Greetings and Salutations from markolinux

[markolinux]

I've already posted in a few threads, so I thought I'd better introduce myself properly. "markolinux" is a combination of one of my nicknames (real name = Mark) and my favorite operating system, Linux. I don't like Windows, except in houses in the summer with screens so you can open them up and get some fresh air moving through the house.

I'll be 50 this summer. I'm not afraid to say what I think, but also not afraid to change what I think. I also tend to be wordy, which you are about to find out. :^)

I'll try to do a brief (haha) rundown of my beliefs, esp. as they pertain to prophecy and end times.

"The World According To Mark"

1. We are living in the Last Days, as talked of in the Bible. I know, I know, people have thought that since Christ left this earth. But they were all wrong, and I'm right. I mean, some generation's going to be right about it - why not this one? :^)

2. There are many things that threaten the West and traditional Christianity. The New World Order was something I spent a lot of time fussing about in the late 80's and through most of the 90's. I know longer "fuss" about that, although it is still a threat. I don't believe a lot of what I used to believe about the NWO. The idea that there is an elite few who have controlled history down through the ages, and that there exists some kind of hidden conspiracy where a bunch of us will be rounded up and tossed into concentration camps and that there is a cabal of people in our government who are trying to kill us all off with chemtrails, the poisoning of our food and water, and other "secret" methods, is an idea that I reject for the most part.

Even if these things DO exist, there are FAR greater, open threats to our lives than the hidden conspiracies that used to take up much of my time.

For a great examination of "Conspiracies" in general, please see:
link removed per rule #4

http://web.archive.org/web/200111152238 ... yquist.htm
(New link added to conform to board rules.... sorry about that!)

3. In my current way of thinking, War is the "next big thing" to come to this world - war on a scale not seen in our lifetimes. Russia and China and the rest who want to see Western capitalism/Christianity come to ruin (spurred on of course by the great deceiver, Satan) have long been preparing for it. They have never ceased preparing for it. They are, being non-Western in their strategies and thinking, patient to let their enemy grow weak with apathy, materialism, and disunity. At the right moment, they will strike.

4. I have always had a "sense of destiny", or a sense that my calling was to be the role of "watchman" - being aware of and alerting others to threats that are approaching. I can be "overly-watchful" and overly-vocal sometimes, as I learned back during the Y2K period. As I try to fulfill that role, I study as many sources as I can to come as close to the truth as I can about what is coming down the 'pike. I try to rely on God more and more, as should we all, to help me fulfill the roles to which He has called me. Other minor roles include being an encourager (especially with youth), and maybe teacher (based on filling out one of those "spiritual gifts" questionnaires...)

5. I help moderate a discussion board that is focused on the threat from Russia (mainly), based on the writings of Soviet defector Anatoliy Golitsyn and others, and on the writings of J.R. Nyquist. I am slowly "weaning" myself from those responsibilities, and spending more time in topics like prophecy, because I have an increasing sense that "time is short."

6. Regarding the "time is short" sense that I have, I believe that when things start to unravel (as they are doing now - just watch the news on any given day), they will do so quickly. The hour of the revealing of Jesus Christ is at hand, and those who have sat on the fence all this time thinking that they will have time to prepare "when things go bad" are walking a VERY dangerous line. The people of Noah's time, when the rains finally came, had little time to do anything, and they ALL perished, except for Noah and his family. It will be like that again, because of the inattention of those who are not in tune the Spirit to what's happening. This is what the apostasy will be: Those who are CINOs - Christians In Name Only - will be swept away in panic and fear because they are not ROOTED in God and His Word, which is Jesus Christ. They will lose their souls to save their lives.

7. I think God is preparing the Bride of Christ to be ready for Christ's return. We will be tested and purified, because nothing impure can inherit the Kingdom. There will be hard times come upon the whole earth, such as never been seen before, nor will ever be seen again. We must prepare as we are led, seeking His will first, and then obeying Him without hesitation or question.

8. The closest "label" that describes my views regarding the timing of Christ's return is probably "Pre-wrath rapture". It seems to be the view with the least scriptural inconsistencies. Although I've recently stumbled across some interesting interpretations of Revelation 12 in conjuncture with a lot of very similar dreams people have been having.

9. I think God is preparing the youth who are alive today to be an army of witnesses to the world, who will operate in the Spirit in ways that perhaps this world has never seen! What else would one expect if what is stated in the Bible about God's Spirit being poured out on all flesh is literally true? I feel called to help prepare them to rise up and be the Church that our generation never was. (Not saying that the youth are the ONLY ones who will be in that army, just that I think God will use them mightily in the times ahead. I want to be a part of that!)

10. In the times now rapidly approaching, we will experience God working through us in ways that we can't imagine, if we live in submission to His will. This will be a NECESSARY part of walking the Christian walk in the times ahead. There will have to be a break with the "status quo" of Christian living, as most of us have been raised in. There is no coasting into Heaven.

The battle is on. Your gear is waiting for you to pick up and use. What are you waiting for?

For those who have a Facebook account, please read this (written for young people, but much can be gotten from it by us older folks too):

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=53674745535

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See what I mean about being wordy?

:^)

In Service To The King,

Mark Pettifor

[Salty Skipper]

Welcome to the board Mark!

[proparent]

Glad you're with us Mark. Looking forward to all of your insights!!

Love,in Christ,
Lisa

[nonymouse]

Although I've recently stumbled across some interesting interpretations of Revelation 12 in conjuncture with a lot of very similar dreams people have been having.

Welcome, Mark, and please expound.

[aaron]

9. I think God is preparing the youth who are alive today to be an army of witnesses to the world, who will operate in the Spirit in ways that perhaps this world has never seen! What else would one expect if what is stated in the Bible about God's Spirit being poured out on all flesh is literally true? I feel called to help prepare them to rise up and be the Church that our generation never was. (Not saying that the youth are the ONLY ones who will be in that army, just that I think God will use them mightily in the times ahead. I want to be a part of that!)

Welcome markolinux! I'm a youth pastor who would love to see the youth get a hold of God and do mighty exploits for Him in these last days. I have been witnessing God doing wonderful things as of late, last week we had a prayer time of 20 minutes with the jr. highers. Anyone who has ever worked with that age group knows that is impossible unless God is working in them.

I'd love to hear more too, please share!

Blessings,
-a

[markolinux]

Although I've recently stumbled across some interesting interpretations of Revelation 12 in conjuncture with a lot of very similar dreams people have been having.

Welcome, Mark, and please expound.

I'm on lunch break now, but later I can give this the time it needs.

Perhaps it deserves its own thread, if there's not one already covering it. (One thing I'm still learning here is which section is the best place to start a certain topic.)

Very short answer: The birthing of the male child in Rev. 12 is the end-times pouring out of God's Spirit on all flesh (spoken of in Amos) and the "final army" of Christians being born to be God's witnesses to the lost in the biggest harvest of the ages. The dreams speak of Christians being "transformed" into new bodies, and of how they are witnesses to those around them.

I had always been taught that this male child represented Christ, and the war in heaven talks about an event that happened long ago, but I gotta tell ya, moving the events in that chapter from past to future can make just as much sense if the symbolism is interpreted differently.

[markolinux]

9. I think God is preparing the youth who are alive today to be an army of witnesses to the world, who will operate in the Spirit in ways that perhaps this world has never seen! What else would one expect if what is stated in the Bible about God's Spirit being poured out on all flesh is literally true? I feel called to help prepare them to rise up and be the Church that our generation never was. (Not saying that the youth are the ONLY ones who will be in that army, just that I think God will use them mightily in the times ahead. I want to be a part of that!)

Welcome markolinux! I'm a youth pastor who would love to see the youth get a hold of God and do mighty exploits for Him in these last days. I have been witnessing God doing wonderful things as of late, last week we had a prayer time of 20 minutes with the jr. highers. Anyone who has ever worked with that age group knows that is impossible unless God is working in them.

I'd love to hear more too, please share!

Blessings,
-a

This also needs more time than I have right now (and probably could also be a thread of its own), but for now, how about I paste a blog from someone who is (I think) 22 years old. His name is Greg, and he's representative of something I've not seen among youth in my lifetime. I hope you are as challenged (and encouraged!) by it as I was.

Note: In one of the sections below he makes reference to someone named "Lucky". I don't know why, but he sometimes [url][/url]uses this name to refer to Satan (or one of Satan's helpers).

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To my generation:

Dear you,

We have cowered in fear of the darkness around us for too long. We have misunderstood our role and our calling for too long. We have seen the enemy work in our lives and the lives of those we love all around us. Some of us are captive, others are free, some of us are wandering, others are lost, some of us are frightened, others are simply misplaced, a few of us are in the war, but we are few and calling you out. It is time to rally and fight. It is not our time to sit and pretend the Sabbath has arrived; it has not. It is not time to make believe everything is okay or escape into some fantasy world where you’re not who you truly are. The draft is inescapable. You have been born, you exist, and therefore you are in this war. The question is- are you active or passive. Passivity is useless, it simply means that you’re lying down on the battlefield and getting the life beat out of you, wondering where it’s coming from and why the enemy is picking on you (don’t be surprised, the intentionally lame are some of his favorite targets!), to those active I must ask, “For whom do you fight?” To fight for yourself is useless; you have not even been set free! To fight for the earth is meaningless; it is cursed and destined to be replaced. To fight for the church is to miss the point; her Rescuer is on His way and you will not take His place. To fight for the King is your place- to take your stand advancing (not defending) His kingdom is your birth-purpose. Own it and come. There is nothing else to live for; nothing else to die for.

Love,
me


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To the wandering of my generation:

Dear you,

We are not fighting for ourselves, neither for our world; we are purposed to fight for our Redeemer King and Savior. There is no one else worth the calling or the price, He has rescued us from the slavery we once lived in and has done it so that we may remain free from it always. The calling is clear- your life, right now. The most painful idea and scariest time is the cost of joining- death to self, there is no other way. Recently I have seen the enemy and his tactics, they are fierce and they are divisive- still we must go, have no fear. We have no other choice. Our God has blessed us with spiritual weapons and understanding so that we do not enter this war blind and powerless. However, if you choose to fight with the weapons the world has given you- you will fall and fail. This is not a joke and it is not a scare, this war is raging around us and the best thing you can do is discover your purpose within it. You are being called to freedom so you can go and set others free. Free from pain, free from sin, free from worry and bondage that keeps them from entering this war and seeing the glory of their Maker. Bring them with you, train them in the Spirit; let’s go.

Love,
me


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To the hiding of my generation:

Dear you,

Come out of your caves of self-introspection and pointless pursuit of meaningless things. Come out of the places you hide in hoping the oppressor will not find you. Come out of the low areas. Come off of the mountain. You cannot escape; the war will come upon you soon. There is no way to hide. Come out and fight; come out and take your stand. Give up the obsessions you have been pleased to spend your time pursuing- take up your armor and your weapons. Come to the valley and take your place. The place you reside is not your home, it is where you have decided to escape, but beware- the enemy is coming for you soon, and where you are is not under the Lord’s protection. Withdrawing from the battle does not equal amnesty- it equals desertion.
Come out and come on.

Love,
me


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To the threshed of my generation:

Dear you,

I know that the Lord has produced fruit in your life, however, as long as you lie in the barn and attempt to scatter seed- you are not in the battle and your seed benefits no one. Come to the field. Come to the place where the ground has been tilled and we are ready for your work. You have been blessed to be taken in to the shelter, but your time there has expired and it is now time for you to join the fight. The rain is on the way, but we have no seed! You have been beaten and prepared- for what you did not know- now you must come and see for yourself what was happening around your place of protection. It is a lie that your place is in the barn with the other wheat- that time has not yet come. The truth is that your place is out here in the battle, using what training you have received to set other captives free indeed. Come and be put to use, you have died to yourself already- you simply haven’t left the threshing floor. It’s time to see the outside. Come.

Love,
me


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To the captives of my generation:

Dear you,

I still love and miss you and I’ve decided something… I don’t care if you don’t like it or what it means ultimately, I just know that I must do this.

I’m coming to get you. I’m coming and I’m bringing the army.

I’m tired of hearing of the beatings. I’m tired of hearing of the abuse and the pain in your life and how you think it’s all there is. That’s a lie. It’s false, there’s so much more. This is war now; I know what it means and I am ready. I’m bringing everyone you know, we’re coming to get you and we won’t stop till you either tell us to back off or you’re safe and free. Lucky takes captives to make them his own; they’re useless in this war as long as you’re locked away in sand castles. You are the treasure we are out to pay everything for. You are the pearl we will take back from the earth. I can’t wait any longer for you to respond to my letters (you probably can’t anyway), it’s simply time to come get you. Your strong Deliverer is coming; we ride with Him too. Help is on the way.

Love,
us


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To the enemy of generations:

Dear you,

Your tactics are futile and your lies pathetic. You desire the glory you once had but you cannot know it ever again. You removed yourself from the glory of heaven long ago, no matter how you desire it back- it cannot be done. Your ways are known, therefore defensible and discernable. We come knowing your plans and your territory’s- they will be His soon enough. Look to the North, the South, the East, and the West- your demise is coming soon. This generation is one of impatience for your destruction. Though you have enslaved it in many areas, you will not hold your ground when this army comes. You hold many of those whom we love in your prisons- we will have them among us before you are aware they are gone. You hold many of those whom we love in high places- your authority will be removed and your destiny revealed once again. You will be chained and thrown into that dreadful place- the one made just for you. The free will set others free by the authority of the Name above all names- Jesus Christ. We come covered in His blood and reflecting His light. We come covered in His grace and filled with His truth. We come prepared to die; indeed dead already; there is no hope for you. We come with a battle cry of “Holy, Holy, Holy!” and firmly established on the Rock of ages! We come protected by a Shield you cannot see, one you cannot move or break. Shake as you know your fate! Your lies are old and undone. Your roar muffled in the ears of the holy. You have been defeated already- it is time for the routing. Do you remember the day of Calvary? It is our day of redemption- your day of destruction. Long live the King!

Your enemy,
The Redeemed


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To the King of kings:

Lord,

I will go, i know you have called and i am coming no matter what it costs me. You died, so to must i. You live and give me Your own life. Your authority and Your Holy Spirit rests on my life to rally Your people as You direct. Your enemy is my enemy and Your Kingdom is my hope. My heart is heavy with the burden you have placed on it, i will not carry it on my own strength, but with what You provide. You are the General of this army as You lead we will follow. Bring Your glory and establish Your Kingdom in strength and power. The enemy has no chance against You, we know this and go with that knowledge. Fill me, i am as ready as you have made me. The captives call Your name in hope and desperation, You are sending us out to set them free by Your love and Your holiness. We will not tolerate anything less than Your calling; we will not turn to the left or to the right. We move when You move; we speak when Your Spirit puts words in our mouth. The enemy cannot stand against You for You are God. Take this generation in Your hand and use it to declare Your glory to the earth, the powers and principalities in spiritual places- we are willing and You are our only hope. I renounce my rights to anything but you; You are all i desire. I have nothing, not even my own life is mine anymore. I am Yours, scarred and yet healed, broken and yet free. Community cannot transform this life, love cannot transform this life, ministry cannot transform this life, knowledge cannot transform this life- only you can take this life and transform it from death to life. I don’t know where i’m going with this, God, i only know i’ve rejected the other options and accepted Your calling- no matter what that costs. I will go with You. I write this from the war field and yet even now You are right beside me. You are victorious. Your glory will be declared. This generation will be Yours. I'm ready to move.

Love,
Greg