The Hour is at Hand

Joseph Herrin (01-21-2010)















We live in an hour of great transition. Perhaps those in America can discern the physical type of this transition that was signified in President Obama’s campaign promise of “Change.” Indeed, great change is being wrought in this nation, but not of a positive kind.

This great change in the natural realm is a symbol of a parallel change that is occurring in the spiritual realm. We are in a great time of transition in the Kingdom of God.

Those who subscribe to this blog will have noted that I have been absent from writing, or having any form of Internet access, for more than two months. Only a handful of people have known the reason for this.

Back in 1999 the Spirit of Christ spoke to me and told me that I was to begin using my first name in all of my writings. At this time I was writing the first book that the Spirit had commissioned me to write. This book is titled The Remnant Bride.

http://www.heart4god.ws/id22.htm

The software I was using at the time assigned numbers to the pages as they were posted, and it is not without significance that the beginning of my teaching to the body of Christ should be marked with the number 22. This number signifies flesh cutting and the cross, as well as being symbolic of the glory to be obtained by those who freely submit to this requisite fiery path to promotion.

From my childhood I had been called by my middle name. My full name is Joseph Bradley Herrin. My parents, family and friends all knew me as “Brad.” However, in 1999 the Spirit told me to no longer be called Brad, but to be called by my first name of Joseph. He testified to me that my name was specifically appointed to me, and I would later understand the significance of it. Little did I know that I would be subjected to the same fiery course of preparation for promotion that the son of Jacob who first bore that name experienced. Before promotion comes abasement. Before authority and power can be bestowed, humility must be formed in the heart of a man.

This past year I have continued to share insights into the life of Joseph, for he is a type and pattern of all those who would attain to the resurrection of the dead. The apostle Paul spoke of this resurrection, and of his own earnest striving to be found worthy to attain to it.

Philippians 3:10-15
That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the (out) resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Yahshua. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Yahshua. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude...

All will be resurrected in their own order, but there is a premier resurrection from the dead that is foreshadowed in all the Old Testament types of the FIRSTBORN. Those who attain to the first resurrection will be the firstborn from the dead. These will be the first to attain to resurrection life, and their preeminence in resurrection will surpass all who follow later.

If you do not understand the three resurrections of the dead, and the surpassing excellence of those who will attain to the first resurrection, I would recommend to you the following two chapters from Christ in You - The Hope of Glory.

http://www.heart4god.ws/id665.htm
http://www.heart4god.ws/id666.htm

Joseph was the eleventh born son of Jacob. Reuben was the firstborn son. Yet Reuben disqualified himself from receiving the preeminence that is the honor of the firstborn. This honor was given to Joseph, the suffering son who lived a separate life from that of his brothers.

Genesis 49:3-4
Reuben, you are my first-born; My might and the beginning of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed; Then you defiled it - he went up to my couch.

Genesis 49:22-26
Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; Its branches run over a wall. The archers bitterly attacked him, and shot at him and harassed him; But his bow remained firm, and his arms were agile. From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel); From the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of the one distinguished (separate) among his brothers.

People of God, there is a high cost to attaining to the first resurrection. It must of necessity be this way, for preeminence comes at a cost. Power and authority and glory can only be given to the humble and obedient, otherwise they would misuse it, or become conceited after the pattern of Satan and fall into transgression. Obedience is only learned through suffering. The first resurrection is an honor reserved for the overcomers in Christ.

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Joseph suffered while his brothers enjoyed liberty, ease and many comforts. The right of the firstborn was taken from the one born first of natural order and given to the one born first of spiritual order. How relevant are the words of Christ in this regard.

Luke 13:28-30
There will be weeping and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves being cast forth (banished, driven away). And [people] will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit down (feast at table) in the kingdom of God. And behold, there are some now last who will be first then, and there are some now first who will be last then.
[Amplified Bible]

Only those who love the Father, and fear Him; only those who yearn earnestly to receive a spiritual inheritance imperishable in the heavens, and who will forego receiving their good things now in this age, will pay the cost of attaining to the number of the firstborn, and attain to the first resurrection.

E.W. Bullinger shares a fact concerning the price of redeeming a man that reveals the high cost of being numbered among the firstborn.

The redemption money was ten gerahs, and thus was acknowledged both what God claimed, and what man was responsible to give. Now ten gerahs was half a shekel (Exo 30:12-16; Num 3:47). Every male that was numbered, over 20 years of age, must pay this sum and meet God's claim...
But the first-born were to pay ten times as much; for when God took the Levites instead of the first-born of Israel, there were found 22,273 first-born males, but only 22,000 Levites. So that 273 had to pay the ransom money, which amounted to ten times ten gerahs. Thus, though the five shekels looked like a variation, the significance of ten is sustained, for the five shekels were ten times the "half shekel." (See Numbers 3:12,13,40-51).
[Source: http://philologos.org/__eb-nis/ten.htm]

The cost of being numbered among the firstborn was ten times the cost of those who were later born. The spiritual substance of this natural shadow is that those who attain to the first resurrection must pay a higher cost for the privilege. They cannot walk carelessly, nor remain at ease as their brothers are desirous of doing. They cannot be led of their own soul. They must submit to the will of the Spirit in all things. They must come to an end of self-direction of their life. They must walk in a straitened manner, devoid of personal liberty, doing only what they are commanded to do.

Joseph fulfilled this type, for he was made a slave while his brothers lived as free men. This restriction then became more severe as Joseph was made a slave in prison. When he learned to no longer kick against the restraint; when he began to rest contentedly in whatever God chose for him, then he was ready to be brought out of the prison and entrusted with glory and power and authority.

All who would attain to the honor of the firstborn from the dead; all who would rule and reign with Christ during the thousand years of the millennial kingdom of Christ; all who would stand as priests and kings before Yahweh, must follow the same pattern of preparation for the throne.

Since 1999 my life has conformed to this same pattern. It has been a decade of trials, of sorrows, of suffering and loss. It has been a decade of shame and humiliation, for such is the path all sons must travel to attain to the resurrection from the dead. I will not recount my experiences here, for they are recorded in the book Evidence of Things Unseen, and in the post titled A Testimony of a Dying Son.

http://www.heart4god.ws/id426.htm
http://www.heart4god.ws/a-testimony-of-a-dying-son.html

I have been honored of the Father to pass through many experiences similar to Joseph’s. I have been rejected by family, both natural and spiritual. My fellow ministers (shepherds of their Father’s flocks, even as were Joseph’s brothers) cast me out from their midst. I have walked alone very often, though God has always been with me. Yet one experience of Joseph’s had not yet been my own. He was cast into prison.

I can now testify that this too has been my portion. From November 17th 2009 until January 16th 2010, a period of 60 days, it was my Father’s will for me to experience imprisonment as a criminal (II Timothy 2:9). What others have intended for evil, Yahweh has meant for good.

I am not desirous of stating the details of this experience publicly, for to do so I would have to speak of other people’s transgressions. Nor do I desire to give a defense of self. It is God who must ultimately vindicate His obedient sons and daughters, and my reputation is resting in His hands.

It has been the experience of many more of God’s saints since the day of Joseph to experience bonds and imprisonment. Few were ever placed there with reputation intact. Paul was charged with profaning the Law of God and the traditions of the Patriarchs, as well as being a rabble rouser and insurrectionist. Christ was accused of blasphemy and of declaring Himself to be a King, which the Jews and Romans characterized as treason against the emperor of Rome.

Peter, James, John, Timothy, Jeremiah, and untold other saints throughout time have been placed in bonds and accused of many things. Many were not vindicated until after their deaths. For this reason all who would walk as overcomers and accept with contentment the path to promotion, must as Christ, despise the shame. See the article Despising the Shame.

http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/despising-shame.html

Some may remember that last year I posted an article titled Internment Coming.

http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/internment-coming.html

As pioneers and explorers, the Father is leading a group of sons and daughters to experience many things before their brethren. Little did I know when I wrote that writing that I would myself be incarcerated before the year was up. The Spirit is testifying that there is a larger remnant of God’s people that must taste of these things before the hour of their promotion arrives. Yahweh would have His forerunning saints to serve as guides and encouragers to those who must follow behind them. This is after the pattern of Joseph and Moses.

Moses was led to dwell in the wilderness for 40 years where God humbled him. He was then sent back to lead God’s people out of Egypt, and they too experienced 40 years in the wilderness where God humbled them.

Joseph experienced captivity in Egypt before his brothers. Later the entire nation of Israel experienced slavery and bondage in Egypt. There are always forerunners, and these serve as guides to those who follow behind them.

Lest some should think at this point that my own estimation of the cost of following the Lord is too high, or that it is a great vexation, or something detestable and loathsome, let me declare that I have come to the same opinion of these trials as did the apostle Paul.

Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.

II Corinthians 4:17-18
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The grace of God is such that the unbearable becomes bearable, that which is despised is accepted, and we are able to “count it all joy when we fall into various trials.” Yahshua urged His disciples to have such a mind when they too suffered in their obedience to Him.

Luke 6:22-23
"Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven...”

Brothers and sisters, I share these things with you that you might not only understand my absence from the Internet these past months, but that you might begin to gird up your own minds, being willing to suffer shame and loss in pursuit of the high calling of God. The Spirit expressly testifies that such experiences are coming to God’s elect.

All who would be named among the overcomers in Christ must manifest great patience and endurance before the race is completed. There is great fellowship in the sufferings of Christ, and I can truly testify that many of my most precious times of intimacy with Christ have been in hours of affliction. In retrospect I do not remember the affliction, but rather the sweetness of the fellowship that I knew as Christ walked with me through the fire.

I also want to notify you that the Spirit is revealing to me that He would send me out across the nation again to instruct and strengthen the hearts of His remnant. This is to prepare them for the hour of testing to come. Even as there are 60 minutes in an hour, the Father appointed to me 60 days in jail, symbolizing the “hour of testing” that is to come upon the whole world.

I will write more about this call to cross this nation in my next blog posting. I anticipate spending more time in each place than I did on my trip last year, doing a series of teachings over the course of some days as the Father directs. Please be praying that the Father would make known whether there is to be such a teaching held in your own area, and what your part may be in these things. Hosts will be needed in order to provide a place for small groups to meet.

When Joseph was brought up out of prison we read the following:

Genesis 41:46
And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went through all the land of Egypt.

The Spirit is testifying to me that our Father would at this time send me throughout all the land once more to make preparation for the coming hour of testing. There will truly be a famine in the land, and grain must be stored up at this time.

Amos 8:11-12
“Behold, days are coming," declares Yahweh God, “When I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of Yahweh. And people will stagger from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will go to and fro to seek the word of Yahweh...”

There must be sons and daughters in that hour who will serve as repositories of the word of Yahweh. These must open up the storehouses and feed a famished people in an hour of great famine.

The wealth of the sons of God is not material possessions, houses and lands and many pleasures. The wealth we receive is the true Manna that comes down from heaven. Taste and see that the Lord is good. We have this treasure in earthen vessels, even the Spirit of the living Christ.

It is an hour for grain to be placed into storehouses in preparation for the days of famine. The Spirit is declaring that the hour to go across this land to lay up this grain in appointed vessels is now.

He who has called is faithful. HE WILL ACCOMPLISH IT.

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

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063