The fourth vision I had came as a result of seeking God for a deeper place of prayer. In recent years many have moved in deep intercession as a means of encouraging evangelism. Having seen the real power of prayer in this way in three major renewals, two of which turn into revivals, I have been committed to the deepening of prayer in my own life and those I have served. One day in 1998 I was seeking God for our city of London, Ontario. I was asking Him to touch the hearts of the unsaved. The vision that God gave me brought insight into far more than evangelistic intercession. It gave me a wonderful picture to describe what I had been believing and teaching for years.
The prior visions were in color and what charismatics call an "open vision." This phrase means that it seems that you are actually in the vision, not just seeing it. This vision was similar but had a greater than photographic color and realism. It was given in a graphic picture form. Of all the visions I have ever had this one seemed like I was actually physically experiencing it.
The vision began with a large picture of the Earth as it would be seen from the journey to the moon. Its beauty was breathtaking. It filled all of my sight but I saw the whole globe. It was slowly turning. The interesting thing about the globe was that in its center was something like a television screen. Its edges were not clearly defined like a screen would be but blurred into the globe itself. As the nation that was on the right edge of the screen moved under it, scenes of the people and activities of that nation came on the screen. The first scene on the screen was in South Asia and the scene was of Asian people in a small village of homes wearing the triangular shape hats indigenous to certain areas. The scenes kept changing as the globe circled.
As I looked in wonder at the glorious beauty before me I thought this is a vision about missions. I thought It was to encourage me to pray for the nations of the world and was even showing me which ones to pray for. I began to pray this way.
As I prayed the globe moved farther away and to my right. As it did so the entire left hand side of my vision was filled with a horrible fire. It was extremely violent with smoke and what was surely great heat. Again the intensity of the color left me feeling like I was looking at the actual images, not a vision of them.
I looked at the fire and understood immediately that it was the fire of Hell. I had seen that fire before and again it struck horror into my soul though not to the degree that my first vision had. I saw that the Earth was in the path of the fire and would plunge into it if something didn't stop it.
I then thought that the vision was not about missions but about praying against the power of Hell and the destruction that was coming very soon to the world. As I began praying that way I realized that the globe was not getting closer to the fire which was not what I had expected.
As I pondered this thought the picture again moved farther away. On the left side I saw a silhouette of the throne of God. It was only shadow but I could clearly see the Throne and God standing in front of it. He was facing the globe. He had His right hand and arm outstretched toward it as if he were calling out and motioning to the Earth to come back to Him.
After this I thought that the vision must surely be about God asking me to intercede for the earth to return to Him. At first I began to pray very hard that the world would turn back to God. I felt confident in my ability to intercede in this way. As I prayed however, my emotions began to be deeply affected. The tragic picture before me broke my heart. To think of the creator of the world pleading with His creation to escape the terrible destruction that awaited it and to return to His loving care filled me with such grief.
As I prayed more a death blow was struck to my feeling of adequacy to intercede effectively. My sinful condition overcame my thoughts and I realized that I needed someone to pray for me since I too had gone down the road to destruction. I thought further that everyone I knew was in the same condition.
The scripture came to mind of how John the beloved had wept much when he saw the seven sealed scroll and was told that no one could open in all of heaven and earth. My heart wept for my own helplessness and for God's desire for me and my world.
In that state, I was perplexed to understand anything more than that the vision was to let me feel God's heart.
As I waited in grieving silence before God the vision receded once again. This time at the top of my field of vision there were words in the most beautiful lettering I have ever seen. They were like a translucent shimmering gold. They had golden and silver hues. They were not like neon and yet they seemed to possess an inner light. The thought of them even now brings shivers and tears to my eyes. The message of the words, however brought even greater confirmation to my earlier thoughts:
AND HE SAW THAT THERE WAS NO MAN, AND WONDERED THAT THERE WAS NO INTERCESSOR: THEREFORE HIS ARM BROUGHT SALVATION UNTO HIM.
Isaiah 59:16
While in this thought the vision again receded and at the bottom of my sight directly below the globe was the Savior lying on his face in deep prayer. It seemed he was on a floor of some kind. His hands were stretched out on the floor towards the throne and his feet were towards the fire.
I thought about how the scripture says:
Hebrews 7:24 But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Jesus was the only intercessor! Both scriptures confirmed this. We cannot claim to be intercessors at all. He made intercession in his death and resurrection. He alone now lives to make intercession for the world. Amazed, I remembered that the Hebrew word for salvation is Jesus. When Gabriel named him he literally said call him Salvation for he shall save his people from their sins:
Matthew 1:21 . . . and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
In the beautiful words from Isaiah written across my vision, the arm of the Lord would bring Him salvation. I realized that the passage was very specifically referring to Jesus. God's arm would bring Jesus to him and Jesus would and did save the world.
It seemed to me that God was clearing up any confusion that I had as to who was or was not an intercessor. Still the vision puzzled me since it underlined the question I had been asking. I wondered, "What part do we really play in anyone's salvation?"
The vision seemed to again say, "Nothing, not even intercession." I was left with the feeling that it was only God and the person being saved that could do anything. I had never believed that yet my experience was beginning to make me consider it. I felt that the Bible said we did have some part but I found myself confused to understand what our part really is.
I knew that truth was being given to me. The Word confirmed it and I experienced it. But still it did not seem to settle down as the final answer.
Then the most astounding part of the vision occurred.
The next stage of the vision gave me the clearest understanding of how we are related to God's work that I have ever known in any teaching of any human being. Yet it was as simple as I could have ever imagined. It was totally biblical as well. It brought wonderful illumination to a whole aspect of scripture that I had sought for years to fully communicate and teach.
I watched as a young man walked across the floor from the side of the fire. He came to where Jesus lay. He then lay down on top of the Lord and disappeared into Him!
As he did I saw this same young man in the center of the screen in the globe. This was where the nations of the world had been passing by and their people had been pictured from the beginning of the vision. As soon as he appeared in the screen a cord came out of the savior, into the screen and into the young man. Smaller cords went from him to everyone that was in the picture.
Then a woman came from the right side and lay down on the Lord. She also disappeared into him. As soon as she disappeared into Jesus I saw her in the screen in the globe. The same cord came out of the Lord and into her. Then, as with the man smaller cords, went out from her to everyone in the picture with her.
This was the end of the vision. Suddenly I had in my mind almost every scripture that spoke of being "in Christ." The reality of our participation in the work of God is based only on our being "in Christ." It is never our work for he alone is the savior. Outside of Jesus' work there is no work done. Yet as we disappear "into him" he establishes his work in us and through us. This is our authority to intercede. We are actually establishing his intercession as we fully yield our lives to him. His authority then goes out from us and touches everyone in our lives....... everyone. Not just those open to him but everyone. It is his life that takes our identity and melts it into his.
Galatians 2:20 (KJS) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Us in Christ means Christ in us....... but the work is his and so we must be baptized (fully immersed) into him. As we are then he does the work through our mortal bodies. We do not become God but rather are fully hid in Him by our identification with Jesus.
Galatians 3:27 (KJS) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Colossians 3:3 (KJS) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Us in Jesus, Jesus in God. This is the final end of reconciliation. It's power is realized as we fully fall into Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 (KJS) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
II Corinthians 5:17 (KJS) Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
II Corinthians 2:14 (KJS) Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Ephesians 2:5 (KJS) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 (KJS) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
I Corinthians 1:30 (KJS) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
II Corinthians 3:13 (KJS) And not as Moses, [which] put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.
II Corinthians 2:17 (KJS) For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
II Corinthians 11:3 (KJS) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Galatians 2:4 (KJS) And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
I Corinthians 15:20 (KJS) But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
II Corinthians 1:21 (KJS) Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Romans 8:39 (KJS) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 12:5 (KJS) So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Galatians 3:27 (KJS) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 6:15 (KJS) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Galatians 3:28 (KJS) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:10 (KJS) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:13 (KJS) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Romans 3:23 (KJS) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Leonard Terry
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