
The blood of Christ and the fire of the Holy Ghost into every corner of the world."
Shepherd's Rod 2005
By Bob Jones and Paul Keith Davis
Day of Atonement — September 25, 2004
Part One— Blood and Fire
These are incredibly pivotal days! A clear biblical and strategic blueprint for this season of the Spirit is emerging from God’s heart. This year, as in prior Shepherd's Rods, our intent is to convey the insights that were given in a clear and concise manner.
Much elaboration could follow the revelations. However, we have resisted the propensity to include substantial teaching and limit this booklet to a prophetic outline.
We have always been greatly encouraged at the many reports that we receive from pastors and leaders who take these revelations and broaden the base of understanding through their spiritual gifts.
These insights include much allegorical and symbolic language. Many of the things the apostle John saw in his revelations were prophetic portrayals of great spiritual truth. The Lord Jesus also utilized parables to convey the message of the kingdom; those anointed with spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear could readily apprehend His message. It seems the Holy Spirit continues to utilize this means during the revelations that come on the Day of Atonement.
Theme for 2005— Blood and Fire
The church is entering an age of militancy and spiritual confrontation. The "end of days" is characterized with great conflict. The struggle between "light" and "darkness" will escalate. We are entering days that will introduce amplified revelations of God's kingdom and Heaven’s spiritual economy. The Bible plainly foretells this battle as violent and spiritually bloody.
The Kingdom of Heaven truly suffers violence and God’s army must take it by force. As was prophesied, “the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”
Our adversary will not willingly hand-over his influence in this earth without conflict. We may as well come to an understanding of this reality and accept it as a part of our generational calling.
Redemption was purchased in a most violent way. The shedding of the Lord's blood was brutal and unattractive to the natural eye. Nonetheless, it was the greatest demonstration of divine love ever expressed.
The innocent blood of Abel cried out from the ground with a prophetic voice of recompense. Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant; His blood speaks better things than that of Abel.
No generation has yet entered the fullness of the new covenant. We have only seen isolated forerunners who introduced the more excellent way. A new day is upon us! This divine Life is in the blood of Jesus; our quest is for a more comprehensive apprehension of its power.
Moving to Maturity
The victory has already been won; it is now our place to appropriate it. This process is necessary for our spiritual development and maturation to rule and reign with Him as priests and kings. It would be quite simple for the Lord to eradicate every evil influence standing in our way. However, it is His desire to achieve it through us in a series of victorious battles that bring us to spiritual maturity.
These will be days of "blood and fire." Greater appreciation of the redemptive virtue of God's blood and fiery conflicts between good and evil will prevail in coming days. Something truly noteworthy has been imparted into the spiritual DNA of this generation who qualify as overcomers— they are jealous for God in a militant way.
The Lord is a Warrior and those joined to Him share in His warlike attributes. His ministers are as a flame of fire and the angelic host assigned to co-labor with us are as winds that fuel the fire. This anointing will begin to address the “lukewarm” condition prevalent in much of the Western Church.
Great warriors will emerge in this hour. The Holy Spirit is preparing a body of people to expose spiritual gates and open everlasting doors that the King of Glory may come in. He will reveal Himself as the awesome man of war Who is strong and mighty in battle.
(Psalms 24:7-8)
Many of them will be young worshiping warriors and powerful praying women. This company will be ferocious in the spirit...holy terrors identified by Zechariah 1:21,
Then said I, What are these horns and smith's coming to do? And he said, these are the horns or powers that scattered Judah so that no man lifted up his head. But these smith's or workman have come to terrorize them and cause them to be panic-stricken, to cast out the horns or powers of the nations who lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it. (Amplified)
Substantial authority will be given to this warring band to sever the head from spiritual influences that have successfully stolen the inheritance of God's people. According to Psalms 74:14,
You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, and gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
When this victory is achieved, the very influences that had stolen our birthright become the “sustenance” to release us into greater measures of anointing.
Many gifts of God have been delegated to this generation but never sanctified. Someone may possess a tremendous gift of music but utilize it for selfish gain or spiritual perversion.
Once that person is saved and the gift sanctified, then it becomes "food for the people of the wilderness." The gift then provides a source of spiritual nourishment as it was originally intended. This will be a common pattern in the coming days.
God intends to retrieve His precious gifts and the vessels to whom they are entrusted. These days will see many who are leaders of wickedness become vessels of light and righteousness. This is true in both the natural and spiritual arena. God is able!
This year will see substantial spiritual and natural fire. Intercessors must take authority over the natural fires that will be evident in the coming season.
A Salvation Army
Part of the mandate for this generation is to recapture and restore to the Church our lost heritage. Many forerunners and pioneers obtained a testimony from God and blazed a spiritual trail that left an indelible mark upon their generation.
There were Heavenly commissions given that carried the authenticity and weight of Heaven. Many of those mantels and mandates can be recovered today.
One such individual was William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. This distinguished organization is quite different today than its early history. The beginning years were marked with supernatural power encounters and waves of evangelism.
Great healing evangelists such as Smith Wigglesworth discovered God in awesome ways during the late 19th century through the Salvation Army.
In the 1885 publication "All About the Salvation Army" it is written that—
“General Booth became a minister of the Methodist New Connexion and traveled in a great many parts of England, seeing great success in winning souls, until the year 1861, when he resigned his position as a regular minister, and gave himself up, with his wife, to evangelistic work. After this their labors were very largely owned of God, thousands being received into the various churches as the result. In the year 1865, Mr. Booth was led, by Province of God, by no plan or idea of his own, to East of London, where the appalling fact that the enormous bulk of the population were totally ignorant and deficient of real religion, and altogether uninfluenced by the existing religious organizations, so impressed him that he determined to devote his life to making these millions hear and know God, and thus save them from the abyss of misery in which they were plunged, and rescue them from the damnation that was before them.
The result of this vision was the East London Christian Mission, which in 1878 became the Salvation Army. At the meeting where the change took place, Booth and his colleagues announced—
The Christian Mission has met in Congress to make war. It has organized a Salvation Army to carry the blood of Christ and the fire of the Holy Ghost into every corner of the world."
This commission echoes the heart of God that has been released during this Day of Atonement revelation. The Lord is looking to enlist an army to carry the His salvation through the proclamation of His blood and blazing Holy Ghost demonstrations of power.
Without the shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness of sin or end-time plan of redemption. (Hebrew 9:22) This empowerment will likewise be carried to the four corners of the earth. They will be a "salvation army."
The enthusiastic preaching of Christ’s shed blood will be recaptured in the Church. Great revivalist in the order of John Wesley and George Whitefield will emerge. Pastors and teachers will discover notable anointing on messages that stress the importance of the Lord’s sacrifice and the great price of redemption. The movie, “The Passion of Christ,” is only the first in a series of forums to once again bring this truth to the forefront of the Church.
God is about to download, through his governmental design, messages that teach and preach Calvary’s cross in profoundly powerful ways. The Body of Christ has scarcely touched the great redemptive truths of the cross; these will prepare the bride for her union with the Bridegroom.
The Lord is coming with the now “opened” book of redemption in His hand. We are called to “eat it” and prophesy great mysteries of the Kingdom to every nation, tongue and people. (Revelations 10:8-10)
As in all wars, liberty and freedom are acquired at a cost. These realities will be imparted to those willing to consider the cost and pay it freely. We pay the price by allowing the pruning of the Holy Spirit so we may know Christ, the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. There is power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
There is Power in the Blood
Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you over evil a victory win?
There's wonderful power in the blood.
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide;
There's wonderful power in the blood.
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin stains are lost in its life giving flow.
There's wonderful power in the blood.
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb
Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There's wonderful power in the blood.
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Part Two— A Call to War
A Man Called David
In his visions, Bob saw a man called David who appeared to be just under 30 years of age. This young man was obviously a great lover of God with notable tenderness for God and His Spirit; yet, he also bore a countenance of resolve and tenacity. This prophetic image was a representation of David, the son of Jesse, in his younger years.
It was clear that he had not yet been recognized as king of Israel. This symbolic portrayal represented the days immediately prior to his coronation as king. It was the season while he and his band of mighty men sheltered themselves in the cave of Adullam. That is presently where a spiritual army is stationed today.
Adullam was a town of the Canaanites allotted to Judah lying in the lowlands, southwest of Jerusalem. Adullam means, "justice of the people." It is interesting that the name Laodicea also means “peoples rights” or “justice of the people.”
The day in which we now live can appropriately be called the Laodicean age identified in Revelations 3:14-21. Sadly, this is a far cry from the justice of God. While the spirit of this world declares human rights first, Heaven declares divine justice and the Biblical rights of God. A great confrontation between these two spirits is under way.
It is impossible for justice to be rendered by mere human hands; the heart of humanity is exceedingly evil. The Laodicean church age completely counters the Lord’s justice He desires to demonstrate through His people. God overflows with equity, impartiality, and truth.
However, there is an absence of true fairness in the heart of humanity, except when the Holy Spirit imparts it. Almighty God is perfect in His justice, while the god of this world is the epitome of injustice.
The analogy of David and his brave warriors in the cave of Adullam portrays the mighty army of spiritual warriors who have been hidden in the midst of the Laodicean church age. Now is the time for them to surface and begin to execute God’s agenda for this generation.
This company will not be able to tolerate lukewarm Christianity; their passion will be burning hot. They will not be content to simply remain in a justified state. Their destiny is to achieve spiritual maturity. They will demonstrate the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and fulfill the promise of John 14:12. It would be awesome if all God’s people become mighty warriors for His sake!
The attributes we find in Scripture involving David’s hidden years, also provide insight as to where we have been in God’s preparation. Righteous decisions he made in the wilderness sowed into his future as king.
David honored God and His anointed vessels despite their failures and misguided perspectives. He demonstrated spiritual and personal integrity that qualified him as God’s champion.
Birthing Supernatural Wisdom
In the prophetic vision that Bob saw, David was holding a baby boy over his chest. It was his desire for the prophets to pray for the young lad. David also desired prayer for his company of mighty warriors, signifying a commissioning for battle.
The young boy is representative of birthing a new generation anointed with the spirit of wisdom. Solomon was the son of David endowed with a special blessing of favor because of the faithfulness of his father. God gave Solomon supernatural knowledge, wisdom and very great discernment.
This portion of the revelations centered around God's desire to release special bestowals of grace and favor upon today's "Solomon's." The spirit of wisdom has never been more needed. We simply cannot accomplish God's purpose in this generation without supernatural impartations.
Gifts of revelation and power must be apprehended for the temple to be built according to the Heavenly model. (We will address this arena more extensively in our elaboration of Psalms 105:17)
In addition to the young boy, "David" also requested prophetic blessings upon his mighty band of warriors. Clearly, in this analogy David is indicative of the Son of David. The "mighty men" portray the militant army being assembled in this generation who are fully yielded and loyal to their “David.” They love not their lives even unto death.
A special emphasis was also placed upon the word "band" in reference to these warriors. It was literally pointing to a special and greater anointing that is now accessible upon praise and worship “bands”.
Many of David’s “mighty men” will be musicians and singers. Worship teams will see a militancy enter their music in the coming days. An anointing of power and authority will come upon fully yielded vessels that will open the heavens and displace God’s enemies usurping the land of promise.
The Heart of David
The "heart of David" will be imparted this year to awesome worshiping-warriors who are totally abandoned in their extravagant devotion. Notable prophetic anointing will come upon this company to declare the times, seasons and strategy of Heaven.
This band will consist of mighty men, women and young people who do warfare with the enemy. Many in the visions were children under the age of 15 who are to be powerfully anointed with the Spirit of God that rested upon David.
The “Samuels” of this day, representing the apostolic/prophetic offices, will release horns of anointing upon this new breed. The Scripture declares that Samuel,
took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah. — 1 Samuel 16:13
In 1973 abortion was legalized in this nation. Every Christian born since then has a unique calling that can be depicted by David and his mighty warriors. Naturally, this quality is not limited to any specific age group; nevertheless, that season marked a notable transition into the release of this generation’s "deliverers."
David was a man of blood. He was a warrior wholly devoted to the Lord. He eradicated the enemies of God and His covenant people.
The church can no longer afford to be a "bloodless" affiliation. We cannot escape the redemptive virtue of the Lord's blood and our call to spiritual militancy. Our conflict is not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual influences in heavenly places that hate God and His people.
In this day we must preach and teach, with renewed vigor, access granted to the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. A fresh and new perspective of the Lord’s sacrifice and the shedding of His blood will emerge.
Any individual or fellowship unwilling to preach the blood of Jesus could disqualify themselves from participation in God's end-time army.
Through sin man was driven out of God's Presence and away from intimate fellowship with Him. Now, through great mercy, His blood has inaugurated a way to restore the broken fellowship once enjoyed in the Garden of Eden. That is the full message of the cross and the complete power of redemption.
We are to draw near and contend for this place of habitation. It is the high calling of Heaven—the place where God dwells. The tabernacle built by Moses under the old covenant was a natural sanctuary for worship; whereby, we have access to the Heavenly Mount Zion under the new covenant.
Baptisms in Fire
John baptized in water but the Greater One who followed him baptizes in the Holy Ghost and fire. (Luke 3:16) This will be the season of "baptisms in fire” The Spirit of Holy Fire will come to the church and especially first nations people. There will be a pronounced admonition for the prophetic church to confront false spiritual influences, as Elijah did at Mt. Carmel.
Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in
the trench.
When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God." —1 Kings 18:37-39
The emerging spiritual army will be anointed with boldness and courage to challenge spiritual atrocities. This will be especially true among those with “first-nations” heritage. This unique group will be anointed to address ancient diabolical strongholds that have deceived many generations.
It is the year of the warrior. First nations people have a heritage as great warriors. The Lord will anoint that generational attribute.
The Spirit of Truth will visit these meetings with power to enlighten our eyes and dispel fogs of deception and confusion. False fire will become clearly apparent in the atmosphere of those anointed with Holy Fire.
The counterfeit is always made evident when exposed to the genuine. As Elijah admonished the covenant people of His day, “If the Lord is God, follow Him.”
Isaiah 22:22 Company
We recently released our latest book entitled, "Books of Destiny", in which I share many of these perspectives involving the uniqueness of this generation and its revolutionary calling. Special and greater capacity for God is being allotted in the hearts of those responding to this call. I will include an excerpt from the book in hopes that it will further explain the message we perceive the Holy Spirit releasing in this Atonement season.
From Books of Destiny—
Secretariat's twenty-two pound heart could prophetically represent the generation soon to emerge with a commissioning from Isaiah 22:22:
Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.
The key to the house of David signifies a governmental people who, like King David, will be anointed as both worshipers and warriors. David is regarded in Scripture as a man after God's own heart. He possessed a special capacity in his heart for God and His Kingdom revelation.
So shall the emerging generation of radical worshipers and warriors, who in a day unprecedented in history will champion fresh standards of excellence and victory.
David's heart prophetically portrays the nature of the Lord’s army of champions. The forces of darkness dread them because of Christ’s victory that they convey— they are God’s dreaded champions. As the Psalmist recorded:
Once you spoke in vision to Your godly ones, And said, "I have given help to one who is mighty; have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found David My servant; With My holy oil I have anointed him.”---Psalm 89:19-20
God gave David the power to become a champion of Israel and exalted him as a hero chosen from among His people. The Holy Spirit anointed him with holy oil. David was a conqueror for Israel foreseen and identified by the prophetic voice of that day. We are called to be more than conquerors through Him that loves us.
There have been forerunners and prototypes in years past; but now an entire body of people is being groomed for this lofty purpose. This great and weighty mystery is the hidden truth of godliness. In the Lord Jesus, God was made visible in human flesh, vindicated through the Holy Spirit and preached among the nations.
The Living Word or Bread of life once again desires to be made flesh through a body of people joined with Him in a holy consummation. As we live not by natural bread alone but by the living Word proceeding from the mouth of God, the bread of abundant life, even so the hidden truth of godliness will become part of our spiritual DNA.
Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, nor has yet entered into the human heart, the great blueprint of Heaven, the Lord desires to reveal to His people.
Mysteries reserved deep in the heart of the Father, locked away in the mind of Christ, and dispersed by the Spirit who searches the deep things, await the passionate embrace of a latter-day company of overcoming, holy, victorious ones. Abba, His Spirit, and the Bridegroom say, “Come.”
End Excerpt from Books of Destiny—
Color for This Year—Crimson/Red
The color for this year is Crimson/Red. This is a representation of God’s dual desire for us to apprehend greater understanding of the Lord’s sacrifice and the full redemptive power of His blood. It is also a symbolic portrayal of a present call to spiritual war. The “promise land” must be contended for.
A greater understanding of the divine life provided through the Lord's blood will be deposited in this army. We have scarcely touched the redemptive virtues provided through His sacrifice. The spirit of revelation will be imparted to this company, not only to understand, but also embody spiritual excellence.
They will be the virtues of the overcomers.
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. — Revelations 12:11
Victory is achieved through the blood of Jesus and the application of it to our spirit, soul, and body. Clearly, our adversary does not understand the mystery of God. If he had, he would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Now, there is to be an army of people who embody the same life that the Lord Jesus demonstrated in His earthly ministry. Life is in the blood! Our Lord has provided a new and living way to reconcile the breach that has existed between God and man since the Garden of Eden.
Our testimony is derived from what we both see and hear. We can only testify of our personal experience through the Lord's redemption. A true testimony is given from what our eyes see and our ears hear. Anointed eyes and ears comprehend the Truth.
When we fully yield our will to the Father, we in essence demonstrate total selflessness; we die to our own ambitions and agendas. In these days greater comprehension of our citizenship in heaven will be realized than our natural life on earth. That is how the fear of death relinquishes its hold on this company.
The ones who experientially apprehend this reality will be a dangerous army typified in Joel 2. That is the mystery of God that our enemy did not comprehend through the Lord's death, burial and ultimately His resurrection. A grain of wheat went into the ground and perished—the Lord Jesus. Multiplied grains of wheat like the original seed will now be harvested— Joel’s Army.
This reality is what our enemy has so ardently opposed and attempted to keep veiled from the eyes of God's people. The Holy Spirit is releasing revelatory insight into this destiny and its end-time resolution.
There is a more sure and excellent way to access this prerequisite. It is through sharing in the Lord's love for people and ministry to the poor and lowly. Both of these ministries will become a priority initiative and integral part of our commission.
Pure and undefiled devotion in the site of God consists of care for widows and orphans and separation from the corruption of this world. (James 1:27)
Naturally, we cannot accomplish this directive without initially achieving the first commandment to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul and strength. This is the great and foremost commandment. Then we are able to love our neighbor even as ourselves. From this perspective are we able to minister with a Kingdom mind-set to overcome and be victorious.
Red War Horses
One of the symbolic meanings for the color red is to communicate war or spiritual conflict. The Lord is exceedingly jealous for natural and spiritual Jerusalem and Zion. The prophet Zechariah was given a prophetic vision portraying the Lord's heart for His people, following 70 years of Babylonian captivity.
The Lord expressed His anger at the nations who were at ease while he was only a little angry with his people; but they furthered the disaster. (Zechariah 1:8-14)
As a consequence, a spiritual confrontation is the result. In the Lord's jealousy, He will wage war against the forces that have attempted to overrun His people. Power and authority will be given to this army to overcome the spiritual pressures attempting to prohibit the fulfillment of God's plan.
Matthew 13:41 recognize angels that gather out of God's kingdom every stumbling block that stands in the way. There are special angelic assignments coming in this hour to help us in the removal of every hindrance and obstacle prohibiting the full revelation of the Kingdom mandate.
This extraction will take place by spiritual conflict through the apostolic government coming to its place in the Church. They will both pluck up and destroy the false while planting and building the Kingdom pattern. (Jeremiah 1:10)
Daniel prophesied of a future generation of strong spiritual champions who would know God by observing and experiencing Him and will do mighty exploits to His glory. (Daniel 11:32)
This prophetic portrayal is very powerful in the Hebrew language. It means to be strengthened with might in order to prevail. It conveys the manifestation of supernatural endowments to be strong and courageous with a resolute countenance.
In ourselves we do not possess these qualities. God’s courageous and warlike attributes come by spiritual impartation, through spending time with Him in personal fellowship.
The promise for this season of the Spirit is a release of Heavenly virtue to empower us in this way. Our call is to humbly present ourselves with emotional and spiritual integrity. This will begin to qualify us to be enlisted in this army.
Part Three— Spiritual Integrity
Minutes Before Midnight
At 11:55 p.m. on the Day of Atonement the Lord spoke and said, "integrity is vital.”
Possessing integrity applies to both the arena of the soul and the spirit. The soul consists of our mind, will and emotions. Exemplifying integrity in this dimension comprises a personal sense of "wholeness" derived from attributes of honesty and uprightness of character.
The integrity of the spirit is derived through the promise of 2 Peter 1:4 and our access to the divine nature and holy character of Christ. In this place we are free from the corruption of this world and its lusts. According to Peter the Lord has granted to us,
His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Maintaining these qualities will be essential in the days ahead. On the night of the Lord's crucifixion, He announced to His disciples that the ruler of this world was coming to Him but had nothing in Him. (John 14:30)
This meant there was nothing in the soul of Jesus that agreed with the nature of Satan. There were no seeds of corruption in Him into which the adversary could sink his hooks.
For this generation to fully achieve its mandate we must be endowed with substantial deposits of Heavenly power and authority. History has proven this virtue can corrupt if the issues of the soul and spirit have not been properly dealt with at the cross.
We must be free from the seeds of corruption so there is nothing in us that agrees with the god of this world. We die to self and live to Christ!
We have been given an opportunity over the last several years to allow the nature of Christ to be developed in us with the extraction of the tares of our soul that can corrupt. Our daily prayer must be for the continual overshadowing of our nature to become compatible with the Lord's.
A Call to Change
This aspect of the revelations was a very unusual admonition. It is dealing with the development of character in God's people who received as beneficiaries, ministries or churches from their forefathers.
Some who inherited their spiritual forum from their parents, whether natural or spiritual, but never grew in character are being called to evaluate their leadership style and allow a Christ-like standard to prevail.
The guidance and oversight of a New Testament church should not require the use of a control spirit or manipulation by leadership for it to function. These are in direct contradiction to the standard of the Holy Spirit.
People will follow character. Leaders are called in this day to lead by example. In that place, control, manipulation and political spirits are not needed or welcome.
An impartation of God is coming to help us in this regard. All of us as part of God’s leadership need His help. David was mightily supported by God as we need to be. The Bible declares that the Lord,
chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.
— Psalms 78:70-72
We must contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints. Many ministries are built from the ground up through forerunners and pioneers mightily anointed of God. Others are handed down through spiritual forefathers as benefactors. Very often when this happens the life and vitality of the church is lost in the transition.
Ultimately, many who are handed their inheritance squander it for lack of character. In many ways, this has also transpired in both the natural and spiritual arena. The Lord desires to remedy this. Our prayer should be,
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Examine me, O LORD, and try me; test my mind and my heart. For your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in your truth. —Psalms 26:1-3
For the sake of the faithful forefathers, God desires to restore the glory of the prominent years. He will visit places that once experienced notable expressions of His Presence and power if the people will build a platform for Him. There will be a recapturing of promises that were once given but have seemingly been lost. He will do this in those places, but He is requiring integrity and uprightness of heart.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. — Psalms 25:21
The Holy Spirit is addressing the character issues resident in those who inherited that kind of ministry so that He can revisit them and bring restoration. The Lord is simply identifying this as an area of emphasis in order to recover the lost vision and also carry them to next level of anointing that is coming.
As we travel all over this nation, we encounter fellowships that once experienced wonderful demonstrations of revival that were somehow lost. Most are desperate to see it return.
We are living close to “midnight.” There isn’t much time left but we have much to accomplish. A redemption of time will become evident. We will see in these days an escalation in divine purpose. Even so, integrity and personal character are a prerequisite.
Integrity in the saints will deliver them from much evil. Even through extreme difficulty, Job maintained his integrity. Joseph endured incredible oppression through his prison experience; yet he sustained personal character that qualified him for the throne.
Build According to the Heavenly Pattern
At 3 AM the Holy Spirit announced, "'SEE', that you build according to the pattern of Heaven." The emphasis on this portion of the revelations centered on visionary clarity! There is no place for the “leaven” of human reasoning in the fresh revelations proceeding from God’s heart.
The Spirit is searching the depths of God to unveil the mysteries of the Kingdom that will prepare and purify the bridal company. (1 Corinthians 2)
There is a pure and perfect pattern in Heaven that we are to emulate on earth. Even as Moses was challenged to carefully build according to the Heavenly pattern, so are we. God, not man, is the architect. We dare not alter His example in even the slightest way or perceive that it can be improved upon.
The End-Time church is to be built after a specific pattern. There is a message and ministry that is divinely given. We depart from His plan only to our peril. The apostle Paul and the early disciples introduced the New Testament standard. They were a seed generation...we are now called to maturity and the harvest of all seeds.
Those embracing standards of personal integrity and righteousness will be allowed to “see” more clearly the Kingdom model to be demonstrated on earth. Part of the “redeeming of time” will be the economy of scales derived from doing things according to God’s ways.
We have been so captured by "doing" things for God that we have not functioned according to the efficiency of Heaven. Admonitions involving our personal and corporate destinies are being commissioned. We must first see clearly then begin to do what we have seen according to the Heavenly strategy most appropriate in the achievement of that destiny. The spirit of revelation is mandatory to accomplish end-time mandates. Our directive is to “SEE” then “BUILD.”
The message proceeding from God’s heart is directly related to the spiritual need of the hour. To be relevant in our generation we must present “meat in due season” that the Holy Spirit deems appropriate.
This is not the time for mechanical and repetitious articulation of doctrines and precepts that have little or no pertinence to this generation’s needs. Our call is to “come up here” and apprehend the blueprint of God. As we are informed in Hebrews 8:5-6,
But these offer service merely as a pattern and as a foreshadowing of what has its true existence and reality in the Heavenly sanctuary. For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God saying, see to it that you make it all exactly according to the copy (the model) which was shown to you on the mountain.
But as it now is, He (Christ) has acquired a priestly ministry which is as much superior and more excellent than the old as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, because it is enacted and rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises. — Amplified
If Moses was instructed to meticulously follow a specific pattern in establishing the tabernacle that was a mere type and shadow, how much more are we in the new and more excellent covenant!
This covenant was not secured with the blood of bulls and goats, but by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. We dare not alter His perfect standard! Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Pure Revelatory Perspective
Personal ambition and human agendas are the leaven that can distort our revelatory clarity. Our earnest prayer should be for the deliverance of our own perspectives in order to embrace His. Only from this posture can we fully apprehend the model that is in Heaven to be emulated on earth.
Our perfect pattern is the Lord Jesus Himself. The Father still seeks pure and unbridled obedience. Much of what is to come has not even entered into the heart of man. Therefore the spirit of revelation is essential for it to be birthed. We will do what we see Him doing and say only what we have heard in the Heavenly realm.
We are the beneficiaries of a new and higher covenant. Yet the directive is the same as the one given to Moses. We must see behind the veil to apprehend the blueprints of God. The strategy room of Heaven is now open for individuals, fellowships, cities and regions to apprehend the divine design for fruitfulness in the Kingdom.
There has been a very deliberate orchestration of spiritual outpourings over the last 100 years. God does nothing without a cause. There have been incredible supernatural expressions of God on the earth that are of biblical proportions. Much of this has been hidden from the awareness of the Church.
Nevertheless, there is another great awakening on the horizon to bring an army out of the wilderness. Their eyes will be illumined and their hearts enlightened to comprehend God’s strategy and apprehend the model of Heaven designed for the "latter days."
Daniel saw this in his visitation and wrote of it. However, His words and insight have been sealed from that day until this. The book is now open! The capstone generation is being prepared to be released with shouts of "grace-grace!"
Part Four— A Kingdom Standard
Uproot and Plant
This portion of the revelations continued with the theme of Heavenly justice. In many ways the scales have been unbalanced towards wickedness and human agendas. The governmental anointing now emerging will uproot many of those attributes! In its stead, the Kingdom of Heaven will be planted and established.
As I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to overthrow, to destroy and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," declares the LORD —Jeremiah 31:28
At 4:35 AM the Lord stated, "I'm going to uproot and I'm going to plant." The spiritual authority that is being delegated will have a twofold application. Not only will it uproot and destroy things sponsored by realms of darkness but also build and plant from the Kingdom of light. John 4:35 states,
Do you not say, "There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'?
Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.
Sowing righteousness will reap a harvest of salvation. Our call is to sow spiritually in uprightness; that is from a posture of right standing with God. In so doing, we will reap according to mercy and lovingkindness. We are entering a season of harvest. It will be a harvest of “harvesters.”
What and how we sow will determine our harvest. We are to break up uncultivated ground.
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. — Psalms 126:5-6
This is a call to go into previously uncharted territories. Like Elijah, a holy jealousy for God will overshadow God’s army. They will not be afraid to challenge the “prophets of Baal” who are deceiving many.
This will result in a wonderful harvest of gifted people who will be very fruitful in the Kingdom. They already have a zeal for spiritual things, if only misguided. Once they discover the truth, all their devotion and enthusiasm will be for Jesus.
Much prayer and sacrifice has already been invested in this day. Many seeds of revival and spiritual outpouring have been sown. We will now become the beneficiaries of a great spiritual inheritance, eating from vineyards that we did not plant. Even so, those who sow and those who reap will rejoice together.
A great company of spiritual champions who have blazed a spiritual trail surrounds us! They have sown into this day as righteous testifier’s waiting for us to become heirs of our prophetic destiny. In that, we will share the Lord's victory.
It is now a time to seek the Lord and inquire favor of Him until He rains righteousness upon us. Then the full measure of His salvation will be our inheritance. (Hosea 10:12)
The Object of Our Focus
We are entering a very dangerous season of Church and human history. We must be very careful about the object of our focus; the Kingdom of Heaven or the spirit of this world? Have we devoted our attention to the desire of God or the pursuit of our own ambition?
These are the pressing questions that must be truthfully confronted! We cannot afford distractions from the adversary; distractions can lead to destruction.
The highway in this season that will see considerable spiritual activity is— "Highway 435." There will also be a spiritual emphasis on the area surrounding the natural Highway 435.
John 4:35 will be a primary focus of the Kingdom mind-set. Many layers of understanding will be derived through teachers inspired by revelatory insight involving this important passage. A spiritual and natural harvest is at hand. The church is being poised to bring in a "harvest of harvesters." The Lord is symbolically stating that this "highway" will carry us to the place of our destination.
We have now entered a season of spiritual harvest. Seeds sown in prior generations have come to a place of maturity. Commissions, mantles and spiritual gifts can be apprehended that were previously worn by pioneers and leaders of the past.
The Lord, in this harvest age, will remember the prayers and sacrifices of prior generations. (We discuss this principle much more extensively in our book entitled Books of Destiny. See www.WhiteDoveMinistries.org)
The Power-Saw
We are promised a release of power from Heaven on an escalated scale. The purest form of harvest is through a demonstration of the Spirit and His power. In the visions, this release of power was illustrated through a tool called a "power-saw."
Carpentry work has been incredibly simplified since the days our Lord was a carpenter in the region of Nazareth. Modern tools, such as the power-saw, have made this difficult work much easier. Lumber and boards can now be processed quickly and efficiently with this mechanism. However, in the hands of careless and inexperienced laborers it can also become very dangerous.
The Holy Spirit is using this analogy to paint a prophetic portrait that can be readily understood. Workmen operating a power-saw carelessly or presumptuously can sometimes lose their fingers and hands. Prophetically, the hand is representative of the fivefold ministry.
The early apostolic church modeled God’s design for unfolding the revelation of His Kingdom. What had previously seemed an impossible task, is made attainable by the Lord’s power imparted through His resurrection. The Bible records that,
with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. — Acts 4:33
We cannot fully achieve our mandates without the spiritual government of God in its place functioning with authority. If used wrongly, the power of God can cut off our ministry. The hand of the carpenter only holds the saw in place.
History has clearly proven, the careless handling of God's power results in shipwreck. This once again points to the need for great integrity and personal character resident in us.
God will not share His glory with anyone. Our ministries must be galvanized with charity and cloaked in humility. The "power-saw" or power of God, will be utilized to tear down and to build. This is a duel commissioning. (Jeremiah 31:28)
In the hands of an experienced builder, the "power-saw" functions efficiently and beautifully. Gifted carpenters have great respect for the tools of their trade. Their livelihood depends upon it. Likewise, we are wholly dependant upon the Holy Spirit and should exercise extreme care in handling His gifts.
This is both an admonition and a warning. The Lord is letting us know that greater power is available and much needed. However it comes with a condition—proper stewardship. Presumption and distractions will results in grave danger.
The Blessings of Jacob
At 5:35 AM the Holy Spirit gave Psalms 53:5-6—
There they are in great fear where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; you have put them to shame, because God has despised them. Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
It will be a very dangerous time to attempt to withstand God’s hand. We have entered a "fullness of time" juncture of church history. There will no longer be delay for many of the purposes destined for this hour. To stand in the way of these mandates could be extremely hazardous.
When the day arrived for Israel’s liberation from Egyptian bondage, the enemy could not prohibit the decree of God. Decrees from heaven are issued through angelic "watchers" that carry authority from God. Not even the Red Sea was able to stand before the achievement of that decree. Pharaoh's army was annihilated under the weight of this command.
So is it today! We are living in a day of restoration. The fortunes of God’s inheritance are being replenished. Great will be the rejoicing of those ascending Mount Zion to experience the awesome spiritual blessings ordained for this day.
The Favor of El Shaddai
In Bob's experience he was informed that the "blessing of Jacob" is being released in a pronounced way. This was a very unique and supernatural experience that launched Jacob into his divine destiny. There is a profoundly significant attribute of God identified in this impartation of favor and grace. The Lord appeared to him as God Almighty— El Shaddai.
May God Almighty (EL Shaddai) bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham. — Genesis 28:3-4
There are many divine attributes of the Father, all of which are revealed in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the express image of God and the exact representation of His nature. However, there presently seems to be special emphasis on His eternal quality as El Shaddai.
This descriptive expression depicts the Father as our “all sufficient One” providing all that we need. It oftentimes depicts Him as the “many breasted One” symbolized by a nursing mother providing all that an infant needs for growth, maturity, and protection.
In like manner, as we draw near to Him and rely upon His sufficiency, we will actually be drawing the very tissue of God into ourselves transforming us into an overcoming army who embody His qualities and attributes.
The Blessing of Jacob
In the book of Genesis we discover the Lord revealing Himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai. In each case, there was the impartation of this specific divine attribute essential for the patriarchs to become fruitful, multiply and occupy the land of their sojourning.
The Lord released this divine blessing upon Isaac. The result was so profound that the enemies of Isaac desired to enter into a covenant of peace with him because of the obvious favor of God.
In Genesis 26 we observe Isaac re-digging the old wells of Abraham. On the day that Abimelech chose to approach Isaac with a proposition of peace, a well was discovered that remains to this day. The well is called "The Well of the Oath" or Beersheba.
In December 2001, Wanda and I, along with a few close friends, had the privilege of spending an afternoon of prayer and proclamation at this well. It was a profound time to stand upon the very spot where so many significant biblical and historical events have taken place. We had an incredible encounter with the Lord while there.
It was the very place where Jacob received the blessing that opened the heavens and introduced a visitation from the Lord.
The Visitation of Jacob
Immediately following the release of this blessing upon Jacob, a subsequent open heaven experience was granted to the patriarch. The experience unveiled to him his divine destiny and that of his people. Upon departing Beersheba he traveled toward Haran. Desiring to rest he placed a stone under his head and encountered the Lord in a penetrating revelation of Kingdom purpose.
Presently, there are many who have been prepared by the Holy Spirit to encounter the Lord in such a way that Heavenly objectives are being revealed and imparted. Out of that we become fruitful and multiply and begin to occupy the land of our sojourning.
Jacob watched as angels ascended and descended a "ladder" linking heaven with earth and listened as a Heavenly promise was given.
Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it. He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” — Genesis 28:14-17
There is something significant about the release of the El Shaddai blessing and the subsequent experience of Jacob announcing his covenant destiny and divine promise.
Likewise, as the Holy Spirit continually unfolds to us this aspect of the Divine attributes, we will begin to see open heaven revelations of our spiritual destiny and promise to become expressions of His Kingdom. Seeing His plans for us will cause us to begin to occupy, on His behalf, the land of our sojourning.
This blessing opened a gate of Heaven. Many storms and cataclysmic events have been occurring in recent days. We believe this is highlighting a place in which the Lord desires to open spiritual gates and everlasting doors. (Psalm 24:7-10)
Although we appreciate the understanding given to us by many authors concerning the definition of El Shaddai as "the all sufficient One" or the "many breasted One." We must also consider what many Jewish writers have suggested concerning this divine attribute. They find the name to be much more far-reaching than our present understanding discloses.
As one Jewish scholar put it “It (the blessing of EL Shaddai) belonged to the sphere of salvation, forming one element in the manifestation of Jehovah, and describing Jehovah, the covenant God, as possessing the power to realize His promises, even when the order of nature presented no prospect of their fulfilment, and the powers of nature were insufficient to secure it. The name which Jehovah thus gave to Himself was to be a pledge...”
Divine Intervention
One of the most profound promises in the New Testament is the precious and magnificent promise that we can become partakers of His divine nature and Holy character. This endowment of Heaven empowers us to escape the corruption of this world and its lusts. (II Peter 1:4)
When this work is complete, we can then be entrusted with the power and authority of His kingdom to make it known in the earth and become the awesome army prophesied in scripture.
However, the fulfillment of this prophetic mandate seems distant and impossible from the perspective of our strength and ability. Like Abraham, Issac and Jacob the realization of our promise requires divine intervention to become reality— the intervention of El Shaddai.
The manifestation of God as El Shaddai overcame the deficiency and weakness of Abraham to do what he by nature could not. So is it with us. He is able to do through us what we are incapable of producing on our own. As we yield ourselves to Him for the extraction of the seeds of corruption from our soul, we then begin the journey to become partakers of His nature and escape this world’s impurity.
A Call to Maturity
The Holy Spirit is calling us to maturity. We must move beyond the elementary principles and become the mature sons and daughters who bear His image and express His power. By virtue of His impartation to us as El Shaddai, as was given to Jacob, we will begin to bear fruit that is recognizable and provide light and life.
There has been a divine discomfort that has been imparted to the body of Christ. In times past many have been content to sit in the pews of our churches and allow leadership and ministry teams do the work of ministry.
This year we will see a tremendous hunger imparted to the body to be prepared to fulfill Ephesians 4:12 and see the miracles, signs and wonders for themselves. This aspect of our development must take place to accommodate the great harvest in the years to come.
Those who will come with humble and sincere hearts will see notable spiritual fruit being developed within their nature and character. This will be necessary so that we can be entrusted with the power and gifts essential to do this all-important work.
The revelation and impartation of the blessing of Jacob will equip us to begin to occupy the land and become fruit-bearers with kingdom attributes. As we rest in this aspect of His divine name, we also draw virtue from Him as our High Tower and infinite source of strength.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe. — Proverbs 18:10
We have come to Mount Zion that is the city of the living God. In that place there are multitudes of angels along with the Church of the Firstborn who are registered as citizens of Heaven. In this place we discover God in his Justice and the spirits of the righteous and redeemed made perfect. (Hebrews 12:22-23)
These revelations will deliver many from their "comfort zones" but it will also release great spiritual inheritance ordained for the latter days.
Leaving the Comfort Zone
Dealing with our spiritual "comfort zone" will be a primary emphasis of the Holy Spirit in the coming season. This principle will be applicable both individually and corporately.
The Lord intends to develop maturity in a body of people to whom He can delegate substantial spiritual authority and power. For this to be accomplished, we must eliminate the parameters we have built around ourselves. During these days we will be challenged out of our “comfort zone” and into the place of supernatural faith. In this arena we will discover the "faith of the Son of God."
Individuals being groomed for positions of leadership will, by the Holy Spirit's direction, move out of the positions of their greatest comfort. Many are is a post that may presently be fruitful; but a greater place of fruitfulness and authority can be achieved that requires the supernatural realm.
God’s cloud is moving. His plan is unfolding. Our ultimate objective is to develop Kingdom credentials to faithfully steward what is to come.
Likewise, churches and fellowships may also find themselves extending their tent pegs and broadening their mandates for spiritual challenges from God. The Holy Spirit will identify the places in which He is genuinely Lord as opposed to man-made leadership following human agendas.
Another word for comfort zone is "lukewarm." The Lord has clearly defined His thoughts concerning lukewarm Christianity. He hates it!
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. – Rev. 3:16-17
Many individuals and fellowships may perceive they are blistering hot for God. That is the dilemma the Bible predicts for the latter days. However, we must see things from His perspective. In the coming season, the Lord will send teams of people who are genuinely on fire for God to places that are living in a lukewarm atmosphere.
The zeal and affection for heaven these possess, will become infectious and expose places that are under the “lukewarm,” Laodicean spirit. Their burning passion for God will melt cold formal religious mind-sets.
The ones being challenged to leave their "comfort zone" are the very ones being identified for substantial spiritual impartation. Spiritual bravery and individual courage must characterize the emerging army of Go