
The Emergence of the New Christian Era
For the past eight years, I’ve taught that we are living in a new Christian era. I’m not referring to the New Covenant (the New Testament) or the church age, which is the period between Jesus’ ascension to heaven and return to earth—a period of more than two thousand years so far. I’m also not speaking of the shorter seasons, or chapters, that we all experience in life. An era, in the sense that I’m using the word, is an interval of time marked by reformation. It’s a changing of the way things have been done in order to achieve the end result God desires.
In the current new Christian era, the Holy Spirit is doing unprecedented work throughout the body of Christ to equip and empower it to meet the world’s new challenges. As I write this, I believe we will be in this era for at least twenty more years, maybe longer. Our jobs as born-again believers and effective warriors in the Lion’s army are to live with attentive postures, ready to receive equipment from the Holy Spirit. It’s the opposite of living spiritually lethargic, system-driven religious lives, “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Tim. 3:5).
I say that because in the years following periods of major revival and church growth, there have historically come lulls in spiritual fervor—lulls that allow complacency and ritualism to take root. While the people carrying the fire of the Spirit from the last outpouring begin to decrease in numbers, the generation following them mistakenly thinks it’s their job to quell what they consider to be excess or wildfire. Their “logical” conclusion then is to use physical, fleshly means to attempt what only the fire of the Spirit can do.
Consequently, the fire dies out, and dry, stale religion takes its place. Christian worship and services become more and more coordinated, manipulated, and spiritually corrupt. The emphasis on organization seems to increasingly control God’s people rather than spiritually equip them to be forces for Jesus. With the fire of the Spirit quelled, the church’s effect on the world is stifled.
A fresh outpouring of the Spirit becomes necessary to breathe into the church the new life that revitalizes it. It is described in Scripture as new wine being poured into new wineskins (Matt. 9:17). This is not to be confused with new wine that is poured into old wineskins, causing them to burst. This is about new wine and new wineskins so that spiritual life is welcomed and stirred. Believers become active participants with the Holy Spirit, leading to an overflow of the transforming presence of God in their lives and of the passion to see other lives transformed as well.
With each new outpouring comes a large exodus of believers from controlling, organizational structures. The Good Shepherd’s sheep begin to escape man-made pens to find the freedom and the nourishment of new grass. And why wouldn’t they? If Jesus set them free from sin and spiritual death, wouldn’t their inner natures strive for freedom in every area of their lives? That’s what happens when the Spirit is in control.
This renewal of 2025 has been occurring for several years now. New wineskins are required because the old, brittle ones can’t cope with the new wine. Physical organizations and methodologies must be evaluated and changed to accommodate it. If those structures and their doctrinal slants do not allow for the new wine, the Holy Spirit will pass by them and go to those who do. From there, the Spirit always flows outside sanctuary walls to be poured out on all flesh. As reformation removes spiritual waste, corruption, and unfruitfulness, the body of Christ becomes a more powerful and effective influence.
Most of us are aware of Martin Luther’s Reformation, but other reformations have occurred since then, such as the twentieth century’s Pentecostal Movement and Charismatic Renewal. I believe we have been in a new reformation since around 2016. Other credible prophets have offered various dates for its start ranging between 2012 and 2020. Regardless of when it began, we all agree that the church is in a new era.
Alongside this new move of the Spirit is a drastic increase in attacks against Christianity and a public, media-driven, militant vocalization of atheism, agnosticism, Marxism, militant Islam, witchcraft, and sorcery, as well as new age practices and nature worship. Only a Spirit-filled church operating in third-heaven authority can slay this newly risen demonic dragon.
One of the elements of the new Christian era is the Lion’s army, which carries the fire of the Spirit. I live in Nevada, a state whose motto is Battle Born because it attained statehood during the Civil War. The Lion’s army is likewise battle born but of the Spirit of God. Its warriors are believers who have risen up in this era to take on war mantles and creative anointings. This kind of warring involves binding, loosing, and (with spiritual authority) resisting what the devil is doing on earth. In addition, Jesus uses the Lion’s army to release His plans and purposes. In other words, He uses our faith and authority to bring about His will “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).
To learn more about Mike Thompson’s new book, The Lion’s Army, visit MyCharismaShop.com