Chapter 12: THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE

Instantly Jesus and I were walking on a path in Paradise.

“I was a little overwhelmed,” I sighed wistfully. Then, rallying with unexpected speed, I smiled, “People come and go so quickly here.” Jesus laughed. He put His arm around my waist. “I wanted to be with you privately before your return,” He said. “They will understand.” “I want to be with You, too,” I said. His answer made me feel very loved. I leaned my head on His shoulder.

SEPARATED UNTO CHRIST

I noticed that the covenant robe and the golden crown I had worn were gone. Again I was wearing the plain, white robe. Although I could barely see the veil, it remained. It was more of an indication than a noticeable presence. I felt that it was a sign of being separated unto Christ. I supposed that I would be seen after we were fully married.

THE ROSE OF SHARON

The path we were walking topped a hill. From there, other hills lay before us. Each was covered with the rose of Sharon. The rolling terrain was a vivid red.

We walked in silence. I could sense that something was on His heart.

SHARING HIS HEART

“Anna,” He said finally, “divisions are coming.” He looked out over the hills. “For those who embrace the fear of the Lord and follow His precepts, His golden goodness will pour upon them.

“But for those who do not embrace the fear of the Lord,” He continued “who scorn His precepts and His ways, that which they already have will be taken from them. God is not mocked, Anna, and the ways of the flesh are not condoned.”

THE SUNSHINE OF HIS FACE

He continued, “But the sunshine of His face will shine upon the righteous. He will set the captives free. He will nurture them with loving-kindness, and they will eat the fat of the land. For He is a Father who has mercy upon His children, and He will not hide His eyes from their distress.

“He is from everlasting to everlasting, My love, and His goodness stretches as far as His never-ending presence.”

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

“For those who embrace His precepts,” He continued, “He will open every door to His storehouses. No good thing will He withhold. They will swim; they will float on the fat of the land. They will stride from mountaintop to mountaintop measuring off their inheritance and celebrating His ever-present nearness.” He continued, “He will take these aloft. They will sit with His Son and sup with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He will bring together those who fear His name, and they will have fellowship in Him.”

THE UNREPENTANT

“Those who are swindlers and liars also will find each other,” He said, “and their fellowship will be with their father.

“Those who love themselves more than they fear the Lord will have their old nature as their companion. Fretting and self-righteousness will be their reward. They will face closed doors to God’s glory at every turn. Grace will slam its door in their faces. The wall between them and God’s goodness will be too high to climb, and they will spend their days searching for God as a blind man gropes in a foreign land.”

A CANOPY OF GLORY

He continued, “But for those who hold to His ways and fear His name, a canopy of goodness will be their shelter; a canopy of glory will be their home. Not even a toe will poke its way from beneath the mercy and loving kindness of the Lord.” He tilted His head back as if to proclaim over the hills.

PROCLAMATION

“Rejoice, O righteous ones, your God is coming down to you. You will walk with Him as at the dawn of creation, and He will share with you as a man shares with his dearest friend. He will reveal mysteries to you and fling open the portals of heaven, allowing you to walk among the stars. From forever to forever, He is. From forever to forever, His goodness will be savored by those who love the Lord. Rejoice, you people of God. He is coming down to you, the light of His glory shining from His face, and you too will share His goodness with others to the glory of His name.” He continued, “Prepare, for He comes, and all eyes will see Him in you [His people], and you will be hidden, enfolded in the wings of His love—never to come out again. Let the righteous rejoice!”

LIVING ABOVE

He turned to me, “As for you, Anna, you have begun to live above. You will no longer call Earth your home. When each day ends, you will return to your Father’s house. There you will rest.

“We will be together, My love. We will go into the fields that are white for harvest and into the vineyards to inspect the vines.” His hand reached out to me. “My beautiful bride, My chosen one,” He said.

I took His hand, kissed it, and held it to my cheek.

He continued, “There is much to see, know, and understand. You have only begun, Anna. We will go higher, My love, ever higher.

“Right now,” He said, “your work on Earth awaits.” He bent down and gathered an armful of the rose of Sharon. “For you, My bride,” placing them into my left arm.

“Thank You,” I whispered, pressing the flowers to me.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit appeared on the path. He was turning gently, as an upward spiral of smoke might rise.

“The Holy Spirit has come to escort you, My love,” He said. “Are you ready to return?” “I am ready,” I said to Jesus. I still was holding His hand. Reluctantly, I released it.

However, He held on to my hand. Looking deeply into my eyes, He said, “You have ravished My heart, My sister, My bride. You have ravished My heart.” Both of our eyes filled with tears. He released my hand. I took a step backward to show that I was ready to leave.

The circling wind of the Holy Spirit enveloped me. Instinctively, I closed my eyes. Through the whirling sound, I heard Jesus call, “You are My beloved!” I responded, “And You are my Friend!” I was choking back tears.

The Holy Spirit picked me up. Suddenly, He went “swish” down through the turf of Paradise. I did not want to look.

ON EARTH

When I opened my eyes, I was standing in the living room of our apartment in Florida. The flowers were gone. But the hope chests were piled up to, and then through, the ceiling as before.

The Holy Spirit swirled around me. His whirlwind left circles of supernatural fire on the floor. I held out my hands to feel the tiny, brilliant lights that whirled within the funnel. They tickled like sparks from sparklers.

“Oh, my Friend,” I said to the Holy Spirit, “we will work together, will we not?”The light within the funnel brightened immensely in response. “I already miss Him,” I confided. I reflected a moment. “It says that the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’” He joined me in saying, “Come [to Christ].” This seemed to please Him greatly. The sparklers plumed into a fiery whirlwind of God. He began to ascend through the ceiling. As He rose, He burned through the roof, opening the entire apartment to heaven.

I watched Him rise. He was spectacular. I thought of the children of Israel and the pillar of fire by night.

Then I realized that the Holy Spirit had left behind Him flames of fire on my head and on both of my shoulders. They formed a canopy. Jesus had spoken of a covering of goodness and of glory. Was this canopy of fire an anointing that would rest upon those who fear the Lord? Had the time come for His bride to call Him down? As the heavenly council had prayed, was it time for the Lord to begin the end?

I exploded with hope and joyous anticipation. Looking into the open heavens, I affirmed:

DECLARATION

The weight of glory of our God

Rests upon His head.

And keys of the greater David

Are on His shoulders spread.

Fire is burning up above

And fire on either side.

Beneath this canopy of Love

His presence does abide.

CALL OF THE BRIDE

Come down, our glorious Majesty!

Come down, our righteous King!

Descend in holy fire once more

With hosts past numbering.

I raised my arms toward the open heavens and with great yearning, called again:

Come down, our glorious Majesty!

Come down, our righteous King!

Descend in holy fire once more

With hosts past numbering!

“Come, Lord Jesus.”