By Bishop Dan A. Balais
National Chairman, Intercessors for the Philippines
“Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.” (Psalm 102:13)
From the beginning of creation, the Lord ordained that the affairs of the earth will be governed measured and determined by seasons of time. King Solomon said: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclessiastes 3:1). The most recent prophetic pronouncements declare that the nation of the Philippines is entering into a new season in God’s prophetic purpose for her. This is our “Kairos” that we must seize, an opportunity that we must not allow to slip by us!
During the prophetic conference of the Philippines for Jesus Movement (PJM) On March 6-7, 2009 I received the impression from the Holy Spirit to count the number of years from the time the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan “discovered” the Philippines on March 16, 1521. As I was about to be called to the stage for the opening session in the packed 7,000 capacity San Juan Arena, I asked Pastor Ed de Guzman, my vice chairman in the Intercessors for the Philippines, to quickly find out from his cell phone calculator how many years transpired since Philippines was formally introduced to the world. Pastor Ed replied: 488 years! Immediately, revelation exploded in my spirit shouting: 490 years! 490 years! In two years time, we will complete the prophetic completion of seven sets of seventy years! As I was climbing to address the more than 6,000 people, my knees were trembling of the sudden unveiling of truth!
According to Daniel 9:24, 490 years was ordained by God for Israel to: 1) finish and put an end to transgression (rebellion), (2) to seal up and make full measure of sin (3) to purge away and make expiation and reconciliation for sin (4) to bring in everlasting righteousness (5) to seal up vision and prophecy (6) to anoint a Holy of Holies.
“Seventy weeks [of years, or 490 years] are decreed upon your people and upon your holy city [Jerusalem], to finish and put an end to transgression, to seal up and make full the measure of sin, to purge away and make expiation and reconciliation for sin, to bring in everlasting righteousness (permanent moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) to seal up vision and prophecy and prophet, and to anoint a Holy of Holies.” (Daniel 9:24)
A new season was being opened by God for the nation of Israel. This was a “Kairos” moment that the prophet Daniel received through the Archangel Gabriel as a result of his intense prayers, intercessions and supplications.
Significance of 490 Years
We must understand that Israel was the Lord’s example to the nations on how He deals with other nations. 70 years is a prophetic time when the Lord completes the cleansing of a nation. In Daniel 9: 1,2, we could read the prophet Daniel came to an understanding that Israel has completed the number of years that the Lord has decreed for her to suffer captivity as a punishment to their disobedience to the Lord.
[Daniel 9:1] In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; [Daniel 9:2] In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 25:11,12)
It was at this time that the prophet Daniel set himself to fast and pray and make supplication to the Lord on behalf of his people. He fasted for 21 days and at the end of his fast, the Archangel Gabriel came to him saying to him: [Daniel 9:20] And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; [Daniel 9:21] Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
[Daniel 9:22] And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. [Daniel 9:23] At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. [Daniel 9:24] Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Archangel Gabriel revealed to Prophet Daniel that Israel is entering a new season of restoration after 7 sets of 70 years (490 years) of God’s dealing with her sins (Job 23:10; Psalm 12:6). It was like Israel, through the judgments of God has fully paid the consequences of their sins (Isaiah 40:1-2) and the time to comfort her has come (Psalm 102: 13). It was a time when the Lord is going to show His mercy and grace upon Zion, a time when the Lord would comfort her and restore her to her prophetic calling and destiny!
[Isiah 40:1] Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. [Isa 40:2] Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. [Psalm 102:13] Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.
The Philippines At The Gate of 490 Years
In the year 2009, we are at the very gate of 490 years! Through the nation’s “Chronos” history of some 488 years, the Philippines is a recipient of two glorious birth rights: the first Christian nation in Asia and the first democratic Republic in the region. Our people enjoyed the blessings of our Christian heritage reaching its peak in the 1930’s and the 50’s.
By the latter part of the 1960’s which is approximately, the past 40 years, the glory began to fade. From prosperity and progress unequaled in Asia, we declined precipitously to our terrible position now being known as the most corrupt and suffering worst social maladies among the family of nations in the region. The nation did not grasp the destiny and purpose of the birth rights: To be God’s banner, God’s witness and testimony to Asia and the rest of the world.
To bring us to that realization, the Lord brought us through the fire of affliction to purify us and raise a new generation of people who, through sufferings, will learn to obey God and walk in His righteousness (Isaiah 26:9).
[Isiah 26:9] With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
[Job 23:10] But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
[Psalm 12:6] The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Let Us Arise And Seize Our Destiny: Let Us Pray And Take Action
Through 488 years since we were “discovered” and our existence formally introduced to the world; and 488 years since the first cross was planted n our shores, the Lord has willed that this generation, our generation will give birth and witness the completion of God’s dealing with the sins of our people! 490 years is coming! The election in 2010 is not an ordinary election! It is one that shall open the gate of the 490th year (2011) that shall usher in the new season of God for our beloved land and people!
[Daniel 2:20] Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: [Daniel 2:21] And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: [Daniel 2:22] He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
We are the people tasked by the Lord to seize our nation’s prophetic destiny! Let us fast, pray and take action!
* Retrieved from http://pilipinasbayanko.blogspot.com/2010/01/philippines-490-years.html
