God is Speaking - Let's Listen to Understand
Hi Everyone,
Today I have four visions to share. God wants to reveal himself to us, if we are willing to sit at his feet and spend time with him in prayer. He invites us to ask him about the things we do not know or understand. He says:
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
Our relationship with God begins with communication. The Lord speaks though his word, but are we listening? And in the Book of Revelation John records the Lord’s messages to the seven churches always asking them to overcome evil, temptation, and the flesh, then adds these words:
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…” Revelation 2:7
Sometimes the Lord speaks with parables and with symbols and metaphors. When His disciples asked him why he spoke to the crowds in parables, he answered them saying:
“This is why I speak to them in parables:
‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Matthew 13:13-17
Notice, that those with harden calloused hearts could not see or hear. So we ask you Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear , that we would turn to you.and be healed and in right standing with you. Give us the ability to perceive what you would have us know and understand.
The Visions
The Woman
In the first vision, I saw a young woman holding something small in both hands and lifting it up, as if offering it or presenting it to the Lord in prayer. I heard a voice say: “It’s 8:00 time to lift it up.”
I knew that this was God’s direction to pray, and intercede for whatever he places on our hearts and minds. For years, I have had a prayer group that meets on Saturdays at 8:00 am. And during the week at 7:00 pm.
This vision reminded me of one special evening when the Lord gave me hundreds of people to lift up in prayer from early evening till sunrise the next morning. God flashed faces of people before me all night long. I prayed in tongues for each and every face I saw. It was the first time I had ever prayed in tongues, and I have prayed in the Spirit ever since.
So what God is showing me by this vision, is to continue lifting up people before God and to pray without ceasing. Prayer is powerful when we pray with faith and in agreement with God and his perfect will. Jesus and his apostles said much about prayer, and about the power that is made available to us when we align ourselves with his purpose.
Jesus reveals his power through our prayers of agreement and prayers of faith, for faith is the currency of heaven. When we have faith in prayer, we can see mountains move.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22
“Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him.” Mark 11:23
Jesus taught much on prayer and the power of God which comes when we truly believe in him and his promises. It is our faith in him that brings glory to the Father.
Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14
Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops. James 5:13-18
There are times when we don’t know the will of God in a particular matter. So we pray in the Spirit, in tongues:
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
Intercession, praying for others, is truly important, for that is how we can bring change to the world and healing and salvation to the people around us.
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
So, we lift up our country, its leaders, and the nations around the world that are suffering persecution, famine or disease. We lift up the sick, the oppressed, the lost, and our family of believers. We pray that the Word of God will be received by all people groups, and that the kingdom of God grows and fills the whole earth with the glory of God. Let’s give ourselves to seeking God on behalf of ourselves and others, for Jesus said:
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:31-33
Just believe Him!
The Little Trailer
In this vision, I saw a small fiberglass travel trailer like the one we bought a few years ago. The scene was bright and sunny, with a gentle breeze. I noticed that the side rear emergency escape window was removed. There was nothing replacing it. It was simply a large gaping hole in the side of the trailer.
An escape window is essential to provide a way of escape in case of fire, or in the event of heavy winds overturning the trailer. It also keeps out the wind, the rain, snow and sleet, bugs and unwanted critters. A wide open hole in the wall invites trouble.
By this vision, Jesus was reminding me of what he said long before we purchased the trailer. He told me, “It is a foolish idea.”
And yes, I agree. But at the time, my husband and I were deeply entrenched in viewing videos about RV life. I knew that the Lord had told me that it was a foolish idea, but I kept it to myself, so he and I were not on the same page. The temptation to purchase one overcame me one day, and I agreed to its purchase. I feel very ashamed and foolish because of my decision to override the fear of God, and follow my own desires. I was disobedient and willful and I truly regret not heeding God’s warnings. God’s ways are always best.
“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
As a result, I am now living with a problem that has become a thorn in my side. Its purchase has led to more and more expenditures for tools, and appliances, and an SUV to pull it. It remains unfinished now for the fourth summer, and we have yet to use it. It is very much like a boat, which I am told, is a hole in the water into which one throws money.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7
My prayer right now is that we can finish it, sell it, and be done with it. What are we going to do with all the tools? I don’t know, but they are taking up prime real estate. I just wanted to live a minimalist lifestyle, and as a result of not listening to the Lord, I have the exact opposite. My place is teeming with tools, construction material, and equipment that we bought and never used. It was certainly a most foolish idea. I repent almost everyday for going my own way and doing my own thing. What a terrible decision! But, I know that the Lord is faithful even when we are not. He forgives our sins, and helps us to avoid future pitfalls.
The word tells us to “flee temptation.”
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Thank you Jesus, for forgiving us when we fall into sin. Help us to be obedient and to do what is right, just as you were willing to deny yourself and do the Father’s will.
Going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39
Jesus was obedient to the Father, to die in our place, to redeem us. Shouldn’t we be willing to put down our own desires and be obedient to his will?
“If you love me you will obey my commands.” John 14:15
The White Car
In this vision I saw a white car exiting from a parking lot, going right. There were orange cones on the pavement to my left as a barricade to keep others from entering an already full parking lot. I believe that the parking lot belongs to the church that I attend. The car represents believers for it is white, which represents purity and the bride of Christ.
The car is moving towards the right, which means to be going in the “right” direction towards God. Since the believers are coming from church and departing to the right, I believe that they are being sent out to minister to others. These are people trained, equipped and commissioned by God to advance the work of his kingdom.
I believe that this is given as a commendation to the Church for its faithfulness in preparing its people for works of service. The Lord said:
“I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Ephesians 4:11-14
Knowing the Word of God is an essential part of that equipping.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
And once the believer is equipped for service he needs to be sent out by the Church to share the gospel and to do the Lord’s will.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 14:15
So let us be prepared and willing to be used by God, to say, “Here I am send me!”
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
But even a new Christian, who has had an encounter with God and has experienced his love, mercy and forgiveness, can be used that very first day. The excitement that comes from experiencing God’s grace, love and mercy and being filled with the Holy Spirit changes us dramatically. Suddenly we become bold for God. In our excitement, we share our love for him with others so easily.
So let us open our hearts to God. He will fill us with his divine love for others, and will give us the holy boldness to speak the Word of God. Let us not hold back or become complacent. We want someday to hear those words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:23
The Books
In this vision I saw a collection of about 8-10 average size hardcover books placed directly before me. The books’ spines faced me as they would if they had been placed on a shelf. I could not read any particular title, but I did hear a voice say: “I will let you take some books.”
By this vision, the Lord was giving me permission to read certain books other than the Bible. Some books have been preserved over the ages like Josephus’ historical account of the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. Josephus was a non-believer, a Jewish historian who was first captured by Titus and Vespasian and then commissioned by them, to record as an eyewitness, the Roman siege of Jerusalem. These historical records validate scripture and give greater understanding to the symbolism found in the book of Revelation.
Not every book is beneficial, some carry ideas that undermine our true faith in God. For instance, many of the early Church fathers were greatly influenced by Plato, a Greek philosopher, whose writings were highly influential throughout the ancient world. His teachings regarding the “immortal soul,” began to influence the Jewish scholars as evident in their works during the intertestamental period, that time between the Old Testament and the New Testament, a period of 400 years.
The Greek concept of an “immortal soul” took root in the early church as the constituency of the church became more Greek and less Jewish. Plato’s immortal soul replaced the Hebrew understanding of death. What we believe today about the soul, is far from what the Hebrew word meant. “The soul,” from a Hebrew perspective simply refers to any living being, including animals.
Throughout all history, the religious beliefs of the nations around Israel were always a snare to the Jews. These same pagan beliefs and customs were brought into the church and became mainstream with Constantine’s desire to unify his great empire. He declared that there was only one imperial religion, that being Christianity. The pagans of the day were accepted into the church, regardless of their beliefs.
The Nicene Creed was created at this time to summarize what the church believed. It was created first in the year 325 AD and revised in 381 AD. The Nicene Creed includes a future return of Christ, for they did not recognize the importance of AD 70 and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. They were misled into believing that Jesus had not yet come. They failed to recognize that the symbolism and the prophetic language of the prophets of the Old Testament were being utilized by John in his Revelation, and Jesus in his Olivet discourse. John wrote to the churches of the 1st century who were familiar with prophetic language. Such words as: “the Lord coming in the clouds.” always denoted coming in wrath to judge and punish a nation, or a city or people group. The Lord generally used armies of foreign nations to carry out his judgment and bring devastation to a city or state. Sometimes he used supernatural punishments like plagues over Egypt, or sulfur raining down on Sodom. But when the Lord was said to come “in the clouds,” it was always a sign of national judgment not cosmic collapse. His various comings are described with words that create images of catastrophic cosmic events, but they are all symbolic of his wrath and his devastating power. Often words like: “the mountains move, the stars fall from heaven, the hills melt like wax, the sun no longer shines, the moon does not give its light…” are used to create powerful images in the minds of the reader or hearer intending to cause fear and dread. God announces his judgment prior to the event so that everyone would know that it was not happenstance that a foreign army was attacking them, but that it was his mighty strong arm. He wanted the nation in his cross-hairs to know that it was he who was bringing judgment due to sin. God wants all to fear his name and repent.
“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy one understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
Here is an example of prophetic language regarding the destruction of Edom prophesied by Isaiah:
Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples!
Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!
The Lord is angry with all nations; his wrath is on all their armies.
He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter.
Their slain will be thrown out, their dead bodies will stink;
the mountains will be soaked with their blood. All the stars in the sky will be dissolved
and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall
like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.
My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom,
the people I have totally destroyed. The sword of the Lord is bathed in blood,
it is covered with fat— the blood of lambs and goats,
fat from the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
And the wild oxen will fall with them, the bull calves and the great bulls.
Their land will be drenched with blood, and the dust will be soaked with fat.
For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause.
Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur;
her land will become blazing pitch! It will not be quenched night or day;
its smoke will rise forever. Isaiah 34:1-17
Notice these words used to describe the day of the Lord’s vengeance on Edom:
All the stars in the sky will be dissolved
and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall
like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.
Jesus uses the very same metaphors in his Olivet Discourse to describe his coming judgment on Jerusalem:
“…the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:29-30
In both passages, the stars fall from the heavens and the heavenly bodies are shaken.
Isaiah’s passage of the destruction of Edom can also be compared with the destruction of Babylon (symbolizing Jerusalem) in John’s Revelation, and the destruction of Sodom in Genesis:
“Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch!
It will not be quenched night or day; its smoke will rise forever. Isaiah 34:9-10“… and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, ‘What city was like the great city?’” Revelation 18:18
Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” Revelation 19:3
And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. Genesis 19:28
Notice how they all state that the smoke of their burning goes up forever. Are these places still smoking? This is prophetic language, speaking of God’s judgment against the nations. John’s Revelation and Jesus’ Olivet discourse are no different than how God judged the nations, cities and people groups of long ago. Every time is was a national judgment - not cosmic collapse. After Jesus came on the clouds to put an end to the age of the Old Covenant, we see that the sun and the stars are still shining and the moon still gives its light.
But if one does not read the Old Testament, or the historical accounts as Josephus’ “The Jewish War,” then one might be misled into thinking that the events of Revelation are not symbolic but are rather real events that will take place in the future. Many people read Revelation as if it was intended for us in the 21st century, when it was clearly written to the 1st century churches. Because they do not understand God’s purpose in “his coming,” they assume that Jesus never came, and after all, we still have death and suffering in the world, there are still wars going on and evil is everywhere. The sun, the moon and the stars are still shining, so we are still waiting for Jesus to come.
Unfortunately people believe what they are told rather than study for themselves. Therefore there is a great disconnect with AD 70 and what it was all about. And Constantine did us no favors by mixing the pagan world with the Christian faith. With some denominations, the creeds created by man are elevated over the Word of God, and proper hermenuetics. With the modern spin on scripture, we now have a rapture, and people more focused on escaping difficulties than overcoming their flesh and suffering for the Lord. We see this mentality as common “I’m not worried. I’ll be out of here, before the real heat comes!” These people have no concept of the Lord’s intentions, for he said:
“I am not asking that you take them out of this world, but that you keep them from the wicked one. John 17:15
We are not intended to escape difficulties. We are commanded to take dominion and build the kingdom of God.
Why are people expecting the temple that was destroyed in God’s wrath, to be re-built in order to destroy it again? Are we to see the sacrificial system re-established in order to destroy it a second time? It was destroyed so that the New Covenant in his blood would be established. Didn’t Jesus say:
I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it?
Where does such lunacy come from? It has been 2000 plus years since the letters were delivered to the churches who were to benefit from reading the revelation. We are to read with the understanding that all has been fulfilled and that we read to appreciate what God has done for us. He has already finished the work and the purpose for which he had come.
We need to read and study for ourselves. Let’s make every effort to not simply believe what we have been told by our teachers and pastors who are only passing on the doctrines that were taught to them. We must see with new eyes, teachable eyes. We must hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. If all you did was read the first and last chapters of Revelation you would see that Jesus said that he was “coming soon” over and over again. Jesus did not lie, we are failing to accept his own words, and twisting these time statements to fit our theology. It is like the story of Cinderella, where the ugly step sisters try to squeeze into shoes that they were never meant to wear.
Please I implore you–read and study for yourselves. Let us not shoe-horn scripture to fit the early church fathers beliefs, who read Paul’s and Peter’s letters and John’s Revelation and did not appreciate that their letters were written in anticipation of Christ’s imminent return in the 1st century, in the apostle’s generation. Peter and Paul anticipated his coming, and only missed it by a few brief years, for both of them died under Nero around 64 AD and the Lord came on the clouds beginning in AD 66 when the Zealots rose up against Rome and the leadership in Jerusalem. They found fault with the religious leaders who were compliant with Rome and had been offering a daily sacrifice to God on behalf of Rome.
The Lord used Nero to order the armies of Rome to put down their rebellion. The siege lasted three and one half years, the exact time prophesied of the tribulation. People were trapped in the city that was already overcrowded with visitors having come from all over the empire to celebrate the Jewish feasts. The siege of Rome battered Jerusalem from the outside and internal war with the Zealots went on inside. False prophets promoted lies giving them false hope by saying that the Lord would come to protect and defend them. But death, disease, and famine became so severe, that the bodies were left out in the open to rot in front of their eyes. They did not repent, they were blind to their own sin. They did not recognize his first coming nor his second. Jesus had come with fire in his eyes, bringing judgment upon the Pharisees, and leaders of his generation.
In AD 70, the end of the age had arrived. The Roman soldiers broke through the walls and burned down the city and destroyed the temple. They slaughtered all within the city walls. The Old Covenant was officially revoked and terminated and the New Covenant in the Lord’s blood could now be inaugurated. Finally the Lord’s enemies were put under his feet, and all the woes pronounced over Jerusalem written in Matthew 23 were complete. All was fulfilled. A new day had dawned. Jesus was victorious. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
And Malachi’s prophecy given 400 years earlier, was now fulfilled:
“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts. Malachi 1:10-11
Please understand that everything from the first word in Chapter 1, to the last word in Chapter 22, the entire book of Revelation, has been fulfilled. Jesus came and fulfilled all that was prophesied through the Old Testament, and all that he himself had prophesied in the New Testament. Jesus accomplished it all:
We are living in what the Lord called the age to come, for the New Covenant is a new agreement between God and his people. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the prophets. The Law, or Old Covenant is no longer in effect. It is now null and void.
Under the New Covenant, Christ now dwells within every believer.
We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
We are in and of the kingdom of God.
We are the “New Jerusalem,” presented as the Lord’s bride.
We now rule and reign with Christ, for we are seated with him in the heavenly realms.
God has given us his authority.
Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire, so we no longer go to a place of death waiting for a resurrection.
Because the kingdom of God is within us, we do not die a spiritual death. Death does not separate us from God, we leave the natural realm and go to our eternal home where Jesus had gone long ago to prepare a place for us.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4
I want to share a story that a friend told me about her father who passed away. She and her mother were sitting in the living room when her dad came into the room. He said to them, “I will be leaving soon.” He then walked back into his bedroom.
His daughter, my friend, went into his room and found him sitting on the bed and looking out the window. She asked her father, “Dad, what are you looking at?”
He responded, “Do you see? Do you see him?”
“Who, dad? Who do you see?”
“It’s Jesus. He is coming for me. Do you see him?”
Her eyes were not able to see, but Jesus was keeping his promise to her father:
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3-4
Please read the word and study so that you can understand these things for yourselves. Here are a few books that I would have you read. There are also websites that make the first two available to read online for free.
Before Jerusalem Fell” by Kenneth Gentry
“The Parousia” by James Stuart Russel
“The Jewish War” by Josephus
God bless you all, in your understanding and revelation of scripture and prophecy. Remember, the Lord said: “Call to me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
