Call Of The Bridegroom: An Invitation! - Victoria Boyson


Beyond All Expectations
The Lord Jesus has been busy making preparations for a momentous occasion, the occasion of His marriage supper – the Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9). Within the last few weeks, He has shown me by the Spirit a great heavenly hall– a banquet room. Though it was beyond description, I will try to describe it to you. The first glimpse I had of this room was of the Lord who stood in its midst, proudly displaying it’s splendor. The hall was so large that I could not see the end of it due to its immense size.

The tables were very grand and opulent, graced by a tall line of glimmering crystal candelabras. Each resided over the array like splendidly dressed debutantes stately displaying a golden glow of light from bright white candles. In between the candelabras were a bounty of flowers, towering with blooms of every type of botanical beauty that filled the air with their burgeoning fragrance. Yet, what amazed me the most about the tables was the princely feast, brimming over with an expansive display of culinary delights. Overwhelming to behold, it was one of which the Lord was especially happy to reveal. As I beheld it, I heard the verse of scripture in my spirit, “He has prepared a table before me,” (Psalm 23:5).

As I marveled over the details of each individual place setting, I realized each chair was in itself awe-inspiring. Covered in gold, they were a cross between furniture made in the style of William and Mary in the late sixteen hundreds and the Gothic revival style of the late eighteen hundreds. Presiding over each place setting, it gave a clue as to the personality of the person it was created for and of the great delight the Lord had in His preparations for them. Every place setting was luxurious, and, yet, it was unique to its expected occupant. For, with great thoughtfulness, each place was fitted out in loving anticipation of the person it was meant for.

It was with great delight and expectation that the Lord revealed this vision to me. It was apparent that He wanted me to see that this long awaited celebration was ready for His intended bride to come to Him in His Father’s house. Indeed, His preparations are ready and He awaits only His Father’s proclamation of His wedding supper (Revelation 19:6-9).

Foreshadowing Evidence
In ancient Israel, the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony was much different than anything we have today. Starting first with the engagement, it was initiated by the bridegroom who, after selecting his bride, negotiated with her family and made a proper payment for her. The intended couple drank from a glass of wine together, signifying by it their official engagement to one another. After the ceremony took place the bride was then considered “set apart” and spoken for through a binding commitment to her betrothed. She was set apart and, from that moment, her main task was to make herself ready for her bridegroom and wait for his call.

The bridegroom, on the other hand, went back to his father’s house and busied himself with preparation for his bride. Building a room for himself and his bride was not taken lightly, and a great deal of time was taken to make sure everything was perfectly suited for her. It was not until everything was just as he desired it should be that the bridegroom would return for his bride. No matter how long it took to make preparations for her, he remained faithful and steadfast in his commitment to her and his every thought was to bring her to his home.

Although neither bride or bridegroom were yet married and would not see each other for quite sometime, they were considered married and were fully committed to each other. The bride did not know the day nor the hour the bridegroom would return to retrieve her, but she waited expectantly throughout the time of her engagement. Preparing for him to come for her as though each day would bring him, she made herself ready to answer his call and kept herself in readiness.

At the end of their separation, the bridegroom would return for her and, although his return was imminent, the timing was a surprise to her. Accompanied by his attendants, the bridegroom would seek out his bride by torchlight and announce his coming to her entire household. The household of the bride would come out to meet the bridegroom and follow them back to his father’s house where the celebration of the wedding feast would last seven days!

The significance of this ancient ceremony was as you may have guessed, it is a prophetic foreshadowing of the Lord’s promised return down to the last detail. Jesus made a profound statement about His church in John 14:2-3, saying, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Through the Jewish marriage tradition established by God, we see a momentous prophetic depiction of what the Lord intends for His church and what He expects from His bride.

The Bridegroom’s Call
The Lord refers to this wedding ceremony in His parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, revealing the danger we are living in as the last days church. Ten virgins went out to meet their bridegroom and were ready to receive him and, although all had lamps, not all brought oil for their lamps. While they slept through the darkness of the night, their lamps blazed brightly. However, while the bridegroom was delayed, the lamps of those who brought no oil went out. “At midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’” Matthew 25:6-9.

However, while the virgins were gone to buy oil for their lamps, the bridegroom arrived and received those wise virgins into the wedding feast which had been prepared for them and the celebration began without those who were unwise. When the remaining maidens returned, the feast had already begun and, though they shouted to the bridegroom to let them in, saying, “’Lord, Lord, open to us!” He answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Matthew 25:11.

Just like the unwise maidens, we are in danger of living a life that is unconcerned and, therefore, unprepared for the most important aspects of our future, when we were commanded far in advance to “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man [bridegroom] is coming,” Matthew 25:13. As a warning to us, the foolish virgins in this parable represent the beguilement of this world which hinders us from making proper preparations for our Bridegroom’s call. The wise virgins obviously represent those believers who have continued expectantly for His return and whose hearts are spiritually ready for His return at any hour.

Wedding Garments
As the church, we are the bride of Christ and Jesus is our Bridegroom. He has made a promise to us of our wedding celebration, saying, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” Revelation 19:9. As believers, we are invited to the Lord’s wedding supper, which is one of the most significant events soon to take place concerning the church. We are the bride set apart (engaged) by the Lord and the days are rapidly counting down to this momentous day. However, it is with a heavy heart that I have to bring a warning to the church. Our invitation was not given without a requirement on our part. Indeed, each of us must make ourselves ready.

Revelation 19:7-8 says, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb (Jesus) has come, and His wife (believers) has MADE HERSELF READY. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

Like the ten virgins, there are requirements of preparation necessary prior to our wedding, which is to be set apart from the world, washed and cleansed by repentance and forgiveness. As the Lord’s betrothed, we should not think that we can live like the rest of this world. Of all bridegrooms, Jesus should expect a bride without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27), meaning we are redeemed from the degeneracy of this age.

Jesus also used another parable in Matthew 22 to speak again of the wedding feast. A rich king had planned a lavish ceremony for the wedding of his son, but those who were invited refused his invitation. So, he decided to give an open invitation to any who wanted to come. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore, go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite them to the wedding,’” Matthew 22:8-9, and the wedding hall was soon overflowing with guests. Yet, though proper garments had been provided for each guest, one guest arrived at the feast without his wedding garment. When asked why he came to such an important event in a disrespectful manner of dress, he had no answer and was cast into outer darkness (Matthew 22:13).

The Lord has given us the wedding garments that are required for our wedding day. His blood has supplied for us all that is required. Our pure white garment is a free gift, which is the washing of our sins by His blood. All we have to do is put it on. It’s tempting for some in the church to rely on their own self-righteousness like this unfortunate man, thinking themselves to be greatly attired. However, all those who rely on themselves will find out too late that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

Jesus died to make us righteous and only through repentance and forgiveness are we made clean in preparation for the wedding supper of our Lord. Just like those who were invited to the feast yet found unworthy, much of the church is unprepared for the Lord’s Call, yet take for granted that they are ready for it. Like the foolish virgins, the light of their salvation has gone out and they are left unprepared. They’ve disregarded the importance of the hour and have become distracted by the cares of the world (Matthew 22:4-5).

Some of the church has ceased to believe in the end time events of the Bible, which is considered old fashioned to talk about in some Christian circles. As the world’s mindset has seeped into the church, it has cooled the love we once had for our Bridegroom and replaced it with a love of human intellect. Those who try to converse about the rapture get shot down with condescension from those who’ve become wise in their own eyes, saying, “You still believe in that! Haven’t you heard of the “new” teaching concerning that?”

The spirit of this age is like a plague that’s infected much of the church, causing it to become lukewarm in its relation to Jesus. Like an engaged woman whose love for her fiance was exuberant and a joy to her everyday, over time, the corruption of the world around her lured her away from him. The degeneracy of the world clouded her mind and she no longer valued the one who loved her and the promise she made to him was forgotten. She ceased to keep herself pure for her fiance, and took her relationship with him for granted. Sadly, she was unwise and distracted from her purpose by the cares of life, she forgot to “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming,” Matthew 25:13.

“Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts,” Romans 13:13-14.

The Bridegroom’s Call
When the preparations are finished, Jesus will call for us, as spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout (call), with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

Just like Noah’s ark was shut up when the rains came and it was too late for those who had refused to believe a flood would come, no matter how much they would beg to be let in, it was simply too late. God, Himself, had shut the doors and Noah could not have opened them if he wanted to (Genesis 7:16). God alone knew the day the flood would come and He alone knows the day and hour of the gathering of the bride of Christ.

Although we are permitted to know the seasons, and cultural signs of the end of days, no man will know the exact day or hour. Through Biblical prophesy, we can understand the signs that indicate that the approach of the rapture is very close. Like the ten maidens, we must prepare ourselves for our Bridegroom’s call!

Our Adversary’s Designs
Its quite obvious the enemy is fighting very hard to discourage people from believing in the rapture at all and there’s a reason for this – he knows full well there will most assuredly be a rapture! He has actively been preparing for it by laying the groundwork of deception through the years. If you look at the operations of our enemy, you will surely be convinced that the rapture is not a myth or Christian rumor, but will, indeed, occur and very soon. Satan’s team has convinced some that aliens, not angels, will come and purge (not rapture) those who he says stand in the way of the world’s “progress.” Why would he do that unless he knows the rapture of the church is imminent. Undoubtedly, he fears the impact of such an event happening, but why? What does he fear? He should be happy to see us go! Right?

Could it be that the rapture will produce the greatest awakening this world has ever know among those left behind and he is desperately preparing deception against that supposition?

I recently mentioned the rapture in a Facebook live video and, as soon as I finished, my feed was inundated with ads pushing anti-rapture content. So I surmise, if the enemy is fighting desperately against it, rest assured he is certain of it or he would not be pushing propaganda against it. It seems to me that we are not only about to witness one of the greatest events in modern world history, but to experience the culmination of the ultimate war between light and darkness. For no doubt the Lord has prepared for every plan of action the enemy could take with a counter action of His own. The signs are there and we are left to reason that the rapture, as amazing as it may seem, is scriptural and will occur very soon.

Recurring Dream
Friends, I have had a recurring dream for many years. In the dream, I witnessed a city gone mad with indescribable terror. Such horrific shock and panic I have never seen in my life and I could not understand what it was that happened to make them so afraid. I knew it had to be something catastrophic as I watched them searching frantically in churches for anyone they thought to be a Christian for help in getting right with God. Indeed, the Christians they found were even more frightened because they were literally mauled by unbelievers and hid from them for their own safety.

For years, I did not know what event I was witnessing in my dream and prayed for God’s revelation. One day, the Lord took me back into the dream in a vision and He asked me to describe what I saw in the unfolding scene. I focused on one man whose face was so distorted and writhed with fright he seemed like someone from another world. He was utterly engulfed by great terror and it was difficult to look at him. The Lord told me to look at where the man’s gaze was directed and I saw he was looking at me. It was then the Lord asked me to look again and see where I was in the dream and I saw myself floating (or rising) above him about 50 to 100 feet in the air. Then, I knew that what saw in my dream was, in fact, the rapture.

For years, I did not know this dream was actually a small glimpse of the event we call the rapture of the church and the subsequent fallout of its occurrence until the Lord revealed it to me. I understood then why the enemy is so terrified of the rapture and why he works so hard to hinder belief in it. He knows it will awaken the masses and so he has been busy preparation for their deception.

Our Objective Advanced
Even now, our adversary is intent on distracting us and pulling us away from our wedding preparations, and, if he can steal away our heart, he can rob us of our oil. How do we prepare? We prepare ourselves for His call like any bride would who is betrothed – we get to know our Bridegroom. In getting more acquainted with Christ instead of assuming we know Him already, we learn the secrets of His heart. Indeed, we can be assured that when we meet Him He will say, not “I never knew you,” (Mt. 7:23) but “Oh, My beloved, I’ve been waiting for you!” (Isaiah 62:5).

The light in our lamp is our love and its because of love that we separate ourselves from the pull of this fallen world, growing in faith and trust in our Bridegroom. Our oil is found in our continual, daily companionship with the Bridegroom as each day we rely on Him to be our comfort, strength and guide. Like many brides, our Bridegroom, Jesus, becomes our best friend. He is the first one we go to when we are hurting and the one we run to with joyous news. He is no longer a theology to us but has become more real than anything this world has to offer.

Our love for Jesus and enjoying His love in return is what keeps our light burning and makes us yearn for the sight of Him. Indeed, we are watchful because we love Him and can’t wait to see His face!

Jesus is our happy Bridegroom and we His bride. Prepare yourself for His call; it will be soon.

“Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” Revelation 19:9.



Dear Friends, Some of you may have known of our ministry called Women of the Spirit. However, the Lord has recently directed us to change the name and focus for this ministry to Call of the Bridegroom to reflect the change in spiritual seasons. As our time grows short, our focus has changed to lift up the Bride of Christ in preparation for His coming. We will be sharing the same anointed focus on the Word and trust you will enjoy them. If you have not already connected with the ministry you can join us: https://www.facebook.com/callofthebridegroom/ or www.callofthebridegroom.com

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 DISCOVER JESUS - Victoria Boyson

“DISCOVER ME!” ~ A Vision
My husband and I love watching documentaries. We especially love documentaries concerning Biblical archaeology. We find it fascinating that we can discover what the lives and cultures of people groups who existed thousands of years before us were like.

In referencing my love for archaeology, the Lord revealed Himself to me in a vision: I saw Jesus from head to toe standing before me, then the vision suddenly changed and focused in on His feet. The sand on which He stood started to blow all around Him and soon His feet were covered with the sand. As the wind continued to blow, His ankles, knees and legs were soon covered by the sand as well. Soon His waist, chest and neck were also covered. At that point, the only visible part of Him showing was His face. And then the sand started to blow again until even His head was covered by it, leaving only the top of His head visible.

Then the wind finally stopped and I was shocked and asked the Lord, “What does this mean?”

Jesus said to me, “Tell the people to REDISCOVER ME! If they seek for truth, tell them to seek Me. Let them dig until they find Me! I want to be found! I want to be cherished! I want those who say they are Mine to know all about Me! And I want them to share Me with the lost!”

It was then I was shown that only a fraction of what the church on average teaches is about Jesus and yet, without Jesus there would be no Christianity. He is not just another Bible Character! Jesus Christ laid down His life for the church to be birth. Indeed, it was because of His death on the cross that we are saved and yet, how very little attention He gets in His church. It is ONLY through Jesus that we can be saved and yet, how very little focus is placed upon Him, His life, death and resurrection – His Gospel!

Never before has the world been in greater need of a sure revelation of who Jesus Christ truly is, what He has done for us and how we should respond to Him. Its time we uncover Jesus, “dig Him up” and reveal Him to the world. It is time to focus our attention, not on the world around us, but on JESUS THE CHRIST! He is the answer, the only answer, to what the world is suffering. We are the light of the world and the light we possess is Jesus Christ! He is the hope of this world! “Christ in you, [is] the hope of glory,” Colossians 1:27.

I have spent the last three years sequestered with the Lord as He walked me through Biblical history, Jewish history, the prophets and the gospels to present to you a sure representation of Jesus Christ in my new book BEHOLD THE LAMB. I have presented in detail the life of Christ, His death and resurrection so as to appeal to a Christian who’s been saved many years and even in the ministry. However, it can also be a powerful means of sharing your faith with others who’ve barely even heard of Jesus.

Sadly, much of the church, especially those who are young do not understand who Jesus truly is, what He’s done for us and how they should respond to Him. It is time for this generation to reformulate their understanding of Christianity by rediscovering Jesus the CHRIST! Dig Him up! Seek Him! He wants to be found! Worship Him, love Him and DISCOVER Him! SHARE HIM!

The World is facing a future that is uncertain at best, but our hope is in Jesus Christ. He is our firm foundation. We are lost without Him. If our trust is place in anything else but Him, we will be shaken. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to save us (John 3:16). Jesus is the light of the world and to see clearly in this dark time we must BEHOLD HIM!

We don’t have much time, the Lord’s return is coming very soon! Our mission in sharing Christ is the most important task we have and must be accomplished quickly. So that as many as are willing to hear can know Jesus as Savior and Friend. We are the only hope this world has. We are the watchmen on the wall (Ezekiel 3:19) attempting to warn those who will listen that Jesus is coming soon.
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If you have been searching for answers in this uncertain time, the message in this book is what you are looking for. I beg you to read it! Jesus will become more and more alive to you with every turn of the page! He will meet you in refreshing ways and restore you faith! It’s time to rediscover Jesus!

Victoria Boyson

BEHOLD THE LAMB  also available on Amazon

​ Call Of The Bridegroom: An Invitation!


Beyond All Expectations
The Lord Jesus has been busy making preparations for a momentous occasion, the occasion of His marriage supper – the Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9). Within the last few weeks, He has shown me by the Spirit a great heavenly hall– a banquet room. Though it was beyond description, I will try to describe it to you. The first glimpse I had of this room was of the Lord who stood in its midst, proudly displaying it’s splendor. The hall was so large that I could not see the end of it due to its immense size.

The tables were very grand and opulent, graced by a tall line of glimmering crystal candelabras. Each resided over the array like splendidly dressed debutantes stately displaying a golden glow of light from bright white candles. In between the candelabras were a bounty of flowers, towering with blooms of every type of botanical beauty that filled the air with their burgeoning fragrance. Yet, what amazed me the most about the tables was the princely feast, brimming over with an expansive display of culinary delights. Overwhelming to behold, it was one of which the Lord was especially happy to reveal. As I beheld it, I heard the verse of scripture in my spirit, “He has prepared a table before me,” (Psalm 23:5).

As I marveled over the details of each individual place setting, I realized each chair was in itself awe-inspiring. Covered in gold, they were a cross between furniture made in the style of William and Mary in the late sixteen hundreds and the Gothic revival style of the late eighteen hundreds. Presiding over each place setting, it gave a clue as to the personality of the person it was created for and of the great delight the Lord had in His preparations for them. Every place setting was luxurious, and, yet, it was unique to its expected occupant. For, with great thoughtfulness, each place was fitted out in loving anticipation of the person it was meant for.

It was with great delight and expectation that the Lord revealed this vision to me. It was apparent that He wanted me to see that this long awaited celebration was ready for His intended bride to come to Him in His Father’s house. Indeed, His preparations are ready and He awaits only His Father’s proclamation of His wedding supper (Revelation 19:6-9).

Foreshadowing Evidence
In ancient Israel, the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony was much different than anything we have today. Starting first with the engagement, it was initiated by the bridegroom who, after selecting his bride, negotiated with her family and made a proper payment for her. The intended couple drank from a glass of wine together, signifying by it their official engagement to one another. After the ceremony took place the bride was then considered “set apart” and spoken for through a binding commitment to her betrothed. She was set apart and, from that moment, her main task was to make herself ready for her bridegroom and wait for his call.

The bridegroom, on the other hand, went back to his father’s house and busied himself with preparation for his bride. Building a room for himself and his bride was not taken lightly, and a great deal of time was taken to make sure everything was perfectly suited for her. It was not until everything was just as he desired it should be that the bridegroom would return for his bride. No matter how long it took to make preparations for her, he remained faithful and steadfast in his commitment to her and his every thought was to bring her to his home.

Although neither bride or bridegroom were yet married and would not see each other for quite sometime, they were considered married and were fully committed to each other. The bride did not know the day nor the hour the bridegroom would return to retrieve her, but she waited expectantly throughout the time of her engagement. Preparing for him to come for her as though each day would bring him, she made herself ready to answer his call and kept herself in readiness.

At the end of their separation, the bridegroom would return for her and, although his return was imminent, the timing was a surprise to her. Accompanied by his attendants, the bridegroom would seek out his bride by torchlight and announce his coming to her entire household. The household of the bride would come out to meet the bridegroom and follow them back to his father’s house where the celebration of the wedding feast would last seven days!

The significance of this ancient ceremony was as you may have guessed, it is a prophetic foreshadowing of the Lord’s promised return down to the last detail. Jesus made a profound statement about His church in John 14:2-3, saying, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Through the Jewish marriage tradition established by God, we see a momentous prophetic depiction of what the Lord intends for His church and what He expects from His bride.

The Bridegroom’s Call
The Lord refers to this wedding ceremony in His parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, revealing the danger we are living in as the last days church. Ten virgins went out to meet their bridegroom and were ready to receive him and, although all had lamps, not all brought oil for their lamps. While they slept through the darkness of the night, their lamps blazed brightly. However, while the bridegroom was delayed, the lamps of those who brought no oil went out. “At midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’” Matthew 25:6-9.

However, while the virgins were gone to buy oil for their lamps, the bridegroom arrived and received those wise virgins into the wedding feast which had been prepared for them and the celebration began without those who were unwise. When the remaining maidens returned, the feast had already begun and, though they shouted to the bridegroom to let them in, saying, “’Lord, Lord, open to us!” He answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Matthew 25:11.

Just like the unwise maidens, we are in danger of living a life that is unconcerned and, therefore, unprepared for the most important aspects of our future, when we were commanded far in advance to “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man [bridegroom] is coming,” Matthew 25:13. As a warning to us, the foolish virgins in this parable represent the beguilement of this world which hinders us from making proper preparations for our Bridegroom’s call. The wise virgins obviously represent those believers who have continued expectantly for His return and whose hearts are spiritually ready for His return at any hour.

Wedding Garments
As the church, we are the bride of Christ and Jesus is our Bridegroom. He has made a promise to us of our wedding celebration, saying, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” Revelation 19:9. As believers, we are invited to the Lord’s wedding supper, which is one of the most significant events soon to take place concerning the church. We are the bride set apart (engaged) by the Lord and the days are rapidly counting down to this momentous day. However, it is with a heavy heart that I have to bring a warning to the church. Our invitation was not given without a requirement on our part. Indeed, each of us must make ourselves ready.

Revelation 19:7-8 says, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb (Jesus) has come, and His wife (believers) has MADE HERSELF READY. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

Like the ten virgins, there are requirements of preparation necessary prior to our wedding, which is to be set apart from the world, washed and cleansed by repentance and forgiveness. As the Lord’s betrothed, we should not think that we can live like the rest of this world. Of all bridegrooms, Jesus should expect a bride without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27), meaning we are redeemed from the degeneracy of this age.

Jesus also used another parable in Matthew 22 to speak again of the wedding feast. A rich king had planned a lavish ceremony for the wedding of his son, but those who were invited refused his invitation. So, he decided to give an open invitation to any who wanted to come. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore, go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite them to the wedding,’” Matthew 22:8-9, and the wedding hall was soon overflowing with guests. Yet, though proper garments had been provided for each guest, one guest arrived at the feast without his wedding garment. When asked why he came to such an important event in a disrespectful manner of dress, he had no answer and was cast into outer darkness (Matthew 22:13).

The Lord has given us the wedding garments that are required for our wedding day. His blood has supplied for us all that is required. Our pure white garment is a free gift, which is the washing of our sins by His blood. All we have to do is put it on. It’s tempting for some in the church to rely on their own self-righteousness like this unfortunate man, thinking themselves to be greatly attired. However, all those who rely on themselves will find out too late that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

Jesus died to make us righteous and only through repentance and forgiveness are we made clean in preparation for the wedding supper of our Lord. Just like those who were invited to the feast yet found unworthy, much of the church is unprepared for the Lord’s Call, yet take for granted that they are ready for it. Like the foolish virgins, the light of their salvation has gone out and they are left unprepared. They’ve disregarded the importance of the hour and have become distracted by the cares of the world (Matthew 22:4-5).

Some of the church has ceased to believe in the end time events of the Bible, which is considered old fashioned to talk about in some Christian circles. As the world’s mindset has seeped into the church, it has cooled the love we once had for our Bridegroom and replaced it with a love of human intellect. Those who try to converse about the rapture get shot down with condescension from those who’ve become wise in their own eyes, saying, “You still believe in that! Haven’t you heard of the “new” teaching concerning that?”

The spirit of this age is like a plague that’s infected much of the church, causing it to become lukewarm in its relation to Jesus. Like an engaged woman whose love for her fiance was exuberant and a joy to her everyday, over time, the corruption of the world around her lured her away from him. The degeneracy of the world clouded her mind and she no longer valued the one who loved her and the promise she made to him was forgotten. She ceased to keep herself pure for her fiance, and took her relationship with him for granted. Sadly, she was unwise and distracted from her purpose by the cares of life, she forgot to “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming,” Matthew 25:13.

“Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts,” Romans 13:13-14.

The Bridegroom’s Call
When the preparations are finished, Jesus will call for us, as spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout (call), with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

Just like Noah’s ark was shut up when the rains came and it was too late for those who had refused to believe a flood would come, no matter how much they would beg to be let in, it was simply too late. God, Himself, had shut the doors and Noah could not have opened them if he wanted to (Genesis 7:16). God alone knew the day the flood would come and He alone knows the day and hour of the gathering of the bride of Christ.

Although we are permitted to know the seasons, and cultural signs of the end of days, no man will know the exact day or hour. Through Biblical prophesy, we can understand the signs that indicate that the approach of the rapture is very close. Like the ten maidens, we must prepare ourselves for our Bridegroom’s call!

Our Adversary’s Designs
Its quite obvious the enemy is fighting very hard to discourage people from believing in the rapture at all and there’s a reason for this – he knows full well there will most assuredly be a rapture! He has actively been preparing for it by laying the groundwork of deception through the years. If you look at the operations of our enemy, you will surely be convinced that the rapture is not a myth or Christian rumor, but will, indeed, occur and very soon. Satan’s team has convinced some that aliens, not angels, will come and purge (not rapture) those who he says stand in the way of the world’s “progress.” Why would he do that unless he knows the rapture of the church is imminent. Undoubtedly, he fears the impact of such an event happening, but why? What does he fear? He should be happy to see us go! Right?

Could it be that the rapture will produce the greatest awakening this world has ever know among those left behind and he is desperately preparing deception against that supposition?

I recently mentioned the rapture in a Facebook live video and, as soon as I finished, my feed was inundated with ads pushing anti-rapture content. So I surmise, if the enemy is fighting desperately against it, rest assured he is certain of it or he would not be pushing propaganda against it. It seems to me that we are not only about to witness one of the greatest events in modern world history, but to experience the culmination of the ultimate war between light and darkness. For no doubt the Lord has prepared for every plan of action the enemy could take with a counter action of His own. The signs are there and we are left to reason that the rapture, as amazing as it may seem, is scriptural and will occur very soon.

Recurring Dream
Friends, I have had a recurring dream for many years. In the dream, I witnessed a city gone mad with indescribable terror. Such horrific shock and panic I have never seen in my life and I could not understand what it was that happened to make them so afraid. I knew it had to be something catastrophic as I watched them searching frantically in churches for anyone they thought to be a Christian for help in getting right with God. Indeed, the Christians they found were even more frightened because they were literally mauled by unbelievers and hid from them for their own safety.

For years, I did not know what event I was witnessing in my dream and prayed for God’s revelation. One day, the Lord took me back into the dream in a vision and He asked me to describe what I saw in the unfolding scene. I focused on one man whose face was so distorted and writhed with fright he seemed like someone from another world. He was utterly engulfed by great terror and it was difficult to look at him. The Lord told me to look at where the man’s gaze was directed and I saw he was looking at me. It was then the Lord asked me to look again and see where I was in the dream and I saw myself floating (or rising) above him about 50 to 100 feet in the air. Then, I knew that what saw in my dream was, in fact, the rapture.

For years, I did not know this dream was actually a small glimpse of the event we call the rapture of the church and the subsequent fallout of its occurrence until the Lord revealed it to me. I understood then why the enemy is so terrified of the rapture and why he works so hard to hinder belief in it. He knows it will awaken the masses and so he has been busy preparation for their deception.

Our Objective Advanced
Even now, our adversary is intent on distracting us and pulling us away from our wedding preparations, and, if he can steal away our heart, he can rob us of our oil. How do we prepare? We prepare ourselves for His call like any bride would who is betrothed – we get to know our Bridegroom. In getting more acquainted with Christ instead of assuming we know Him already, we learn the secrets of His heart. Indeed, we can be assured that when we meet Him He will say, not “I never knew you,” (Mt. 7:23) but “Oh, My beloved, I’ve been waiting for you!” (Isaiah 62:5).

The light in our lamp is our love and its because of love that we separate ourselves from the pull of this fallen world, growing in faith and trust in our Bridegroom. Our oil is found in our continual, daily companionship with the Bridegroom as each day we rely on Him to be our comfort, strength and guide. Like many brides, our Bridegroom, Jesus, becomes our best friend. He is the first one we go to when we are hurting and the one we run to with joyous news. He is no longer a theology to us but has become more real than anything this world has to offer.

Our love for Jesus and enjoying His love in return is what keeps our light burning and makes us yearn for the sight of Him. Indeed, we are watchful because we love Him and can’t wait to see His face!

Jesus is our happy Bridegroom and we His bride. Prepare yourself for His call; it will be soon.

“Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” Revelation 19:9.



Dear Friends, Some of you may have known of our ministry called Women of the Spirit. However, the Lord has recently directed us to change the name and focus for this ministry to Call of the Bridegroom to reflect the change in spiritual seasons. As our time grows short, our focus has changed to lift up the Bride of Christ in preparation for His coming. We will be sharing the same anointed focus on the Word and trust you will enjoy them. If you have not already connected with the ministry you can join us: https://www.facebook.com/callofthebridegroom/ or www.callofthebridegroom.com

This is a word that God has been giving me for a couple of years and this last few weeks I have come to realize that it was for now. The Lord has come upon me very strongly a couple of times and shown me visions of an event that was going to happen that would cause a PAUSE in the way that America did things and in fact the whole world was going to be affected. He said that when this happens (and he showed me this several times) that it will bring about a pause in the way we do things in America and the world.

GOING BACK TO A SIMPLER TIME
He showed me that there is about to be a going back to a simpler time. I saw the 1950’s and the way that it was before the 60’s just after WW2. God was showing me that he was going to bring this pause to RESET THINGS AND BRING NEW ALIGNMENT IN BOTH THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD! In the church he is about to begin to move people from old stale religion to a place of intimate relationship out of a new desperation that they would have to hear the voice of God! Charismatic get ready for the dead denominations to come to you asking. How can I hear God? Also God is about to move many outside the walls of the church to hit the streets and bring faith to those who are afraid!

DON’T WASTE A CRISIS!
60:1-2 “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”
The Lord said that there was a politician during the Obama administration that said NEVER WASTE A GOOD CRISIS! The Lord said this to me . I do not cause death and destruction, sickness and disease, but I am saying to you that “I DO NOT WASTE A CRISIS EITHER AND NEITHER SHOULD THE CHURCH! We are to be the answer and not be in fear! We are to bring the one who is inside of us (JESUS) who is the remedy and begin to stand in the gap! It is our opportunity to shine!

NEW ALIGNMENTS FOR NEW ASSIGNMENTS!
“I am rearranging people and putting them in alignment for new assignments! Many will be moving to new jobs, new assignments and new alignments. God is moving many out of jobs that are killing you because you were not called to work by the sweat of your brow but you were called to do jobs that you were created for and this reset is about to bring that change in the people of God!” God said to “Look for the door that will be opening to you of ministry and opportunity!” God said, “I am about to launch many new types of ministries who will be based in His heart of love and compassion all over the earth!”

THE WEALTH OF THE WICKED WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE HANDS!
I heard the Lord say; “I am about to shift finances into the hands of those who will use the finances to bring kingdom concepts based in love and compassion and respect for people who he wants to set free. HOUSES AND LANDS ARE ABOUT TO BE GIVEN TO THE BODY OF CHRIST AND MANY HOUSE MEETINGS WILL ARISE IN THIS SEASON OUT OF NECESSITY! This in-turn will revolutionize the church in the future from the traditional church to the relational Kingdom minded church! When the church is reformed they will repossess many buildings for a fraction of the cost!”

"THERE IS A TYPE OF JUBILEE THAT IS TAKING PLACE AND DEBTS WILL BE CANCELLED AND THERE WILL BE A RE-SET THAT WILL TAKE PLACE! I AM CANCELLING AMERICA’S DEBTS IN THIS SEASON!"

WHO’S WHO IN THE ZOO
God said that "He is beginning to show the world what Prophets are real and which are not! The reason for this is that when new crises arise very quickly on the earth, they will know which voices to heed and which ones not to heed.” It is time to pay attention to those who have the heart of God and the ear of God and resound His voice clearly so that you will know what to do in these crises!"

Matthew 10:41 “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.”

I AM ALSO CHANGING THE WAY AMERICA DOES BUSINESS
“I am changing the way America does business with other countries and with one another. There will be a new pride in workmanship again and in ethics. Honor will come back to America once again. I am going to deal with those who do hot honor leadership. Not bad leadership but leadership ordained by God! I will bring honor again to your President and those who will not, will be ashamed!” Many things are about to change on earth and many things will switch from the hands of a satanic system to Kingdom systems in this time. BE PREPARED AND WATCH FOR THIS IS A PAUSE THAT WILL CAUSE THE SHIFT! DO NOT BE AFRAID BECAUSE I HAVE A PLAN FOR THOSE WHO LOVE ME AND THEIR FAMILIES! GET READY TO SHIFT, RATTLE AND ROLL!”

Jo Ellen Stevens
www.dstevens7.wixsite.com/tcic


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A love letter from Jesus:

"To the lover of God, My unique treasure—you are a Diamond bearer of promises, handpicked to be unfathomably rich in faith to access the unsurpassed Kingdom riches. I have made a covenant with you, to bring your soul delight. This I have pledged with My heart, out of My immense devotion to you.

"Only in the hands of a master Craftsman does the diamond realize its beautiful depths. I have already prepared what you need in unrestrained dimensions that cannot be measured! Begin at the end, as if it is already in your hands.

"You have taken quite a journey, yet there are bountiful comforts awaiting your acceptance. All that I have belongs to you. Vision creates reality and I will do infinitely more than you can reckon. Look around and notice the grassy plains of My permissions complete with well-watered and abounding provisions.

"The Kingdom of God is within you as a realm of governing power. Reach with your faith and mine for diamonds to produce. All will call you happy and blessed, as I pour out a blessing too great for you until there is no more room to receive it.

"Look up from your troubles to see from above. I am right here with you, as a wall of fire for your defense and the radiating presence within. Come into the awareness that if something does not exist in Heaven, then it doesn’t have to be in your life. You have been ransomed from the affliction. A curse cannot work if you do not believe it.

"Your prayer is already answered, as glittering diamonds carried downstream from the Kimberlite. In the midst of the clay and mud, there are sparkling treasures to cover all that you set your heart on. For every negative in your life, I have provided a double blessing to take its place.

"Believe in the reality of My unlimited supply of unseen gifts and they will become tangible and manifest. The promise is sure and it will not lie. The language of My love happens in your heart, feel as though you have it and be enveloped with the answer to your prayer request.

"I will surprise you with many awe-inspiring wonders. There is nothing that you can imagine to do that will be impossible for you. Extract diamonds from the deep seabed, as you envision that what you have been seeking has already arrived. Imagine yourself as blessed–and let your joy be filled!"

Dannette Garza
www.diamondsfromthedust.com


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We are entering an Amos 9: 13-15 time where the people of God who are faithfully working the vineyard given to them, will begin to operate in an increase of supernatural fruitfulness. There will be a God ordained acceleration of everything needed to bring about the increase. Strategies, resources, people, and favor will be combined by the Spirit of God to cause a momentum and synergy that results in a BOUNTIFUL HARVEST like prophesied in Amos 9. 

It's a time to see the NEW WINE drip from the mountains and flow from the hills!  God's desire has always been that His people live and enjoy a place of fruitfulness in every arena of their lives. His original intent can be seen in the creation of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. In Gen. 1:28, "God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it..."

His redemptive intent and desire for fruitfulness can be seen in these words from Amos 9:14, ..."and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit."

But now, as His people of the new covenant, we are given an even greater mandate to be fruitful. Many are seeking to be fruitful, but God is looking for a supernatural fruit born of His Spirit. Jesus could not have made it more clear in His challenging words in John 15:5, "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." 

Being connected to Jesus, "The Vine" has always been important, but this importance is about to be emphasized, highlighted, and underlined in the coming days. Many are seeking fruit in their own strength, and the futility of this waste is about to be exposed for what it is; wood, hay, and stubble.  

God is releasing a fresh knowledge of Him and His glory, and with it a deep awakened desire to walk in His ways. He is measuring His people and His standard is always the same. We are to walk FULL OF HIS SPIRIT and therefore overflowing with the fruit of that relationship which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.(from Gal. 5:22-23)

CONNECTION IS REQUIRED TO NAVIGATE THE NEW
There are those who are seeking to "speak in the tongues of men and of angels", but without love, it will amount to NOTHING.  We are entering a time where a great many resounding gongs and clanging cymbals will be silenced as waves of the fear of the Lord sweep across the earth. But, God is pouring out a gift of repentance that will draw the hearts of His people back into alignment and GREAT FRUITFULNESS will be the result. God is reconnecting His people that have wandered from the life-giving flow of the VINE. A wonderful, grace-filled reconnection of His branches to the VINE is occurring and a resurgence of valuing the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT will come as a result of this connection. As we journey further into this new era, our life-giving connection to the VINE will be essential to navigate the new. 

I hear the Spirit of God saying "I am going to the ROOT to bring about FRUIT. I will bring healing to the wounds that have darkened your heart and soul and you will be made whole. I am calling My Church to RISE AND SHINE. But first, You must be willing to walk through the doorway of humility and repentance.  '...Repent and do the things you did at first..." (from Rev. 2:5) Allow My Holy light to shine upon and search your heart. Receive My deep work of healing and release the things that have choked out My life-giving flow. Now run into the arms of My everlasting love and bask in the sweetness of knowing and being known. For it is My kindness that leads you to repentance."

Fruitfulness has always been His heart for our promised land. Even as the spies emerged from exploring their promised land, they brought with them grapes, figs, and pomegranates as a sign of the abundance He had in store for His people. Though there were enemies all around, they still emerged with fruit. 

God has exponential fruit for us even in the midst of our enemies. He did not remove the giants from the children of Israel's land, nor has He removed them from ours. But, He can spread a table in the wilderness and produce abundant fruit even as we are surrounded by opposition. The valuable secret lies in our connection to Him and the life-giving, power-filled flow of the VINE. 

"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."John 15:8

Sylvia Neusch
www.sylvianeusch.com


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Often in a new season God gives us gifts that we have asked for or promotes us into places our hearts have long desired. When this happens, the enemy will attempt to distract us by trying to get us to engage in a mind battle that is designed to cause us to look at ourselves instead of God. The enemy's strategy tries to steer our gaze onto our personal inadequacies and past failures in an attempt to cause us to self sabotage, while ultimately helping him rob us of actually stepping into and fully realizing the gifts, mantles and commissions the Lord has just given us.

The Holy Spirit showed me that there are many who are struggling with stepping into this new season in confidence and joy because the enemy has started to throw some of these things in your face, bringing up past failures, defeats or even accusations of sin you have repented for and turned away from. I hear the Lord gently reminding you of His great love and I hear Him saying:

“Beloved, My Blood speaks a better word. My Blood covers you; it covers your past, your present and covers your future. My Blood has a sound, it sings a redemption song. My Blood that covers you sings out to Me that you are Mine, it marks you and sings out that I have redeemed you and that nothing can separate you from My love.

“Beloved do not allow the enemy to trick you into taking your gaze off Me and setting it on yourself, for it is only by My grace and the power of My Holy Spirit that you can receive and walk in what I have given you. Trust in Me. Fix the eyes of your heart on Me alone, for it is I who have called you and it is I who qualifies you and it is only in Me that you can become all that I created you to be.

"Beloved, you are My delight. As you surrender to Me, it is My pleasure and intent to bring you into the places I have promised and fulfill the heart desires I placed in you before the foundations of the world. Hear My voice now. Resolve today not to turn to the right or the left, but to keep your gaze completely fixed on Me, step confidently into the land and walk in all I have given you."

Daneen Bottler
www.tyanddaneenbottler.com


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As we entered into 2020, I felt the Lord saying that this is a blast-off year!

Waiting with Expectation
Many people feel as if they have been in waiting. Simeon was a man who waited for the promise of the Messiah, "...He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah" (Luke 2:25-26 NLT). And Anna was also familiar with waiting as she "...never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer" (Luke 2:37 NLT).

They grew "old" in the waiting, yet never lost sight of the promise of God. Then, one day, everything changed. That which was promised came to pass. In a moment, they stepped into the long-awaited promise of God as they beheld a baby.

That baby, Jesus, had not yet done anything from a human perspective. Nonetheless, Simeon, as he held that baby, was holding the promise of God – his very own salvation. Simeon proclaimed that God had fulfilled His promise in that he had seen God's salvation (Luke 2:29-32). In the same way, Anna, upon seeing Jesus, immediately began praising God and talking about this bundle of promise to anyone and everyone who would listen (Luke 2:38).

Are you waiting? Are you waiting with expectation?

Rockets and Launchpads
As the Lord was speaking, He showed me a picture of a rocket. Portions of the rocket were manufactured in various places and brought together and assembled. Although the rocket was assembled, the full potential of the rocket was still only a distant vision and had not yet manifested. The rocket needed to first be moved to the launch pad. If you have ever observed a massive rocket being moved, it is a slow process.

Like the rocket, some of you feel as if you have been assembled by the Lord, prepared, but are just creeping along. Through the "creeping along," we can lose sight of the launch pad. The Lord says, "This is a blast-off year; do not despise the slow progress toward the launch pad. It is vital that you do not launch prematurely. I have the perfect date on my calendar. 2020 is a blast-off year. Keep your sights on the launch pad. You have not missed it."

As I heard this, I was immediately reminded of Acts 2. The disciples had been waiting. They had walked with Jesus, ministered with Jesus, seen signs, wonders, and miracles. Remember, they had also witnessed the death of Jesus. There was so much that they could not understand. And yet, they were told to wait. This was a pivotal moment filled with questions.

In the wait, there is a temptation to launch prematurely. Allow the Lord to pour in the fuel and ignite at just the right time.

Loading and Shaking
There is another group that has reached the launch pad, and the fuel has been injected but not ignited. The payload is on board and you are waiting for the shaking to start.

God says, "All that you need has been placed within you. Like Elizabeth had to wait for John to be born – the promised child in her old age. You hear the greeting of the Lord, and that which He has placed within you leaps for joy! Get ready for the fuel will be ignited. There is a great shaking that comes as you prepare to blast-off. Hang on tight to Me and do not allow fear or discouragement to enter in."

Shake, Rattle, and Blast Off!
The final group is feeling the shaking. This is not only individuals but also nations. There is much shaking, and it can feel like everything is about to fall apart. However, the Lord says, "I have prepared you. Am I not in control? That shaking has to happen for you to reach the heights to which I have called you. The power of the Holy Spirit must ignite in, through, and around you. Allow My joy to be your strength in ways that you never imagined, and I will hold you together through the shaking. As you look ahead, dream with Me, for as you hear the roar of the launch, you will also hear the roar of the Lion of Judah."

God will ignite the fuel at the precise moment. Not everyone will take off at the same moment, for the plans and purposes that God has for each individual and nation is unique. The payloads are specific, unique and diversified. Keep your focus on the Lion of Judah and look with anticipation.

Fire will destroy anything near or in the vicinity of the rocket as it blasts off. So it is with the roar of the Lion of Judah. When the Lion of Judah roars, the enemy is paralyzed. Get ready – 2020 is a year of a massive movement. Prepare for blast-off.

Ruth Hendrickson
www.ruthhendrickson.org


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I heard the Father say, "I have called 'Time out' on the devil! I have called 'Time out' on the enemy and tormentor of your soul – on the enemy of your calling and destiny. Your shift is upon you. Your shift is resounding through Heaven, and the angelic have been released to unshackle your chains of weariness, despair and hope deferred. For, in past seasons, you have fought the lion. I saw you fight the bear and you were victorious."

Then our mighty, incredible, powerful Father stood, and His voice roared with authority: "Now...now your shift is upon you! You will fight Goliath and tear down strongholds and influence nations. Redeem, redeem, redeem. Restore, restore, restore!"

Let us reflect on the story of Joseph. Let's go to the point in the story where he had now been forgotten by the cupbearer and was, once again, facing his prison bars. The Father said that Joseph's great challenge was not just the fact that he was still in prison, but that he now had absolutely no idea or comprehension if and when he would ever be released.

Will I Ever Be Free Again?
Oh, beloved ones, while doing some research I discovered that when certain interrogators were asked, "What are the things that break the most hardened prisoners?" they came back with some amazing facts. The thing that broke the most hardened captured soldiers or terrorists was not the physical torture, or even water boarding, but the isolation and complete loss of hope that they would ever be free again.

The enemy's tactics on so many of us have been the same in this past season.

So, back to Joseph. Imagine his first day following the cupbearer's promise to tell Pharaoh about Joseph to get him out of prison. He must have felt so excited. His heart would have been full with the elation that he would finally be free. Then, a week passed. Joseph would, most likely, still have been expectant, holding a secret joy and relief in his heart. What about when that week turned into three months, then six months, and then a year? Joseph must have realized, with a sinking heart and resignation, that he had been forgotten; abandoned to the sight of the prison bars surrounding him.

The joy of hope fulfilled had now turned into the bitter taste of hope deferred. Yet, the greatest challenge was not only that his plight had been forgotten, but that he had absolutely no idea or understanding of when his imprisonment would ever end. All of us can stand courageously when we know there is an allotted time to our suffering or shattered circumstances; when we know that, on this particular date, the royal guard is coming to open our prison doors and set us free!

We can make it because we have hope, but at this point in the story Joseph was still facing the same prison walls, not knowing if his release was imminent or never. I'm sure he questioned, "Is this for life?"

When Is My Release Date?
I believe that is the strongest weapon the enemy has used against many of us in this past season. In facing such loss, heartbreak, bereavement, divorce and so many shattered dreams, there have been moments when many of us were so assured that "this was it." We'd prayed and spoken the Word, and some of us experienced profound encounters with Heaven. We lifted our heads and hands in worship, so, so grateful that "THIS was it"; we would finally be released into restoration, renewed hope and our desire fulfilled would become the tree of life.

Then, a week passed...a month...six months and still no shift. So our hearts fell back into desolation, abandonment and despair, just like Joseph. Just like Joseph, we have lived never knowing if the almost unbearable prison of our circumstances would ever end.

There has been no "release date" arriving from Heaven. We have been in a position where no man can release and shift us into our new season of restoration, only God.

So many of us have had our heads hung down. Even those of us who have fought the lion and the bear have never experienced the warfare of delay and deferred hope in such magnitude. Warriors, who had been on the front lines in many ferocious battles against the enemy and seen victory after victory, were hit with such agonizing loss, bereavement, divorce, financial loss and heartbreak.

They were facing another kind of battle; a battle behind the bars of their circumstantial prison, crying out for release, for mercy, and for miraculous intervention. This battle was a battle for their minds and hearts. They faced mental anguish, tormenting thoughts, severe depression, anxiety and despair. In these things they were well versed, yet they fought the lion; they fought the bear!

Marked for Outpouring
Beloved, hear me. In this past season, the season of survival, the enemy has changed his tactics and mounted a ferocious assault against many of those whom the Father has marked for the end-time outpouring.

But today...today the Father has roared, "It is time! It is time for the shift. Heaven is mobilized for My incredible shift, for My called-out ones. I have called 'Time out!' on the devil. I have called 'Time out!' on the tormentor of your soul – on the enemy of your calling and destiny.

"Your shift is upon you. It is resounding through Heaven and the angelic have been released to unshackle your chains of weariness, despair and hope-deferred. For, in past seasons, you have fought the lion. I saw you fight the bear and you were victorious."

Our mighty, incredible, powerful Father stands, and His voice roars with authority: "Now...now your shift is upon you! You will fight Goliath and tear down strongholds and influence nations. Redeem, redeem, redeem.

"Lift up your weary hands, oh greatly beloved. For your King is here with His mighty right arm of recompense. Prepare now to fight Goliath in this next season. For I will tell you, you will see nations shift at the sound of your decrees. You will drive out torment and set the captives free. You will rejoice as Joseph did. For I am about to call you out and dress you in royal robes and place My signet ring upon your finger.

"I will widen, widen, widen your sphere of influence so that all men may look upon you and say, 'Look, he/she was so weak. Could it be them, thousands of them, leaning on their Beloved but clothed in the glorious armor of their King?'

"These are My trusted ones who have walked through the fire. They are My fearsome ones – mighty ones – marching to slay Goliath as Daniel, My greatly beloved."

Wendy Alec
www.chroniclesofbrothers.com


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"I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs." (Is. 41:18, NIV)

The move of the Holy Spirit is likened to rivers breaking out in dry, barren places, or an incoming tide or rain poured out on parched ground (Is. 44:3).

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Hab. 2:14)

If this resonates with you, take heart, for the Holy Spirit is moving! God is healing dryness. He is interrupting cycles of weariness. And He is removing hindrances that have led to frustration.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader
There is a book by C.S. Lewis in the Chronicles Narnia series called "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader."

As the story opens, the heroes, Edmund and Lucy, are discussing a framed picture on the wall. It is of a Narnian ship on the seas. As they observe the picture, they suddenly realize the boat and the sea in the picture are moving. A wind blows out from the picture, and a book in the room flaps and is tossed against the wall. They can smell the sea. A salty wave breaks out of the picture, and with a cold, wet splash, it breaks over the children – including Eustace, a skeptical onlooker. In a moment, all three are pulled into the frame, into a new reality, where they find themselves caught up in another kingdom and in the service of the king.

It Started with a Car Crash
Like the picture on the wall, many of us, over the years, have put God in a frame of our own understanding. But He's breaking out of the frame. This has been happening for both me and my husband Malcolm. Signs of our own "new era" with God started breaking out in January 2016.

One day, I was driving my car and turned right onto a main road. Just ahead of me, in a lane to my right, was a lady in a black SUV car with a baby strapped in a car seat behind her. We had the green light.

Suddenly, in my peripheral vision, I noticed a maroon car driving toward us from the right at a high speed. I realized he was not going to stop.

He hurtled towards us, narrowly missing the lady with the baby, and was about to collide with my driver's door when in that split second, I slammed on my brakes. Miraculously, I escaped injury by milliseconds, but my car was spun around, while the driver who crashed into me accelerated and disappeared, leaving only the smoke from his tires behind him. When I glanced up, it was just in time to see that there was no rear license plate on his car to identify him.

Twenty minutes later, I was standing in front of my car, trembling in shock and shedding tears over the loss of my car. The Ford Falcon wasn't new, but I'd loved it. And whilst I had only a slight bump on my head, the front end of my car was wrecked.

In that moment, I remembered something that happened the week before. I'd awoken sharply from a dream in the middle of the night. In the dream, I was speaking in an excited manner to an unseen audience about how grateful my husband and I were that the insurance company had written off our car, because now we could receive the upgrade we had prayed for.

My first response, before I went back to sleep, was to dismiss the dream. After all, in 30 years of driving I'd never had an accident! And we certainly hadn't been praying for an upgrade for the car. I later realized that the dream was symbolic and shared about it that day with others on our team. But we never imagined for one moment that the dream would literally come to pass.

When God Orders an Upgrade
Nine days later, I was standing in front of my crashed car. And as I remembered the dream, shock gave way to gratitude and amazement. My Father already knew about this and must have sent an angel to protect me!

Our insurer wrote off my car and released the funds for us to purchase another one. As my husband and I searched among many second-hand cars, our search narrowed down to one. It was a Ford Falcon – the same car I loved, but one year younger. It had less mileage on the odometer and it was my preferred color. Not only that, it was exactly the next model up from the one I'd lost. It was a small, very precise upgrade. But more than that, the event was a sign, and the dream I was given has been fulfilled many times over.

Kingdom Encounters
Since that time, God has been speaking to my husband and me more frequently through supernatural signs and unusual "coincidences." These can only be explained by divine orchestration. And often, objects or events in the physical realm, such as the car (and the shoehorn I wrote about in a recent word), are involved. God has been doing something in our lives that we had no prior frame of reference for.

A "King Tide" and Splash Zone of the Spirit
A "king tide" is an especially high spring tide. When there is a king tide, places that don't normally get wet become drenched. At these times, the ocean may stretch to reach ground it has never reached before.

Right now, we are living in a time where the Kingdom of God is advancing. Like a king tide, the water level of the Holy Spirit is rising, and many of us are about to be caught up in the "new normal" of what God is doing.

After decades of journeying with God and learning about the prophetic gifts, my husband Malcolm and I are living permanently astounded. The move of the Holy Spirit breaks over us, pulling and inviting us into the adventure our Father has called us to.

Then there is the "splash zone."

In C.S. Lewis' story, the selfish and unbelieving Eustace found himself in this "splash zone," caught in another kingdom, encountering a Redeemer.

When God is moving, stories of what He is up to spill over and touch those around us, and together we learn what it means to navigate this "new normal." It's not comfortable, yet it is glorious, for when the Kingdom of God manifests, Jesus is the only explanation for what is taking place.

Today, this is His invitation to you: It's time to be drenched.

Prayer
If you've been hungry to see God move in a new way, breathe this prayer with me today:

Jesus, I ask You to move in my life. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see You at work. Break open the frame of my understanding. Let Your Kingdom life spill over me, over my family, my workplace, ministry, neighborhood and region. Drench us, Lord!

Father, may Your Kingdom come, Your will be done – and may many come to know Jesus as King. May there be a revival of Your Word and Your Spirit, and I say, Lord, let it begin right here, right now. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Helen Calder
www.enlivenministries.net


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