THE SUFFERING AND THE GLORY - A VISION OF HEAVEN ON EARTH

Thursday, December 09, 1999 Catherine's Scotland e-mail: CBrownds1@aol.com

"See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man And his form marred beyond human likeness - So will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, And what they have not heard, they will understand." Is 52:13-15

While seeking a greater understanding of the suffering of the Servant, I expressed to the Lord my deepest desire to be co-crucified and fully united with Him. I found my spirit before the Throne of the Lamb. He was arrayed in a majestic and kingly robe and on His head were many golden crowns. The robe appeared to have been dipped in blood and it flowed from His throne all the way down the steps filling the entire sanctuary. Yeshua was some distance from me, yet I was deeply grateful and humbled to be in His Presence. Overawed, I waited silently for His instruction.

I REALIZED WE WERE NOT ALONE

The Lord indicated that I might approach Him and as I did so, I realized for the first time we were not alone. I noticed a group of people who were reveling and this was inappropriate in the Presence of the Holy of Holies on this particular occasion. I discerned a sneering and mocking derision in their countenance towards me. There's was a subtle form of arrogance as they regarded me in a superior and condescending manner.

TWO CUPS

I focused my attention on the Lord and two cups were placed before me. Deep within my spirit I knew that one cup represented the suffering of the Servant and the other the Joy of the Lord. Jesus asked me to choose which I would embrace. I chose the cup of suffering and in that moment it seemed as though the Lord departed from me and I felt completely alone. Simultaneously, those who had been reveling lifted stones and hurled them in my direction - they were fiercely opposed to what I was about to do. They did not understand the depth of intimacy and love that compelled me. I began to comprehend that the Lord loved these with a deep love, but that He was grieved that they would never enter into anything more than superficial relationship with Him.

DRINKING OF THE CUP

The time had come to drink the cup; Immediately, I drank from it, a cross was gently laid on my back. I struggled under its weight but continued to drink. I felt stricken and consumed with a portion of the agony our precious Lord bore on the Cross. I knew no fear, but the chasm of pain threatened to overtake me. I experienced the Lord's complete Presence; He was closer than my next breath, indeed, He was my very breath. Angels appeared and assisted me to hold the cross on my shoulders, and they mopped my sweating brow which was bleeding extensively from the stones that had been hurled by those who had not yet received understanding regarding the suffering of the Servant.

The Fragrance of Jesus consumed me and I experienced new revelation of His increase as I decreased. The Presence of the Lord was all around me, within me and upon me and I had become nothing. He had come to bear the cross for me and with me, nothing else existed save the Person of Christ and He permeated every fiber of my being.

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO ME ...

"My precious child, You could not bear this cup of suffering on your own and though I have already borne the Cross of Calvary, I will bear this cross with you again for I love you with an everlasting love. My triumph shall be your triumph, for you have set your heart to share in the suffering and the Glory of the Son. See, you shall receive the reward of the fullness of My Presence because of your deep desire to be hidden completely in Me. My Blood has sealed My Father's covenant for all eternity, I am the sacrificial Lamb and as such may wear this Robe of Redemption in My Father's Presence. Yet, I have called you as sons and daughters of the Most High, I have called you as My brothers and therefore you may also enter in to this Glory. My Blood is the Power and the Presence and is yours by inheritance.

DEEPER INTIMACY

I have not departed from you when I call you to deeper intimacy. I endured complete separation from My Father as I embraced the cup of suffering set before Me, but I have promised that you shall never be apart from Me, yet for a season My ministry to your heart may be one of silence. This silence is drenched with My Blood, it is drenched with the overflow of My heart for you, it is drenched with the fullness of My Spirit and the presence of My angels as they guard and protect those who will walk the path of brokeness and sacrifice for My Namesake. Child, take this message to My church. There are many more I have called to share in the cup of suffering. Though you may be much reviled and misunderstood, see your names are written in the riches and the glory of My Book of Life and therein lies your joy. And your joy shall be multiplied to you one hundred fold in the reaping of the harvest, and throughout Eternity you shall find your reward in Me.' Amen

A WORD FROM CATHERINE BROWN TO THE READER

October 1999

Dear child of God I share this message with you in all humility, realizing that some of you may reject it or misunderstand its purpose. Yet, I sense the Spirit releasing us from the works of self-righteousness to a new experiential level of His Righteousness. I have received countless letters from precious saints around the Globe asking how to enter into deeper relationship with Jesus. My experience before the throne of the Lord highlights our choice to share in the suffering of the Servant, and thus draw nearer in fellowship to our Master. It is important to note that to embrace the cup of suffering does not mean the Joy of the Lord will be withheld from us, simply that the suffering precedes the Glory. The Lord has admonished us to take up our cross on a daily basis, and for each one of us, this will have a different application.

MISUNDERSTANDING MAY BE COMMON

For some this may mean to suffer misunderstanding and false accusation, rejection and persecution, insults, ridicule and possibly even martyrdom for His Namesake. Whilst for others it may mean to be eternally hidden in Him. Still others may forfeit their right to bear children, some may lose a child or loved one; Perhaps you will be asked to show forgiveness and mercy in the most hideous of circumstance, for others the sacrifice may mean to endure the rages of famine and war, pestilence and plague, sickness and sorrow; or the Lord may lead you to give up every right to self and to empty your carnal nature on His refiner's fire. Perhaps He will call you to weep His tears and to be overcome by the things that break His heart. Or you might be called to minister His mercy to those who are ill and dying, showing compassion to the outcasts of society. You may live with no means of provision, save the daily manna He will never fail to supply. Perhaps you have given up your right to a partner; Perhaps you fast and give up that which is most precious to you, loving Him enough to do so with a willing heart. These are only a few of the ways we may be asked to bear our cross, but no matter what our cross might be, His Grace is sufficient and in our weakness His power is made perfect.

BORN OUT OF LOVE

The decision to take up one's cross is sacrificial, and born out of our love for Yeshua, who loves us with an all-surpassing Love. It is a high calling to each one of us to enter into this level of brokeness.

"Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God." Lk 9:23-27

A SEASON OF DEEP CONTEMPLATION

The Lord is beckoning His Bride to a season of deep contemplation of the unfathomable depths of His Lovely nature and character, to Godly meditation on the Truth and the Beauty of His Word and to experiential revelation of every divine aspect of the Godhead and relationship with Him. It is time for His children to mature and to grow up into the things of Christ that will prepare the Bride for His coming..

"He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Eph 4:10-13

The Lord has blessed me with words for the nations of the earth, and my heart for the nations stems directly from my relationship with Jesus. I am a housewife and mother of four beautiful children. There is nothing extraordinary about me save for the fact I am a sinner saved by the incredible Grace and Love of my extraordinary Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, without whom I am nothing. I am called to be a servant to the Body of Christ and it is my privilege to bear the peoples of the earth before the throne of God in intercession. Still greater, is the privilege of time spent in adoration at My Master's feet expressing My Love and receiving His. This calling, however, is not unique to me - it is open to all who will walk with God. I share these truths with you to encourage each of you to press in to the deeper things of God and to the high calling He has placed on each of your lives. The Lord endured the cup of suffering placed before Him, that His joy might be made complete. We are made complete in Him to the degree that we permit His refining, and as we walk the path of brokeness in fellowship, we are transformed into His image, receiving the fullness of His Spirit.

Lovingly in the Lord

Catherine Brown 1.12.99 CBrownds1@aol.com

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2,3