Saturday, June 30, 2007

I received a letter from a friend just a couple of days before, and she asked what the Lord was saying to me about 7-7-07! Well, up to this point He had said nothing! I have been reading what will take place in Nashville, but on a local level I have been praying about this day as well. Not everyone can go to Nashville, but everyone can be part of what is happening on 7-7-07! I went into my place of prayer as usual and as I prayed about my friend’s request, I saw something. I didn’t hear anything, but I saw the word SEVEN in the form of an acrostic.

Saints
Enjoy
Victory
Even
Now

The Lord immediately filled in the blanks! This seemed like such a simple word, I wondered if I had seen correctly! Saints enjoy victory even now. I knew the word EVEN was somehow significant. I was quite surprised when I finally looked up its meaning. I never dreamed such a small word could pack such a punch! It shed an entirely different light on the word. I have included the meaning of the word (even) in parentheses. These definitions come from a very old Webster’s Students Dictionary that I have used for years.

Saints enjoy victory (ON LEVEL or EQUAL GROUND) now!
Saints enjoy victory (ALSO) now!
Saints enjoy victory (THAT IS FULLY PAID UP) now! (I got excited about this one.)
Saints enjoy victory (EXACTLY) now!
Saints enjoy victory (AT THIS VERY TIME) now!
Saints enjoy victory (AND SOMETHING UNEXPECTED) now!

Exactly now, 7-7-07, the saints of God are going to enjoy a great victory that is FULLY PAID UP! The saints of God are going to enjoy SOMETHING UNEXPECTED AT THIS VERY TIME! As I got revelation of all this I began to declare victory for the saints of God ON 7-7-07!

Victory means the “overcoming of an enemy in battle or of an antagonist in any contest!” Victory implies defeat of one’s opponents! Another word for victory is triumph! And triumph denotes a brilliant or overwhelming victory! (Same Reference)

Yes I believe 7-7-07 is a significant day in history! The battle ground has been leveled to an even playing field. Victory is assured! And we can expect something VERY UNEXPCTED! After seeing all this, I opened the Word for greater revelation! And I was led to Jeremiah 22:3: “This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.”

And then I was led to Jeremiah 50! These are the passages I was given and in this order:

“See, I am against you, O arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty, “for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her.” (vs. 31-32)

“Take up your positions around Babylon, all you who draw the bow. Shoot at her! Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord. Shout against her on every side! She surrenders, her towers fall, her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the Lord, take vengeance on her; do to her as she has done to others.” (vs. 14-15)

“The noise of battle is in the land, the noise of great destruction! How broken and shattered is the hammer of the whole earth! How desolate is Babylon among the nations! I set a trap for you, O Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it; you were found and captured because you opposed the Lord.” (vs. 22-24)

“The Lord has opened His arsenal and brought out the weapons of His wrath, for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do in the land of the Babylonians. Summon archers against Babylon, all those who draw the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her for her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.” (vs. 25, 29,)

As a prophetic Intercessor, the Lord has often given me this Word to remind me of what He has called me to do. “He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in His quiver.” (Isaiah 49:2)

As warriors, we are “polished arrows” hidden in the “quiver” (heart) of God! ALL those who draw the bow are being assembled for a great victory! (While some are called to Nashville – most will fight right where they are!) We must remember, although we are physically fighting a war in Iraq, we are fighting a spiritual enemy called the spirit of Babylon. IRAQ is not our enemy, the spirit operating behind this war is our enemy! The battle in the natural will not be won until we win the spiritual battle!

The first word the Lord gave me this week in Jeremiah is “justice for the oppressed!” On 9-12-01, the day after 9-11, the Lord spoke to me and said: “What is your heart saying?” I heard a word come up in my spirit. “I hear the word justice Lord” “What else do you hear?” “I hear the word democracy Lord.” “You are right, IT IS TIME FOR JUSTICE!” We as a nation are the oppressed! The people of Iraq and around the world are the oppressed! We the church are the oppressed! This spirit is not limited to the land of Iraq, this spirit is operating against this nation and even within the church! It is time to bring it down!

When God removed us from a particular denominational church in 1999, He spoke very clearly to me and said: “GET OUT OF BABYLON!” I was shocked when He first said this, but I soon learned, especially after 9-11, the spirit of Babylon was operating within the church! Babylon is a symbol of the evil system representing the kingdoms of this world that are in direct opposition to the Kingdom of God. Babylon means a “stronghold of sin!” It must be brought down!

The spirit of Babylon attacked our nation on 9-11, and brought our towers down! But I also believe God used the Babylonians as an instrument of judgment in His hands. (See Habakkuk 1:5-7) I believe this nation was judged for removing God from our government and our schools! I believe the church has opened a door to the spirit of Babylon by not allowing the Spirit of God to operate within His own church. I have personally witnessed the dogmatism within the church concerning the precious Holy Spirit and His gifts!

But I believe it is time! I believe God is assuring us of a victory. I believe it is time for the SAINTS of God to bring down the towers of Babylon and tear down her walls! I believe this spirit has wreaked havoc, but Babylon will fall! I believe as we prepare for battle, there will be a great victory!

And then He took me to a familiar passage of scripture! God knows HOW to speak to us through His Word! I want to share a Word with you, though as a warrior, you are probably very familiar with. I believe this is our mandate for 7-7-07!

“Prepare your shields, both large and small, and march out for battle! Harness the horses, mount the steeds! TAKE YOUR POSITIONS with helmets on! POLISH YOUR SPEARS, PUT ON YOUR ARMOR!” (Jeremiah 46:3-4)

I have learned from personal experience that we don’t always have to GO to battle, but we must be PREPARED to go! The most important part of preparing for battle is to make sure our armor is in place! I have learned after fifteen years of doing spiritual warfare that I don’t go to battle unless I have checked my armor. Are there in cracks in your armor? If so, you better not go into battle, because you will come out bruised and bleeding!

How can we be sure there are no cracks? Jesus Christ is OUR ARMOR and when we put HIM on, HE is EVERYTHING we need for battle! HE is your Helmet of Salvation and your Breastplate of Righteousness! HE is the Prince of Peace that shods your feet for battle! HE is the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God! And HE is the Belt of Truth that holds your armor in place! The last and most critical piece of your armor is the SHIELD of FAITH! This part is your responsibility. You must pick it up!

Jeremiah exhorts us here to PREPARE our SHIELDS, both large and small! Regardless of how BIG your faith is – God wants you to be part of this great victory! Your faith may not be as big as someone else’s, but you can still prepare for this battle and be part of it! As long as you have the Lord Jesus Christ on you will win! I believe the most important part of the battle is in the preparation! When the enemy sees that you are prepared to fight and your armor is intact – then look what the enemy does!

Look at the next verse in Jeremiah 46! “What do I see? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are DEFEATED. They flee in haste without looking back, and there is terror on every side,” DECLARES THE LORD!” (VS. 5)

The enemy retreated when they SAW they were prepared to fight!

IT IS TIME FOR JUSTICE! It is time for justice in our schools! It is time for justice for the people of God! It is time for justice for the children of Israel! It is time for justice for the people of Iraq and all who are oppressed! It is time for the oppressed to be set free! And we must remember, when God says anything three times, He is very serious! Saints enjoy victory EVEN now! Saints enjoy victory EVEN now! Saints enjoy victory EVEN now! EVEN Now – 7-7-07!

I asked the Lord if He had anything else to say and He took me to Psalms 107! In this Psalm Moses reviews God’s gracious dealings with His people who are now ready to enter their Promise Land. Over and over the people had cried out to God in their trouble and God delivered them! Many are crying out right now and God is the only one who can deliver them. Many are getting ready to step in and cross over to their Promise Land.

I encourage you to read this powerful Word – it will bless you!

Betty Goolsby
Daughter of Zion Ministries
www.daughterofzion.com