|
The Lord was seated on His massive white steed holding a scroll of Judgment in His hand. He said, "Come, we shall survey the kingdoms of the earth." We set off and came to a beautiful shimmering city, bustling with much commerce and activity. We were standing high above it, watching.� � "Come," said the Lord, "We shall go down in the city that you might see more clearly." We entered the city, but no one seemed to be aware of our presence. I looked all around and was amazed at what I saw. What had appeared to be beautiful shimmering buildings and glittering streets were merely illusions! It was like seeing a mirage from a distance in the desert, but upon approaching it, finding it merely to be an illusion. I watched the people rushing about frantically, grasping first at one illusion and then another. Every time they would reach up, their faces would light up in anticipation, only to find empty hands time after time. They were filled with frustration and would reach over to grasp at their neighbor's illusion, thinking it too was real, only to find emptiness once more. They were trampling one another in their frantic efforts to grasp something they could hold on to. They became obsessed and the city was filled with wild confusion. It was a terrible scene that filled me with disgust. The Lord said, "Come, we shall go back to beginnings and you shall understand." We rode a very long time on the Lord's white steed until we came to the Beginning. I saw one in heaven who was saying in his heart, "I shall be as great as God. Indeed, I shall be greater!" God looked at the delusion of the one in heaven and said, "For your arrogance, you shall believe the lie." � And the one in heaven believed the lie. He was cast from the presence of God where no lie was allowed. His name was changed to "The Deluder". He came upon the earth and saw God's children. He stood before them and told them that they, too, could become as great as God, for he firmly believed that this was so. God's children believed the lie for they wished to be as great as well. But their hearts filled with shame and they hid from the Father's sight. The Lord said,� "See how shame has filled their hearts. Now they stand naked before their God and have nothing with which to cover themselves. Death must now enter the creation for the Father must slay one of His own creatures to cover the nakedness of His children. From this time on, all that His children shall do will lead to death." We rode further back into Time and stopped once more. I saw one who looked like Abraham. He had great herds and flocks of animals and many people in his household as they wandered over the earth. "The Deluder has not yet succeeded in his efforts to convince all men of the Lie." said the Lord. "For at this time, man has not yet learned to measure his wealth by his own design. The measure of his wealth is still determined by living things." We rode on again and came to a great empire and stopped. One great empire was ruling over all the earth and no longer was man's wealth judged by living possessions. Man minted a coin with which to rule his empire and called it his god, for with his coin he believed himself master of his kingdom. He fell down and worshiped the coin, putting his own inscription on it. The Deluder was very pleased. Everything man touched indeed led to death. He chopped down the living tree to provide shelter. He slaughtered his flocks that his family might be fed. He killed the beasts of the field to clothe his body. And he paid for it all with his coin. We rode further into Time and came to a Temple. Many people were entering, bringing with them living animals to offer as a sacrifice at the altar of the Lord. They also brought their living tithes to offer to the priests of the Temple that they might be fed and clothed.� �� One then entered with a coin in his hand to offer as his sacrifice. A dead offering to the living God. Soon others came offering their coins. The Lord was incensed. The Deluder was very pleased. He felt his kingdom was now complete. The Lord and I rode back to the city where we had started our journey, the city where the people had been frantically reaching for things that were not there. The Lord and I were standing at the city's gate watching. It did appear tempting with its glitter and activity despite the knowledge that it was filled with illusions. The Lord said, "Can you see Me?" "Not while I'm looking into the city," I answered. "Turn around," He said and I turned around. "Can you see the city?" He asked. "Not while I'm looking at You, Lord." "You see," He said, "You cannot look at the city and at Me at the same time, can you? Once you turn away and are tempted to enter the city, it is very difficult to hear My voice for the clamor and confusion shall drown it out. Only when you turn your back on the city and look at Me can you hear My voice. For everyone who hears My voice and will do as I say, he shall be Mine and I shall be his. I shall call them to come stand by My side and we shall watch the Final Judgment." Those who were looking at the Lord with their backs to the city were called out one by one and went to stand by the Lord's side. When all of His people had been called out, the Lord removed the delusion and the people who were in the city were filled with amazement for there was nothing there! Gone were their glittering buildings! Gone were their shimmering streets! Panic seized their souls and their wailings filled the earth. They looked about frantically accusing one another of stealing their wealth. The Lord made them look at the Lie and the Father of the Lie. The people were filled with terrible agonies and hated the Deluder for deceiving them.� The Deluder was made to look upon the Lie and he fell down writhing with unspeakable loathing to be so deceived. The Lord then cast The Deluder and all those who had followed him from His presence forever. He turned to His people and said, "Never again shall The Lie enter My Kingdom." � And all of His people fell down and worshipped the Lord. The Lord appeared at the top of a high hill seated on His massive white steed, holding the reins of another horse. He told me to mount the horse and to follow Him. He started down the rocky slope for there were many stones scattered about and I followed. Then I could see the Lord no more. I was standing alone when I saw a tent in the distance, a tent such as a desert nomad might pitch as a temporary dwelling. I rode closer to see who was there and saw that a colony of lepers dwelt there. They looked up as I approached and it was obvious they wanted me to come no closer. I thought they did not wish to expose me to their leprosy, but their warning glances made it clear that their leprosy was not the reason they shunned a stranger. Their rejection was so intense I actually felt a barrier rise between the colony and myself. I dared not go further. I looked to my right and saw a lone Sentinel in the distance seated on His steed. He remained perfectly motionless. I looked back at the colony of lepers. The portion of sand on which they were settled started to move slowly away as though they were on a circular disc separate from the rest of the desert. They disappeared from view. The disc appeared once more, but a different community came into view. It stopped at the same place where the colony had been. The community was bustling with much activity. There was much bartering, haggling, buying and selling. They were dressed in robes such as a desert dweller might wear with turbans on their heads and scarves thrown across their faces.� The people looked up as I started toward the city. Their rejection was just as intense as had been the rejection of those in the colony of lepers. Their faces were filled with contempt and I dared go no further. The disc started slowly moving away once more. The colony of lepers reappeared but the disc did not stop and continued on its circular path.. The bustling community came into view and continued moving away. As the colony of lepers came into view once more the disc was moving at a faster rate of speed. With each reappearance of the two communities the speed kept increasing until they were passing by at a dizzying pace. I got a glimpse of their bewildered, panic-stricken faces. The speed became such that those standing on the disc could no longer steady themselves and were flung off, hurtling thorough the air in every direction.. They wandered dazedly away until I could see them no more. Still that wall of rejection remained. I looked up and saw the lone Sentinel still silhouetted against the sky. He had not moved. The sands of the desert began shifting and rolling like waves on the ocean. The crests rose and plunged, rising higher and plunging with greater force with every wave. An eerie silence fell over the desert. One towering crest rose and stayed suspended as though cast in stone. �� The lone Sentinel appeared at the top of the crest. He stood perfectly still surveying the vast silent desert. Specks appeared on the horizon. The Sentinel watched as they came into view. An array of soldiers, marching in perfect order holding pennants in their right hands, came closer and closer. Their heads were swathed in turbans and scarves were tossed across their faces. Silent and mute they approached the Sentinel and stopped. The line of horsemen stand perfectly still...from east to west they stand. The soldier who was standing in the middle of the horsemen raises his pennant on high. The others follow suit, the tip of each pennant a bit lower than the one next to it so that the tips sloped downward resembling the slope of the tent where the lepers had dwelt. The lone Sentinel does not move. Behind the Sentinel another group of horsemen arrive stopping the same distance from the Sentinel as the first group. They too are holding pennants and repeat the same ritual.� � As though by an unseen command, every rider leans over and plants his pennant in the sand. As one, every rider removes a bow from his saddle, removes an arrow from a quiver slung over his shoulder and places the arrow in the bow. As one, they pull back on the string of the bow. They release their arrows. The arrows speed forth and stop inches from the Sentinel, suspended, quivering in the air. The riders remove a second arrow from their quivers and send them speeding toward the Sentinel. Again they stop, quivering in the air, inches away from the Sentinel.� ��� The Sentinel reaches out and with one sweep of His arm gathers all the arrows in His right hand. The riders reach for another arrow, but the Sentinel raises His arm and they stop. He takes the arrows, snaps them in two across His knee and drops the broken arrows on the sand. He turns His mount and rides away. The horsemen do not move. The Sentinel returns, surveys the silent horsemen and rides away again. A vulture circles overhead. A small cloud appears on the horizon. It grows into a swirling sand storm sweeping across the desert, but the eerie silence remains. The swirling sands tear at the motionless horsemen but they do not move. Drifts form at the feet of their horses, but they do not move either. The sand drifts grow higher and higher until all the horsemen are buried beneath the sands. Nothing stirs. The storm subsides. The Sentinel returns, surveys the drifts of sand, turns and rides away. A wind rises from the east blowing the drifts away revealing the horsemen still standing as before. No one has stirred. The two riders that stand in the middle of the two lines of horsemen raise their right arms. They turn their mounts around and head back toward the direction from which they had come with the others following in perfect order. The silent desert is deserted. The sands begin stirring with a life of their own. They rise and swell as they had done before, rising and falling, rising and falling with greater and greater intensity. Their motion is such that it is felt all over the earth. On the other side of the world, the people feel the motion but do not know why. Fear stirs in their hearts and they run to their wise men seeking answers. But the wise men do not know. The wise men stand in wide-eyed fear and run to their instruments in hopes they will find an explanation. But their instruments have no answer. The wise men look to one another over the heads of the people, but question only meets question. The people stand frozen as they watch a line of horsemen approaching over the horizon. They are clutching at their wise men for surely they must know.�� The horsemen come closer as another line of horsemen approach from the opposite direction. The people stand motionless watching in horrible fascination. They are surrounded. As before, the horsemen reach for their bows, remove the arrows and place them in their bows. The people cannot move from the fear that fills their hearts. Suddenly the Sentinel appears in the midst of the terrified people and raises His right arm. The horsemen cannot move. They cannot release their arrows. In their terror, the people had forgotten the shifting earth, but with the arrival of the Sentinel and the deadly silence, they look down to see the ground beneath them shifting and rocking. They reach out to steady themselves, but there is nothing to hold on to. They cry out in anguish, "Release the arrows! Better to die!" They fall on their faces and beg for mercy. The shifting sands cease all movement. The people raise their faces and wait. The Lord was seated on His white steed atop a sand dune in the midst of the desert. He held the reins of another horse and told me to mount the horse and to follow Him. We rode along the top of the sand dune for some time in silence. The ridge gradually sloped downward and we continued on through the flat barren desert. �� We came to an oasis and the Lord said, "We shall stop here that our horses might drink and refresh themselves." We led the horses to the oasis and while they were drinking, we sat beneath a fig tree and rested a while. We then mounted our horses and continued on. A lone camel was approaching and we stopped. The camel came up to the Lord and dropped to his knees as though to worship Him. The Lord spoke to the camel, "Travel on until you come to the oasis. Someone will be there waiting. Bring him here to Me." The camel rose to his feet and headed toward the oasis. He returned shortly laden with chests and Melchior riding atop him. Melchior and the Lord exchanged greetings. �� The three of us rode out into the desert in silence. Evening fell and the most magnificent star appeared in the heavens. �� The Lord asked, "Do you know the significance of the star that shone over Bethlehem?" "Tell me, Lord," I said. "The star represented the dawning of a new day. A new day when the Son of God came to earth to make possible eternal life whereby all men might enter the Kingdom of Heaven." "What does this star mean?" I asked. "You shall see...." We rode through the quiet night following the star until it came to rest over an earthly mansion. We stopped, got off our mounts and entered the mansion. �� The Lord walked to the center of the room we had entered, turned around to face Melchior and me and was instantly transformed! His garments had changed in an instant. In place of the robe He had been wearing, He was now clothed in a most magnificent purple robe trimmed with white ermine and a glorious crown on His head.� � Melchior and I fell at His feet acknowledging Him as Lord of Lords and King of Kings! The Lord said to Melchior, "Fetch the coffers and bring them to Me." Melchior returned with the coffers in hand and opened them wide. They were filled with untold treasures. "Everything in the Kingdom is Mine to dispense as I see fit. Nothing can be dispensed but that I dispense it. My rule is absolute and it has come upon the earth," said the Lord. A herald appeared to the left of the Lord. He raised a trumpet to his lips sending forth a long sustained note. A heavenly choir raised joyful voices singing, "Lord of Lords...Lord of Lords...forever and ever and ever....." A herald appeared to the right of the Lord and joined the chorus, "King of Kings...King of Kings...forever and ever and ever...." The choirs swelled in song, "Lord of Lords, King of Kings... forever and ever and ever...." Their voices filled the skies reverberating over all the earth....The King had come to reign. The heavens were filled with a great light that shone round about the Son of God who was standing on earth. A voice from heaven cried out, "But that a seed fall to the ground and die, it cannot bear fruit." The light gathered itself together forming a pathway to earth narrowing to a point until it came to rest on the Lord. The Lord fell to the earth and died. He arose and the light and the Son were one and the same. He rose high into the heavens taking the light with Him. He watched as He sent the light back to the earth and as it narrowed to a point, it came to rest on the Trusting Believer. The Trusting Believer fell to the earth and died.� The Trusting Believer became one with the light and was taken to heaven to join the Lord. The Lord was seated on His white steed holding the Scroll of Judgment in His left hand. He opened the scroll and watched as it drifted slowly toward the earth. It landed upon the earth so that all men might draw near to read the words. An awful voice from heaven read from the Scroll: Hear the awful trumpet sound! Hear the rumbling chariots roll... See from heaven the unfurling scroll! "See the dire words unfold.... Terrible plagues so long foretold... Where are your tongues that made so bold? Why do you tremble as you behold Words that make your hearts turn cold? "Foolish men with your thoughts so wise! Too proud to look up in the skies... Too vain to look upon your lies... Too dull of spirit to open your eyes. "Look at the words, oh foolish man! Look at the words and understand. Who will save you from your hell, You who know all things so well? "Do you search for words of praise As you stare with speechless gaze, Seeing all your wicked ways... Your fruitless, empty, frantic days? "You wicked, wicked generation! Not understanding veneration... Filled with gnawing desperation... Seeking only adulation! "Gnaw your tongues in bitter thirst... Raise your voice with wild outburst! Just as when your God you cursed... Putting all your pleasures first. "Your stiff-necked heads you would not bow... But hear, oh man, what I say now: "Stand up and face your God at last! Stand up and face your days gone past. Stand up and face your days to come. Stand up and face what you have done. "Tell Me now, what do you see, Looking back while you were free? Tell me now, what do you see, Looking out toward eternity? "Did you toil and plant and sow, A little seed that it might grow? Or did you trample it underfoot, The tiny plant with its tender root? "Did you care that the earth was Mine? That 'twas your God to make light shine, Did you acknowledge Me at all, In any way, be it great or small? "If not, then tremble! You'll not be spared. If not, then weep that you had not cared. No more! No more will I turn My head... Time is ended. Time is dead. "Roll it up and hand Me the shroud, And with it, give Me the wicked and proud. Then scatter it all upon the wind. No more, more...all you who sinned. "Take the Scroll and cast it away. My wrath is spent on Judgment Day." |
|
Site � 2000 amen67.net All rights reserved.
All images and writings are original works and are not to be copied without written permission. |
Administrative contact A Scribe
Site hosting: CppSolutions, Inc. |