The Shepherd’s Rod 2004
Psalm 104
As we have stated in times past, the Lord emphasizes a Psalm to correspond with each year that provides an outline of His thoughts and ways. There are prophetic indications provided in the Psalm corresponding to that particular year that will have overriding applications on multiple levels.
It seems that Psalms 104 provides even more insight and emphases for 2004 than the various Psalms have for the previous years. The year 2002 provided an incredibly dry season both naturally and spiritually with greater measures of the Holy Spirit being released in 2003. We will continue to see that expansion take place over the next three years as we become more acclimated with the ways of Heaven for this generation and learn to more fully cooperate with the Holy Spirit to release Heavenly virtue.
It was specifically noted by the Holy Spirit that there are 35 verses in this Psalm which also provides a source of direction. For us, the number 35 generally points to the Highway of Holiness depicted in Isaiah 35. Clearly, there is a present call for greater measures of purity and consecration in order to remain on the lofty path established for us. This is the “higher way” of holiness to which we are called. When we do, it will carry us above the cares of this world and the tormenting spirits that are released with substantial authority from the realms of darkness.
This Psalm has as an overriding theme the petition of God’s people for His supernatural intervention. This is clearly desperately needed. It is a call for prayer, praise and prophetic proclamations to ascend to the throne of Heaven provoking a release of His awesome attributes and power. Additionally, Psalm 35 contains truth that will work in unison with the strategy of the Lord for the present release of His authority and warring host. He will begin to contend with our adversaries when we petition Him and call for Him to occupy His post as Captain of the Host and the awesome Warrior.
1. Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty,
Our praise will restore to the eyes of the people the great glory and majesty of the Lord. When we affectionately and gratefully bless the Lord with our praise and acknowledgment of His majesty and splendor, it will awaken a generation to divine destiny.
This once again points to the houses of prayer and praise that are being established as well as a call to organize specific seasons of prayer and intercession that may last several days at a time. These are the introductions to the restoration of the Tabernacle of David administration of worship and prophetic declarations. The heavens will be transformed as we enter more complete into this ministry in maturity.
2. Covering yourself with light as with a cloak, stretching out heaven like a {tent} curtain.
The Lord clothes Himself in light as with a virtuous garment to depict His great authority in Heaven and in creation. We are likewise called to be endowed with the raiment of light that proceeds from Him. We are called to be the light and salt of the earth.
The pure white light of Heaven will proceed from the throne to be imparted into the spirit and soul of the Lord’s people to make us divine carriers of His virtue. Many will encounter the lights of Heaven in private worship and in corporate settings in amplified ways over the coming months and years. The Apostle Paul once had such an encounter and it transformed his life forever. The Bible describes the Lord as our source of every good thing coming down from the Father of lights in whom there is no shifting shadow. (See James 1:17)
A “great light” will be offered to those who have formally known darkness and gloom. Much like the promise given to the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, the people who walk in darkness will see a brilliant light and he will make the latter time a glorious season. (See Isaiah 9:1-2) This is for the land “beyond the Jordan” as we cross over into the day of promise. Illumination will be coming to those who have formally embraced traditionalism and religious structures and many will now embrace divine light
3. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind;
The Lord is releasing the wings of the wind to transport us from captivity into liberty and freedom. His angels are winds that fuel the flame of fire burning in the heart of His ministers. Great spiritual winds will come to lift us above the issues of this world as we learn to soar in the Spirit like eagles. This fresh wind will carry many to higher realms of revelation than known in the past.
4. He makes the winds His messengers, flaming fire His ministers.
Angels coming as divine winds will spread and amplify the fiery words that will proceed from the mouth of the Lord’s messengers. Throughout the ministry of the Lord Himself, we discover angelic activity that surrounded His life. Likewise, substantial activity will accompany the ministers of the Lord from the Heavenly host to help bring to maturity and orchestrate readiness in this generation for the divine visitation promised to it.
People will discover with great surprise the far-reaching effects their words will have as the angels carry anointed messages to the far corners of the earth. The word of the Lord that proceeds from anointed vessels will be transported and conveyed by the winds of these angels to strategic individuals and regions with transforming impact.
5. He established the earth upon its foundations, so that it will not totter forever and ever.
The Lord is establishing a foundation of righteousness on the earth upon which He will allow the authority of His throne to rest. Once fashioned, it cannot be moved from its place. The things that He is setting in motion will continue without end. The time has now arrived for the revelation of Christ to be delegated to a prophesied and foreknown generation.
6. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters were standing above the mountains.
The Lord rules from His throne with perfect supremacy and rest. Nothing takes Him by surprise nor is there a need for which he has not already made provision. The righteous need not fear but stand in faith. The Lord saw all things before the foundation of the world and provided for every need.
The heavens came into existence by the word of the Lord and the waters to cover the earth by the expression of His lips. The victory is already achieved.
7. At your rebuke they fled, at the sound of your thunder they hurried away.
The voice of the Lord is as the sound of thunder. The Lord will be speaking with far greater clarity in the coming days to those with ears to hear. He stands at the door knocking with the revelatory voice hearkening to the people anointed with the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation who will open to Him and minister to Him in their priestly role.
We are living in the day in which there will be thunder coming from a clear sky to prophetically indicate the sounding of His voice to this generation.
8. The mountains rose; the valleys sank down to the place which you established for them.
Divine order is being established in the earth. The perfect model of creation depicts the supernatural order of Heaven. The time has now arrived for the appropriate biblical order to be established in the Church. The heavens…the stars…the sun and the entire universe function in its perfect order and structure. The establishment of the earth and the boundaries set for the waters highlight the authority of God in all of creation. The governmental order will now take its place in the Church to function in power and true spiritual authority.
9. You set a boundary that they may not pass over, so that they will not return to cover the earth.
The Lord is drawing a “line in the sand” as a boundary or line of demarcation to determine who will cross over and wholly submit themselves, spirit, soul and body. There are boundaries and parameters that are set in the earth and in our individual lives. We are presently living at a juncture in time that will be looked upon for years to come as a pivotal crossroad in human history. We must carefully make our choices and decisions through prayer and greater understanding of His Word and the prophetic outline foreseen by the prophets of old.
10. He sends forth springs in the valleys; they flow between the mountains;
The Lord is now releasing springs of living water to flow forth from our innermost being to quench the thirst of a parched and dry land. We are to be the rock through which the water will flow. He is the source and we are to be the vessels that He utilizes. Many people will be “sent” to dry and desolate places to be a source of life through which springs of Heavenly water will flow.
11. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The springs of living water will proceed from the mouth of the Lord’s messengers. This is a call to power evangelism to give a drink of living water to the lost and desperate. This will be a season for greater measures of evangelism outside the four walls of the Church. Many will be anointed and sent to difficult areas with a commission from Heaven to provide living water.
12. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they lift up their voices among the branches.
Birds of Heaven are oftentimes representative of angelic messengers bringing songs of praise and adoration to individuals and fellowships. During seasons of high praise an angelic host will very often participate with the people in worship to bring the song of Heaven. Prophetic songs of praise and deliverance will come as individuals determine to yield to this dimension of our revelatory heritage. This will be especially true as we learn to function more fully in Tabernacle of David worship.
The prophet David assigned specific priests to accompany him and others to record spontaneous songs of praise and worship that would come through the prophetic anointing. Likewise, we will receive great insight from the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs developed through this gift.
13. He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.
The upcoming season will produce a time of fruitfulness or harvest. This is pointing to the harvest of souls as well as the return of many prodigals who have been running from their divine call and commission. The living water that will be carried by specifically anointed vessels will nourish the seeds of destiny imparted to the souls of many, bringing them to the awareness of their destiny and purpose.
There is a prophetic promise in Joel 2:26 stating that we will eat and drink and be “satisfied.” We are not yet satisfied with our present condition or the deposit of Heaven that we carry. We are to eat and drink of the Lord’s goodness and praise Him from a satisfied heart.
14. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the labor of man, so that he may bring forth food from the earth,
Anointed teachers will begin to instruct the Church on becoming the mature body. The Lord will cause growth and expansion to be facilitated in order that we may bring spiritual food to the nations. This is the time to put away childish things and begin to partake of strong meat that is being delegated in due season.
There is a present call to Hebrews 6:1. We must move beyond the elementary principles into the things of Heaven that we may taste the good word of God and the power of the age to come. All this is accomplished through intimate relationship with the Lord as deep longings within us call out to the depths of God’s heart.
15. And wine which makes man’s heart glad, so that he may make his face glisten with oil, and food which sustains man’s heart.
There is coming a season of joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. Wine is symbolically expressing gladness of heart and stimulation that comes by the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fresh bread is coming from Heaven as the hidden manna set apart and reserved for this generation. The call to grow in maturity will be facilitated by the Lord’s leadership presenting to the people the deeper things of God that are provided to us by the Spirit of Revelation who searches the heart of the Father.
From this posture we will be strengthened as a mighty warrior and equipped to encounter the plots of the adversary set against this generation. The Lord is a Warrior and we are to be clothed in His militant attributes as it relates to the enemy who dwells in heavenly places.
16. The trees of the LORD drink their fill, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
Trees of righteousness are soon to emerge endowed with the resources of Heaven necessary to build a spiritual habitation. The Lord is looking to the humble and contrite of heart to build a dwelling place for Him. The cedars represent purity of character symbolized by the material used by Solomon in the construction of the Temple.
Our call is to be clothed with the incorruptible material of His nature and character. This will make us the living stones placed in His Temple. The trees and cedars represent the resources of Heaven necessary to construct the spiritual Temple ordained for this generation.
17. Where the birds build their nests, and the stork, whose home is the fir trees.
There is a present invitation for intimacy and fellowship with the Lord on an unprecedented level. Psalms 84: 3 depicts the Lord’s people as a sparrow who has found a home or a swallow discovering a nest for herself— the altar of God. We are to make our abode before His throne and like David discover the one thing most important that will satisfy our soul. That is, to continually behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His Temple.
18. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the cliffs are a refuge for the shephanim.
There are many who have attempted to hide from God in the high mountains and among the cliffs and ledges. However, there is no place obscured from His sight. There are many who are seemingly characterized with a “goat nature” that will discover the Lord in the next wave of evangelism now being released. This could also point to many people who have a Godly calling placed upon their life that are presently in the occult, New Age, and heathenism who will hear the voice of Lord and respond.
19. He made the moon for the seasons; the sun knows the place of its setting.
The Church is often represented by the moon with the mandate to reflect the light of the sun and mark the times and seasons of Heaven. Our call is to reflect His great light. We are now approaching the time in which the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun (son) and the sun will be seven times brighter like the light of seven days. (See Isaiah 30)
The prophetic voice of the Church is to announce to the world the appropriate times and seasons of Heaven and the activities of God on the earth. As we press in to the revelatory realm of Heaven, we will access greater understanding into this important role.
20. You appoint darkness and it becomes night, in which all the beasts of the forest prowl about.
Those who dwell in darkness will behold a great Light… those who dwell in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death will encounter the Light of Heaven. (See Isaiah 9:2) The light of God is coming to illumine our darkness. This is both for those who are saved and living in depression, discouragement and oppression as well as the unsaved that are without any light or salvation. Greater radiance from God is coming.
It is during the night seasons or days of darkness that the predators prowl about seeking prey. Darkness is allowed only to illustrate the brilliance of His great light.
21. The young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God.
The young lions here represent people who are hungry for God and seek Him from a desperate heart. The Lord will always feed the spiritually hungry.
One of the great miracles performed by our Lord was the multiplication of the fishes and loaves. Herein we have a prophetic picture of the Lord supernaturally providing bread for hungry followers, given to the disciples who then delegate it to the masses. The Lord took the bread and blessed it with a supernatural blessing that multiplied it so that all who were hungry had more than enough. The Lord will always make a way to provide bread for those who are hungry.
22. When the sun rises they withdraw and lie down in their dens.
Once a hungry heart has eaten and is satisfied, he will lay down in peace and rest. The Lord is calling us to taste and see that He is good. Therein, we will discover the rest of God and the fruit of His many benefits.
23. Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until evening.
The man who goes forth to do his work and faithfully labors until evening is considered the righteous laborer and entrusted with greater power and authority. This season will produce righteous and faithful people who will be endowed with greater measures of faith and broader dimensions of authority because of their trustworthiness.
24. O LORD, how many are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your possessions.
Divine wisdom is a great attribute and spiritual key to unlock the resources of Heaven. An invitation now stands before us to access through the revelatory realm, greater dimensions of Heavenly wisdom and insight. Supernatural treasures are the fruit of the mantle of wisdom.
25. There is the sea, great and broad, in which are swarms without number, animals both small and great.
Very often, the Holy Spirit represents humanism and psychological reasoning through creeping creatures and swarming insects. They illustrate the thoughts and ways of man imparted through this symbolic representation. Flies can very often portray lies. Presently, there is a great sea and vast array of humanistic thinking and soulish reasoning that attempts to make the word of God of no effect. This passage depicts that spiritual reality.
26. There the ships move along, and Leviathan, which you have formed to sport in it.
Great “leader-ships” will begin to emerge to deal with humanism and psychological reasoning that has attempted to steal the birth right of God’s people. Ships at sea represent “leader ships” called for a specific purpose. On the other hand, greater authority will also be delegated to the enemies of the Cross as represented by Leviathan. However, the power of the Cross has cut the head off of this creature and our job is to retrieve those who have previously been held captive by this deceiving spirit.
27. They all wait for you to give them their food in due season.
There is a present call, particularly in the Western Church, to understand more fully the ministry of waiting upon the Lord. In response to this mandate, we will discover greater realms of revelation and apprehend our spiritual meat in due season. There will be a renewing of our spiritual strength as we minister to the Lord in this fashion. (See Isaiah 40:31 and Psalm 46:10)
28. You give to them, they gather it up; you open your hand, they are satisfied with good.
This is a time to taste the good word of God and the fruit of His many blessings. When we do, will discover that He is indeed good. The Lord is coming to a generation with the open book in His hand to be eaten and devoured by His bride. We will then be called to prophesy again concerning many nations, tongues, tribes and kingdoms.
29. You hide your face, they are dismayed; you take away their spirit, they expire and return to their dust.
The common grace that has been upon the earth will “expire” so that “Great Grace” can be revealed to the Church. There are greater dimensions of grace that the Lord wants to bring to and through the Church. It is to those who will shout the proclamations of “grace, grace.” (See Zechariah 4)
Without grace we would be troubled and dismayed by the hiding of His face from us. He then sends His Spirit to give us greater measures of grace.
30. You send forth your Spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.
When the breath of God is released it produces spiritual life. The Lord will be breathing life into us in order to take this gospel to the nations of the earth with power and authority. The Lord is going to breathe on many to produce a wave of evangelism in the immediate season before us. This Spirit of Life will enter the people and set them on the course of destiny. This will be accomplished through the great-grace that is coming.
31. Let the glory of the LORD endure forever; let the LORD be glad in His works;
We are living in a day in which the Glory of God will be manifested and revealed. The Lord will express joy in His saints and release strength for the battle and hope to displace hopelessness. He will rejoice in the work that is to be accomplished in this pivotal hour of human history.
When the Lord finds pleasure in us, it provides spiritual strength and fortification. What greater acknowledgment can we hope for than to receive the pleasure of the Lord and be identified as His friends!
32. He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
The days ahead will experience great shaking and quaking both on the earth and in the heavens. There is a shaking coming so that those things that remain can be revealed as having been purified and refined.
33. I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Great praise services will experience tangible expressions of His presence as the praise reaches the heights of Heaven. There will be substantial anointing on praise gatherings birthed in humility and sincerity. As the praise reaches a crescendo it will touch the heart of the Father prompting a great response from Heaven. This will be the year for visitation to occur in praise on a greatly expanded scale.
There will be a number of places that this is true but there will be a special emphasis on Nashville and the calling placed upon these worshipers to lead in the coming battle.
34. Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; as for me, I shall be glad in the LORD.
With the many distractions from the spirit of this world, our calling is to meditate upon Him and His vast glory. Our prayer should be for the grace to fasten our gaze upon Him neither looking to the right nor the left so that He would find His joy in our adoration.
This is a time to meditate upon the attributes of the Lord and His promises to us. In these revelations He is specifically admonishing us to focus our attention upon His commitment to:
1. Make us more than conquerors in Christ.
2. I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.
3. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will never leave nor forsake me.
4. I once was young but now I am old yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging for bread.
5. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
35. Let sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!
God granted repentance is coming to the wicked. We are admonished in 2 Timothy 2:25-26 to gently and with humility bring correction if perhaps God may grant repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth. Many are held captive by the snare of the adversary that the Lord wants to liberate with deliverance and escape from bondage and the presence of darkness.
Great fear is coming upon the earth and the Lord in His mercy is calling sinners to return to Him. Fear, depression and terror are the reward of the wicked contributing to the greatest judgment upon those separated from Christ.
Seven— The Number of Completion
In a visionary experience, Bob saw a map of the United States with the number seven (7) superimposed over the map. This was to spiritually indicate that a work of completion had been accomplished in a number of people prepared for a fresh release from the throne of Heaven. The places that the number seven laid across the map indicated a unique release of the Spirit in those areas.
That is not to indicate that it is the exclusive place in which the Lord is releasing a deposit of His Spirit. Rather, it is strictly highlighting this area for an extraordinary expression of God to be demonstrated by those specifically prepared for this purpose.
The emblem of the seven seemed to begin along the Gulf coast and expand at an angle toward the northeast with the region of New Hampshire forming the upper most portion of the numerical symbol. From there it extended across the northern portion of the United States and Canada to the West Coast and made a slight turn down around Oregon and California.
There is a finished work that has been fulfilled in a body of people who will be brought close to the Lord and His throne to hear fresh expressions from His heart. Seven is the number symbolic of completion to indicate the maturing that has transpired in those to be used by the Holy Spirit.
As the vision continued, Bob also saw another numerical seven; however, this one was inverted. This was also to indicate the completed and maturing work that has been accomplished in the realm of darkness through those who oppose the work of the cross and the Church of the Lord Jesus.
Our adversary has been at work in a body of people to equip them in the realms of darkness to oppose the fresh dimension of Heaven being unleashed in this hour. The Lord indicated that His Light will always overcome darkness and we should not be threatened by this increased opposition. When we submit ourselves to Him in complete trust, He will go before us in the battle.
Crossing Over
A baptism of fire is coming upon those who have been set apart and prepared to be mightily anointed in this juncture of Church history. The Lord clearly has a strategic blueprint that is continuing to display His perfect plan and purpose for this age. It is His roadmap to the Prince of Peace with signposts along the way to indicate progress. This crossroad is alerting us to a present release of spiritual virtue and Heavenly power for the vessels that have gone through a grooming and purging process in order to qualify them to carry this dimension of His authority. We are now broaching the completion of a spiritual stepping stone that ultimately leads to the throne of Heaven.
Many of the central figures used in the process of completing this important step in God’s plan are receiving their Heavenly reward and crossing over into eternity. The Lord spoke it this way,
“Derek was a prince…a prince of God’s word. He brought the word of truth. Bill was bright… for he allowed his light to shine upon youth and Kenneth Hagin was a man of great faith that believed God for the release of Heavenly grace.”
These men have now graduated to their Heavenly reward. The present generation must now assume the responsibility of leadership and take the next step to go far beyond the valuable foundation established by these devoted predecessors. As Elijah was a prophet in the wilderness, the Lord will now establish the “Elishas” who will be prophets to the masses.
These Godly men going home have left us with a rich heritage and a duty to carry the torch of Heaven to greater heights. These three are not the only ones who have entered the realms of glory. However, they are the ones who have been specifically mentioned through these revelations. There call and the function they served represents insight into the next generation soon to occupy their post of duty.
No longer will the Lord’s anointed ones be hidden in the wilderness. They will now be revealed on a broad scale to a number of people in a corporate way. A new generation of radical prophetic voices will now emerge who have encountered Heaven and carry a fresh expression from the heart of God.
No man will {be able to} stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. (Josh 1:5)
Joshua carried the anointing and commission of Moses to its completion. The prophet Elijah once prayed and observed a cloud the “size of a mans hand” on the horizon of Israel. So also can we now perceive a new cloud to bring the “reign” of Heaven on our spiritual horizon. The prophetic prayers offered to the Lord for the release of governmental leadership will now be answered in a more pronounced way.
The Baptism of Fire
There will now come into view men and women burning with the flame of Heaven ignited in their souls who embody radical passion and extravagant devotion. These will know the reality of the prophetic proclamation spoken over the Lord Jesus by the prophet John the Baptist. Those who follow Him and experientially apprehend the baptism of fire will carry a notable deposit of heavenly virtue.
As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:11 12)
There will be significant spiritual activity that will surround this emerging leadership who have been endowed with the support of Heaven. Angels will ascend and descend upon the purposes of God committed to this loyal group. This leadership will carry the authority to release this heavenly host as the Church learns to more adequately work in cooperation with the plan of Heaven at this crucial moment of human history.
The anointed leadership now being commissioned has, through the grace of God, captured the attention of Heaven and has been furnished the authority to release the Heavenly host to work in consolidation with us on the earth to establish Heavenly parameters.
Faith— Trust— Rest
There are dimensions of faith that are being expanded in this new season to go beyond common faith into “sacred trust.” Now, we are also discovering there is a place that extends beyond trust venturing into “divine rest.”
Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard…Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience (Hebrews 4:1, 6)
The Lord desires for us to enter a place of rest that transcends our present measure of faith and trust. When we discover our rest in Him…He will find His rest in us. Faith is the “deed of trust” signed over to us as our inheritance to occupy the land of promise purchased by our elder brother. In that habitation of promise we will apprehend His rest. In this place we will experience the faith of the Son of God that identifies the substance of things that are hoped for and imparts evidence of the unseen.
There remains a promise to enter His rest and it is being offered this day in a profound and significant way. When the word of truth is mingled with faith it begins to produce the life of Christ in us that will establish us in trust before the Lord leading to His rest and the greater works of John 14:12.
The three Hebrew sons thrust into the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar trusted that their faith in God would save them even if their physical bodies perished in flames. However their trust awakened the affection of God who would not allow them to face this encounter alone and entered the trial with them and allowed them to discover their rest in Him. Not even the smell of smoke was allowed to touch these devoted men. They discovered the rest of God.
This is an essential element in God that we must ascertain in its fullness in order to overcome the fear and terror that will permeate this generation. We are living in a time of extremes. There will be extreme fear and intimidation imparted to the hearts of people who are not grounded in Christ. Conversely, there will be extravagant faith, trust and rest delegated to those fully submitted to the Lord and His perfect plan. Grace is being released for us to comprehend and apprehend this dimension of the faith realm as we articulate this desire to the Father through prayer, praise and prophetic proclamations.
Escalation Among the Young
There will be a marked increase in the grace and anointing upon youth groups and the equipping centers devoted to this segment of the Church. There is a divine grace coming to help escalate spiritual maturity in the development of their character and the utilization of spiritual gifts. Some will actually be launched into ministry at ages ranging from 21 to 25. The Lord will provide mature and seasoned overseers to help cover and protect these ministries allowing time for growth and experience.
It will be a consolidation of the generational mandates being inaugurated in this hour to facilitate a multi-generational— multi-cultural unity. This day will see a merger of the young and old, rich and poor and a cross-pollination of race, color and ethnic groups. The true definition of the one new man will begin to come more clearly into focus.
The youth movement that has been prophesied and is presently emerging will not tolerate religious zeal or traditions of man. Their heart will only be captured by Godly passion and the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ living and abiding in His people doing through them the works of the Kingdom. That will likewise be the banner and spiritual standard of all utilized in this expression of Heavenly reality.
The Color for This Year— White
The color for this year is white…specifically, white light. There will emerge from the throne of Heaven great deposits of Heavenly light into the spirit and soul of the Church to ignite us on the course of destiny and high purposes.
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life. (John 8:12)
There are many applications to white and even more as it relates to light. Some pertain to the purity, consecration and holiness that is to characterize God’s people. Light dispels the darkness of our soul as He lights the candle of our innermost being.
Furthermore, it can relate to the priestly garments and our call to minister to Him in the beauty of holiness. Likewise, the white flag of surrender typifies the total yielding of our spirit, soul and body to the will of the Father.
One thing we know with certainty about light is that it travels fast and straight. There are three basic ways to manage “light.”
1. Block it with some object thus creating a shadow.
2. Reflect it and change its path through the reflection.
3. Bend it by making it pass into another material of different density like water.
We can block the light of God with our unbelief or reflect the great light to a lost and dying world. We can also allow the light to rest in us as it comes vertically from Heaven to be expressed through us horizontally to a dark world.
The white light of God shines from Heaven into us. However, it emerges from us in the seven expressions of the Spirit as represented by the rainbow and the sevenfold Spirit of God. Our hearts are to be like diamonds that reflect this great light and the various manifestations of His spirit providing the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirits of Wisdom and Revelation, the Spirits of Counsel and Might, the Spirits of Knowledge and Reverential Fear.
Empty Parking Lots
In the next aspect of the visions given to Bob, he saw parking lots adjacent to establishments devoted to worldly entertainment. Uniquely, the most striking characteristics of the parking lots were the fact that they were empty. Much of the focus and attention of America has centered on the entertainment industry. This vision is pointing to a day in which a marked contrast will occur in the interest of this nation toward sporting events, theatrical productions and other forms utilized to pacify the souls of man.
Many will turn to God and the outpouring of His Spirit or fear and torment will nullify the pleasure these things formerly provided. Clearly, there is a place to relax and enjoy the things we have been provided but that is secondary to the walk we have with God.
The Lord is inviting us to share with Him in a spiritual feast and make Him the object of our great affection, not some other form of obsession.
A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, “I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused. Another one said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused. Another one said, “I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’ (Luke 14:16 20)
When 9/11 occurred there was a shifting of the interest in people from day-to-day entertainment towards spiritual matters and the seriousness of the world events. Something of that caliber is on the horizon though not necessarily that disastrous in nature. This form of entertainment is not speaking of hideous or perverse adult entertainment and corruption but things that are not evil by nature. These could be characterized more as distractions that will be dismissed as the times become more and more serious.
Furthermore, the empty parking lots seemed to also indicate industries and factories that have been relocated or completely shut down because of business failure or lower labor costs elsewhere. Prayer needs to be offered for our economy and the important jobs needed by our laborers. When stress is placed upon our finances these pleasures oftentimes loss their allure. These things cannot be allowed to usurp our relationship with the Lord or they will be removed.
The day is upon us in which a person will be given the choice of attending a ballgame or a Christian service and the choice will be made to attend the service to see what God is doing. There will be something of a testing occurring to determine the heart of this nation related to her choices in this arena.
Amplified Lust
Unfortunately, the visions continued to illustrate acceleration in the lust of this world for those who are separated from Christ and the destiny of Heaven. These would include the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. The enemy will fuel the passions of the world for “girls, gold and glory.” Naturally these three “g’s” are a symbolic representation of the snares of the adversary utilized to entrap man by the spirit of this world.
Wickedness will be elevated to a much higher level than even now present. This is the inverted seven that was seen in the previous vision involving the escalation of darkness. The distribution, availability and communication of corruption will only grow worse, if that is imaginable. Our commission is to bring divine light to help lead the many from this overwhelming darkness.
24 Hour Prayer & Praise
At 2 AM Bob saw a 24-hour praise service that was highly anointed and visited by the host of Heaven. These praise services were not established as 24/7 meetings but specifically designated for certain seasons of heightened prayer and warfare. Some may extend from 1 to 3 days nonstop 24 hours per day. There will be a number of leaders commissioned to orchestrate this form of prayer, praise and prophetic gathering.
Tremendous gains will be achieved in the Spirit when this type of assembling takes place. It will be utilized by the Lord to break the shackles and devices of the adversary set against the Church and this nation. Some will be specifically devoted to Israel while others may have as an emphasis the political leadership of this nation and the vital decisions being made by our governmental leaders. Still others will have as a focus the release of the Holy Spirit and the visitation of Heaven to our nation. Another major calling for the prayer movements will be directed at overcoming the efforts of the adversary to unleash greater dimensions of terrorism in our nation and in Israel.
The specific theme along with the spiritual authority to see it accomplished, will be delegated to those commissioned with this purpose and endowed with the support of Heaven to see its fulfillment. Some may take place in buildings while others may be organized in tents and open air gatherings that will draw spiritual warriors from broad regions.
Finding Him
There is a scriptural directive given by the Lord stating that those who seek Him will find Him. There is a present emphasis on this spiritual invitation.
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:12 13)
The Father is seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. We think that we are seeking Him but in reality He is pursuing us. Thank the Lord for that!
Last year during the Shepherd’s Rod we emphasized the truth that wise men continually seek Him. That reality was once again highlighted in the Lord’s continuing pursuit of His Bride.
These 24-hour gatherings that will extend for a day to several days will represent our knocking upon Heaven’s door and He is promising to answer. He will visit the desperation of His people who unite with the one purpose of touching His heart with passion and desire.
The wisdom expressed through a seeking heart will function as a key that unlocks the resources of Heaven and grants access to the power, glory and authority of God. These are essential in our quest to know Him and do exploits to His glory.
A New Day
At 3:21 AM an affirming word came that reiterated our entering a fresh dimension of the Lord’s Heavenly plan. This is something we have been sharing for the last several months and is now being re-emphasized. This present hour is marking the dawning of a new day both for those in Christ and those outside of Him. This is a new day of light and a new day in the realms of darkness.
For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. (Psalm 27:5 6)
There will be times and seasons to hide ourselves in Christ and other times to be aggressive and militant in our posture. The seasons that we isolate ourselves with Christ is not for dormancy but to wait upon Him and minister to Him to gain His insight and blueprint for victory.
O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Do not take my soul away {along} with sinners, nor my life with men of bloodshed, In whose hands is a wicked scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes. (Psalm 26:8 10)
When we wait upon the Lord we will mount up with a revelatory anointing expressed through the attributes of the eagle that grants further understanding into His scheme for triumph. Once achieved, we can rally the troops behind that directive in much the same way that David became the victorious king in his battles with the enemies of Israel.
Breakthroughs in Science
There will be new and fresh breakthroughs in scientific technology that will be both beneficial and detrimental. Some of these breakthroughs when entrusted to faithful stewards will facilitate the purposes of Heaven. Unfortunately, those stolen by the adversary or squandered by those who do not stewards it properly, will likewise be employed to promote deeper realms of darkness and corruption.
There will be some individuals who are entrusted with great endowments from Heaven who will fall in the error of Balaam and embrace the wages of unrighteousness. However, this present hour will also see the emergence of loyal and trustworthy stewards who have a heart for the Kingdom of Heaven and appropriate the gifts and anointing for advancement.
Our prayer should be for the impartation of a faithful heart so that we can catapult the Church into greater expressions of His glory. The release of this kind of anointing and technology will be determined by our willingness to be fashioned into His image. He loves us too much to give us something now that he will be required to judge us for later because of improper stewardship.
Creation and the knowledge of the universe are given by the Lord. However, Satan defiles and corrupts all that he touches. He will likewise release depraved understanding of science and technology to facilitate an evil agenda involving biological weapons for terrorism, improper applications of science and perversity in advanced communication media.
A Time of Release
At 6 AM, Bob was given a further revelation from Psalms 37:6; He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.
This was an additional insight involving the white light of Heaven being disbursed in this hour. Much insight will be delegated to the Church from this strategic Psalm. Many pastors and teachers will find a special grace upon the divine truth inherent in this passage.
Wisdom and understanding is the light of Heaven. During this revelation Bob saw a white flag of surrender being hoisted by the church. Fortunately, this was not surrender to our adversary in the battle but submission to the purpose and desire of Heaven in the hearts of Christians. The time has now arrived for a consecrated body of believers to inherit the promises long foreseen and expressed through the prophets of old.
This past Rosh Hashanah saw the birthing of Heavenly mandates that are now given life and substance. Though presently immature, a quick work will establish these Heavenly purposes deposited throughout the Western Church and the nations of the earth. Many individuals and fellowships have been pregnant with the promise of God for quite some time and this past season saw a first-fruits birthing.
Another birthing will be taking place around the season of Pentecost 2004. As an affirmation of this spiritual reality both Wanda and I have been given dreams in recent days focusing on the birth of a spiritual child with prophetic significance. This was also validated in the natural with the birth of children in this season, one of which we know of that was named Destiny.
On the morning of Atonement, I was given a dream that I believe relates to this aspect of Bob’s revelation concerning the birthing. This was one of the more unique expressions coming from God that I have seen and I will try as best as possible to articulate what I saw.
In this spiritual dream, I saw a “thought” emerging from the heart of God and given birth. At first the “thought” had the appearance of an immature embryo but quickly took on shape and form including legs and arms.
The Bible tells us that He has thoughts and plans for us related to our welfare and not our calamity. In 1 Corinthians 2 we are likewise instructed that the Holy Spirit searches the depths of God and gives expression to the thoughts and ways resident in Him by the Spirit of Revelation. It is called the mind of Christ.
From the mind of Christ thoughts are expressed concerning His strategy for this generation and the deposit of the Spirit to accomplish His Heavenly design and unfold the mysteries of the Kingdom. These plans cannot be accessed through the natural wisdom and reasoning of man. They are only revealed by the Holy Spirit to His people. I inherently knew that the image I was seeing involved something new and fresh that was being birthed from the heart of God.
The appearance of this spiritual expression was fashioned by and surrounded in white light. I knew then that the predominant color for this year would be white which was later verified through the revelations given to Bob. The white light of Heaven will shine as a flag of surrender over the Church welcoming the fullness of the Holy Spirit to cause us to arise and shine with that same light.
Very often individuals and fellowships are on a quest for a “word” from the Lord. A word is a thought that has been given expression. Something new and fresh is being articulated from the “thoughts” of God that will consolidate spiritual thoughts with spiritual language.
Harvesting Things Sown
The Church in the United States will begin to reap that which has been sown. Seed of light that have been sown in faithfulness and humility will reap a bountiful harvest of visitations, miracles, signs and wonders leading to a harvest of souls. Seed of selfishness, ambition and jealously will come under discipline if not dealt with through repentance.
LORD, I have heard the report about you and I fear. O LORD, revive your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. (Habakkuk 3:2)
“Lord, in Your judgments remember mercy”, should likewise be our prayer. If we have sown mercy and grace we will likewise reap the same.
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)
In the continuing development of the prayer movements being initiated in our nation, a fresh deposit of intercessory appeal and grace will come forth as mediatory prayer on behalf of our nation for mercy. To be truly effective in intercession, the burden must be birthed deep within the heart of the people. That is part of the new life that was released around Rosh Hashanah. Many intercessors will carry in their spiritual being the cry for mercy and grace involving this nation.
There will be a marked escalation in the angelic activity surrounding the Church. Furthermore, this activity will carry a militant characteristic as Michael and the warring angels of Heaven are released to establish the design of Heaven in the earth. As in the days of Israel, the giants of the adversary are occupying the land of promise and must be displaced in order to access our inheritance.
As articulated in Matthew 11:12, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. This is a spiritual reality that is accomplished in the realm of the spirit through humble and contrite vessels anointed with kingdom power and authority. Michael and the host of Heaven under his jurisdiction with warring attributes are being released and will be empowered by our revelatory prayer and prophetic declarations on behalf of the Church and Israel. Our prayer is always to the Lord for the desire of Heaven to be fulfilled. He then orchestrates through the Holy Spirit the appropriation of the prayers of the Saint in the delegation of His authority.
This will also be true in our stand for Israel. A combative spirit will be unleashed by the intercessors burdened with the cause of Israel to release angelic warriors to push back the adversary attempting to abort the plan and destiny of this beloved nation.
Winds in the Mulberry Trees
In yet another of the revelatory expressions that came on Atonement, Bob heard, “the winds will blow in the mulberry trees on behalf of the righteous.” This notable statement is pointing to a supernatural release of Heavenly virtue on behalf of the saints of God.
And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines. And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer. (2 Samuel 5:24 25)
This spiritual application will be true on multiple levels. Miracles, signs and wonders will now begin to accompany the Lord’s people in a more pronounced way along with a substantial increase in the healing anointing. It will mark the beginning of a season of favor that will escalate over the next three years for the righteous. When we hear the “new” sound of marching in the mulberry trees, then we will know the Lord is with us for advancement.
There seemed to be an emphasis on this promise relating to those who have been prepared for this release and yielded themselves to the grooming and preparatory process. Righteousness is derived through the grace of God being released to yielded vessels wholly submitted to Him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. To experience the governmental release related to the dominion associated with His Kingdom design, we must also allow the Holy Spirit to equip us as “overcomers” clothed in garments of righteousness.
Along with this divine promise came a warning stating, “What we have been consuming with our eyes will determine what we become.” If our eyes have been fashioned on the Lord with the great objective of beholding Him with an unveiled face, then we will likewise become more like Him. Conversely, if our eyes have been distracted and enticed toward the issues of this world, then our garments of righteousness become stained. The fruit of this path produces lust, jealousy, greed and all manner of evil. This will obviously hinder our ability to partake of the divine favor that is to be released and symbolized through the prophetic picture of David.
There is a present call to repentance for allowing our eyes to waywardly gaze upon corruption. There is judgment that is coming to the house of the Lord according to the directive of 1 Peter 4:17. Let us be charged to take advantage of the Lord’s grace while it is available and allow the Holy Spirit to catapult us into the winds of favor.
The Justice of Heaven
There is a release of divine justice that is taking place in this hour. The justice of God renders blessing and favor upon the righteous and judgment upon unrighteousness. The baptism of fire will be for the purpose of making His ministers a flaming fire that is fanned and fueled by the winds of Heaven. The Lord desires for this to be a season of expansion and escalation. Many individuals will be set ablaze with passion and desire for the Lord and the revelation of His kingdom.
The Bible declares that all things are open and lay bare before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (See Hebrews 4:13) The light of God is being released to search the depths of God’s people, not for the sake of rendering punishment but for the sake of sanctification in order that the high purposes of Heaven can be accomplished. It is the Lord’s desire to bless His people and unleash substantial power and authority through them to touch the nations of earth. To do that, we must be like Him.
What has been done in the darkness will be brought to the light through this examination. It will be a baptism of fire to purify the vessels of honor. Many have been in the furnace of affliction described prophetically in Isaiah 48:10. Isaiah also gave the directive necessary to behold the King in all of His beauty…
Sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling has seized the godless. “Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual burning?” He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; He will dwell on the heights, His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him His water will be sure. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will behold a far distant land. (Isaiah 33:14-17)
The current birthing that has taken place around the biblical feast of Rosh Hashanah is the emergence of Heavenly justice. Justice will be a key that unlocks the resources of Heaven in the latter days as all the injustices of our generation and the prior generations are rectified. The thief must restore and return all that has been stolen from the people of God. That is the great benefit of the Lord coming as the just judge to wage war and render justice.
Psalm 19 declares that the judgments of the Lord are to be desired more than gold, even more so than honey from the honeycomb. This notable Psalm also makes the eternal declaration that all of creation declares the handiwork of God. This next season will continue to see an escalation in earthquakes, unusual seismic activity, signs in the heavenlies and storms. There will be unusual lightning storms with many of the wind storms indicating and identifying the places of amplified angelic activity.
Awesome Awakening Among Charismatic Catholics
In this portion of the revelations, Bob was shown that a blessing of Heaven imminently awaited those within the Catholic Church who have embraced the fullness of the Spirit. Psalm 23 was given as a specific outline to characterize this release. The Lord is going to represent Himself as the good Shepherd who feeds His flocks and leads them to still waters and green pastures.
This expression of favor is not limited to just those who are recognized as “charismatics” from among the Catholic Church but also the various fellowships who were birthed during this movement and are identified as charismatic congregations.