Jesus,

The battle for the presidency was so very close. You have granted our country four more years, which is a chance to appoint four new judges and make things right. I pray that godly men will replace our Supreme Court. I pray you will bring us economic prosperity and lift up the lowly. I pray the US will be a city on a hill that shines brightly. I pray that the cult of death defeated here in the US will be defeated in other countries. Shift the mentality of this world. Let there be a new day.

Lord I pray that the mindset that values life so little that terrorism is an acceptible means to an end will be defeated. Let Islam be transformed with a new attitude, an attitude of life. And let those who have supported terrorism or nodded and winked at it as it passed by be convicted of their guilt. Let them repent of the blood on their hands. Let them see that this blood is the blood of the innocent. Let them see that the US is not the monster they have been taught to believe. And let them see that Christianity is a worthy faith.

Lord, you prophesied in your Scriptures that a woman would ride on a beast, that she would be drunk with the blood of the saints. That woman is the church. And you said to those who follow the Lamb, "come out of her!" So the church, like the temple, has an inner and an outer court. And you said to the two witnesses, "don't measure the outer court!" And you say that the great city is split into three parts.

What are these three parts, Lord? Are they the redeemed Jews, the redeemed Christians and those on the outer courts who are not redeemed, who suffer the plagues? Are the 144,000 virgins the first part? The multitude of redeemed Christians who follow the Lamb throughout the nations the second part? What are the three parts? Is it heaven, hell and purgatory? Or is it the three major churches - Protestantism, Catholicism and Orthodoxy? The church is already split this way. But show me.

It seems to be the first of these. You assign a special place for those who separate themselves to You. Among the holy people who are redeemed by Your mercy there is a special class of saints who live in victory. These are the apple of Your eye. They are the true Israel. I am reading the Book of Life. The twenty four elders speak to me of the unity of Your Word, the fulfillment of prophecy. You are not just obsessed with the number twelve. You knew from the beginning that in man there would be this many who would persevere to the end, who would live in victory.

For there are many Christians, but only a few who live in victory, who walk every day in You, who never stray from the path of righteousness, who listen to Your voice. They don't say they are not sinners. They are humble. But they live in Your power. And they are rightly given the name of Israel. The names of the tribes are a prophetic type because to these belong the promises of abundant life according to Your grace and blessing. You said in Your house there were many mansions. These are given emblems on the walls, precious stones, because You celebrate them. And You say to the evil one, is there any like these? They are tested and true, even when they are tormented on this earth by the adversary for a time.

Lord Jesus, Holy Father, Lifegiving Spirit, You alone are holy. You alone can enter the holy of holies. You said to Moses that none should approach the mountain. You separated the holy from the profane. But in the Son the veil was rent in two and access was given to the holy of holies. We can share in Your life, in Your glory, in Your song, in Your beauty, in You. And these are the 144,000, the first part of the great city. They are Jews indeed, what You meant them to be, and by blood - the blood of the Lamb. Spiritually, their father is Abraham.

Then there is the holy place. It is the second part of the great city. Those who dwell there are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, but they do not fellowship with You, Lord. They have cried out to You for redemption and You have heard their cries. They sin and continue in their sin. And You forgive them. But they don't walk with You. Sometimes they hear Your voice. But they are serving another master. They are slaves to their lusts. And their prayers go unanswered. You put them through a fire because You love them. You said You would save them but as through fire. These are the many. They may love You. But they don't love You more than their own lives, their own families, their own projects and activities. I thank You, Lord, that You extend Your hand to them. You purge them, Lord. And You bring them back to You somehow. You have made a place for them in heaven. You have written their names in the book of life. Such is purgatory. I don't undertand the how of it. But I know Your judgments are just. And I know You are the Way and the Life.

But the final 1/3 of the city does not repent. It is destroyed in one hour. It is represented by the outer courts. These were not measured by Your two witnesses because You have not written the names of those who dwell there in the book of life. They are to be cast into the lake of fire with the devil and his angels. Lord, many will say they cast out demons in Your name. But You call this sorcery. And You will say You never knew them. I see in this the immorality of the woman who rides on the beast. Most of Your church is caught up in this immorality. And those outside the church are enticed by it. They hate the church because of its hypocracy. But they see her as a customer for their trade - for their prostitution, their construction work, their jewelry and perfumes. The world attracts her and she fortifies their work with a divine stamp of approval because she is called "church."

Lord, You forgive her of all this, even though she has led many astray, but she doesn't repent even when You salt her with fire. This is the tender leaf. We have to discern the signs of the times. Spring is coming. And so we fast and pray and You grant us a few more years before Your program is fulfilled. You do this because Your heart loves the redeemed. You are not willing that any should perish but that all should have eternal life. You leave the 99 to go out to find the one lost sheep.

Lord, I am so sorry for my sin. I thank You for redemption. I ask that You soften my heart. Send me a fresh anointing of Your Spirit so that I can put away my old self and live in Your grace, loving more, praying more, thirsting for righteousness, praising You. Make me to be one who walks with You. What is my life without You? I want to walk with You. Hold my hand. Celebrate my turning to You the way you celebrate the 144,000 by memorializing them in precious stones on the walls of your heavenly temple. Make me to be a virgin. Purify my heart. I want to see Your face, my Redeemer. I want to know Your glory. I want to revel in Your beauty and be moved by Your love. Let me walk in victory, my Christ. I am Your temple. But I am empty. Fill my life with the moving of Your Spirit. I want to be holy. I am sorry I have been slow to yield my life to You. I can't give it to You through words. I have to give it to You as my day progresses, as You speak to me. Give me strength, Lord Jesus. Holy Spirit, I need You. Father, have mercy on me.