind of course are all those who can’t see the truth, who don’t know Jesus or the gospel, who are focused on and involved in this world system that is such a flaming disaster. Any of these open enough to receive can have the ability to see the truth, to receive what God has for them.

And of course always, telling people he is coming soon is fundamental and also is received only by those open to the truth.

Since the return is so imminent, let’s look at the fundamentals there:

• JESUS IS COMING TO COLLECT HIS CHURCH – This is known by some as the rapture, and involves his calling all believers to join him in the clouds, where they all receive new glorified bodies and go on with him and the Father in the Kingdom. This could happen anytime. There is nothing in the Bible that must happen before Jesus comes and collects this CHURCH. By the way, Jesus’ CHURCH is that group of people who truly believe him. He is their Lord. It doesn’t matter whether they are always in a monastery, or lying under a tree somewhere, working on a boat, or fishing on a Caribbean island, or working in a skyscraper. If they are his, they are going when he calls. Jesus said to me years ago when he was making a point about my call, “My church is not bricks and mortar. It is not choirs and fine robes. It is all those who have given themselves to me.”

• TRIBULATION – This horribly difficult seven year period also will begin soon. As we have written and presented in programs, the signs are all here. The events in the Middle East are setting the state for this event. This is a terribly tough period for those who are here to suffer through it. The antichrist will be operating openly, there will be much suffering and death, the battle of Armageddon will be fought at the end when Jesus annihilates the armies that come against him, and then the 1000 years of Jesus’ rule on earth from Jerusalem will begin.

• WHY A TRIBULATION? Some no doubt wonder. God doesn’t need to demonstrate his power to all those who will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire, does he? The great reason for the Tribulation is that this wonderful God that is our God wants to give people yet another chance to know Jesus and to come be part of the Kingdom. He reveals his great power and glory in no uncertain terms. And some on earth do come to God. Many do! In Revelation 7:14 we see that an enormous number of people become believers during the Tribulation. They are called tribulation saints.

So there you have it – the message of our ministry, my base assignment that I feel free to reveal, and the imminent change of events here on earth. Don’t understand all this? We have produced many CDs and television programs on all these subjects. You can request the CDs over the web site or by calling or writing. And you can watch many of the television programs over our web site and on YOUTUBE. You can listen to and watch all about the return, what happens next, Jesus’ coming in the clouds, all that Jesus did for you and me, healing, how to fight the attacks of the evil one in his desperate last days, the Holy Spirit, and much more. But you do have to look us up on the Internet, or call, or write, or stop by the office, or come to our meetings, or services, or open your Bible and read. Especially do the last if nothing else! If you don’t know what to read, read the four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (especially Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 on the return), 1st Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, the book of Revelation, and the last chapter of Zechariah. There is much more of course, like the book of Joel.

For some time, especially these last few months, I have been fighting the spiritual heaviness that lies over this world, and I cannot deny I do get tired of this. I pray for the strength and the patience and the endurance to run the race to the conclusion, as Paul said. One aspect of these end times is that deception increases, no doubt about it. People who pretend to be one thing but are another. That deception is not only among obvious people such as politicians and even some national ministers, but among lesser known individuals. And I warn you about that.

I say to you that in these last days you must know the Holy Spirit and his guidance. Especially the gift of discernment is important, that you may understand who is speaking truth and who is not. So you must be spiritually sensitive. And while you are being sensitive, you will also have to be strong, even hard in standing on the truth. You cannot compromise with deception, with the world. Remember, the first words out of Jesus’ mouth when his disciples asked about his return were "Watch that you are not deceived." So I say that to you.

May God bless you with energy and strength to search out his truths so you will be prepared for what is to happen. And may you not slumber and sleep. Do not consider tolerance of this world or getting along with others as a top priority in life. Do not care what others think. Your faith and your actions must be in line with the King of everything.

Things are happening very quickly now. I have much I’d like to get out to everyone. Unfortunately, we can’t see everyone in person nor can everyone watch our programs, except for those we put on the web site. So in coming months I plan to increase the teaching communications. We will still send out the once a month newsletters as we do now. In addition we will as time allows send out more of the Signs of the Times emails and a new feature, Watchman Warnings, to all those on our email list. If you’re not on the list, let us know your email. And we will be posting some of these on the web site and on my blog.

Also, we are currently going over plans for programs and meetings to be held this year. Because of the current situation and the rapid move to Jesus’ return, we are concentrating on programs of three or more sessions. These consist of one session on who Jesus is and all he did, one on the return of Jesus, and one program/service on divine healing. We may vary that as the specific location permits, but these are the primary focus. Jesus is coming back, and our attention has to be on him and his return. For places that want our Day of Healing program, we will just work in the other subjects and sessions as possible.

If you would like us to visit your area, please write, email, or call so we might consider your request. In general, if we are invited by a church that is open to our ministry with no strings attached, we will go to that church. Otherwise, our meetings and services are held in hotel ballrooms and other meeting rooms, civic centers, and such. We are happy to consider places we have never thought of. And we greatly appreciate any help you and your friends and family can be in setting up local meetings. Lastly, we are happy to work in small places as well as large places if that can be arranged, so just let us know any requests. Partners help us a great deal in some of the locales we go to, while in others we are pretty much alone unless God brings someone forward.

Please also pray for us and the ministry as we go forward – provision, protection, opportunities as God desires, and receipt and understanding of all God reveals are all good prayer subjects. We need and cherish your prayers. We also pray for all our partners and over all prayer requests you send us.

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May you live in the blessings of God every day in 2012. Remember, if you know him you have the opportunity for joy, provision, healing, and so much more – even in a difficult world. Above all, amidst all the confusion that is sure to characterize this world, Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

Cathy and I love you all.

John