He Has Overcome the World!
Hi Friends,
I was reminded of what Martin Luther said, many years ago, “I have so much to do today, I need to spend more time in prayer.” It is amazing how the Lord will direct our day and make our itinerary line up. God is good! We simply seek him first and he orders our steps. There have been many times when I seemed overbooked. And I would give my day to the Lord. He would have people call and cancel with me so that I could finish my work. Awesome! The Lord is so wonderful! Hallelujah!
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34
Today I have four visions to share with you. If you have limited time, please be sure to read the last one first, entitled, “A Man on the Stump.”
The Visions
The Beans
In the first vision, I saw a handful of dried beans of many different types and colors. There was only one “fresh” bean. It was a wax bean which looks like a green bean but is yellow. It’s ends were cut and it had been cooked.
I find it interesting that dried beans are hard as rocks and appear to be all dried up and dead, yet they are very much alive on the inside. The beans are really seeds. And if they were planted in the soil and allowed to germinate, they would become a bean plant. By contrast, the wax bean looks fresh. It is soft and cooked, and ready to eat, but it is actually dead, because the life in it has been destroyed by the cooking process.
The dried bean has the potential of making many more beans. But the dead wax bean has no potential except to offer nutrition to the one consuming it. Its fleshy outside is the pod where the new seeds would have grown and matured, and eventually dry out.
What is the significance of the wax bean with the dried beans? What do these beans represent?
“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.’” John 12: 23-26
I believe that the dried beans are people from all over the earth who live for the Lord and produce a great crop because of their faith in the Lord Jesus. Jesus was the kernel of wheat in the parable above whose death produced many followers. We as believers are to die to ourselves, and to follow Jesus wherever he may lead us. The dried beans were all different varieties, varying in size and shape and color. But they were all beans. Human “beans” are like these beans coming in many colors shapes and sizes. It is Christ’s great commission for us to go everywhere and share the good news of the gospel. It is his will for us to be productive and fruitful. Yet it is not without resistance that the gospel goes forward. The Bible clearly states that those who love the Lord, will be hated by men. Persecution and possibly death may be in our future.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” John 15:18-19
So we keep looking to God, for he will lift us up!
“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:39-40
We need to encourage ourselves to continue sharing the gospel. I understand that most people in their first years will share Jesus with their friends and families, then when they are met with resistance and ridiculed for their zeal, they tend to back off and keep their faith to themselves. Eventually by not sharing their faith, they can become complacent and settle for less of God and less of his presence. They could easily become apathetic, and stop going to church all together. They stop seeking God and no longer pray or read the Bible. We need to take our temperature. Are we cold, hot or lukewarm? Are we alive and excited to meet with God, or are we half dead, and waiting for our favorite television show to come on?
The Clear Tool
In the second vision, I saw a hand take a clear, thin plastic rectangle 2” x 4” x ⅛” and use it to pry two objects apart. The objects were identical but attached in some way, perhaps glued together.
I believe that the hand in the vision was God’s. What was he doing? I believe that he was using the thin clear plastic rectangle to separate us from ungodly influences, people and relationships that are harmful or destructive to our faith in him.
Here is a passage of scripture that came to mind:
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
This vision is about not being yoked with unbelievers. This is a theme that the Lord is sharing with us, for it is truly a problem for many people. We need to see that whomever we share our lives with has influence over us. “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20
We must not keep company with the ungodly, or the unbelieving. Their influence on our lives can be harmful to our faith. Because they have no fear of God, they can entice us to sin or to compromise our faith. Compromise can easily lead to apostasy, leaving the faith altogether.
Please take this as a warning, for the Lord has shown this to me several times now. It is absolutely necessary to separate from close friends and business partners and anyone with whom we spend our time, that is an unbeliever. These relationships that can damage our walk with God.
I must also add that there are activities, jobs, pastimes and livelihoods that by themselves are a bad influence on us. If you are a Christian, you should not be working in a bar, or a business that takes advantage of people’s vices, or entices others to sin. If you are a Christian and your boss wants you to under-report earnings, or falsify business records and documents, to cheat on taxes, or asks you to lie to a client, supplier, etc., you need to quit that job. No job or boss is more important than serving God faithfully. Separate from anything that has been given priority over God. This is idolatry.
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
Two Lanterns
In the third vision, I saw two lanterns in a box. The lanterns were small and cylindrical, about 4” in diameter and about 6” in height. The lanterns were black with white lenses and stainless steel handles.
A lantern is similar to a torch, or flashlight which helps us see in the dark. It can represent light, revelation and understanding. It can represent wisdom and insight. It can also represent the Word of God, as the Bible declares “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
Consider this: We call the Bible, the Word of God. And Jesus is also referred to as “The Word,” for John begins his gospel with his description of Jesus as the Word. He is also called “The Light of the World.”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-14
So we see that Jesus, the Word of God, gives us his light - his wisdom and understanding and the ability to discern truth. Jesus, the Light of the World, makes known to us his will and his revelations. “He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.” 1 Corinthians 4:5
In the vision, there were two lanterns. My mind immediately thought of the Lord’s parable of “The Ten Virgins.” In this parable, the Lord explains that five of the virgins were wise, carrying lamps with plenty of oil and that five were foolish. They brought lamps with them, but failed to bring enough oil. When they all heard that the bridegroom was coming, they trimmed their lamps. The foolish virgins did not have oil and expected that the others should share theirs. However, the wise virgins said that there was not enough to share and suggested that they go and buy oil for themselves.
When the bridegroom arrived the wise virgins with oil in their lamps were able to go into the wedding banquet, but the foolish had left to buy oil. After returning, they asked that the door be opened for them. But instead of opening the door, the bridegroom turned them away. “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’” Matthew 25:12
In the vision, there were two lanterns. Could it be that having two lanterns, would allow the one who was prepared to share the second lantern with the one who was not prepared? That would seem to solve the problem, however, the oil represents the indwelling Holy Spirit of the believer. No one can give the Holy Spirit to anyone except God himself. We can share the gospel, and encourage someone to repent of their sins. We can implore them with great effort to seek the Lord, to know him, and his word, however, we cannot make someone accept and believe the message of the cross. Each person must make that decision on his own.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:1-21
The vision of two lanterns reminds us that it is God’s plan and purpose for each of us to walk in the light.
“As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:1-5
The phrase, “night is coming when no one can work.” is somewhat of a mystery. Is the night that is coming to be the Great Tribulation spoken of in the Book of Revelation? Is “the night that is coming” the time after the church is raptured, when the restrainer, the Holy Spirit who indwells believers is removed? Without the Holy Spirit who is the revealer of truth, it will surely be a dark time.
If this is true, then while we are still on this earth, as the Lord’s church, who has the Holy Spirit living within us, we must work while it is still day, and while we have the light to see.
And Jesus is that light, the light of the world. When we have the light of Christ within us, we can then be a light to others. We can be like a city on a hill:
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
The light of Christ brings truth and revelation which keeps us from stumbling, for it is a light for our path. But those who do not have the truth will stumble because without Christ, there is no light.
“Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” John 11:6-10
I want to share a vision that the Lord gave me nearly 20 years ago.
A Man on a Stump
I saw someone holding a box with holes in its sides. The lid was lifted, and out sprung three snakes. With elongated bodies they flew through the air and landed in the branches of a very large tree. I heard a voice declare: “These are the three temptations.”
At the base of the tree, was a man seated on the ground. He was looking up and seeing the three snakes, he contemplated the “three temptations.”
Then the scene changed. I could see, as if looking down a long tube, the stump of a tree and a man standing on top of that stump. It was night and the moon took up nearly the entire background. The man took a step off the stump and I found myself following him, walking in the tall grass in the moonlight. I could only see a few feet in front of me, so I saw only his legs and feet from the knees down.
I prayed for ten days regarding this vision. Then on the tenth day, I heard these words: “15 were killed on the lawn today.” I somehow knew that the lawn was the White House lawn, and the White House no longer represented good, but evil. Those that were killed on the lawn were righteous people.
Now to explain, what I believe this all means. The box with the holes, housed the three snakes. At first, it was closed, waiting for an appointed time. Then the lid was lifted and out sprung the three snakes. (in the last days) “wickedness will increase.” The three snakes are demonic powers, who fly through the air, being supernatural beings, then land in the large tree.
The announcement, “These are the three temptations,” declares the purpose: to tempt those on the earth to sin. The tree represents the world, where people are tempted, and their faith is tested. The three temptations, I believe, are these: the love of money, the desire for power and fame, and the lust for sexual pleasures.
The man at the base of the tree who is looking up into its branches is contemplating the three temptations. He represents all mankind, for all mankind is tempted.
The idea of looking down a telescope or long tube, represents either the past or the future. The tree stump is what remains of the large tree that represented the world. The man who stands on the stump with the moonlight in the background represents the Lord. For it was he who cut down the tree, and stood on its stump, declaring that by his death on a cross, he overcame the world. Then the Lord took a step off the stump and began to walk in the moonlight. Immediately I found myself walking behind him, following in his footsteps. This represents the idea of following Christ: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
The moonlight is the light that the Lord provides. He is the light of life. And I, being placed in the vision, represent all the Lord’s disciples that have made the decision to follow him. And, as I walked in the moonlight, we can see God’s purpose for us: “Work while it is still day, for the night is coming when no one can work.” If we walk in the light of Christ, we will not stumble.
Yet, what is still to be confirmed is very serious. The voice I heard, on the tenth day of prayer for this vision, said: “Fifteen were killed on the lawn today.” For almost 20 years I have been expecting the fulfillment of this prophecy.
Then during the truckers protest in Ottawa, Canada, I heard that the American truckers would be convening in Washington, DC. The peaceful protest is taking place in Washington, DC today, March 6, 2022. I am praying that nothing happens to these truckers. Canada’s experience of peaceful protesting turned into a nightmare for their truckers. Their rigs were taken from them, their bank accounts were frozen, and 200 people were arrested. Even those that supported their effort through “Go Fund Me” were having their bank accounts frozen.
As a result of these draconian measures taken by the Canadian government, the American truckers are flying two flags: the American Stars and Stripes and the Canadian Maple Leaf. They are sending a message to everyone around the world that we, (I include myself), are for freedom and the restoration and protection of our individual civil liberties. We are against the unlawful, unconstitutional mandates as the mask mandates, the vaccination mandates, and the unnecessary lock-downs. We are against the overreach of government and the unholy alliance between big business, big tech, and the federal government. The government has been using these powerful private sector entities to be the strong arm against those who disagree with their ideologies and their agendas.
I pray that this gathering will not be the fulfillment of this vision or prophecy. The mayor of Washington, DC had over a week ago stated that she intended to call out the National Guard. Please pray that nothing happens to these truckers or their families or supporters.
I hope and pray that 15 will NOT be killed on the lawn today! Perhaps this is a warning—
Please pray for our leaders, our truckers and those who have been imprisoned and persecuted in Canada. God bless you all! And please share this post with others. Thanks!
