This month we give a sweeping overview of the key stories from this past year. We then shift our gaze to 2021 . . .

The Spirit of Prophecy

The New Bus Monthly gives an unashamedly hopeful perspective on the things happening in the world. It’s written with the belief that Jesus’s kingdom is an ever-increasing one. In other words, God’s rule and reign (i.e. His kingdom) is not on the decline. In fact, every attempt to squash it, and every instance where it feels like “one step back” in society, is only the potting soil for a greater display of LIFE. Of course, this isn’t meant to ignore evil in the world. The Holocaust was an unfathomable evil that sprung up 2000 years into Jesus’s advancing kingdom. But out of this horrible “step back” came the rebirth of the Jewish nation and an assortment of other positive societal shifts and breakthroughs that are beyond the scope of this article to describe.

That being said, our first issue in 2020 talked about dancing in the midst of war. Along with that, we said “something good this way comes.”

Two months later, over half the world’s population was in a government-mandated lockdown. Things that felt like a major “step back” have occurred over and over again as the year progressed…

But we want to double-down on everything we said in the first issue of this year.

It’s time to dance and celebrate more than ever before.

In September, Dylan DeMarsico wrote about how God was giving us 20/20 vision with a fresh appreciation of life after coming through times of isolation and quarantine.

In October, we mentioned the significance of the shift in the Supreme Court, something that could now have an impact on the fallout of the 2020 elections. More uncertainty looms and the political climate has never been more divided and hostile than in perhaps 150 years.

With political hostility rising – along with Covid-19 cases – it seems this message about vision and appreciation is needed more than ever.

But what does this mean for the future?

Sometimes a prophetic word is more about connecting people with the present Christ than predicting where things are going. Now this could easily sound like a cop-out, because the New Testament prophetic gifting certainly includes an aspect of foretelling (see Acts 11:28). However, we’d like to remind the reader of this little known nugget from the Bible’s final book:

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

(Revelation 19:10)

As we look ahead to 2021, there is one prophetic word you need to hold onto above all else… The testimony of Jesus Christ.

Now what is His testimony?

It’s His experience of being crucified and raised from the dead. Jesus went through literal hell. The conspiring of government and religion came against Him and injustice and slander flooded His being. They beat Him, lied about Him, and killed Him. And still, He released nothing but peace and forgiveness. In fact, He absorbed all of that evil into His being and brought it down into the grave with Him. Three days later, history changed. Jesus rose in complete victory over hell, sin, and death.

The mystery of our faith is that His testimony is our testimony.

You have been crucified with Christ. You have a forgiving heart that releases peace and blessing where there are curses and slander… And you have been raised to new life in Christ as a victor, even when it seems the conspiracies of man are prevailing. 

In 2021, there is tremendous manifestation – good, good fruit – coming out of the potting soil of 2020. However, the greatest Word and Promise you can hold onto is the present Word of His Testimony. You have been crucified, buried, raised, and ascended with Jesus. You are already victorious–because He is victorious, and He freely shares His testimony with you. It’s that simple…and amazing!

Be brave and full of joy. He who was, and is, and is to come is with you…and within you.