Power

Example: Percy Collet

The power that The Mighty and Strong will have has already been demonstrated by previous prophets and will not be altogether different. Others have been tasked with the same assignment of convincing the ungodly of their ungodly deeds both anciently and in modern times. There are many right now who are seeking to fulfill the Christian mandate of taking the Good News of Jesus Christ to everyone with these signs following them:

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17–18)

And to whatever degree a believer has the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit, these gifts:

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:4–11)

And these fruits:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

However, The Mighty and Strong are in a class all of their own and will not only be tasked with convincing the ungodly of their ungodly deeds, but they will confront political and religious leaders as they seek to reclaim the world for Christ. Currently, believers are conducting what they call “warfare” – but not against flesh and blood, only against spiritual rulers in high places:

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

The last time believers warred against flesh and blood was when the Knights Templar took back Jerusalem. There are some who believe the prophecies of kingship will be fulfilled by “spiritually” ruling over areas in contrast to physically ruling over them.

Subdue Kingdoms

The Mighty and Strong will have the same permission as what David, Jeremiah, and other prophets had to “subdue kingdoms:”

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions (Hebrews 11:32–33)

2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim (a), he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon (b), that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. (Isaiah 28)

The “strange act” prophesied by Isaiah is future and has not yet happened. The Mighty and Strong will be at its core, and He is telling them through Isaiah that they will have the same powers and assistance that David and Joshua had.

Powers

a. The example of Perazim:

10 And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.
11 So they came up to Baal-perazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim. (1 Chronicles 14:10–11)

b. The example of the valley of Gibeon:

8 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
10 And the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
12 Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel. (Joshua 10:8–14)

To Summarize

  1. Enemies of God will be delivered into their hands.
  2. No man shall stand against them.
  3. The Lord will weaken their enemies.
  4. The Lord will cast stones from heaven to slay their enemies.
  5. They can stop the rotation of the earth.

A second witness to The Mighty and Strong prophecy is the prophecy of Elijah.

Elijah

The prophecy of Elijah says:

1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4:1–6)

To summarize, here are the main points:

  • The proud will repent or be burned.
  • The righteous shall excel.
  • The righteous shall tread down the wicked.
  • The Spirit and Power of Elijah will be sent to turn the hearts of the disobedient and stave off the pending curse.

We know how to interpret this prophecy because it was given by an angel to the father of John the Baptist:

17 And he [John the Baptist] shall go before him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elias, 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. (Luke 1:17)

From this, we learn that it is the “spirit” and “power” of Elijah that we can expect to return, not necessarily the prophet himself. The expression “turn hearts of the fathers to the children” is a general expression of selflessness and against disobedience to God. Most importantly, The Spirit and Power of Elijah are to prepare people for the Lord.

There are two comings of Jesus (one has already happened) and therefore, two comings of The Spirit and Power of Elijah (one has already happened).

Spirit of Elijah

The “spirit” of Elijah could be summed up in one word – “confrontation.” He confronted political leaders:

17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim. (1 Kings 18:17–18)

And religious leaders:

19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. (1 Kings 18:19–22)

Power of Elijah

The “powers of Elijah” list is quite long:

Summary of Powers

By combining the prophecies God’s strange act (Isaiah 28) with the return of Elijah (Malachi 4) we have a comprehensive list of what spirit, powers, and abilities The Mighty and Strong will have:


Psalm of David

31 For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. (Psalms 18:31–49)

 

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