Chapter 1: THE VISITATION

The edges of the air were on fire.

I raised my hand to shield my eyes from the searing light. The very molecules of the air within our apartment were burning white-hot from a central point.

Swiftly the Holy Spirit spoke: “Rise, Anna.” At the time I was down on my knees in prayer asking for more of God. Now, however, I had stopped praying, for I was struck by the wonder materializing before my eyes. The air sizzled and curled.

From the center of this phenomenon, the fiery glory of the Lord began to burn through the wall of our apartment. The Holy Spirit had to set me on my feet, for I could not stand. Seeing the Lord’s glory while on Earth and in one’s body is very different from seeing Him above while in spirit. His glory is almost more than the physical body can bear.

ANGELS OF HIS PRESENCE

As I rose to my feet, stately angels of His presence stepped through the center of the blazing light to enter the room. They came in pairs but separated as they touched the room’s atmosphere. Four angels stood before me in a semicircle to my left, four angels in a semicircle to my right. They wore pale lavender robes embroidered with deep purple and gold on the sleeves and hem. Golden girdles bound these garments across their chests. Each angel carried something in his hands in the manner of an emissary.

Then four additional angels, similarly dressed, entered the room through the burning air. Each of these held one pole of a canopy, the sort one might see in a Jewish wedding. As they moved forward, the word LOVE could be seen at times in the canopy’s fabric.

KING JESUS

The Holy Spirit stirred and swelled into a whirlwind in response to the One who now stepped beneath the canopy. King Jesus, brighter than the sun, entered the room.

Through the shock of unbelievable light, I could see faintly that He was wearing a rich purple cloak that opened in the front and hung in folds to the ground. It had long sleeves and was edged with a wide, gold brocaded border. Beneath this garment was a white robe that also reached to His feet. The robe was grappled across His chest with a golden girdle. On His head was a golden crown that was similar in some respects to the crowns used to cap Torah scrolls. He was terrible in majesty, awesome in holiness, splendid in beauty.

The Holy Spirit swirled around me to strengthen me, for the intense light and power emanating from the Lord made it difficult for me to stand.

GIFTS

Then, as if by some silent command from Jesus, the nearest angel in the semicircle stepped toward me. In his hands he held a golden crown, which he carefully placed upon my head. “Wisdom,” he said, smiling slightly. Then crossing his arms over his chest, he nodded respectfully and stepped back into the semicircle.

The angel opposite him in the semicircle stepped forward with the gift he was carrying. He placed golden earrings on my ears. “Knowledge,” he said. Then he too folded his arms over his chest and moved back to join the other angels.

One by one each of the remaining angels of His presence brought the gift that he held in his hands. After the physical gift was placed upon me, the angel named the spiritual gift it symbolized. The gifts these angels presented included a golden heart that hung on a chain over my own heart—understanding; golden bracelets on each wrist—discretion; a golden nose ornament—discernment; golden rings on each finger—the ability to communicate; and a golden necklace—the fear of the Lord. The eighth angel stepped forward and blew a mist of gold over me. It covered me like a veil from my head to my feet.

“Favor,” he said as he smiled. He too nodded and stepped back into the semicircle.

THE RESPONSE

I was stunned. I had never received such an immediate and extravagant answer to prayer. I looked down at the gifts that I was able to see. They were princely—gifts of my Father from my Father. But why the canopy?

“Lord,” I said, “let all of these gifts be within for Your pleasure.” He smiled at me. “Because you have asked that these be for My pleasure, they will be [for My pleasure] and will also be experienced by others. These gifts will unlock My heart to you and to My body. All mysteries are bound up, locked away in Me, Anna. But the mystery of My love is the greatest revelation of all.” Moving toward me, He said, “My chosen one, My love, a fruitful bough, an orchard of fruitfulness.” “Lord,” I replied, “I am barren.” (I had never borne physical children.)

He smiled again as He answered, “You will bear and be more fruitful than if you had borne physical children. I have withheld your bearing. But now I place My hands upon you that you might bring forth good fruit—many children, all heirs, kings and priests to their Father.” He placed His hands upon me. Fire and power surged through me. He continued to speak, “No longer will you bear shame because of unfruitfulness.”

RATIFICATION OF BETROTHAL

“Cleave to Me,” He said. “I am your Husband. Let My covering be on your head.” His eyes burned into me as He continued, “I am the Lord your God, and none is like Me. I am the beginning and the end. I am your health, your protection and your fruitfulness. Thousands upon thousands of heirs will you bear, those who will walk right into My kingdom, those who will be at home in My chambers.

“Anna,” He said in a more intimate tone, “you are more beautiful now than earlier. My heart is turned toward you. My desire is for you. You have captured My heart. Lock this away in your heart, for My promises are true and sure.” I could hardly breathe. “Lord,” I whispered, “let it be soon.” “It is already accomplished,” He said. “Bear fruit for the kingdom. Shun pride. Point not the finger.”

THE DEPARTURE

He bowed at the waist as a sign of His departure and stepped back under the canopy. Once under the canopy, He turned and walked through the burning opening in the wall of the apartment. The four angels holding the poles of the canopy also bowed and walked out with Him, holding the canopy over His head as He disappeared. The angels of His presence also signified their departure, and two by two they followed the Lord.

Then the Holy Spirit swirled before me again, this time gathering up all of the remaining fire and light. He too passed through the apartment wall. Instantly, the gifts became internal and no longer adorned me externally. The wall closed.

Silence.

“Father,” I whispered, “who am I to marry a King? I come with nothing. I have no dowry. I do not even have a hope chest with linens and …” Before I could continue, my Father thundered audibly in the room: “Can I not provide linens for My children?” Immediately, I heard a knock at the front door of the apartment. Although engrossed in all that was occurring, I managed to cross to the door and open it.

THE CARAVAN

“Hello, Anna,” blurted a tall angel. I say that he was an angel because he called me by the name that at the time was known only in heaven.

Also, he was dressed in Bedouin attire (uncommon apparel for this continent). Beyond him in the parking lot I saw a caravan of twenty-four camels with Bedouin attendants.

I shot a quick glance around the apartment complex. My husband and I were living in a low-rent housing facility in Florida. We had adjusted fairly well to these living conditions since we had learned to duck when the neighbors were shooting at each other. However, I was not sure how they might react to a camel caravan. Although usually the complex was alive with adults and children, no one was in sight.

HOPE CHESTS

The angel continued. “We have brought your hope chests,” he said effusively. “Twenty-four chests. Where would you like them?” My hands went to my face in amazement. I was flooded with so many mixed emotions that I began to laugh and cry at the same time.

“It is all right, Anna,” the large angel said comfortingly. “Do not be troubled. Your Father loves you.” In the parking lot the Bedouin attendants signaled the camels to kneel down. These angels began unloading the chests.

Between the laughing and crying I said, “Can you stack the chests in here [meaning in the living room]?” “We certainly can,” he brightened. He whistled to the other angels and indicated with his head to bring the chests. Then he turned his attention to me again. “Hope is of God, Anna. Each chest your Father gives to you is hope that you can share. This is a greater gift to your Husband than laces and embroidered towels,” the angel smiled.

The attendants began carrying the chests into the living room with two angels holding each chest. All of these angels wore camel-colored, desert clothing. After delivering a chest, each pair of angels smiled broadly like those wishing to show themselves extremely agreeable. Then they returned to the caravan.

The chests seemed to be covered in camel skin. They were large and looked something like treasure chests. The five straps encircling each chest were gold, and the two handles for carrying were an intense blue. The opening for a key on each chest was encased in gold, with the shape of the keyhole itself being a cross. No one ever gave me a physical key, however.

THE RECEIPT

Because of their size, the chests stacked up to, and then through, the apartment ceiling.

‘The large angel rocked back and forth on his heels enjoying the sight. “Yes,” he smiled, “there is great hope here.” Then he took a pencil from behind his ear and pulled out a clipboard that held a receipt. “Sign here, please,” he said, extending the clipboard to me.

“What name should I use?” I asked.

“Anna would be fine.”

I wrote “Anna” on the white receipt and then handed the clipboard back to him.

“All right,” he said with a sigh that denoted closure of a mission. He pulled out the under copy of the receipt and handed it to me. “Here is your receipt. Twenty-four chests fall of hope.”

REBEKAH

Suddenly, I remembered Rebekah and how she had watered the camels as well as drawn water for Abraham’s servant. “Would you like some water or something?” I asked haltingly, not sure of what to say.

“Oh, no,” he laughed. “We have better water than your city’s water system can supply. We will be going now before we draw a crowd.” “Thank you for bringing the chests,” I said.

“Our pleasure,” he smiled. “Shalom.”

The attendants whistled and clicked their tongues for the camels to rise. The large angel grasped the reins attached to the headgear of the lead camel and guided him around so that the caravan could reverse its direction in the parking lot. Then he and the camels with their attendants began to leave. Suddenly, they disappeared.

Just as suddenly, life in the apartment complex returned to normal.

I closed the door and leaned against it looking at the chests piled through the ceiling. “Thank You, Daddy,” I whispered.

My Father spoke audibly again. “You have a bigger and better hope than any princess brought to her wedding day. Now,” He continued, “come up here.” Amazingly, in my spirit, I began to rise.