Old Dog II
The Seventh Thunder
Bob Neumann
It has been a slow hard journey to this place. I sit or stand looking down from the mountain top watching and waiting. Below me is figuratively both the world and the church. Maybe Babylon and Egypt if we want to extend the images. The Banner of THE KING OF KINGS flies over my head and this beautiful and ornate tent is behind me but a step or two. Sort of something Abraham would have dwelt in at Hebron. In Hebrew the idea of Mishkon is translated either TENT or TABERNACLE. A simple concept of dwelling place. David sang about choosing to be a doorkeeper in the HOUSE of THE LORD for a day as better than dwelling in the ”tents” of the wicked. Just forget the 1000 years.
Since the beginning of the Year, ABBA’S year that is, it has been a strange time in this place called THE SECOND HEAVEN, THE VALLEY OF VISION. Watched a steer get butchered. Walked to “GOSHEN” in several forms and situations. Went to the circus. Stood in Gehenna. Saw the BRIDAL CHAMBER and the city on the sand. Visited the BANQUET HALL and climbed past THE GROVES. Now I look and watch as one by one others climb the mountain and enter HIS PAVILION. One here, one there. All have that same look on their face. The look of “I can’t believe I finally made it!”. I hold back the tent flap and they enter in, none have come out. Maybe that is why I have never gone in. The time has never seemed right.
But what has bothered me is the few who made it to the top, took one look and turned around. Talk about cold chills down your spine. How could one follow THE MASTER right to the top and turn away? At the last moment? Within sight of the prize? I wondered what Paul had seen before he wrote of fighting the fight and running the race. I watched as a heavy cloud rolled over head and the mountain started to fall into shadow. As the shadow crept up the hill I lost sight of the line of poles and the few areas where the poles were concentrated. It was a rolling darkness slow, steady, and where it touched all ”vision” was cut off. I didn’t like it at all but stood and watched as it slowly climbed.
When it reached the closest of the poles I felt a familiar hand on my shoulder. THE KING OF GLORY stood in purest white just as Daniel and John had described HIM. HIS EYES WERE AS FIRE AND HIS VOICE WAS A THUNDER. I looked at HIM and wondered what was now going to happen.
“THE LION IS ABOUT TO ROAR OLD FRIEND”, HE STATED COLDLY. “IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO ENTER INTO THE ROOM PREPARED AS THE INDIGNATION PASSES.” With that HE opened the door to the Pavilion and I felt myself hesitate.
“COME ON DOG, NO ONE ELSE IS COMING. I TOLD YOU THE STORM WOULD COME AND THERE WOULD BE A TIME WHERE I WOULD NOT BE FOUND.”
For some reason I suddenly felt down. I wondered right then and there whether I would be able to stand before HIM when HE asked to see where HIS TALENTS went. I wondered about those who ignored the warnings, or maybe had not heard them. Once again I glanced at my hands hoping not to find someone’s blood on them.
“YOUR WORK AIN’T OVER DOG”, HE EXPLAINED. “CALL IT A CHANGE IN OBJECTIVES”.
So I stepped into the Mishkon and there before me was the Arc of HIS Covenant. I watched as THE HOLY ONE STEPPED TOWARD THE MERCY SEAT AND AS HE TURNED AND FACED ME I KNELT DOWN BEFORE HIM. AS HE SAT UPON THE MERCY SEAT HE CHANGED INTO A PILLAR OF FIRE THAT FILLED THE TABERNACLE and I passed out.
The next thing I was aware of was a hand shaking my shoulder and a hard clear laugh in my ear. “WELL DOG, DO YOU PLAN TO SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT?”
When I sat up I was in a space with a number of others. All sitting and trying to get their bearings. Seems I was the last to be awakened. I was sitting on a dirt floor and was dressed in a drab type of uniform, not too different than the one I wore in the trench and on the road through the cities and the byways. Yet it was a color I could not place. Call it drab khaki/green. Not at all noticeable.
What we were sitting in was a large tent….typical GI….but I could not tell until we went outside. It was the pitchest dark I had ever seen. Yet my ”sight” was perfect. Which reminded me this was all taking place in the REALM of the Second Heaven. The tent sat in the center of a huge clearing. No trees. Just the familiar Flagpole where the KING’S STANDARD flew. In just a few seconds we formed ranks and THE KING led us off and away from the clearing. I wondered what happened to the mountain.
At intervals we would slow down and one or more would leave the group and we would continue. Eventually we came to a point on the road where I left and went on. I came to a familiar place and tacked a paper upon the wall. It was a notice from the KING. His army was called to gather. I repeated this a number of times and while many watched what I was doing no one said anything. When I had posted all my notices I returned to where the KING was waiting. We were all on that little hill that stood above the place where the Hordes of Hell had been assembled in that place called THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. This was familiar ground, but for the first time I was not alone. I counted. There was THE KING and three groups of 12 ‘men’ all in the same uniform. Thirty-six all told. Some I recognized from the other visions, some unfamiliar.
We watched as the numbers before us continued to grow. It was a grim sight. So after a while of staying quiet THE KING Arose and said: “NOW LET’S GO SEE WHAT ARMY HAS GATHERED TO CONFRONT THE DARKNESS.”
As THE KING led we made quick time and returned to what had been an open area. Now it was filled with groups of people setting up camp. We stopped and stared at the menagerie. As we sort of stood and stared the KING slipped back to where I was standing.
“WELL HERE IS ONE SIDE OF AN ABOMINATION I WILL NOT FORGIVE, MY FRIEND. EACH OF THE FIRST SIX HAS LEAD TO THIS AND IT’S OTHER ASPECT. THERE ARE SEVEN SINS THAT BRING DEATH TO THE MANY. AND THIS IS THE FINAL STRAW IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE DOG. WATCH.”
So we began to slow walk across the grounds to where THE KING’S TENT stood. I could not see the tent but could see HIS STANDARD. But what I also saw where flagpoles all around it and more going up as we watched.
I suppose I expected soldierly jibes and good natured barbs, like ”took ya long enough to get here”. But that was not what greeted us. Cold looks, scowls, and some just plain bad attitude seemed to prevail. The first time we found our path cut off by someone putting up a defensive row of barbed wire I thought it was a joke. Barbed wire was not a deterrent to what we saw in the VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. But I noticed it sure bothered me. A little farther we were warned to keep distant because ‘they’ had staked out that piece of ground for themselves. But these were the ”late comers”. All the best areas were taken, it seemed.
As we worked our way in we slowed to get a good picture I guess. We had seen enough of the cold and nasty, now we were getting a taste of the ridiculous and the absurd. There were groups doing some major construction. One had a scaffolding up and was framing steel for what would have to be a big building. Idiotic, but they were working at warp speed. Another group had a large number of tents circling a stage that was nearing completion. Nice solid wood. Then we came by a group that had a full orchestra practicing and nothing else going on.
What impressed me was how varied these groups were. One had a small worship team and choir, another had a ”mass choir” in various types and colors of choir robes bopping out a soulful sound. Saw a couple of southern gospel quartets, hip hoppers, and whatever. The one that got me was a group of precision banner wavers. All white females in flowing white gowns, flowers in their hair, barefooted, and practicing leaps and tosses. I was waiting to see the precision tambourines and realized I was missing something. THE SALVATION ARMY BAND. And then I realized….why would I expect to see real warriors in this Carnival of the Bizarre.
At that thought I got a hard punch on the shoulder and a staged whisper from THE KING. “WATCH YOURSELF DOG, I WANT YOU ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR. DON’T EMBARACE ME.”
It was timely.
For it was just then we came to where THE KING’S TENT stood. In front of the closed flap there stood an eclectic group to say the least.
Numerous individuals wearing all types of costumes were either glaring at each other or tossing frozen smiles about. One older male pushed aside a smaller female and addressed the man at point in the first group of 12. “You will have to wait in line if you want admittance to THE KING.” I heard the pointman’s response…”OH, Really!~?”
I wasn’t sure whether it was a question or a sarcasm. I hope it was the latter. Now the woman came forward wearing a Napolean Bonaparte costume and a song came to mind….so did THE KING’S WORDS. So I kept quiet. She basically said that she was in charge of all intercessors and if there were any among our group to inform her aide. Now that was funny and I watched HIM shake HIS HEAD as HE walked by her. THE KING walked by the tent door and looked around the tent where their was nothing going on. But a large group sat waiting.
“HERE ARE THE 600 FROM THE CAVES OF THE WILDERNESS.”, HE DECLARED. And I watched as these dusty and unkept slowly came to their feet and bowed before their KING whom they recognized. Then we returned to the front and walked by the people dressed for the Costume Ball and entered the tent.
Upon entering the tent there were rows of cots and a table. We all went toward the table and each was given an order or two. Some went to their cot, others left the tent. Finally it was just me and THE KING.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE ARMY OUT THERE, OLD DOG?”
I really wanted to be diplomatic but couldn’t. “It’s a joke LORD!”, I replied.
“NO DOG, IT’S AN ABOMINATION. THEY ALL CAME WITH THEIR AGENDAS AND DOCTRINES AND PERSONAL PREJUDICES. THEY HAVE SPENT THEIR WHOLE EXISTENCE AT CREATING THEIR PERSONA AND EMBELLISHING ON IT. THAT IS NOT MY ARMY. THAT IS ABSALOM’S ARMY. THEY BELIEVE THAT THEIR IDEAS AND PLANS ARE BETTER THAN MINE. AND EVERYONE ELSES. THEY HAVE SPENT ALL THEIR TALENT AND WEALTH KEEPING THEMSELVES SEPARATED AND INDEPENDENT. IN THEIR QUEST FOR SELF THEY HAVE PROMOTED DIVISION IN MY BODY AND DISCORD AMONG MY PEOPLE.”
With that I found ourselves standing outside. In front of us was THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. Once again the HORDES were there and I watched the ARMY that could have been GOD’S standing on the hill. I was sent by THE KING to reconnoiter the front so I morphed into bird form and flew over the lines with several others. After getting a good looksee I dropped to the ground and headed back on all fours. Faster that way. As I came to the edge of Absalom’s Army I went back to the drab uniform and started moving past those assembled. Near the front there war a group polishing clamshell armor and the person in charge grabbed my arm as I was going by.
“WHERE IS YOUR ARMOR?”, he asked. Before I could answer he continued. “Now here is a real warrior!”, he laughed. “Doesn’t even need armor when going into battle! Well warrior tell me how you kill demons and devils without armor?” I thought of tearing his head off and then repenting but I remembered HIS WARNING. Then it dawned on me why does the OMNISCENT GOD need a source of MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. So I bit my tongue and kept walking as the mocking laughter increased. And then that STILL SWEET VOICE whispered…”STICKS AND STONES”. Names sting but for a moment.
So I got back to THE KING and sat down. As we watched we saw groups of Absalam’s Army start marching into the VALLEY. I looked at THE KING….and HE stared back. HE HAD GIVEN NO ORDER. We all knew that. AND WE SAT AND WATCHED AS THE DARKNESS SWALLED UP THE ARMY OF SELF.
And suddenly I was in the BRIDAL CHAMBER.
Sitting quietly on some pillows HE sat and smiled. “DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT I SAID ABOUT THAT ARMY AS BEING ONE SIDE TO THE ABOMINATION?”. I nodded my head and he continued. “NOW HERE IS YOUR JOB, DOG. I WANT YOU TO HANDLE THIS ONE”. With that HE pointed toward the door. I got up and went through and into a huge room that was several stories high. I felt like I was in a domed football stadium. Like the army camp there was hundreds and thousands of groups. All were making noise and establishing ”space”. I had the thought that some barbed wire would be useful. At the far end was a slightly raised area with a throun. It seemed the focus of everyone’s attention.
When I got to the dias I stepped up and stood at the right armrest and faced the crowd. Immediately an older man stepped forward and said : “Where is THE KING?”
“I was sent to deal with this issue.”, I replied wondering what I had walked into.
“We brought THE KING HIS BRIDE.”, declared the man and signalled to the group with him. From among the group stepped a female of about 30ish with a short white dress and veil. As she stepped forward other groups pressed forward and brought their selections. I knew this was wrong, especially when the different groups tried to press the issue.
There was young and old, every color, body type and outfit imaginable. Some were demure and some were scandalously provocative. I thought the one with the tattoos was interesting but failed to fit the category. But I did not see the DAUGHTER OF ZION.
As time went by the crowd was getting restless and nasty. As things deteriorated I began to think of that Browning Automatic Rifle with fondness. Instead I found a familiar feel in my right hand. Several hard thumps on the ground shook the room and echoed off the far ceiling. THE ROD OF IRON has it’s uses.
“The decision has been made.”, I shouted to the crowd. “THE KING will personally come to the BRIDE’S Home with HIS full entourage the night before the wedding. THANK YOU”. With that I stepped off the platform and enjoyed the way the crowd parted. I confess and repent.
Upon returning to the BRIDALCHAMBER, THE KING was smirking. “I’M GLAD YOU TRIED TO STAY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE SCRIPTURES.”
“You sure you don’t want 10 virgins on one wedding night.”, I countered as HE LAUGHED that deep sweet laugh. “Looking at the mob out there you could top old Solomon in one shot. And they’re all ‘good’ christian girls. Not one daughter of Pharoah in the bunch”.
“THAT’S WHERE YOU’RE WRONG DOG. EVERYTHING OUT THERE WAS BIRTHED IN EGYPT AND DWELLS IN BABYLON. THE BRIDE I PURCHASED IS CHASTE, WITHOUT SPOT OR BLEMISH”.
“But LORD,” I asked, “Here they are in YOUR whatever you call it demanding from you. They think they know you. Why is this the other aspect of Absalom’s Army?”.
“WELL, OLD DOG, THIS IS THE PLACE I PREPARED.” I looked around this nice sized room and saw the walls of gold and jewels. The carpets and pillows and table. “THIS IS THE PLACE I BUILT. OUT THERE IN THE OTHER PLACE IS THE COUNTERFEIT. MAN BUILT AND THEN MY NAME WAS PLACED ON IT. YET THEY NEVER HAVE SEEMED TO RECOGNIZE ME HAVE THEY, DOG?”
I had to think on that. Whenever I was with HIM in my journeys only children, dogs, and demons even noticed HIM. Except for the 600. Only those who discerned HIM and gave HIM proper recognition were the ones who sat and waited for THE KING. They came without baggage and agenda. THE KING CALLED AND THEY OBEYED.
”THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, DOG, BETWEEN OBEYING ME AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION TO PUSH AGENDA. DID THEY COME TO SERVE ME OR TO HAVE ME SERVE THEM. I MADE IT QUITE CLEAR ABOUT THE WHOLE ISSUE, DOG. YOU WANT TO MAKE POINTS WITH ME DON’T PUMP YOURSELF AND STRUT YOURSELF AND DEMAND EVERYONE NOTICE. THAT IS PURE BABYLON. ABOMINATION”. ”ALL I SAID WAS SERVE ALL AHEAD OF YOURSELF AND I WOULD PLACE YOU FIRST. IF YOU DEFER TO YOUR BROTHER AND SEEK HIS WELL BEING AHEAD OF YOUR OWN I WOULD NOTICE. AND IF YOU PUT MY DESIRES AND MY WHIMS AND THE NEEDS OF MY OWN ABOVE ALL ELSE YOU HAD IT RIGHT.”
”So BOSS, we are really missing it.”
“WELL DOG, MANY WERE CERTAINLY CALLED AND FEW SHOWED UP. SO I CHOSE FROM AMONG THOSE WHO WOULD COME TO THE BANQUET. MANY CAME RIGHT TO THE TOP AND DIDN’T LIKE WHAT THEY SAW.” Here I remembered those who had climbed to the top of the mountain and turned back. “DOG, THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO FOR THOSE WHO SAW MY TEMPLE AND THOUGHT THEY COULD FIND BETTER OR BUILD BETTER.”
”SEVEN TIMES NOW I HAVE ROARED MY THUNDERS AND WHO LISTENED? ONLY THOSE WHO WERE WAITING TO HEAR. WHILE THE DARKNESS COVERED AND DEEPENED OVER YOUR LAND AND YOUR PEOPLE MANY STILL THINK I WILL HEAL A LAND THAT SOLD IT’S BIRTHRIGHT CHEAPLY AND FELL ASLEEP WHEN IT WAS CALLED TO STAND WATCH. MANY SAY THAT I WILL NOT JUDGE AND JUDGMENT CAN NOT COME. THEY MISTAKE ABBA’S PLEADINGS TO THE MANY PRODIGALS TO COME HOME. THESE WERE NEITHER JUDGMENT NOR WRATH. JUST A WAKEUP CALL FEW PAID ATTENTION TO.”
”WHAT FOLLOWS IS THE JUDGMENT OF THE KING UPON THOSE WHO SERVE HIM. I WILL NOT JUDGE SHEEP OR GOATS OR CHILDREN. JUST SEPARATE THEM. THOSE I JUDGE ARE THOSE WHO SAY THEY SERVE ME.
THE RIGHTEOUS WILL ENTER AND THE WICKED WILL BE CAST OUT. THOSE DECEIVED AND DELUDED WHO PREFERRED THE LIE OVER THE TRUTH WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE WRATH OF THE ENEMY. THE WRATH OF THE ENEMY WILL BE THE AGENT THAT WILL GATHER THE GREATEST HARVEST THE KINGDOM WILL SEE. THEN AFTER THAT I WILL TREAD THE WINEPRESS AND MY WRATH WILL BE POURED OUT UPON THE LAND AND ALL THAT REMAIN”.
”SEVEN THINGS I ABHOR AND THEY WERE PLANTED AND NURTURED IN MY CHOSEN FIELDS BECAUSE MAN SLEPT. NOW COMES THE RECOMPENSE FOR THE ABOMINATIONS THAT MAN AND DEMON PLACED IN MY HOUSE.”
“I SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE A HOUSE UNDER AUTHORITY AND IN ORDER. THE MOST HEINOUS OF THESE ABOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN THOSE WHO ARE PURPOSELY THWARTING THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT’S MOVE WITHIN THE BRETHREN TO BRING THE BODY OF CHRIST INTO PERFECTION AND UNITY. SUCH WILLFUL SIN I WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE EVEN NEAR MY PRESENCE. IT IS THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY AT LARGE IN THE CAMP. IN ORDER TO CONTROL THEY USURP AND ABUSE AUTHORITY SIMPLY TO SOW DISCORD AMONG THE LITTLEST ONES. WHEN ALL ARE EQUAL BEFORE ME NONE IS GREATER AND HIGHER. THIS THE FALSE LEADERS UNDERSTAND WELL AND USE ALL IN THEIR MEANS TO MAINTAIN THEMSELVES.”
‘NOW SHALL ALL THEIR WORKS BE EXPOSED AND DESTROYED. THOSE WHO JOINED THEM SHALL BE THE WEEDS IN THE FIRE. NOTHING CAN REMOVE THEM FROM MY HAND. THEY HAVE HARDENED THEIR HEARTS AND GRIEVED THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT WHO PLEADED WITH THEM OVER AND OVER.”
”NO MORE DOG, WILL THE RUACH GRIEVE AND THE FATHER PLEAD. FOR I HAVE NOW SPOKEN.”
With that HE stood up and we passed through the DOOR and went out into the night. No longer was the huge room with the ersatz brides attached. Here the other 35 were waiting all in black armor. The LAMB had gone out to make war..
This is where the Seventh THUNDER ends. Many thought it would come out on Pentecost. When it did not some thought ROSH HA SHANNAH. Instead it is to come forth the Sunday evening before Tisha B’AV….the ninth day of the month of Av. Which is sunset on Wednesday night the 21st of July.
Amazing how GOD placed the day the Jewish people call TAMMUZ 17 on July 1. Like Daniel if anyone has been in heavy prayer and fasting without getting any where it is because we are following the 21 day pattern which ends July 21. ABBA was trying to make it easy.
The lesson of the Ninth of AV is to remember what was lost. the Destruction of both TEMPLES because of unrepented sin and unbelief. What happened before will happen again. Only I do not know or understand how this will happen. I only know it will. The SEVEN THUNDERS was a final warning. on August 9…..another 21 days after Tisha B’AV we begin a 30 day time of repentance and soul searching called TESHUVA. Then comes ROSH HA’SHANNAH and YOM KIPPUR.
So because ABBA is generous and faithful we are warned a last time. This I will post out for release on SUNDAY night. That gives everyone three days to pray, seek the LORD while HE may be found…..and climb into their rooms as Isaiah 26 ends and 27 begins….
old dog