Preparing
for 2026
D.P. Weary
January 2026
Preparing to prepare
We are hearing from many sources including pastors,
theologians, and Bible teachers that 2026 is to be a year of preparation. But,
preparation for what and how do we prepare? As Bible believers in Jesus
[Yeshua] we know that the answers to these questions lie in the Word of God,
the Bible. But we must remember that the Bible itself tells us that the truths,
the wisdom of God that are in the Bible are spiritual, are spiritually
discerned, and are revealed to believers by the Holy Spirit.
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature,
yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming
to nothing. 7 But we speak the
wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the
ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had
they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is
written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart
of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us
through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep
things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of
the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the
Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely
given to us by God. 13
These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which
the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the
natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned. [1Co 2:6-14 NKJV]
So, this article or teaching is being written to those who
have accepted Yeshua as their personal Lord and Savior. They have confessed
their sinful nature, have publicly confessed that Yeshua is the Son of God the
Father, and truly believe that He was crucified, died, then rose again alive.
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in
your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we
preach): 9 that if you
confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has
raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation. [Rom 10:8-10 NKJV]9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [1Jo 1:9
NKJV]
The moment someone accepts Yeshua as Lord and Savior,
something wonderful happens. They are born again.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is
imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's
power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time. [1Pe 1:3-5 ESV]
3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born again
he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to him,
"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his
mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which
is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' [Jhn 3:3-7 ESV]
Again - ἄνωθεν ánōthen, an'-o-then;
from G507; from above; by analogy, from the first; by
implication, anew:—from above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top.
There is only one way to become born again spiritually and
to be a part of the Kingdom of God, it is through Jesus [Yeshua]!
[Jhn 14:6 NKJV] 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
[Jhn 3:5 NKJV] 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to
you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of
God.
This new birth is by the Holy Spirit. We see when this
happened for the disciples.
19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day
of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for
fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them,
"Peace be with you." 20 When He had said this, He showed them His
hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So
Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also
send you." 22 And
when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the
Holy Spirit. 23 "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;
if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." [Jhn 20:19-23 NKJV]
The Holy Spirit could not be imparted into them until after
the Lord’s death and resurrection. When Yeshua came to them right after His
resurrection He breathed on them and imparted the Holy Spirit into them. And
they were “born again.” A new order of beings was created, a new man. Not yet
complete because this new man was still housed in an old, earthly body. Paul
called it a body of death [Rom 7:24]. But Yeshua did give them something
awesome, authority! Authority to even forgive sins [by leading them to Jesus]. Now
they had been given the authority to minister “in His name, the name of Yeshua
[Jesus].”
But then, after spending 40 days ministering and teaching
about the Kingdom of God, what did Yeshua do? He told them to go to Jerusalem
and wait for “the promise of the Father.”
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that
Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up,
after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He
had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by
many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of
the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded
them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,
"which," He said, "you have heard from Me; [Act 1:1-4 NKJV]
The 12 disciples,
along with other disciples, [120 in all, apparently now being born-again during
Yeshua’s 40 days of teaching in Jerusalem], obeyed in faith yet still fearful
because of the Romans. They went to an upper room in a house in Jerusalem and
waited for 10 days. They we born again, had been given authority, but what was
missing? What was this promise?
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded
them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,
"which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 "for John
truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not
many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked
Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to
Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or
seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." [Act 1:4-8 NKJV]
What was missing was the power to enforce their new
authority. A cop trying enforce the law against a criminal with a gun is in a
bad way. He needs a gun; he needs power to enforce the authority he has “in the
law.” These 120 disciples were born again, they had the Holy Spirit, they had
the power of the Holy Spirit within them. But, it had not been released. That
was the promise of the Father. The disciples had to be obedient, go to
Jerusalem, and wait in faith for the power to be effective in their new assignments
to be Yeshua’s witnesses to the end of the earth.
8 "But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
[Act 1:8 NKJV]
So, what happened? Acts 2 happened.
[Act 2:1-4, 16-21, 37-43 NKJV] 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from
heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they
were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and
one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ... 16
"But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 'And it shall come to
pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all
flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall
see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on
My maidservants I will
pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will
show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and
vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into
blood, Before the coming
of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass That
whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.' ... 37 Now when
they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of
the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to
them, "Repent, and
let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the
promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as
the Lord our God will call." 40 And with many other words he
testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse
generation." 41 Then
those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three
thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in
the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in
prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were
done through the apostles.
Here is where I feel I need to
address the church; the born-again believers in Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus the
Christ. The authority and power of the Holy Spirit is within you. The “fruit of
the Spirit” and the “gifts of the Spirit” are within you. But, have they been
released, manifested in and through you? This is an issue of quenching the Spirit.
There are some believers that know and have a relationship with the Father and
the Son, but not the Holy Spirit. This neglect of the Holy Spirit results in a
powerless, fruitless life. And further, since it is the Holy Spirit that is the
teacher and revealer of the wisdom, truths, and the deeper thing of the Word,
the Bible, it will be very difficult for even a believer to “know the times,
and know what to do” in the days ahead of us. These are days when the true
church needs to be like “the sons of Issachar.”
32 of
the sons of Issachar who
had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their
chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; [1Ch
12:23, 32 NKJV]
So, before we even begin to look at what we are to prepare
for and how to prepare, we need to all ask for a fresh revelation of the person
of the Holy Spirit. We need to develop a personal relationship with Him. To ask
the Father for a fresh release of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives,
and a fresh release of the Holy Spirit’s power and His gifts of office and
workings.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there
is no law. [Gal 5:22-23 NKJV]
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and
truth), [Eph 5:9 NKJV]
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be
ignorant: ... 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There
are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities
of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the
Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another
faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning
of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these
things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. [1Co 12:1,
4-11 NKJV]
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints
for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, [Eph
4:11-12 NKJV]
So, let’s begin seeking what to prepare for and how to
prepare with a prayer. A prayer all believers need to pray every day. A prayer
for a fresh revelation of the Holy Spirit, a fresh release of His character
[His fruit] in our lives, and a fresh release of His power. We also need to be
seeking and willing accept His personal assignments for each of us in the days
ahead.
“Father,
in the name of Yeshua I come to you today asking for fresh, new, and vibrant
relationship with the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, I want your fruit, the fruit of
the Spirit to manifest more and more in my life. I want a fresh anointing with
your power that I may be a powerful witness for the Godhead in the world around
me. I seek your giftings and office or assignment for the days ahead of me.
Teach me, equip me, and empower me to bring the Godhead glory and to be an
effective instrument in preparing the way of the Lord for the days ahead of
us.”
What are we to prepare for?
Now let’s ask the Holy Spirit, just what are we to prepare
for in 2026 and how are we to prepare?
The first thing we are going to do is a word search in the
Bible for “prepare.”
From the New Testament -
Prepare – hetoimazō - to make ready, prepare, to make the
necessary preparations, get everything ready
metaph.
drawn from the oriental custom of
sending on before kings on their journeys persons to level the roads and make
them passable
to prepare the minds of men to give
the Messiah a fit reception and secure his blessings
What immediately comes to mind are the scriptures dealing
with John the Baptist.
[Mat 3:1 NKJV] In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the
wilderness of Judea,
[Mat 3:2 NKJV] and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand!"
[Mat 3:3 NKJV] For this is he who was spoken of by the
prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.' "
[Mar 1:2 NKJV] As it is written in the Prophets:
"Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You."
[Mar 1:3 NKJV] "The voice of one crying in the
wilderness: 'Prepare the
way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' "
John the Baptist came in the spirit and anointing of the
prophet Elijah to prepare the way for the first coming of Jesus [Yeshua] to the
earth. But now the call is to prepare the way of the Lord for His second coming
before the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
[Mal 4:5 NKJV] Behold, I will send you Elijah the
prophet Before the coming
of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
It is not the true church that should be preparing the world
for the second coming of Jesus to the earth? What should the church be doing to
prepare? In part, just what John did! But now the call is to prepare the way
for the King, not the gentle Shepard, the Lamb of God. This second coming is a
day of judgment. It is the great and dreadful “day of the Lord.”
This “day of the LORD” is a day of judgment.
[2Pe 2:9 NKJV] then the Lord knows how to deliver the
godly out of temptations and
to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
[2Pe 3:7 NKJV] But the heavens and the earth which are
now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of
ungodly men.
[1Jo 4:17 NKJV] Love has been perfected among us in
this: that we may have
boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this
world.
[Psa 9:7 NKJV] But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for
judgment.
[Isa 9:7 NKJV] Of the increase of His government and
peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it
with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal
of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
[Jer 23:5 NKJV] "Behold, the days are
coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of
righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
[Joe 1:15 AMP] Alas for the day! For the [judgment] day of the LORD is
at hand, And it will come [upon the nation] as a destruction from the Almighty.
[Joe 2:1 AMP] Blow the trumpet in Zion [warning of impending judgment],
Sound an alarm on My holy mountain [Zion]! Let all the inhabitants of the land
tremble and shudder in fear, For the [judgment] day of the LORD is coming; It
is close at hand,
[Joe 3:14 AMP] Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of
decision (judgment)! For
the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision [when judgment is
executed].
[Amo 5:18 AMP] Woe (judgment is coming) to you who desire the day of the
LORD [expecting rescue from the Gentiles]! Why would you want the day of
the LORD? It is darkness
(judgment) and not light [and rescue and prosperity];
[Oba 1:15 AMP] "For the [judgment] day of the LORD draws near on
all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you [in retribution];
Your [evil] dealings will return on your own head.
[Zep 1:14 AMP] The great [judgment] day of the LORD is near, Near and
coming very quickly. Listen! The [voice of the] day of the LORD! The
warrior cries out bitterly [unable to fight or to flee].
[Eze 30:3 NET] For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near; it will
be a day of storm clouds, it will be a time of judgment for the nations.
[Amo 5:18 NET] Woe to those who wish for the day of the LORD! Why do you
want the LORD's day of judgment to come? It will bring darkness, not light.
Now let’s go back and see if we can find some Old Testament
scriptures that are dealing with “preparing the way of the Lord.” Especially those that deal with
the Lord’s second coming.
[Isa 40:1 NKJV] "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" Says your
God.
[Isa 40:2 NKJV] "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and
cry out to her, That her warfare
is ended, That her iniquity
is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD's hand Double for all
her sins."
[Isa 40:3 NKJV] The voice of one crying in the
wilderness: "Prepare
the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
[Isa 40:4 NKJV] Every valley shall be exalted And every
mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And
the rough places smooth;
[Isa 40:5 NKJV] The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh
shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
[Isa 40:6 NKJV] The voice said, "Cry out!"
And he said, "What
shall I cry?" "All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is
like the flower of the field.
[Isa 40:7 NKJV] The grass withers, the flower fades,
Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.
[Isa 40:8 NKJV] The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our
God stands forever."
[Isa 40:10 NKJV] Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm
shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.
With respect to preparing the way of the Lord, Isaiah tells
us to comfort His people Israel, that their warfare is ended, their iniquity
pardoned. Isaiah tells us that the glory of the LORD will be revealed and that
all flesh will see it. He tells us that the Lord will come with a strong hand
to rule, that His reward is with Him and His work before Him.
This last sentence might be a prophecy about the Lord’s
second coming at the end of the seven years of tribulation. Isaiah tells us
that He will come to rule with a work before Him. This might be referring to
the 1000-year rule of Jesus on the earth after His return. The reward that is
“with” Him is probably His Bride, the raptured true church.
The last verse of Isaiah 40 reassures us that those who
trust in the Lord will have what it takes to deal with all the events leading
up to His return.
[Isa 40:31 NKJV] But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their
strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be
weary, They shall walk and not faint.
The prophet Malichi also gives us some clues as he deals
with the days of the coming of Elijah before the awesome day of the Lord’s
coming.
"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare
the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple;
and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
[Mal 3:1 ESV]
But who can
endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire
and like fullers' soap. [Mal 3:2 ESV]
He will sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and
silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. [Mal 3:3
ESV]
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be
pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. [Mal 3:4
ESV]
"Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift
witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear
falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and
the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear
me, says the LORD of hosts. [Mal 3:5 ESV]
"For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the
arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall
set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither
root nor branch. [Mal 4:1 ESV]
But for you who
fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like
calves from the stall. [Mal 4:2 ESV]
"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules
that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. [Mal 4:4 ESV]
"Behold, I
will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD
comes. [Mal 4:5 ESV]
And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the
hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land
with a decree of utter destruction." [Mal 4:6 ESV]
Malichi tells us that these days are days of the Lord’s
judgment. Days of refining like the purifying of silver. Days when the arrogant
and all evildoers will be stubble in a fire. But for those who “fear His name”,
those that have put their trust and faith in Yeshua, righteousness will rise with
healing in its wings.
But is there more to this word “prepare” than this. Did the
Old Testament give us more information about the days ahead?
Let’s see what looking up the word “prepare” [azar in the
Hebrew] might show us.
"The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are
girded with strength. [1Sa 2:4 NKJV]
For You
have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who
rose against me. [2Sa 22:40 NKJV]
It is God who
arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect. [Psa 18:32 NKJV]
For You
have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who
rose up against me. [Psa 18:39 NKJV]
"Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I
command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you
before them. [Jer 1:17 NKJV]
[Jos 1:9 NKJV] "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good
courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you
wherever you go."
What we find are many references to war. There are
assurances of victory, defeat of the enemy, and strength for God’s people. We
find that God arms His people with strength for the battles and subdued their
enemies. God admonishes His people to prepare, arise, speak all that He has
commanded, and not be dismayed, be strong, of good courage, and not be afraid
[do not fear]. Over 50 times in the Bible, God’s people are told “do not fear”.
Fear is one of Satan’s favorite weapons. The days ahead of us will be days of
war and battles, both in the natural and spiritual.
What will these days be like?
We see that in the days ahead of us we are dealing with the days preceding the Lord’s
return to the earth. So, what will these days be like? What are we to
prepare for?
[2Ti 3:1 NKJV] But know this, that in the last days perilous
times will come:
[2Ti 3:2 NKJV] For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[2Ti 3:3 NKJV] unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control,
brutal, despisers of good,
[2Ti 3:4 NKJV] traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather
than lovers of God,
[2Ti 3:5 NKJV] having a form of godliness but denying its power. And
from such people turn away!
[2Ti 3:6 NKJV] For of this sort are those who creep into households and
make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various
lusts,
[2Ti 3:7 NKJV] always learning and never able to come to the knowledge
of the truth.
[2Pe 3:3 NKJV] knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last
days, walking according to their own lusts,
[2Pe 3:4 NKJV] and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?
For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the
beginning of creation."
The disciples ask Jesus this same question In Matthew 24.
[Mat 24:3 NKJV]
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately,
saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end
of the age?"
[Mat 24:4 NKJV] And Jesus answered and said to them:
"Take heed that no one deceives
you.
[Mat 24:5 NKJV] "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the
Christ,' and will deceive
many.
[Mat 24:6 NKJV] "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the
end is not yet.
[Mat 24:7 NKJV] "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
[Mat 24:8 NKJV] "All these are the beginning of
sorrows.
[Mat 24:9 NKJV] "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation
and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.
[Mat 24:10 NKJV] "And then many will be offended,
will betray one another,
and will hate one another.
[Mat 24:11 NKJV] "Then many false prophets will rise up and
deceive many.
[Mat 24:12 NKJV] "And because lawlessness will abound,
the love of many will grow cold.
[Mat 24:13 NKJV] "But he who endures to the end
shall be saved.
[Mat 24:14 NKJV] "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in
all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Jesus tells us that the days ahead of us will be days of
great deception, including in the religious world with many false prophets.
There will be wars and rumors of wars and conflicts between nations and ethnic groups.
There will be serious famines, pestilences, and earthquakes around the world.
There will be persecution and conflict against both Christians and Jews,
especially for those that believe in Jesus [“for My name’s sake”]. Finally, we
are told that lawlessness will abound [flourish, greatly grow]. But we are also
told that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a
witness to all the nations!
What we notice immediately is that all these things are
occurring right now. There were 11 major wars occurring in 2024 and the number
escalated in 2025. There we 100 to 150 border armed conflicts in 2024 and again
the number escalated in 2025.” As we enter 2026 the issue of wars and ethnic
conflicts is escalating dramatically.
“In 2025, there were 16 major earthquakes worldwide. Major
earthquakes are typically defined as those with a magnitude of 7.0 or higher
(Mw) on the moment magnitude scale, according to standards used by the USGS and
in seismic summaries. This number aligns with the global average of about 15–16
such events per year (based on records since 1900), though 2025 was notably
active and deadly due to high-impact events.” Grok
As 2026 begins several large earthquakes have already
occurred and earthquake activity is predicted to increase dramatically.
In 2025, there were 71 confirmed volcanic eruptions
worldwide, involving activity at 63 different volcanoes. Of these, 29 were new
eruptions that began during the year, while others were continuations from
previous years.” Grok
New
activity/unrest was reported for 5 volcanoes from January 8 to 14, 2026. During
the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 22 volcanoes.
The current level of persecution of Christians and Jews,
famines, lawlessness, and corruption, deception, and just plain evil around the
world these days speak for themselves. In the days ahead, these things will
only get worse. These are the things Jesus told us to prepare for. Thess things
are the beginning of the birth pains of the second coming of Yeshua, Yeshua the
King!
So, how do we prepare for and deal with such days as
these?
First, we remember that the battles are the Lord’s.
Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me
with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name
of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
[1Sa 17:45 NKJV]
"This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will
strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses
of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of
the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. [1Sa
17:46 NKJV]
"Then all
this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for
the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands." [1Sa 17:47 NKJV]
So, the preparation is for the second coming of the Lord.
The preparation includes having the fear of the Lord, remembering His law and
commandments, repentance, speaking to the people all that He commanded, and not
being dismayed or fearful. We are also to know that the battle is His and that
He will equipment or arm us with strength for the battles ahead.
With respect to preparing the way of the Lord, Isaiah tells
us to comfort His people (Israel), that their warfare is ended, their iniquity
pardoned. Isaiah tells us that the glory of the LORD will be revealed and that
all flesh will see it. He tells us that the Lord will come with a strong hand
to rule, that His reward is with Him and His work before Him.
The last verse of Isaiah 40 reassures us that those who
trust in the Lord will have what it takes to deal with all the events leading
up to His return.
Malichi tells us that these days are day of the Lord’s
judgment. Days of refining like the purifying of silver. Days when the arrogant
and all evildoers will be stubble in a fire. But for those who “fear His name”,
those that have put their trust and faith in Yeshua, righteousness will rise
with healing in its wings.
There are assurances of victory; defeat of the enemy and
strength for God’s people. That God arms His people with strength for the
battles and subdued their enemies. God admonishes His people to prepare, arise,
speak all that He has commanded, and not be dismayed, be strong, of good
courage, and not be afraid [do not fear]. Over 50 times in the Bible, God’s
people are told “do not fear”. Fear is one of Satan’s favorite weapons.
The disciple Peter gives us some advice about how to live
in days such as these.
[2Pe 3:10 NKJV] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the
night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will
be burned up.
[2Pe 3:11 NKJV] Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
[2Pe 3:12 NKJV] looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat?
[2Pe 3:13 NKJV] Nevertheless we, according to His
promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
[2Pe 3:14 NKJV] Therefore, beloved, looking forward to
these things, be diligent
to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
[2Pe 3:15 NKJV] and consider that the longsuffering of
our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the
wisdom given to him, has written to you,
[2Pe 3:16 NKJV] as also in all his epistles, speaking
in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which
untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also
the rest of the Scriptures.
[2Pe 3:17 NKJV] You therefore, beloved, since you know
this beforehand, beware
lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error
of the wicked;
[2Pe 3:18 NKJV] but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
More instructions
What are we to do? We should do and preach what John the
Baptist did. What should the church be doing and preaching? Just what John did!
John’s assignment was to “Prepare the way of the LORD” for
His first coming to the earth. His How was he preparing the way? What was he
doing and saying [preaching]?
[Mar 1:4 NKJV] John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins.
[Mar 1:5 NKJV] Then all the land of Judea, and those
from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
[Luk 1:17 NKJV] "He will also go before Him in the spirit and power
of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the
Lord."
[Luk 3:3 NKJV] And he went into all the region around
the Jordan, preaching a
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,
[Luk 3:4 NKJV] as it is written in the book of the
words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the
wilderness: 'Prepare the
way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.
[Luk 3:5 NKJV] Every valley shall be filled And every
mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And
the rough ways smooth;
[Luk 3:6 NKJV] And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'
"
[Luk 3:7 NKJV] Then he said to the multitudes that came
out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
[Luk 3:8 NKJV] "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do
not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to
you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
[Luk 3:9 NKJV] "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree which
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
[Luk 3:10 NKJV] So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"
[Luk 3:11 NKJV] He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let
him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
[Luk 3:12 NKJV] Then tax collectors also came to be
baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
[Luk 3:13 NKJV] And he said to them, "Collect no more than what
is appointed for you."
[Luk 3:14 NKJV] Likewise the soldiers asked him,
saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone
or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."
[Luk 3:15 NKJV] Now as the people were in expectation,
and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,
[Luk 3:16 NKJV] John answered, saying to all, "I
indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal
strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
[Luk 3:17 NKJV] "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will
thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn;
but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."
- He was calling the people
to confess and repent of their sins.
- Warning the people that
the kingdom of heaven was at hand.
- He was baptizing people. A
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
- He came in the spirit and
power of Elijah.
- He came “to turn the
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom
of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
- He preached bearing fruits
worthy of repentance.
- He was warning that, every
person which does not bear good fruit would eventually be cut down and
thrown into the fire.
- He warning against unjust
financial gain.
- He admonished people to
take care of the poor and needy [give them clothing and food].
- He warned the people with
power and authority [soldiers] to not intimidate anyone, accuse falsely,
and to be content with their wages [not using their positions to gain
money, power, or prestige].
- He came warning of the wrath to come.
John the Baptist came in the spirit and anointing of the
prophet Elijah to prepare the way for the first coming of Jesus [Yeshua] to the
earth. His message was to prepare people for the church age. The message of the
Gospel was to be spread throughout the whole world.
[Mat 28:19 NKJV] "Go therefore and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit,
[Mat 28:20 NKJV] "teaching them to observe all
things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end
of the age." Amen.
But now we are preparing the way for the Lord’s second
coming
Now we have additional revelations that John did not have. As
never before we have the responsibility to share, preach, and teach gospel, the
good news. God sent His son Jesus to the earth to shed His blood as a payment
for our sins that in and through Him we might have everlasting life as sons and
daughters of God the Father and as the Bride of the Son, Jesus!
But we also have the New Testament prophecies about the
second coming of the Lord. Especially the book of Revelation. We have the responsibility to
preach and teach about the Lord’s second coming as a warning and witness to the
world that everything is about to change. The Kingdom of God is about to come
to the earth. The
day of judgment is upon us. The King is coming to rule and reign for
1000 years upon the earth. The true church should be preparing the world for
the second coming of Jesus to the earth.
John the Baptist carried the anointing of Elijah and was
preparing the way for Yeshua Moshiach, Jesus the Messiah. The true church has
the anointing of the Holy Spirit and should be preparing the way of the Lord,
for Yeshua ha Melek, Jesus the King! We should be bold and warn the world that “the day of judgment” is
coming soon.
Certainly, making disciples and teaching them to observe all
thing the Lord commanded is essential. This call is urgent because the day of
judgment is near.
[Mat 28:19 NKJV] "Go therefore and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit,
[Mat 28:20 NKJV] "teaching them to observe all
things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end
of the age." Amen.
But preparing to be more than just survivors, to be
overcomers and victors, to have a hope and even joy in a glorious future involves
knowing what events lie in this future and how God deals with these current
“days” of evil [Eph 5:16]. This is the very reason God spent over more than 25
percent of the Bible dealing with eschatology, the study of the last days, the
day of the Lord. Preparing the way of the Lord for His second coming involves
preaching and teaching about these events. But understanding these things
requires something more. It requires the Holy Spirit!
This takes us back to the beginning of this article; the
need for the Holy Spirit. The prophet Daniel was told many things about these
last days, the day of the Lord. But he did not understand.
[Dan 12:1 NKJV] "At that time Michael shall stand
up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there
shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to
that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Everyone who is
found written in the book.
[Dan 12:2 NKJV] And many of those who sleep in the dust
of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and
everlasting contempt.
[Dan 12:3 NKJV] Those who are wise shall shine Like the
brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the
stars forever and ever.
[Dan 12:4 NKJV] "But you, Daniel, shut up the
words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro,
and knowledge shall increase."
[Dan 12:8 NKJV]
Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, what shall
be the end of these things?"
[Dan 12:9 NKJV]
And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed
till the time of the end.
[Dan 12:10 NKJV]
"Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do
wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall
understand.
[Dan 12:13 NKJV] "But you, go your way till the
end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the
days."
God told Daniel that the words were sealed until the time of
the end. Then “the wise” would understand. Now we know that this “wisdom” comes
by revelation from the Holy Spirit. The true church needs to know and have a
relationship with the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit! That is
where the wisdom to really know and understand the things of the last days comes
from. When we know and
have a relationship with the Holy Spirit we will understand, have a part to
play, and the authority and power to execute our assignments.
Days of battles
Because we now know that these days are days of “battle” a
significant part of our assignments will be as the Lord’s spiritual warriors.
The true church is to be on the offensive! Our weapon is the Word of God, the
sword of the Spirit.
The apostle Paul gives us some instructions.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
[Eph 6:10 NKJV]
Put on the whole
armor of God, that
you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [Eph 6:11 NKJV]
For we
do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts
of wickedness in the heavenly places. [Eph 6:12 NKJV]
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [Eph 6:13 NKJV]
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, [Eph 6:14 NKJV]
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [Eph
6:15 NKJV]
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. [Eph 6:16 NKJV]
And take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; [Eph 6:17 NKJV]
praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Spirit, being
watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
[Eph 6:18 NKJV]
This is call to spiritual warfare, to warfare prayer. This
is praying into and according to God’s plans for the last days and against
Satan’s plans against God’s people. Once again, this requires knowing God’s
plans for these days and knowing Satan’s plans and schemes. It also requires
understanding spiritual warfare. These are the things the true church should be
teaching and doing to prepare for the days just ahead of us!
Even though the days ahead might be days of trial, of darkness, evil, and sword still, we know the end of the story. The LORD wins and
righteousness is being restored! And because of Him, we, the true church, wins.
The King is coming! And we
are now the voice in the desert crying, “prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
The good news
But there is more!
Even though the days ahead will be days of war, trials, and spiritual warfare,
for the born-again believer there is very good news! The Lord himself is going to insure that His bride
will not experience the days of judgment and wrath.
1Th
1:10 and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead,
{that is} Jesus, who
rescues us from the wrath to come
We the true Church are now waiting for Jesus to come and rescue us from
the wrath to come. From (ek = out of, from, by, away from)
Rev
3:10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from
the hour of testing, that {hour} which is about to come upon the whole world,
to test those who dwell on the earth.
[1Th 5:9 KJV] For God hath not appointed us to
wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
One of the more
controversial events of the Last Days is what has been popularly called the
Rapture of the Church. This doctrine has been much maligned in the church when
it has been presented as an escape from all the troubles of the world rather
than as a promise from God
to keep His children from the wrath of God that is to come upon the earth in
the last days. This has robbed the church of the comfort, hope,
encouragement, and motivation to spread the Gospel that is to be found in the
doctrine of this catching away of the church before the wrath of God is poured
out upon the earth.
1 Thessalonians
tells us that there will be a catching away of the true Church to meet the Lord
in the air.
[1Th 4:13 NKJV] But I do not want
you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you
sorrow as others who have no hope.
[1Th 4:14 NKJV] For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep
in Jesus.
[1Th 4:15 NKJV] For this we say to
you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming
of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
[1Th 4:17 NKJV] Then we who are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
[1Th 4:18 NKJV] Therefore comfort
one another with these words.
Looking at this same event in 1 Corinthians:
[1Co 15:50 NKJV] Now this I say,
brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does
corruption inherit incorruption.
[1Co 15:51 NKJV] Behold, I tell you
a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
[1Co 15:53 NKJV] For this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[1Co 15:54 NKJV] So when this
corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is
swallowed up in victory."
[1Co 15:55 NKJV] "O Death,
where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
[1Co 15:56 NKJV] The sting of death
is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
[1Co 15:57 NKJV] But thanks be to
God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[1Co 15:58 NKJV] Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Concerning when
this will happen:
[1Th 5:1 NKJV] But concerning the
times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
[1Th 5:3 NKJV] For when they say, "Peace
and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon
a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
This verse is important because many people will be deceived not
expecting a time of “peace and safety” before the wrath of God is poured out
and the days of the great tribulation begin.
[1Th 5:4 NKJV] But you, brethren, are not in
darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
[1Th 5:5 NKJV] You are all sons of
light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
[1Th 5:6 NKJV] Therefore let us not
sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
[1Th 5:8 NKJV] But let us who are of the day be
sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope
of salvation.
[1Th 5:9 NKJV] For God did not appoint us to
wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
[1Th 5:10 NKJV] who died for us, that whether we
wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
[1Th 5:11 NKJV] Therefore comfort each other and
edify one another, just as you also are doing.
O.T. prophecies of the Rapture:
Zep 2:3 Seek the LORD, All you humble of
the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek
humility. Perhaps you will
be hidden In the day of the LORD'S anger.
The righteous will be hidden in the
day of the Lord’s anger.
Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms And close your doors behind
you; Hide for a little
while Until indignation runs {its} course.
Isa 26:21 For behold, the LORD is about to come out from
His place To punish
the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth will
reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain.
God’s people will be hidden until
the indignation (or judgment) runs its course.
Psa 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His
tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.
The righteous are to be concealed in the secret place
of His tent (tabernacle) in the day of trouble.
Psa 31:20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence
from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
Hidden in the secret place of His presence from the
conspiracies of man.
Psa 57:1 Be gracious to me, O God, be
gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction passes by.
The righteous are hidden in the shadow of His wings
until the destruction passes by.
Psa 91:8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked.
The righteous will not be a part of the judgment of the
wicked.
Psa 91:9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
{Even} the Most High, your dwelling
place.
So, part of the preparing for the days ahead is to comfort,
encourage, and build up the true church with these words.
The keys
In the end, it is
faith in God, [the Father, the Son Yeshua, and the Holy Spirit], and in their
Word, the Bible, that will be needed in the coming days. It is by faith that we
know that everything happening in our world today is part of God’s master plan,
His “Greatest Story Ever Told.” He is in
control. The last “chapter” of the Story involves days “of great trial of famine and darkness and sword,” faith in the Word
of God carries us through because we know Him and we know the end of the Story.
God is awesome and glorious and the end of the story is awesome and glorious! The King is coming for His Bride
the true church. He is coming to fulfil His covenant promises to Israel. He is
coming to establish His Kingdom on the earth!
This faith comes by hearing by the Word of God [Rom 10:17].
This Word of God, especially the Gospel, the prophets concerning the last days,
and spiritual warfare must be preached, taught, and shared to prepare the world
for the coming years. To do this with wisdom, understanding, authority, and
power requires knowing and having a relationship with the third person of the
Godhead, the Holy Spirit!
Therefore,
we pray:
“Father,
in the name of Yeshua I come to you today asking for fresh, new, and vibrant
relationship with the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, I want your fruit, the fruit of
the Spirit to manifest more and more in my life. I want a fresh anointing with
your power that I may be a powerful witness for the Godhead in the world around
me. I seek your giftings and office or assignment for the days ahead of me.
Teach me, equip me, and empower me to bring the Godhead glory and to be an
effective instrument in preparing the way of the Lord for the days ahead of
us.”
Prepare ye the way of
the Lord.
“These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the word of the Lord
And these are the days of your servant Moses
Righteousness being restored
And though these are days of great trial
Of famine and darkness and sword
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
Prepare
ye the way of the Lord”
THE KING
IS COMING
