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Before the Hour of Darkness when no longer you shall see... Come to Me, My children, 'tis the Lord Himself who's pleading! Just think of it, My children, the Lord Himself entreating! "Imagine such a thing! God's very Holy Son... Weeping o'er His children, calling them to come. Imagine, oh My children! The Lord Himself so humble.. Imagine, oh My children! How dare you still to grumble? "He yearns to save you from the Wrath...the Dreadful Judgment Day. See how silent all the earth...the Judgment's on the way. Look, My helpless children! Look at the awful sight! See the terrible army....see its awful might!� ������� "Naught can stay its coming...naught can change its path. See it fast approaching! See its dreadful wrath! "Put aside your seed...for no longer shall you sow. Put aside your reaper...for no longer shall crops grow. Put aside your cisterns...for no longer shall it rain. Put aside your winnows...for no more shall grow the grain. "Listen! Hear the rumble? There is no where left to go! Oh how I yearn to save you...why do you move so slow? Let fear tear at your hearts! There's nothing you can do! Perhaps you'll yet repent...that I may yet save you. "Run swiftly now, My children! Leave behind your crops! Run swiftly now, My children! Stop not to feed your flocks! Run swiftly now, My children, Let the grapes dry on the vine! Run swiftly now, My children! How I yearn to call you Mine. "Let Me pluck you from its jaws, its jaws of awful power. Let Me spare you, children, from this dreadful hour. 'Twill serve no purpose, children, to cover up your ears. Twill serve no purpose, children, naught shall calm your fears. "There's only One to help you...there is no where to hide. I call, I call, My children, come quickly to My side. Come stand with Me, My children, I will hold you fast... Until the Ravenous Judgment is satisfied at last." The Holy Spirit spoke to me, "Wait to hear My will and then obey. At all cost, obey. Take up your pen and write these words." In the stillness of the night, I took up my pen and waited. I wrote these words.. Upon completion of the book, Amen, the Spirit put it into the heart of him who was called from the foundations of the world to proclaim the words to all the people of the earth. The Seed was first planted in a fertile soil, but the tares of the world grew round about and seemed to choke the ripening wheat which had sprung from the seed. But it was the Father's good pleasure to leave the wheat and the tares growing side by side until the appointed hour. The wheat grew until it stood firm and strong, but could not be seen by the mortal eye, for the tares had grown so tall as to obscure the golden wheat. I heard the voice of the Lord, "With My mighty right hand I shall pull up the tares, exposing the full-grained head of wheat for all to see. I shall pluck the ripened grain and beat it into flour, grinding it until it is as fine as dust. Than I shall gather it in My hand and scatter it upon all the earth. I shall sift it gently over all the nations, and it shall be as food to their starving souls, and they shall eat their fill. "When they have been filled, they shall be strengthened and shall rise as a mighty lion rousing from his sleep. His jaws shall be as powerful as the jaws of the mightiest crocodile on earth, and he shall devour all that stands in his way. He shall sweep over all the lands as a raging flood, destroying everything in his path. When the destruction is complete, he shall turn to survey the barren lands. He shall rise in triumph, raising his awesome voice in satisfaction. "'Who can withstand my might', he shall cry...but silence will be his reply. "Then anger shall fill his heart, for there will be no one to acknowledge his greatness. Then My mighty voice from heaven shall reply, 'I have heard your voice! WHERE ARE MY PEOPLE?' I watched what is soon to be. I saw the one who is like the lion rear up on his hind feet and laugh in the face of God! At the arrogance of the lion, my heart felt faint and I trembled at the boldness of one who would dare to defy the God of heaven. I saw the Lord raise His mighty right arm and with one powerful stroke, He struck down the beast and he lay as dead. But he was not dead. He was spared that he might look upon what he had done and gnaw his tongue in anguish. His might was gone. As one who in the prime of life sets out to conquer but is suddenly struck down, so was the lion as all strength drained from his body. Upon completion of the book, Amen, I was brought to one who spoke to me. When he was finished speaking, I wept a very long time. "Why am I weeping so?" I asked the Lord. "The Spirit within knows the time is at hand and it is the Spirit who weeps." "I did not know the Spirit could weep!" I cried. "This knowledge brings great sadness to my heart." "But it is not as terrible as the weeping that shall cover the earth," said the Lord. "For there shall be great weeping and wailing throughout all the lands. The people shall beg for mercy, but there will be no one to rescue them. Their cries shall fill the air as the fluttering wings of tens of thousands of birds and the sound of their cries shall grow and grow, adding to the terrible fear that shall fill their hearts. "If the people turn to the north, the wailing will be there. If they turn to the south, the wailing will be there. If they turn to the west, the wailing will be there. If they turn to the east, the wailing will be there. They shall have nowhere to go. They shall not be able to bear the sound that will cover the earth. They shall cover their ears, but the wailing will be there. They shall beg for mercy, but the wailing will be there. They shall plead for death, but the wailing will be there. "In the stillness of the night, they did not heed My voice, so it shall be silent in this Day. They will cry out for Me to answer, but I shall not answer.� � "My people shall stand in terror as well, for the wailing will be terrible to hear and they shall tremble." I watched the unfolding of the vision. Gradually, very gradually the sound subsides and an awful silence reigns over the earth. The silence is more terrifying than the wailing and fear grips every heart. The people stand motionless, as though they fear that their very breath will bring on the wailing once more. The entire world waits in absolute silence. Never before has it been gripped by such fear. Gradually, very gradually, a sound is heard in the distance. It is the sound of horses' hooves. The sound grows louder, then louder still as an enormous-size army arrives in their midst. The Lord is seated on His massive white steed and anger flares from His eyes. In His right hand, He is holding high His avenging sword to cut down the arrogant nations, the nations that rose like the mighty lion. The Lord's people are standing by, silently watching and waiting. Understanding creeps into their hearts and they cry, "We are saved!" The Lord starts furiously wielding His sword to the left and to the right, sparing no one, except His people. All are cut down by His terrible swift sword. When the Lord has completed His flight across the face of the earth, He stops and turns around. He faces His people who are standing huddled together at the place where He left them. "My anger is not yet appeased," He says to them.� They wait and watch His awful countenance. "Who is like Him?" they whisper among themselves. One man steps meekly forward to approach the Lord. Another steps forward, then another until they all come crowding about Him cautiously for they are uncertain. The Lord says to them, "Alas, you also must be judged for your hearts were not always with Me." "We did not know....." the people whisper. "You did not CARE," He answers. "You had no excuse, for My strength was all about you, but you did not look. The door that opens into My Knowledge stood always before you, but you did not knock. I stood waiting patiently, but you did not seek Me. Your hearts were set on your own ways and you did not care for Mine. My heart was filled with yearning, but you did not care. My mercy was like a covering and you did not care. My tears flowed like a river and you did not care." The people knew He spoke the truth and hung their heads in shame. "Is it too late?" they whisper to the Lord. "Have I not spared you thus far?" He answers. "Yes," they replied, "But there is no gentleness in Your face." "There is no gentleness in Judgment. It is only after My anger has been appeased that you shall see My gentleness once more. It is only after your own desires are purged from your hearts that you shall see My mercy once more. Never again must there be one desire that is not the same as My desire. When that has been accomplished, there will be nothing more to judge. The Judgment will be complete. Let the Judgment begin." I saw a great figure of darkness. I heard his name. He was called Lucifer. The heavens opened up and a mighty chariot sped through the gate. The chariot was filled with the seven eyes of the Spirit and they could see all that was taking place upon the earth. The chariot pulled alongside me and I was told to climb in. Far up in the skies was the crystal foundation separating Time from Timelessness. We sped upward until we were just below the crystal but not touching it. A powerful angel was driving the chariot and I asked him what his name was. He said his name was Michael. We sped over all the earth and I saw the terrible figure of darkness, who was called Lucifer. He was holding all the nations of the earth tightly in his grasp. Suddenly a swift bolt of lightning sped through the skies, thrusting deeply into the nations held in Lucifer's grasp. Pride was plucked from his hand, was consumed in an instant and Pride was no more. � �Lucifer clutched the nations more tightly as though to stay the Judgment, but a second bolt sped through the skies and plucked Arrogance from his hand.. It was consumed in a flash and Arrogance was no more.� Yet more tightly did he clutch them to his breast, but a third bolt plucked Greed from his hand, was consumed in a flash and was no more. A fourth bolt plucked the lust of the nations from his hand, consumed it in a flash and Lust was no more. A fifth bolt plucked all those within the nations who had reviled God's people. They were consumed in a flash and were no more. Lucifer clutched frantically at what remained, holding it tightly to his breast. His hands were like the talons of an eagle and so hard did he press the nations, they moaned in pain. A horrible hiss came forth from his lips. The people heard it all over the land and they shuddered.� The last and final bolt of lightning sped forth with terrible vengeance, plucked what remained in his hand and consumed it in an instant.� � Lucifer's hands were empty. Never again would the nations mock the Holy Name of God. Then did the Lord come with mighty strides to survey the silent earth. He stood over the land and looked down upon His people, who alone remained. "The Judgment is not yet complete," He said. His people trembled for His might was awesome to behold. They fell upon their faces and waited. They feared His terrible swift sword of vengeance and they thought that if their Lord remained in His anger, their hopes would be gone. A gentle breeze stirred above their heads. Slowly they lifted their faces. A gentleness settled over the land. They saw healing gradually come upon the earth and made so brave as to glance up at the Lord. They watched as the anger faded from His countenance and they took heart. But still His face was stern. "You have not always done well in the sight of the Father, for you, too, have mocked His prophets that He has sent among you to warn of this terrible day. You did not take their words to your hearts as you should have and turn from the ways of the world. Only a remnant has remained faithful. He then called all of His prophets, from the first to the last and said to them,� "What say you? Shall vengeance be wrought upon My people for turning away from the voices that you had raised throughout the lands?" The prophets stood before the people of the Lord. The people hung their heads, waiting. The prophets glanced from one to the other and with one voice answered the Lord,� "We wish mercy for Your people, Lord. Enough misery. Enough fear. Enough death. Let the healing begin."� � And the healing began. The Lord looked upon His people and said, "Wait here. I shall return shortly." He soon reappeared and His garments of vengeance had been replaced by a shepherd's cloak. Quietly He gathered His little flock around Him and took them to a place of safety. He spoke to them,"Just as I have replaced My garment of vengeance with the humble threads of a shepherd's cloak, so must you replace your garments of pride and arrogance with robes of humility and meekness. There must be no pride or arrogance found in My Holy Temple ever again." The Lord's people removed their garments of pride and arrogance and donned the robes of humility and meekness and stood before the Lord. He led them to a green pasture and there in its midst, stood the Temple. At a distance stood a lofty mountain. The Lord bade His people to wait in the pasture and walked up the Holy Mountain. Moses and Elijah were standing there. Moses was holding the tablet with the inscription "Law" written on it. Elijah was holding the tablet with the inscription "Grace" written on it. The two tablets stirred a great conflict in the hearts of men. The tablet of Law caused a restless rebellion for law demanded perfect obedience. The tablet of Grace stirred an unquenchable greed , for grace gave freely asking nothing in return. Moses handed the tablet of Law to the Lord and He took it to Himself. Elijah handed the tablet of Grace to the Lord and He took it to Himself. The Lord took the two tablets into His being and the Grace swallowed up the Law so that only the Grace remained. The Lord returned to the pasture where His people were waiting.� � "What had been begun long ages past shall now be completed. It is time to complete My Temple. The Foundation had been laid from before the foundation of the world. The walls have been built through many ages of time. The pillars shall now be set in place. The pillars are 'Gentleness, 'Faithfulness', 'Reverence', 'Goodness', 'Perseverance' and 'Godliness'. He looked at His Bride and on her thigh was written 'Virtue'. 'No longer shall My Bride run to and fro filled with great restlessness. No longer will she desire her wayward ways. Her one desire will be to remain by My side, My faithful Bride forever. She will be filled with joy, not like the joy of the world with its boisterous laughter, but a deep, abiding joy that shall never know sorrow. Her behavior shall be seemly and comely and peace shall be her companion. Nothing shall ever again disturb her and she shall live her days in calm serenity. Nothing shall ever again enter My Holy Mountain to disrupt the love and peace and joy of My Kingdom." The Lord said, "I hear the voices of My prophets who have gone before saying, 'Why do they not hear us, Lord? We are weary of waiting...always waiting and the people do not care. Why do You yet delay, Lord'?" "Because I have a remnant," He replied, "but I shall hold back My anger no more. One more time I shall speak No longer shall I tarry." The Holy Spirit said, "Prophesy these words." "Woe, woe to you inhabitants of the earth! You surround yourselves with the luxuries of the world and do not see that they are at an end. How you shall weep as they are snatched from your fattened laps! You shall look about and shall be made to look upon your vanities, your vanities that have no substance. You shall see them as a vapor and clutch at them frantically. But as the mist rises from the land with the rising of the sun and is no more, shall your vanities be. "Reach! Reach!"� the Lord shall cry and the people will reach. "Can you grasp the wisp of a cloud, you foolish people?" cries the Lord.� "Did you not know that at My Coming all vanities would cease? Why did you not heed the voices of My prophets? I set My words upon their lips and you laughed! You laughed! You did not tremble! "'This cannot be'," you mocked. And My heart filled with anger at your derision. I look upon the faces of My prophets and their eyes are filled with pain. How often their hearts leaped with expectation as they thought in the depths of their hearts, 'Now, now, the people shall listen'. But the people did not listen and the hearts of My prophets were cast down once more. How I weep for them!� "'Lord,' they whisper to Me in the darkness of the night, 'The people do not care and we are so weary. Our words go forth but only the hills tremble.' And I answer My down-cast prophets, 'I shall strip the peoples of their vanities! Do not despair, My prophets, for is not Your Lord mightier than all the nations? They are as a speck that vanishes with the slightest stirring of a breeze compared to your Lord! Gather 'round, My prophets. Gather 'round until My anger is spent!'" And the prophets gather around the Lord. The Lord cries, "Strip the peoples of their strength!" And the peoples are stripped of their strength. "Where are your mocking voices?" And no one mocks. "Where are all your riches?" And no one answers. "Did you think that I would spare you when you spurned My prophets?" And no one answers. The Lord turns to His prophets and says, "All that you have spoken shall come to pass. Do not fear that your voices shall be taunted by those who turned away from your words saying, 'See, see, their words did not come to pass.' They shall come to pass. The prophets ask the Lord, Lord, what of Your remnant?" "They shall be spared for their hearts were right before Me. They trembled and sought My face while there was yet time. Your words were not all in vain. Now, now I shall fulfill all prophecy." The Holy Spirit said, "Prophesy further." "Come," says the Lord. "Come all My prophets. Don your robes of sackcloth and ashes. Come, all My prophets and prophesy with one voice!" "Look!" says the Lord.� "See the one I have chosen to pour My Living Waters on the earth in these last days. See how puffed up is his heart! How very full of vanities he is! You, My prophets, came before him trembling with great hope, but vanity did puff up his heart! Now, turn your backs on him and be silent. He shall come to you and plead with you, but your lips shall be silent. When his heart has been humbled, you shall look upon him but there will be no pity in your hearts. He wanted My prophets to plead with him, but see...he shall plead with My prophets."� � "Look!" says the Lord. "Look upon the Woman of Grace, how she weeps and faints from her toils. No more! No more, Woman of Grace, shall you weep! No more shall you toil in vain! See! I shall fill your larders to overflowing! You shall run and leap like the foal beside his mother! Blessings shall come upon you until you can scarcely take it in! "Look, oh look, My prophets! Look at My church filled to overflowing! They are fat and contented and care not for what you say! They are smug and satisfied and think they are safe. Their lips do praise Me, but look! Look upon their hearts and see how full of maggots and lust they are! They do not care for Me! They care for the glances of men, their painted masks covering the evil within! See! See, My prophets, how I shall strip them of their masks and reveal the greed which consumes them for everyone to see! This must not be! Around their necks do they wear their amulets that say, 'Lord, Lord.' How dare you shame My name! How dare you hide behind My Name while within you are filled with envy and greed and lust! Do you think I cannot see?" cries the Lord. "Look!" says the Lord. "Look upon My Bride. She trembles and tears run down her face, for at last, she has come humbly to My side. Look how her heart yearns to be filled with righteousness! She shall be filled until she can hold no more! Her joy shall be as one who looks to the rising sun and the new day, and sees healing in the air and peace upon the land! "Look! Oh look, My prophets! Look upon the Law! See how stern and rigid it is! It holds no mercy in its hand, for Justice knows no mercy! It shall strike down the law-breakers! It shall avenge the scoffers of the Law! You scoffers, did you think you could break My laws and because of My mercy, still be set free? For this reason, have I set aside My Grace...that My Law might be fulfilled! "Look!" says the Lord. "Look at My humble believer. See how humble is his heart! Silently did he weep that he might believe. Silently did he tuck hope in his heart, waiting for it to grow. See! See how it has sprouted! It has grown into a mighty tree! See how strong and healthy it is! There is no weakness within its branches, no rot within its roots. It is filled with healing, for it has been pruned to remove the dead branches! "Look you! Look, you children of Abraham! Look, you children of the prophets! Do you think because your father was a righteous man that you shall be saved? Do you think because your mother was a virtuous woman that you shall be saved? Yes, yes, because of this, you shall be saved. But puff up not your hearts, clucking your complacent tongues. It is because I have pity on the righteous father that are saved. It is because I cannot bear to look upon the virtuous mother's tears that you are saved. "'Look how righteous is our father,' you cry! And I look and see how righteous is your father. "'Look how virtuous is our mother!' you cry! And I look and see how virtuous is your mother. "Wicked children! Why did you not strive to fill your father's heart with gladness and your mother's heart with joy? Yet I shall spare you, for the righteous father has striven all of his days, and the virtuous mother has pleaded for you all of her days. Go now to your father with chastened hearts and say. 'Father, we are sorry.' And to your mother, 'Forgive us.' And they shall gather you to their breasts and weep tears of great joy. 'Come,' they shall say, 'Come, let us prepare a feast and with grateful hearts, we shall sit down to sup.'" Look! A lion is playing with a lamb! A little child comes and he climbs on the back of the lion pulling on his great mane and laughs! His mother stands watching and she is smiling! Did you ever see such a thing? There is no fear on the Holy Mountain! The lion yawns and rolls on his back. The child tumbles off, jumps up and claps his hands! Listen! Someone is building his house! I hear his hammer and his saw. He stops and surveys his work. His wife comes and lays her hand on his arm. Look! A farmer is gathering his grapes, then carries them to his winepress. He is making his wine. Look! Look over all the land! There is healing and gentleness. A soft breeze stirs the trees and cools the brow of the workman. See...see yonder. The workmen sit in the shade of an oak tree and they murmur of the goodness of the land. The women gather by the stream and watch their children at play. Nothing disturbs the gentleness of the Holy Mountain. The Shepherd strolls through the pasture and all anger is gone from His face. He looks�over His flock and is satisfied. The land prospers. The Shepherd's eye is watchful. No danger must threaten His flock. He is waiting for something. He listens and moves His head to one side. He looks about the healing that settles over the land. Why is He listening? The workmen and the women have heard nothing. But still He waits. He stands. He hears a distant rumble and glances at His flock. They have heard nothing. He makes His way to the gate, lets Himself out quietly and secures the gate behind Him. No one sees Him leave. Outside the gate, an angels is standing there, looks at the Lord and nods his head. He hands the Lord a sword. Quickly, the Lord slips it in His girdle. Another angel arrives leading His white horse. He quietly mounts the steed and indicates the healing land to the angel. The angel understands that no thing must be allowed to enter and nods his comprehension to the Lord. Silently the Lord sets out with determined look on His face. He rides a short distance and sees an army in the distance advancing toward His flock. He stops, alights from His horse, removes His sword and stands quietly waiting. The army approaches and sees the Lord. "There is but one man!" they laugh. They advance steadily toward the Lord. When they reach the Lord, they stop. They glance over at the healing land and whisper among themselves, "Can this be hard?" The Lord stands perfectly still. The head of the army raises his arm and the army surrounds the Lord. Suddenly the Lord raises His sword. The army has vanished! He replaces His sword, mounts His horse and rides back to the gate. The angel opens the gate and the Lord rides through. He throws His sword over the gate, adjusts His robe and walks back to His people. They look at the Lord and smile. He smiles back. The Father looks down and it seems He is about to speak.... "Listen! Do you expect GOD to fall at your feet saying, 'Even though I made you, you are wonderful!" � The animals huddle at the foot of the mountains and tremble. The mighty oaks rustle and tremble. The rocks shudder and tremble. They all look at the man and his arrogance sends a shiver through them. It seems only they behold the might of God. It seems only they are filled with dread and dare not stir. Will God crush the arrogant man so that not a trace remains - as though he had never walked the earth? Will the earth be as silent as a tomb?� All of creation, except man, looks upon God and it seems that He is considering such a thing. The heavens send forth not a sound. All is frozen - except arrogant man. He does not notice the stillness about him - so smug is he! He strides upon the earth barking his orders, expecting all to obey! But the earth does not obey. It is too filled with terror. The arrogant man grows angry and curses the silent earth. He is determined to be master of all and says in his heart, "I shall beat them into submission!" And he takes a dumb animal and beats it unmercifully. But the animal does not obey. "You fool!" cries the man, >i>"Can you not see that I am your master?" But the animal remains motionless. Fury tears at the man and, in a frenzy, beats the poor beast until his strength is gone. Exhausted, the man looks upon the dumb animal and frustration fills his heart. Still he does not understand. He feverishly grabs up his seed and scatters it upon the ground. "Grow!" he cries to the seed. But the seed does not grow. He raises his fist to heaven, "Rain!" he shouts. But the heavens are silent. At last he sits upon the earth and holds his head in his hands. Still he does not understand. He is thinking of how he can make the silent earth obey. He says to himself, "I cannot destroy it, for then there would be nothing to obey my voice. I must think." And he sets to thinking. The earth beneath him rumbles...and fear stirs his heart. The mountains shake and rocks roll down the side. The man looks and shivers. The rivers gather together and plunge swiftly over the earth. The man steps aside and feels weak. Behind him - the animals rear up and rise on their hind legs. Terror grips the man! The river to the front - the animals to the back! Quickly he glances to his left, looking for a way to escape, but the trees twist together and will not let him pass. He is filled with dread. He looks to his right...and there stands an awful angel! In the angel's hand is a flaming sword and he waves it first toward the waters and then toward the beasts. The man dares not pass. He is surrounded. His strength is gone and he falls to his knees. He has looked all around him, but he has not looked up. He hears a whisper from above and raises dull eyes. The fight has gone from him. He kneels there looking dumbly into the skies...all hope gone. What is this? Escape? A shining figure beckons with His finger. The man cannot move. Again, the finger beckons. The man shrugs, "I cannot fly," he sneers. The shining figure drops a ladder. The man rises and places one foot on the ladder. It sways. He waits. Then he places the other foot on the ladder. It sways. He waits. Slowly, slowly, the ladder is pulled upward. And he stands before The Radiant Man. "You saved me!" he cries. "Did I?" asks the Radiant Man. The man is bewildered. "But the waters and the mountains and the animals...." "They were merely obeying Me," says the Radiant Man.�"I told them to rise against you, but not to harm you." "Why?" the man asks. "Because you have some accounting to do," The Radiant Man says. "To destroy you without your acknowledging God would be to die not ever knowing what you have done. That cannot be." "Why? asks the man again.� "Are you so blind?" the Radiant Man shakes His head and says, "Come, come with Me." And the man follows the Radiant Man. "Look," He says to the man. And the man looks. His eyes open wide in wonder. "I cannot believe it!" he cries. He saw a Great Hand pick up a tiny dot of mud. The Hand molded it, smoothed it, then blew upon it. And the dot of mud became a man like himself! The Hand then took the little man, crumbled it in His fingers and it was mud once more. "How can that be?" cries the man. "Are you still so mighty?" says the Radiant Man. "But I'm not like that!" cries the man. "Would you like to yield yourself to the Hand to see if you are not like that?" And the man shrinks back. "Could that be?" he wonders in his heart. "I dare not find out!" "Come with Me again," says the Radiant Man. And the man follows. They come to an enormous crater and the man looks down. It was filled with the winds and the rains and the snows and the seasons. His mouth falls open. "Where did they come from?" he asks in amazement. "You have seen nothing," says the Radiant Man. "Come." They walk further and come upon thousands and thousands of grazing animals and countless birds. "Can you command them what they should eat and what they should not?" asks the Radiant Man. The man stands as dumb. "Come," says the Radiant Man, and they walk beneath the rivers where countless forms of life were teeming. "Can you count their varieties?" He asks. "Come again." They stand atop a mountain and at last the man falls on his face. "I can take no more!" he cries. And he lays there. Slowly, he thinks, "What have I done?" And he cannot move. "Do you want ME to plead with you?" asks the indignant Radiant Man. "You who are nothing but a speck among countless other specks! Oh if you knew how God has held back His wrath, for He is tempted to blow you away like the chaff before the wind! If you knew how He holds back his anger! The dot of clay parading his arrogance before the terrible Face of God! How easily He could destroy you! Tremble now! Tremble and beg for mercy! Even so, you do not deserve to live. Time upon time did God watch you swagger over His earth, your chest puffed out, your defiant eye roving over His creation with contempt and arrogance!� "More than once did He reach out His hand to smite you, but I stayed His vengeful hand. More than once did I hear His cry, 'I cannot bear to look upon the prideful creation!' And I took your place for I could not bear to see the Father suffer so. My heart was broken because of the Father's pain. Did you think it was because of your pain? Your pain was because of your arrogance The Father's pain was because of His broken heart. "How dare you! How dare you curse Him? I, even I, shudder at your arrogance! The angels look one to the other with unbelieving eyes, whispering among themselves, 'How can they not know?' But you do not know! So mighty are you! "My eye surveys all the earth seeking one man, one man who trembles! But no one trembles. 'Ah, God is merciful,' you murmur. 'He will not mind.' But He minds! He minds how you trample one another in your greed! He minds how you boast one to another of your pride! 'Look at me!' you cry. Yes, look at you! I see nothing but dust! Dust scattered over the earth! "I look at the Father and cry, 'Father, I shall make You proud! I shall bring You joy, for I shall obey You. I shall acknowledge Your greatness. I shall walk in knowledge of Your power. Stay, stay Your wrathful anger. Look! I shall gather a remnant who shall listen to My voice. I shall prune them and gather them and bring them to You as on offering.' And God held back His wrath. Yes, He held back His wrath because of Me, His only Son who alone yearned to fill the Father's heart with delight. "Now, what say you, Arrogant Man?" But the arrogant man can say nothing, for understanding is creeping into his heart. At last, he says, "I am not worthy to look upon Your face. Can you ever forgive me for what I have done? Even so, I do not deserve to live." And he lays with broken heart and weeps. His weeping reaches heaven...and the Father's heart is softened. "Do I hear My arrogant man weeping?" And mercy fills His heart. He checks His wrath. He looks upon the broken man. "I shall bind his wounds. I shall make for him a new place.�Bring him to Me," the Father says to the Son. "Bring him to Me for Your Name's sake." And the Radiant Man brings the man to the Father. The Lord says, "I hear My people cry and this shall no longer be. Gather now together that your eyes might see. Gather now together in the place I've set aside. Leave behind all envy. Leave behind all pride. "I shall spare you from the wrath, the wrath about to fall. Come from east and west, from north and south...come all. Gather, little Remnant, leave malice at the door. Enter, little Remnant, let hardness rule no more. "Heed My words, oh Remnant, hear the words I speak. Hear My prophets, Remnant, hear with hearts made meek. Oh the darkness comes...it's standing at the gate!� But fear not, My little Remnant, for see, I bade it wait. "Pluck all evil from your midst and cast it far away. Cast it out in darkness...you must do as I say. 'Tis you, My little Remnant, who shall gladden the Father's heart. 'Tis you, My little Remnant, who now shall stand apart. * * * * * * * I came before the Lord. The Father sent an angel to walk with me and to teach me. We set out and walked until we came to the edge of a very high precipice. I looked down and saw a raging river below. There was another angel standing on the opposite side of the precipice. He was holding a sturdy line in his hand and threw it across the ravine. The angel I was standing next to caught it in his hand and stretched it across the ravine. The angel then told me to walk on the rope that I may reach the other side.� � I was filled with terror for I was certain that I would slip off such a meager walkway as a rope! But the angel held out his hand and told me he would not let me fall. I took his hand and started across. When I was about halfway to the opposite side, the other angel held out his hand and I was able to grasp it before letting go of the first angel's hand. I was safely across the ravine! I walked again with this angel until we came to the crystal chamber I had seen before. We entered and I looked out. Countless fiery darts were hurtling toward the crystal walls and I drew back in fear for it seemed as though they would burst through the wall. Instead, as they crashed into it, the fires were extinguished and fell harmlessly to the ground. We left the chamber and walked along once more. We climbed a very high mountain where the winds were blowing with tremendous force. I clung to the angel for it felt as though the winds would sweep me away. The angel was wearing a large cloak and wrapped it around me. We stood until the wind was spent and calmness prevailed. We walked down the mountainside and a great red sun was rising over the horizon from the east. "Are you afraid of the rising sun?" the angel asked. "Of course not!" I said to him, wondering why he had asked such a foolish question. "The sun would not harm me!" "Do you doubt that it will rise tomorrow?" he asked. "Why, of course not! It rises daily!" "Do you feel guilty that it must rise daily to warm you and to give you light?" "Of course not! That is its purpose! Why are you asking me such silly questions?" "Silly?" he said. "Remember the house in the teardrop. The flood waters came, the fiery darts sped forth and the winds came in a fury. Yet the hand of the Lord stayed firm. As we walked along and came to the ravine, you were fearful lest you fall into the raging river below. You were filled with doubt when you thought the darts would penetrate the crystal wall. You were filled with despair when you thought the winds would sweep you away.� � "And yet you trusted the rising sun and believed that the sun was merely fulfilling its purpose. If you can trust the sun which is merely obeying, how much more can you trust the One who commands the sun?"� What must it be like - to have no doubt, to sigh the sigh of sweet belief? What must it be like - to have no fear, to sigh the sigh of love's relief? What must it be like - to have no guilt, to sigh the sigh of forgotten grief? * * * * * * * I was standing by a well in a barren desert. The well was made of rough wood with four planks of wood attached to each side so there was seating all around the well. The Lord appeared holding a long-handled, tin ladle in His hand. He dipped it into the well and filled it full with its sparkling water. He handed me the ladle. A traveler passed by and I offered him the cup of water that he might drink. He shook his head and continued walking. I was perplexed for the sun was high in the heavens and the sands were hot. "Pour the cup of water on the ground," the Lord said. "Why wouldn't he accept the water?" I asked. "And why did you tell me to pour the water on the ground?" "There is a special portion set aside for every traveler. It cannot quench the thirst of any other. If it is refused, it has no value to any other, so it is to be discarded. The spring which feeds this well is not like the springs of the earth, which can dry in their beds if the rains do not come to replenish them. The One who is the Source of all rains, is the Source of this well and can never run dry. Fill the cup again." I filled the cup and waited. Another traveler came to the well and I gave him the ladle to drink the water. He accepted, drank deeply and was satisfied. "Thank you," he said. "How can I repay you?" "As you meet others along the way, tell them of the water that satisfies so that they shall thirst no more." He nodded and went on his way.� A caravan was approaching the well. As it came closer, I saw a magnificent king seated on a camel. He wore regal robes with a bejeweled crown on his head. The camel was laden with beautiful chests. When the caravan came to the well, it stopped. The king looked down and said,� "I am Melchior. Just as we had followed the Star in ages past, so were we told to come seeking once more until we found the well that is filled with living waters. Are we here?" "You are," I answered, marveling.� He said, "We had brought gifts of great value to the Babe in the manger, but the mother of the Babe said, 'We are but a lowly family. Set them aside until such time as they are needed.' Now the Great King has told us that the time has come. He has told us that His Temple is about to be completed and for this purpose have the gifts been set aside."� And he left the gifts at the well. "Lord," I said, "If only You would reveal Your will in ways that we can understand. So often Your teachings are cloaked in mystery. The angel who took me to the precipice and talked about crossing over the ravine and the sun rising every day and other things he said causes me to wonder...what is the difference between belief and trust?" The Lord held up a clear, spotless piece of glass and said, "See, see how the light shines through when nothing clouds its surface? Trust allows the light to pass through, but doubt clouds its purity. If the light passes through a cloudy glass, its radiance is dimmed.� � "Perfect obedience is like the spotless glass. And perfect trust cannot come about without obedience. Perfect obedience removes all cloudiness.� � "It is time for My light to shine forth in all its glory. My light must no more be clouded by fear or doubt. See how Trust does rent the veil!" The Lord then rose high into the heavens and the sky was filled with His brilliance. It was as though the heavens could not contain His brilliance and it spilled over onto the earth, narrowing to a point that touched the earth and rested on His trusting believer. The light caused a pathway and the Lord walked down the path of light, came to the trusting believer, walked through him and continued on. I understood. I understood that the Lord's might and glory became one with the Trusting Believer. I understood that His mighty works and His great majesty were made manifest on earth because of His Trusting Believer. I understood that the Father's will was brought to pass through the Lord because of His Trusting Believer. I understood that there was a great distinction between Belief and Trust. Trust alone brought true obedience. "Speak once more these words of prophecy: "See! See how My people run! They are running to My Temple to worship Me. See how their hearts are filled with understanding! See how their hearts are bursting with eagerness to see My face. See how they crowd about Me in My Holy Temple, praising My name!" I saw the Heavenly Council and the Lord was standing at its head. There was a blackboard to His left with a tightly rolled-up shade at the top. He pulled down the shade revealing a map with all the countries of the world on it. Starting at the top, He pointed to each country calling forth an angel as He did so. I understood that every country had a representative angel. After every country had been named with its corresponding angel stepping forth, the Lord walked over to a table. There was a bowl filled with a swirling golden liquid sitting in its center with cups placed around the bowl. The Lord filled every cup one by one and handed it to an angel. He then told them to go forth into the lands and pour the golden liquid, which was the Word of the Lord, over them. The angels left to do as they were told.� The Lord was standing below the earth with His Trusting Believer. They watched as the thick golden liquid oozed slowly over all the lands of the earth covering it in its entirely forming one large drop at its base. The Lord handed His Trusting Believer a cup and told her to catch the drop. Slowly the drop filled the cup. She was told to drink the liquid, which she did. "The knowledge of My Word is now within your being. You shall no longer have knowledge about My Word, for My Word shall now abide IN you." The Lord was high in the heavens shimmering with great glory. He was called "The Lord of Hope". "I am the Lord, the Hope of your Salvation" He said. "Give Me your hope for I am the fulfillment of all hope. When you give Me your hope, I can multiply it greatly for hope is for things yet to be. If you give Me your desire, I can return it to you, but I cannot multiply it, for desire comes from your own heart. The Lord and I were walking along the seashore. The ocean was calm and the skies were clear. We walked along in silence for a while when threatening storm clouds appeared on the horizon. They gathered rapidly and the sky suddenly grew dark and ominous. Waves crashed up on the shore, the winds blew furiously and the rains came. Darkness surrounded us and I could no longer see where we were going. In the distance I saw a beacon of light shining through the darkness. The Lord took my hand and guided me toward the light. We scrambled over a rocky jetty and finally made our way to a lighthouse.� � When we entered, an amazing warmth and sense of safety swept over me. There was an enormous fireplace to my left with a welcoming fire burning and it seemed it was reaching out with comforting arms. There was a bench in front of the fireplace and a table with two chairs on the opposite wall. The Lord and I sat down at the table and as I looked into His eyes, I was overcome with the depths of His love and protection. It was as though I were peering into an eternity where no harm could ever possibly come to anyone who would enter those depths.� � Suddenly, the door burst open and four men entered. They were dressed in oversized raincoats with large-brimmed hats covering their heads. They were cold and wet, but as they neared the fire burning brightly, I could see they were instantly filled with the same sense of warmth and safety that I had felt. The Lord spoke to them, but I did not hear what He said. The men nodded to the Lord and went back out into the storm. They returned a short time later followed by a number of people... women, children, men...all who had been lost out in the storm. Some were frightened and shivering, some were old and dazed, some just stood still as tho' perplexed. The room was filled and yet did not seem crowded. � A number of women came into the room from somewhere in the lighthouse. They comforted all, giving out food and warm, dry clothing. As they stood by the fire, the same comforting sense of safety came over them all. Suddenly the atmosphere became festive. There was much laughter and rejoicing as the people embraced one another with warmth and gratitude. They were all filled with the joy of victory! The Lord seemed to fill all of creation. He was writing across the heavens with His finger, "Author of Salvation. Author of all that has been spoken. Author of all that has been written." Every Word that He had ever spoken was filled with life. Some words had already fulfilled that which had been spoken. Others were not yet fulfilled, but were teeming with life waiting for their fulfillment. The Lord spoke, "As it is written - the Alpha and the Omega. All is fulfilled. Lo, I come. Every knee shall bow! Every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Lo, My Signature is upon creation. My Authorship is known. Come, all My Words, fulfill all that has been written and spoken. Tarry no more! Fulfillment is upon the earth!" And all the words bestirred themselves and did as they were bidden. |
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