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PROPHETIC REVELATION
Understanding How It Works
All prophetic revelation is to be understood on three different levels:
This principle is illustrated in a vision seen by the Second Patriarch in Bergen shortly after his return from the General Conferences of the Church on 2 and 9 July 1995 in Oslo and Römskog, respectively:
"I found myself walking through uncultivated land with trees. To my left the hill was slightly ascending and to my right descending. I continued onwards and came to where the woods ended, and right in front of me was a pleasant scene which gave me peace and contentment in my mind. Nearby I could see many cows with their heads down grazing. This made a good impression on me to look at.
"Then all of a sudden a frightening roar broke out from a bull in the middle of the herd. It began to charge around the right hand side of the herd through the woods on the edge of a precipice and disappeared down the abyss with a deafening noise.
"Recorded, 30 January 1996. All those whom I have told this to in the summer and autumn of 1995 will remember what I have written here.
(Gunnar Mjölsvik - see NC&C 469)."
(a) The Personal
This prophetic revelation, which is one of four received in February 1994 and July 1995 by the First and Second Patriarchs independently of each other) specifically concerns a person (the bull) who stirred up the Church (the cows peacefully grazing) by starting a rebellion and leading many of the members astray. His spiritual fall is depicted by his going over the edge of a cliff.
This prophecy, and the three before it, were fulfilled in December 1995 when the revolt went public and the leader of the Third Rebellion (the bull) led his family out of the Church. His own wife, ignorant of the prophecy, unknowingly gave witness to her daughter (who subsequently remained faithful to the Gospel because of this and many other witnesses) of the meaning of the vision. In a conversation she remarked that her husband, were he ever to be represented as an animal in a vision or dream as a potential rebel, would be as a bull and not (as was being discussed then) a spider.
In a letter to the man in July 1995 who started the rebellion (who was then the Third Patriarch), and not publicly disclosed until January 1996, the First Patriarch predicted that a rebellion would most likely take place in 1995 and that it would concern a member of the Patriarchate.
Two other prophetic dreams received by the First Patriarch concerning this rebellion, received in February 1994 and which are 95% fulfilled, will be published when they have been completely fulfilled so that the hand of the Lord may be clearly seen by all.
(b) The General
This prophetic vision can also be understood generally to refer to anyone who tries to attack the Kingdom of God and its peace. Though they will cause considerable alarm their fate is always the same. And though they may cause a great disturbance and seem to endanger the flock (the saints) by their violent assaults, they will never succeed. Indeed they are fulfilling Jesus' own prophecy:
"From the time of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been suffering violence; yes, violent ones are trying to snatch it away" (Mt.11:12, JNT).
One of the signs of the presence of the Kingdom of Heaven is when it is violently assaulted in this manner. Many have tried to do so -- and are continuing to do so -- to this very day, trying to scatter the flock. One of the principle enemies of the Church is former Second Elder (equivalent to Second Patriarch in the earlier Church) who has stirred up much persecution of the people of God. His ultimate fate is certain if he, and others who attack this work, do not repent. Therefore the vision is also a witness that the Kingdom of Heaven is in the New Covenant Church of God.
(c) The Internal
All prophetic revelations have an inner as well as an outer meaning. In the case of the Second Patriarch's vision, the bull here is a symbol of the unbridled and unredeemed carnal nature of man which charges around blindly making a lot of noise and causing a commotion.
The cows, which are peacefully grazing, represent the true, Christ-like spiritual nature of man. They are working (eating grass) and fruitful (bringing forth milk) and live in harmony with one another.
The carnal nature (the bull), unrestrained, always heads towards the precipice of disaster, as so many men and women do who are controlled by their passions.
Conclusion
The writer of the Book of Hebrews said: "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb.10:31, JNT). When God has spoken prophetically through two or more witnesses, then what is said will come to pass. And when it is a question of judgment, as it is in the case of this vision, it is indeed a "terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God". Let none regard the oracles of God lightly.
This page was created on 22 May 1998
Last updated on 22 May 1998
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