Chapter 5: THE SWORD

As I sat in my hotel room, I wondered if it had all been a dream, a vision, or if it had really happened. I wanted to quickly write everything down so I would not forget it, but I was exhausted. I decided to lie down on the bed for a few minutes to rest.

Immediately, I was suspended in a brilliant blue sky. As a pilot I used to say that my office was the sky and had always deeply cherished the time that I spent there, but I had never seen a sky as beautiful as this. I felt more at home than I ever had before.

Then I felt earth under my feet. I was again on a seashore. I knew I was in the heavenly realm again by the air that I was breathing and the breathtaking beauty of all that I saw.

As I looked, I felt that this was the earth as it was meant to be. The desire grew within me to take this beauty and this air to the earth somehow. As much as I loved just standing in that place, I knew I had to leave soon, that I had to go back. There was a deep compulsion growing within me to make the earth right again.

Then I felt the presence of the Lord behind me, but when I turned to see Him, He was not there. I closed my eyes to just focus on breathing the air. When I opened my eyes, I was standing in yet another place.

I was in the middle of a street, alone. I did not recognize it, but I knew it was a street in London. The peace I had felt in the heavenly place was still with me but fading fast as I looked at my surroundings.

The torch was in my hand, but as my peace faded, the torch became heavier. I knew that I had to focus on the Lord and sense His presence again. As I did, the peace returned somewhat, and the torch became a little lighter. I began to feel great danger. I determined to keep my peace, and even though I was not afraid, I was more vigilant.

I determined to keep my main attention on the torch while glancing periodically at my surroundings. I saw no threat but continued to feel danger. Down the middle of the street there was a grass strip that was about fifteen meters wide. It had trees down the center that were surrounded by little protective metal fences.

I began to walk down the street. Then I noticed one little fence that did not have a tree near it. I just assumed the tree that had been there had died. This did not seem like a big deal at first, but I began to feel grief for the missing tree that I could not shake. I stopped beside the empty fence to ponder what I was feeling. When I did this, I felt the Lord standing behind me.

"Put the torch there," He said.

I walked over and placed the torch in the middle of the little fence, gently pushing it into the ground so that it stood up straight. It was quickly planted firmly as if it had sunk deep roots into the ground. I reached out to see if I could pick it up, and I could very easily, even though there were already long roots attached to it. I put it back and watched it. It was strongly rooted again, and the fire did not dim.

"You were able to pick it up easily because you have the authority," a voice behind me said.

I turned around to see who had spoken and saw a man who appeared to be a street person or homeless man. He was standing beside a stairway to a house.

"Pardon me," I said. "How do you know about this torch?"

He did not answer my question but just continued his statement, "Each of these trees was once a torch and carried by someone like you. This is a city where movements become monuments."

I did not like the sound of that at all. My torch was still alive, and I did not want it to just become a tree lining an obscure street. I wanted to pick it up and take it with me, but then, the Lord had told me to place it there. I did not know what to do. Obviously seeing my dilemma, the man continued.

"Before the end comes, there will be movements that do not stop moving. Maybe you are one of those who can carry such a movement. Even so, for now you must do as the Lord told you and leave the torch where it is. I perceive that you are not yet ready to carry it very far, much less carry it to the end."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am a watcher," he said, and with that he vanished.

I then looked at the street again to try to recognize it. I wanted to know the name of the street and where it was located in the city. I knew I was in a vision, but I felt like this was a real street in London as well. I wanted to find it when I came out of the vision. I felt that it was an avenue of monuments though I could not see any monuments from where I was standing.

I turned around to touch the torch so that its fire could surge through me. I needed more clarity. As I did, I was suddenly in yet another place, standing in front of the Lord. He was holding a large sword. The blade was brilliant, made of something that looked like silver, but it was almost transparent. It flashed with brilliant colors like a diamond. The thought came to me that silver would not make a very strong blade, and as the Lord often did, He answered my thoughts.

"This is silver, but it is stronger than any metal. This sword is a divinely powerful weapon. It is the power of My redemption. The one who carries it must be in unity with My redemptive purposes. You must have a heart to redeem or it will become too heavy for you to carry. You must be able to carry this too if you are to carry the torch very far."

I continued to look at the sword. It was a plain design, and it did not just reflect light-it emitted light. The light coming from it was of many different colors, like light that has passed through a prism. The glory of the light that came from it made it the most beautiful sword I had ever seen, even though it was a plain design. It was as captivating as the torch.

The Lord took the sword by the blade and extended the handle to me so I could take it. I thought it would be very heavy because of its size, but it seemed to not weigh more than an ounce or two.

"It will only become heavy if you try to wield it in your own strength. This is My Word of redemption. It cannot be destroyed but will stand forever. This is from My armory. This is the weapon that will be carried by My prophets in the last days.

"No power on the earth is stronger than My redemption. However, if you use it wrongly, it can bring great troubles to the earth. With this sword those whom you bless will be blessed. If you bless a devil, it will be blessed and will prosper. You must be careful not to try to redeem that which My Father did not plant, but you must go forth to redeem."

As I looked at the handle, I noticed five brilliant gems. One was blue, one green, another one was clear like a diamond, one was red, and one was amber. The handle itself was plain, but the beauty of the seemingly transparent gold was stunning. It was the most beautiful sword I had ever seen, not because of its design, but because of what it was made of. Even so, it was obviously not made for show. I knew even the gems were there for a functional purpose, but I was not sure yet what it was.

I raised the sword and waved it in the air. My arm did not get tired at all, but rather the opposite-the waving of it gave me strength. As strength came into my arm, it continued through my whole body. When I felt it reach my eyes, everything became brighter, more clear. As I continued to wave the sword, I could see farther.

I then looked at the sword again. As I looked, my eyes began to magnify it like a powerful magnifying glass. I could see that the sword was also alive. Even the gems were alive!

"The Spirit moved in the beginning," the Lord continued. "The Spirit never stops moving. This is the sword of the Spirit. As it is moving, strength is released to the one who bears it. It will quicken your mortal body.

"Remember that My Word is never still, but living, sharp, and active. Life always moves. This is why My work on the earth is often called 'a movement.' Just as I created the universe to ever expand, My Word will be forever moving and expanding. Those who know the life that is in Me will also forever be expanding in knowledge, wisdom, and power. They will never stop growing.

"As long as you abide in Me, you will forever be growing in both knowledge and power. I now give you the command to move and grow. In due time I will give you the command to multiply and conquer, not by taking lives, but by saving them."

As always when the Lord spoke, I wanted to memorize every word. I felt the life coming through them was like that which came by waving the sword. As I considered what He had said, my love for the sword grew.

I could not believe such a gift was possible. I wanted to hold it forever. What it imparted to me was different from the torch but was just as wonderful. It strengthened me and gave me courage. I knew that together the sword and the torch would give me a clarity of perception that was greater than anything I had yet experienced. Even as I was thinking this, I could tell that I was not only getting stronger but healthier. I felt toxins in me being washed away.

Then I began to feel a deep passion in my heart for this sword. I wanted it to touch everyone whom I loved. I knew if it touched those I did not love, I would begin to love them.

"What you are feeling is the passion for My Word. You are holding My living Word. This is what the true love of My Word does. Those who have the true love of My truth love those for whom I gave it. The Spirit is again going to breathe on the Scriptures, and this love for My Word will come upon My messengers in your time," the Lord said very soberly.

"What a treasure," I continued to think. "How could anyone not love this?" I wondered. I badly wanted to start using the sword. Then I felt a strong compulsion to use it on myself-to plunge it deep into my own heart.

"Do it," the Lord said.

I pointed its blade at my heart and thrust it into my chest. As I did, it disappeared as if it had been absorbed into me. There was just a slight tinge of pain, but when I looked there was no wound. Then the sense of strength that I had felt it imparting to me grew much faster.

In just a few moments, I felt as if I could fly, lift buildings, and even walk through walls. I began to feel that I could do anything because the power within me was so great that I did not have to obey the physical laws. I also felt there was no limit to how far I could see or how much I could magnify anything that I looked upon to see it in more detail.

My mind then began to awaken. Understanding began to grow within me until I felt like the universe was opened before me, perceiving and understanding its secrets. This was another kind of incredibly wonderful feeling.

I was seeing everything by the Spirit, not just through my own eyes and mind. I felt at one with everything that I looked upon. I also felt great love for everything that I looked upon. There was no earthly feeling that could compare to this, and it was growing.

"That is the power of My Word for those who will receive it into their hearts," the Lord explained. "To receive My Word into your heart must be your quest every day. Then you will begin to see. Then you will have understanding.

"It was by My Word that the universe was created, and it is by My Word that it is held together. My Word is the answer to every human problem. If you will receive My Word into your heart, it will grow within you, and you will never stop growing.

"Your mind will continue to open, and your knowledge will forever grow. I created the mind of man to ever expand so that you could know Me, My ways, and My works.

"You must receive My Word into your heart first, then it will open your mind. If you only receive it into your mind, it will not live. My living Word must be received into the heart first, and then your mind will open."

I could not help but to think of the ancient controversy: "Does one need to understand in order to believe, or must we believe in order to understand?" I knew the answer.

"You are right," He said. "Only when you believe can you understand. Even so, it is right to seek understanding. When your understanding ceases to grow, you have departed from the path of life. As long as you are on that path, you will grow. Your understanding will grow as well."

As the Lord spoke, I turned to look at Him. I began to see glory that was beyond any human language to describe. I physically felt the glory that I was seeing. I knew it was because He and the sword that I had plunged into my heart were one. When His Word was in my heart, I was able to see His glory as never before.

As I looked at Him, my vision continued to grow. As it grew, I saw more and more of His glory. I knew this could be never ending, and I never wanted it to end. I understood how the cherubim and angelic majesties who had worshiped before Him for ages and ages were in a continual state of such awe and wonder that they never wanted to do anything else. I wanted to stand there forever and join them.

"This is a taste of the joy that is in true life," the Lord continued. "True life is only found in Me. This joy is your strength. For those who follow Me, this joy will not only be theirs forever-it will grow forever.

"Now you must remember this. The joy of My presence can alone sustain you through what is coming upon the earth. You will know My joy, and it will increase in you, but to do My work on the earth you must also know My sorrow."

Then He turned around and I saw His back. He was still wounded, and the wounds were terrible. As I looked at them, they were magnified. I began to see darkness, disease, despair, and death. I felt grief and mourning that were worse than anything I had ever felt before. The grief grew to be as strong as the joy had been. I felt that I was gazing into Hell itself.

As I continued looking, I saw anger cascading into rage and murder until blood flowed like a river. I saw lust grow into a raging, hot disease that was erupting like a volcano, destroying everything in its path.

Over everything I felt a gripping selfishness, which was the exact opposite of the oneness with everything that I had felt before, and it released a choking darkness that burned my lungs. It, too, was growing and expanding. When I felt I could not live much longer in the terror and despair that I was feeling, I cried out for the Lord to save me or kill me.

The Lord turned around. My strength had left me. I collapsed to the ground and still wanted to die. Lying there I could hear Him, but He seemed to be very far away. I had seemingly lost all comprehension of the glory that I had seen just moments before. "Could the darkness be that much stronger than the glory?" I wondered.

"That was a taste of the power that you are facing in your times. If you had not first tasted of My glory, you would not have lived. I have overcome all evil, and you will come to know the power of My glory over all evil, but you must know the power of the evil that men on the earth are about to face. You must learn to walk in My presence in the midst of evil and prevail. If you do not abide in Me, you will be overcome."

I heard everything the Lord said, though He still seemed far away. I then felt something in my hand. It was the sword. It was moving back and forth on its own. It gripped my hand rather than me gripping it. Soon strength began to return to me.

Slowly I got up. I felt filthier than I could ever remember feeling. Gradually, the feeling began to fade as if I was being washed by the gentle breeze, which the waving sword was creating. Soon I was able to stand. Then I could see the Lord and His glory again.

"What you saw is the burden that I carry," the Lord said. "You saw what is now happening on the earth. The darkness is growing too. The earth itself will not be able to bear the evil of man much longer and will rebel against man. Terror will increase as the earth begins to rage and travail.

"Man is about to know fear such as has not been known since the beginning. Those who abide in Me will likewise rise in faith as has never been demonstrated on the earth before. Because of the fear which is now being released, I have reserved the greatest demonstrations of faith for this time."

"Lord, how can anyone survive?" I begged, still feeling a little shaken from what I had seen. "The darkness even seemed to overcome the glory and beauty that I was beholding."

"The time is approaching when no man can survive what they have released upon themselves, and they would all perish if I did not put an end to it. I will redeem the earth. In the greatest darkness, I will release an even greater light. The greater light is My love for the world and My redemption.

"You must learn to carry the torch and the sword into the darkness. You must learn to carry My love and My redemption at all times. When you learn to love the most wretched and most worthless, even those who are in the grips of the deep darkness, then My Word of redemption is truly established in your heart. The power of My redemption will then flow through you.

"When Moses asked to see My glory, I showed him My back. He saw the stripes that I was to take for the sins of the world, and he saw what you saw, which is what I bore at the cross, the sin that I have already paid for. That is My glory too.

"It is right for you to want to see My face, to know the beauty and the life that is in Me. It is right for you to want to carry that to the world, but there is another glory which you must know and carry. This is the pain that I bore for you.

"The world's greatest heroes are those who overcome the greatest enemies. The greatest saints are those who overcome the greatest darkness. You are being sent to call those who will serve Me in the darkest of times. Therefore, you must know the depths of My redemption.

"You must know in the depths of your heart My love for those who are in the grip of the greatest evil. You must also know that the power of My redemption is great enough even for them. The sword that is being given to My messengers in the last days can break any yoke and cut through any chain. My light is stronger than any darkness."

His words washed over me so that I continued to feel a deep cleansing from all I had seen of the darkness. As I listened, I continued to wave the sword until I felt my vision and strength completely return. I knew that I could not forget the power of the Word of redemption to cleanse my soul and restore my vision and strength.

My heart was warming, and I knew that it was the life of the sword which had been thrust into it, as well as its power in my hand. I knew this connection between the Word in my heart and my hand was the connection between faith and works. It took both to cleanse and restore me just as it does everyone. This was the understanding that I could never forget. After a time the Lord continued:

"You must have the sword and the torch. You must live in My manifest presence, and you must have My Word in your heart and your hand. You must teach this to My messengers. No one will make it through the times ahead without both. You must grow in the light faster than the darkness is growing. My light is stronger, but to remain light it must be growing."

As I listened, I instinctively continued waving the sword, and the strength continued to increase. Again I began to feel that I could fly-that I could overcome any earthly power. As I continued looking at the Lord, His glory was growing and expanding.

I then grasped the sword with both hands as tightly as I could. I knew what was coming, and I knew what I had to do. The Lord turned around again so that I could see His back. When He did, I stepped into the darkness.