The Lord wants to encourage His people in this hour, so we not only understand what is taking place, but how it is necessary and works for our good in the end.  Let me share a few happenings and what the Lord’s shown:

Once ‘The Petition’ requesting God to render His righteous judgments against the devil and his kingdom was submitted to the Court, there was an immediate shift in the spiritual atmosphere.  Although the Lord had given instructions as to how to come before Him and what we could expect afterward, we were still quite staggered by what followed.

Prior to the submission, the Lord repeatedly asked, “Are You Ready to Submit the Petition?”  I had originally thought He was referring to timing, but He soon made clear there was much more to consider:

When submitting a petition before the Lord one must be ready to come before His throne.  The Word tells us nothing unclean or profane can stand before Him (Revelation 21:27).  This would entail coming from a place of obedience and humility; of being repentant and cleansed by the blood of Jesus.  In the days leading up to the court date, we prayed and fasted, asking to be shown anything displeasing to Him, that we might confess our sins and receive His forgiveness and cleansing.

Another thing stressed was, judgment begins at the house of God.  It begins in the inner most courts of the temple and goes outward.  So, it was made clear, when we asked the Lord to bring His judgment upon our enemy – it would begin with us (1 Peter 4:17). This was very sobering, and we began to press in to God as never before, so just as Jesus, we would be able to say, “For the prince of this world comes, and has nothing in Me” (John 14:30).

Upon awakening the morning after the petition was submitted, the Lord said,

“The Petition has been received.  The case will go forward.”

Immediately after hearing this, a “shift” in the spiritual atmosphere began to be felt, and attacks from the enemy began!   Just as I felt it time to rejoice over a “completed” assignment from God, the table had turned and we were under attack – individually, as well as the group as a whole.  That night I cried out to the Lord, “What is this?  What is happening?”  The Holy Spirit began ministering the answer during the night, and by morning I knew:

Just as a court case is handled in our physical world, so is it in the heavenly.   We had submitted our petition against the devil, listing “complaints” against him and the kingdom of darkness – asking God’s righteous judgments be rendered.  The Lord showed it was now the devil’s turn to answer the charges made against him.  It was his turn to make his counter-claim and accusations in court – against US!  This was now a full-blown court case, with both sides submitting their claims, as well as supporting evidence.

Saints, the trial has begun!  We know each generation through the ages have had their turn at this, with their own tests. These trials and tests are documented throughout the Bible, but this is the granddaddy of them all – the close of the age – the grand finale!

Yes, the trial has begun, and as 1 Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you…”  Scripture begins to take on a whole new light as we understand what is taking place!

So, we are not to think it strange concerning the fiery TRIAL which is to try us!  We have now entered the last two phases.

Saints, we are in the “testing and proving” stage of the trial now.  As the trial progresses, tests will be administered…

The accuser of the brethren, the devil, has made a wager with God similar to what was made regarding Job, where the devil said (paraphrase), “Well, the only reason Job serves You is because of all You do for him.  You have a hedge of protection around him, and You have blessed all the work of his hands.  But if You let me at him to take that away – he will curse You to Your face.”  So, the wager was made.  Of course, God allowed the devil to only go so far.  Job was hit by a series of tests, one right after the other.  He never turned from God, and ultimately said, in Job 13:15, “Even though He slay me, yet will I trust Him…” So, Job was put on trial, and passed the series of tests the devil threw at him.

Job was tried, tested, and PROVEN!  And God was PROVEN CORRECT about Job.  Job was God’s faithful servant.  He was a blameless and upright man who feared God and hated evil.   What God said about Job from the beginning – was proven through this trial.

So, let’s fast forward to now, in this grand finale’ of a court case.  The devil’s actively making his case against the Saints – as the accuser of the brethren.

We cannot afford to forget – this is an active trial in process!!!  Tests are being administered on an individual, as well as group, basis.  We cannot let slip the things God assures us – His Promises – His very word!

God tells us,

“…I will never leave nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5b).   “And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). 

We can be assured no matter the test – God’s got us, and all will turn out well in the end!

“No temptation (trial/test) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted/tested beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall test every man’s work of what sort it is” (I Corinthians 3:15).

See ‘Let the Fire Consume You’

When speaking about this end-time court case between the Saints and the devil, Daniel 7:25-28 says,

“He shall speak pompous words against the Most-High, shall persecute the saints of the Most-High, and shall intend to change times and law.  Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.  But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.  Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most-High.  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.  This is the end of the matter…”

 ^“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:10-11).

God’s Word shows the end of the matter – WE WIN! Not only are the Saints proven to be who God says they are – but God Himself is proven to be a true and righteous judge.

“The LORD reigns forever; He has established His throne for judgment.  He rules the world in righteousness and judges the people with equity” (Psalm 9:7-8).

“…Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, that you might be justified in Your sayings, and might overcome when You are judged” (Romans 3:4).

“Blessed is the man that endured testing, because when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him” (James 1:12).

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

Yes, we will be tried, tested, and proven in this hour, and it is just beginning.  In the last couple of years, He’s given much instruction in how to maneuver the waters ahead, and you can find those articles on the website.  The Lord wants us to be encouraged.  In the grand scheme of things, scripture shows it to be a light affliction, which is but for a moment.  And it is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  Soon the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll, and it will be the end of the matter.  A new heavens and new earth will be presented as we enter into eternity… What an Awesome and Mighty God we serve!

Please take all presented in this post before the Lord in prayer for confirmation and further revelation as to how it may apply to you.