The Crown, the Horses and the Battlefield 05-13-12
Just before worship, I turned to pull down the overhead screen, when I saw a great crown hovering in the air right in front of me in the church. It was hovering up front in front of all the people. It was very large, maybe about 6-7 feet long and 3-4 feet thick, and it was all of gold and had ornate carvings in it, with brilliant jewels set into it. Then as soon as I had seen it, then it disappeared.
Zechariah 6:9 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,10 Accept donations and offerings from these [as representatives of the] exiles, from Heldai, from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon; and come the same day and go to the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. 11 Yes, take from them silver and gold, and make crowns and set [one] upon the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, 12 And say to him, Thus says the Lord of hosts: [You, Joshua] behold (look at, keep in sight, watch) the Man [the Messiah] whose name is the Branch, for He shall grow up in His place and He shall build the [true] temple of the Lord. 13 Yes, [you are building a temple of the Lord, but] it is He Who shall build the [true] temple of the Lord, and He shall bear the honor and glory [as of the only begotten of the Father] and shall sit and rule upon His throne. And He shall be a Priest upon His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between the two [offices--Priest and King]. 14 And the [other] crown shall be [credited] to Helem (Heldai), to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to the kindness and favor of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, and shall be in the temple of the Lord for a reminder and memorial. 15 And those who are far off shall come and help build the temple of the Lord, and you shall know (recognize and understand) that the Lord sent me [Zechariah] to you. And [your part in this] shall come to pass if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.
Philippians 4:1 THEREFORE, MY brethren, whom I love and yearn to see, my delight and crown (wreath of victory), thus stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. 2 I entreat and advise Euodia and I entreat and advise Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord. 3 And I exhort you too, [my] genuine yokefellow, help these [two women to keep on cooperating], for they have toiled along with me in [the spreading of] the good news (the Gospel), as have Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
1 Peter 5:4 And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror's crown of glory.
Revelations 2:10 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.
Then I saw a great hand appear in the church, the Hand of God, and it went throughout the church moving amongst the people as they sat listening. The Lord was moving things in their lives; rearranging things according to His Purposes.
Ephesians 1:4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually (hand) picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. 5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]-- 6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, 8 Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), 9 Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, 10 [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth. 11 In Him we also were made [God's] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (hand) chosen and appointed beforehand in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will, 12 So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him have been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory!
Then, during worship, I saw several battlefield scenes.
I saw horses that were nodding their heads up and down in the predawn light on the battlefield. There was breath coming from their mouths and noses. It was hazy and thick like a heavy fog was blanketing the battlefield. The horses had bells on their harnesses and they were softly ringing as their heads nodded.
The next scene came a few minutes later.
I saw the same thing again, only this time I saw that there were a great many of us all standing on the battlefield dressed in heavy armor. We had our weapons at our sides. We were standing side by side all in rows. We were all standing still, waiting. The horses and the riders that were also among us had armor on. They were also ready and were standing erect and still. The air was heavy and thick with dew or fog that had settled on the battlefield in the predawn light. I could again see the air coming from the horses mouths and noses. The horses were restless and nodded their heads in anticipation of the battle to come. The riders helmets were gleaming in the dimmed light and they did not break their focus to look around. I could smell the earth in it's richness as we waited for the light to dawn on the new day before us, and for the fog to clear so that the battle would be clear. -The end of the visions.
The Heavy Fog or Mist:
Genesis 2:6 But there went up a mist (fog, vapor) from the land and watered the whole surface of the ground--
Hosea 14:5 I will be like the dew and the night mist to Israel; he shall grow and blossom like the lily and cast forth his roots like [the sturdy evergreens of] Lebanon.
Joel 2:1 BLOW THE trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on My holy Mount [Zion]. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of [the judgment of] the Lord is coming; it is close at hand-- 2 A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and of thick mists and darkness, like the morning dawn spread upon the mountains; so there comes a [heathen, hostile] people numerous and mighty, the like of which has never been before and shall not be again even to the years of many generations.
The Horses and the Battlefield:
Deuteronomy 20:1 WHEN YOU go forth to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. 2 And when you come near to the battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the men, 3 And shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies. Let not your [minds and] hearts faint; fear not, and do not tremble or be terrified [and in dread] because of them.
Proverbs 21:30 There is no [human] wisdom or understanding or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory are of the Lord.
Zechariah 10:1 ASK OF the Lord rain in the time of the latter or spring rain. It is the Lord Who makes lightnings which usher in the rain and give men showers, and grass to everyone in the field. 2 For the teraphim (household idols) have spoken vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility) and the diviners have seen a lie and the dreamers have told false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people go their way like sheep; they are afflicted and hurt because there is no shepherd. 3 My anger is kindled against the shepherds [who are not true shepherds] and I will punish the goat leaders, for the Lord of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as His beautiful and majestic horse in the battle. 4 Out of him [Judah] shall come forth the Cornerstone, out of him the tent peg, out of him the battle bow; every ruler shall proceed from him. 5 And they shall be like mighty men treading down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle, and they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and the [oppressor's] riders on horses shall be confounded and put to shame. 6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah and I will save the house of Joseph [Ephraim]. I will bring them back and cause them to dwell securely, for I have mercy, loving-kindness, and compassion for them. They shall be as though I had not cast them off, for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them.
Susan O'Marra
05-13-12
