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EVENING TIDE TROUBLE
Psalm 23:4
Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
After the tide went out completely I was able to look at the same seashore. This time it was not highly populated as before yet the people who were left standing were looking into the heavens with a great resolve. Only those whose lives were fused into the Lordship of the Holy Spirit were left standing.
I then turned my gaze upon the star filled heavens. As the rising of a new sun began to break forth my soul was filled with great elation and expectancy. The rising of the sun was a breath taking wonder ushering in a new dawn causing the shadows to flee. Suddenly I felt a mighty tug from heaven and I was no longer on the earth. I was suddenly in Heaven. I looked back from Heaven toward the earth and I could see the same shore where I was standing. It was filled with shining stones and pearls of different sorts. As I awoke from this dream the Lord directed me to an unusual passage in the bible.
Isaiah 17:12...
Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise, like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.
And behold evening tide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.
Daniel 12: 4
“But you Daniel shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased.”
Interestingly enough I rose from prayer and turned on the television. (I guess the television was going to tell-a-vision...some humor) I began to see a program where an Asian country developed machinery that was able to make counterfeit pearls. Even to the experts it was nearly impossible to make a distinction between the real one and the manufactured one. There was only one way to prove their validity. Both pearls were to be placed underneath two separate iron vises of great weights. Then they began to pour the pressure on. Impressively enough both pearls were able to sustain great amounts of pressure. But at one point the man manufactured pearl crumbled like dust and Gods natural pearl could not be crushed. Pearls that are formed by God through the impetuous storms of the sea cannot be crushed they are genuine.
As I mentioned earlier the rod and staff that comfort me according to Psalm 23 is the presence and person of the Holy Spirit. It is well known that shepherds use a staff with a crook at the end to pastor their sheep. This rod is used not only to guide the sheep but to also correct them when they get into pastures that are not safe for them. The shepherds also use their rod to stay away unwanted wolves and thieves who would want to harm or steal the sheep. The ministry of God the Holy Spirit in our lives is so unclear to many believers. The Lord in the person of God the Holy Spirit is the one whose ministry is constantly at work in our lives. We need to give ourselves all the more to the ministry of God the Holy Spirit so that we might be prepared in our inner man.
There is a scripture in Jude that I feel has a revelatory meaning regarding this dream. Jude was the son of Mary, brother of James (Jesus half brother) known as the brother of Jesus. It is a good thing when siblings (meaning brothers) have the same standards (spiritual knowing) in regards to their Fathers purposeful heart. The nearness and the closeness of a brother in the spirit compensates beyond any earthly brother in the natural.
A generation of brothers & sisters in the Spirit realm is rising up in these last days through revelatory utterances, and mandates that can only come from being in the Holy Spirits Realm. This is what Joel's last days Army really is, a heavenly Family joined by the fullness of the older brother Jesus Christ the King, who is a judge and a warrior. I believe that since I had to deny my own family for a season God has and will continue to give me access into the Holy Spirits Family Realm. The opposition that stands and has been standing against the Holy Spirits Family realm is given to us in the book of Jude. The Holy Spirit really is our Godly father on the earth; we come together around His edicts, mandates, purposes and revelation of Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4 thru 19 speaks directly about a carnal, seemingly spiritual yet apostate brother hood. It’s interesting that 16 scriptures speak of this evil lurking, self appointed, apostate people and only 6 scriptures speak of our Fathers purposeful Love while the last two scriptures set forth a blessing and praise unto our Lord and King. This book opens with an exhortation for believers to, “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” We are definitely called to enter into the door that's been opened for us in the book of revelation, but there is a price to pay. John was a true spiritual brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. It is commonly known by the average bible reader that John had a intimate prophetic calling from the Lord. We can see some of these highlights even before Jesus was crucified. The bible makes mention of John as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” It also gives us and indication that John had a unique closeness to the Lord because he is the only disciple mentioned of sleeping with his head on Jesus bosom. It was also revealed to John on the night of the Lords betrayal that Judas was the one who would betray Jesus. When the Lord was on the cross the bible declares John as the only disciple at the foot of the cross. It was during this moment that Jesus entrusted Mary unto Johns care. John is also the first one who recognized the Lord after the resurrection when Jesus appeared on the banks of the sea. In the last chapter of the book of John Jesus prophetically proclaimed that John was not going to die a martyr’s death. All these events point to one thing in John’s life, Intimacy. John is the same one who wrote the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Epistles of Love (Intimacy). We can also see how he was exiled to the Island of Patmos when great persecution arose against the church.
In Foxes book of Martyrs it is documented that Domitian the emperor boiled John alive in a large pot of oil. Not one hair on John’s body was scorched. The emperor saw that he could not kill John so he exiled him to the Island of Patmos. John was simply being anointed for the greatest prophetic revelation of his life.
This persecution arose after Domitian ordered a decree for all people to bow their knee and worship him as God. Those who refused were persecuted. During this time it was not a beneficial thing to be declared a minister of the Lord by earthly standards. We read in Revelation 1: 9 how John declared himself to be a brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom patience of Jesus Christ. John was on the Island of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
This brings me to an open vision I had one evening while I was lying in bed next to my wife. I had a movie-like vision scroll down in front of me while my eyes were open. In this vision I saw myself flying through the air over an ocean. I was approaching an island with shrubbery and a sandy beach side. The Spirit had me fly only along the beach side of this Island for a while. I was enthralled by the wind that was blowing through me. It was exhilarating. I was in awe of the beauty of this place. I then turned to the Lord and asked, “Lord, what is this?” He answered, “This is the Island of Patmos where I brought my servant John.” I was filled with great delight but puzzled as to why I was taken there. So I asked the Lord, “Why am I here?” He answered, “I’m going to take you to the Isle of Patmos and teach you of my judgments.” This vision lasted for a few minutes and seemed rather long. The next day I was summoned by a board of ministers to a private conference meeting and all kinds of false accusations were hurled at me. No one there stood in my defense. I was asked to resign indirectly but the Lord had already convinced me that I needed to leave so I agreed willingly. Toward the end of the meeting they were interested in knowing where I was going. Then the Holy Spirit spoke in my heart and told me, “Tell them you are going to the Isle of Patmos ministry.” After I left the meeting the Lord told me that they were searching trying to find that ministry in order to continue to defame my name. To my knowledge there is no such ministry in Illinois. It’s a ministry in the Spirit Realm and it is worked into the hearts of those who want to be a part of the Holy Spirits Heavenly Family.
In connection with this dream I also had a vision where I saw myself standing upon a massive flat rock. I also saw many other Christians standing upon this rock. Suddenly and without warning the rock we were standing on began to shake violently. I saw how many Christians were falling off this rock into darkness below. As I peered into the crowd I saw myself shaking in unison with the rock yet I didn’t fall. It seemed as though I was fused into the rock and I had become one with the rock.
There is a tide of unholy presumption that is rising against the work of God (the Holy Spirit) in the midst of the church. Some have tried to make our union with the God of heaven a familiar and common thing. To the point where so called believers are living out vices of wickedness while others make excuses for them. This in itself is a sign of the times where the bible declares that, "the love of many shall grow cold." In the midst of all this chaos God is still faithful and able to raise up and preserve a remnant people who will not compromise their heartfelt devotion. These are they that will shine like the heavens, let us read.
Daniel 12:1-4
"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."
SCATTERED SHEEP OF ISRAELI was contemplating the days of my youth... As I lifted my eyes I beheld a realm of a vision. In this vision I saw my Shepherd standing there with a rod in His hand and humbly adorned with a Shepherds robe. At the sight of Him I began to weep yearning for Him. I beheld myself grazing among the fields in the cool of the day and also underneath the evenings calm star filled sky. I remembered the many sunsets I had seen as my Shepherd guarded and guided me to greener pastures. I remembered the gentle breeze that carried His sweet voice into my ears, gently settling my heart at Peace. At times He'd let me run, and I would run with Him. Also at times He'd lay me down underneath the shade of His scented apple tree, and almond tree, near His rod. When my heart was afraid He'd hold me close to Himself and the gentle caress of His nail scarred hands calmed my fears. I began to see the joy that shined from His face as I drew nearer to Him. It is when I looked at His face that I began to understand His Wisdom. My Shepherd was not any ordinary shepherd. He was a young Prince of the highest nobility who chose to become a Shepherd for me. Then I beheld thousands upon thousands of other sheep being gathered unto Him. Their faces were lifted up to behold Him and to hear His every word. I was inspired to behold such an awesome sight as the multitude of sheep covered the roaming hills. His words were like golden apples nurturing our souls. We thought that the greener pastures were the places of blessings. The truth was that wherever He led us pastures turned green and good for us to eat. He was our sustenance, and not the time or place. We were learning to behold Him, to Hear Him, to desire none but Him, to be with Him. Then in a sudden jolt black sheep began to appear. They would look at Him almost inquisitively but not understanding His light. These sheep also began to grow as they intended. They began to take on the form of shepherds who were independent from Him. This caught the attention of many sheep, and many sheep were divided from direct contact with the Chief Shepherd. These dark shepherds began to set up perimeters for their own flocks. The sheep within these individual flocks were malnutrition, sickly and almost all were in shackles. These shepherds grew fat and controlling while many sheep were dying. These dark shepherds would continue to inspect their sheep for exploitation as if nothing was wrong. When the sheep were no longer of any use to them they would cast them out. Some would die, others were left to wander through the hills and the wild beasts of the fields would devour them. There was such carnage, disease and dark clouds of oppression that were looming over these flocks. Other sheep would be caught in traps prepared by other shepherds who were strapped with bows & arrows. These shepherds seemed to have a hunter's mentality when after their prey. At times other sheep would be found by Christ Himself. There were very few shepherds who carried the image of Christ. When these Christ like shepherds would find just one of these sheep they would begin to weep and then rejoice. They would immediately bring them back to the Chief Shepherd. I then turned and beheld the Lord in Shepherds clothing standing at my right side slightly behind me. As I looked upon Him I saw Him weeping and at times rejoicing whenever a sheep was brought back to Him. My heart broke because I knew that all these stray, abused and battered sheep belonged to Him in an intimate way. I heard the words in my spirit, "my precious little ones." As I heard these words I felt His pain in my heart. As I looked upon the Lord, the Glory of His emotions seemed to envelope me and I too began to weep and rejoice together with Him. I then beheld as the Lord continued to commission shepherds by laying His hands upon each one as they knelt before Him. They were also weeping and rejoicing with Him at the privilege they were given to lay down their lives for the Him and for His sheep. Then the vision lifted. I wasn’t aware this passage was found in the scriptures, as I came across it I was deeply moved. Ezekiel 34:1-10 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have judged them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and have been plundered and have become food for all the wild animals... I am against these shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock form their mouths, and they will no longer be food for them... My intent upon writing these things is to communicate those things I’ve been entrusted with. It is of no surprise that in many of our circles in today's religion it is our leadership that has failed (myself included). I believe some of these things I’ve been given are warnings the Lord is trying to communicate unto the modern day church. I believe as the scriptures declare that a day of reckoning is near to us and that we will have to give an account for the way we’ve managed and or mismanaged our Lords offices. I Peter 4:17,18 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel, and, “if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? |
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