Wilderness Lessons

Wilderness Lessons
Joseph Herrin (04-28-08)

The Spirit of Christ has wonderfully awakened my understanding to some insights into the coming work of preparing the Bride of Christ through a fiery wilderness experience. The understanding has come in the midst of much heartache as I have watched a brother brought to the edge of turning back from following the Lord down paths designed to cut away the flesh in order to release the fragrance of Christ inside. The understanding has come through contemplating the life of Moses as he led the children of Israel through the wilderness.

Moses is one more spiritual type that relates to the Joseph Company who must accomplish this work of preparing the body of Christ for burial that a new spiritual creation might arise. As I sat down to write this article I first checked my e-mail and I found that a brother in Christ had sent me a copy of Jane Leade’s prophecy of 1679. I have this prophecy posted on the Heart4God website. I am convinced it is a true word that has specific bearing to the work being accomplished at this hour in preparing some principal servants to bear unusual anointings in the hour to come. These anointings will be for the purpose of preparing the Bride for the return of the Bridegroom.

I realized that it was of the Lord that this word arrived in my inbox this morning, and that I should read it again. Yesterday and today have been particularly grueling in spiritual warfare, and I went to bed last night feeling worn from the intensity of the battle. This prophecy speaks of the great difficulty to be faced by those chosen to be prepared for this end time work, and they are exhorted to “hold fast,” and “quicken their pace,” for they must endure to the end. As I read what was sent to me I was particularly drawn to certain sections that the sender had highlighted in red. The first such section spoke of Moses serving as a type of these last days ministers. As I was preparing to sit down and write about Moses in this very relationship, I knew that it was the Lord who had ordered my steps once more. Following is a section from Jane Leade’s prophecy.

Thus Moses, Joshua, and Aaron may be considered types of some upon whom the same Spirit will come, yet in greater proportion. Whereby they shall make way for the ransomed of the Lord to return to Mt. Zion; but none shall stand under God but those who have become "tried" stones after the pattern and similitude of Christ. This will be fiery trial through which a very few will be able to pass or bear up in it. Whereby the waiters for this visible breaking forth are strictly charged to hold fast, and wait together in the unity of Pure Love. This trial will be of absolute necessity to all for the clearing away of all remaining infirmities of the natural mind, and the burning of all wood, hay, and stubble. For nothing must remain in the fire, for as a refiner shall He purify the sons of the Kingdom...

None but those who have so ascended and received His glory can condescend and communicate the same, being thereby His representatives upon the earth and subordinate priests under Him now. He that has ascended and glorified has made Himself, as it were, our Debtor. Consequently, He will not be wanting in qualifying and furnishing certain high and principal instruments who shall be most humble and as little regarded as David was, whom He will dignify with honour and priestly sovereignty for drawing to them the scattered flocks, and gathering them into one fold out of all nations.

Therefore, there should be a holy emulation and ambition stirred up among the bands of believers that they may be of the first-fruits unto Him that is risen from the dead, and so be made principal agents for Him and with Him, that they may be, if possible, of the number of the First-born of the New Jerusalem mother. All true waiters of His Kingdom in Spirit, under whatsoever profession they may be, ought to be numbered among the virgin spirits to whom this message appertains. Be watchful and quicken your pace.

The entire prophecy can be read on the Heart4God website at the following link: http://www.heart4god.ws/id630.htm

Moses: Wilderness Guide

This writing will particularly look at Moses as a type of this last days minister, for he truly exemplified one who was an Explorer and Pioneer who was chosen to serve as a Guide through wilderness paths which he had already traveled. Consider this pattern, which is discussed in the writing Explorers and Pioneers to Serve as Guides. Moses went into the wilderness for forty years, this being a time when God reduced him until the man who was mighty in word and deed, educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, was humbled and confessed, “Lord, I cannot speak.” Moses walked this path prior to his kinsman being called to walk the same course. In this way he was enabled to act as a helper to the children of God. His presence among them was a testimony of Yahweh’s grace as He supplied a man of experience and understanding of the ways of Yahweh, to shepherd them through the wilderness.

After Moses’ forty year experience, he then went through an identical period whereby he bore a tremendous anointing from God to accomplish this extraordinary work that bears great prophetic import to these last days. Moses was a man who spoke to Yahweh face to face, having seen His glory, and whose own face was transfigured as he saw that which others did not. This is a testimony of those who will be accounted as instruments of Yahweh as they too have gone through wilderness places, submitting to the cutting away of the flesh and learning humility. These will receive anointings of power and wisdom that have not yet been observed among the elect of God from the day of Adam to this hour. These will truly do “greater works” than Yahshua, for it is the desire of Christ that His disciples should share His glory (John 17).

Those who have been in wilderness places must hold fast. The hour of their ministry is at hand. What trials remain are necessary for their preparation. Great grace is released to all those who have offered themselves as a free will offering to be purified by their Savior and Lord. He will bring them into a release from all the bonds of the flesh. Fear, pride, unbelief, lust and anything else contrary to righteousness will be fully excised and they will be transformed with a radiance that will shine forth to be observed by all.

For those who have been in the wilderness, walking alone, enduring humbling experiences, the process has seemed long and wearying at times. Yet no return to Egypt has allured them. As with Moses, the same is true of them.

Hebrews 11:24-26
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

The reproaches have seemingly been without end. Ill treatment has often been the portion of those being prepared. The wealth, pleasures and success of brothers and sisters in the world has been withheld from them. Yet there is a reward of which Christ will not be stinting. It will surpass the treasures of Egypt. Those who have borne reproach with Christ will be honored by the same for their very willingness to do so. Because they esteemed the fellowship and pleasure of Christ more than that of the world, He will be their portion. They will ascend the mountain into His presence. They will sing a new song which none else can learn.

Revelation 14:1-5
And I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

What cost must be borne to attain to this number? These ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes have followed Him to a cross. They have submitted to this process of death. Because they have, there awaits an hour of resurrection and glory.

Those so transformed will not merely stand around and appear glorious. Like Moses they will have a charge delivered to them. They will be called to lead the children of God out of all that pertains to Egypt. These must prepare the Bride to meet the coming Bridegroom. All that they have passed through must be experienced by the rest of the body of Christ.

Only recently has the Spirit given me understanding of an experience that I passed through about three and a half years ago. After my wife departed from me, being unwilling to drink of the cup of suffering presented to me and her, I was led into the wilderness where I spent two forty day periods camping in a tent in the Oconee Forest of Georgia. This was a time of great trial, but also tremendous grace. I knew hunger, cold, loneliness, fearful circumstances, and even weathered a hurricane while sleeping in a small tent with trees crashing down in the woods around me. I lost about forty pounds in a matter of months, as the Lord showed through a physical parable the spiritual work to be accomplished.

After the first forty days the Lord brought me up out of the wilderness, manifesting a provision that very moment as a brother in the Philippines was directed by the Spirit to wire me some money. The next day a brother in Australia did the same. Then after two days of rest I returned to the woods and experienced a second forty day period. The events of this second period were in almost every way more severe. The weather was colder (ending in December), my food was more scarce (the last 17 days I had only water), and even my supply of water was cut off and I had to severely ration it.

At the end of this second period the Lord once more released me. As I got into my car I looked at my trip odometer and the mileage read 240. I knew this was a witness of the Lord as I had just completed two 40 day periods in the woods. I often wondered at the reason for this period being doubled in my life. I wondered if it spoke of a need to be doubly refined. The Spirit has now revealed the pattern through the life of Moses. He went through two 40 year periods in the wilderness. The first alone. The second leading the children of God.

The truth, however, is that Moses was refined in each of the events. As he led the Israelites through their own experience, he was met with trials he had not known the first time around. He had to endure the complaints and grumbling of the people of God. He had to endure unbelief and hardness of heart. He witnessed the fear of the people, and the hateful actions that resulted from those who would not conquer fear (some even spoke of stoning him).

In this second forty year period Moses was able to experience the very things that Yahweh experiences as He bears patiently with mankind. How much grumbling does He endure? How great are the complaints that meet His ears? How long does He bear patiently with fearful and unbelieving children? And through it all Moses came to understand the ways of Yahweh, and to share in the fellowship of God’s suffering heart.

Psalms 103:7
He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.

Those who will be a part of this company to lead the people of God through wilderness places will also come to experience the suffering of God. Their second time in the wilderness will also prove to be a time of trial, albeit different than their first experience. During this second pass they will walk face to face with God. They will share His burdens and know His heart. They will even stand in intercession for those who are unbelieving and complaining, as did Moses when he entreated God to not destroy this grumbling generation in the wilderness.

During the first time through the wilderness, Moses was himself reduced until he could be entrusted with power. During the second time through he walked with great power. Egypt was destroyed by the power of the plagues. The waters of the Red Sea parted when his staff was raised over it. Water poured forth from a rock in the wilderness. Manna rained down from heaven to feed the people. The earth split open and devoured his opponents. The Sun stood still as he raised his arms in prayer to Yahweh. If Moses had not chosen to suffer the reproaches of Christ of a free will, he would not have been prepared to bear the power of Christ’s Spirit. Only a humble man or woman can be entrusted with such power. Even so, Moses wielded this power once in anger and was disqualified from leading the people fully into their possession.

This failure in the life of Moses is one to consider closely by those who must pass through the wilderness a second time. There must be a mature selflessness exhibited by those who will lead the church through the wilderness. They must not be personally offended, even when the fear and unbelief of the body is directed at them, and their leadership. This Company of Guides must always manifest humility, not concerning themselves with personal words of attack, or actions against their person. They must seek always the Lord’s pleasure, and act only according to His heart. When He is merciful, they must be merciful. When He is patient, they must be patient. In this way they will come to share the character of the One who is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.

It should be noted that Moses often “waxed hot.” Not all anger is unjustified. There are times when Yahweh is also angry, and those who represent His character must do so faithfully. It is anger arising from personal offense that must be laid aside. Such anger always leads to transgression if not quickly checked. It brings about a further refining, a deeper dying to the desires and passions of the flesh, when we are put in such situations where we must bring every emotion into subjection to the Spirit of Christ.

Signs of Danger

There are many warning signs that should be heeded by those who follow guides through the wilderness of purification. The failings of Israel will be the same failings of the church in coming days. The things that disqualified them will also disqualify many and leave their dead bodies in the wilderness. In coming days there will both be faithful overcomers after the similitude of Joshua and Caleb, and a host of others who will fall short of the desire of God.

Hebrews 3:16-19
For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

A heart of unbelief does not arise without reason. There are various contributors to its development. One of these is an absence of prayer and Bible reading. The children of God must feed upon that which feeds the spirit man. The Israelites despised the manna that God provided for them. They cried out for Moses to give them “flesh” instead. When a person feeds on that which is fleshly, while despising that which is spiritual, they will always increase in unbelief for faith is a fruit of the Spirit. A believing heart is nourished by spiritual food. The Word of God is Spirit breathed. It must be eaten, chewed, and meditated upon.

Time must also be given to waiting upon God to hear His voice. Thus we observe Joshua always in close attendance to Moses. When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting, Joshua waited at the door. When Moses ascended the mountain, Joshua waited at its base. Had the rest of Israel done the same they would not have entered into transgression with the golden calf, and into drunken and sensual behavior.

A heart of unbelief cannot be hidden. What is in the heart comes out of the mouth. The children of God constantly allowed their lips to speak words of unbelief. They defamed God with their accusations.

Exodus 14:11-12
Then they said to Moses, "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."

Those who speak such things exhibit not only their unbelief, but an absence of honor and fear of God. If a heart of unbelief, and a tendency to murmur, are not quickly identified and dealt with, they will eventually lead to a decision to turn away from the path God is leading His people down. Yahweh is determined to expose that which is in His children’s hearts.

There are many who will hang around for a season, not wanting to be found outside of a work in which God is manifestly present. Yet, hanging around is not a true victory if one is complaining and speaking words of fear and unbelief the entire time. Yahweh will always bring His people to a place of choosing whether they will trust Him, or turn away in unbelief and fear. He often does so by leading His children to face some giant before which they appear as grasshoppers.

Numbers 14:2-4
And all the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! And why is Yahweh bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" So they said to one another, "Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt."

If a person does not address a spirit of unbelief in their life, they will find it growing stronger until the day comes when God leads them to follow Him to a place they are unwilling to go. With their words they will begin to bring accusation against the guides Yahweh has provided them, as well as against God Himself. They will say, “God is asking too much of me. He knows this is more than I can handle. It is unfair of Yahweh to add to tests I am already facing. Isn’t it enough that I have followed Him this far? Shouldn’t He be satisfied with the fact that I am here?”

If one maintains such an attitude they will find that a day comes when they seek a new leader to take them back to Egypt. Many will fall away in days ahead. Many will deny the Lord who saved them and return to the world. They will speak of the unfairness of all that they were called to do. They will accuse God of not caring for them, and asking them to do the impossible at great peril to themselves and their families.

Please understand that I am not saying it is wrong to find oneself struggling with fears and doubts. Such weaknesses are common to all men. Yet when these fears and doubts arise we must cry out to God asking Him to help us in our weakness. It is an entirely different matter to allow one’s voice to arise in a cry of help, as to use it to voice complaint and accusation against God and His leaders. Yahweh is near to those who are fearful. He is a God of much tenderness and compassion. He knows our frame, that we are but dust. He is near to those who cry out to Him. But, grumbling and complaint reveal a judgment against God’s character. It is as if we say, “I do not believe God will help me, so I will not ask. Rather I will accuse Him of a lack of understanding and compassion.”

It is easier for the carnal man or woman to complain than to ask God to help them. Complaint indicates that we do not admit that the cause of our reluctance to follow God is due to our own weakness. Because we do not admit the fault to be with self, we are able to avoid responsibility for correcting the problem. Instead, the fault, and the responsibility are placed either in God’s lap, or on the one He has appointed to lead.

If you find yourself being led through wilderness places and are tempted to complain when fear and doubts assail you, then guard your tongue closely. Do not allow yourself to sin with your lips. To do so brings the judgment of God.

I Corinthians 10:9-12
Let us not try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Yahweh will lead all his children through the wilderness of trials in coming days. Many will be purified and made radiant. These will learn to trust Yahshua as they never have before. The reproach of Egypt will be rolled away from them. And many will fall away.

May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.

The Third Appearance of Christ

The Third Appearance of Christ
Joseph Herrin (04-26-08)

John 21:14
This is now the third time that Yahshua appeared to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

I have been pondering this Scripture for the past couple days, ever since the Lord brought it to my attention in an unusual way. I have been camping the past month, first in West Georgia, and now on the Southeast coast of Georgia on Jekyll Island. I will be returning to Macon tomorrow. As those who have been receiving these mailings know, the Lord has used this time to give me much understanding of the ministry of coming days, and one of the methods He has used has been parables that have been observed through various events and incidents that I have encountered. I have written of a number of these parables, and they are posted on the new ParablesBlog site that I recently began. (http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/)

Following are the circumstances that led me to focus upon this passage. Before I left Macon to go to Jekyll Island I purchased a Georgia fishing license, and I brought along a fishing pole and some tackle. The first week here I did not attempt to fish due to the fact that I was fasting, and I didn’t want to keep any fish that I would not eat. After the first week I made a few attempts at fishing, but I was stymied in various ways. My pole was rigged for fresh water, and I did not have the proper tackle. I only had ten pound test line on the reel, and due to the ocean currents it is necessary to use a lot of weight when fishing salt water. This resulted in my line breaking repeatedly, until it snapped right at the reel after having cast out into the surf. I decided at this point that the Lord must not want me to fish, at least not at that time.

I was not angry at my inability to fish. I have learned to accept daily events as ordered by the Lord. Instead I prayed and I said, “Lord, if you desire for me to be able to fish then I pray that you will supply that which is necessary for me to rig my pole properly.” My money on hand was low, so I knew it would be necessary for the Lord to manifest His supply in order for me to fish. I had seen Him supply miraculously on many occasions in the past, so I did not doubt that He would do so if He intended for me to fish.

It was on the next day after Randy and I had biked around the Island, something I had been doing every day to aid my health (it being about a 14 mile round trip), that I took a nap and when I got up I found that Randy had been to the store and he had put heavier line on my reel and had purchased a salt water rig (leader, weight, and hook). He also had purchased some bait shrimp. He asked me if I wanted to go fishing. In my heart I thanked the Lord and off we went to the fishing pier.

Randy collected oysters and used a basket to try to catch some crabs while I fished. In a short time we had enough fish for a meal, having caught several nice whiting, and we took them back to camp. I told Randy that I would clean the fish if he would start a fire. I intended to wrap the fish in foil and lay them on the hot coals. I had never done this before, but it worked fine and the fish was tender and delicious when we had finished cooking them.

Later that night I returned to my camper/van and I checked my e-mail. A brother in Christ had e-mailed me and had asked me for any insight I could give him regarding the number 153 in Scripture. He said that the Lord had impressed this number upon him in a very definite way some years before, but he did not fully understand its meaning. He said that he knew that it occurred in only one place in Scripture, and this was when the Lord appeared to the disciples after His resurrection and He told them to cast their net into the sea, and when they did they brought up 153 great fish. Following is the account from the Gospel of John.

John 21:1-14
After these things Yahshua manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will also come with you." They went out, and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. But when the day was now breaking, Yahshua stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Yahshua. Yahshua therefore said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No." And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find a catch." They cast therefore, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. That disciple therefore whom Yahshua loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." And so when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away, dragging the net full of fish. And so when they got out upon the land, they saw a fire of coals already laid, and fish placed on it, and bread. Yahshua said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Yahshua said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord. Yahshua came and took the bread, and gave them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Yahshua was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

The Holy Spirit arrested my attention as I read this, for I considered how unusual it was that I had just cooked fish over coals, even as Yahshua was recorded as doing in this passage. I felt that the Spirit of Christ had a message in this for me, and I began to ponder what it was.

I have shared previously, that all of the works and miracles of Christ serve as parables. In the writing Parables (http://www.heart4god.ws/id592.htm), it is shown that there are many different types of parables in Scripture, beginning with the first book of the Bible and continuing to the end of Revelation. The children of God should be mindful therefore that when they read of an event in Scripture, and specific details are provided, having been inspired by the Holy Spirit, that there is truth to be gleaned from the account.

John was inspired to be very specific in His gospel, even to recording the number of fish that were caught in the net, and the distance they were from the shore. He described Peter’s lack of dress while working, the fact that John recognized Yahshua and had to inform Peter, and that Peter cast himself into the sea. John mentioned the type of fire Yahshua was cooking over, and the time of day and that the meal the disciples shared with Yahshua was breakfast.

All of these details are significant, and those with eyes to see will be able to glean many truths as they unravel the parable here. I will simply focus upon those things that I have understood as they relate to the ministry of coming days.

The Holy Spirit inspired men to record very precise events of the life of Christ, and Christ Himself was perfectly yielded to the Father in all that He did. No activity was ever wasted, or simply performed at whim. All that Christ did was to serve as a perfect revelation of God and His work among mankind. We should therefore understand that it was with great deliberateness that Yahweh chose every appearance of Christ before His disciples after the time of His resurrection. These events serve to provide truth on many levels, including a prophecy of the works to be accomplished among the saints prior to their ascension at the great harvest resurrection to occur just prior to the Millennial reign of Christ.

Consider for a moment that the question of the identity of Christ is mentioned prominently in all of His appearances after the resurrection. It seems that there was some question as to who was appearing before them, for it is mentioned that none dare asked Him who He was, for they knew it was Christ. Is this not strange? If the disciples knew it was Christ, then why even mention that none dared ask who He was? I believe these words serve as a prophecy of that which is to come, for each of Christ’s appearances to His disciples after the resurrection stands for a specific way in which He would appear to His disciples in the next 2,000 years, and there would be some question as to whether it was truly Christ appearing in this way.

Let me remind you that before I went camping, the last writing I sent out was on the sign given in the constellation Bootes (http://www.heart4god.ws/id655.htm). This sign speaks of Yahshua coming to perform a very specific work of removing flesh from His children. It will be a work of fiery purification to prepare a Bride for His coming as Bridegroom. I believe it is also this same work that is depicted in the form of a parable in the Scripture passage on the 153 fish. John relates that this is the third, and final appearing of Christ before His ascension. The number three is a number denoting completeness. E.W. Bullinger, in his book Number in Scripture shares the following:

Three, therefore, stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire.

All things that are specially complete are stamped with this number three.

At the end of the age, the Lord will bring His body to maturity. He must have a Bride without spot or blemish prepared for the return of the Bridegroom. What is therefore depicted is a final appearing of the Lord to make complete all that has been lacking in this preparation of the Bride. We will see this further as we consider some of the symbols in this parable.

The first disciples that the Lord called were Peter and his brother Andrew, and James and his brother John. All four of these men worked together as partners in the business of fishing (Luke 5:10). Yahshua appeared to them while they were working on their nets and called them to follow Him, for He would make them “fishers of men.” Previously these men had sought to catch fish, but now they would devote their lives to catching men. The fish therefore became a symbol for man. If a person is a fisher of men, then is it not obvious that one serves as a symbol for the other?

This symbol of the fish has even come to serve as a common symbol for Christianity. It was reportedly used as a secret sign among the early church in days of persecution to identify those who were followers of Christ. The individual letters of the Greek word for fish, Ichthus, became an acrostic for the words Iesous Christos THeou Uiou Soter, which rendered into English is Jesus Christ God’s Son Savior. This, however, is a man-made acrostic, and I will stick with that which is Biblical in this account.

In John’s account the disciples, at the Lord’s instruction, cast their nets on the right side of the boat and bring up 153 fish. The right side is indicative of the righteous. In the parable of the sheep and the goats, the sheep are separated onto the right, and the goats go to the left. This haul of fish therefore signifies those who are righteous, the elect and chosen of God.

The number 153 is itself filled with revelation. The number 153 is related in many ways to the number 17. 153 is divisible by 17, being the product of 17 and 9. If you add up each of the numbers between 1 and 17, their total comes to 153. 17 is a number of perfection, being the sum of two perfect numbers, 10 and 7. 10 is a number denoting ordinal perfection and 7 is a number denoting divine perfection. When summed together they stand for that which is perfect both numerically and divinely.

Consider now the parable of the 153 great fish that were caught. Earlier in the ministry of Christ the disciples pulled a great number of fish up in their nets, but their nets began to break and their boats began to sink. Undoubtedly many of the fish escaped or were lost. At the end of Christ’s ministry the disciples pulled up a great catch of fish once more at the Lord’s command, but this time the nets did not break and no fish were lost. I believe this to be a symbol representing the fact that even as Christ did not lose any of those that the Father gave to Him, that His disciples would not lose that which was given to them.

The fish, of course represent men. The number 153 therefore has great bearing upon the men that the disciples were to catch. Being related to 17, which in turn is related to 10 and 7, I believe this number prophetically shows that the disciples would be fishers of men until the full number (10 - ordinal perfection) appointed by the Father (7 - divine perfection) should be saved. This truth is seen in many other places in Scripture. We are told that God has chosen His elect from before the foundations of the earth. He knows those who are His, and He calls them forth by name. So even as the number 153 is very precise, not being a general figure, this parable indicates that Yahshua will appoint His disciples to fish for men until the exact number determined to be saved should be accomplished.

There is another significant way in which this number relates to the elect of God. The Greek word for fishes used in this passage by John is related to the number 153. Gematria is the study of the relationship between words and numbers. In some languages letters also serve as numbers. For example, most English speaking people are familiar with Roman numerals. The Letter I is the equivalent of the number One; V the equivalent of Five; X the equivalent of Ten; C the equivalent of One Hundred, and so forth. In a similar way, each of the letters of the Greek alphabet are also numbers. When the Greek word Icthus used by John is rendered as a number its value is 1224 (8 times 153).

Eight is a number representing new beginnings, or the new creation man. Thus, these fish are a symbol of those pulled from the sea of humanity destined to be new creations in Christ. Remarkably, there are numerous other titles for the elect of God that also are multiples of 153. The phrase “Sons of God” in the Hebrew Old Testament is “Beni Ha Elohim” whose value is exactly 153. In the Greek of the New Testament the phrase “Joint Heirs” has the value 1071 (153 times 7). The expression “the creation of God” is 1224 (153 times 8), the words translated “the net” have the exact same value, 1224.

When pondering this parable I considered how it might relate to the ministry of coming days. I was immediately mindful of the fact that the Lord in this appearance has laid fish upon the coals. Fire is the ultimate purifier. I recently wrote of the following Scripture, and its application to this coming work of Christ among His people.

Luke 12:49
“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!”

This is also related to the following words of John the Baptist.

Matthew 3:11
As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

The Lord did not show me these things until after I had cleaned the fish and placed them over the hot coals to cook. In a recent writing, Joseph - Preparing the Body for Burial, (http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/) I noted that it was the work of the Joseph Company to minister in coming days as they guide the elect through days of fiery trial. I believe the Spirit has used this event as one more testimony during my days of camping to speak of the work to come.

I noted that it was on my eleventh day camping on Jekyll Island that we caught the fish, cleaned and cooked them over the coals. Eleven is a number pertaining specifically to Joseph, as he was the eleventh son of Jacob, and he lived to be 110 years old. The Lord prevented me from catching fish until this day, for I believe He wanted this to be a further witness and testimony of the quickly approaching ministry appointed to a Joseph Company who have themselves surrendered themselves to fiery trials intended to bring forth purity in their lives.

Some further details that are significant are found in the fish I caught and prepared. Randy and I caught and cooked three fish. As mentioned earlier, three speaks of that which is complete, and it is a work that will bring the Bride to complete readiness for the Bridegroom that will be accomplished through the fiery work ahead. As mentioned the fish were whiting, and the color white is indicative of the Bride who has made herself ready. The first thing I did in preparing the fish was to cut off their heads. I have written much of what this symbolizes in various writings, including The Remnant Bride. Cutting off the head symbolizes having no head of one’s own, but taking Christ as Head in all things. In The Remnant Bride I wrote of the fact that this was a characteristic the Vashti lacked. She was therefore removed from her position as queen, and Esther replaced her. The foremost matter addressed in selecting a new Bride for King Ahasuerus was to find one who would live for the King’s will and pleasure. This will also be a characteristic of those who will be included in the Bride of Christ.

I will mention once again that there was some question about the identity of Yahshua in John’s account. Peter did not recognize it was the Lord until John told him. I believe this also speaks prophetically to the truth that many will question that which will come to the church in days ahead. Some will observe the Lord with fish laid in the coals and will not immediately recognize that it is Him. Many will question whether the Lord could actually be the One who is subjecting His people to the fiery trials that are quickly coming upon the earth.

Please pray for Randy and I as we return to Middle Georgia. I really do desire your prayers, more than you can know. I have seen the Lord move mightily when the saints began to pray. Please pray for the Lord’s direction to be manifested to Randy and I. Pray for His provision to be loosed, and for doors of ministry to be opened. Please also pray that we might bear a special anointing to accomplish all that we are called unto.

I have much anticipation for those things the Lord will perform in coming days. What a glorious thing it will be to observe the Bride being readied for her Bridegroom. What a marvel to observe a glorious butterfly emerging where previously was the fleshly form of a caterpillar.

May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.

Joseph - Preparing the Body for Burial

Joseph - Preparing the Body for Burial
Joseph Herrin (04-23-08)

Have you heard the phrase “the Joseph Company?” Do you know who this company is, what is their calling, and whether you are a part of it? In this last hour of the church all overcoming saints will either be a part of the Joseph Company, or they will be ministered unto by those so designated.

First, let me assure you that “the Joseph Company” is not a reference to myself personally, or those in league with me. Yes, my name happens to be Joseph, and the Spirit bears witness that I am called to be a member of this company that shares this name. However, I was not the first to use this term to describe the activity of a chosen people at this late hour, nor am I the only one writing about them. I have come across many others who are being given profound insights into this end of the age group of saints and their specific calling.

There are a variety of things that this Joseph Company will do in coming days. I have written previously of their calling to open up the storehouses of God containing the precious truths of the Kingdom, and with this vast supply to feed the starving masses in coming days. This work is typified in Joseph, the son of Jacob, storing up grain in Egypt and feeding the world in the years of famine. Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath Paneah, which the Latin Vulgate rendered as Revelator Occulti, being translated “Revealer of Hidden Things.” There is a company of people who have been learning many things, storing up treasures received from the Spirit of Christ, in preparation for a day when mankind will seek out the truths of the Kingdom with a great hunger.

I have also written of the preparation of this Joseph Company. Even as the son of Jacob was rejected by his brothers, among whom were those who spoke of killing him, so too have the members of the Joseph Company found that they have had no place among the sheep and shepherds belonging to their Father. Even in Egypt, Joseph was alone. When he called his brothers to dine with him they all sat at one table, the Egyptians sat at another, while Joseph dined at a table by himself. Such is the price to be borne by those who are members of the Joseph Company. The food belongs to them, and it is distributed by them to others, even as Joseph took food from his table and had it served to his brothers. Yet, the Joseph’s of this hour dine alone. You can read more of this aspect of the Joseph Company in the writing Parables, found on the Heart4God website: (http://www.heart4god.ws/id592.htm)

More recently I have been led to focus on another aspect of the ministry of the Joseph Company. This is their role as forerunners and pioneers in embracing the cross and having their flesh crucified in order that they might be used as guides to a great company who soon must take this same road. Joseph, the son of Jacob, went before his brothers to Egypt. The day came, however, when it was necessary that they follow in his steps. If they refused to go to Egypt they would die, for great was the famine in the land.

Yahweh has had a group of sons and daughters who have willingly embraced the cross, and have submitted their flesh to be cut away in order that they might arise as spiritual creatures. They have understood that this work is necessary, and cannot be avoided by any. They have also discerned that there is a greater grace given to those who present themselves as a free will offering for their flesh to be consumed upon the fiery altar of purification. Therefore they have asked Christ to bind them to the horns of the altar until His fiery work be accomplished, and He has willingly done so.

A much larger group of Yahweh’s people have remained at home, content to sit among the shepherds and the sheep, even though an evil report of their activity has come to the ears of their father (Genesis 37:2). These have not submitted themselves to the grinding wheels and threshing instruments of Egypt. There is a process of crushing, breaking, and spiritual release that must come to all of Yahweh’s children. It is pictured in the following words of the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 28:27-29
For dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is the cartwheel driven over cummin; But dill is beaten out with a rod, and cummin with a club. Grain for bread is crushed, indeed, he does not continue to thresh it forever. Because the wheel of his cart and his horses eventually damage it, he does not thresh it longer. This also comes from Yahweh of hosts, Who has made His counsel wonderful and His wisdom great.

The children of God are to be as food to feed the world, yet all grain must be prepared. The hard outer shell of the flesh must be broken in order that the Spirit within, Who brings life, might come forth to feed a starving world. The higher the purposes of God in your life, the more intense will be the breaking and refining. The greatest baked delicacies are made from flour that has been reduced to the finest powder. Your usefulness in God’s kingdom is determined by your willingness to suffer.

Joseph went to Egypt before his brethren and was a slave from the day he arrived. Later he entered the double refinement of an even more intense subjugation as he became a slave in prison. His brothers were to follow, and upon the death of Joseph they too became slaves in Egypt. Even as Joseph suffered many things, they too were placed under cruel taskmasters, and they remained there until the day appointed for their release.

Why did Joseph have to go first? To prepare a place for his brothers; to save many from perishing, and being impoverished.

Genesis 45:7, 11
And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance... There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, lest you and your household and all that you have be impoverished.

The children of God will enter into the age to come with many being cast into the Lake of Fire, and many suffering loss, unless they too go down to Egypt and allow Yahweh to deal with their flesh as He has dealt with Joseph.

I Corinthians 3:12-15
Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.

Thus far, most Christians have been building with that which will not stand the fire. Their works will be burned up and they will suffer loss. It is therefore necessary that they follow the Joseph Company and also present their flesh to be crucified that they might receive reward and be passed over by the second death, which is the Lake of Fire. We will either go through the fire as a free will offering, and receive reward, or as a mandatory offering where reward is absent.

It is this work of the Joseph Company that I would focus upon in this writing. It is a work of preparing the body of Christ for burial, and it is found typified in both Old and New Testaments. Let us begin by observing the work of this company as it is found foreshadowed in the Old Testament.

Genesis 46:1-4
So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am." And He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes."

We observe here a great parable, for every detail is pregnant with spiritual truth. Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, was the progenitor of the nation which bore his name. Out of Jacob came twelve sons who gave rise to the twelve tribes of Israel. Therefore, the words spoken to Jacob in this encounter can be observed as a parable of the entire nation. It is a revelation of that which ALL of God’s people must pass through in order to become the “great nation” which is their destiny.

Notice that there is fear in going down to Egypt, and this fear must be overcome. Yahweh would also say to all of His children, “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.” What is the method of this preparation? It will entail 400 years of slavery where the flesh is roughly treated. Yet at the end of this period of refinement there will not be a sick or infirm person among their numbers. It will be a healthy and strong people who emerge from Egypt.

This process of crucifying the flesh is something that all of the children of God must pass through. If they refuse it they will not attain to the stature of a mighty nation. They will find themselves impoverished in the same sense that the church of Laodicea was impoverished. They had the world’s goods, and much ease and pleasure, but in the eyes of their Savior and Lord they were “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” So are all those who remain in bondage to the flesh.

What was Joseph’s role in this? Joseph was the son who was appointed to “close the eyes” of Israel. Joseph was to be there at his death and to prepare his body for burial.

Genesis 50:1-3
Then Joseph fell on his father's face, and wept over him and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Now forty days were required for it, for such is the period required for embalming.

Is it not evident that this is a spiritual parable? Notice how long it required to prepare the body for burial. Forty is a number everywhere seen throughout Scriptures bearing great significance. It is the number of trials and testing, even as the Israelites wandered forty years in the wilderness until all who belonged to the generation of unbelief died out. During these forty years they ate manna every day, being called to fast from all that they formerly ate in Egypt. It is the number of days that Yahshua spent in the wilderness fasting, and being tempted by Satan.

This number forty is related to the reduction of the man of flesh and the proving of a spiritual man. It is in the wilderness that we must decrease, but Christ must increase in us. There is a wilderness path appointed to all of Yahweh’s people, and it is only with great loss that any refuse to endure it. It will be the Joseph Company, who has gone before, that will prepare the way for others to also come and embrace this difficult walk where the flesh man is brought to an end and a spiritual creation arises.

Let us now observe this same pattern in the New Testament.

Mark 15:42-46
And when evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus... and he granted the body to Joseph. And Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Yahweh is a God of precise detail, having numbered the very hairs upon a man’s head, and determined the days of a man’s life. We must understand that every name in the Bible is also significant. Once more we see a Joseph preparing a body for burial. This body also speaks of God’s people, for the church is “the body of Christ.” We are therefore once more observing a parable in this account which is a parallel to the actions of the son of Jacob who bore the same name.

Even as Jacob was the head of a nation that bore his name, Israel, so too we see here that Yahshua the Christ stands as the Head of a people who also bear His name. We observe that even as the sons of Jacob had to go down to Egypt for their flesh to be dealt with, until it should be buried, so too must the same occur to the offspring of the Christ. The cross must be borne by all. The flesh must be put to death. Once more we see Joseph being involved as he ministers to the body of Christ in preparation for burial.

Unless the body submits to death, a spiritual creature will not arise. Jacob had to be buried, but he did not remain dead. Yahshua testified of this fact.

Mark 12:26-27
“But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken."

Jacob is not in the grave anymore. His body was buried, but a spiritual creature arose. He now lives before God. The same is true of Christ. He went into the tomb, but three days later He arose. He now sits in great glory and honor and power at the right hand of God the Father. The body of Christ must also pass through death to attain to resurrection life. If we protect the flesh we will remain fleshly. The flesh must be crucified that we might walk as spiritual men and women. It is the ministry of Joseph to prepare the body as it must pass through death to attain to life.

Consider a further parallel brought out in these twin accounts. We read in the above passage from Mark that Joseph of Arimathea went before Pilate, the Roman Governor, and asked that he might be given the body of Christ to bury it. This same petition was made by the son of Jacob as he asked Pharaoh to allow him to bury his father.

Genesis 50:4-6
And when the days of mourning for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found favor in your sight, please speak to Pharaoh, saying, ‘My father made me swear, saying, "Behold, I am about to die; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me." Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.'" And Pharaoh said, "Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear."

Pharaoh had authority over all those who dwelt in his kingdom, even as Pilate had authority over all those under his dominion. Who has authority over the church, the body of Christ? It is Yahweh, God the Father. What is shown in type in these two Joseph’s asking that a body might be given to them in order to be able to prepare it for burial is a picture of the intercessory work that the Joseph Company must also enter into.

The Joseph Company, observing that the body of Christ is spiritually dead, being filled with sin and the foul odor of the flesh, must petition the Father that the body might be given into its hands that it might be prepared for its burial. The body must not sit out in the open in its state of decay and be allowed to fester and stink, becoming noxious to all. It must be embalmed. It must be prepared with spices, and wrapped in linen, speaking of the righteous acts of the saints. It must be hidden away until it is resurrected as a spiritual creature. As I have mentioned in many writings, this process is pictured in the metamorphosis of the caterpillar into a butterfly. It must go through a cocoon stage where the old fleshly form is transformed into a state of winged glory.

It is time now for the Joseph Company to begin petitioning the Father that the body of Christ, full of death as it is, might be given into their hands that they might prepare it for burial. The stink of the church has already begun to offend many, and it must be quickly wrapped and hidden from sight until it has shed its fleshly form and is ready to emerge in the image of Christ.

Are you a member of this Joseph Company? Then arise with tears and weeping as you observe the death among the people of God. This was the heart of Joseph.

Genesis 50:1
Then Joseph fell on his father's face, and wept over him and kissed him.

We too should weep when we observe that the body of Christ has become so thoroughly leavened with sin, and has rejected the disciple’s cross, which alone works in it sanctification and holiness. We should desire that the church arise to be that glorious body that it was called to be, lamenting at the lifeless corpse she has become. Ask God to deliver the body to the Joseph Company that it might be prepared. Observe again the parable in the following words:

Mark 15:42-44
And when evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

Do you recognize the day we now are in? The Sabbath is close at hand. The Millennial reign of Christ corresponds to the seventh day. We are now at the end of six thousand years, six days in spiritual type. The seventh day is at hand, and the body has yet to be prepared. This must be a quick work. We must act quickly, and with courage, and petition the Father that He might deliver the body to be prepared for burial.

May many have eyes to see the wonderful truth of these prophetic types that must be fulfilled at this hour.

Parables from the Seashore

Parables from the Seashore
Joseph Herrin (4-20-08)

For those new to this list I will share with you that I have been in an extended period of camping. The past week I have been camping with my friend and brother in Christ, Randy Simmons on Jekyll Island, Georgia. Jekyll is one of Georgia’s barrier islands, being ten miles long from north to south and averaging a mile in width. The entire island is a State Park and by law it must remain 60% undeveloped. This restriction has kept it from being transformed into a loud and gaudy commercial development. It remains largely unspoiled, and I have found it to be a very attractive place to come to observe periods of quiet and rest, as well as to hear from God.

A Personal History

I first experienced Jekyll Island when I was fifteen years old and my parents moved down from Portland, Oregon. My dad was born and raised in South Georgia, about an hour’s drive inland. He returned at the invitation of his older brother to captain a new shrimp boat that he was building. My father rented a house on the southern tip of Jekyll Island, and I had the wonderful experience that summer of working with my dad first on a crab boat, and then on a shrimp boat. It was an occupation I greatly enjoyed for the short season that it lasted.

We only lived on Jekyll Island about six months, but after moving off the island I took my first job working for someone else as I gained employment at the IGA grocery store on Jekyll. I had just turned sixteen, and my dad helped me to purchase my first car that I might drive to work. When I was seventeen we moved away from the coast to Middle Georgia, causing me to transfer schools halfway through my senior year of high school.

On the day I graduated from high school, I went immediately from the commencement ceremony, having my bags already packed, and I drive back to Jekyll Island where I found a job the same day working at the RV park on the north end of the island. I kept this job for three years, and though these were some lean years for me spiritually, I always held an attraction to the beauty and serenity of Jekyll Island. As a person who also suffered tremendously from hay fever and spring allergies, I also found the fresh salt air of the coast to be a wonderful remedy to this affliction.

I took my future bride to Jekyll Island when I was 23 and I was living back in Middle Georgia. We shared a wonderful day here the week we were engaged, and later came back and honeymooned on the island. Over the 18 years that we were together we often came to Jekyll Island for vacations, and our children were also able to enjoy its scenic beauty and relaxed atmosphere. One of the current highlights for me is the bike trail that completely circles the island, passing through oak woods and marsh lands, along beaches and through the historic millionaires’ village constructed when Jekyll was a private resort for the rich and powerful.

Jekyll Island’s History

There are some dark blots on Jekyll’s history, for in turns it has been both Jekyll and Hyde. The last ship to bring slaves to America (The Wanderer), some thirty years after the importation of slaves had been banned, landed on Jekyll Island to disembark its tragic cargo. Later, during its period as a home to America’s wealthy aristocrats, it was here that the Federal Reserve banking system was devised by those known by the title “the first name club,” due to their practice of keeping their full names unknown. Such anonymity was considered necessary as many at the time recognized their conspiratorial activity as treason. In 1908 “The Aldrich Plan” for creating a national monetary commission was set forth by these men meeting at Jekyll Island, and though it was rejected at that time by Congress, it resurfaced not long afterward and gave rise to the Federal Reserve, effectively giving control of America into the hands of a banking and financial elite.

If you are interested in reading more on the history of the Federal Reserve and its treasonous activity, I would recommend the following website: http://www.apfn.org/APFN/reserve2.htm.

The value I see in understanding the unseen hands that guide much of what transpires in government, political and financial realms is related to the admonition of Scripture:

Matthew 10:16-17 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. But beware of men...”

The vast majority of Christians walk around in a blind naivete, gathering behind political figures that they believe will bring about reformation, or even revival. Many Christians have backed candidates for the office of President as if they were God’s man to safeguard Christianity and the freedom of religion. They rarely discern the true nature of these men and women, that they are servants of a ruling world system fashioned upon the doctrines of Lucifer. Millions of Christians have voted for political candidates that are truly anti-christ, and in doing so they have shared responsibility for all of their diabolical actions. Such accord with evil is strictly condemned by the Scriptures, and ignorance of the facts does not remove responsibility.

I Timothy 5:22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

To endorse, or to vote for a candidate, is to lay hands upon them. When a Christian does so they share in responsibility for all the actions of that candidate. Few Christians walk in wisdom regarding the form of this world. Few could be said to be “wise as serpents.” Although I do not advocate becoming obsessively focused upon the deceitful schemes of wickedness, I do believe the Christian should not walk naively through this world. When the power brokers of this world foment crises and incite the masses to stampede in a direction that will only result in their enslavement and exploitation, the Christian should not run headlong in the same direction. Christians will avoid the snare of the fowler as they perceive the trap laid before them, and walk after the leading of the Spirit of Christ.

The Conflict of Kingdoms

I have found it interesting that the Lord has led me during this month from F.D. Roosevelt State Park to Jekyll Island State Park. There is a history to these places that reveals the well laid, and patiently executed plans of those who wish to destroy the middle class and enslave the citizens of America as well as the world. Remember, the Scriptures declare that in the last days that a one world government will be established, and Satan will be the head of this government as the prince of this world. He has always found many willing participants to his schemes, men and women who are corrupted with the allure of wealth and power.

Notably, all of these men of wealth and power have come from New York, including the wealthy members of the Jekyll Island Club as well as Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This is the seat of political Babylon where the United Nations is found. It is noteworthy that just this week the Pope, who is the titular head of religious Babylon, has been in America meeting with the President of the United States, who stands as the political head of Babylon. In this late hour we see a merging of political and religious Babylon, for Satan will also have his kingdom of kings and priests to serve as a corrupt “anti” to that which Yahweh is bringing forth in His kingdom. Satan’s is a kingdom of the proud and wealthy who would make themselves lords to dominate a subjected mankind. Yahweh’s kingdom is one of humble servants who will lay down their lives for another.

The man who drafted the Federal Reserve Act while on Jekyll Island, Paul Warburg, stated the following, "Whoever controls the volume of money in any country is absolute master of all industry and commerce." Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the president most responsible for increasing the power of this group, and destroying the private banks through prolongation of the Great Depression. He also was President when the United Nations was founded and established in his home state of New York. In this hour we are seeing another President give increasing power to this group, as the Federal Reserve has just been put forth as the agents to regulate not only the banks, but all of Wall Street as well. Thus the consolidation of power is reaching its climax at this very hour, and with power comes control. Control of the world is Satan’s ultimate goal, and his servants are rapidly advancing their plans as both the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world are headed to their ultimate conflict.

As I have been on Jekyll Island the Father has been revealing many things to me through the use of parables. These parables reveal the preparation of His kingdom for this late hour, even as Satan is seeking to prepare his kingdom for its great rush to ascendancy. What Yahweh has been revealing to me has nothing to do with political action, or even financial preparation (other than urging the saints to get out of debt - in effect exiting the world’s monetary systems). The Spirit’s leading has been heavily focused upon His work to bring God’s people to a conformity to the image of Christ.

In the past two writings sent out I have spoken of the great work Christ is coming to do which will remove the flesh from the Bride and make her ready for His return. This is the main work of Christ to ready His kingdom ministers that they might rule and reign with Him over this world. Christ’s ministers must be selfless, humble, and devoid of personal ambition. Only those who are thus conformed to the image of Christ, where they too can say, “I never do anything of my own initiative; I only do the will of the Father,” can be trusted with the power of the age to come. Thus we see the servants of Satan’s kingdom increasing in all personal attributes and pride, while the servants of Christ are being emptied at this time. We must decrease, but Christ must increase.

Ministers are already prepared and are being set in place, to be used of Christ to remove all flesh from His church. The Spirit continues to bring forth many insights into this work as I am camping, fasting, and seeking His face.

Flesh Hidden in the Sand

A few days ago I had gone out to the beach in the morning to sit with notepad in hand and receive that which the Lord would speak to me. I was drawn to observe people walking up and down the beach looking for sea shells and sand dollars. Such treasures are few and far between on the beach, and they are highly valued by those who can find them. Having lived on the island for a number of years, and visiting it often, I had often done the same as these people. I walked the beaches looking for that which was lying on the surface, visible to the eye to observe.

I knew that Jekyll was renowned for the number of conch shells (pronounced konk) that are to be found on her beaches, but I had only found a few in my years of association there. This particular day I arose from my chair and began to walk the beach and to see what I could see. All across the beach there are little holes that appear to have been left by some type of creature that has burrowed under the sand. They leave little circles around a central hole, and having dug down in the sand where these thousands of holes exist, I had never found anything beneath them. I watched others this day doing the same, with similar lack of success.

I began to think that surely there must be some other type of sign to indicate the presence of conchs and sea snails, whose shells are also very beautiful, so I walked along and closely observed all the markings on the beach. My eye was drawn to a simple little bulge in the sand. It was not a blowhole, like that which others found so deceptively promising, and not nearly existing in the same great numbers. I stuck my fingers down in the sand and began to dig, and just below the surface lay a sea snail with a beautiful shell. I proceeded a bit further and found another one, and then another. These shells were all along the beach, but were below the surface hidden from the eye.

After digging up a few sea snails I found myself pulling a conch from under the sand. I then found another conch, and I began to look for the signs that would differentiate the hidden sea snails from the conch. I found that the mound above a conch shell was always more elliptical, and pretty soon I was able to know precisely what lay under the surface of the sand before I even started digging.

In about an hour’s time I had gone along a stretch of beach covering a few hundred yards and I had dug up approximately fifty conch shells and about 30-40 sea snails. Some I would cast back into the ocean, and some I would leave lying atop the sand to see what tourists would do when they came upon them. The conch is a mollusk and is a staple in the diet of the Bahamas. It can be eaten raw, or scored with a knife and sprinkled with lime juice and spices and broiled. It can be added to stews, salads, chowders or even made into fritters. So those who know what to do with them will end up not only with a beautiful shell, but a tasty meal.

I observed people walking along the beach, some with bags in hand, and when they came to a conch or sea snail that I had dug up they would quickly grab them up as a man grasping a treasure. I began to think of how many of these people had virtually empty sacks when these conchs and snails were everywhere along the beach. Thousands have walked Jekyll’s sandy beaches not knowing what was just below the surface. One needed to know how to discern the signs. Once the signs were understood the presence of the conchs and sea snails was noted in abundance. A person could easily fill a bag in a very short space. A person would truly never starve if they knew how to identify and remove this sea flesh from the sands.

The ministers who will be used of the Lord to find the flesh buried in the life of the Christian in order to remove it, must also recognize the signs. Many do not know what to look for, and observe nothing, yet even as these mollusks create a bulge in the sand, there are always telltale clues that reveal that which lies hidden in the lives of the children of God. The skillful minister will see what is there every time, and they will be able to differentiate one type of flesh from another. They will understand how to reach in and skillfully pull out what is there, laying it out on the surface where even an untrained eye can recognize it.

Such things are learned as we sit patiently before the Lord and listen for His voice. The Spirit of Christ leads us into all truth, and the Spirit will place an anointing for this type of work upon those whom He has prepared.

The Injured Gull

Two days ago, Randy and I were riding bikes along the north beach on Jekyll when Randy spotted an injured sea gull. One wing was hanging down and dragging in the sand as it walked along. Randy got off of his bike and walked over to the bird, which began walking away from him. Randy chased it down and was able to grab it and pick it up, being careful to avoid the bird’s beak, as it was making animated attempts to peck at him. Randy held the bird for a few minutes as we discussed what to do with him, but as there are no veterinary services on the island, and no Department of Natural Resources employees to handle injured wildlife, we concluded that we could only let it go.

We rode a little further and then stopped at an area called Driftwood Beach and sat on some toppled trees by the seashore. I considered that everything that God has led me to encounter during these days of camping has held significance, and I knew that coming across this injured bird was no different. I quickly discerned the parable in this encounter, and I saw that it had bearing on that which had been transpiring between Randy and I, and would be the experience of many in coming days.

In the earlier writings I shared how Yahweh has been dealing with Randy concerning the crucifixion of the flesh, and his habit of using dip tobacco. If you are new to this list, please know that I am not sharing things out of hand to embarrass Randy, as he is my friend and brother. I have shared a great deal regarding my own failings in my writings, for I have found that the tendency of the church to remain silent about personal struggles has hindered the body greatly. Many are afraid to admit their own struggles, as talking about them has become a subject to be avoided. Yet we all are born in sin, and we all must submit to the fiery cleansing of Christ’s purifying work in our lives.

It does much good when Yahweh’s children allow their lives to be open to scrutiny, to serve as examples for others who must also deal with their flesh. If we consider the testimony of Scripture we will see that the Holy Spirit has always revealed the shortcomings and failures of men and women, as well as their triumphs and victories. Thus we read of David’s great faith and mercy, as well as his lust and deception. We read of Peter’s boldness and faith, as well as his cowardice and hypocrisy. In my writings you will read of the faith and obedience I have walked in, as well as my struggles with covetousness, sexual lust, fear, and unruly appetites.

All of those who come to Yahweh as sons must experience His discipline. We must all take up the cross and follow Yahshua. None are called in a condition of righteousness, for we all like sheep have gone astray, and our very best works are as filthy rags in Yahweh’s sight. Randy has struggled greatly with strongholds of the flesh, much as I did myself. As I have shared I am merely a few years further along the path of this fiery purging than he is, and now Yahshua is allowing me to serve as a minister in his moment of purging.

Randy has struggled greatly with unbelief, one of the greatest barriers to accepting the cross. He has felt that he is too weak and flawed to ever attain to the places that the Scriptures declare are the inheritance of the saints, not when they get to heaven, but while they are on earth. He has even felt that he is unable to overcome to the degree that he has observed in my own life. Randy shared with me some months back that he had a dream where he saw me flying above him in an airplane, and I was beckoning to him. He was telling others about their need to get in the plane, but he could not get there himself.

After seeing the injured gull I asked the Lord if He wanted me to share with Randy the understanding of this parable that He would have Randy ask me what I saw in it. As we sat on the beach Randy asked me. I told him that he as the gull. He was born to attain to the heights, to break free of the bonds of the flesh and sin, but that he was injured and unable to fly. I told him that even as he walked over to the gull with no other intention than to help the wounded bird, that Christ was seeking to do the same with him, and so was I. Yet Randy too would run away, being afraid, and when a hand was extended to help him he would try to ward it off as if it was an enemy.

The next day Randy asked me how he had been like the bird, for he did not understand how he had tried to peck at me when I was seeking to help him. I told him that he often did this by cutting off conversation when things got uncomfortable for him, and he also did this to the Lord as he had quit praying and reading his Bible, saying he was getting nothing from the effort. Later that day Randy opened a conversation, filled with self-pity over all of his trials and failures, and I knew that I could not encourage him in this mindset, for self-pity has been the downfall of many mighty men of God, including Moses and Elijah. (See the writing The Peril of Self Pity) When I told Randy that he didn’t want help at that time because he was enjoying his self pity too much, he once more shut down and did not want to talk.

Randy told me that I did not have anything to say that could possibly help him, for he had tried everything already. I assured him that I did have very particular things to share with him, but I was unable to do so until he was ready to receive it. This same message was seen in the earlier writings on Pioneers and Explorers, as it made reference to Joshua circumcising the males of Israel who had come out of the wilderness. No man can be forced to such a painful cutting away of the flesh. All must come willingly, surrendering themselves to the cleansing work of Yahshua (Joshua). As long as we are running away, or seeking to fend off the hand that only wants to help a brother ascend to holy heights, we cannot be helped.

Driven and Tossed

Yesterday I went once more to sit on the beach in the morning with pen and notepad to hear from God. It was cool and windy and the spume was blowing across the sand, having been whipped up by the wind and the churning waves. I had brought a particular notepad to use for this purpose, but had only found it recently, and this was the first day I carried it to the beach. When I opened it up I found the following verses which I had written in it several years earlier.

James 1:6-8 Ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Everything the Father has been speaking to me while camping has had application to the coming ministry of being a cutter of grass (all flesh is as grass). He has very pointedly used Randy during this period of time to reveal to me many of the obstacles to be confronted and overcome in this ministry. I have a great confidence that Randy will overcome all of these obstacles, and having done so that he will be used mightily in days ahead as a minister to others who will take this same way of the cross.

Randy has struggled very much with doubt and unbelief, and I have been very vexed at times as he would allow his words to express the same. Our world is framed by the words we speak, and it is impossible to walk in faith if we are speaking words of unbelief. This is also James (his Hebrew name was Jacob) message in the verses cited. He states plainly that a man who doubts cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord. No matter how much we protest that we have prayed and read the word and made attempt after attempt to put the flesh to death with its passions and desires, it is all vain if we do not believe and are tossed about by doubt.

It is true that none of us can rule over the flesh by ourselves. The Law was given to prove that fact clearly to mankind. It is the second covenant, a covenant of faith that rests in Christ’s promise to do that which we cannot, that brings a man liberty to walk in righteousness. Christ said He came to set the captives free. He did not say He came to preach some new way for man to follow. He said He is the way! Our victory from start to finish is in Him. He has died for the remission of sin. By faith we believe and are cleansed. He walked in victory over every temptation of the flesh, and has sent His Spirit to indwell His children. By faith we receive this Spirit. This Spirit produces in us the desire and the power to do the will of the Father, and this too we enter into by faith.

If we fail to believe any of the promises of Scripture, we will surely not walk in them. The apostle Paul testified to the church in Corinth that God would never allow them to be tempted above their ability, but would always provide a way of egress, a path to victory. If we deny this, saying sin is too great for us, then we will turn back even as the first generation to depart Egypt turned back when they saw giants in the land they were to conquer. They said, “We appeared as grasshoppers next to the inhabitants of the land,” and judging by sight rather than faith, they were unable to enter. Consequently the entire generation died in the wilderness.

We must apply ourselves to the Scriptures and see all that Yahshua has promised to His disciples. We must then believe what He has testified, even when our own past experience is filled with failure and defeat. It is on the wings of faith that we rise and conquer.

As I read these verses from James, and sat contemplating the message of the wind whipped waves before me, I was led to write a poem. I had not understood until that morning how exactly the waves served as an illustration of a doubting man, but that morning I understood. Following is the poem I wrote.

Driven and Tossed

Blown spume scuds along the beach,
Froth whipped by a restless sea.
Divine symbol of a doubting man,
An image pondered by Jacob and me.

Great leagues of ocean everywhere tossed,
Without solid form, unable to stand.
Unsurpassed volume, as weak as it’s vast,
Unmercifully driven by invisible hand.

No impregnable mountain
This vast, churning sea.
Unable to rise,
No towers I see.

A flat, level plain
Devoid stature, without strength.
Never reaching to heaven
Though boundless in length.

A sea of great measure
Is doubting mankind.
Chained to sin’s pleasure,
Release he can’t find.

Vain are his wishes
To attain holy heights.
Unbelief tosses him,
Too discouraged to fight.

For faith is the substance,
Belief solid ground.
Unbelief is like water,
Unstable, unsound.

Let not that man think
He will receive his request
Who does not believe
God’s word stands the test.

Driven and tossed,
Forever to be.
Unable to rise
Over sin’s stormy sea.

For faith is the substance,
Belief solid ground.
To doubt is like water,
Unstable, unsound.

May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.

Explorers and Pioneers to Serve as Guides - Part 2

Explorers and Pioneers to Serve as Guides - Part Two
Joseph Herrin (04-18-08)

In part one of this writing we observed that Yahweh has been signifying in many ways that He is sending forth His Son to perform a flesh cutting work among the bride candidates. This work was recently testified to in the phenomenal celestial sign that occurred in the constellation Bootes. If you have missed reading the article relating to this sign, you can find it here: http://www.heart4god.ws/id655.htm.

I mentioned that there have been an abundance of signs that the Lord has used recently to speak to His children about what is coming. As I have been in a time of camping and seeking His face I have been made aware of a multitude of these signs and their pending application. In the second part of this writing I will share more of these that you might make yourself ready for that which the Lord is set to accomplish. There is wisdom in discerning the hour we live in, and understanding that which the Lord will accomplish in this precise hour. Truly, that which is coming is momentous.

Moses, My Servant

While I was camping in West Georgia I was made aware of a news item of significance for many Americans and others familiar with Hollywood and its icons. This was the death of Charlton Heston. Heston was a leading actor in Hollywood for many years and garnered some of the biggest roles ever to come out of the film industry. One such colossal work was the Cecil B. Demille film The Ten Commandments. It was in its day the grandest undertaking ever attempted by Hollywood, being released in 1956 at a cost of thirteen million dollars, an astronomical sum at the time. The movie ended up being 3 hours and 40 minutes in length, and it utilized over a thousand props and employed hundreds of movie extras in its scenes.

The Ten Commandments was hugely successful and was broadcast on ABC annually for decades during holy week, despite its great length. Charlton Heston played the main character Moses, whose life was depicted from birth through his leading the children of Israel out of bondage, and it culminates at Mt. Sinai where Moses is given the Law on tablets of stone written by the finger of God.

Bob Schlenker also noted the significance of the death of Charlton Heston and he sent out the following comment in an article he posted.

Joshua 1:2
“Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.”

As you may know, this past Saturday night, April 5, 2008, marked the passing of the man known as Charlton Heston. Aside from being a man of extraordinary character, he was an iconic movie star. Known for playing several popular roles, he is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Moses in the 1956 film called "The Ten Commandments." In the minds of many people, he truly represents Moses.

Although Bob and I differ in our understanding of what the Lord will accomplish next, we both agree that this event was given as a sign from God. The days of a man are in Yahweh’s hands. He appoints the times of our birth and death. Charlton Heston could have died decades ago, as many in Hollywood have perished at an early age. But he did not. He died this very month. Why was this so, and what does it signify?

The verse above from Joshua 1:2, I believe, holds the key to understanding. Yahweh is declaring that a work similar to what occurred in the days of Joshua is to occur in this hour. What is this work? After Moses died, Joshua (a type of Yahshua the Messiah) led the people of God across the Jordan. When the Israelites passed through this body of water they were acting out the rite of baptism. It was in this very same river, possibly at the same spot, that Yahshua was baptized by John at the beginning of His earthly ministry.

A Baptism of Fire

Baptism symbolizes death and resurrection, and truly this was the reason for which Christ had come. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, yet the Son of God had nothing of which to repent. The Father in heaven testified at this occurrence, “This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.” Yahshua had no need of repentance, yet He did have a baptism to undergo, and it was acknowledged at the very start of His ministry as John baptized Him in the waters of the Jordan.

Luke 12:49-50
"I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!”

The baptism Yahshua referred to was a fiery baptism. It was a baptism of suffering ending in the cross of Calvary. This was His own passage through death into resurrection life. The church has abandoned the concept that she was called to experience the same fiery baptism. John the Baptist spoke of Yahshua baptizing the people of God with fire.

Matthew 3:11
As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

What is this fire? Some have wrongly concluded that it is the Holy Spirit, relating it to the fiery tongues that rested upon the 120 gathered in the upper room at Pentecost. Yet the baptism of fire is much more than a synonym for being baptized in the Holy Spirit. These are two distinct baptisms.

Malachi 3:2-3
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.

In the Greek, the word for fire is pyr, and this is the same Greek word that our English word pure is derived from. Fire is the greatest cleansing agent in the world. If you wish to purify something then put it in the fire until all that is impure is consumed. Even metals are purified in this way. They are heated by the fire until the impurities are released and arise to the surface where they can be skimmed off. It is through a baptism of fire that Yahshua also cleanses His people. The prophets of the Old Testament prophesied of this coming fiery baptism, and they declared that it would come to the people after it came to their Shepherd.

Zechariah 13:7-9
"Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; and I will turn My hand against the little ones. And it will come about in all the land," declares Yahweh, "That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; but the third will be left in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people,' And they will say, 'Yahweh is my God.'"

The Scriptures that relate to this fiery baptism reserved for the people of God are not relegated to the Old Testament, however, they are found in great number throughout the New Testament as well.

I Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.

The saints are purified by fire even as their Savior was made perfect through suffering. Without faith it is impossible to please God, yet this faith is always perfected by fiery trials.

I Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Yahshua Christ...

Christ said He had come to cast fire upon the earth. He had to undergo a baptism of fire, and so too must all who would be His disciples. In part one we looked at this truth through another symbol, that of the vine that must be pruned. Much of Christianity today is awash in false doctrines of ease and prosperity. Suffering is not a part of their theology. When any hint of trouble comes they begin rebuking the devil, not discerning that Yahweh must scourge every son whom He receives. He scourged His Firstborn, and He will scourge all who follow on as His disciples.

Hebrews 12:6
“For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.”

If you would be accounted as a son who will rule and reign with Christ, then you must endure discipline. Discipline is a fiery process, and it is revealed in the freewill offering where flesh is put upon the fire of the altar to be consumed. It is this precise image that the apostle Paul evokes when he declares the following:

Romans 12:1
I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Present your bodies to the fire for your flesh to be consumed, the apostle urges the saints. Only in this way will you be holy. Only this constitutes your spiritual service before God. Submitting willingly to His purifying trials, and willingly suffering for Christ, is the most profound act of worship.

Multitudes go to church week after week singing their loud songs of praise. They smile and declare that they love God and testify that it is He alone they worship. Yet all the while they assiduously avoid all suffering. They refuse to embrace the cross appointed to them. They request with every prayer that they might be increased in comforts and pleasures and therefore prove themselves to be adulteresses in their hearts rather than true worshipers of Messiah.

James 4:3-4
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

The church has become a friend to the world. The church heaps praise upon the same pursuits that the world chases. Success, fame, prosperity, pleasures, comforts, entertainment, are all made into virtues while humility, contentment, holiness and suffering are shunned. Now, at the consummation of the age, the Lord must return as a purifier of silver and a refiner of gold. He will pour forth fire upon the earth, and particularly upon His own household, for judgment must begin at the house of God.

Some have wisely embraced this fiery cleansing while the opportunity was there to present oneself as a freewill offering. Many will make this choice in days that are pressing down upon us. Yet a great multitude will fall away from the faith. They will refuse the cross, and will be cast away as branches to be burned, absent all reward and glory in the ages to come.

Cutting the Flesh

The sign in the constellation Bootes shows Yahshua coming with scythe in hand and shepherd’s rod in the other, to go to His flock and remove the flesh from their midst. He must have a spiritual people, and this requires that the flesh must be crucified. Immediately after Joshua crossed the Jordan following the death of Moses, he performed a work that revealed this work in a profound and unmistakable way. Joshua had all the people camp at Gilgal, and there he circumcised all the males. This was a second witness to the work to be done, for the first was their baptism in the Jordan, speaking of the death and resurrection appointed to all God’s children.

The name Gilgal indicates a wheel, or a rolling thing. It was there that Yahweh rolled away the reproach of Egypt, which nation serves as a type of the world.

Joshua 5:2-9
At that time Yahweh said to Joshua, "Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time." So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel... Now it came about when they had finished circumcising all the nation, that they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. Then Yahweh said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.

Can you perceive the message contained in this parable? We too have a leader whose name is Yahshua. He too must remove the flesh from our lives. The reproach of all the ways of the world must be rolled away from us. A church that is indistinguishable from the world, sharing all her loves, vices, pleasures and pursuits, has not yet submitted to the knife of Yahshua. Apart from this cutting work the church CANNOT enter into its inheritance.

We have an inheritance, glorious and imperishable set before us. Yet our possession of it requires that we submit to this painful work of Yahshua. It requires faith to submit to this work, for it leaves us vulnerable and helpless even as we are surrounded by enemies. Yet our Shepherd is there with rod in hand to guard all who will surrender to the cutting of the flesh. What a marvelous parable is observed in all that occurred at Gilgal!

People, this is what I see Yahweh coming to do in this hour. He is coming to remove flesh from His church. This will be a fiery trial, but the result will be a people who are purified and who will truly be seen as aliens and strangers in this world. The reproach of Egypt will no longer be found in their camp. They will be a peculiar people, devoted to God while all the world goes on its belly and lives to satisfy the appetites of the flesh.

A Humble Occupation

As I have been camping many things have come to me concerning the work of coming days. Yahshua will use many of His sons and daughters in this work of cutting flesh. Every new era of God requires a new flesh cutting. Thus we observe that when Moses was called to lead the people forth from Egypt that his wife Zipporah had to circumcise Moses’ sons. After Moses’ death Joshua had to circumcise the sons of God.

This work of removing flesh from another man is a humble occupation. A person must stoop, or get down on their knees to perform a circumcision. This is a testimony of the lowliness of this occupation. Those employed in this work must be humble. They are humble because they realize that they too are of flesh, and they know the pain of having their own flesh removed. This causes them to be understanding of the pain inflicted upon another when they submit to this same work.

During circumcision of an adult male, such as occurred at Gilgal, one must also observe that which man desires to keep private and hidden. It is an act of greatest humility, almost always causing shame, for a man to expose his private parts to another. Those who are called to serve in this ministry of flesh cutting must be very discrete. They must not add to another man’s shame through ridicule, scorn, or unseemly comment. Nor must they broadcast another’s sin with an intent to harm. Their only intent must be to make another man ready to enter into their inheritance through a life of holiness.

Perhaps you have already been under the knife of Yahshua and He has dealt with your flesh. I have testified of the flesh cutting work He has been performing in my own life. He has been cutting off pride, covetousness, lust, uncontrolled appetites, and He has been purifying my thoughts, passions and affections.

In one sense this work of flesh cutting will never be complete as long as we occupy these mortal bodies in which sin dwells. We will have to die daily to the desires and passions of the flesh until that day when we receive new, glorified bodies created in righteousness with no knowledge of sin. Yet there is a place we can attain to where we can rule over all of the appetites of the flesh while we are still clothed in corruption. This requires a crucifixion of the flesh as the spirit man arises and places the flesh under its feet.

Galatians 5:24
Now those who belong to Christ Yahshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Yahshua will bring us to face one stronghold of the flesh after another. He will not rest until the entire land of our flesh is conquered. He demands that His people be a holy people, set apart totally for Him, having no other loves that stand in competition against a pure love of Christ. He will lead us to place that which we cherish most upon the altar, even as Abraham was told to sacrifice his son Isaac. What trembling and weakness grips us at such moments, yet abundant grace is poured forth to strengthen those whose hearts yearn for obedience and who fear to fall short of a full surrender to Yahweh.

The hour is late. Yahshua must return soon for a purified Bride. She must be free from spot or blemish. The Bride of Christ must have the stain of the world removed from her garments.

Malachi 3:2
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.

A fuller was one who laundered clothes by stomping on them with his feet. The Lord came to destroy the works of Satan and to place every enemy under His feet. He will accomplish this work as His church places every work of the enemy under their feet. The church must arise and begin to tread on the works of Satan. The body of Christ must wash itself of all that defiles until it stands purified in His sight. This process is absolutely necessary. It cannot be avoided. We will either make ourselves a freewill offering, surrendering to the purifying flames of trials and suffering while obtaining reward, or we will be made a mandatory offering and suffer without reward.

Truly the choice before all the saints is to fall on the Rock and be broken, or the Rock will fall on them and crush them to powder. Dire things are coming upon this world. I strongly suspect a great shaking will begin this year. The response that will please the Father is not one of fear where provision is made for the flesh. The best path is to come to Him now when we are able and ask Him to judge us that we will not need to be judged later. Submit now to His cutting, His pruning, and look to the marvelous fruit that will arise to the praise of His glory.

Passover, the Bloody Work

Immediately after Joshua circumcised the males of Israel and they were healed, they celebrated Passover for the first time in the land of promise.

Joshua 5:10
While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal, they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho.

On the first Passover, on the night before Israel departed from Egypt, the death angel came and slew all the firstborn males in Egypt. Only if the blood of a lamb was seen upon the entryway of the house would the death angel pass over and none would die. In a parallel, this first Passover in the land of promise was accomplished right after Joshua (Yahshua) performed another work marked by blood. A knife was once more applied to a surrendered victim, and blood came forth.

Covenants are sealed in blood. Circumcision is a sign of covenant, and it is attended with the shedding of blood. We are truly in covenant with Yahshua when we surrender our lives to Him that He might cut away the flesh from our lives. Those who refuse this work will not be passed over by the angel of death. All who refuse the crucifixion of the flesh must be cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the Second Death. Is not this motive enough to surrender now to the fiery baptism with which Christ would baptize all His children?

Christ was the Passover Lamb, and we are the sheep of His pasture. We must follow the Lamb wherever He goes. He went to the cross, and there is a cross appointed to each of His children. He will not send us to go alone. He will walk with us every step of the way. He is a compassionate intercessor, for He too has walked this way. He has not ever left me alone, nor will He forsake any who accept His invitation to “come and surrender all.”

May you be granted peace and understanding in these days.