The Shepherd’s Rod 2008
Introduction
Bob and I would like to say at the outset of this year’s Shepherd’s Rod that the revelations that came during the Atonement season were not necessarily what we were expecting, but clearly what is needed. In short, this next year will be a time of completion and a time of commissioning.
Much of the preparatory work that has been taking place within many of God’s people will be brought to a place of fullness or completion over this next season in preparation for “crossing over” into the land of fulfilled promises. Nevertheless, although a grooming mode will continue, these days will also be marked with divine visitation and personal impartation.
The Holy Spirit’s refining work will continue until the Lord’s return. However, there are crossroads in human history marked by divine visitation and spiritual outpouring that generates a harvest of souls and greater measures of truth and understanding in God’s Word. This is accomplished through individuals who have yielded themselves to God and become trustworthy stewards of His revelation and power.
We have come to such a crossroads that presently stands before us. We must take every opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to sift from our souls every potential hindrance and encumbrance. Like David we cry:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting — Psalms 139:23 24
Breakthrough with the Young
The initial revelations given for this year’s Day of Atonement strategy started with a vision of young adults. Clearly, everything that God is doing today involves the entirety of His Church. Every age group, ethnic community, and demographic is called to their post of duty in this, perhaps the most crucial hour in Church history. Nevertheless, the revelatory insights once again emphasized God’s heart to mobilize an army of young people with radical faith and passion.
This is also evidenced by the emphasis given to this age group by our adversary in his attempt to divert and corrupt this young generation. There is presently a battle raging for our children. We must be mobilized to meet this challenge and call for the truest form of Christianity that is filled with both Spirit and power. That is the only answer we can offer to win this generation. As the prophet Joel predicted:
Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions — Joel 2:27 28
Again, the Lord’s desire to emphasize this struggle stresses its importance. The Lord intends to impart within us a form of faith that is saturated with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:7-8 declares:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Throughout Church history there have been crossroads where children and young adults were used to introduce an entire generation to the manifestation of God’s Spirit. One of the most well-known in our generation is the outpouring that took place under the leadership of H. A. Baker as recorded in his book, “Visions Beyond the Veil.”
This fascinating story highlights a group of young people visited by the Lord’s Spirit who experienced visions and revelations of the Lord that radically transformed them and their community. There have been other examples of this reality but this one seems to capture our attention and imagination as a prophetic model of God’s intent to pour His Spirit out upon all flesh.
Part of the introduction of “Vision Beyond the Veil” states:
“Visions?…In the 20th century? You might dismiss the visions of other people with a shrug. But somehow, when it’s a child, it makes you stop and think. Only in this case, it was not just one child— but many.
Children who had been street beggars before they arrived at the Adullam Rescue Mission asked God to reveal Himself to them. This book records the result of the faithful expectation of these young orphans. Unlearned and unschooled, they experienced revelations and visions of Heaven surprisingly accurate to the biblical account. A truly remarkable book about the truly remarkable God!”
The Visitation
The morning prayer meeting was lasting longer than usual. The older children left the room one by one to begin their studies in the school-room, while a few of the smaller boys remained on their knees, deep in prayer. The Lord was near; we all felt the presence of the Holy Spirit among us. Some who had gone out came back into the room.
Tears began to stream down the faces of all those present as they came under a strong conviction of sin – something we had been praying for a long time – and, with their arms in the air, they cried to the Lord for forgiveness. One person after another fell down under the mighty power of the Holy Spirit until more than twenty were lying flat on the floor. When I saw that the Lord was doing a really unusual thing among us, I slipped over to the school-room and told the boys that if they felt led to come and pray they might be excused from their school work.
In a short while the Chinese teacher was left sitting alone by the table. All his pupils had returned to the prayer room, and were now enthusiastically praying and praising the Lord. When the teacher realized there was nothing for him to do, he decided to go home. I had not invited him to come in with the children for, although he had been with us a long time, he did not seem at all interested in spiritual things. He went a short distance from the house but then turned back. When he entered the prayer room no one noticed him; everyone was too busy having their own dealings with the Lord. He went to a far corner of the room, and, for the first time in his life, knelt down and tried to pray.
The meeting went on hour after hour with the children showing no desire to leave. I had nothing to do or say; the Lord seemed in complete control; I just tried to keep out of His way
As the children saw, in their visions, the awfulness of hell, the despair of those who were lost, and the indescribable evil of the devil and his angels, their agonized crying was beyond anything I had ever experienced before. It was all incredibly real to them. In their visions many saw themselves in chains being dragged to the very edge of hell, which became an awful and terrible reality. As they realized they were sinners in the grip of the devil, who ought to be punished, they were terrified. But the grace of the Lord Jesus to bring freedom was just as real. The joy, laughter and peace they received and the knowledge of what they had been saved from was an experience which I am sure will never leave them…
In the first few days no one paid much attention to eating or sleeping. Whenever the young people began to pray the power of God would come, causing many to fall to the floor. It was impossible to have meals at regular hours without interfering with the work of the Holy Spirit. As the power of God lifted from them, various ones would go out for a time to rest or eat something, and then they would return to the prayer room soon to be under the power of the Holy Spirit again.
One thing is certain. All that was demanded of us missionaries during this move of the Holy Spirit was that we keep out of the way and did not interfere with His wonderful work. Our part was to open up our own hearts so that we too might have a deeper experience of the heavenly blessings that were being showered upon us.
From the very beginning our experience of the Holy Spirit at this time – the manifestations, the visions and revelations – was so beyond our own experience and knowledge that my wife and I said to one another that the only resource we had was to believe that God was bigger than the devil. We trusted in God’s promise:
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ (Matthew 11:11-13)
There is an all out assault by the army of darkness against the young of this generation. Much of this war is fought in the realm of contemporary media. Nevertheless, where evil is abundant, grace will much more abound. (Romans 5:20) Light will always overcome darkness! Our present call as a body of believers is to become the light of this world and illuminated with present revelation. Daniel foresaw this generation and prophesied:
Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. —Daniel 12:3
Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory
In Bob’s vision of this reality, the young people were very joyous as they were having personal encounters with the Lord. In the experience the youth were shouting, “joy unspeakable and full of glory,” emphasizing this Scripture and God’s intent to manifest this aspect of His plan during this next spiritual season.
In its truest form, joy is a sense of well-being despite circumstances. Those that maintain this position in their hearts, and recognize God’s sovereignty, will begin to experience measures of glory in the coming season.
College Campuses will continue to be visited by God’s Spirit to awaken this young generation to the reality of the true Christian life. Many of tomorrow’s champions will be identified in this environment and prepared to be used by the Holy Spirit, even in their youth. This will be part of the restoration of our inheritance that has become desolate. Isaiah prophesied:
In a favorable time I have answered you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you; and I will keep you and give you for a covenant of the people, to restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; Saying to those who are bound, “Go forth,’ to those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.’ Along the roads they will feed, and their pasture will be on all bare heights
— Isaiah 49:8-9
Many of America’s universities were initially formed as institutions to prepare people to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations of the earth. This mandate will be recaptured with modern-day missionaries being commissioned and empowered with end-time anointing. These individuals will not merely carry good theological understanding but an experiential encounter that has transformed them.
The youth of this generation are going to discover exuberance and joy in God for which the spirit of this world has no substitute. They will discover that the greatest journey of all is to walk with the Lord Jesus and know Him intimately. Drugs, alcohol and other addictions will then lose their captivation among this group. In his hymn “Joy Unspeakable,” written in 1900, Barney Elliott Warren penned these words that seem to capture the essence of this truth:
I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth ev’ry need;
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory,
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told
I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing! I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.
I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace;
Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,
I can see His smiling face
I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll!
It is like a great o’er flowing well,
Springing up within my soul.
Panel of Seven Judges
The next vision highlighted a panel of seven God ordained “judges” commissioned to begin judging prophecies to determine which are from the Lord and which are not. He saw six men and one-woman serving in this capacity. Presently, there is a flood of prophetic insight being distributed to the Church. Many of the things prophesied are from the Holy Spirit while others are born in the mind and imagination of people, while yet others may be a mixture of both.
During biblical times, the sounding of a trumpet was crucial. Their lives depended upon the clarity of the sound so that the people would know how to prepare themselves. There was a trumpet sound for war and another trumpet sound for a holy convocation. Our present call is for our trumpet to be clear, concise and accurate. This will begin to eliminate much of the confusion that now exists.
Our generation is desperate for a more sure word of prophecy. We must improve in this area. Thankfully, through these revelations, the Lord is emphasizing His desire to provide the spiritual insight we need to meet this challenge. In essence, the Lord desires to remove the leaven from our prophetic insight so that we see more clearly the path ahead and the necessary preparation to cooperate with Him.
During the prophetic ministry of Ezekiel there were many people prophesying false visions and utterances. The river had been polluted by the agendas of men. Even so, the Lord promised a time of restoration when gallant men and women would stand before God and say only what He is saying. Ezekiel recorded:
Son of man, what is this proverb you people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, “The days are long and every vision fails’? Therefore say to them, “Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will make this proverb cease so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “The days draw near as well as the fulfillment of every vision.
For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. “For I the LORD will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord GOD.”
— Ezekiel 12:22 25
The number seven is a number of completion and fullness. Seeing the seven “judges” does not necessarily imply that there will literally be seven people charged with this responsibility, although that is a possibility. Rather, we believe it is a commission being given to the Church and a complete release of grace to achieve it.
The entire body of Christ worldwide will experience this measure of wisdom and understanding to discern His voice and be separated from others. The Lord promised:
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand — John 10:27 28
The Spirit of revelation is fundamentally essential for the eradication of spiritual stupor that blinds our eyes and stops our ears from hearing clearly. Without God’s illumination, we are doomed to repeating past mistakes and failures. Moses’ generation missed their door of opportunity because they did not possess eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to understand God’s purpose. (Deuteronomy 29:4)
The Living Word
Separating the clean from the unclean and the precious from the profane can only be achieved by the manifestation of the Living Word. Hebrews 4:12 states:
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart
— Hebrews 4:12
These days will see the Lord returning as the Living Word to separate spirit from soul and judge the thoughts and intentions of men’s hearts. Many of our prophetic utterances are determined by the sincerity of our hearts. We simply cannot allow selfish ambition or personal agendas to dictate the flow of prophetic insight.
The prophet Micaiah is a wonderful spiritual type of this ministry emerging today. This man of God lived during the days of Ahab and Jezebel. On one occasion Ahab invited righteous King Jehoshaphat to partner with him in war against Israel’s enemies. Interestingly, Ahab’s desire was to retake Ramoth-Gilead, a territory that rightfully belonged Israel. However, this fulfillment would not take place under his unrighteous leadership but at an appointed time.
Jehoshaphat purposed to inquire of the Lord to determine God’s will in this endeavor. Hence, Ahab paraded 400 of his prophets before the Kings. Everyone prophesied the wishes of Ahab. Something in the heart of Jehoshaphat was not content with this perspective. He asked if there was yet one more who could contact Heaven and declare God’s heart. Ahab said:
There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah — I Kings 22:8
There was one prophet willing to say just what God was saying and his name was Micaiah. This courageous prophet withstood overwhelming pressure from the other prophetic camp in order to stand before Israel and Judah as a righteous prophetic voice. I Kings 22:13-14 records that:
Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably. But Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I shall speak.”
Micaiah related to Ahab and Jehoshaphat his vision of seeing a deceiving spirit being commissioned from God’s Throne to rest upon Ahab’s prophets. It is important to understand that these voices were Hebrew prophets that were supposed to be trained and equipped to stand before Israel as God’s spokesmen. But because of wrong motivations, God allowed a spirit of deception to prevail leading to Ahab’s demise.
Micaiah went on to prophesy the failure of this mission and the ultimate downfall and death of Ahab. Clearly, this infuriated the king who vowed to reward Micaiah with incarceration saying:
Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely. “Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely the LORD has not spoken by me.” — I Kings 22:27-28
The strength and fortitude of Micaiah is a prophetic model for the panel of “judges” that will bring separation in the coming days. All prophetic voices have the opportunity to allow this sifting and separation to take place within us so that our own voices would be pure and unadulterated.
The Number Seven
Seven seems to be the number with primary prophetic significance for this year. Seven is taken from a root word signifying completion or fullness. It is first used in Genesis 2:2 when God rested after the completion of His labors.
God rested on the seventh day because His work was entirely perfect and complete. Therefore, we can interpret this application to signify this year as a time of measurable completion of God’s preparatory dealings within our lives before the next installment of His plan.
God’s provision in and through the Lord Jesus is complete and perfect. The life that He demonstrated on earth and the power ministry that He conveyed is one that we can aspire to, but only through submission to the Holy Spirit. Seven is also a symbolic representation of the sevenfold Spirit of God that will rest upon the “sons of the Kingdom.” (Matthew 13:38)
In Zechariah 4:6 the prophet declared:
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”…The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.”
The Seven Spirits of God will rejoice when they see a righteous “plumbline” being demonstrated among God’s people. That is the function of the seven judges who will begin to separate truth from the precepts of men. This work will begin to prepare the bride of Christ without spot or wrinkle so that she can become one with the Bridegroom. This season of the Spirit will initiate this process in greater measure.
When a time of completion has arrived, then a day of new beginnings will be birthed. The Lord has “fullness of time” junctures in human history when His Spirit flourishes with fresh understanding of His nature and character. The results will always be a harvest of souls and greater influence in Heavenly places. This time of completion will launch us into such a time as that.
Someone once said that time was created so that everything would not happen at once. Clearly, Church history validates that we have been in a progressive recovery of lost heritage and the maturation of a body of people to walk as “sons of the Kingdom.” We also have a biblical promise outlining God’s ability to redeem lost time and do quickly what we perceive would take a long time.
After 40 years, Israel’s wandering came to a completion and a new beginning surfaced. Likewise, our generation saw in 1967 the long foretold restoration of Jerusalem into the hands of the Jewish people. That has also run a complete cycle marking another day of new beginnings both for Israel and the Church.
This reality also has significant implications with the political environment and our involvement in the war on terrorism. The Lord has made it emphatically clear that if His people will pray for our President and our armies that He will do something miraculous that will allow us as a nation to withdraw from Iraq in victory and honor, not in defeat and shame.
A Harvest of Prophets
In the next series of revelations, Bob saw a harvest of individuals coming from the black community, especially the young, who will immediately be thrust into an accelerated training and equipping mode to function as prophets to the nations. God has ordained for significant leadership to emerge from our black brothers and sisters with an emphasis on the revelatory gifting and prophetic worship.
Our council is to recognize this spiritual emphasis and co-operate with the Holy Spirit in its fulfillment. I have repeatedly heard the Lord say this season will generate a harvest of harvesters. There is a grace to win souls into the Kingdom during this new beginning with an equal accentuation on training and equipping.
During March, 2007 while doing a conference in England, I received a wonderful confirmation of this truth through Surprise Sithole. Surprise is a black man from South Africa and works with Rolland and Heidi Baker and Iris Ministries. I wrote about this revelation in my book Angels That Gather. The following is an excerpt:
Harvesters Arise
One final confirmation concerning this generation’s promised harvest arrived only days before this book was scheduled to go to print. While in Dudley, England, to speak at a prophetic conference, I met Surprise Sithole, African director of Partners in Harvest. He helps oversee, with Rolland and Heidi Baker, over six thousand Churches birthed through Iris Ministries in Mozambique, Africa. Notable miracles the Lord performed through this man of God are on record. On my behalf the Lord used Surprise to offer the final affirmation that this is the season for a harvest of harvesters.
In my session, I began to speak about the revelation of the present mandate to entreat the Lord of the Harvest to gather laborers into the barn to be trained and mentored through a season of accelerated equipping for the great harvest. When I shared this revelation, Surprise grew very excited and mentioned that this was the first time a revelation given to him three years before had been confirmed.
He related to the group how in 2004 he had been in a service and found himself troubled by some of what had transpired. He immediately went to his hotel room and knelt on the floor to pray. When he did, he felt a sensation of ascending, similar to what one would experience in a very fast elevator.
When he opened his eyes, he realized he was having a Heavenly experience. There before him stood the Ancient of Days with millions of people prostrate before Him in adoration and worship. The transition from the natural to the spiritual realm had shifted so suddenly he was uncertain what had transpired. The Ancient of Days assured him he was experiencing a divine revelation with a strategic purpose.
Surprise then found himself holding Heavenly fruit. With this realization, he also saw Enoch and Elijah standing at a distance. His first inclination was to share this fruit with them. However, the Ancient of Days informed him that the fruit was not for them but for the people of the earth.
The Ancient of Days counseled, “Take this fruit and share it with your brethren in the earth, and tell the harvesters to arise.” Surprise was overwhelmed by that statement’s magnitude. “How?” he asked. The Lord answered, “The gifts are coming.” Finally, Surprise asked one more question: “When?” With that final question the millions who had been prostrate before the Lord stood to their feet and simultaneously shouted, “NOW!”
I was thrilled beyond description to hear Surprise share this testimony of his Heavenly experience. He heard directly from the Lord’s lips the directive for the “harvesters to arise.” This gave me the final confirmation of our entry into a season that will exhibit both the fruit of the Spirit and the power of God. The purpose of this impartation will be to gather a wave of harvest consisting primarily of harvesters to be used in the great harvest.
Embracing our Opportunity
We have reached a “fullness of time” juncture in Church history. God’s end-time plan is being catapulted in motion with a “breakthrough” anointing. Naturally, this is not all He is doing but certainly it is a vital part.
The LORD has opened His armory and has brought forth the weapons of His indignation; For it is a work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans —Jeremiah 50:25
End Excerpt from Angels That Gather…
The Emerging Modern Day Ruth’s
Bob saw many spiritual “Ruth’s” taking their eyes off of themselves and their circumstances that have been like bondage and prison. Now is the time for this company of women to “breakthrough” their desperate situation and return to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. It will be a notable time of personal and corporate breakthrough. The Book of Ruth will become a living book to women this year and a prophetic outline for the Bride of Christ.
Our friend Bobby Conner has done an extensive series on the Book of Ruth and its spiritual implications for the 21st century church. I will not take the time to enumerate the many applications for today but encourage our readers to consider investigating this further through Bobby’s materials.
The Book of Ruth is primarily a story of redemption, devotion and love. It outlines the forsaking of meaningless traditions and harsh circumstances in order to embrace truth and a new beginning. Ruth said:
Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God — Ruth 1:16
Naomi is a spiritual type of the Holy Spirit. When Ruth made the decision to follow her unconditionally, it catapulted her into a place of fruitfulness and honor. She actually became the great-grandmother of King David and is in the direct lineage of the Lord. Ruth came to a crossroad requiring that she either turn back to the familiar or press forward into fresh new territory that led to her union with Boaz, who is a type of Christ.
The harsh environment and failures from which Ruth emerged prepared her for destiny. Although our past and present circumstances have been difficult and seemingly overwhelming, nevertheless, the Lord has allowed it for a fruitful end. It is a time of God’s favor for breakthrough and break-out with God’s blessing saying:
May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman— Ruth 4:11-12
This next season will see many women emerging from times of oppression into supernatural encounters with the Living Word. 2 Samuel 5:20 declares:
So David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim.
The name Perez mean breakthrough denoting this coming season as a time of victory and favor, especially for women prepared for this purpose. Then the way will be made clear for the next leg of the journey. Strong intercession will then be sounded with unity and authority. There will be many conferences in certain areas devoted to women and this mandate.
The Righteous Heard in Heaven
In his revelation Bob heard the phrase, “The righteous shall cry out to God and He will hear and answer them.” In God’s scheme of things there is a principal of sowing and reaping. For a season we have been sowing tears and we are going to reap joy; we have been sowing prayers and we are going to reap answered prayer. Psalms 34:17 declares:
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
A higher level of righteousness is being imputed to a body of people who will hear from God and provide clarity and insight. When we cry out to God from a position of righteousness in this season, He will answer us with discernment and provision communicated through Psalms 25 and 26, the Psalms of the righteous.
These Psalms carry our provision for the coming season. Authority, power and anointing essential for this next interval of the Spirit can be found and emphasized in the truths of these Psalms. They will become a blueprint for the next season and opened for the righteous.
In Psalms 25, King David submits himself in totality to God. As a result, it is his anticipation that God will now deal with his enemies and not allow him to be overrun by them. That is a present promise for this time. God’s quest has been for us to submit ourselves completely to Him. When this is achieved, our spiritual tormentors will be dealt with by the Holy Spirit. He will release from Heaven strong angels to neutralize the principalities and powers that have been withstanding the destiny of God’s people.
This will also open up greater insight into God’s ways. His ways are much higher and we must ascend to a greater height to appropriate them. David penned:
Make me know Your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day.
Remember, O LORD, your compassion and your lovingkindnesss, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your lovingkindness remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O LORD — Ps 25:4-7
This promise also emphasizes our present opportunity to bring certain things to completion and experience commissioning for new beginnings. For many years the Church has been attempting to accomplish its mandate through the ways of men. Now we are being given the opportunity to comprehend God’s ways which are always fruitful. There will be a continued emphasis in the area of teaching and mentoring in the coming days. This is part of our calling to arise into maturity and the fullness of the stature of Christ.
In Psalms 25, David also asks for God’s intervention in his life to promote righteousness. We are incapable of achieving that within ourselves. We need God!
Psalms 26 outlines David’s noble prayer and commitment to harbor no falsehood or deception. He prays for purity of heart and motive in order to be God’s instrument during his generation. That is precisely the emphasis for today. To be used most fruitfully during this outpouring, we must ask for and insist upon the purity of God’s Spirit resting within and delivering us from our own selfish ambition and agendas.
The Wicked Heard in Heaven
There will be a heavenly response to the cries of both the righteous and the wicked. The righteous will discover deliverance and fruitfulness while the wicked will devour the fruit of their own words.
As the wicked cry-out with curses and blasphemy against God, it will unleash a spiritual dynamic that will be very costly. The significant portion of these revelations is that each group will begin to receive more immediate responses to their cry.
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish — Psalms 1:1-6
If we cry out to the Holy Spirit our answer will come from Him. If others cry out with cursing and blasphemy they will hear from the god of this world and a response will be given. What we sow we shall reap! If we sow righteousness we will reap answers from the God of righteousness. If we sow cursing and blasphemy than we will reap the same!
Tremendous Fear
This will be a season of unparalleled fear, especially to the unsaved. The greatest fear will be that individuals will not get their desires. It is much more important to receive what we need than what we want. There is a rampant anxiety that is being released in the unredeemed that economic shaking and financial meltdowns will not allow them to achieve all of their personal desires. This can range from jobs and salaries that provide personal hobbies, access to certain people groups and other things promoted by the spirit of this world.
Our society is being driven to achieve position and status that have no lasting spiritual value. Instead, our council is to fix our eyes on things above where Christ is in the eternal realm. The things of this earth are temporary and fading, yet much emphasis is being placed in our society to achieve those very things.
The wicked will not get what they crave and it will cause tremendous anxiety. The wicked desire their way while the righteous desire God’s way! In many aspects the righteous will not get precisely what we expect or desire but we will get God’s way and the things that we need in this next installment of His plans. This will also be a time of great deliverance for Christians suffering from panic attacks and rampant fear.
Much of what will be transpiring today has not yet been seen or heard nor has it entered into the hearts of man. Therefore we cannot desire what we have not yet seen. It will be the literal fulfillment of 1 Corinthians 2:9:
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
What He has for the righteous is greater than our minds can presently perceive. Conversely, the wicked’s greatest fear will be their lack of ability to support their lifestyle of sin and self-serving pleasure. This is part of the shaking that will be taking place in this nation and around the world.
The righteous will have a focus and attention on Heaven that provides a Godly fear that existed in the life of Christ. We are told in Hebrews 5:7 that:
In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father] (Amplified Version)
This form of Godly fear or piety identifies the heart of the righteous as exemplified in the Lord’s earthly ministry. We are told in this Scripture that He was heard because, “He shrank in horror at the mere thought of being separated from the bright presence of His father.” The righteous fear that they will do something that would separate them from the unimpeded flow of God’s Spirit.
This also denotes greater access to the manifestation of His presence individually and corporately. In essence, we must become good stewards of God’s grace to walk with Him as Enoch did and obtain the testimony that we are pleasing to Him.
The Burden Bearers
In the next visions Bob saw a donkey that was loaded with supernatural provision essential for this interval of God’s Spirit. Interestingly, though the little donkey was loaded with cargo, many people were mocking his appearance. We much remember, it was a lowly donkey that brought the Savior of the world in Jerusalem at the appointed time.
This will be a dangerous time to mock the vessels God chooses to bear His Glory, because they will be carrying all that we need to survive in this generation. Many religious leaders of the day had a difficult time comprehending John the Baptist with his appearance and style. Nevertheless, he was God’s messenger providing the essential direction for that season. We cannot afford to not recognize the day of our visitation and miss the tremendous opportunity set before us.
It was John’s directive to prepare a people for the Lord’s coming and restore the inheritance of God’s children. The Lord said the spirit and power of Elijah is given to restore all things and turn the hearts of this generation back to God.
This analogy clearly identifies the symbolic nature of the donkey shown in the visions. It is a symbolization of humility and utter dependence upon God demonstrated by those who are trusted with spiritual empowerment. Furthermore, we must develop keen spiritual discernment to recognize their true value and the importance of the provision they carry. Speaking of the early apostles the writer of Acts recorded:
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus — Acts 4:13
This is a prophetic picture of many individuals and ministries that will be raised up in this generation to provide insight with understanding. Though they may not be overly impressive in their appearance, presentation and background, they will nevertheless have a clear word of prophecy in their mouths to give direction, strategy, and even correction.
Balaam received correction from the most unexpected source—his donkey. Likewise, many of us will receive a word of admonition and correction from the most unexpected and unusual sources. Some will come from nature itself.
Like Balaam, many Christians are going the wrong direction and do not realize it. The Bible records that the prophet forsook the straight road to go astray in pursuit of unrighteous gain until:
He was rebuked for his own transgression when a dumb beast of burden spoke with human voice and checked the prophet’s madness — 2 Peter 2:16
Corrupt Money Lenders
Our admonition from these revelations is to be careful where we borrow money. There is a shaking that is going to be taking place in the banking community that can have far reaching implications on the Church. Presently, great emphasis is being placed by the various lenders to distribute finances and facilitate greater measures of debt.
The council given to God’s people is to continue to be removed from heavy debt and be in a position to take advantage of the shaking and transfer of wealth when the time is appropriate. Though many lending organizations promote the image of helping people, in reality it can be a snare promoting more debt at a time when getting out of debt should be our priority.
Greed is a major stronghold that must be overcome in this hour. Much of this world’s economic system is built upon principles of greed without regard for the consequences. Although there are pockets of charity and goodwill demonstrated in our nation, especially during times of crisis, there remains a powerful spiritual influence of ambition and greed that drives the economic leaders. Our admonition is to be separated from this snare and warned not to fall victim to its plans.
Clearly there are some circumstances where borrowing money from financial institutions is mandatory. However, much of the credit card debt is the result of our easy access to this form of credit. It can easily become a form of bondage. There is going to be a collapse in this market at some point. We still have a space of time to position ourselves for it.
Sanctify Your Food
Food poisoning will be a major problem in the days ahead. In our enemies increased effort to promote fear in our society, food poisoning and tainted provisions are going to escalate in the coming days. Bob saw many areas reaching crisis mode in relationship to the purity of our food banks. Thankfully, we have the biblical admonition that:
Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer — 1 Timothy 4:4-5
We will come to know the importance of sanctifying our meals with the word of God and prayer. Even so, we must also use common sense to wash produce thoroughly and avoid exposure to the elements. This concern will also facilitate greater measures of fear for those who do not have faith in Christ and His biblical principles. Greater knowledge and awareness of potential hazards that exist in our worlds food supply will also promote greater measures of fear and caution.
Prophetically speaking, this analogy is also highlighting the importance placed upon what we consume spiritually and from what table we dine. The Lord has given us the invitation to dine at His table. In fact, he has promised to prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies.
In last years Shepherd’s Rod we talked about dining at the Lord Table saying: In his vision Bob found himself at the Lord’s Table with these three items set before him. Initially, he was allowed to partake of the fish, which symbolically depicts our present position of experiencing supernatural grace. Then he was allowed to reach for the bread, which is the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Our grace in this day is to begin to apprehend the full measure of Heaven’s revelation of the Lord as the exalted Overcoming King. Furthermore, we will begin to experience the promise of Isaiah 30: 26 saying,
The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted — Isaiah 30:26
The bread and wine are typical of communion. This prophetic expression is highlighting the Lord’s desire to “bind the fracture of His people” and produce a common-union or spiritual unity among many within the church. Clearly, unity of the brethren is a fundamental aspect of the 21st century church model.
True unity is discovered when we become Christ-like. Christ being formed in us is the true forum for spiritual unity among brethren. To the extent we reflect the Lord’s nature and character will we experience spiritual unity.
A Carpet of Covenant
Next, Bob saw a carpet of many colors laid in the desert about eight feet wide. It was completely straight and provided a direct path to the “bank of the Jordan” in preparation for crossing over. There are two paths set before us, requiring that we choose wisely in the days ahead. The Lord is setting a course before us with a beautiful multicolored carpet of covenant to make the journey favorable.
On the other hand, there will be an angel of the Lord withstanding the other paths and even speaking through “burden bearers” like Balaam’s donkey in order to turn the misguided back to the place of God’s provision. Numbers 22:24-28 declares:
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck her again.
The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
These prophetic images portray God’s provision to take us from our present position to the place of our greatest fruitfulness. If we remain on the path the Lord has orchestrated for us, we will discover fruitfulness, favor and a direct path to our destination. If we divert from it, we will encounter difficulties and delays.
This next season will require sensitive discernment and a willing heart to follow the Holy Spirit’s leadership. As contrasting as a beautiful soft carpet is with a hot, barren, rocky desert, so is the polar difference we will discover in doing things God’s way as opposed to our own. One will be easy and direct while the other harsh and overbearing.
This time will provide greater opportunity for all saints to hear His voice more fluently, not just the prophets and seers. To fully participate, both personally and corporately, in the fresh outpouring, we must follow carefully the bearing God sets before us and not waiver from it to the right or to the left. The prophet Isaiah foresaw a future day declaring:
Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He your Teacher will no longer hide himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left – Isaiah 30:20-21
Many of the “burden bearers” will be individuals who have encountered the Teacher and identify God’s way and the beautiful carpet He has provided. The carpet is a symbolic indication of personal and corporate covenant. The Lord has promised to hold us by the hand and watch over us and bring us into the bond of covenant in order to restore the land and cause us to inherit desolate heritages.
In Bob’s vision, it was important to remain on the carpet. Those who did had the appearance of an army in perfect order and alignment. They were like a stream flowing through the desert with living water. All of our essential provisions needed for personal development and maturity were allotted on this path. It was also evident that we would have to make a conscious decision to leave the path to pursue another alternative if we so chose. However, this would be a fatal mistake. Isaiah 35:7-8 declares:
The scorched land will become a pool and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, its resting place, grass becomes reeds and rushes.
A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it.
The importance of remaining on God’s path stems primarily from our need for greater development in personal character. This path is a highway of holiness! A grace is being provided for cleansing of our failures and the extraction of strongholds withstanding our highest calling.
This imagery highlights our path for the future. As already outlined, this next year will see the completion of many aspects of God’s plan and the introduction of new ones. It will be a time of completion and a time of new beginnings.
From God’s path many people will be sent to the various nations with the message and ministry of the Kingdom. This path leads to the nations and a harvest of souls who will be equipped as harvesters. The awakening of the dawn will be the crossing over into a fresh new day. As one day is culminating a new one is dawning.
Prior to the Day of Atonement, Bonnie Jones also had a confirming revelation. In a dream she was on a journey. She was told that the destination was the Jordan River. When she looked at her ticket that gave her access to the train, she recognized the number on it as 888. This could be highlighting a certain season of the time around August 8, 2008 as a time of significant importance for this transition.
The most important aspect of these revelations is the bringing to completion of our preparation and the commissioning of authority and power essential to introduce the next installment of God’s plan.
Furthermore, this will not be a season for observation but participation. All of our essential provisions have already been provided according to His riches in glory. Calvary has supplied every need for the Kingdom to be demonstrated in our generation along with the perfecting of the Bride without spot or wrinkle.
New Tools for the Journey
In the revelatory experience Bob saw a large stockpile of tools and implements that had been discarded at the beginning of the carpet. This represented our willingness to lay aside various spiritual tools we have used in past seasons in order to prepare ourselves for the fresh and unprecedented. That is not to imply that we discard the elementary principles but build on them in order to move forward into maturity.
God has something exceedingly powerful prepared for us. We must be willing to cast aside the good in order to implement the best. We have utilized various tools and spiritual weapons over the last season of time but now many of those tools are outdated and obsolete. The Lord is opening His armory to provide new tools and equipment. The Lord said through Isaiah:
You have heard [these things foretold], now you see this fulfillment. And will you not bear witness to it? I show you specified new things from this time forth, even hidden things [kept in reserve] which you have not known. They are created now [called into being by the prophetic word], and not long ago; and before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, Behold, I knew them! (Amplified Version)
Formerly, we have had measures of success with various gifts and techniques that worked for a season. However, to be most fruitful in the coming days, we must remain spiritually sensitive to receive plans and strategies direct from Heaven. Bob observed a stockpile of old tools and weapons at the beginning of the carpet, and new ones given as people walked along this uncharted path.
If we insist upon holding on to the familiar, it would be like attempting to fight a modern-day war with Civil War era weapons. To say, “this is the way we have always done it,” would be a fatal mind-set that could lead away from the carpet of covenant into the desert, which is a dry and water-less region. We will be given the opportunity to obtain fresh manna each day as long as we remain in His ways. In some cases, the Lord is only going to give us enough trust to take the next step without seeing the totality of His plan. This will indeed be a faith journey!
The carpet ran through the desert leading us to the “Bank of the Jordan” to the precise place He has chosen for us to breakthrough and crossover. This next spiritual season will be both a time of completion and a time of commissioning. Many individuals that have been in a preparatory mode will see this season culminating and a new commissioning transpiring on this straight and narrow path that God has provided.
Even when mantels of individuals manifested in prior generations are captured by today’s leaders, they will function in that anointing with a fresh new perspective. Joshua received the Spirit that rested upon Moses but displayed it in an entirely different way. Elisha wore the mantle of Elijah but utilized it with an altogether unique ministry.
Although we are still in the wilderness and haven’t yet crossed over, we have a wonderful provision through the desert, which is a place of His voice. Everything we need will be provided on that carpet. It is a multicolored rainbow type carpet illustrating the Seven Spirits of God and covenant.
There is a new way being provided for this season. Each step will be a step of faith and dependence upon God’s leadership. Only the righteous can walk this path and remain on it. The good news is the path was smooth and clear. If we continue in God’s ways over this next season it will become very fruitful.
Restoring Desolate Heritages
Interestingly, many of the most significant things that transpired in the last generation took place in desert regions. There were numerous important visitations and revelations given in the 1960’s in the Arizona desert with direct application to our present mandate.
We have a short season left in the desert but it will actually be a very good time for the righteous. Our grooming will be brought to completion and a new commissioning imparted to prepare us to apprehend our desolate heritage. It will be a time for the literal fulfillment of Isaiah 49:8 saying:
In a favorable time I have answered you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you; and I will keep you and give you for a covenant of the people, to restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages.
The Lord has been holding us by the hand and watching over us in preparation to become a covenant to the people and a light to the nations in order to restore the land and cause the people to inherit the desolate heritages.
It is a straight walk and one that we will continue for the remainder of this year until the next Rosh Hashanah in anticipation of what lies beyond. Although it would be wonderful to prophesy that we will walk in the fullness of our inheritance over this next year, we believe it is more accurate to identify this as a season of finalization in preparation and also commissioning for the crossing over; Joshua was commissioned on this side of the river in anticipation of leadership for advancement.
In this next season many people will be commissioned with the “mantles” of others who have gone before us. There is presently an emphasis on honoring our spiritual fathers and mothers who provided leadership in the last great outpouring of God’s Spirit. They were pioneers who overcame great difficulties to manifest God’s Kingdom in their generation.
Although some experienced failures and made costly mistakes, the foundation they provided is our platform to launch the next major outpouring. This opens the door for the deposit of God’s Spirit they carried to be appropriated to individuals in this generation.
In our own ministry, we have been emphasizing the importance of honoring healing revivalist such as A. A. Allen, Alexander Dowie, John G. Lake, William Branham and others. Some of these have been the most dishonored individuals of the 20th century Church yet used most notably in soul winning and the miraculous. Our adversary has effectively attempted to neutralize the testimony of these individuals as forerunners by overly emphasizing their shortcomings and weaknesses. Even so, the Lord is allowing a body of people to recognize the pioneering influence these individuals conveyed in order to position us to carry forward the unfinished commissions.
Spiritual gifts are the result of supernatural grace purchased at Calvary’s Cross. Nevertheless, personal spiritual maturity can be costly requiring that we buy from Him:
Gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see
— Revelations 3:18
It is always been the Lord’s intent that we progress from Glory to Glory, but unfortunately, the Church has historically failed in this responsibility. Children should always start on a higher plain than their parents. That is the entire biblical principle of heritage and inheritance. Proverbs 13:22 states:
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
We are once again presented with an opportunity to apprehend our desolate heritages and appropriate them to our generation. Mantles of revelation and power that were introduced in prior generations are accessible. We must pay whatever price is necessary to achieve this place in God. The important aspects of this revelation are to highlight the “open door” opportunity set before us for this purpose.
The Lord has clearly demonstrated through these revelations that individuals will be visited by His spirit over this next season for the purpose of “mantle” impartation. Many of the people soon to emerge in leadership are not presently known or recognized in broad public forums. Nevertheless, they are known in Heaven and have been prepared to carry notable deposits of revelation and power.
Therefore, this prophetic promise is to initiate our desperation to contend for this heritage. Our council is to position ourselves before Him so that His Spirit can be released to us in much the same way that Elisha captured the anointing that rested upon Elijah.
Part of the revelations I had on the morning of Atonement dealt with our desolate heritage. In the experience, I found myself in a desert and mountainous region excavating an archeological site in hopes of finding treasures of great value. As I did I uncovered ancient books containing revelations that were started by leaders of the past that are to be finished in our day. I considered these books of greater value than gold or silver. Some were older than others but I knew this would be the completion of all mandates, commissions and promises.
This revelation speaks of our opportunity and responsibility to carry forward the task initiated by individuals of the former generation. Even as Joshua completed the commission of Moses so also will we facilitate the fullness of unfulfilled promises.
Lovingkindness and Truth to Awaken His Glory
The desert is a place of visitation and impartation to be established in lovingkindness and truth. Psalms 57:7-11 states:
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your lovingkindness is great to the heavens and your truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Our present opportunity is to embrace this final segment of our desert experience to be fully prepared for what is to come. The Shekinah glory descended upon the Tent of Meetings and Moses was granted the privilege of meeting with God face-to-face for an extended period of time. Although Israel was not yet in the Promised Land they remained in the desert in order to prepare them to occupy the land of promise. So shall it be in this day. This coming season will be a time of visitation and tokens of God’s glory manifested among the righteous.
The righteous will bear the glory; there will be tokens of God’s glory resting upon a body of people that will illuminate them to shine like the sun in the Kingdom of our Father.
Realms of Glory
Corporate meetings will experience realms of glory on a level we have not yet experienced in this generation.
We are entering the season of human history prophesied by Isaiah when he foretold there would be a Heavenly brightness shining upon the righteous in the midst of great darkness. It is by the Spirit of Truth that we will be illuminated as we share in the mysteries of the Kingdom reserved for this hour. Isaiah 60:1-3 declared:
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
There is a “weighty” presence or Glory that the Lord intends to place upon His people during these last days as a testimony to the nations of His redemptive virtue. It is truly amazing that sinners saved by grace can be endowed with this commission and responsibility. As Daniel prophesied, “many will be purged, purified, and refined… and those who have insight will understand.” (Daniel 12:10)
The understanding this company possesses will be the mystery of “Christ in us, the hope of Glory.” It is only through this refining process that we are capable of manifesting His Glory in the earth without it destroying us. That is the importance of prophetic material like this one. If we have the understanding that the process we have been in is for preparation then it gives us the hope of our calling. Without that understanding we would be prone to discouragement, hopelessness and feelings of disqualification.
Another purpose for highlighting this reality is to equip the prayer and intercessory ministries with a key to unlocking this 21st century provision. It will be through prayer, praise, and prophetic proclamation that we will contend for this reality. It will not be accomplished through human soulish striving but by a revelation of the Spirit and the activation of our faith to speak in agreement with God’s plans. As recorded in Job 22:26-28:
For then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; and you will pay your vows. You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways.
The end result of this expression of God’s Glory will be a notable harvest of souls beyond anything we have presently experienced in modern Church history. It will not only be a message to our nation but also the nations of the earth; nor will it be administered or controlled by human agency, but by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
The Glory Separates
Korah’s rebellion was judged by God’s glory. Numbers 16:19 21 outlines that:
Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the doorway of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation. Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.”
The “panel of seven judges” are to help separate truth from leaven, the precious from the profane; this must be a Holy Priesthood who have dined at the Lord’s table. Only from this place are we able to separate the clean from the unclean. In the same way that Korah’s rebellion was judged by the glory of God, so also will the seeds of rebellion be separated from within us as individuals and a corporate body!
The stress and turmoil in the world will continually increase as this present age reaches its completion and the Lord’s Kingdom is prepared to be revealed. The confrontation between light and darkness will also escalate as evil will become greater. Likewise, the children of light must respond to offer hope and salvation through the Lord’s redemptive work.
I recently saw this escalation in a revelatory encounter. In it I saw a door being opened from the bowels of hell releasing a horde of evil spirits of a profound nature. I was actually able to recognize the characteristics of some of them. One had an appearance like Adolf Hitler and another like Joseph Stalin. I believe these represented evil spirits that functioned through these historical tyrants.
I watched as these evil spirits began to manifest themselves before people and train the individuals to walk in realms of darkness and evil never before seen in our generation. It was as if individuals were being identified and equipped to carry “mantles” of darkness as foretold by ancient prophets concerning the latter days.
While this was taking place I heard an audible voice say, “The children of Light must respond in like fashion.” With that admonition, I saw angels descending from Heaven that were specially prepared for the end-time confrontation. They too were commissioned to meet with individuals through angelic visitations in order to train the people to walk in mantles of revelation and power.
The Lord’s Kingdom that is characterized with righteousness, peace, and joy will become more pronounced within an overcoming body of believers while darkness runs a parallel course of acceleration. While we are in this world we are admonished not to be a part of this world’s spirit. Light shines brightest during times of exceeding darkness!
Those who have yielded themselves to the work of God’s spirit will be developed in righteousness and:
Will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! – Matthew 13:43
The last few hundred years of Church history has seen numerous expressions of spiritual “breakthrough” that changed every following generation. God used Martin Luther with a breakthrough anointing to re-establish the reality that the just shall live by faith.
Following Luther, John Wesley and others advanced further with the message of sanctification and a breakthrough anointing that altered present understanding of the Christian life. We then experienced another breakthrough during the days of William J. Seymour and the Azusa Street outpouring; following that came yet another during the days of William Branham and the Latter Rain outpouring.
Presently, we stand on the brink of the most significant breakthrough of all leading to the manifestation of a body of believers who function as sons and daughters of God and do the works that He did. This will be the only antidote for the darkness and evil that will permeate the coming years. Our current admonition is to embrace our opportunity for preparation and qualification for this responsibility.
This generation will see the greatest demonstration of grace never experienced and every indication points to its imminent reality. This generation will come forth with shouts of “grace-grace.”
Vision for the Future
The Bible stresses that mankind will perish when there is a lack of true spiritual knowledge, and without a vision the people are unrestrained and without order. Therefore, the spirit of revelation is a prerequisite to cooperate with God in this last day functioning of His plans.
To each of us is given a measure of faith; therefore it requires spiritual vision for us to appropriate our faith towards the things that are of lasting spiritual value. The Lord is granting to us in this season fresh deposits of His revelatory anointing to provide clarity, insight and the true knowledge of Him. This will begin to sanctify us for the coming battle.
Recently I heard the Holy Spirit say, “You can see things as they appear or you can see them as they really are.” This admonition is challenging us to begin to see things from Heavens perspective; that was the experience granted Gehazi when Elisha prayed for his eyes to be opened. When the revelatory anointing was granted, Elisha’s servant saw the mountains filled with Heaven’s host that greatly outnumbered the enemy. Suddenly his perspective changed from fear to faith because of spiritual vision and seeing things from God’s point of view.
Leaders will become increasingly aware of this opportunity and find great grace to train and equip a body of people to live in Heaven’s revelatory realm. This also will go hand-in-hand with the functioning of the panel of judges who are being delegated to separate true prophetic utterance from the false.
There is an “occupying” anointing that is being distributed among us. It is one thing to experience breakthrough but altogether another to occupy where the enemy has been displaced. We must be prepared and mobilized with a plan of occupation when we address various cities and regions. We are given the authority and dominion to occupy the areas for which we have spiritual revelation. Jesus said:
When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, “I will return to my house from which I came. And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes {along} seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first — Luke 11:24-26
This year’s Shepherd’s Rod highlights the importance of formalizing a plan of occupation by mobilizing the body of Christ. Great grace will be given in this next season for training and equipping leaders who are not afraid to conquer and occupy the land for which they are given spiritual vision.
It is a sad reality to discover that many of the places that once experienced great spiritual victory have now become havens of darkness. Even so, our grace for this season is to take back that ground and remind the Lord of His promise stating:
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army which I sent among you. — Joel 2:25
Continued Extremes
Extreme weather patterns will continue in the days ahead in heavenly places, on the earth, and under the earth. It will be contrasting extremes as a prophetic indication of the era in which we live. Volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and droughts will be taking place in various regions simultaneously. While one area is experiencing a drought another will be in during floods.
One of the primary areas for which we must be mobilized deals with our need to take authority over these extremes. The earth has been delegated into the hands of mankind and the Lord has appropriated His authority through us to articulate His desire. We must learn how to speak to these weather issues from a position of faith and authority in the same fashion the Lord did on the sea of Galilee. Psalms 115:16 declares:
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S; but the earth He has given to the children of men.
There have been numerous instances in recent years where key leaders have been sent into drought stricken areas in order to call for rain. This trend will continue! This will also be true with spiritual as well as governmental leaders. Recently, the governor of Alabama joined his faith with Bob and others for rain to come to our state. Shortly after the prayer, we had rain.
Psalms 108
This Psalm initiates a series of messages through King David highlighting times of tribulation but also deliverance. A portion of this Psalm is also taken from Psalms 57:7-11, written at a time when David was pursued by Saul.
This Psalm also emphasizes the conflict that existed among Israel’s neighboring countries; It seems to highlight an escalation in the conflict between the Islamic radicals and the nation of Israel. This once again punctuates our tremendous need for continued prayer on behalf of Israel.
Verse 1
A song, a Psalm of David. My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.
We are presently entering a season that will be accentuated with radical faith and the unwavering reality that we are created in God’s image. With that we will sing praises from the depths of our soul to articulate the vastness of His redemptive plan and the miracle of taking sinners saved by grace and using them to manifest His kingdom.
Verse 2
Awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn!
One of the most dangerous conditions existing in today’s Church is the Laodicean lukewarm spirit. The Lord said this form of lifestyle makes Him sick and He will spew it from His mouth. This spirit promotes a sense of stupor, lethargy and apathy. Even so, this next season will see increased anointing on praise and worship to awaken us from sleep and ignite us with radical passion for the King and His Kingdom.
A new day is dawning and with it will be fresh creative realms of music and worship that will set ablaze the seeds of destiny resident in this generation of worshiping warriors. There will also be a notable anointing to help people recognize that the Lord is a God of redemption. He can redeem what has seemingly been lost and makeup for lost time. The apostle Paul emphasized:
Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil – Ephesians 5:14-16
Verse 3
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to you among the nations.
Things that are being birthed at this time will be taken to the various nations of the earth. In many respects, we must broaden our vision to include, not merely our city or region, but the many nations around the world. This also highlights our need to become more compatible and receptive to different cultures and ethnic groups. We are born of one blood at an appointed time and must recognize God’s gifts resident in diverse people groups. Acts 17:26 declares:
He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
This next season will see many groups who are seemingly polar extremes apart nevertheless come together for a common cause to advance the Kingdom. There will be an anointing and emphasis on this aspect of God’s plan. We must begin to recognize one another according to the spirit more so than the flesh. There is a plumbline of truth that is going to be delegated in this generation. Many diverse groups will rally around that plumbline as a platform for spiritual unity. That does not imply that we relinquish our identity or cultural differences but incorporate them together with a spirit of harmony.
Verse 4
For your lovingkindness is great above the heavens, and your truth reaches to the skies.
This is a year to discover God’s lovingkindness and mercy along with His revelatory truth as we journey through this last phase of our preparation before a tremendous release of grace for advancement. We are to walk the carpet or path the Lord is laying before us. On it is every provision that we need to sustain us in life and godliness.
The Spirit of Truth will begin to flourish in more pronounced ways in and among individuals and groups who are pressing in to encounter the Teacher and hear expressions from His lips. This will create the plumbline around which we will rally and attach our faith.
Our focus should be more vertical than horizontal at the present hour. As we turn our attention heavenward it will open realms of understanding and insight crucial for the journey. We must begin to see things as they really are more so than the way they appear. This can only be achieved by viewing circumstances from God’s perspective.
Verse 5
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and your glory above all the earth.
There will be measurable increases in the tangible Glory realized in our meetings when we wholeheartedly exalt the Lord above all things. Many books and messages have been made available that outline the wonderful expressions of power and Glory that existed in the prior generations.
There are many witnesses who testify of experiencing much greater realms of Glory in those days than what we presently enjoy. Nevertheless, that is going to change as we continue to meet God on His terms and walk with Him intimately like Enoch. There is a spirit of restoration being launched in this hour to recapture lost mantels and commissions. This will especially be true in the areas of healing and manifestations of the Glory.
The Glory is primarily associated with God’s goodness. The Lord allowed His Glory to pass before Moses and He said it was His goodness. This will be a season to discover more ardently that God is good and His mercy endures forever.
We have entered a season of Church history that will be characterized with God’s glory illuminating a body of people in the midst of great darkness. It will literally be a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy stating:
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Isaiah 60:1-2
Our role and responsibility is to recognize this time and season and contend for its reality.
Verse 6
That your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer me!
The right hand denotes the faith of God; not merely having faith in God but possessing the faith of God. Many within the Church are oppressed, sick and immobilized with fear; this is the year to be delivered of these circumstances. Great emphasis will be placed in the coming days on deliverance meetings. Before we can set the world free from its oppressions we must first be delivered from our own. This will initiate a wave of outpouring within the church to prepare us to take this message to the world.
Verse 7
God has spoken in His holiness: “I will exult, I will portion out Shechem and measure out the valley of Succoth.
Great emphasis will be placed upon the message of holiness at the present time. In its purest form, holiness is derived from close encounters with the Lord and intimate fellowship with Him. It is an impartation!
The priesthood was required to put on garments of holiness in order to perform their service and minister to Him. Likewise, we also are to be adorned in holiness to minister to the affections of Heaven.
Verse 8
“Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim also is the helmet of My head; Judah is My scepter.”
Gilead = Rough, rugged, rocky region.
Manasseh = Causing to forget.
Ephraim = To be fruitful
Judah = Praise
The Lord is going to reveal Himself as the lawgiver and judge. This will be initiated through “Judah” which is praise. There is a message of divine justice that will take precedence in these coming days. Gilead is a rocky region and Manasseh means causing to forget the pain of our past. The Lord is going to render a verdict on behalf of the saints to prepare us to take possession of the Kingdom. Psalms 125:3 states:
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous, so that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong.
Although we may be surrounded by many spiritual enemies, the Lord is granting the authority to flourish. We will begin to exercise that authority in the midst of our enemies.
The LORD will stretch forth your strong scepter from Zion, saying “Rule in the midst of your enemies.” – Psalms 110:2
Verse 9
Moab is My washbowl; over Edom I shall throw My shoe; over Philistia I will shout aloud.
There is much uncleanness in the Church that is about to be dealt with. The Edomites were a spiritual type of this condition. God is going to cleanse the land which includes us.
On February 25, 2007 my wife Wanda had a dream in which she heard and audible voice that sometimes speaks with her that has always proven to be accurate. The voice said to her there was going to be a hurricane on Rosh Hashanah to signify God’s intent to cleanse the land. We shared it with many of our team and ministry friends’ months before Humberto formed on September 13th and came ashore.
Days before Rosh Hashanah there was no hurricane in sight. Incredibly, on the day before this biblical holy day, a simple storm began to increase in intensity faster than any storm in recorded history and became a hurricane in 18 hours; it came ashore on Rosh Hashanah.
Wikipedia records that “Hurricane Humberto formed and intensified faster than any other tropical cyclone on record within 18 hours of landfall; developing on September 12, 2007 in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, the cyclone rapidly strengthened and struck High Island Texas with winds of over 85 mph early on September 13. It steadily weakened after moving ashore, and on September 14 it began dissipating over northwestern Georgia as it interacted with an approaching cold front. Humberto was the eighth named storm and third hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, and became the first hurricane to strike the United States since Hurricane Wilma of 2005. Damage was expected to total out to less than $500 million in damage.”
This was an absolute prophetic prediction to give us complete confidence and assurance that the Lord is giving us the grace to be cleansed and to begin the process of restoring our land. He is going to do a quick work!
Moab is our washbasin; God’s army will walk on the promise of spiritual cleansing and the removal of humanistic leaven. It will be forerun by the pioneers and leaders. Bob saw many people on the carpet set before us by the Holy Spirit. Each one is being trained and prepared to provide leadership in this crucial hour of history.
Verse 10
Who will bring me into the besieged city? Who will lead me to Edom?
This is the season that we will breakthrough into regions and areas that have beforehand been unaccessible. Part of our responsibility is to agree with God through our prayer, praise and prophetic proclamation. Many of the intercessory prayer movements will be armed with this reality and find greater authority in their prayers to open doors that were previously shut.
This will take place by the impartation of His scepter, denoting greater spiritual authority. This truth will have multiple applications. Business opportunities that were not available before will now flourish, evangelistic regions will open up and access to politicians and leaders will be made accessible. Many within the world will begin to ask spiritual questions for which you have biblical answers.
Verse 11
Have not you yourself, O God, rejected us? And will you not go forth with our armies, O God?
This is a year of reverse; even our natural army fighting in the Middle East has experienced great losses and difficulties in their quest. Thousands of American and Arab lives have been touched by the Iraq conflict. Wonderfully, the Lord is promising during this Atonement season that He will go with our armies and tread down spiritual adversaries attempting to escalate end-time confrontations before their appointed season. This however will require our focus and intercession to bring it into reality.
This is a year of change in the Middle East. If we will respond to this call, America will be able to get out of this conflict with honor. Our current President has another year to go. If we will pray, God will redeem the time and allow great accomplishment.
We have a very real help as long as we stay in the straight and narrow way provided by God’s path. When the righteous cry out for God’s intervention in the affairs of man, we will see a notable escalation in this Heavenly release. This will involve both the commissions been given for the harvest as well as political issues attempting to derail Heaven’s agenda.
Verse 12
Oh give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain.
As we petition Heaven, God has promised to answer the righteous and offer help against our adversary. We have entered the time for answered prayer and fulfilled promises. The Lord’s extending a scepter to accomplish in His power what mankind has been incapable of achieving in our own strength. This will be a day of divine intervention! God will inject Himself into our lives and circumstances when we walk before Him in righteousness and holiness.
Verse 13
Through God we will do valiantly, and it is He who shall tread down our adversaries
This will be a time of measurable victory and strategic positioning for breakthrough and advancement. We are being called to breakthrough and occupy in the spiritual arena. The Lord is putting a word in our mouths and covering us with the shadow of His hand to do three things: (Isaiah 51:16)
1. Establish the heavens
2. Found the earth
3. Say to Zion, “you are my people!”
The Lord is going to do valiant things through us by allowing us to articulate His words from an atmosphere of the anointing. When we do, it will establish the revelation of His kingdom in the heavenly places which will then be manifested on the earth. It will also be a prophetic call to the “Zion company” or overcomers to take their position of authority and eradicate the adversaries set against God’s end-time harvest.