In a recent message, Troy Black shared a profound vision that speaks directly to end-times living and the plans and purposes God has for believers in this day and age.
Black’s vision included a city skyline being engulfed by a wave of darkness coming from one side, accompanied by an image of a seven-headed dragon emerging from the shadows. Black believes this vision correlates with the Scriptures of Revelation 13, pointing to a deeper message about the end times.
“I was praying, ‘Lord, what is this, what am I seeing?'” Black said. “And this is what the Holy Spirit said. He said, ‘It’s coming. It’s already here.’ And then He said, ‘What’s been happening over these last few years is the beginning of a pattern, an increase in birth pains. A shift.”
This statement matches perfectly with what Jesus says about the end times in Matthew 24 where He describes famines, earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars as the beginning of the birth pains, but that the end would not be here yet.
Black then dug further into Revelation 13:1-2 to speak specifically about his vision. These verses read: “I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on his horns, and blasphemous names on his heads. The beast which I saw was like a leopard. His feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.”
So, what does Black’s vision have to do with Revelation 13 and the birth pains of the end times? Black says it’s about the spirit of the Antichrist.
“God may just be using this imagery of a seven-headed dragon to represent the same idea that’s happening here in Revelation in a simpler way,” Black said. “Part of the Antichrist spirit is always going to be attached with blasphemy against God, against the true living God. See, the devil and the Antichrist spirit in the end times are okay with people worshipping a god; he’s just not okay with people worshipping the God.”
Black says that it is the Antichrist spirit that is leading people to reject Jesus and to take their eyes off of who He is.
“This is the next thing I heard the Holy Spirit say: ‘The seven heads will try to control the seven leaders of the seven arenas of society,'” Black said.
God has purposed Christians to have an affect on each arena of society so that His goodness, truth and light would be known throughout the entire world. Just because there is an Antichrist spirit in the world doesn’t mean that we are supposed to forfeit the message of the gospel and give up. Instead, it is the perfect time for Christians to do as Jesus said and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15) until He returns.
“The next thing He said, ‘push back the darkness as you celebrate the light,'” Black said. “The goodness of God shown through the message of grace delivered faithfully to you.”
Black emphasized the importance of Christians engaging with the world, not to dominate it, but to make a positive impact for God’s kingdom. He also encouraged individuals to rise up, letting the Holy Spirit ignite their passion and purpose to share their testimony regardless of what is happening in the world. As the end approaches and many will look away from Christ, we must be vigilant and keep our eyes locked on Him. {eoa}
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Abby Trivett is a marketing copywriter and coordinator for Charisma Media.
