Introduction

Bob and I would like to say at the outset of this year's Shepherd's Rod, that the revelations which came during the Atonement season were not necessarily what we were expecting, but clearly what is needed. In short, this next year will be a time of completion and a time of commissioning.

Much of the preparatory work that has been taking place within many of God's people will be brought to a place of fullness or completion over this next season in preparation for "crossing over" into the land of fulfilled promises. Nevertheless, although a grooming mode will continue, these days will also be marked with divine visitation and personal impartation.

The Holy Spirit's refining work will continue until the Lord's return. However, there are crossroads in human history marked by divine visitation and spiritual outpouring that generates a harvest of souls and greater measures of truth and understanding in God's Word. This is accomplished through individuals who have yielded themselves to God and become trustworthy stewards of His revelation and power.

We have come to such a crossroads that presently stands before us. We must take every opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to sift from our souls every potential hindrance and encumbrance. Like David we cry:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Breakthrough with the Young

The initial revelations given for this year's "Day of Atonement" strategy started with a vision of young adults. Clearly, everything that God is doing today involves the entirety of His Church. Every age group, ethnic community and demographic is called to their post of duty in this, perhaps, the most crucial hour in Church history. Nevertheless, the revelatory insights, once again, emphasized God's heart to mobilize an army of young people with radical faith and passion.

This is also evidenced by the emphasis given to this age group by our adversary in his attempt to divert and corrupt this young generation. There is presently a battle raging for our children. We must be mobilized to meet this challenge and call for the truest form of Christianity that is filled with both Spirit and power. That is the only answer we can offer to win this generation. As the prophet Joel predicted:

"Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." Joel 2:27-28

Again, the Lord's desire to emphasize this struggle stresses its importance. The Lord intends to impart within us a form of faith that is saturated with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:7-8 declares:

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

Throughout Church history, there have been crossroads where children and young adults were used to introduce an entire generation to the manifestation of God's Spirit. One of the most well-known in our generation is the outpouring that took place under the leadership of H.A. Baker as recorded in his book, "Visions Beyond the Veil."

This fascinating story highlights a group of young people visited by the Lord's Spirit who experienced visions and revelations of the Lord that radically transformed them and their community. There have been other examples of this reality, but this one seems to capture our attention and imagination as a prophetic model of God's intent to pour His Spirit out upon all flesh.

Part of the introduction of "Visions Beyond the Veil" states:

"Visions?...In the 20th century? You might dismiss the visions of other people with a shrug. But somehow, when it's a child, it makes you stop and think. Only in this case, it was not just one child--but many.

Children who had been street beggars before they arrived at the Adullam Rescue Mission asked God to reveal Himself to them. This book records the result of the faithful expectation of these young orphans. Unlearned and unschooled, they experienced revelations and visions of Heaven surprisingly accurate to the Biblical account. A truly remarkable book about the truly remarkable God!"

The Visitation:

"The morning prayer meeting was lasting longer than usual. The older children left the room one-by-one to begin their studies in the school-room, while a few of the smaller boys remained on their knees, deep in prayer. The Lord was near; we all felt the presence of the Holy Spirit among us. Some who had gone out came back into the room.

Tears began to stream down the faces of all those present as they came under a strong conviction of sin--something we had been praying for a long time--and, with their arms in the air, they cried to the Lord for forgiveness. One person after another fell down under the mighty power of the Holy Spirit until more than twenty were lying flat on the floor. When I saw that the Lord was doing a really unusual thing among us, I slipped over to the schoolroom and told the boys that if they felt led to come and pray, they might be excused from their school work.

In a short while, the Chinese teacher was left sitting alone by the table. All his pupils had returned to the prayer room, and were now enthusiastically praying and praising the Lord. When the teacher realized there was nothing for him to do, he decided to go home. I had not invited him to come in with the children, for, although he had been with us a long time, he did not seem at all interested in spiritual things. He went a short distance from the house but then turned back. When he entered the prayer room no one noticed him; everyone was too busy having their own dealings with the Lord. He went to a far corner of the room, and, for the first time in his life, knelt down and tried to pray.

The meeting went on hour after hour with the children showing no desire to leave. I had nothing to do or say; the Lord seemed in complete control; I just tried to keep out of His way.

As the children saw, in their visions, the awfulness of hell, the despair of those who were lost, and the indescribable evil of the devil and his angels, their agonized crying was beyond anything I had ever experienced before. It was all incredibly real to them. In their visions, many saw themselves in chains being dragged to the very edge of hell, which became an awful and terrible reality. As they realized they were sinners in the grip of the devil, who ought to be punished, they were terrified. But the grace of the Lord Jesus to bring freedom was just as real. The joy, laughter and peace they received, and the knowledge of what they had been saved from was an experience which I am sure will never leave them....

In the first few days, no one paid much attention to eating or sleeping. Whenever the young people began to pray, the power of God would come, causing many to fall to the floor. It was impossible to have meals at regular hours without interfering with the work of the Holy Spirit. As the power of God lifted from them, various ones would go out for a time to rest or eat something, and then they would return to the prayer room soon to be under the power of the Holy Spirit again.

One thing is certain. All that was demanded of us missionaries during this move of the Holy Spirit was that we keep out of the way and did not interfere with His wonderful work. Our part was to open up our own hearts, so that we too, might have a deeper experience of the Heavenly blessings that were being showered upon us.

From the very beginning, our experience of the Holy Spirit at this time--the manifestations, the visions and revelations--was so beyond our own experience and knowledge, that my wife and I said to one another that the only resource we had was to believe that God was bigger than the devil. We trusted in God's promise:

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Luke 11:11-13

--End of "Visions Beyond the Veil" Excerpt

There is an all out assault by the army of darkness against the young of this generation. Much of this war is fought in the realm of contemporary media. Nevertheless, where evil is abundant, grace will much more abound (Romans 5:20). Light will always overcome darkness! Our present call as a body of believers is to become the light of this world and illuminated with present revelation. Daniel foresaw this generation and prophesied:

"Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of Heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." Daniel 12:3

Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory

In Bob's vision of this reality, the young people were very joyous as they were having personal encounters with the Lord. In the experience, the youth were shouting, "Joy unspeakable and full of glory," emphasizing this Scripture and God's intent to manifest this aspect of His plan during this next spiritual season.

In its truest form, joy is a sense of well-being, despite circumstances. Those that maintain this position in their hearts and recognize God's sovereignty, will begin to experience measures of glory in the coming season.

College campuses will continue to be visited by God's Spirit to awaken this young generation to the reality of the true Christian life. Many of tomorrow's champions will be identified in this environment and prepared to be used by the Holy Spirit, even in their youth. This will be part of the restoration of our inheritance that has become desolate. Isaiah prophesied:

"In a favorable time I have answered you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you; and I will keep you and give you for a covenant of the people, to restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; Saying to those who are bound, 'Go forth,' to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' Along the roads they will feed, and their pasture will be on all bare heights" Isaiah 49:8-9

Many of America's universities were initially formed as institutions to prepare people to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations of the earth. This mandate will be recaptured with modern-day missionaries being commissioned and empowered with end-time anointing. These individuals will not merely carry good theological understanding, but an experiential encounter that has transformed them.

The youth of this generation are going to discover exuberance and joy in God for which the spirit of this world has no substitute. They will discover that the greatest journey of all is to walk with the Lord Jesus, and know Him intimately. Drugs, alcohol and other addictions will then lose their captivation among this group.

In his hymn "Joy Unspeakable" written in 1900, Barney Elliott Warren penned these words that seem to capture the essence of this truth:

I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth ev'ry need;
While I sit and learn at Jesus' feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory,
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told

I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing! I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.

I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace;
Oh, the Savior's presence is so near,
I can see His smiling face

I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll!
It is like a great o'er flowing well,
Springing up within my soul.

Panel of Seven Judges

The next vision Bob had highlighted a panel of seven God-ordained "judges" commissioned to begin judging prophecies to determine which are from the Lord and which are not. He saw six men and one woman serving in this capacity. Presently, there is a flood of prophetic insight being distributed to the Church. Many of the things prophesied are from the Holy Spirit, while others are born in the mind and imagination of people; while yet others may be a mixture of both.

During Biblical times, the sounding of a trumpet was crucial. Their lives depended upon the clarity of the sound so that the people would know how to prepare themselves. There was a trumpet sound for war and another trumpet sound for a holy convocation. Our present call is for our trumpet to be clear, concise and accurate. This will begin to eliminate much of the confusion that now exists.

Our generation is desperate for a more sure word of prophecy. We must improve in this area. Thankfully, through these revelations, the Lord is emphasizing His desire to provide the spiritual insight we need to meet this challenge. In essence, the Lord desires to remove the leaven from our prophetic insight, so that we more clearly see the path ahead and the necessary preparation to cooperate with Him.

During the prophetic ministry of Ezekiel, there were many people prophesying false visions and utterances. The river had been polluted by the agendas of men. Even so, the Lord promised a time of restoration when gallant men and women would stand before God and say only what He is saying. Ezekiel recorded:

"Son of man, what is this proverb you people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, 'The days are long and every vision fails?' Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, I will make this proverb cease so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.' But tell them, 'The days draw near as well as the fulfillment of every vision.

For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I the LORD will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD.'" Ezekiel 12:22-25

The number seven is a number of completion and fullness. Seeing the seven "judges" does not necessarily imply that there will literally be seven people charged with this responsibility, although that is a possibility. Rather, we believe it is a commission being given to the Church and a complete release of grace to achieve it.

The entire Body of Christ worldwide will experience this measure of wisdom and understanding to discern His voice and be separated from others. The Lord promised:

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand." John 10:27-28

The Spirit of revelation is fundamentally essential for the eradication of spiritual stupor that blinds our eyes and stops our ears from hearing clearly. Without God's illumination, we are doomed to repeating past mistakes and failures. Moses' generation missed their door of opportunity because they did not possess eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to understand God's purpose. (Deuteronomy 29:4)

The Living Word

Separating the clean from the unclean and the precious from the profane can only be achieved by the manifestation of the Living Word. Hebrews 4:12 states:

"For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

These days will see the Lord returning as the Living Word to separate spirit from soul and judge the thoughts and intentions of men's hearts. Many of our prophetic utterances are determined by the sincerity of our hearts. We simply cannot allow selfish ambition or personal agendas to dictate the flow of prophetic insight.

The prophet Micaiah is a wonderful spiritual type of this ministry emerging today. This man of God lived during the days of Ahab and Jezebel. On one occasion, Ahab invited righteous King Jehoshaphat to partner with him in war against Israel's enemies. Interestingly, Ahab's desire was to retake Ramoth-Gilead, a territory that rightfully belonged to Israel. However, this fulfillment would not take place under his unrighteous leadership but at an appointed time.

Jehoshaphat purposed to inquire of the Lord to determine God's will in this endeavor. Hence, Ahab paraded 400 of his prophets before the Kings. Everyone prophesied the wishes of Ahab. Something in the heart of Jehoshaphat was not content with this perspective. He asked if there was yet one more who could contact Heaven and declare God's heart. Ahab said:

"There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." I Kings 22:8

There was one prophet willing to say just what God was saying and his name was Micaiah. This courageous prophet withstood overwhelming pressure from the other prophetic camp in order to stand before Israel and Judah as a righteous prophetic voice. I Kings 22:13-14 records that:

"Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, 'Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.' But Micaiah said, 'As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I shall speak.'"

Micaiah related to Ahab and Jehoshaphat his vision of seeing a deceiving spirit being commissioned from God's Throne to rest upon Ahab's prophets. It is important to understand that these voices were Hebrew prophets that were supposed to be trained and equipped to stand before Israel as God's spokesmen. But because of wrong motivations, God allowed a spirit of deception to prevail leading to Ahab's demise.

Micaiah went on to prophesy the failure of this mission and the ultimate downfall and death of Ahab. Clearly, this infuriated the king who vowed to reward Micaiah with incarceration saying:

"Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely. Micaiah said, 'If you indeed return safely the LORD has not spoken by me.'" I Kings 22:27-28

The strength and fortitude of Micaiah is a prophetic model for the panel of "judges" that will bring separation in the coming days. All prophetic voices have the opportunity to allow this sifting and separation to take place within us so that our own voices would be pure and unadulterated.

The Number Seven

Seven seems to be the number with primary prophetic significance for this year. Seven is taken from a root word signifying completion or fullness. It is first used in Genesis 2:2 when God rested after the completion of His labors.

God rested on the seventh day because His work was entirely perfect and complete. Therefore, we can interpret this application to signify this year--as a time of measurable completion of God's preparatory dealings within our lives before the next installment of His plan.

God's provision in and through the Lord Jesus is complete and perfect. The life that He demonstrated on earth and the power ministry that He conveyed is one that we can aspire to, but only through submission to the Holy Spirit. Seven is also a symbolic representation of the sevenfold Spirit of God that will rest upon the "sons of the Kingdom." (Matthew 13:38)

In Zechariah 4:6-10 the prophet declared:

Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. 'What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!'""

Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth."

The Seven Spirits of God will rejoice when they see a righteous "plumb line" being demonstrated among God's people. That is the function of the seven judges who will begin to separate truth from the precepts of men. This work will begin to prepare the Bride of Christ without spot or wrinkle, so that she can become one with the Bridegroom. This season of the Spirit will initiate this process in greater measure.

When a time of completion has arrived, then a day of new beginnings will be birthed. The Lord has "fullness of time" junctures in human history when His Spirit flourishes with fresh understanding of His nature and character. The results will always be a harvest of souls and greater influence in Heavenly places. This time of completion will launch us into such a time as that.

Someone once said that time was created so that everything would not happen at once. Clearly, Church history validates that we have been in a progressive recovery of lost heritage and the maturation of a Body of people to walk as "sons of the Kingdom." We also have a Biblical promise outlining God's ability to redeem lost time and do quickly what we perceive would take a long time.

After 40 years, Israel's wandering came to a completion and a new beginning surfaced. Likewise, our generation saw in 1967--the long foretold restoration of Jerusalem into the hands of the Jewish people. That has also run a complete cycle marking another day of new beginnings both for Israel and the Church.

This reality also has significant implications with the political environment and our involvement in the war on terrorism. The Lord has made it emphatically clear that if His people will pray for our President and our armies, He will do something miraculous that will allow us as a nation to withdraw from Iraq in victory and honor, not in defeat and shame.

A Harvest of Prophets

In the next series of revelations, Bob saw a harvest of individuals coming from the black community, especially the young, who will immediately be thrust into an accelerated training and equipping mode to function as prophets to the nations. God has ordained for significant leadership to emerge from our black brothers and sisters with an emphasis on the revelatory gifting and prophetic worship.

Our council is to recognize this spiritual emphasis and co-operate with the Holy Spirit in its fulfillment. I have repeatedly heard the Lord say that this season will generate a harvest of harvesters. There is a grace to win souls into the Kingdom during this new beginning with an equal accentuation on training and equipping.

During March 2007, while doing a conference in England, I received a wonderful confirmation of this truth through Surprise Sithole, a black man from South Africa, who works with Rolland and Heidi Baker and Iris Ministries.

I wrote about this revelation in my book Angels That Gather. The following is an excerpt:

Harvesters Arise

"One final confirmation concerning this generation's promised harvest arrived only days before this book was scheduled to go to print. While in Dudley, England, to speak at a prophetic conference, I met Surprise Sithole, African director of Partners in Harvest. He helps oversee, with Rolland and Heidi Baker, over six thousand Churches birthed through Iris Ministries in Mozambique, Africa. Notable miracles the Lord performed through this man of God are on record. On my behalf, the Lord used Surprise to offer the final affirmation that this is the season for a harvest of harvesters.

In my session, I began to speak about the revelation of the present mandate to entreat the Lord of the Harvest to gather laborers into the barn to be trained and mentored through a season of accelerated equipping for the great harvest. When I shared this revelation, Surprise grew very excited and mentioned that this was the first time a revelation given to him, three years before, had been confirmed.

He related to the group how in 2004, he had been in a service and found himself troubled by some of what had transpired. He immediately went to his hotel room and knelt on the floor to pray. When he did, he felt a sensation of ascending, similar to what one would experience in a very fast elevator.

When he opened his eyes, he realized he was having a Heavenly experience. There before him stood the Ancient of Days with millions of people prostrate before Him in adoration and worship. The transition from the natural to the spiritual realm had shifted so suddenly, he was uncertain what had transpired. The Ancient of Days assured him he was experiencing a divine revelation with a strategic purpose.

Surprise then found himself holding Heavenly fruit. With this realization, he also saw Enoch and Elijah standing at a distance. His first inclination was to share this fruit with them. However, the Ancient of Days informed him that the fruit was not for them, but for the people of the earth.

The Ancient of Days counseled, "Take this fruit and share it with your brethren in the earth, and tell the harvesters to arise." Surprise was overwhelmed by that statement's magnitude. "How?" he asked. The Lord answered, "The gifts are coming." Finally, Surprise asked one more question: "When?" With that final question, the millions who had been prostrate before the Lord, stood to their feet and simultaneously shouted, "NOW!"

I was thrilled beyond description to hear Surprise share this testimony of his Heavenly experience. He heard directly from the Lord's lips, the directive for the "harvesters to arise." This gave me the final confirmation of our entry into a season that will exhibit both the fruit of the Spirit and the power of God. The purpose of this impartation will be to gather a wave of harvest consisting primarily of harvesters to be used in the great harvest.

Embracing our Opportunity

We have reached a "fullness of time" juncture in Church history. God's end-time plan is being catapulted in motion with a "breakthrough" anointing. Naturally, this is not all He is doing, but certainly it is a vital part.

"The LORD has opened His armory and has brought forth the weapons of His indignation; For it is a work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans." Jeremiah 50:25

--End of excerpt from "Angels That Gather."

The Emerging Modern Day Ruths'

Bob saw many spiritual "Ruths'" taking their eyes off of themselves and their circumstances that have been like bondage and prison. Now is the time for this company of women to "breakthrough" their desperate situation and return to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. It will be a notable time of personal and corporate breakthrough. The Book of Ruth will become a living book to women this year and a prophetic outline for the Bride of Christ.

The Book of Ruth is primarily a story of redemption, devotion and love. It outlines the forsaking of meaningless traditions and harsh circumstances in order to embrace truth and a new beginning. Ruth said:

"Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." Ruth 1:16

Naomi is a spiritual type of the Holy Spirit. When Ruth made the decision to follow her unconditionally, it catapulted her into a place of fruitfulness and honor. She actually became the great-grandmother of King David and is in the direct lineage of the Lord. Ruth came to a crossroad requiring that she either turn back to the familiar or press forward into fresh new territory that led to her union with Boaz, who is a type of Christ.

The harsh environment and failures from which Ruth emerged, prepared her for destiny. Although our past and present circumstances have been difficult and seemingly overwhelming, nevertheless, the Lord has allowed it for a fruitful end. It is a time of God's favor for breakthrough and breakout with God's blessing saying:

"May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman." Ruth 4:11-12

This next season will see many women emerging from times of oppression into supernatural encounters with the Living Word. 2 Samuel 5:20 declares:

"So David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, 'The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.' Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim."

The name "Perez" means "breakthrough" denoting this coming season as a time of victory and favor, especially for women prepared for this purpose. Then the way will be made clear for the next leg of the journey. Strong intercession will then be sounded with unity and authority. There will be many conferences in certain areas devoted to women and this mandate.

The Righteous Heard in Heaven

In his revelation Bob heard the phrase, "The righteous shall cry out to God and He will hear and answer them." In God's scheme of things, there is a principal of sowing and reaping. For a season, we have been sowing tears and we are going to reap joy; we have been sowing prayers, and we are going to reap answered prayer. Psalm 34:17 declares:

"The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles."

A higher level of righteousness is being imputed to a Body of people who will hear from God and provide clarity and insight. When we cry out to God from a position of righteousness in this season, He will answer us with discernment and provision communicated through Psalm 25 and 26--the Psalms of the righteous.

These Psalms carry our provision for the coming season. Authority, power and anointing essential for this next interval of the Spirit can be found and emphasized in the truths of these Psalms. They will become a "blueprint" for the next season and will be opened for the righteous.

In Psalm 25, King David submits himself in totality to God. As a result, it is his anticipation that God will now deal with his enemies and not allow him to be overrun by them. That is a present promise for this time. God's quest has been for us to submit ourselves completely to Him. When this is achieved, our spiritual tormentors will be dealt with by the Holy Spirit. He will release from Heaven strong angels to neutralize the principalities and powers that have been withstanding the destiny of God's people.

This will also open up greater insight into God's ways. His ways are much higher and we must ascend to a greater height to appropriate them. David penned:

"Make me know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day.

Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindness, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your lovingkindness remember me, for Your goodness' sake, O LORD" Psalm 25:4-7

This promise also emphasizes our present opportunity to bring certain things to completion and experience commissioning for new beginnings. For many years, the Church has been attempting to accomplish its mandate through the ways of men. Now we are being given the opportunity to comprehend God's ways which are always fruitful. There will be a continued emphasis in the area of teaching and mentoring in the coming days. This is part of our calling to arise into maturity and the fullness of the stature of Christ.

In Psalm 25, David also asks for God's intervention in his life to promote righteousness. We are incapable of achieving that within ourselves. We need God!

Psalm 26 outlines David's noble prayer and commitment to harbor no falsehood or deception. He prays for purity of heart and motive in order to be God's instrument during his generation. That is precisely the emphasis for today. To be used most fruitfully during this outpouring, we must ask for and insist upon the purity of God's Spirit resting within and delivering us from our own selfish ambition and agendas.

The Wicked Heard in Heaven

There will be a Heavenly response to the cries of both the righteous and the wicked. The righteous will discover deliverance and fruitfulness, while the wicked will devour the fruit of their own words.

As the wicked cry out with curses and blasphemy against God, it will unleash a spiritual dynamic that will be very costly. The significant portion of these revelations is that each group will begin to receive more immediate responses to their cry.

"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." Psalm 1:1-6

If we cry out to the Holy Spirit, our answer will come from Him. If others cry out with cursing and blasphemy, they will hear from the god of this world and a response will be given. What we sow we shall reap! If we sow righteousness we will reap answers from the God of Righteousness. If we sow cursing and blasphemy then we will reap the same!

Tremendous Fear

This will be a season of unparalleled fear, especially to the unsaved. The greatest fear will be that individuals will not get their desires. It is much more important to receive what we need than what we want. There is a rampant anxiety that is being released in the unredeemed, that economic shaking and financial meltdowns will not allow them to achieve all of their personal desires. This can range from jobs and salaries that provide personal hobbies, access to certain people groups, and other things promoted by the spirit of this world.

Our society is being driven to achieve "position and status" that have no lasting spiritual value. Instead, our counsel is to fix our eyes on things above where Christ is in the eternal realm. The things of this earth are temporary and fading, yet much emphasis is being placed in our society to achieve those very things.

The wicked will not get what they crave and it will cause tremendous anxiety. The wicked desire their way while the righteous desire God's way! In many aspects, the righteous will not get precisely what we expect or desire, but we will get God's way and the things that we need in this next installment of His plans. This will also be a time of great deliverance for Christians suffering from panic attacks and rampant fear.

Much of what will be transpiring today has not yet been seen or heard nor has it entered into the hearts of men. Therefore, we cannot desire what we have not yet seen. It will be the literal fulfillment of 1 Corinthians 2:9:

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

What He has for the righteous is greater than our minds can presently perceive. Conversely, the wicked's greatest fear will be their lack of ability to support their lifestyle of sin and self-serving pleasure. This is part of the shaking that will be taking place in this nation and around the world.

The righteous will have a focus and attention on Heaven that provides a Godly fear that existed in the life of Christ. We are told in Hebrews 5:7 that:

"In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His Godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father]." (Amplified Version)

This form of Godly fear or piety identifies the heart of the righteous as exemplified in the Lord's earthly ministry. We are told in this Scripture that He was heard because, "He shrank in horror at the mere thought of being separated from the bright presence of His Father." The righteous fear that they will do something that would separate them from the unimpeded flow of God's Spirit.

This also denotes greater access to the manifestation of His presence individually and corporately. In essence, we must become good stewards of God's grace to walk with Him as Enoch did and obtain the testimony that we are pleasing to Him.

The Burden Bearers

In the next visions, Bob saw a donkey that was loaded with supernatural provision essential for this interval of God's Spirit. Interestingly, though the little donkey was loaded with cargo, many people were mocking his appearance. We much remember, it was a lowly donkey that brought the Savior of the world in Jerusalem at the appointed time.

This will be a dangerous time to mock the vessels God chooses to bear His Glory, because they will be carrying all that we need to survive in this generation. Many religious leaders of the day had a difficult time comprehending John the Baptist with his appearance and style. Nevertheless, he was God's messenger providing the essential direction for that season. We cannot afford to not recognize the day of our visitation and miss the tremendous opportunity set before us.

It was John's directive to prepare a people for the Lord's coming and restore the inheritance of God's children. The Lord said the spirit and power of Elijah is given to restore all things and turn the hearts of this generation back to God.

This analogy clearly identifies the symbolic nature of the donkey shown in the visions. It is a symbolization of humility and utter dependence upon God demonstrated by those who are trusted with spiritual empowerment. Furthermore, we must develop keen spiritual discernment to recognize their true value and the importance of the provision they carry. Speaking of the early apostles the writer of Acts recorded:

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

This is a prophetic picture of many individuals and ministries that will be raised up in this generation to provide insight with understanding. Though they may not be overly impressive in their appearance, presentation and background, they will nevertheless have a clear word of prophecy in their mouths to give direction, strategy and even correction.

Balaam received correction from the most unexpected source--his donkey. Likewise, many of us will receive a word of admonition and correction from the most unexpected and unusual sources. Some will come from nature itself.

Like Balaam, many Christians are going the wrong direction and do not realize it. The Bible records that the prophet forsook the straight road to go astray in pursuit of unrighteous gain until:

"He was rebuked for his own transgression when a dumb beast of burden spoke with human voice and checked the prophet's madness." 2 Peter 2:16

Corrupt Money Lenders

Our admonition from these revelations is to be careful where we borrow money. There is a shaking that is going to be taking place in the banking community that can have far reaching implications on the Church. Presently, great emphasis is being placed by the various lenders to distribute finances and facilitate greater measures of debt.

The council given to God's people is to continue to be removed from heavy debt and be in a position to take advantage of the shaking and transfer of wealth when the time is appropriate. Though many lending organizations promote the image of helping people, in reality, it can be a snare promoting more debt at a time when getting out of debt should be our priority.

Greed is a major stronghold that must be overcome in this hour. Much of this world's economic system is built upon principles of greed without regard for the consequences. Although there are pockets of charity and goodwill demonstrated in our nation, especially during times of crisis, there remains a powerful spiritual influence of ambition and greed that drives the economic leaders. Our admonition is to be separated from this snare and warned not to fall victim to its plans.

Clearly, there are some circumstances where borrowing money from financial institutions is mandatory. However, much of the credit card debt is the result of our easy access to this form of credit. It can easily become a form of bondage. There is going to be a collapse in this market at some point. We still have a space of time to position ourselves for it.

Sanctify Your Food

Food poisoning will be a major problem in the days ahead. In our enemies' increased effort to promote fear in our society, food poisoning and tainted provisions are going to escalate in the coming days. Bob saw many areas reaching crisis mode in relationship to the purity of our food banks. Thankfully, we have the Biblical admonition that:

"Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer." 1 Timothy 4:4-5

We will come to know the importance of sanctifying our meals with the word of God and prayer. Even so, we must also use common sense to wash produce thoroughly and avoid exposure to the elements. This concern will also facilitate greater measures of fear for those who do not have faith in Christ and His Biblical principles. Greater knowledge and awareness of potential hazards that exist in our world's food supply will also promote greater measures of fear and caution.

Prophetically speaking, this analogy is also highlighting the importance placed upon what we consume spiritually and from what table we dine. The Lord has given us the invitation to dine at His table. In fact, He has promised to prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies.

In last year's Shepherd's Rod 2007, we talked about dining at the Lord's Table saying:

"In his vision, Bob found himself at the Lord's Table with these three items set before him. Initially, he was allowed to partake of the fish, which symbolically depicts our present position of experiencing supernatural grace. Then he was allowed to reach for the bread, which is the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Our grace in this day is to begin to apprehend the full measure of Heaven's revelation of the Lord as the exalted Overcoming King. Furthermore, we will begin to experience the promise of Isaiah 30:26 saying:

"The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted." Isaiah 30:26

The bread and wine are typical of communion. This prophetic expression is highlighting the Lord's desire to 'bind the fracture of His people' and produce a common-union or spiritual unity among many within the Church. Clearly, unity of the brethren is a fundamental aspect of the 21st century Church model.

True unity is discovered when we become Christ-like. Christ being formed in us is the true forum for spiritual unity among brethren. To the extent we reflect the Lord's nature and character will we experience spiritual unity."

Paul Keith and Wanda Davis and Bob Jones
WhiteDove Ministries