This morning I was awakened at about 6.30 a.m. to an amazing vision - amazing because it was breathtakingly beautiful...to begin with, and then alarming latterly. Let me relate it to you.

I was shown the blue heavens which were sudddenly filled with small thin flakes of pure gold about the size of cornflakes dropping to the ground like blowing golden autumnal leaves or maybe snowflakes. They were everywhere, as far as the eye could see, an extraordinary fairyland-like sight. And then something extraordinary happened. As soon as these golden flakes touched the ground or any solid physical object, those objects began to burn - not, apparently, destructively (at least not where I saw them fall), but in some cleansing manner. The fire was white-hot, fierce, and thorough, possessing intelligent design and order. It missed absolutely nothing. I saw these flakes fall on my own home and I was at first afraid, thinking it would be utterly consumed, but then I saw that it was not, but rather a layer of some sort was burned off it. And then the vision closed.

I cannot adequate describe how intense this vision was, nor the relentless and thorough effect of these white-hot flames which seemed to burn precisely like industrial acid. This was like nothing I have ever seen before and so filled me with both pleasant surprise and horror at the same time, if you can picture the two together. Needless to say my mind has been filled with this vision constantly since seeing it.

There are several important symbolic elements in this vision that I wish to bring out:

• 1. The origin of the gold flakes, namely, the sky, representing heaven or Elohim (God);

• 2. The substance of which they are made, namely gold, which in Scripture symbolises the wisdom that comes from Yahweh (Job 28:12,15-17,28), His laws, mitzvot (commandments) and discipline (Ps.19:7-19; 119:72,127; Prov.8:10), spiritual durability, permanent value, and the quality of true emunah (faith) brought out by often grievous trials (1 Pet.1:6-7) which can stand up under any tests. It is used to describe the New Jerusalem, the Qodesh (Holy, Set-Apart) City of Yahweh and its Derech (Way) (Rev.21:18,21). The fact that the Temple was covered in gold plate was to remind those who served there of their heavnly calling and duties toward Yahweh (1 Pet.2:9; Heb.9:1-5,9,11-12,23-25; 3:1). Given the effect of their impact upon the common material substance of this world in the vision, the gold is here seen to be a judging and purifying agent;

• 3. The fact that the gold was in the form of billions of small, light flakes suggests that each of these are individual emet- or truth-elements mirroring the Enemy's parallel lies and sin-dispositions that men are tempted by;

• 4. The fact that they are being released en masse suggests that this is, as I have been intimating in recent devotionals, a judgment time and one that is specifically cleansing and therefore redemptive.

"The Ruach (Spirit) of Yahweh-Elohim is upon Me,
Because Yahweh has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of Yahweh,
And the day of vengeance of our Elohim (God);
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of simcha (joy) for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of Yahweh, that He may be glorified." (Isa.61:1-3, NKJV).

"As a hind longs for the running streams, so do I long for Thee, O Elohim (God). With my whole being I thirst for Elohim (God), the living Elohim (God)" (Ps.42:1-2, NEB).

Connecting again to today's vision Yahweh yesterday morning took me to Psalm 46:

"Elohim (God) is our shelter and our refuge, a timely help in trouble; so we are not afraid when the earth heaves and the mountains quake before His majesty. There is a river whose streams gladden the City of Elohim (God), which El Elyon (the Most High) has made His qodesh (holy, set-apart) dwelling; Elohim (God) is in that city; she will not be overthrown, and He will help her at the break of day. Nations are in tumult, kingdoms hurled down; when He thunders, the earth surges like the sea. When Yahweh-Sebaoth (of Armies) is with us, the Elohim (God) of Jacob is our stronghold.

"Come and see what Yahweh has done, the devastation he has brought upon earth, from end to end of the earth He stamps out war: He breaks the bow, He snaps the spear and burns the shield in the fire.

"Let be then: learn that I am Elohim (God), high over the nations, high above the earth. Yahweh-Sebaoth is with us, the Elohim (God) of Jacob our high stronghold" (Ps.46:1-11, NEB).

I got an independent confirmation witness of all of these things this morning when my wife brought up a matter that has been bothering her, trivial perhaps compared with some of the bigger sins we commit, but nonetheless important if we are to walk with integrity before Yahweh. If we can't deal with the tiny sins how can Yahweh possibly trust us with bigger things? It remidned me of all those billions of tiny flakes which, when combined, made for a huge cloud covering the entire sky in all directions. Every element of emet (truth) is apparently important to Yahweh and it is only we who try to cut corners and blurr distinctives. It got me thinking of the many times I have helped myself to extra paper napkins/towels when in public restrooms and taken them home, which I thought nothing of because I have done it for so long, when in fact it is defrauding those places who provide them for use there and then on their premises. For the first time I started feeling guilty about this and resolved to desist. Since Yahweh is so concerned about each individual flake of emet (truth) and purity, and since each flake will burn anything that is not pure in us, ought we not to then start taking the little things more seriously? I'm sure you don't need me to make a list. But we do need to privately make our own and talk to Yahweh about the items on it.

One of my favourite psalms is Psalm 119 - it's jam-packed with revelation and always furnishes nuggets of wisdom and emet (truth), with this one being especially applicable to our theme of purity and repentance today:

"I am Thy servant; give me insight to understand Thy instruction. It is time to act, O Yahweh: for men have broken Thy Torah (Law). Truly I love Thy mitzvot (commandments) more than the finest gold. It is by Thy precepts that I find the right Derech (Way); I hate the paths of falsehood" (Ps.119:125-128, NEB).

"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved [2], yet so as through fire" (1 Cor.3:11-15, NKJV).

Let us daily seek His face and makes things right as a matter not just for this particular season but of habit. Harder times are on their way fast and we must all rise up to meet them in emunah (faith) and obedience. Amen.

Endnotes