Dear friends:

Yesterday I got a surprise telephone call from my former pastor in Orlando, Pastor Blake Lorenz of the Pine Castle United Methodist Church, one of the more prominent churches in the area.  I had not spoken with him in 7-8 years or more.  While living in Orlando I had affiliated with that church because there was a move of the Holy Spirit going on there.  They really believe the Bible.

Pastor Blake is a sharp, Spirit-filled pastor who is really sold out to Jesus.  He told me about an incredible revival going on in his church, with frequent supernatural healings and miracles, and even with angels being seen several times in the sanctuary.  One lady was recently healed who had not eaten in weeks because of cancer of the esophagus and the next day she was able to eat normally.  People are frequently going down under the power of the Spirit and even he "went out" one day.

I told him that this cannot be happening because he is a Methodist!  He laughed.  We both know the Holy Spirit knows no bounds and He ignores our human walls and labels, showing up where He is welcomed and the Word unashamedly proclaimed.

But why did Pastor Blake call me?  He said he had been praying and the Lord told him to call me, by name.  I was touched and honored.

He said recently he had been "in the Spirit " for about three hours and received what he believed was a word from God.  It has do to with Bible prophecy, and he wanted me to know.  Here is a summary of what he said:

He said that in AD 70 Jerusalem was destroyed, and in AD 30 Jesus was crucified and Pentecost took place.  He said he knows that AD 30 date is controversial but he believes that is what the Spirit said to him -- AD 30.  I know some others agree with AD 30.

He said Pentecost AD 30 began the start of the Gentile age, but did not come into it’s fullness until Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed 40 years later.

The Jews retook Jerusalem in 1967.  This began the end of the Gentile age according to Luke 21:24 and the start of opening up the Jews to the gospel again.  In 40 years the Gentile age ends, June 5-10, 2007, because that is 40 full years when the Jews retook Jerusalem.  He believes on Pentecost of 2008 there will be a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem.

(Interesting that the 40-year period AD 30 to AD 70 may be mirrored by the 40-year period AD 1967 to AD 2007.)

He said, "I have always wanted to go to Israel but God never released me to go until that day, which I believe He told me to go in 2007 and then in 2008 to preach the gospel at Pentecost....  the book of Acts began in Jerusalem and it will end in Jerusalem!....  So I asked God what is the significance to the end of the Gentile age.  He took me to Romans 11:25,26.  The blindness of the Jews will end and they will open to Jesus.  Then He took me to Dan. 9:27, which I believe is when the anti-Christ will make the covenant with Israel and we will be in the last week of Daniel’s 70 weeks before the return of Jesus."

Pastor Blake is a dear brother.  I pass his "word" on for your discernment and prayer.  True or not, the rapture could be at any time -- let us hope sooner rather than later.

If you have any feedback for Pastor Blake Lorenz, you can e-mail him at niemelas@pinecastleumc.org, attention: Pastor Lorenz.  But please do not argue the AD 30 date.  We all know it is controversial but many believe it is valid.

Jim