"Get Ready for the Unveiling"
2 Jan 2023
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed
into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Cor 3:13
into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Cor 3:13
As we peer into 2023, it is distinctly different from 2022. Wars have erupted, and new ones are on the horizon. The stage is being set for a momentous year. In seeking the Lord for the coming year recently, I distinctly heard Him say, “Get ready for the unveiling.” The words repeated three times in one morning and were clear and distinct. The words riveted me to attention. Within a week I received two other confirmations from friends of similar words. Additionally, this news flash inadvertently came across my computer screen.
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News report: 34 years after unveiling the iconic B-2, the US military has revealed a new bomber designed to use weapons that haven't been invented yet (1)
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God was saying, “Get ready!” He is about to do something and He is warning us to get ready. What does getting ready mean for us, and what is about to be unveiled? Addressing these issues holds keys to 2023.
The Present Times
As a framework, going through the Christmas season this year, I saw Christ's birth in a new light. I realized that in the culture of the time, the deafening silence of the word of God over 400 years had wrought brutal regimes, animosities, and ruthless wars, setting the world in need of divine intervention. A sudden cry of a baby emanating from a most unlikely place, a stable, broke the silence and unveiled God’s eternal plan. I suddenly realized that today's culture is not all that different from the resistance at the time of Jesus’ birth. Just as in Jesus’ day, today’s culture is as oppositional, if not even more so than when He was born. Economic shakings, wars, pestilences, and rumors of war pummel the headlines of our news while corruption, fraud, and all manner of deception feed into a pervasive evil growing deeper and permeating every corner of society today.
No political or economic plan, law, regulation, or even war can settle the iniquities and injustices today. Only divine intervention can! We are getting prepared for an unveiling. As in Jesus’ day, the international stage is being set for a divine intervention. As nations drift further away from biblical foundations and truths, God is raising an army of those dedicated to seeing righteousness restored! God is calling forth and awakening watchmen like the shepherds in the field “watching” over their flocks by night (Luke 2:8). He is calling us to get ready!
The Global Watch is responding to this call. From the garden to now, the enemy has worked to separate us individually, corporately, and as nations from our identity and purpose in Christ. But God has created us to “Tend and keep” the garden He has given us. The word “keep” is the Hebrew word šâmar, or Shamar, meaning guard/defend, preserve, or watch. God’s intended purpose for us is to watch over the garden He has given us. In fact, the most frequent word used to describe watchmen in the Bible is šâmar. Mentioned 464 times in the Old Testament, it is frequently associated with watching over God's covenant, plans, or purposes (ex. Genesis 2:15; 17:9-10; Ex 13:10). The Global Watch has formed to catalyze and mobilize the role of watchmen in the nations today to contend for God’s purposes and destiny individually and territorially.
The words "get ready" imply a need to call to attention, prepare. Something is about to happen. "Unveil" implies something is about to happen that we have not yet witnessed. Watchmen are being called to attention. The words "Get ready for the unveiling," may mean something different for each one of us. However, there is also a global perspective and corporate exhortation for us as watchmen. God is calling us to be prepared for globally impacting times. In fact, the word apocalypse can mean "something disclosed, especially something not previously known or realized" (2) although it usually connotes something that is destructive or carries a global weight as the "Four horsemen of the Apocalypse." The emphasis of the words "Get ready for the unveiling," carried such a weight as did the confirmations that followed. “Get ready!” 2023 is different from 2022. How are we to get ready, and what does the unveiling mean? Understanding the concepts carry keys to the coming year that promises to be both glorious and terrifying.
Get Ready:
Recognize times have changed: When change occurs, the first reality is that we need to recognize it. If we recognize the shift, then what are we willing to do to work with it? If you are sailing in a boat and the winds change, you have got to shift course or be in danger of toppling over. Habakkuk exhorts and commissions watchmen, I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected (Hab 2:1). Will we be resistant because the past has worked, and we are content and not willing to shift. Times have changed, and the clock is ticking. We cannot go about life or ministry as usual. Jesus warns, But as in the days of Noah were, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark…so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Mt 24:37-39). No one knows the day or the hour, but the birth pangs are getting stronger. God is calling us to attention. Adjusting to the times will mean different things to different people, but some commonalities will help believers face the coming year with clear vision and strength, avoiding the pitfalls. Some common keys to help us get ready:
The Unveiling:
The action of unveiling connotes both a positive and negative side. When God unveils something, it will always be for good as He will work all things together for good (Rom 8:28). We must be ready on personal and national levels. On the individual level, God will reveal the enemy’s lies that have kept us back. In so doing, we may be put in situations that will challenge us and require us to face our fears, rely on Him, and align with our identity. Some of what God will be asking us to do will be to take bold steps forward.
The fear of the Lord will be a significant catalyst in the coming season. Stepping out in faith as God unveils His plan and doors open, is not the same thing as presumption. We will know the difference if we have a healthy "fear of the Lord," as part of the driving force to put our prayers into action. A healthy "fear of the Lord" will keep us aligned in the Word of God and His peace no matter how challenging the circumstances are. Isaiah promises, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you" (Isaiah 26:3).
On a national level, hidden demonic strongholds over nations will be revealed. Such unveiling may come from the most unusual means and people. An example of this has already happened with Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, buying Twitter and uncovering massive deception. Such an unveiling is the tip of the iceberg, with more to come.
Wars and threats of war will continue to rise, with subsequent economic shakings. This includes North Korea and the Asian ring of fire, Ukraine/Russia, Iran and other hotspots. However, nothing that happens will be out of the reach of God’s sovereign hand. We are in times prophesied, Look among the nations and watch be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you (Hab 1:5). This verse is in the context of war. As watchmen and intercessors, we must see the upheavals in light of God’s redemptive plan. Isaiah promises, For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (Is 26:9).
Ultimately, disruptions will continue until the false "man of peace" is revealed. Because of his cunning and deceitful ways, he will lure many into a sense of false peace (Daniel 9:23-26). The world will be so distressed that many will buy into his schemes, even the elect: Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition (2 Thess 2:3). But Jesus' bride will be getting ready, sharpening, and beautifying herself in His word, worship, and in viable community built on trusting relationships. They will be heeding Hebrews exhortation, And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Get ready for a new prophetic movement... The Elijah company is coming:
Amid the upheavals, God is breathing upon a new prophetic movement. The Spirit of Elijah is stirring as a restorative force in the earth, Elijah comes first to restore all things (Mt 17:11). We are in the days of preparation for Jesus' ultimate return. When that will be, no one knows. Watch for the following and pray it into your future:
Watchmen prayers for the coming season
Susan Rowe
Co-founder the Global Watch
1) https://www.businessinsider.nl/34-years-after-unveiling-the-iconic-b-2-the-us-military-has-revealed-a-new-bomber-designed-to-use-weapons-that-havent-been-invented-yet/
2)www.thefreedictionary.com/apocalypse
The Present Times
As a framework, going through the Christmas season this year, I saw Christ's birth in a new light. I realized that in the culture of the time, the deafening silence of the word of God over 400 years had wrought brutal regimes, animosities, and ruthless wars, setting the world in need of divine intervention. A sudden cry of a baby emanating from a most unlikely place, a stable, broke the silence and unveiled God’s eternal plan. I suddenly realized that today's culture is not all that different from the resistance at the time of Jesus’ birth. Just as in Jesus’ day, today’s culture is as oppositional, if not even more so than when He was born. Economic shakings, wars, pestilences, and rumors of war pummel the headlines of our news while corruption, fraud, and all manner of deception feed into a pervasive evil growing deeper and permeating every corner of society today.
No political or economic plan, law, regulation, or even war can settle the iniquities and injustices today. Only divine intervention can! We are getting prepared for an unveiling. As in Jesus’ day, the international stage is being set for a divine intervention. As nations drift further away from biblical foundations and truths, God is raising an army of those dedicated to seeing righteousness restored! God is calling forth and awakening watchmen like the shepherds in the field “watching” over their flocks by night (Luke 2:8). He is calling us to get ready!
The Global Watch is responding to this call. From the garden to now, the enemy has worked to separate us individually, corporately, and as nations from our identity and purpose in Christ. But God has created us to “Tend and keep” the garden He has given us. The word “keep” is the Hebrew word šâmar, or Shamar, meaning guard/defend, preserve, or watch. God’s intended purpose for us is to watch over the garden He has given us. In fact, the most frequent word used to describe watchmen in the Bible is šâmar. Mentioned 464 times in the Old Testament, it is frequently associated with watching over God's covenant, plans, or purposes (ex. Genesis 2:15; 17:9-10; Ex 13:10). The Global Watch has formed to catalyze and mobilize the role of watchmen in the nations today to contend for God’s purposes and destiny individually and territorially.
The words "get ready" imply a need to call to attention, prepare. Something is about to happen. "Unveil" implies something is about to happen that we have not yet witnessed. Watchmen are being called to attention. The words "Get ready for the unveiling," may mean something different for each one of us. However, there is also a global perspective and corporate exhortation for us as watchmen. God is calling us to be prepared for globally impacting times. In fact, the word apocalypse can mean "something disclosed, especially something not previously known or realized" (2) although it usually connotes something that is destructive or carries a global weight as the "Four horsemen of the Apocalypse." The emphasis of the words "Get ready for the unveiling," carried such a weight as did the confirmations that followed. “Get ready!” 2023 is different from 2022. How are we to get ready, and what does the unveiling mean? Understanding the concepts carry keys to the coming year that promises to be both glorious and terrifying.
Get Ready:
Recognize times have changed: When change occurs, the first reality is that we need to recognize it. If we recognize the shift, then what are we willing to do to work with it? If you are sailing in a boat and the winds change, you have got to shift course or be in danger of toppling over. Habakkuk exhorts and commissions watchmen, I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected (Hab 2:1). Will we be resistant because the past has worked, and we are content and not willing to shift. Times have changed, and the clock is ticking. We cannot go about life or ministry as usual. Jesus warns, But as in the days of Noah were, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark…so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Mt 24:37-39). No one knows the day or the hour, but the birth pangs are getting stronger. God is calling us to attention. Adjusting to the times will mean different things to different people, but some commonalities will help believers face the coming year with clear vision and strength, avoiding the pitfalls. Some common keys to help us get ready:
- We must disengage from the baggage from the past. We cannot go into the new season carrying insecurities of the past. This baggage may be personal, generational, or even national strongholds that have kept us from our true identity in Christ. God is inviting us to remember His grace, forgive, let go of painful circumstances/words and embrace who we are in Christ. Paul promises, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17).
- Repent of misplaced priorities and reprioritize where we spend our time. Paul exhorts, See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Eph 5:15-16).
- Feed the altar of our hearts with worship and His Word. The Word of God will be exceedingly crucial for our spiritual health and livelihood in the season ahead. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12).
- God is calling us into new corporate expressions. Corporate agreement and relational community are vital keys for the breakthrough of demonic strongholds. The Acts church was birthed (Acts 2:1) and grew (Acts 2:40-47) through contending communities of prayer.
- Pray for the salvation of Israel and for eyes to be opened (Rom 11:25; Ezek 34:31, 36:27; Zech 12:10-11; Is 62:1-3). Part of the unveiling is the epiphany, the sudden realization, of the Jewish eyes to their Messiah.
- Ultimately, He is preparing His Bride to be ready for what is to come. Though times may get increasingly distressed, the beauty of the Bride is being polished with readiness for the day of reward and victory.
The Unveiling:
The action of unveiling connotes both a positive and negative side. When God unveils something, it will always be for good as He will work all things together for good (Rom 8:28). We must be ready on personal and national levels. On the individual level, God will reveal the enemy’s lies that have kept us back. In so doing, we may be put in situations that will challenge us and require us to face our fears, rely on Him, and align with our identity. Some of what God will be asking us to do will be to take bold steps forward.
The fear of the Lord will be a significant catalyst in the coming season. Stepping out in faith as God unveils His plan and doors open, is not the same thing as presumption. We will know the difference if we have a healthy "fear of the Lord," as part of the driving force to put our prayers into action. A healthy "fear of the Lord" will keep us aligned in the Word of God and His peace no matter how challenging the circumstances are. Isaiah promises, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you" (Isaiah 26:3).
On a national level, hidden demonic strongholds over nations will be revealed. Such unveiling may come from the most unusual means and people. An example of this has already happened with Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, buying Twitter and uncovering massive deception. Such an unveiling is the tip of the iceberg, with more to come.
Wars and threats of war will continue to rise, with subsequent economic shakings. This includes North Korea and the Asian ring of fire, Ukraine/Russia, Iran and other hotspots. However, nothing that happens will be out of the reach of God’s sovereign hand. We are in times prophesied, Look among the nations and watch be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you (Hab 1:5). This verse is in the context of war. As watchmen and intercessors, we must see the upheavals in light of God’s redemptive plan. Isaiah promises, For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (Is 26:9).
Ultimately, disruptions will continue until the false "man of peace" is revealed. Because of his cunning and deceitful ways, he will lure many into a sense of false peace (Daniel 9:23-26). The world will be so distressed that many will buy into his schemes, even the elect: Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition (2 Thess 2:3). But Jesus' bride will be getting ready, sharpening, and beautifying herself in His word, worship, and in viable community built on trusting relationships. They will be heeding Hebrews exhortation, And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Get ready for a new prophetic movement... The Elijah company is coming:
Amid the upheavals, God is breathing upon a new prophetic movement. The Spirit of Elijah is stirring as a restorative force in the earth, Elijah comes first to restore all things (Mt 17:11). We are in the days of preparation for Jesus' ultimate return. When that will be, no one knows. Watch for the following and pray it into your future:
- Promises not yet fulfilled are coming full circle. Watch prophetic promises come to full fruition. Those words you thought had died, are now springing to life. Jesus promises, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. (John 12:24).
- Prodigals are coming back home as God turns the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers (Mal 4:5-6). This is a time and season to pray for lost family members and for sons and daughters that have gone astray.
- Favor at governmental levels to speak to leaders and forge relational respect. As in the days of Ahab, when Israel's government was heading down a dismal path, Elijah suddenly appears on the scene out of nowhere (1 Kings 17:1) and speaks to King Ahab. God will be raising up prophetic voices that come out of nowhere to speak His truth in His timing and for His purpose.
- A new inter-generational movement working together to build and advance the Kingdom is emerging. This movement will be marked with maturity and compassion of older generations engaged with the passion and vigor of the younger generations to bring hope and encouragement to those in distress.
- Restoration and vindication from identity breeches of the past to restore promises that have been aborted.
- Unveiling of truth to eyes that have been blind and harvest of souls, particularly in Israel.
Watchmen prayers for the coming season
- Pray for our leaders. Whether you agree with them or not, we are to pray for them. Why? Because it pleases God. For example, pray for fresh encounters with the Lord, bind opposing spirits and loose the Word of God (Mt 16:19; 18:18). God used Paul; He can still use leaders today, even those who have gone astray (1 Tim 2:1-4).
- Pray for our enemies. The Bible exhorts us to pray for our enemies and those who persecute us. The role of forgiveness cannot be underestimated. It is where the power of the cross meets our circumstances and allows us to overcome them (Mt 5:43-46) and releases us from the enemy’s grip into the power of Christ (Mt 16:24).
- Pray for “communities of trust” and prayer to develop and deepen in the body of Christ. The enemy is escalating ploys to separate us through offense and betrayal (Mt 24:10). Building communities of trust and prayer will be a powerful defense against such schemes (Acts 2:42).
- Pray for peace and joy in the body of believers. Peace and joy will be vital weapons of warfare and will lead us to victory amid the distress of our time. Peace will keep us aligned with Jesus (Phil 4:4-7), and joy will be our strength (Neh 8:10). They will emanate powerful light in a distressed world.
Susan Rowe
Co-founder the Global Watch
1) https://www.businessinsider.nl/34-years-after-unveiling-the-iconic-b-2-the-us-military-has-revealed-a-new-bomber-designed-to-use-weapons-that-havent-been-invented-yet/
2)www.thefreedictionary.com/apocalypse
