ISRAEL THE LORD'S ARMY A Word through Catherine Brown, Scotland Email: CBrownds1@aol.com Wednesday, August 25, 1999

"Turn to me and be saved, all you end of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity, A word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult." Is 45:22-25

I saw a vast army being sent out from the land of Israel to every nation of the earth. Jerusalem appeared to be the central hub from where the army was being dispatched. The army was divided into battalions and each battalion carried a golden lampstand, and a sizeable supply of oil. The army was sent out in every direction across the face of the earth; each nation was given an opportunity to receive the message and the precious oil of anointing. I noticed different battalions approaching various nations, and that each nation had a lampstand. The army was bringing the Light of the Lord to the nations. The brilliance of the Lord Yeshua was lighting the way, they were robed in His righteousness and exhibited His Radiance.

"For the path of the righteous is as the light of the dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until full day." Pro 4:18 "Light is sown for the righteous, radiance for the upright. O you righteous, rejoice in the Lord and acclaim His holy name." Ps 97:11-12

THE LAMPSTANDS THAT WERE LIT

Where the army of the Lord was received in grace and peace the lampstand of that nation was lit with the oil.

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a brilliant light; on those who dwelt in a land of gloom light has dawned." Is 9;2

The lighting of the lampstands speaks of salvation and the Glory of the Lord being revealed in every nation, with specific reference to the children of Israel revealing His glory in all the earth.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, But the Lord rises upon you And his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your dawn." Is 60:1-3

NATIONS WITH EXTINGUISHED LAMPSTANDS

Some nations chose to reject the Lord's army and to treat their message with hostility. In these nations the lamsptand was extinguished.

"They have eyes, but cannot see; ears, but cannot hear." Ps 115:5 "They are rebels against the light; they are strangers to its ways, and do not stay in its path. For darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of darkness."Job 24:13,17

"The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning. The light in his tent becomes dark; the lamp beside him goes out." Job 18:5,6

A TWO-FOLD REJECTION

This rejection is of a two-fold nature. One, it is the rejection of Jesus Christ and the precious gift of salvation. Secondly, it is the rejection of the children of Israel. The Bible is very clear about the consequences of both of these actions:

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:36

"In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgement against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, For they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land." Joel 3:1-3

THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH VIRGINS

I was reminded of the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins, and the necessity to be prepared for the coming of the bridegroom (Mt 25:1-13) The oil speaks of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and abiding in Christ.

In this vision, the Lord's army brought the oil of His anointing to light the lampstands of the nations of all the earth, preceding the His return. The army brought the fullness of His Spirit to the nations. This speaks of dwelling together in unity - Jew and Gentile - an army joined in the precious love of Yeshua, a family once divided now finally reconciled through the bond of peace by His Spirit.

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, Running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes, It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessings, even life for evermore." Ps 133

Catherine Brown 23 August 1999