Two Doors

Hi Friends,

I am writing today about two visions that the Lord gave me a while ago.  It has been hard to write more than one per week, so I am a bit behind.  But still, the Lord is good, and these messages need to be published.

The Visions

The Catalog

I saw a bound catalog opened to display two pages with several items on each page.  Suddenly the focus moved from being centered on both pages to being centered over the right hand page. In the center of that page was a rifle.  It had a dark metal barrel and trigger and the wooden stock was finished with a golden walnut stain.  Encircling the rifle on the page were several smaller items including a canteen, and a brown leather bag with a strap.  These items were for camping and/or hunting. The vision ended.

Just a few minutes went by, and I had another vision.  This time I saw two commercial glass doors.  Over each door was a burgundy colored umbrella awning.  Both doors and awnings were identical as was their signage, which read “Milliard,” in white letters.

After these visions, I looked up the meaning of the word, “milliard.”  It means one thousand millions, which is equal to one billion.  Milliard is an old term, no longer in common use.

What I Believe the Visions Mean

I believe that these visions speak of the current events that will lead to greater uncertainty, and instability in our nation.  The rifle is obviously for sale in the catalog, as are the canteen and the leather bag. 

When our nation was a collection of colonies fighting for independence, and the right to self-govern, most of the colonists were farmers.  Their guns (muskets) were for self-protection and for hunting game to feed their families.  But during the war for independence, their guns became weapons to fight the British.  Soldiers carried water in canteens and a variety of leather bags were essential for carrying personal tools, knives, fire starters, gunpowder, ammunition, and other supplies.  

The Rifle

Today, the rifle is used primarily for hunting.  However, I believe that the Lord is showing us another use. The violence in our cities has greatly increased. The political activists who have engaged in “mostly peaceful protests” have received much support from the left. The left activists rely on wealthy and influential people to facilitate their violence, destruction of property and looting, which they believe are instrumental in bringing about radical changes.

The leaders of the left have no desire to enforce the law, but make every effort to control the narrative and destroy or cancel their political opponents. Because of this wicked agenda, violence in these cities has gone unchecked. Mayors and city councilmen who support lawlessness and chaos have insisted that the police stand down. Without an ability to protect themselves and others, the police have not been able to effectively control the mobs. Many people have been hurt, much property has been burned down and consumer goods stolen. Police who sworn on oath to serve and protect were not allowed to do their jobs, so as a result many have suffered injury. Since this madness and insurrection many police have taken early retirement and others have quit their jobs. 

I remember seeing a man and his wife on their private property, in Portland, watching a mob walk down their residential street, shouting and taunting the neighborhood residents. The man came out with a rifle and held it with his right hand on the trigger and his left hand holding the barrel.  He was ready to  protect his wife, himself, and his property from these intruders.  He had every right to defend himself.  You could see the fear in his eyes, and the determination to ward off attackers.  This is why we have the second amendment, the right to bear arms.

Whether it is a mob, a militia, or a foreign invader, the rifle is for our protection.

As I thought of this vision, several scriptures came to mind.  The Lord himself told his disciples the night of his betrayal and arrest, to buy a sword.  

“And he said to them, ‘When I sent you out with no money bag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?’  They said, ‘Nothing.’”

“He said to them, ‘But now let the one who has a money bag take it, and likewise a knapsack.  And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.  For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: “And he was numbered with the transgressors.”  For what is written about me has its fulfillment.’”  

“And they said, ‘Look, Lord, here are two swords.’  And he said to them, ‘It is enough.’”  Luke 22:35-38

I believe that the Lord was telling his disciples that that very night was going to be different from any previous night.  He was letting them know that there was going to be trouble, and they needed to be prepared. 

David prophetically spoke of the Lord’s crucifixion in Psalm 22.  These are a few lines from this passage which describe those who were attacking him:

Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.  Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.”  Psalm 22:11-13

“Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me…”   Psalm 22:16

“Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.  Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.”  Psalm 22:20-21

(Note:  I am leaving out the more familiar lines that describe the actual crucifixion.)

What I see with these lines is how David was threatened by evil men. He sought the Lord, asking to be delivered out of the hands of his enemies. At the same time, this scripture speaks prophetically about the Lord’s own suffering. We see that Jesus was willing to yield to the trauma and torment for our sake.  He chose to suffer this terrible, arduous and painful death as  atonement for our sins, and the sins of the world. How can we not be grateful!

I believe that the rifle on the right page of a catalog was the Lord giving us the same “heads up,” that he did when he told his disciples to go and buy a sword.   I believe that He is saying to us that times are changing, and that we will face persecution just as the early disciples did.  

The Canteen

Also in the vision was a canteen, which represents water.  We need water for survival.  We need living water for spiritual survival.  Jesus is the source—so that we will never thirst.

“If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

“Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then, will You get this living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?”

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.  But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”  John 4:10-14

We consider water synonymous with life, for without it we die. As we trust in the Lord, he will give us his living water, and we will not thirst and will not suffer the “second death” which is hell.

The Leather Bag

The leather bag in the vision I believe represents the Lord’s provision.  The Lord is our source for everything we need. Just as he provided for his disciples when he sent them out two by two, he will provide for us.  They did not lack anything, and we should not be fearful that we will also be in lack.  Yet his message changed on that night that he knew he would be arrested.  This time he told them to bring a money bag, because everything was soon to change.

We have to be prepared.  The Lord is warning us that persecution and difficult times lay ahead.  We will need a rifle which represents our ability to trust in the Lord for his divine protection.

We will need a canteen that represents living water which springs up to eternal life.

We  will need a money bag which is the Lord’s provision, for food, clothing, shelter—for everything.   

Our walk must be a walk of faith as we place our trust in the Lord.  “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  Psalm 18:2 

“He will never leave you nor forsake you!”  Deuteronomy 31:6

The Two Doors

This vision followed the first just a few minutes later. In this vision, I saw two commercial doors, each having a burgundy umbrella awning.  Both awnings were labeled with the word: “Milliard,” in white letters.  There was no visible difference between the doors or their awnings. Yet, I believe that the doors represent a choice.  These doors are adjacent to each other and appear as twins.  They seem to be like a fork in the road, demanding  a choice:  which door should I enter?

Jesus speaks of gates and roads and choices in a familiar passage of scripture:  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”   Matthew 7:13-14

This analogy of the two gates and two roads speaks of a way of life, or a path that one takes based on personal values, commitments, choices and decisions.  The path that leads to everlasting life is a narrow path that only a few find.  It is based on following the Lord’s word, and the Holy Spirit’s direction.  

The wide road that most choose for themselves, is based on convenience, personal gratification, self-actualization, ego, and pleasure.  The wide road is void of God.  It follows a path that glorifies man and his accomplishments. It accommodates the rebellious and sinful nature of man.  It is a way that compromises God’s purpose and will.  It is a way where people, not God, decide what is right and wrong.  It is a way that conforms to the world’s view.  

Everyone of us must choose a door and a road that either leads to life, or leads to eternal death, which is hell. The Lord told his disciples: “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father, except through me.”  John 14:6  

That statement says it all.  He is the way, so we follow him. He is the truth. So when we remain in him, we will not be led astray. He is the life, therefore by following his lead, we will have everlasting life.

Fortunately, and because of the Lord’s provision, we have his very words recorded for all to see and know. It is the Bible. It is filled with the Lord’s guidance. He gives us instruction, wisdom and direction.  It is not merely a book of teachings—No, it is so much more. 

“For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible also comes with a tutor—the Holy Spirit, the revealer of truth. “But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.  He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”  John 16:13-15

In the vision, there are two awnings.  An awning is there to offer protection from rain, or snow while someone either searches for the keys, or waits until someone comes to open the door.  The awning provides protection from the elements for a short time.  It is only large enough for one or two people to be shielded.  I believe that God gives us time while in this life to search for the keys.  Not everyone is born into a Christian family where they will be instructed in the Lord’s ways, and have a chance to know him from an early age.  Life can be difficult and the search for truth and the knowledge of Jesus as the Messiah, may take some time, some prayer and a few mountains to be moved. Eventually we hope that all will come to know the Lord as the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the Lamb of God, the Savior of the world and as Emanuel, “God with us.”   

It may take time for someone to come and open the door for us to enter into fellowship with God.  Perhaps a friend, an acquaintance, a chance meeting, a vision or an answer to prayer comes and reveals who the Lord is to us.  God will provide shelter in the valley of decision.  And ultimately we must choose.

On the two awnings were the words “Milliard.”  Milliard is synonymous with the word “billion.”  Could it be that a billion or more people have already passed through these doors?  We are told in scripture that many find the road that leads to destruction and only a few enter through the door that leads to life.  The doors look the same, but they lead to entirely different places.  

I believe that if we look at things in their natural earthly state, with our natural human eyes, we may not see to discern the difference.  But seeing things with eyes of the spirit, we might understand what we need to embrace and what we need to avoid.

Jesus spoke in parables to many people, but only some were able to appreciate what he said.  That is because what he said were spiritual concepts that were spiritually discerned.

“Then the disciples came and said to him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’  And he answered them, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.  For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.  This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,

    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”

For this people's heart has grown dull,

    and with their ears they can barely hear,

    and their eyes they have closed,

lest they should see with their eyes

    and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart

    and turn, and I would heal them.”

 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.’” Matthew 13:10-16

The Lord wants us to discern the difference between doors, and roads and to choose wisely. When we become born again, the Lord gives us a measure of wisdom and discernment. As we grow in our relationship with him and in our knowledge of the word of God, we are given more.

And by the word of God and by the Spirit of the Lord we know that it is not a coincidence that you are reading this post today, for “…all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16

There is nothing that is simply by chance.  We are all on a road somewhere, based on the values we hold and the decisions that we have made.  I believe that the Lord has given this message so that we would not say to him someday, “but I didn’t know…”  

He wants us to stop and take inventory of our choices and our commitments.  Where are we?  Are we in right standing with God?  Have we made Jesus the Lord of our lives? Have we surrendered our wills to his?  Have we acknowledged his death on the cross to atone for our sins?   Or have we just assumed that salvation is for everyone—that it is automatic, and that nothing is expected of us? Do we believe that we have no responsibility to know him personally or to obey his commands?  

The Lord makes it simple.  He is God and there is no other.  He is God and we are not.  He is perfect and we are not.  He is sinless and we are not.  He is the creator, and we are his creation.  He gave himself for us as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.  He died a death that we deserved.  He purchased us with his blood.  We belong to him.

He wants our love expressed through obedience.  He wants our fellowship and our devotion.  He wants to reveal himself to us personally.  He is looking for an open heart, and a heart that wants to be right with him.  

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Romans 10:9-13

So I am asking you today, “Will you give your heart to him and pray this prayer out loud?  It is a simple prayer that opens the right door, and leads you on the path to everlasting life.

Dear Jesus,

I acknowledge that you are God, and that you are part of a Trinity, three in one: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  You died on the cross to pay for my sins and the sins of the world.  I acknowledge and confess that I have sinned in thought, in word, and in deed. I ask that you forgive my sins, and place me in right standing and in fellowship with you. I ask that you would write my name in the Book of Life and fill me with your Holy Spirit.  Lead me into all truth.  Guide me and keep me on the road that leads to life, for I want to spend all eternity with you.    Amen.

So now, commit your ways to God— “In all your ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6

Please share this post with those you know will benefit. And God bless you! May his peace, and his love, bring you joy!