This is a record of a worship and prayer encounter; I’m posting it strictly for Spirit-filled Believers and those called to be intercessors in the Church to pray into. “For we know in part and we prophesy in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9). I include my interpretation, such as it is. The Lord frequently revisits past encounters with me during my prayer time for months and sometimes years afterward; the revelation He brings is often ongoing.
As I was praying today (19 July 2024) on many subjects and deeply grieved about them, I sensed the Lord urging me to get out my paints and a canvas. The feeling intensified to the point I could not delay. According to my custom, I put on worship music and began to exalt the Lord as I placed pigments on the canvas. I did not know what I would be painting; I just focused in on exalting the Lord, worshipping Him and praising Him, and let Him direct my process.
At exactly 2:12pm, I set down my brushes with this artwork on my easel.
I knew immediately this is for the corporate (whole) Church.
The artwork is of a golden shofar emerging from clouds that are lit from within, surrounded by light beams. The shofar blows, and the sound emerges as light that pierces the darkness and exposes things long hidden.
When the shofar blows, it is a victory cry. In Revelation 7:19, following the blast from the seventh trumpet, it reads:
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
The time at which I completed the painting is significant as well: Biblically, the number 2 speaks of division and unity, witness, and death. The number 12 is the number of apostolic government1.
What I believe this means, is this is a NOW word speaking of judgement. God is declaring victory over these situations in our world and governments, especially where the spirit of Leviathan — see the snake scales in the lower left corner — has a foothold. This would be places like the legal system, the upper echelons of politics, and even some church hierarchies. The Light from God’s throne and His word is piercing the darkness. It is exposing long-held strongholds of the enemy. It’s exposing the plans, schemes, traps, and back-door deals done in darkness. It’s exposing the chains, it’s exposing the anchors and agreements and relational alignments that hold it in place.
As such, I believe the shofar is simultaneously a clarion call for God’s people to close ranks. For too long we have been silenced, both voluntarily and through coercion. For too long we have been isolated and cut off from others through petty doctrinal divisions. Have you heard a shofar? At church last week, someone brought out a shofar during worship and blew it; the frequency cut through the sound of amplified instruments and vocals with ease. Do you hear it? Do you hear Him calling? We are being summoned to close ranks. To stand together in unity. To link arms and raise our voices to declare His Kingdom come, His will be done.
As He exposes the enemy, we must prepare to march. Though victory is assured, you don’t get victory without stepping onto the battlefield. By it’s very nature, victory comes through a skirmish where the enemy is defeated. We don’t get handed victory on a platter while we stay in the safety of our tent; we must first set foot onto the battlefield.
In the days to come, I would urge you to get into the secret place. Seek the face of the Lord and prepare yourself for victory.
From “God’s Prophetic Symbolism in Everyday Life” by Adam Thompson and Adrian Beale (2017).