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September 18, 2001 Terrorist Attack on the United States
A year ago, I had stood atop the World Trade Center and enjoyed the magnificent panorama of the city at sunset. Now, that pinnacle is gone and possibly thousands of lives snuffed out with it. More than that, like a candle pinched out, our sense of safety as a nation of free people has abruptly ended. America's modern childhood has suddenly ceased in an unbelievable violation. Nothing will ever be the same. War has touched our shores for the very first time. As a Christian, I know our Lord has said "There will be wars." I refuse to let my heart be fearful. I trust in God. I pray for those suffering. When events affect nations, there is a larger purpose being worked than we can know. Sometimes the death of thousands can result in the salvation of millions. Something is about to be shaken in heaven and on earth. Two shakings. This isn't finished yet. There is more to come. What will President Bush do? This is his first crisis. Government leaders are responsible to keep the peace. They "bear not the sword in vain," the apostle Paul wrote. Leaders of great nations must be like fathers who defend their families, not hippy hand-wringers who whine at unfairness. Evil is real. Vigilance is needed. Resolute action is required. This is certain: there is an evil veil, an unseen power behind the headlines and behind the chanting crowds, that shrouds the hearts and clouds the minds of millions, poisoning innocent souls with venomous hellish hatred which must be halted and ultimately healed. Only the power of Christ can do this. Only love can over come hate. Only Jesus can remove death's sting. And we must all get over our fear of death if we are to be of any use to God. There is a time for war. Earlier this year, I heard prophet Chuck Pierce say, God says, "I will restore the war mantle of my church." I have also heard Dutch Sheets say, "God will shift things." On September 11, everything shifted. The nations of the earth are re-aligning. When God allows affairs of the globe to affect nations, it is for His end-time purpose. The transition from peace to war which is now occurring in America reflects the move to a war footing which God desires for his entire global church. Even in this mind-numbing holocaust, we must appreciate that this assault was limited. The fourth plane did not reach its intended target. God protected America's Capitol and our President. Just enough carnage was done to awaken a sleeping giant. A trumpet call to war is being fashioned from the dust of the rubble. It is important to know what this is NOT. God isn't cursing America or killing our leaders. The curse which has taken the life of every twentieth president in the United States has been broken. I was present when it was prophetically dealt with by a large gathering of Christian leaders twenty years, when Derek Prince led a prayer which ended its power. Shortly after that, the assasination attempt on President Reagan's life failed. The fall of the World Trade Center is not the fall of Babylon nor is it the collapse of the world's economic system. This is not the cataclysmic judgment spoken of in the Book of Revelation. That judgement is against God's enemies. And America is not an enemy of God. Indeed, this vicious attack came right after America stood with Israel against anti-Zionist resolutions in the UN conference on Racism in South Africa two weeks ago. Prior to the incident and subsequent to it, I have had two insights. The first was a ten days ago. It was too general to to say what I had heard. It was simply this: "I will shake the heavens and the earth..." (Haggai 2:6). It was clear there would be TWO shakings. It seemed to me that it would affect the sky and the ground. But that was all I saw. By the way, this promise of a shaking is repeated and applied in the end times in Hebrews 12:26, referring to God's voice shaking the earth, impermanent things being removed, and God's unshakable kingdom remaining. Subsequent to the attack against America, the Lord gave me this Scripture: "If anyone fiercely assails you, it will not be from Me. Whoever assails you will fall because of you. Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and brings out a weapon for its work; and I have created the destroyer to ruin." (Isaiah 54:15-16) This seemed clear from this word: Violence acts of hatred do not originate from God. If assault occurs and if we keep ourselves righteous before God and wait on Him (pray with expectation and trust), then He will oversee the fall of the attackers. In other words, a process of inexorable judgment begins in heaven and ultimately concludes on earth. God says three things about His careful crafting of retribution:
The smith working in his coals of fire refers to how the heat is turned up. Hot coals enable a sharp steel weapon to be formed. Vengeance begins with fire. The fire fashions, the weapon does its work, the destroyer produces ruin. The result of this process is that God's fierce anger affects a permanent end to the seat of power that produced the assault. God wants to ruin something that previously roamed the earth. The devil always over plays his hand. The iniquity of those who follow the devil and his malicious ways eventually becomes full. Only then does God act with swiftness to dispossess the place and the power of the enemies of His covenant people. War is normally the engagement of an entire people on a national and governmental front, marshaling total resources for total victory. Appeasement and compromise is not the desired result. A temporary truce is not sufficient. A false peace simply permits the enemy to regain time to attack again. In a war, the enemy must be destroyed. General Norman Schwartzkof once said, "War is about breaking things and killing people." It is not nice. It is not for sissies nor for the faint of heart. Only the resolute and the vigilant can enter into war and expect to succeed. Jesus is often portrayed as a man who is meek and mild. That is a false image of Jesus. Jesus hated the works of the devil. His purpose was and still is to "destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8) As John Wimber once said, "Jesus never met a demon that he liked." Jesus didn't hesitate to draw a dividing line. He said to His opponents, "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of the devil. He was a murderer from the beginning..." (John 8:44). He said this because they wanted to kill Him. Murder (or mass murder) does not come from the heart of God, but from the devil. "If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar..." (1 John 4:20). The devil has hijacked some religious systems and fomented murder in peoples' hearts. We have to always ask, "What spirit is behind these actions? Where did this seed come from that spawned these hellish deeds?" Most religious people of all faiths want to do good, to do right, to help others. Religion is characterized by good works. But even the devil can be disguised as an angel of light. Lack of discernment of the spirits sending their false prophetic impulses can cause formerly good people to drink in spiritual poison, to become "snake bit" with Satan's venom. Then they act the opposite of Jesus' advice to individuals: forgive your enemies, turn the other cheek, do good to those that afflict you. The war is real. The governments of the nations have to come to grips with the fact that there is an evil, unseen government whose goal is destruction, chaos, and fear. This evil kingdom has been operational on planet earth from the beginning although it has had many incarnations throughout history. It uses deceit, lies, manipulation, coercion, and domination to get its way. It is comfortable wearing religious robes. It can be disguised as an angel of light. You can know it by its fruit. Vulnerability is increased when intelligence gathering is weak. The church's intelligence apparatus is the prophetic gift. Prophets are God's spies on the enemy. We must see more clearly. And, the church must honor those gifted as such so they can have the ears of those who can spread warnings and organize action. In other words, prophets must be aligned with apostles. God's generals who can mobilize action are apostles, those gifted with strategic warfare faith and insight. No war can be won without generals. Right now, the church is not an army, but a mob of private soldiers each doing his own thing, grabbing his rifle and charging the front lines alone, then wondering why he got beat up so terribly. Coordinated action is required. We must win the air war before we send in the ground troops. We must sow seeds of division, suspicion, and confusion into the enemy's camp by propaganda. Propaganda cuts the enemy's lines of communication. It disbands his unity. How do we do that? By effectual, fervent prayer and persistent praise. Prayer and prophecy and proclamation and praise are the verbal vehicles by which we deliver the warheads of God's supernatural power. The warheads are the Word of God, the blood of Jesus, and the name of Jesus. We can deliver them when we live free of fear. (Rev. 12:11) Next, we must confiscate the resources the enemy uses to fashion his weapons. There is coming an end-time transfer of wealth. The huge resources of certain kinds of revenue diverted to fund acts of war against peace-loving people must be stopped. God owns the wealth and He wants to give it to the righteous. Our attitude toward wealth must change to a biblical basis. Specifically, we must find ways to empower apostles to fulfill their strategic mission. Right now, many pastors live like kings while many apostles and prophets grub for leftovers. It isn't wrong for either to prosper, but we have to ask ourselves, "Who has the strategic wisdom for this war and who do we need to release into their function at this time?" It is a matter of practical priorities. The global prayer movement is a precursor of a re-definition of the church's mission to liberate planet earth. Flesh and blood are not our primary enemies, wicked spirits are. But people can become so wicked that they embody the spirit that motivates them and make themselves into enemies of all that is good. Still, all of us need to evaluate every person as an individual, not by reason of race or class or gender or nationality or religion. We will never win a war by stooping to the level of hatred which our enemy displays. We can't defeat Satan by playing into Satan's hands with bitterness, unforgiveness, or evil hearts. When God exacts revenge on His enemies or acts to vindicate our cause, we must walk humbly, keeping our head down. No strutting on the battlefield. No gloating when our enemy is defeated. Simply acknowledge that God is a God of justice after all. We all need to walk in the fear of God. That is our real source of comfort. The reason why the meek will inherit the earth is that God will give it to them. Ron Wood THE ARCHIVES
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As
a US citizen living in South Africa, I watched the pictures
of the bombing in New York with horror. I felt kicked in the
gut, heartsick, appalled. I held my wife's hand and watched
in stupified grief. 
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