Book review: ‘Rejection Hurts’ by Steve Hepden

Question: what does Steve Hepden’s first book ‘Explaining Rejection’ and a famous British radio telescope have in common?

I will share that personal point after quoting a couple of many endorsements to his latest book, followed by the publisher’s comments:

‘Rejection is such a huge heart issue, crippling multitudes of people and no doubt affecting us all. In this book ‘Rejection Hurts’, Steve Hepden will help you diagnose your issues, and then map out a way for you to come into acceptance, forgiveness and love. So helpful; so freeing; so life-giving.’
John Arnott, Catch the Fire Toronto & Partners In Harvest International.

‘This is a wonderful combination of pastoral and practical insights into the power and effects of rejection in today’s society. Through storytelling and compelling biblical insights Steve offers a wealth of resources to transform the negative equity of rejection into opportunities to find healing and wholeness.’  Rev Dr Russ Parker, 2Restore: Healing Wounded Churches, Farnham.

‘We have a fundamental need to belong and rejection destabilises us and the resulting disconnection we feel only adds to the pain. Rejection powerfully effects our emotions, thinking and behaviour, which will undermine and weaken our own value and esteem, and also our perception of God.

‘This book gives a comprehensive view into the source, causes and roots of rejection and how it can affect us at any time in our lives. Rejection Hurts offers the reader a pathway towards recovery and release, based on a process of prayer ministry, which includes personal choice and responsibility and an acceptance of the love and power of God.’

Steve is an ordained minister with the Elim Church and has a Masters degree in Applied Theology. He’s married to Chris and they have two children and three grand-daughters. Coming from a Pentecostal/Charismatic perspective Steve later became a leader in an international healing ministry, which is where Nina and I independently met him long before we were married 15 years ago (this Saturday – happy anniversary sweetheart). Thus he’s been involved with planting churches and all forms of leadership in a pastoral and prophetical context.

Steve prefaces this updated version of Explaining Rejection by telling each reader,

“I am looking for understanding and hopefully some revelation to you personally. I trust that you will be enlightened and challenged.”

To that end, each chapter closes with ‘memory points’ for that personal ‘workout’, about which I will share below. In the first chapter I note his perspicacious explanation,

“Rejection is powerful enough to make you believe things that actually have not happened in the way you think they have. This is the subtleness of rejection and is something we need to recognise.”

I can highly recommend Rejection Hurts, especially for all those like ourselves who are involved in prayer ministry and counselling.

Purchase:

An electronic version is available on Kindle via Amazon.  Paperbacks cost £10 incl p&p and, if normal outlets are out-of-stock, may be bought direct from the author. Mail your cheque payable to ‘Steve Hepden’ with note of your address to:

Steve Hepden, 7 Linden Grove, Garstang, Preston, Lancs PR3 1FN

Personal

Now to answer my opening question: what does Steve’s first book ‘Explaining Rejection’ have in common with a famous British radio telescope?

As a new believer in Jesus Christ I wanted to get effects from my old life dealt with as fast and thoroughly as possible. I went to a meeting convened by a West Reading church known to my Baptist pastor, was impressed with the speaker Steve Hepden’s message and wanted to work in-depth upon some issues. So bought his book plus a train ticket from Reading to Lancaster for one of his courses. En-route I finished reading another book, then opened up ‘Explaining’.

As normal, I flicked backwards for epilogue, end-notes and index to get an idea of an author’s sources – but instead I found a list of questions and decided to read it. The first of several childhood-related questions was, ‘What’s your earliest happy memory?

Immediately, I recalled the times in mid-1950s when my father drove us, along with my mother’s mother, to see the University of Manchester’s radio telescope being built at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire. (My grandparents had given me a most fascinating, illustrated book for my 7th birthday By Space Ship To The Moon, as G’ma was very interested.)

Lovell Telescope, Jodrell Bank Observatory

Musing in that fond memory I gazed out of the train’s window at the very moment it went practically alongside that telescope!

A jaw-dropping ‘God-incident’: not only in its astonishing timing but also because the train was not supposed  to be there – I thought its schedule continued northwards from Crewe to Lancaster via Warrington. Instead it had taken a looped detour north-eastwards for Manchester Piccadilly. And what’s more, in doing so it first had to travel through my hometown of Stockport!  Many memories of my youth quickly awakened – then upon arrival in Lancaster the first fellow delegate I met was from my hometown!!  A truly mind-blowing start to an exceptional few days led by Steve Hepden.

Furthermore, within a few years that ministry had opened a centre in Farnham, Surrey, and one Christmas Steve was speaking there. As I was sat near a tall decorated fir tree I was reminded of one’s significance in connection with the Lord’s visitation in 1989, as told here.

Steve would never have known the remark – and its timing – made to emphasis a point in his message had completely described the impact of what happened in that dream. As I reminisced about Jesus swooping down to me from the sky and bursting through the wall of the room I was dreaming I was in, Steve exclaimed, “Can you imagine how stunned Jesus’ disciples were when He walked though that room’s locked door?”

Answer, “Yes I can, ‘cos I’ve seen it!”

So I’m sure you’ll find a treasure trove in Steve’s new book…

Prophetic word on manifestation of flames of fire and of the Glory

AWESOME ‘COINCIDENCE’!!  Just in from a walk and checking emails and note this from and courtesy of Chris Bennett and UK Prophetic Words. As I copy/paste and read ‘ramping up…’ it all matches the rhythm of Kenny Peavy and band on my hi-fi urging the Lord to purify them...”My heart is burning for you, my heart is burning for you…I’m hungry, thirsty longing for You…”, and then plead, “Set me on fire with Your fire” …

Tongues of Fire Acts 2-3

Courtesy of Iris Global Ministries, Mozambique.

PENTECOSTAL FLAMES OF FIRE WILL DESCEND AND THE GLORY WILL MANIFEST VISIBLY

It’s all ramping up! The wave just gets bigger by the moment. There is a build-up of Holy Spirit power and pressure and sometime soon it’s going to blow! I prophesy that it will have a different release point and a different effect and manifestation in each place Holy Spirit decides to let loose. The manifestation will be suited to the recipients – I don’t know how else to put it.

In a quiet church the manifestation will be quiet, while in a loud, bouncy church the manifestation will be more explosive. In both cases I see Pentecostal flames of fire descending upon the people. However, the result will be the same – an explosive growth in both churches with signs and wonders following. So – what will it look like?

The only examples we have are Argentina, Toronto, Pensacola, and later moves. There may even be some quite elderly saints who can go back to the Hebridean Revival of 1949–51, but it has been prophesied time and time again that this coming move will be different from anything seen or recorded previously.

I prophesy the Ruach, the wind of the Spirit, will manifest in meetings. The Ruach shall blow and the Glory shall enter. I prophesy that the Glory Cloud, the Shekinah Glory, will manifest visibly. I prophesy that those in the meetings where these signs are manifest shall, like Moses and others since, shine – their faces shall shine and reflect the Glory of God’s presence. I see people laying in the Glory as ones dead, only to rise again in a while singing and giving praises to the Lord, faces shining brightly from His presence.

The fire will fall and people will experience, many for the first time, the touch of God – that touch that sends electricity racing through your body, that fills you with such faith and power, that gifts us everything we need for our calling, our ministry. For some it will be a quiet peaceful thing; for others it will be like Elijah on the mountain – wind, fire, earthquake, and stillness. No two will necessarily be the same. I prophesy that each of us will meet with the Lord in the Glory – and we’ll never be the same again!

This is the coming season of revival. It is starting already and it is certainly coming to a church near you very soon.

Chris Bennett, 12th August 2017

Join the highly appropriate, powerful worship of these sequential videos… Continue reading

It’s not the End but the Start of an amazing, wonderful New Day!

It’s ‘kinda-coincidental’ that early on Tuesday morning two readers left encouraging comments on February’s post: Dreams and visions of Big Ben at the prophetical midnight hour – and that I saw that day’s headline on the clock’s chimes being silenced for four years and wanted to blog about that (see previous post). And it was opportune to use a graphic of Big Ben from an unknown source used to announce an intercessory gathering in Canterbury under the designation “It Is Time”!

The first of those comments was from Jonathan and followed up his earlier remarks,

‘With these prophecies I think it’s significant (as I e-mailed you at the time Richard) that the big prayer movement thing in South Africa that started early this year has been called “It’s Time”, as that was the message at least one of its organisers said God had given him.’

So I replied to him about that same title being used in a Canterbury meeting. Within half an hour of his commenting Sarah submitted this excellent, revelatory account:

‘I recently felt God saying it was a new day and I saw the sun rising. I was surprised as in Jewish culture a new day starts the evening and then its darkest before the dawn. But here was a new day like our culture is used to with the sun rising. So Malachi 4:2 makes sense to me in this context.

‘A couple or so years ago I had a vision / God video with music (which was playing on the radio), it was an Adele song “When the sky falls we all stand together” and I saw the children of God all hand in hand with Jesus amongst them. They were totally pure and clean, they were blameless. They walked together as the sun rose on a new day and then Jesus spoke to me. He said,

“It isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of an amazing and wonderful new day”.

‘I haven’t been the only one to say they get the general impression that they are walking into heaven on earth. I think we are as the Kingdom of God is expanding and now is the time that God is making all things new. I used to be scared of end times, but after that vision I wasn’t the same at all because God gave me hope through it. That there wasn’t anything to worry about, and that although I felt at the time like I was still a sinner, the reality was that I was blameless because of what Jesus did on the cross and there was hope in the new day we were all walking into, totally innocent children of God…’

To me (Richard) this is particularly pertinent because I’ve been musing about the distinct and stark contrast between the futures of the righteous and the unrighteous, between believers in Jesus and those who won’t. Scripture foretells worldwide judgments upon unregenerates but that those in Christ will safely escape Father’s wrath. Yet, in rapidly approaching that time, how does that difference manifest?  For a while I’ve wondered if the divergent, opposing theological views may somehow be reconciled…and then a ray of revelation dawned…

In considering how prophecies made by Jesus and Paul apply to the apostasy of the recent Synod I blogged about the Day of the Lord and repeat for ease of reference:

‘…it’s important not to overlook the fact that in quoting Isaiah 61 as His ‘mission statement’, Jesus opened that scroll in the synagogue and quoted the first verse only, and then stopped short (Luke 4:16-21). The Spirit of the Lord God was upon and anointed Him to preach the Good News, to heal the broken-hearted and bring release for those bound as though imprisoned. That was the purpose of His First Advent, but the subsequent verses allude to the anointing also continuing in His Second Advent, namely:

“To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God…”

In other words, Jesus’ mission was to proclaim the ‘Year of God’s Favour’ across Judea and Galilee and even into Samaria. It was implicit that the ‘Day of God’s Vengeance’ would follow in due course, and the subsequent revelation Jesus was given into that momentous future event was recorded by John in ‘The Apocalypse’. BUT the reference to that dread ‘Day of the Lord’ in the whole of Isaiah 61 is miniscule – it’s only one tiny clause in a long very positive, uplifting sentence!  AND the chapter’s remaining nine verses continue in the very same vein! (Check it yourself in NIV-UK.)

Therefore, whilst they may be severe shaking and demonic darkness the light, love and favour not only continues but also increases enormously for all those who are in Christ!

So thank and praise the Lord for confirming this in what You shared with Sarah…

THE SHAKING: watch for signs on earth and in the heavens

Although I don’t agree 100% with John Kilpatrick’s reasons for a pre-Tribulation ‘rapture’ of believers in Jesus Christ, some significant serendipity alerted me to pay very close attention to his latest message entitled Your Redemption Is Drawing Near. I’m amazed to discover upon transcribing some of its video that a particular time-stamp reinforces a personal ‘bridge over the Pond’!

WORDS OF WARNING TO THE WORLD

After bemoaning the dearth of good, regular teaching upon End-times throughout Western churches and the increasing ungodliness across American society and churches, John brings a profound, prophetic warning. His tone becomes increasingly sombre as he speaks more carefully and pausing often (see video link):

(at 2:10:50 mark) “I really believe that 2017 is pivotal; not just because of The Radiant Woman of Revelation 12 [RB: in which he refers to its astronomical manifestation in September]…and not just because it’s possible that this is a Jubilee year, nobody really knows, but there are indications...

(2:11:45) “One thing I can tell you is this: the Lord spoke to me a few weeks ago, two mornings in a row and He said, “The earth is marked for change”.

(2:12:00) “I heard it when I was coming out of sleep (pausing to wipe his brow) and the next morning when I was coming out of sleep I heard the very same voice and very same words: “The earth is marked for change”

“It so shook me I called a meeting that night, took my staff out to eat…and I told them at the end of the meal what I just told you – it doesn’t sound serious when I say it, but that’s because you didn’t hear the voice I heard! But whenever the Lord or Holy Spirit tells you that,  I wasn’t able to convey it like that. So you can’t tell what I felt – but I know the earth is marked for change.

“And that is not just the earth but is also the heavens – and the Holy Spirit has said to me there’s going to be such things begin to happen…it’s going to be so shaking to people before we get out of here, before the Lord comes to get us, there’s going to be so many things that’s going to shake people that, if you’re not forewarned, it’s going to shake you!

“You will remember my voice, you will hear my voice ring in your head a hundred times when things start happening and you’ll say, “He told us!”. I hope it brings you some comfort that I told you ahead of time… but you hear me; when things start happening there will be no more headlines of Russian collusion…no more talk of tampering with the election, all that won’t even be in the papers at all…I want to say one more thing.:

“I never really put two and two together ’til Friday as I was preparing my message – but because Donald Trump is president and not afraid of anyone he’s saying things most presidents would hold…and we need a president now who says what we need to hear, even if it’s insulting. So when he came out and said about ‘fake news’…yes, I began to realise I’ve been hearing a lot of fake news…There’s no collusion, there’s nothing to it, it’s all just hype..

“So now listen, listen, if the news media is reporting fake news and hype…and they’re holding back reporting things they need to report, and reporting things they don’t need to report; it all of a sudden dawned on me and the Holy Spirit said, 

“They will do the same things about the signs of My Coming – they will NOT report things that need to be reported that will shake the nations about the soon coming of Christ. They’ll hold it and talk about a bunch of nonsense”.

“And He said,

“My people will have to search it out and have to go to places of truth to get the truth because they won’t be able to hear it on the news any more!”

“You might not agree with that, but I’m ‘Donald Trump the Second’ up here today – I’m telling you things that you need to hear. I’m not afraid to tell you things you need to hear. I’ve got nothing to prove, I’m only trying to tell you things that will help you get to heaven…

“Don’t take for granted what I’m telling you about the heavens. I’m more concerned about that than I am other things because in 2009 the Lord gave me the prophetic acrostic R.E.S.U.R.R.E.C.T.I.O.N. – you remember? The one that stood out in my mind more than any other was the ‘S’ for ‘Signs’, and the Lord said there’s going to be signs in the heavens. And the Lord said to tell the people to warn them, because He said when the signs start happening it’s going to bring great fear on the earth!”

A VERY PERSONAL LEAD-IN

We watched that live-streamed service from Church of His Presence in the afternoon.  A few hours earlier at the morning service in Liphook, one of our ministers had encouraged us to come forward for a blessing for opening up,  or developing, our personal journey and calling in Jesus.

After a number of recent indications on how He’s been steering me since a young boy, I gained an insight into my mother’s preference for using my middle name – John. Homing into that, I recalled Apostle John was favoured by leaning upon Jesus’ chest, and subsequently by a visitation from which he recorded ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ’. So I briefly recalled His visitation to me one night in September 1989, as recounted in On a Trapdoor to Hell – Jesus Swoops to the Rescue.

Therefore, I was doubly intrigued a few hours later to hear pastor John start to teach upon the Book of Revelation and use that same description of John’s privileged place. Furthermore, the title of his talk is that of a scripture directly related to my encounter’s similarity to the Second Coming of the Lord. That verse appears in my late mother’s Missal for readings for The First Sunday in Advent, viz: ‘Lift up your heads because your redemption is at hand‘ (Luke 12:28) – see final part and illustration of Triple Validation…

Puzzle in Sky by Idea Go, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net

YET it wasn’t until today that I discovered a THIRD connection in pastor John’s talk! It’s directly relevant to a personally relevant number referred to in those two earlier posts: 212 – the number of the house I lived in when a boy. AND those preceding links reveal earlier instances of such ‘serendipity’; that is, God-incidents!

In listening to the recording of pastor I’m ‘God-smacked’ by the indisputable fact that only when the recording has been playing for 2 hours 12 minutes does he start telling how he got warned upon awaking from sleep!!

Hmm, so we have something significant to contemplate and wait upon with the Lord -and those personal markers are telling me to pay attention because they validate His word to pastor Kilpatrick.  How about you, my reader, what do you think?

Fulfilled prophecy #22 – gold and silver, USA and UK

THERE’S MORE GOLD, as in Patsy Southway’s visionary statement Gold, Gold and More Gold!  Moreover, I read about it right after having re-publishing her vision of droplets or nuggets of gold when deciding to check recent entries on Veronika West’s Facebook – her new reference to “GOLD” is absolutely astonishing: yet another ‘God-incidence’!

But then that’s why they’re recognised in being at least three sequential occurrences often on one day, or over three consecutive days, upon a common spiritual theme. They’re just like pieces of an invisible jigsaw falling into place.

So we now have three ‘invisible’ pieces about GOLD: two concurrent emails on visions of gold from Beverley (golden rain), Patsy (golden droplets and wing tips) plus Veronika’s post about the fulfillment of a year-old vision of gold and silver!!!

In not having kept abreast of news over last weekend I wasn’t aware of detailed reports of the G20 meeting in Hamburg, but Veronika noted very specific statements and actions as yet another indication of the continuing fulfillment of a prophetic word she’d received a few days over a year ago, on 5th July 2016 to be precise. It reads:

A WORD FOR AMERICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM; TWO SHALL BECOME ONE!

“A MIGHTY RIVER OF GOLD AND SILVER; THE POWER OF GLORY AND REDEMPTION IS SHIFTING AND RESHAPING THE NATIONS IN THIS HOUR “!

‘Today while praying for the Nations, suddenly a very powerful vision opened up before me where I saw a large gold hand coming out of the Nation of America, I watched closely as the gold hand reached up high into the heavens.

‘Then suddenly I saw a large silver hand coming out of the United Kingdom and it too reached up high into the heavens, I watched intently as the silver hand of the United Kingdom and the gold hand of America came together and began to shake hands and as the two hands shook, I felt the earth tremble and the ground beneath my feet began to move and shift.

‘Then suddenly out of the heavens came a third large hand, but it was a hand of blazing fire, I watched as the hand of fire came to rest upon the shaking hands of silver and gold, Suddenly the blazing hand of fire intensified in heat causing the hand of silver and the hand of gold to melt, I watched closely as the two precious metals melted into one another forming one mighty river of molten gold and silver.

‘And then I heard these words, “UNITY AND FREEDOM, GLORY AND REDEMPTION”

‘Then I watched as the river moved with great force and in great power, I watched as the river of gold and silver suddenly turned and broke forth upon the Nations of the earth and wherever the river of gold and silver flowed the mighty waters rose causing the landscape to be changed and transformed, then I watched closely as great fires broke out upon these Nations, the blazing fires of purification and revival, fires that will not be quenched but will only burn brighter and brighter.

‘Then suddenly out of the heavens I heard these words,

“WATCH! FOR THE NATION OF AMERICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM SHALL SHAKE HANDS AND THE TWO SHALL FORM A STRONG ALLIANCE AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE IN PURPOSE, ONE IN VISION AND ONE IN GREAT VICTORY.

“WATCH! FOR THE RIVER OF MY GLORY AND REDEMPTION SHALL NOW FLOW FORTH UPON THE NATIONS CAUSING A TIDAL WAVE OF TRANSFORMATION AND CHANGE, FOR EVEN IN THIS HOUR BELOVED THE POWER OF MY GLORY AND REDEMPTION IS SHIFTING AND RESHAPING THE LANDSCAPE OF THESE GREAT NATIONS AND THE FIRES OF PURIFICATION AND REVIVAL SHALL BURN, BURN, BURN”, says God.’

Then last Saturday 8th July, Veronika posted this:

“HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS IN THIS HOUR, FOR THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS MOVING SUDDENLY, QUICKLY, STRATEGICALLY AND SHARPLY IN THE EARTH”!

‘WATCH! AS MANY PROPHETIC WORDS WILL ‘SUDDENLY’ COME TO PASS…! For there is a divine Acceleration and Momentum that is taking place in the realm of the Spirit over the Nations.

‘THESE ARE THE HEADLINES IN TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS.

“Trump: UK-US trade deal to happen quickly”!
US President Donald Trump has said he expects a “powerful” trade deal with the UK to be completed “very quickly”.
Speaking at the G20 summit in Hamburg, he said he would visit London. Asked when, he said: “We’ll work that out.”
In one-to-one talks, Mr Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May agreed to prioritise work on a post-Brexit trade deal, a UK government official said.
The president made it clear he believed Britain would “thrive” once it had left the European Union, the official added.

‘See the Prophetic Word I posted last year! Amazing God we serve. Giving Him ALL THE GLORY.’

Also, she spotted how a photo taken of that Head-to-Head meeting matches the above symbolic image, as previously published on her Facebook!  Notice Donald Trump’s and Theresa May’s handshake and the hues of their hair reflect that picture…

Selah…

Credits:

Visions of golden rain and of gold

The previous posts about London and Ilford and from Whitstable on God’s glory support last year’s vision-experience of the Lord’s glory falling like golden rain on streets of London, as seen by attendee of Forest Hill Community church (also of ‘tsunami of love’ from 2011). Thank you Lord for ‘God-incidental’ reminder of those from Beverley ‘Joy’ and from UK Prophetic Words’ email of this by Patsy Southway.:

GOLD,  GOLD  AND  MORE  GOLD!

Over this past month the Lord has been increasingly speaking to me about GOLD. This first started on the 5th June while I was in prayer.

I had a vision of a beach. I could see the waves coming in, foaming their way upon the sand. These waves were not tsunami type waves, just ‘normal’ waves. But as the waves receded GOLD droplets, nuggets, were left on the beach. Splashes from the waves too were like little droplets of gold.

As I continued to watch this scene, the amount of GOLD was increasing, of course, as the waves were building momentum. There was something very PURE and LOVELY about it all.

I asked, ‘What does this mean? Waves of GLORY? Wealth?’ But nothing was clear to me at the time.

Then the very next day, on the 6th June, again, whilst in prayer, I received a vision of a large flying bird. It was an Eagle with GOLD tips on its wings. More GOLD. Again, I asked the meaning of this and for the previous day’s vision of the waves bringing in the GOLD. I sensed that the Lord was saying that the Eagle was symbolic of myself and many others. That we have been ‘marked with gold’ prepared, through journey, through brokenness, through healing, through purification for something very precious that’s coming.

Then, on the 22nd June during the House Of Prayer meeting in our home, I saw a HUGE cloud of FIRE over the house and was reminded, (a friend reminded me) that this was the second time the Lord had shown us this. We had also received a prophetic word, previously, about this. That the Heavenly Fire Cloud over the property/land will be released to many hubs/gatherings/families/churches with the same effect that a rippling effect of a wave makes.

As I was journalling this later in the day, I was also given this scripture from 1 Peter 1:6-7:
‘In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, you have been grieved by various trials, that the GENUINENESS of your faith, being much more precious than GOLD that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’

My thoughts, conclusion even, at that time was that many of us have been led through FIRES, in order to BE the FIRE OF GOD to the NATIONS and that HE brings us forth as GOLD.

Then, as we prepared to have some rest days away in Cornwall last week, in an amazing way (you know how God radically so confirms things sometimes!) the word GOLD cropped up everywhere:

A pair of boots I purchased – were labelled ‘RHINE GOLD’
Teabags, bought to take away – ‘GOLD TEABAGS’
We arrive at the site, in Cornwall and I was looking through the leaflets:
‘CORNWALL GOLD’ – JEWELLERY FROM THE HEART OF CORNWALL.
We walked into a pub and ordered drinks. I looked back towards the door to see the pub was called: THE GOLDEN LION!
Eating lunch out the following day, we asked for some vinegar, the label – ‘Aspell GOLDEN Malt Vinegar’
I have photos of all of these!

So, early the next morning, I spent some quality time talking with Papa and began to look up some meanings of GOLD.
The COLLINS ENGLISH DICTIONARY says:
GOLD is a valuable, yellow coloured metal that is used for making jewellery and ornaments and as an INTERNATIONAL currency.

The colour GOLD is associated with ABUNDANCE, PROSPERITY and WELL BEING.

I read in Genesis 2 that GOLD was used from the very earliest of times for ornaments. And that GOLD was extremely abundant please read (1 Chr 22:14; 2 Chr 1:15;) 2 Chr 9:13-14 ‘Now the weight of GOLD which came to Solomon in ONE year was 666 talents of gold!
The MOST HOLY PLACE within the Tabernacle and Temple were covered with GOLD. Ex 25:10-11 & 17-18 Apparently there are 189 Bible references about GOLD. I read most of them.

Interesting to note that Gold and Silver are products of God, not a man made product. God designed them to be intrinsically valuable and beautiful. GOLD does not tarnish or corrode. A precious metal, like GOLD is not only unharmed when tried by FIRE but becomes REFINED and PURE.

God is, and has, and will, refine US; to bring us forth as GOLD. At the same time it is easy for God to bring in GOLD in waves! It is easy for God to cause us to fly, like Eagles, Into places where our wing tips would touch the very GOLD of heaven and we will be marked for ever from eternity to eternity.

I’m seeing my Heavenly Father LONGING to give GOOD gifts to His children. I’m hearing him say, ‘Don’t be afraid of WEALTH in ALL its forms.’ SELAH….
I’m seeing many hearts and minds, including mine, being enlarged to encompass this ‘NEW’ that He is doing and even GREATER things He longs to release.

I want to encourage you – GO FOR THE GOLD! Give Him EVERYTHING! Just like Jesus gave up EVERYTHING for you and me. When we seeking to live that wonderful John 5:19 lifestyle that Jesus lived then heaven can release as much GOLD as it wants and we’ll know exactly what to do with it! It’s on its way!

Happy days!

Patsy Southway, 10th July 2017 – www.pickministries.com

St Takla Haymanout Coptic Orthodox Church Egypt – The Ark of the Covenant

RB’s notes:
  • Am amused by this ‘coincidental material’ as my new phone lies screen-down on papers looking like a slim, weighty bar of gold on this desk – only this weekend did I replace my 5-years old white HTC with new Sony phone to link with TV. Instead of getting the same colour I looked online and, unlike me, decided to pick the gold one!
  • Reference to vision of eagles reminds me of that of personal golden eagle (here).
  • See also The Glory of God Rising and Vision of Crown Over England.
  • ‘Coincidentally’ Veronika West has another instance, see next post.

Meet the Real God

After Thursday evening’s soaking up gently jazzed-up worship I left Son-bathing to the song “Jesus, you are the radiance of the Father’s glory”, and confirmation of it came on Friday in Mike Parsons’ blog below. May you too be blessed with his excellent advice…

Freedom ARC's avatarSons of Issachar

Mike Parsons
with Jeremy Westcott – 

New for old

God is always doing new things.

Please understand that, as we said before, He is always the same, faithful and full of lovingkindness, and He has never changed. But when we engage Him intimately, He reveals Himself in continually new, surprising and sometimes even shocking ways.

“Behold, the former things have come to pass,
Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you”
(Isa 42:9).

“Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it,
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert”
(Isa 43:18-19).

God is revealing new things in our day, yet often we try to cling on to what is old, comfortable and familiar, just like…

View original post 1,165 more words

Heaven’s trumpet sounding over UK : Changing of the guard over nations

Thank you to UK Prophetic Words for these fresh words which, in my humble opinion, indicate what’s about to come here in Britain and on the broader international perspective – as I write that, an incoming email from a reader refers to blowing the trumpet as stated in the 2005 Vision for Great Britain of Wendy Alec:

A TRUMPET SOUND FROM HEAVEN BLOWING ACROSS THE UK

Posted: 12 Jun 2017 02:47 PM PDT  Received by a trusted intercessor 30th May’17:

There is a trumpet sound from Heaven blowing across the UK and hitting the demonic structures that have held the minds of Christians in captivity through faulty thinking and ignorance of what the Word of God really says.

These winds are colliding with demonic strongholds, forming whirlwinds. I saw this happen three times in the spirit realm bringing a completeness in what the Lord will and is doing, in this latter period of transition which is leading to a forward movement and breakthrough.

I saw a wig, like the wig of a judge; the Lord is Judge. He judges the earth, and we will all be judged at the end according to our works. His sword is actively discerning and exposing the thoughts and attitudes of the hearts of men.

As the whirlwind comes, it uncovers all that has been hidden. The whirlwind is the whirlwind of God’s Holy Spirit, bringing a cleansing, removing the dross, the stuff which has been holding us back. And God looks; He wants to see His church really move. He wants to see us being mobilised.

The rubbish in us, especially the gossip, and all those different things that are blocking the way forwards and causing deep pain for some of His beloved, is about to be removed so that there will be an acceleration forwards for those willing to be changed, who repent and who have really humbled themselves. This is a time of new freedom and destiny.

The dross being removed also consists of strongholds of false belief, disappointment and disillusionment which have led to bitterness, unforgiveness and unbelief in many. The religious spirit brings death and shutdown as there is little faith to see miracles and healing. Many are not even believing in the demonic or the supernatural.

Nevertheless, the Lord is sanctifying His Church and those who humble themselves and face into the wind will be cleansed and set free. It is the mercy and grace of God accomplishing this washing of our innermost being in preparation for His next move.

A FRESH ROYAL DIADEM NOW BEING RELEASED FROM HEAVEN!

Posted: 13 Jun 2017 02:18 PM PDT

Dr. Theresa Phillips

There’s a royal diadem coming down from Heaven sent by the Father of lights.

It bears the jewels of Heaven. It comes with a condition: “Change,” says the Lord, “To wear the crown, one must change” (see James 1:17).

There is a changing of the guard, commencing FIRST in Heaven then in the below. As the spiritual guard begins to change so will the natural guards within several nations. Nations like the Philippines, Thailand, Germany, Denmark and England will all see a LEADER-SHIFT.

The Lord Himself is beginning to pinpoint areas within the leadership that needs to be realigned for their assignments. There will be a season of confession, a season of proclamation and then there will be a season of release.

The Lord is preparing people even now with prophecy carrying strength to encourage by conviction. These will be released to release powerful prophecy for they have been set aside because they longed to walk in the royal priesthood humbly before their God (see 1 Peter 2:9).

Over the next seven months, there will be a challenge in the hearts of many to see what their destiny is. It’s a challenge to figure out where they will go and who they will become.

The Lord would say to the people, “Do not ask who you will become, ask Whose you will become. Once that revelation has been released, you will begin to see spheres of influence change and challenge within your life. Then when it (revelation) is released you will see DESTINY emerge.”

The Lord says, “I am realigning and assigning a brand-new royal priesthood, not after the order of anything except Christ Himself. For He had become and IS THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST. No other priesthood compares.

“Royal ambassadors, called into the royal priesthood, will be a new voice throughout the nations. Clergy from the Vatican will begin to change their language. Clergy from England will change their language. There is going to be a great revival in Ireland and Scotland. And the Church of America will shift its language and the RE-BIRTH of the Kings James Bible will emerge on the scene.”

“NOTICE THIS,” says the Lord, “The United States of America will begin to send out a different breed of missionaries. These missionaries will have had experiences in heavenly realms without boasting. They will begin to declare realms, atmospheres, and alignments with Kings in nations and these voices will be heard as voices of solidarity with the Kingdom of Heaven. This will ignite the hearts of many and they will begin to cry, ‘Here am I send me to be the word.’”

http://www.globalpropheticvoice.com

God’s GPS pingback: Australia>UK>USA then 2 back!

WOW, what can I say about yesterday! Simply being a messenger and seeing the Lord ‘connect the prophetic dots’ is utterly humbling. All I did was bat something from one side of the globe to the other. Here’s what happened:

Digital Globe with Hand by Watcharakun

After blogging about being bitten by two days’ Lion Bites I took lunch and afterwards found a most apposite email had arrived from Australia. So I re-published a word given to one of Australia’s Prophetic Council, Lana Vawser, as my previous post.

After whizzing it into cyber-space I gave it no more thought as I resumed my main focus …BUT…

I returned to corresponding with a deputy sheriff about his true story. The ball was in my court and I popped in a link to my ‘hot-off-the-press’ of the word Lana Vawser brought, in case it may help regarding their new fellowship in the Shenandoah Mountains, Virginia.

Almost by return – like an internet ‘ping’ – I got this reply: “Richard, I NEEDED THAT WORD!!! Thank you for sending it and she is SPOT on…(because)”

And within the hour yet another ‘Ping’!

This time a real pingback from a blog well over ‘the Pond’ on the Kansas-Missouri border (?), “This morning as I was reviewing a message from Richard Barker he shared a vision from Lana Vawser. I have to mention that here because her vision seems to be in tandem with something I was given three weeks ago, today. It seemed like there were some overlapping/similarities….” (see Multiple Confirmations).

Much as I’ve mused over how the Lord speaks His mind to born-again believers around the world, especially those entrusted with the prophetical office, in my noticing how pieces from His Invisible Jigsaw fall into place it’s also as though their action is the equivalent of the cyber-space GPS.

That is, the Lord has His ‘satellites’ in the ‘heavenlies’ and uses GPS (Global Positioning System – God’s Prophecy System) or, as I call it, Global Prophecy Signalling.  Hence, my occasional examples of the Lord’s GPS.

Digital Globe by Cooldesign

NB: definitions for internet PING and Pong.  Wordpress ‘pingback’ is a notification of an article’s linkage to another blog. Illustrations by courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net

Lion Bites that don’t let go…Practising the Presence

Blogging plans and priorities brewing over the weekend were about meeting a new focus, as implied at the close of last Friday’s post on seizing opportunities. I didn’t spell it out for the sake of closely guarding my purpose; but suffice to say, I was really surprised at what I’d sensed the Lord wants of me in this harvest-time. SO, I had a plan in mind for some ‘tests’ of republishing a few old posts as and when possible during a busy week, but don’t want to swamp my regular readership.

It ‘just so’ happens the Lord had directed Emma and David Stark at Glasgow Prophetic Centre, to personalise the next Lion Bites email to subscribers. This stirring word brought confirmation to my spirit (make it personal for you too by replacing my name with yours) and then got hammered home the next day:

Monday – GOD IS CALLING YOU LOUD AND CLEAR

The Lord is asking these questions in the earth;

“Who will be a nation changer today? Who will be willing to rise up from what is occupying their time to hear and obey my voice?”

God says “I am calling you, Richard, out to build and establish My Kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven in your generation.”

David was the least in His father’s house yet, after much training in the secret place tending sheep, he was used mightily by God to deliver an entire nation. Do not allow yourself to think you are insignificant. Your steadfast trust in God amidst your trial has been preperation for the call and destiny God has put within you. You are, indeed, significant.

Make a decision today to heed the call of God, get up and go! Bring glory to God as you leave a legacy for future generations as they see, and are spurred on by the evidence of the great things He shall do through your yielded life.

Matthew 4:19

Then He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”.

Tuesday – COME AND SIT WITH GOD TODAY 

God says. “Come and sit awhile with me and let me be your sounding board.

“I long to chat through your hopes and dreams with you. They are a delight to my heart as you are a delight to me. I love to hear your enthusiasm and excitement for the things I have placed within you; the seeds that I sowed long ago that are now starting to shoot through your spirit and manifest in your life. I am excited, just as you are excited!

“Let us plan together while remembering that nothing is impossible for me. I have watched you grow to this place and this time. Know not to be afraid of what is ahead and, as you step out and into what you know to be next, see that I have already prepared a way for you.

“As you sit with me today, I am giving to you know confidence in the gifts and anointing that you carry. For I have given them to you, establishing them deep within. A firm foundation has been built, and now it is time for brick to be laid upon brick; for you to begin to move into the next area of your call.”

Zechariah 8:9

This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Now hear these words, “Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built”. This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty.’

[With gratitude to Glasgow Prophetic Centre and published with their kind permission.]

‘Violent’ Kingdom breakthrough, seizing God-given opportunities – part 2

Continuing from Part 1 let’s look at the fifth jigsaw piece that fell into my hand:

SEIZING GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES

Settling down for an afternoon tea during that Sunday’s live streaming from Church of His Presence in Alabama, we heard pastor John Kilpatrick read the parable of the talents and the fearful servant and teach on Seizing God-given Opportunities (at 1 hour 18 minutes of video link below).

He encouraged everyone to open up their spirits when listening and said Holy Spirit had told him a few days ago,

“Start telling your audiences that whenever a word is given to them, especially a word from the Lord – not a sermon but a word from the Lord – tell them to let the Holy Spirit dilate their spirit so it opens up so it can receive and be imprinted, embedded in their spirit-man.” [At 1:19:00 on this Church of His Presence video]

John called attention to the fact that “Opportunities are birthed in God’s mind!” and went on to consider how we react to them and that, in moving towards God-given opportunities, we usually encounter strong opposition that’s often unforeseen and inexplicable.

He confessed that preachers encourage their flock in moving forward in their discipleship, but inadequately warn about the adversity that arises along their journey. In other words, we are inviting warfare! – not only of a spiritual nature but also of every kind of non-spiritual adverse event!  Also, we can be very dilatory ruminating over opportunities and acting upon them

So if you are severely struggling, especially from satanic strategies on your journey this exciting one hour message will strengthen and encourage you. He stresses it’s not about waiting on the Lord, which is very different, but watching for and acting upon what He’s presenting us with.

On researching this material John was surprised at a definition he found, and which has a direct bearing upon my subject; ‘violent’ persons taking the Kingdom. (Note: you may want to read previous Part’s updated comment thread on Matt 11:12.)

John found ‘seize’ means ‘to take possession of suddenly and by force’, and ‘an attack, a strike’. So this is how we need to handle and deal with God-given opportunities and break through all opposition (from 1:28:00 on video). John concludes therefore, that Holy Spirit is saying

“When I present you with an opportunity, strike it! When I present you with an opportunity seize it! Lay hold of it! Grab it! If you have to do it violently – grab it!. Why? Because opportunity will fade away like a watercolour.”

The Lord is saying,

“I’m presenting you with opportunities all the time but you are taking too much time!”

So seize that opportunity suddenly – and forcefully if necessary!

The latter part of the message covered working through the adversity that’s always a sure sign of a God-given opportunity, because its purpose is to thwart the Lord’s purpose in our lives and our furthering His Kingdom. It was also confirmation of my having stood against repeated strong criticism of this blog – and encourages my continuing a specific course of counter-action that started in addressing a controversial topic.

That is, having quickly and strongly reacted against detrimental comments I’m seeing and now seizing the God-given opportunity hidden behind that opposition.

It was one reason why I republished the core of and revisited my testimony. Those who read its new covering page on this blog’s menu may have been surprised at the opening paragraph. (It was inserted last, after having written the rest.)

Having published “Am Free!” True Story I was humbled to get an inkling of the Lord’s purpose behind that opportunity: to alert me to the fruition of an awesome vision I was blessed with in early 1992 – “All Hail The Lamb!

‘Violent’ Kingdom breakthrough, seizing God-given opportunities – part 1

Hand and Puzzle Pieces by Anusorn P. Nachol, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net

The violence referred to in this post is not that of physical assaults upon and wars against individuals and people groups, as depicted daily in the media, but of human and natural processes of force, exertion and upheaval that bring about change and growth. It’s the kind of violence I learned about as a ‘newbie’ investigating Jesus Christ’s answer to a question about John the Baptist and the Kingdom of heaven.

This post was started a week ago and I inserted the above image but thought its quantity doesn’t match the data pieces I’m blogging about. Therefore, this morning I’m delighted to discover blogger RJ Dawson’s latest reply to his readers’ congratulations upon the 6th anniversary of Real Christianity. Without realising it, this goes direct to the very heart of my subject as one of those awaited pieces – thank you Lord!  RJ writes, with emphasis mine,

“The Lord gave us a picture one time of a morning sheepfold all crammed into close quarters for the night wanting to get out into the dewy field and into freedom. Once the shepherd opened the enclosure out they streamed. This is a picture of what must happen. Too many Christians have grown used to the protective safe space that certainly has its place in times of danger, and resist breaking out.”

I’m grateful for his expanding upon this in the Comments to this post, as below.

[To continue as drafted…] As intimated in my introduction to last Wednesday’s Lion Bite on ‘new boldness’ I wish to pick up on the previous week’s two posts on 2017 being a year of breakthrough.

Their re-posting was unplanned because I was simply checking matters upon return home and then continuing with my break from blogging. Nevertheless, I’d been impressed to post an extensive prophecy on 2017 from Cindy Jacobs’ team that had been languishing ready for publication – a quick task, BUT I just had to insert a short connective scripture!

Little did I know an appropriate message was going to be heard over that weekend on a similar topic; definitely not unusual, just another ‘piece’ of the Lord’s ‘invisible jigsaw’ dropping into place!

These are the relevant paragraphs of a fortnight ago today, starting with the sub-head:

APOSTOLIC COUNCIL OF PROPHETIC ELDERS’ WORD OF THE LORD FOR 2017 THE YEAR OF THE BREAKTHROUGH (click to read the whole paper)

2017: The Breakthrough Year

“The One who breaks open will come up before them; they will break out. Pass through the gate, And go out by it; their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head.”
Micah 2:13 (NKJV)

Immediately preceding that title and passage, and by way of introduction, I connected it into the New Testament with the following:

‘The opening verse is directly related to Mathew 11:12 on Jesus saying “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force”, according to David Bivin and Roy Blizzard in their Understanding The Difficult Words of Jesus (1983 page 123!). HA, on now checking the NKJV my bible opens right at the notes on that very verse headed, ‘Taking It By Force’!  The inescapable conclusion of this instance of ‘serendipity’ is: the ‘Author of the Bible’ is pointing His finger at both related verses!

Now, I’d add the Lord may want to point also to what was taught on the next Sunday too! (See Part 2.)

First, however, we should consider those verses and, with permission, I quote notes on verses and extract from ‘Kingdom Dynamics’ in Spirit-Filled Study Bible, editor Jack Hayward (emphases mine).:

vv11:12 – Though the Greek here is somewhat difficult to translate, the idea is that ‘the kingdom of heaven’, which Jesus set up as a powerful movement or reign among men (‘suffers violence’), requires of them an equally strong and radical reaction. ‘The violent’ who then take ‘it by force’ are people of keen enthusiasm and commitment who are willing to respond to and propagate with radical abandonment the message and dynamic of God’s reign (see Luke 16:16). This is an allusion to the messianic nature of Jesus’  ministry and to those who are participating in it…Jesus is likely recalling Micah 2:12-13 where the prophet speaks of the deliverance of the people from exile through the activity of the shepherd-like Messiah.

Taking It By Force, Conflict & the Kingdom – J.W.H. writes, “Jesus asserts the “violence” of the kingdom. The text’s unique grammatical construction doesn’t make it clear if the kingdom of God is the victim or if, as the kingdom advance sin victory, it does so through violent spiritual conflict and warfare. But the context does! Jesus’ references to the non-religious style of John and the confrontational, miraculous ministry of Elijah teach that the Kingdom of God makes its penetration by a kind of violent entry opposing the human status quo…The upheaval caused by the kingdom of God is not caused by political provocation or armed advance. It is the result of God’s order shaking relationships, households, cities and nations by the entry of Holy Spirit’s power working in people.’

Matt 11:12 ‘difficult’ common Greek translated literally reads, ‘the kingdom of-the heavens is-being-forced and the forceful-ones are-snatching her’. Note, Greek tense for ‘snatching’ is ‘harpazousin’, which reminds me of the renowned ‘rapture’ reference in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to believers being caught up to meet the Lord upon His return!  Therein, the Greek is ‘harpagesometha’ – literally, ‘shall-be-being-snatched’. In other words, ‘seized’.

Those ‘verses of violence’ seem to contradict the rest of Jesus’ teaching. In their thesis Bevin and Blizzard refer to a ‘midrash’ (old rabbinic interpretation) on Micah 12-13 that focuses upon the ‘breach-maker’ (poretz), who isn’t the same as the ‘king’ and ‘LORD’. They suggest Jesus was referring to that understanding and the translation of His words is better as “The Kingdom of Heaven is breaking forth [not ‘suffering violence’] and every person in it is breaking forth”

‘Two tremendous things are now happening simultaneously: the Kingdom is bursting forth in to the world (like water from a broken dam) and individuals within the Kingdom are finding liberty and freedom’. John the Baptist is the breach-maker for he makes the breach in the rock-fence of the sheep pen (per Micah 2:12) is the Elijah of Micah 3:1 and 4:5-6 who goes before the Lord to prepare the way for Him. So, Jesus then follows John and leads His sheep through the gate – the iconic, powerful image of breakthrough.

Since then the Kingdom – the Lord and His sheep – has been breaking out. ‘Though Jesus does not refer directly to His own role as shepherd leading the sheep out, no listener could possibly misunderstand Jesus’ stunning assertion – I am the LORD’. The authors opinion, therefore, is that the Kingdom is not futuristic but has been in existence since that time!

So far, of the illustration’s five jigsaw pieces we have a sequence of four, viz:

  1. first of 2 posts published a fortnight ago today in between posts on my testimony into which I insert Matt 11:12 referring to a book influential to my walk, especially as post refers to ‘2:12’ (which related to a validation aspect of my personal testimony),
  2. second post on 2017 as year of breakthrough, this time for the United Kingdom,
  3. A week later whilst blogging on item 1, my bible falls open at the verse’s notes,
  4. Today I find R.J. Dawson’s prophetic picture relating to Micah 2:12-13.

In Part 2 we consider the fifth piece, but which preceded the fourth and like it and the first came from over ‘the Pond’ – seizing God-given opportunities.

Testimony revisited in response to prophetic word

Please note that the main menu hub featuring the short version of my testimony is now entitled “Am FREE!” True Story.

The previous version (A Life-changing Dream) covered the basics. This new page now covers the full story of my encounter with the Lord and journey out of satanic bondage. It has been augmented to clarify some details, plus a list of books which greatly helped me.

At the start of last month I was blessed with a personal word during a mentoring day and which said I should let young people know how I came to belief in Jesus. It confirmed what was already on my mind and this double=pronged notion started to come to fruition in the first week of April by my responding to a visitor’s discussions with the essential aspects of my testimony.

As stated in 2017 Year of the Breakthrough for the UK, that same directive was reiterated at last week’s Kingdom Glory & Power conference in Southampton. Speaking under the Holy Spirit’s unction, Blaine Cook spoke about introducing ‘millennials’ to the Lord through our own personal stories. So I realised the need to revisit and republish my story.

I trust you will be sufficiently interested to check through the new page and perhaps take time to read through the several parts of this testimony to the Lord’s glory.

May you be mightily blessed.

Today’s ‘God-incidental’ Lion Bite on ‘New Boldness’!

This morning’s intention for getting back into blogging after a short break by following up on last Thursday’s two ‘quickies’ on 2017 as a ‘Year of Breakthrough’, has similarly been met with a clear confirmation through today’s Lion Bite which was in my in-tray. I can confirm its personal accuracy:

NEW BOLDNESS FOR WHAT YOU’VE BEEN GIFTED FOR

It is time once again to be one who demonstrates the power of God by your bold actions. Don’t be afraid: God isn’t going to ask of you what He hasn’t gifted or given you grace for. But you will have to begin to push yourself forward out of the comfortable places that you have settled back into.

Some of you are simply going to have to speak a word of truth against a situation where before you might have remained a silent observer. Others will have to act with a miraculous demonstration of God’s goodness and love, where before you would have simply prayed and hoped that something wonderful might have fallen from heaven and into your lap. Some of you who were recently concerned with profit and gain are going to have to take a hit while you realign to a more just and righteous business plan. Leaders who want to truly see breakthrough are going to have to stop some things, lose some things and upset some lovers-of-the-status-quo, so that you and your people can get back on track with the original vision that God gave you.

Don’t try and make the turnaround all at once, unless that is what God is asking you to do. Instead, take each moment and each decision to the Holy Spirit. Ask Him, and listen to His answer twice. The first time you will hear the answer your soul wants you to hear, the second time you will hear Him speak. Before long you will be hearing Him first time before you even begin to ask the question!

2 Corinthians 3:11-12
And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

[Republished with the kind permission of Glasgow Prophetic Centre.]

2017: Year of the Breakthrough – and John 17

Am taking an hour online whilst continuing a week away and leading into another long Bank holiday weekend, only to note this paper from Apostolic Council of Elders has been sitting unpublished in my drafts folder since January!  Its reference to John 17 is personally noteworthy in view of what the Lord gave me on it to start Good Friday (yet to share). Therefore, references to this profound personal prayer of Jesus during a local church weekend followed by highly inspirational Kingdom Glory and Power 2017 event  with Dr Randy Clark in Southampton were bound to be poignant.

This was published on Generals International and comes courtesy UK Prophetic Words
There are sections in this Word for many different nations including the UK. Note these meetings took place November 14–16, 2016, and some events have already happened.

The opening verse is directly related to Mathew 11:12 on Jesus saying “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force”, according to David Bivin and Roy Blizzard in their ‘Understanding The Difficult Words of Jesus’ (1983 page 123!). HA, on checking its NKJV my Bible opens right at the notes on that very verse: ‘Taking It by Force’!  The inescapable conclusion of such ‘serendipity’ is: the ‘Author of the Bible’ is pointing His finger at both related verses! ..:

 APOSTOLIC COUNCIL OF PROPHETIC ELDERS WORD OF THE LORD FOR 2017 THE YEAR OF THE BREAKTHROUGH

2017: The Breakthrough Year

“The One who breaks open will come up before them; they will break out. Pass through the gate, And go out by it; their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head.”
Micah 2:13 (NKJV)

The Symbolism of the Number 17

The number 17 in scripture symbolizes “overcoming the enemy” and “complete victory.”

God overcame the sins of rebellious humans when He began to flood the earth and rested on the 17th day of the Hebrew month. Noah’s ark and its eight passengers rested on the mountains of Ararat on the 17th day of the seventh month of the religious year (Tishrei), right in the middle of God’s Holy period known as the Feast of Tabernacles.

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is in the seventh month (Tishri) and on the tenth day of the Hebraic calendar. This day calls for the turning from our sins through repentance that brings us to victory.

It is the time for the breakthrough to victory.

There will be a significant increase in miracles and signs and wonders. The anointing will be so strong that it will break significant and long-standing strongholds that have plagued people’s lives.

“It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” Isaiah 10:27 (NKJV)

For the Lord says, “My people are entering into an overcoming season that will produce great breakthroughs. For the enemy has come in like a flood, but I, the Lord, am releasing great victories. I will stem the tide of violence. I will bring peace to the land. I will bring an awakening! I will release revival!” Continue reading

AB-solute proof, the blood that speaks

‘Coincidentally’ amusing that after I’d prepared the previous post on the Shroud of Turin for publication Resurrection Sunday, Joanne in the antipodes (the farthest side of the globe to me) publishes this on Good Friday…

Jo-Blogs's avatarRed Sky in the morning

ab-negative-rarest-blood-typeDid you know there is proof for the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ?  We even know his blood type, from the cloth wrapped around his head. 

The cloth, called the ‘Sudarium’ is kept in a Cathedral in Oviedo, Spain.   And here’s something from the evidence room:  The blood stains match those on the Turin shroud. 

Also, blood tests done on both the Sudarium and the Shroud confirmed that the blood stains on both cloths were of the same blood type: AB.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudarium_of_Oviedo

AB blood is extremely rare.  You may not know, but there is a special need for this blood.  AB Plasma is universal and can be used for all patients regardless of their blood type.

In Exodus 12:13 which speaks of the Passover lamb, it says “The blood shall be a sign for you.”  Not only is the lamb’s blood a sign, Christ’s blood speaks a

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HE IS RISEN! Surprising scientific facts of Jesus’ burial shroud

In preparation for the holy-days’ weekend Nina creates a tableau for contemplating Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. She’s inspired about what items to collect and arrange, usually including a rock with a central hole eroded by the sea and which we found on a beach. It serves as both the ‘skull’ and garden tomb of Golgotha. For example, the above display has a scarf as a ‘river of life’ flowing out of the empty cave/tomb below the cross. (In 2012 it gave an insight that I’ll share below.)

A slightly different display is set up each Maunday Thursday, the night of which Jesus and the twelve leading disciples ate Passover Seder early (see video explanation). Following the meal, one disciple betrayed Him by leading Temple guards to capture Him at night for trial by a ‘kangaroo’ court of Jewish leaders.  It was a foregone conclusion that they would demand authorisation of His death from Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect, or governor, of Judea.

If you’re unfamiliar with this true story and how it led to Jesus’ gruesome torture, death and burial followed by his amazing bodily resurrection and appearance to His disciples, read doctor Luke’s investigative account and the personal account of Jesus’ closest disciple John. (Later, a Jewish leader violently opposed to them but who encountered Jesus en-route to Damascus would write He was seen simultaneously by over 500 – 1 Cor 15:6)

A BIT OF THEOLOGY

Jesus Christ died so that each of us may be forgiven for our sins. As a result of this new status, we now have direct personal access to God. As the Son of God, He suffered on our behalf as our ‘scapegoat’.  That is, Jesus took the place of death that we deserved because of our sinfulness, for the shedding of a sinless one’s blood was the only way our status could be changed for us to gain personal salvation. Apostle Paul put it thus to the Romans:

8But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:8-11, NIV, see whole chapter.)

Now, when I was a new Christian I found that rather hard to understand – but it works! The theological term is ‘atonement’, or ‘substitutionary atonement’.  In bringing forgive-ness to the guilty, however, this can cause deep problems for those who’ve been the victim of crimes. After all, why should a killer find forgiveness by God? And what about the victim’s families, or the victim of abuse? They find it very hard if well-nigh impossible to forgive.

In 2012 I heard a Portsmouth prison chaplain address this issue with a concept taken from the criminal justice system: restorative justice. This involves active dialogue between victim and offender, plus reparation.  And it has a sound basis in  theology. How?

Jesus was a guiltless victim, directly of those who wanted Him killed, and indirectly of everyone’s ‘fallen state’ of sinfulness, which could only be rectified by His death.

And Almighty God, the Father, is a victim too. How? He’s victim of humanity’s rebellion against Him. For example and especially over the way religious leaders murdered His son – how they seethed with rage when Jesus denounced them! (read Luke 20:9-19).  So, every victim can find an identity and affinity in both God and Jesus Christ in their situation. Hence, they can receive God’s own ability to forgive because He will help them choose to forgive those who’ve harmed them. [Lack of forgiveness may be the only thing that hampers God – see Matt 6:14-15]

A TABLEAU IN TIME

During contemplation upon the tableau illustrated above, an insight dropped into mind that the Resurrection created a distinct point in the flow of, or perhaps even a change in, time itself. That is, the now termed ‘common era’ calendar is the medieval Christian one that counts years from the approximate birth of Christ as ‘anno Domini’. But in fact, a more powerful one would be the point at which things in heaven changed and thus affected our lives on earth and its ultimate role in God’s scheme of creation. This took place at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, His revival to life from death itself.

That such a concept may be valid can be found in the discoveries about the material of ‘The Shroud of Turin’, the shroud in which Jesus was thought to have been carried and covered during His interment. It is of most astounding significance when examined from the view-point of modern physics.

Putting the supra-natural aspect aside for the moment, that unique, most singular event could have naturally happened by means of a ‘singularity’ (a theoretical gravitational effect associated with ‘black holes’, eg. as may have been the starting point of the creation of the universe, or ‘Big Bang’).

Don’t take my word for this but consider that of Dame Isabel Piczek (dec’d 2016), famous as a monumental artist and award-winning figurative draughtswoman. Her highly detailed analysis of theories about how the image on the shroud was formed is authoritative, as in the first of several detailed articles here.

Also, as a physicist who may have considered implications from a quantum mechanics standpoint, her conclusions about how the image was formed are most intriguing: it seems that the image of Jesus can only have been created by its hovering equidistantly above and below his reclining bent corpse. Furthermore, this necessitated the body’s levitation – perhaps not an impossible feat during the moment of the Resurrection power-blast?  After all, the disciples had witnessed Jesus walking on water and were yet to see His levitating into the clouds!

Dame Isabel succinctly summarises:

We have a piece of cloth and it leads us to a mysterious gate which opens for us, and it lets us see a completely different world, an extraordinary world with extraordinary laws.

Consider these claims by reading those articles and watching this 19 minute of extracts from the DVD The Fabric of Time (with its own lead-in trailer). There’s also a discussion of her scientific opinion at In Case You Missed Isabel Piczek’s Wonderful Paper.

‘Coincidentally”, just after having read the last link and revised the preceding references to science (post published 5 years ago), I’m alerted to theoretical physicist Mehki’s new post on ‘black holes’ and ‘event horizons’ (see Looking to the Horizon). The discussion thread has a valuable contribution from ‘physicalrealityblog’ that’s pertinent to the Shroud site’s discussion of Dame Isabel’s analysis and indirectly reconnects it back into quantum physics!

PS. ‘Coincidentally’ amusing that bloggers ‘hidden’ on opposite sides of the world (Britain and New Zealand) were preparing items on the fabrics that Jesus Christ was buried with – the full-body shroud and the head linen – in Joseph of Arimathea’s private tomb. My post updated on Wed 12 was scheduled on Thurs 13th for auto-publication Sun 16 April. On Good Friday 14 April Joanne Rolston published news of the ‘Sudarium’ (see next post).

PPS (4 Sept’17) Read about bizarre anomalies in scientific instruments placed on the slab of stone in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre said to be have been where Jesus’ body lay: Scientists Who Opened Christ’s Tomb Detect Mysterious Readings That Support Shroud Theory

Link: The Shroud of Turin website

Triple validation of reality of my life-changing Visitation

A little time was needed to gain a fuller understanding of that awesome Visitation – the absolute holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ in contrast to my personal sinful nature. No wonder I expected to die and was convicted of my sin!

That encounter used two very personal aspects of my life to grab my attention, thereby validating the experience as real, not an imaginary one. Even more amazingly, both validations are directly related to the 1st and 2nd Advents!  Thus, they couldn’t fail to enhance my interest in End-Times and which had been launched a few years earlier by The Invisible Hand (described herein).

The First Advent was the time when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea about two thousand years ago. Hence, the four weeks leading into Christmas are designated within the church calendar as Advent, and which start the church year.

The Second Advent is coming soon and is expected to begin in the city of Jerusalem.

FIRST VALIDATION

I inwardly ‘knew’ the heavenly visitor was indeed Jesus, and that the impressive action was a foretaste of his promised return, when He will come in all His power and glory.

The event reminded me of my favourite picture in mother’s Missal, or service book of the Roman Mass.  This gave the content of every Sunday service throughout the year with a diagram symbolising the theme for each service.  As a boy keen on astronomy I’d been fascinated by the picture for First Sunday in Advent. This depicted Jesus standing on the clouds over a burning earth in the midst of sun, moon and falling stars, indicative of events before his Second Advent!

The confirmation referred to above came almost as unusually. On a healing retreat years later, a minister told me God would show me something after lunch. Indeed, after lunch a stranger who’d been seated at my table confided that the Lord told her to show me something she greatly treasured.

christinclouds-lrgIt was a photo taken, it was claimed, from an aircraft over a thunderstorm. When developed, the photo bore an image of Jesus Christ, as though standing within clouds. However, the facial features were hazy, not defined. It was exactly like Jesus in my dream because I’d not seen His face.  (I recall dark, hazy clouds at the foot of the image. This one is published by Bible Probe.)

Upon seeing this photo my legs gave way – I couldn’t stand but fell into a nearby chair! My companion said I went so white she thought I was going to faint or fall.

Yet, just how did a stranger know to show me this photo?  I’d not divulged such a personal dream – she simply said, “It’s the Lord’s doing”.

SECOND VALIDATION

I was puzzled over the closing element of the dream-event, that is:  upon my reaching towards Jesus’ feet to grasp his robe, it turned into the branch of a Christmas tree!  So, when I tugged, a Christmas tree toppled over and its fairy fell off and onto the floor.

Weird?  Not really, because that spot by the window was where the family Christmas tree used to be erected. It was a corner closely associated with Christmas.

As a devout Catholic, my mother had told me about Jesus from an early age. When I painted pictures I would put a blue stripe at the top of outdoor scenes to represent heaven, as children did. But I’d also draw a Christmas tree in heaven as being Jesus.

Why? Not only had I associated all the wonder of Christmas with his birthday but I also heard an actor  on TV mention his name whilst looking at a small fir-tree. So in my childish way I took the actor at his word and would draw Jesus as a Christmas tree.  Hence, the dream changed him to match that image.

At its close, therefore, the dream-event signified the time had come to put away not only childish misconceptions but also all false teachings and replace them with absolute truth – the one who is the Truth in person.

Truly, the most fantastic Christmas present ever – one that’s daily an ever-present encouragement and help in every time of need, no matter how dire. Thank you Lord.

These events started in 1989 and culminated in 1995 with its prime confirmation. Yet more was to come!  Sixteen years later upon revisiting this story for the purposes of this blog, I was surprised by a couple more insights that dropped unbidden into mind. One was tantalising: could the street number of my childhood home (212 – or “two twelve” as we’d say) possibly be significant in pointing toward the coming year? That is, to 2012!  (or, ‘two : no-number : twelve’).

Could that notion be true?  Such musing would be confirmed in a fascinating numerical manner at 2012’s first Christian conference we were to attend…Upon our arrival at the venue in Torquay I was curious about distance driven from home. The car’s odometer was ‘212‘ miles!

THIRD VALIDATION

Once again, timing proves crucial in presenting another objective confirmation!  Again, had I not been writing about the visitation I would have missed the crucial linkage!

Whilst writing instalments of My Journey Into Freedom (Sept-Oct 2013) I inserted a report on something pertinent that happened at that time in the USA, as recounted in the previous post. This came as a ‘new revelatory word’ from the Lord to Revd John Kilpatrick and began at 2:22am. This too, is very interesting on two counts. Numerically, because my birthday falls on a 22nd. Orally, because that word is directly relevant to my dream visitation in referring to the angelic host as well as in closing with Luke 21:28, namely:

“But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.”

My mother’s Missal for the First Sunday of Advent is shown below and notice how the scripture on page 69 links into my personal visitation and what pastor John brought.

[Click to enlarge]

1stSundayAdvent

It’s amusing that the number of hits on this blog passed the 212,000 mark within days of the 4th anniversary of its launch on 21st November 2015.

So a huge thank you goes to every subscriber and regular reader, as well as all visitors.

Find out what happened after the encounter upon my testing claims of checking out the Bible direct with its Author – His answers stunned me!! (next).

Note: originally published 12 December 2011 as ‘3 Validations Point to 2012-13: Part 3 of ‘Death or Destiny?’.

[RETURN to overview: “Am FREE!”]

Further reading:

Prophetic Scripture Update #3: Gog-Magog coalition and Middle-East alliance

So annoying yet interesting that my first draft of this post accidentally got published as I wrote its title. I wanted to jot a few notes before going out for a few hours, but I noticed something weird after having done the opening paragraph. Somehow it had already got published as just a title! So I updated it briefly 15 minutes after publication with what I’d done and an apology for anyone responding to the email notification.

BUT even more weird was what came next upon checking the morning news from Israel before going out. I kid you not – ‘Fortunately’, I’d printed a hardcopy for reading upon return because the website’s page went blank, then text/image placements and bits of text and coding appeared, and then it got completely scrambled. So I took a screen shot:

Debkafile home page at 10:10 GMT today.

The page I wanted had only just been broadcast 5 minutes beforehand (09:57 BST) and is about an alternative alliance to ‘Gog-Magog’ and which is meeting tomorrow (Wed)! More of that later…but nothing as weird as this has happened since two incidents covering Iran whilst blogging!

EZEKIEL: GOG and MAGOG

After publishing #2 on Gog-Magog Tensions On The Golan within a similar 1/2 hour time-frame to this morning I added a couple of paragraphs plus further reading for any readers unfamiliar with Ezekiel’s account in chapter 38 of his prophetic scroll. Whilst doing so I considered the current status of what I’d termed the ‘Ezekiel alliance’ in my pre-blog and early blogging days. The term is a correct description but I now prefer ‘coalition’ in view of the normally inferred meaning of a geopolitical alliance as being one in which the UK is an active member. So I’ll now repeat and expand a little upon that extra material:

The Gog and Magog war against Israel is described in Ezekiel 38 and 39. The prophet received a word from the Lord to ‘set his face’ against Gog (‘prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal’); ie leader of a coalition of nations north of Israel comprising Persia/Iran, Libya (‘Put’), Ethiopia (‘Cush’), ‘Asia Minor’ (Gomer and Togarmah).

Most Bible scholars regard ‘Rosh’ and ‘Gog’ as coming from the land between and north of the Black and Caspian Seas. ie modern Russia. The Lord has a purpose for this battle, namely:

“So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel. I will not let them profane My name anymore – Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” (Ezek 38:7 NKJV)

This battle also features in Revelation 20:7-10 as precursor to the battle of Armageddon and satan’s doom in the fiery lake.

UPDATES – Libya, Russia & Iran

The build-up of the coalition of the main, leading nations led by a superpower has gained momentum in starting to mirror the composition of peoples prophesied by Ezekiel. I was puzzled about the inclusion of Libya in view of its break-up after Gadaffi.  In the days of my emails on End-times and early blogging it was part of the ‘Ezekiel alliance’, but now?

My doubts were soon alleviated because a few days later I spotted this headline ‘Russian ties to Libyan Warlord ‘undeniable’, says US general’.  The article opens: ‘Russia has deployed troops to Egypt amid a strengthening of ties between Moscow and General Khalifa Haftar, the warlord who controls much of the eastern part of Libya, a US general said on Friday. 

‘Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the commander of U.S. Africa Command, said the link between Russia and General Haftar, the head of a group called the Libyan National Army, is “undeniable”.  “They are on the ground. They are trying to influence the action. We watch what they do with great concern”, he told reporters in the Pentagon on Friday…’

Eastern Libya was known as biblical ‘Put’. SO, Libya’s back in the Endgame folks!

AND, this afternoon comes this news: Putin meets Iran’s Rouhani as ties deepenRussian president tells his Iranian counterpart the two countries “work very effectively, practically on all fronts in international action and the resolution of major and very grave international problems”!  Note that upon returning to Iran he announced the building of a railroad from Iran to the Mediterranean coast via Iraq and Syria.

ARAB SUMMIT – alliance with Israel

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman with President Trump

In view of the preceding, Debkfile’s ‘exclusive report’ High hopes of Arab summit OK for Israel peace step is exceptionally informative:

‘If the Arab summit opening in Amman Wednesday, March 9 meets the expectations of Washington and Jerusalem, the session will ratify a pivotal initiative for promoting an historic peace process between the Arab world and Israel. This effort, which matured through five months of mostly secret diplomacy, was launched by Donald Trump in November, shortly after he was elected US President.

‘The official Arab summit agenda covers the disastrous war crises preying on the Arab world in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, as well as economic issues. But the rulers will also quietly discuss off-stage a proposal brought by Saudi King Salman and Egyptian President Abdel-Fatteh El-Sisi to embark on steps destined to lead to peaceful relations between the moderate Arab regimes and Israel and exponentially to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Emphases added)

‘Debkafile’s sources in Washington and Jerusalem report exclusively that President Trump and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman crafted this proposal at the White House on March 14, during the prince’s trip to Washington. It was the high point of their talks, although they also aired and reached agreement on the war crises in Syria and Yemen, as well as America’s next steps against Iran on both those fronts and in the Gulf region…

‘The text they agreed at this White House encounter calls for three steps to be launched without delay for promoting progress towards a historic accommodation between the Arab world and the Jewish state

‘…Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas furiously rejected the Saudi peace initiative when it was presented to him in Cairo by President El-Sisi in Cairo on March 20.

(Click above title to read this informative article in full).

Thus we are witnessing the formation of two geopolitically and religiously divergent camps (Sunni and Shiite muslims) in the Middle-East – and we know what the Living Lord God Almighty, the Holy One of Israel has forewarned and foretold about one coalition in particular…

Further Reading:

NB: Today’s most popular post – ‘The Day of The Lord is here!’

Upon returning to my desk to catch up with the blog I’m AMAZED to note what’s shown as the top of today’s Popular Posts on this blog is what I’d ever so briefly thought about over the weekend. That post was a re-publication on 17 October 2015 from a Facebook under my title, Dr Maurice Sklar Vision: “Tell Them All: The Day Of The Lord Is Upon You Now!”

As well as having been given a prophetic word re. Israel (on war, times of the Gentiles) during his visit to Jerusalem for Sukkot in 2015 (Feast of Tabernacles), this Messianic violinist reported a personal experience similar to the vision in chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation, and which may be read in the above link.

Now it just so happens that during last Thursday’s blog-blast I took time out to relax on my browser and was nudged to check out Maurice Sklar’s facebook. I wondered if he’d had any new prophetical insights and found that on Monday he’d shared an unpublished prophetic vision from over 50 years ago. It’s one that may have been, or is about to be, fulfilled in – and explain! – the upheaval America is now going through!

Also, by ‘serendipity’, I wandered somewhere else I’ve not been for months and browsed through ‘Sultan Knish‘, aka renowned investigative journalist/blogger Daniel Greenfield. That very same Monday he’d published a penetrating insight into some character differences in Trump vs. Obama; in which the first strikes ‘at the wizard behind the curtain’, the second’s ‘dirty tricks have been dragged out from behind the curtain. This follows Daniel’s recent Obama’s Third Term Is Here, on his network being ‘an illegal shadow government’!

Combined, they may connect into that unpublished prophecy – and possibly into a dream…

On the very next day, Friday, it again just so happens that Tony in Tuscon revisited a dream of almost three years ago in which he was drawn to looking behind a curtain! (See Terrorism in America, A Dream Revisited.)  And so I put my friend in the picture…

In the next post we’ll read that unpublished prophecy of 1963….