The Lord's Times and Seasons - Part 1 - Elijah and Elisha

Newsletter The Witness 22 October 2008

The Witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ South Africa, Pretoria

[email protected] & www.witnessesforjesuschrist.co.za This letter was written as a witness to the Lord Jesus Christ so that by all possible means God’s people will be prepared for the works of service to which He has called them. Proclaim His coming, for His coming is soon at hand. (1 Cor 9:1-27) Please send this letter to as many others so that they may be blessed. This letter may be copied, but all rights are reserved as revealed from the Lord

Jesus Christ and those ministries mentioned. Therefore give Glory to whom Glory belong.

The Lord’s Times and Seasons (Part 1)

Elijha & Elisha...

And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha:

“Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you”. And Elisha said: “I pray you; let a double portion of your spirit be upon me”.

He said: “You have asked a hard thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if not, it shall not be so”. As they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire parted the two of them,

and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2Ki 2:9-11) Ampl

A consistant walk with God...

Men have always walked a path to find the will of

God for their lives. They had to endure hardships and many trials in order for them to fulfill their destiny. They had to follow God’s voice and commandments in strick obedience so that they could receive that which was promised. The word of God says: “And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him]”. [Heb. 11:5.] (Gen 5:24) Ampl, even the writer of the book of

Hebrews said about Enoch: “Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God. [Gen. 5:21-24.] 6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. (Heb 11:5-6) Ampl

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Enoch walked in a consistant relationship with God for 365 years as a man after God’s own heart, before God being greatly pleased took him away, because of His faith. In the same way God will also come to take away those who had lived a godly live is Christ Jesus. Wrestiling with God... A man who had walked a long journey of finding God’s destiny for his life was Moses. Moses knew that God had called him to be the deliverer of Israel. After 40 years of seeing the oppression of his people Israel and of being an Egyptian, he thought it was time to deliver Israel. He killed an Egyptian hoping they would see he was chosen by God to deliver Israel, but this did not come to pass at that time as he had hoped. He had to flee and went and lived in Midian, in Arabia, for another 40 years, until God called him and sent him back to Egypt to deliver Israel. God did mighty signs and wonders by the hand of Moses, because he obeyed God. The bad report that was given by the 10 spies, forced the Israelites to travel around in the desert for another 40 years, until they finally came to the land of promise. God told Moses that his time of leadership had completed and that he would not lead the people into the promised land. He was only allowed to see the promised land at a distance. He saw the beautiful valley of Jericho at a distance, but could not enter it. I have also innisially missed the perfect, predestined plan for my life a few times before reaching the plan and will of God for my life, but praise be to God, who through the apostle Paul said: “For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable”. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] (Rom 11:29) Ampl

God will not give up on us as long as we are alive. Therefore, do not give up on God. When God gives us a prophetic word, He sees the potential, which He had put inside of us if we will only follow His ways. In a dream, 26th of January 2002, I was at the house which I grew up 22 years of my life. As I looked up into the blue sky I saw massive, reddish colour, metal plough frame structure, with many plough shares hanging from it. When I saw this structure, I thought of the danger if this structure would fall on somebody or even the destructive power such a structure would have it would fall. This huge structure hanged very low over our house. Suddenly the structure descended for landing, like a large cargo plane. It touched down in a large ploughed field, going into a northern western direction. I thought that it was out of control. I imagined how it would not only plough the ground, but would remove everything in its way. The momentum of the landing seemed able to thrown the structure with its ploughs, which started ploughing the ground, the moment it touched down, off balance, but it didn’t. It also seemed that it would slow down in speed as it started threshing the ground, but it didn’t. The structure bumped into something and changed in direction and turned northwards. I followed the plough, to see where it would go. Suddenly it swung around clockwise and turned westwards. I found myself standing on collusion coarse with it. I was now in its way and was also in danger of being killed. I waited until the last moment, to determine in which way it would go. I jumped out of its way in order to avoid collision with it. It reached the hard ground of a compacted dirt road and looked like it would lose momentum and speed, but because of the difference in ground compaction, it swung around in a clockwise direction, turning eastward, and came straight back at me. It didn't lose momentum even with its second turn. At that moment the plough






changed and became a white Corsa bakkie. Again, it came straight towards me and I had to jump out of it way to avoid it. It turned clockwise for the third time and came back towards me. At the last moment I jumped up into the sky, and because of the speed of the bakkie it went right underneath me. I stayed in the sky after the jump and it seemed like I was able to fly by making use of my mind. I just wanted to start flying, when I got entangled in a power cable or wire. My momentum was broken and I gently came back to earth, putting my feet on the ground. At that moment I saw thousands of cars, like peak hour traffic, coming down that dirt road. That next morning when I woke up, in wondered about the meaning of the dream. I asked the Lord Jesus about the interpretation of the dream. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.(Gen 32:24) Ampl I looked up the word for wire in Hebrew and I made the most amazing discovery. The words for wire comes

from – תל� - paw-thal' - to twine, that is, (literally) to

struggle or to wrestle. I prayed from many years for the interpretation of this dream. After many years I now understand that God gave me this dream, showing me the path that I would have to walk in order to find God’s will for my life. We have to wrestle with God and some times even with man, before we reach the place of destiny, which God had called us for.

Abram, who later became Abraham, known as the friend of God, waited many years for the promise of the promised son – Isaac to come to pass. How he left his own home land and became a stranger in another land because of a promise from God. How he stayed in the promised land like a stranger. How God tested Abraham, to see whether he loved God more than anything that God could give him. This led to the prophetic act that would led up to the death, burial and ressurection of the Lord Jesus Christ, at the very place, where Abraham had to sacrifice his only beloved son Isaac, at mount Moriah. We know of many men and women who according to the writer of the book of Hebrews had walked and lived by faith because of the promises of God. How they overcame and how there weaknesses was changed into strenght. How they were all waiting for a better home than this earthly home. They all looked forward to that which God, in Christ Jesus, our Lord had promised them. They all lifted up their eye to heaven, from where their salvation would come, as was written: <A Song of Ascents.> “I will lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah], from whence shall my help come? [Jer. 3:23.] My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. (Psa 121:1-2) Ampl And “For we know that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Here indeed, in this [present abode, body], we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over [we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out] with our heavenly dwelling,” (2Co 5:1-2) Ampl






God has destined us to be clothed with a different body. God did not destine us for punishment, but as friends and fellow heirs to rule and reign with Him for the eternaties of the eternaties. The Journey to find God... The purpose of the journey that God has put his servants of the past on, was to bring them or to draw them to Him. The Word of God, Jesus Christ said: “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day”. (Joh 6:44) Ampl God knowns what He has destined us for and also knows how to draw it out of us. If you want your child to spontanuously do something, which you believe he can do you, you instigate him to attempt to do something, he thought was not possible. The journey of our lives actually were designed by God to bring forth the best that is hidden inside of us and which God knows is waiting dormant in us. Many journeys of the prophets and holy men and women of God had a very specific purpose which God wanted to achieve in them. God said that He allowed the children of Israel to travel around in the desert for 40 years: “And you shall [earnestly] remember all the way which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and to prove you, to know what was in your [mind and] heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Your clothing did not become old upon you nor did your feet swell these forty years. Know also in your [minds and] hearts that, as a man disciplines and instructs his son, so the Lord your God disciplines and instructs you. (Deu 8:1-5) Ampl God is very systematic in all that He does. We do not always understand why God allows certain things to happen in our lives, but we know as Paul the apostle said: “And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will. [Ps. 139:1, 2.] We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose”. (Rom 8:27-28) Ampl God works all things that happen to us out for the better. Have you ever no being able to do something and only later found out that it was actually better that it worked out in this way? Those whom God call with a specific calling will experience that things work out differently for them, because God is accomplishing something unique in them for the sake of bringing glory to His Name. God spoke to the prophets of the past in many symbols and parables, as I have briefly started to explain in the newsletter: ‘The Watchman’. The prophets had to act out and perform many weird prophetic actions, which were as sign of those things which were to take place in the future of their nation or generation. These clues which God gives are hidden in scripture for those to whom God will choose to open it. Lets consider a promise that was made to the apostle John, when he tried to understand those things which God had shown him on the Island of






Patmos, as was written: “Here is [room for] discernment [a call for the wisdom of interpretation]. Let anyone who has intelligence (penetration and insight enough) calculate the number of the beast, for it is a human number [the number of a certain man]; his number is 666”. (Rev 13:18) Ampl The Lord told John that those who have the ability to interpret this, those who are wise and have spiritual insight and the ability to discern, will be able to understand the riddle. God often gives us riddles which must be unsealed and interpreted. Many times dreams and visions are also like this. So the live of Jesus Christ and the prophets are like a key that can unlock the future if they are correctly interpreted. I also want to mention that no one could interpret dreams unless God gave them the interpretation, as is written: “[Yet] first [you must] understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of any personal or private or special interpretation (loosening, solving). For no prophecy ever originated because some man willed it [to do so--it never came by human impulse], but men spoke from God who were borne along (moved and impelled) by the Holy Spirit”. (2Pe 1:20-21) Ampl Only through the Holy Spirit and by God’s grace will God the Father open His secrets to His servants, the prophets. The Life of Elijah and the journey that he traveled at the end of His life signifies very significant event before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Prophet Elijah… Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before

the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. [Matt. 11:14; 17:10-13.] (Mal 4:5) Ampl

The prophet Malachi prophesied that just before Jesus Christ comes back, the Spirit of the prophet Elijah will be revealed upon this earth. Jesus said that he, Elijah will come to restore all things. It has also been prophesied by John the apostle that two prophets would be revealed that would operate in all the miraculous signs wonders that Moses and Elijah has done on the earth. Looking only at the prophet Elijah, his life portrayed prophetic things which would be fulfilled before Jesus Christ comes. The prophet Elijah’s name means: “God [Eloihim] is Yah” Elijah called men to stop worshipping other God’s. He fled from Jezebel for fear of is life. He demonstrated powerful signs and wonders proving the Yah is God, just like His name indicated. He even called down fire from heaven on this earth. He was a radical man who lived to defend the honour of God Almighty and he taken alive into heaven by a whirlwind and chariots of fire. He had to anoint Elisha as prophet in His place and after this completed a very significant journey, as Elisha followed hard after him. The Journey of Elijah and Elisha... Gilgal – Bethel – Jericho - Jordan This journey of Elijah with Elisha is very significant for the church and the bride of Jesus Christ to understand, because this is a type of the bride of Christ’s being prepared to be taken away, to be caught up into the heavens to be with Jesus Christ for ever. This significance of the journey will be better understood when the names of the cities to which the two prophets had to travel in order for Elisha to be taken away in a whirlwind and a chariot of fire. The greatest revelation and warning lies in this, that the prophets knew that Elijah was going to be taken away, but did not follow the prophets, Elijah and Elisha, as






they followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord God could have taken the prophet away at any of the cities, but waited until Elijah had reached the city of Jordan. Lets follow this journey and see why God waited until Elijah reached the last city of Jordan, keeping in mind that the lives of prophets very signs of those things that was to come to pass in the future. Gilgal... When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to

heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were

going from Gilgal. (2Ki 2:1) Ampl

Gilgal comes from the word ‘wheel’ indicating the

rolling of something - ל�ל� - ghil-gawl'. Gilgal means

‘rolling’, coming from the promise made by God to Joshua, saying: “This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you. So the name of the place is called Gilgal [rolling] to this day”. (Jos 5:9b) Ampl Israel encamped in Gilgal after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River (Joshua 4:19). No doubt

the tabernacle was set up there. Israel occupied Gilgal for some time and used it as the center of the nation. Several significant religious events occurred at Gilgal. The circumcision of all Hebrew males born in the wilderness during the forty years of wandering (5:2-9) took place in Gilgal. So did the celebration of the Passover (5:10) and the stoppage of the manna (5:12). It was there that the “commander of the army of the LORD” revealed himself to Joshua (5:13-15). Info thanks to Illumina Bible Encylopedia. At Gilgal we are circumcised of our past sins. Here God wants to roll away our past defeats and disobediences. God also wants to take away our past sins and remember them no more, as David prophesied, saying: “Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered (overwhelmed). Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit. [Rom. 4:7, 8.] (Psa 32:1-2) Ampl And David said: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed (recede or rolling) our transgressions from us. (Psa 103:12) Ampl God desires all men’s sins to be forgiven once they accepted Jesus Chist as their Lord and saviour. Then He rolls out sins on Christ and take them away as far as the east is from the west. Thus Gilgal, represent the place of repentance and turning to God. Gilgal is the place of the breaking the strongholds in our lives. We have just entered the promised land, but must now get rid of the old life through self crucifixion, like Jesus said: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters--[yes] and even his






own life also he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple. (Luk 14:26-27) Ampl This the place of the breaking of major arguments that has set it self up against God and Jesus Christ, as was written: “For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),…” (2Co 10:4-5) Ampl We need to lay down all the works of the flesh and start to live according to the Sprit of God. We need to be renewed in our mind and the habitual thought patterns of the mind. Paul described this principle to the new, young followers of Jesus many times, saying: “Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.” (2Co 4:16) Ampl And “Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self], which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph 4:22-24) Ampl And “But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses

and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips! Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices, and have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.” [Gen. 1:26.] (Col 3:8-10) Ampl Gilgal is the place where we learn to take up the weapons which God has given us in order to stand against the devil’s schemes, as was written: “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. 13 Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. 14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, 15 and having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of






peace. [Isa. 52:7.] 16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. 18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). (Eph 6:10-18) Ampl God wants us to know that He has excepted us as saved sinners, who are walking a new path to holiness, preparing ourselves for our Heavenly Bridegroom. Bethel... And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel. But Elisha replied: "As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you". So they went down to Bethel. The

prophets' sons who were at Bethel came to Elisha and said: "Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? “He said, Yes, I know

it; hold your peace. (2Ki 2:3) Ampl

Bethel was derived from two words - ית־אל� - Beth-El;

house of God. Bethel was the name given to the place where Jacob met with God in a dream the first time. He called this place the ‘House of God’, as was written: “And Jacob rose early in the morning and took the stone he had put under his head, and he set it up for a pillar (a monument to the vision in his dream), and he poured oil on its top [in dedication]. And he named that place Bethel [the house of God]; but the name of that city was Luz at

first. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me food to eat and clothing to wear, so that I may come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God; And this stone which I have set up as a pillar (monument) shall be God's house [a sacred place to me], and of all [the increase of possessions] that You give me I will give the tenth to You. (Gen 28:18-22) Ampl Bethel was an important Old Testament city located about 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) north of Jerusalem on the north-south ridge road at the tribal borders of Benjamin and Ephraim (Joshua 16:1-2 ; 18:13). As a trading center, Bethel attracted merchandise both from the Mediterranean coast and from Transjordan by way of Jericho. Although the site was located in dry hill country, several springs supplied ample water for its inhabitants (the oldest artifact recovered from the site is a water jar dating from about 3500 BC). Info thanks to Illumina Bible Encylopedia. God had told Elijah to go to Bethel. He did not go to this city out of his own. Jacob had set up a memorial to remember the place of meeting with God. Later this place was referred to by many other men, who remembered how Jacob had also wrestled with God at this place, later named by Jacob to be Peniel – The Face of God, as was written: “And Jacob was left alone, and a Man wrestled with him until daybreak. And when [the Man] saw that He did not prevail against [Jacob], He touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob's thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with Him. Then He said, Let Me go, for day is breaking. But [Jacob] said, I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing upon me. [The Man] asked him, What is your name? And [in shock of realization, whispering] he said, Jacob






[supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]! And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed. [Hos. 12:3-4.] Then Jacob asked Him, Tell me, I pray You, what [in contrast] is Your name? But He said: "Why is it that you ask My name?And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [the face of God], saying, For I have seen God face to face, and my life is spared and not snatched away. (Gen 32:24-30) Ampl Jacob had an awesome encounter with God. He met God in His power and prevailed. He was a changed man. He was no longer to be called swindler, but contender with God – Israel, for He had experienced God in a personal way which changed His live for ever. Since God appear to me the first time in a dream, on the 4th of July 2000, God has changed the direction of the course of my life. In a dream consisting of different parts I met God the first time. The first part of the dream, a large, shiny, black spider came out of the roof, right above me in my room. I was affraid and tried to protect myself against it by using a pillow. Something told me not to be affraid and to allow the spider to climb on my back. I turned to allow the spider to climb on my back. I could imaged how it would feel and shivers ran down back at thought of allowing the spider to climb on me. In the second part of the dream, I was driving along at night, in my father's old kombi. Suddenly my rugby ball fell out of the Kombi. It was a dark night, but I could see my rugby ball bounce and came to a stand still on the sand. I stopped the one driving the Kombi so that I could go retreave the ball that had fallen out of the buss. As I wanted to pick up this ball it started bouncing. Then the Holy Spirit told me that this was

demonic and told tme to rebuke it in Jesus Name. Immediately the bouncing stopped. The next moment I heard music coming from the sky. As I looked up, I saw a soft yet bright, yellow light, shining through the darkness above me. At that moment I expected to see angels coming out of heaven, just like Jacob did. As I looked up, I saw the silliotte of a Priest in golden yellow colour hanging, suspended in the heavens. His face was covered He looked like He had the covering of a priestly mantle. When I saw Him I knew who he was. He was the Holy Spirit. Many mixed feelings came up inside of me, because I had been very put off by those who had said that they had received the Holy Spirit, but did not show the fruit of the Spirit of God in their lives. I was skeptical and yet longed for him in my life. Without being able to resist Him he pulled me up into the heavens towards Himself. I walked as if up into the sky towards Him. I was overwhelmed as we were suspended in the heavens. It was as if we dancing a love dance in the sky. Then Spirit of God swirled around me and I went around Him. Still being stunned and without words or though, suddenly, without warning, He changed into an older looking, very strong man, with grey hair. As we were dancing in the sky, by coincidance, we touched each other’s hands. I felt the rough and strong, texture of His hand, exactly like my earthly father's hand. At that moment, when we touched, I experience the love of the Father flowing into and through me. Then with a deep sige, He said to me: “O, Hendrik, Hendrik! I woke up and wept bitterly, because of the love the Lord God, our Father had for me. God had appeared to me in a dream, before I have even been baptized with the Spirit of God. God had given me a dream to show His loving kindness and His






predestined plan to be a friend of God, revealing many things to come to me. Bethel was the place of prayer and intercession, for Jesus once said: “He said to them, the Scripture says, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers. [Isa. 56:7; Jer. 7:11.] (Mat 21:13) Ampl We must intercede for the break through, through fasting and praying in the Spirit, so that God will meet with us and so that He may reveal or manifest Himself to us, for the Spirit through Paul said: “So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. 27 He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will. [Ps. 139:1, 2.] (Rom 8:26-27) Ampl Bethel is also the place of waiting on God, and learning to understand the Spirit and His Anointing. Bethel is also the place of wrestling with God in order to find God’s will for our lives. We often do not know the will and specific purposes, which God has for our lives. We need to pray and intercede before the Lord of all the earth, so that we may understand His will for our lives. Bethel is also the season where we are increasing in our knowledge of the ways of God and principles of God. It is a place of growth in the Lord Jesus, learning to understand that we have authority in Jesus Christ, through the blood and the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Bethel is the place of getting to understand God’s person and His Spirit. We also come to know the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the voice of God better. We are like little children who learn to walk and live in the Spirit, which is different from the ways of this world. Jesus once said: “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. [Ezek. 36:25-27.] 6 What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above). 8 The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (Joh 3:5-8) Ampl We are spiritually discerned and do not understand the things of the spirit. It is foolishness to us and we need to learn to have faith in the unseen spiritual world. This is the place where our faith is tested and grown to a spiritual understanding. But God does not want us to stagnate in this place of prayer and intercession. God wants us not to make an idol out of what He had shown us the first time, thinking that this is the Alpha and the Omega of God. We must not idolize the supernatural experiences which God had shown us during this time of increased spirituality and faith. This was also what happened to the men of old at Bethel. They learned both the fear of God and yet did not repent of idolizing the shrines and the high places, as was written: “So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel and taught them how they should fear and revere the Lord. But every nationality still made gods of their own and put them in the shrines of the high places which the Samaritans






had made, every nationality in the city in which they dwelt. (2Ki 17:28-29) We need to move on to maturity in Christ. “Keep your foot [give your mind to what you are doing] when you go [as Jacob to sacred Bethel] to the house of God. For to draw near to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools [carelessly, irreverently] too ignorant to know that they are doing evil. [Gen. 35:1-4; Exod. 3:5.] Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. (Ecc 5:1-2) Ampl In conclusion on the journey through the city of Bethel, the prophet Hosea said about the Jacob’s encounter with God: “He took his brother by the heel in [their mother's] womb, and in the strength [of his manhood] he contended and had power with God. [Gen. 25:26; 27:36.] Yes, he had power over the Angel [of the Lord] and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor. He met Him in Bethel, and there [God] spoke with [him and through him with] us [Gen. 28:12-19; 32:28; Gen. 35:1-15.] Even the Lord the God of hosts, the name of Him [Who spoke with Jacob] is the Lord. Therefore return to your God! Hold fast to love and mercy, to righteousness and justice, and wait [expectantly] for your God continually! (Hos 12:3-6) Ampl Jacob was an example to us, so that we may persevere and keep wrestling with God. God allow us to still seek Him in our own human strenght, as we learn to trust in the strenght of His Holy Spirit, as was prophecied: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zech 4:6) Ampl This might cost allot of tears and frustration, as God leads us to

where He actually wants us to come, the place of Love and mercy! Jericho... Elijah said to him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray you, for

the Lord has sent me to Jericho. But he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said: "Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? “And he answered: "Yes, I know it; hold your peace".

(2Ki 2:4-5) Ampl

The derivative of the name of the city Jericho is not

clear. The name - יריחו� � � � �ירחו � � � .yer-ee-kho - יריחה

Jericho was an ancient city on the west side of the Jordan River. The name Jericho may be connected to the ancient name of the Canaanite moon god. The Hebrew words for moon, month, new moon, and Jericho are very similar. Others associate it with the word for spirit or smell. They feel that the pleasant fragrances of the fruits and spices that grew in this oasis helped to name the place. The Old Testament






occasionally calls it “the city of palm trees” (for example, Deuteronomy 34:3; 2 Chronicles 28:15). Jericho was located on the west side of the Jordan River about five miles from the southern-most fords and about ten miles northwest of the Dead Sea. Being in the broad part of the plain of the Jordan, it lies nearly 1,000 feet below sea level and about 3,500 feet below Jerusalem, which was a mere 17 miles away. This simple fact explains the words in Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, “down from Jerusalem to Jericho” (Luke 10:30). The Jericho is best known as the first city taken by the invading Israelites through the miracle of the falling walls. Israel had spent some time on the east bank of the Jordan in the plains of Moab (Numbers 22:1; Numbers 26:3, Numbers 63). There, they targeted Jericho as the first military objective in the conquest. Joshua sent spies to survey the land and the city. Rahab the harlot took them in and later helped them escape. For her cooperation, she and her family were spared when Israel destroyed the city (Joshua 2:1, Joshua 6:1). The fall of the city itself occurred after the Israelites had marched around it in silence, except for the continual blowing of trumpets, once a day for six days and then seven times on the seventh day. Then, as the priests blew the trumpets, the people shouted and the walls collapsed. Joshua laid a curse on anyone who might rebuild Jericho (Joshua 6:26). The curse was fulfilled about five hundred years later when Hiel rebuilt the city at the cost of two of his sons (1 Kings 16:34). Info thanks to Illumina Bible Encylopedia. Jericho represent the first city that Israel had to take in order to take possession of the promised land. Thus Jericho represented the fulfillment of the promise of God and the stronghold that need to be broken to inherit the promises of God in our lives. While spending much time in the presence of God during the

season of prayer and intercession God will reveal His predestined plan to you. Many of us have received many prophecies, which have not come to fulfillment yet. We have for many years prepared to be used by God, for the scriptures says: “For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works, which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (Eph 2:10) Ampl The church of God has returned from the dark ages and have seen many truths being restored. Many traditions, which has nullified the word of God has been cast out and replaced with the truth. Jesus said: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? What I am telling you I do not say on My own authority and of My own accord; but the Father Who lives continually in Me does the (His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power). 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the [very] works themselves. [If you cannot trust Me, at least let these works that I do in My Father's name convince you.] 12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. (Joh 14:10-12) Ampl Jesus promised that those who steadfastly hold to the teachings of Jesus will do what He has been doing and even greater things than these. Jericho was not taken in by the force or power of a human army. This battle was won in the Spirit, through obedience. Only obedience to the Spirit of God could overthrough this city. Jericho is also the






place of doing and following the will of God and the guidence of the Spirit. In this season the saying is true: “Not by might (human strength) nor by power (brute force), but by My Spirit” says the LORD!” Going to the next level in the Spirit, can not be achieved by any human effort. During this season of growth, God must be given full control of our lives. A very sensitive relationship with the Holy Spirit is the key. The person who have reached this place in the Spirit knows God and are known by God, as Jesus said: “I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me. (Joh 10:14) Ampl Those who have come to the Jericho season, know God and also know His voice. They have a intimate relationship with God and in Jesus’ own words: “The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.] (Joh 14:21) Ampl God wants to reveal Himself to His friends. God wants His promises to us to be fulfilled, for He has good plans for those who love Him and obey His teachings. Thus Jericho is also the place of authority. This is the place where God will as it was prophecied by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “They shall not labor in vain or bring forth [children] for sudden terror or calamity; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall be that before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear”. [Isa. 30:19; 58:9; Matt. 6:8.] (Isa 65:23-24) Ampl

When a man has reached this stage in obedience to God, no compromise is allowed. This is a strict life like the life of those in the old testement who became Nararites for a season. This is place of seperation and being set apart for the plan and purposes of God. This is the place of power. This the place where God will reveal His Glory to those who love and follow Him. God give those who reach this place in the Spirit great responsibillity and power. With this responsibillity comes accountablillity to God and His Holy Spirit. This is the place where the forerunners of God runs. They are seen as radical and sometimes unrelatable. They are bold and understand the spiritual realm. They have seen the hand of God move and can also move the hand of God. Great signs and wonders manifest in and through their lives. These men are called by God to lead others into the anointing. They no learn about the gifts, but move and flow in the power and the anointing of God. They now have a operating ministry, which God entrusted to them, knowing that they will obey Him at all times. This was the place that Abraham had reached as was written: “After these events, God tested and proved Abraham and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. 2 [God] said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you. (Gen 22:1-2) Ampl This the place where God tests our First Love for Jesus Christ. This the place where God tests if there is any offensive way in us. This is the place were no foreign God’s are allowed, as is written: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon






(deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in). (Mat 6:24) Ampl This is the place where men who want to follow Jesus Christ is called to step out on the water and trust completely. This the place where the impossible becomes will become possible. The is the place of signs and wonders, like the prophets Moses and Elijah, that walked the face of the earth. On the 25th of March 2008, the Lord called me to leave my job. See the Newsletter: Stepping out on the water. On the 20th June 2008, two month later I seized working for an earthly master. But on that day an awesome sign of an Almond Blossom appeared in the sky, and the Lord said to me: “I am about to fulfill My word!” God spoke of the fulfillment of a promise which He had given to us 7.5 years ago. The biggest fulfillment of prophecy which all mankind has been waiting for is the coming of Jesus Christ. See the Newsletter: The Almond Blossom. Although God could have taken Elijah away at Jericho, He told Elijah to go to Jordan. The prophets in Jericho knew that God was about to take away Elijah, but did not follow after Elijah. Another warning is hidden in this revelation. Although we could even reach this place in our relationship and walk with God, we could still miss the taking away, as Jesus warned, saying: “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23

And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act

wickedly [disregarding My commands]. [Ps. 6:8.] (Mat 7:21-23) Ampl Jesus warned that we could even do all these mighty and powerful signs and wonders, but not do the will of God. We could do all these things and not really know God. Jericho was not the place where God determined to take Elijah away in a whirlwind. The prophet Malachi, prophecied about the coming restoration of all things, when Elijah would come. John the baptist was a mighty and radical forerunner who pointed to the messenger, or the voice in the wilderness, Elijah who was to come, in the last generation of this age. The sign of the Almond Blossom, which appeared from the Lord God on the 20th of June was a mighty indication of where we are in our journey towards knowing God, the Father of our spirits. We are in the last phase of the journey, just before the return of Jesus Christ to the earth, to come and take way His bride. Jordan... Elijah said to him, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan. But he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood [to watch] afar off; and the two of them stood by the Jordan.

(2Ki 2:6-7) Ampl

The name of the Jordan comes from – יר�ן - yar-dane'

meaning “the decender”. The Jordan River lies in the bottom of a great canyon called the Jordan Rift, an elongated depression stretching from lower southwest Asia Minor (Syria) to the Gulf of Aqaba. The rift was once filled by the Lisan Lake, but geologic activity






caused it to recede, and the result was the formation of three separate bodies of water: the Huleh Lake, the Sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea. To this day each of these are fed by the Jordan River, the stream whose name in Hebrew means “the descender.” The Old Testament Israelites passed across the Jordan River when they entered the Promised Land of Canaan (Joshua 3:14-17). The fords of the Jordan were the sites of conflict in the war of Jephthah and the Gileadites against the Ephraimites (Judges 12:1-6). The prophet Elijah sought refuge from Ahab king of Israel by the brook of Kerith east of the Jordan (1 Kings 17:1-5). Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind after having crossed the Jordan with Elisha on dry ground (2 Kings 2:6-12). Naaman, the Syrian general, bathed in the Jordan at the command of Elisha and his leprosy was healed (2 Kings 5:8-14). Elisha made the ax head float here (2 Kings 6:1-7). In the New Testament, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17). Peter confessed that Jesus was the “Christ, the Son of the living God” at Caesarea Philippi-located on one of the sources of the Jordan, Baniyas (Matthew 16:13-20). Jesus healed two blind men at Jericho, which is near the Jordan (Matthew 20:29-34) and visited with Zacchaeus in that same city (Luke 19:1-10). Info thanks to Illumina Bible Encylopedia. The Jordan was the first river, which the Israelites had to cross, after 40 years of being in the desert, to take possesion of the the Promised land (Joshua 3:14-17). They had to take a detour of 40 years in order to posses that which God had promised them. Because of unbelief they could not enter the land of the Cannaanites 40 years before. God would have allowed them to enter 40 years ago if they had trusted God’s word to Moses. Only two men believed God’s promise to deliver them for the hand of these men who were as

many as the sand of the sea and who made the 10 other spies feel like grasshopers in the eyes of the Cannanites. 40 Years later Joshua, one of the two faithful spies who was sent by Moses, and was now 85 years old, sent only two spies to bring back word to the people. We often miss God’s will and plan for our lives, because of disobedience and unbelief. God know the good plans He has for us but we must obey God’s voice and His Spirit when He speaks to us. This might not make you popular and you will also not be in the majority, but we must say and do what God tell us to do. God’s perfect call for every man and women is to live eternal life with Him in heaven. He called all, as was written: “And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father, to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it). [Exod. 19:6; Isa. 61:6.] (Rev 1:6) Ampl, by John the apostle. God called us to rule and reign with Jesus Christ, if we would partake of the first resurrection, as was prophesied: “The remainder of the dead were not restored to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed (happy, to be envied) and holy (spiritually whole, of unimpaired innocence and proved virtue) is the person who takes part (shares) in the first resurrection! Over them the second death exerts no power or authority, but they shall be ministers of God and of Christ (the Messiah), and they shall rule along with Him a thousand years. (Rev 20:5-6) Ampl Jordan is like the last hurdle in the race. It is the place of maturity. It is the place where man and God are truly re-united with one another. This is the place of






deep intimacy and love. This is the place where God will speak to us face to face and mouth to mouth. See the Newsletter: The Apple of His Eye - Part 1 - Seeing Face to Face. This the place of a loving relationship with God, like Abraham and Moses had. This is the place that Paul the apostle reached when he said: “But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ's sake. 8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), 9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit

into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] 11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. 12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. 15 So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also. (Php 3:7-15) Ampl When you have truly come to place where you can say that you consider all things as dung, compared to “progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly” then God has achieved His goal with your life. When you have come to a true realization that Jesus is coming soon to judge the earth and to raise all those who have died in Christ Jesus, to life, so that you to, could part take of the same resurrection and power that raised Jesus from the dead, so that you could be where He is, then you have set your heart and mind on the one, who alone, could raise you from the dead. At that day it will be as Jesus said: “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now)






eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life. 25 Believe Me when I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the time is coming and is here now when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear it shall live. 26 For even as the Father has life in Himself and is self-existent, so He has given to the Son to have life in Himself and be self-existent. 27 And He has given Him authority and granted Him power to execute (exercise, practice) judgment because He is a Son of man [very man]. 28 Do not be surprised and wonder at this, for the time is coming when all those who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, 29 and they shall come out, those who have practiced doing good [will come out] to the resurrection of [new] life, and those who have done evil will be raised for judgment [raised to meet their sentence]. [Dan. 12:2.] (Joh 5:24-29) Ampl At time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear the sound of the trumpet and the voice of Jesus Christ, who alone has power over life and death, to raise from the dead. Then they will just as John the apostle wrote: “After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like [the calling of] a war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future”. (Rev 4:1) Ampl, see an open door in the heavens, with Jesus Chrsit standing with His angels to reap the earth, for its harvest of the earth is ready. Then all who have lived according to the word of Jesus Christ will, just like Enoch and Elijah, be taken up into heaven to meet the Lord in the air, as was written: “For the Lord Himself will

descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the

eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord! 18 Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words. (1Th 4:16-18) Ampl Jordan was the place were Elijah was taken away, by a chariot of fire and a mighty whirlwind, as was written: “And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. 10 He said: “You have asked a hard thing. However, if you

see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if not, it shall not be so”. 11 As they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire parted the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2Ki 2:9-11) Ampl Elijah’s life pointed to the day when Jesus would reunite with His Bride. Thus the Jordan also points to the restoration of broken covenant between man and is God. Jesus gave His life for us so that we may be saved from judgement, now we also will give our lives for the sake of the kingdom of God. Our life is his life. Our enemies is His enemies. His victory is our victory. Many wonder if He will ever come again, but the type of these two prophets, Elijah and Elisha’s journey, points to the day when we will meet Him in the air.






Therefore we eagerly await our Lord and saviour’s coming. May God bless you as you spread this message of preparation and hope of completing the journey, from Gilgal to the other side of the Jordan, so that no one will be caught unaware of His coming. From the directors: “The Witness”


The Lord's Times and Seasons - Part 1 - Elijah and Elisha

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