They shall say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!” – Hosea 10:8
 
Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ – Luke 23:30
 
And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” – Revelation 6:16

I can sense the stark terror in these verses as people are wishing from the core of their beings to be buried underneath a mountain. The reason is that they fear the very One who loved them so much that He sacrificed His life to be falsely arrested, convicted, sentenced, beaten nearly to death, humiliated, and tortured by crucifixion until he died. But the Lover is coming as an Avenger in flaming fire to punish the wicked for their rebellion. The wicked will know it beyond all doubt and cry out to be buried underneath tons of rock and dirt.

I’ve always had a phobia of driving under new bridge construction. After the bridge is built it does not bother me as much. However, when I drive under those large, exposed, steel beams, I feel a dread in my spirit. I feel the same way when I go underground. I once ventured with my family 1,120 feet underground to view Ruby Falls, All the time I was under Lookout Mountain I had to push out of my mind the thought of it crashing down on me. However, I do not dread the coming of Christ and will stand confident in His shed blood and grace to greet Him with unspeakable joy.
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“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.” – Ephesians 5:11-13

I put “Discernment Ministry” in quotations marks because I am not convinced that it is the proper term for what I (and many other ones) am doing. The first time someone called me a “Discernment Minister” I corrected him. I replied that every Christian should have discernment and that I was merely a Christian attempting to obey God’s word and calling (see the above verse).

“Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.’ – Titus 2:15

If we wish to consider a more biblical term it might be “watchman” or perhaps “prophet.” However, the majority of Christians are paranoid about the title “prophet.” They will accept most of the titles in Ephesians 4:11 except “prophet” and “apostle.” They elevate “prophet” to such a highly venerated position that no one can fill the office without being mass pilloried. It is considered presumptuous and self-aggrandizing for one to claim he or she can predict the future. The sneering rejection of one accepting that title is nearly unanimous except among the heretics and their deluded followers.

The truth is that the prophet was much more engaged in warning people than in predicting future events. In fact, when Israel became apostate and refused to hear any other voice, God always sent the prophets with blunt and bold warnings. So whether people like it or not, or whether or not they accept the title, God has sent prophets during these last days. We can hang whatever term we wish upon them, but they will speak as prophets have always spoken.

By the way, a true prophet is not concerned with what you call him and does not seek honor or accolades. His office, by the nature of his efforts, is a difficult and lonely one. No one in his or her right mind should desire to be in that office. “Prophet” is no more a special title than “pastor,” and one that wears it is not an elite, supersaint,nor anything more than a servant of God. So I advise people to cease romanticizing or title-worshipping the term “prophet” and just accept the ministry God sends.

Furthermore, God has sent watchmen. Like the prophet, they are mostly rejected, considered obsessed with “doom and gloom,” and exceptionally negative individuals that do nothing more than warn people of dreadful events. The primary difference in the callings is that the prophet, according to the Didache, is also a teacher. My reference to the Didacheis solely for understanding what the Early Church thought about the prophet.

“And every prophet who teaches the truth, if he do not what he teaches, is a false prophet.” – Didache 11:10
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What is amazing is that 120 individuals waited in the Upper Room for the “promise of the Father.” They did not read a series of books, attend several conferences and seminaries, and did not have to pay for the privilege of being there. They did not lie on some graves and suck out the anointing, run through a “fire tunnel,” roll on the floor and bark like a dog, or have some sweaty-palm snake-oil salesman push them stretched out on the floor.

They did not need to chant lectio divinia, walk the labyrinth, or engage in contemplative prayer. They didn’t have televangelists to tell them how a gift of 100 shekels would guarantee them the anointing and 200 shekels would solicit a double portion of God’s divine favor.

There was no gold dust falling from the ceiling, no glory cloud coming from the vents (holes in the walls), and not one grimy ex-biker or street magician to kick them into a healing or stretch their legs.

No, there was none of the froth and bother of modern heretics at that waiting ceremony, no monotonous worship band, no glitzy spinning ball or flashing lights.

They waited and prayed. When the promise of the Father came, cloven tongues of fire appeared and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Afterward, they did not receive a 54 million-dollar jet and 35,000 square foot home.

They walked everywhere they went, went hungry, were rejected, stoned, imprisoned, beaten, and even beheaded. But they saw miracles. In two years they had evangelized nearly all of Asia Minor. They had more power in their little finger that Satan’s entire cast of heretics that perform every week on religious television.

So tell me again why you are watching them and why you send them money. More of God and His power than those charlatans will ever have is available to anyone who desires it. It is accessible when you make a full surrender to God and pray, and wait to know His perfect will in your life. Or you can continue watching those super-Duds.