Joseph Herrin (09-25-08)

These are extraordinary days, and I have a growing witness that extraordinary things in the spiritual realm are about to occur. On September 30th at sundown the Feast of Trumpets will begin. This is the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles, which will conclude on October 20th. I have had thoughts for some months now that this Feast of Tabernacles would be very significant, and with additional witnesses I have been receiving in recent days these thoughts have been taking on a very remarkable quality. Some things seem almost incomprehensible before we see them fulfilled.

Consider how difficult it would have been to believe that the Son of God would be born to a young Jewish virgin 2,000 years ago. Even though this event had been prophesied in numerous Scriptures, and was established in the testimony of the heavens, until it happened, it would surely have taxed the imagination of the most righteous saints to believe they would see it in their day. Mary’s attitude was rare indeed, when she heard the angel proclaim to her what would shortly occur. Having heard the angel proclaim things that many would view as impossible, she believed.

Luke 1:37-38
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

People of God, the Feast of Tabernacles points to events occurring in the church that are equally astonishing. What if they were to occur in your lifetime? Would you have faith to believe? I want to share with you the thoughts that have been filling my mind concerning this matter.

Back in April the Spirit began revealing to me the events that must shortly take place. If you read the posts on the Parables Blog for the month of April, 2008 you will find those things the Spirit spoke to me at that time. The Spirit revealed to me that a wilderness experience was coming to the people of God. He gave me understanding of an experience I had some years earlier where I spent two forty day periods camping in the wilderness in a tent. He showed me that even as Moses spent two forty year periods in the wilderness, so it was appointed to a body of chosen believers at this time to experience something similar.

Moses’ first forty years in the wilderness commenced at the age of forty and it was for his own humbling and testing and preparation to be a vessel God could use. His second forty year period commenced at the age of eighty and was for the purpose of leading God’s people through a similar experience. Although Moses was with the people during this second forty year period, his experience was very different from their own.

Moses spoke to God face to face, whereas the people were afraid of God and asked God to speak to them through Moses. Moses ascended the mountain into God’s presence while the rest of God’s people were warned to stay away from the mountain. Moses face glowed with the glory of God from being in His presence, but not so with the other people of God. Moses would go daily to the tent of meeting which was pitched outside the camp, and the people would watch him go, and wait for his return.

Exodus 33:8-11
And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. And it came about, whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and Yahweh would speak with Moses. When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. Thus Yahweh used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.

The Lord used the example of Moses to speak to me of what is coming. He testified that He has been preparing a group of overcoming saints after the spirit of Moses to lead His people through a wilderness experience. I have been in this wilderness experience for many years as the Lord has dealt with my flesh, and worked to humble me and to make me know that man’s abilities are worthless in accomplishing His work. He has worked to bring me to an end of my own works, that I might look to Him to accomplish all things.

The Spirit has indicated that I, and many others who have been being prepared for this day, will be used as guides for the people of God who must undergo the same wilderness experiences I have passed through. As I have contemplated this I have recognized that God must surely do something in my life to enable me to carry forth such a task. Even as Moses met Yahweh at the burning bush and confessed that he could not even speak, I too confess that there is nothing in me to enable me to carry forth the will of God for such a monumental task as that which lies ahead.

Moses was able to speak to God face to face, and I have pleaded with God for the same opportunity. If I do not enter beyond the veil of this present fleshly limitation to perceive His mind and thoughts with a far greater clarity than I have known, I will be unable to stand in such a calling. We are told that the people saw the acts of God, but Moses knew Yahweh’s ways. In order to accomplish the task to which they are called, those who will be guides for the people of God in coming days must of necessity have a greater access into the presence of God than they have known.

Moses also relied upon the supernatural in order to care for the people of God in the wilderness. He prayed and God gave them manna from heaven and water from the rock. With his staff Moses saw the waters part, and close again to destroy the enemies of Israel. Apart from the supernatural power of God manifested in behalf of His people, it will be impossible to survive the coming days. God testified to me over a decade ago that we would see once more His power manifested in this earth as it was in the days of Moses.

This past April God also spoke to me through the type of Joseph. Joseph stands also a type of those who will shepherd the people of God through a wilderness experience. Joseph was sent ahead of his brethren into Egypt to experience difficulties and sorrows. He too was humbled and prepared for a coming day when his people would be in great need. At the right moment God called Joseph out of Pharaoh’s dungeons and elevated him to a position of great authority. Even as Moses had access to God’s presence, so Joseph had access to the presence of Pharaoh. When his brothers came to Egypt they did not have the same freedom or authority. Even as Moses fed the people manna in the wilderness, so Joseph fed the people grain that he had stored up in Egypt. Even as Moses understood the ways of God, so too did Joseph manifest a divine wisdom that so impressed Pharaoh that he made Joseph second ruler in the land.

I have been praying and conversing with my heavenly Father about these things. I have asked Him to not send me forth on such a great assignment as He has been indicating is coming without granting me the same authority and wisdom and Presence that these men knew. Well do I know my weakness, and I tremble at the thought of taking a single step without the Lord. I have no might nor power, but look to His strength and wisdom to accomplish these things which must shortly take place.

As I have seen world events marching ever closer to a time when the people of God must surely enter into a wilderness experience, I have looked for God to equip those who would be guides to His people. I have been brought to consider the significance of the Feast of Tabernacles, and what it portends for coming days.

It was at the Feast of Tabernacles that the Son of God was born approximately 2,000 years ago. His name was Immanuel, God with us, and Tabernacles is a picture of God dwelling with man in fulness. It is prophesied in Scripture that a day will come when the sons of God will enter into the fulness of Tabernacles. As of this time they have only known an in-part experience of tabernacling with God, the people of God have been in a Pentecost experience, but have not entered Tabernacles. They have known in part, and seen in part, and been granted a measure of the Spirit. Tabernacles points to a much fuller and richer habitation with Yahweh for the sons of God.

As I have considered the approaching days when the people of God must go into the wilderness, the Spirit has repeatedly drawn my attention to Revelations chapter 12. Just two days ago a sister in Christ wrote to me and asked me for my understanding of this passage. I sensed then, as I have often in recent days, that it was the Spirit drawing my attention to this passage. I wrote to her the following:

Dear Sister J.,

You wrote:

What is your interpretation of Revelation chapter 12?

I see the man child being born as representing the overcoming sons of God that must come forth to rule and reign with Christ at the end of the age. These are born by the woman, who is the church. The man child being caught up to the throne speaks of authority being granted to rule and reign. It speaks of an intimacy with Christ. I see in type Joseph who was brought out of the prison house to rule in one day, after having suffered many things while his brothers were living lives of ease and pleasure.

Those who will be a part of the man child will be those who have submitted to the discipline and constraints of the Father while their brethren were living as free men, doing whatever their souls desired. Moses is also a type of this man child in that he ascended the mountain and spoke with God face to face.

The woman is a picture of the church who have not submitted to the discipline and constraint of the Spirit, but have been using their liberty to do as they please. These must go into a wilderness experience to be refined and tested. This experience is near at hand. The man child will also go into the wilderness, though it is pictured as having been caught up to the throne.

Being caught up to the throne does not speak of being raptured out of this earth, rather it is a symbol of the authority and intimacy given to these overcoming sons. Even as Joseph remained in Egypt and made a provision for his brethren when they came to Egypt, so the man child will be present to watch over their brethren. Even as Moses was in the wilderness with the people of God, guiding them, declaring to them the mind of the Father, so too will the man child guide the woman who flees into the wilderness.

Yet even as Joseph and Moses had an altogether different experience from their brethren in Egypt and the wilderness, the man child and the woman, though together, will have different experiences. Joseph was able to go freely into Pharaoh’s presence, and Moses was able to go freely into the presence of God, but the rest could not do so. Joseph’s glory in Egypt was far greater than his brothers, and Moses’ face shown with the glory of God when he came down from the mountain, and this speaks of a greater glory resting upon the man child than the woman.

Yet even as Joseph’s brothers had a provision in Egypt, and the children of Israel had a provision in the wilderness, God will have a provision for the church in her wilderness experience.

This period will be for the testing of the church, and for the removal of all that lingers of the world. In the wilderness the church will learn to look to God for everything, leaning on Him, and no longer looking to be provided for in their own strength.
[End excerpt]

Yesterday another sister in Christ wrote to me asking me if I had any teachings on the feasts of Yahweh. I knew again that the Spirit was directing my attention in this direction. This sister also shared a dream she had of tents arranged in an orderly fashion in a wilderness, and the people of God dwelling in the tents. I wrote to her to following.

Dear L.,

Thank you for writing and sharing your encouraging words. You wrote:

Have you ever taught on passover, Pentecost and tabernacles. Have you placed in his word the type and shadows relating to now….. I am identifying with passover and Pentecost but not sure yet on Tabernacles.

Yes, I have written about them. Most recently in the book Christ in You – The Hope of Glory. I will provide a link to the specific chapter that speaks of these three feasts, and their application to the lives of the saints: http://www.heart4god.ws/id666.htm

There are other applications of these three feasts, for they contain instruction on many levels. Tabernacles is the only feast to not yet have been fulfilled in the church. It points to a day when God and man will dwell together in a deep communion, having come out of their old dwellings (the sinful flesh) to dwell in a new tabernacle (the body Christ has gone to prepare for His saints). No longer will sin mar the fellowship between God and man when they tabernacle together.

We see this in perfect type when the Israelites would go outside their normal dwellings and dwell in a new dwelling during the Feast of Booths. The fulfillment of Tabernacles is spoken of by Paul in the following words:

I Corinthians 15:52-54
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Note that this will occur when the trumpet is sounded. The Feast of Tabernacles begins with the Feast of Trumpets, which will fall on September 30th, less than a week from now. Tabernacles is a symbol of receiving a new body, a new dwelling place, wherein we will know pure fellowship with God.

In your dream you saw the tabernacles arrayed in the wilderness. This is also part of the message. Israel had to leave their homes in Egypt (a symbol for the world) in order to go into the wilderness to dwell in tents. In the wilderness God gave Moses very detailed plans for how each tribe was to be arranged, with the Tabernacle in the midst of all. Each tribe and family had a specific place to camp. This is a picture of God setting His people in order through wilderness experiences. When the church goes into a wilderness experience in coming days, Yahweh will set His people in order. They will learn to tabernacle with Him, having come out of the world. Yahweh’s people have been too much in the world and this has kept them from knowing Him intimately. As severe as the coming days will seem, they will be for the purpose of bringing the people of God to a place of daily communion with God who created them to be a house of prayer.

It is to be noted that in your dream there is also a shofar being blown, for the Feast of Booths begins with the Feast of Trumpets.
[End Excerpt]

People of God, the Spirit of Christ has been bringing together in my mind the relationship between the Feast of Tabernacles and the birth of the man child portrayed in Revelations chapter 12. Let me include a portion from that passage.

Revelation 12:1-6
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth… And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. And she gave birth to a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she might be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

The Spirit is testifying that the church must go into the wilderness at this time. As we examine this passage we see that before she does, she must give birth to a man child who is caught up to the throne of God. I believe this points to the overcomers who come out of the church. They must receive authority and access to the throne of God prior to the woman going into the wilderness. They will then fulfill the type of Joseph and Moses by caring for the woman who flees to the wilderness.

Bob Wadsworth who has a website on Biblical Astronomy, has shared that this sign in the heavens is a very real sign. The woman is Virgo (the virgin), whom the Hebrews call Bethulah. There are indeed twelve stars above her head, and at certain times the Sun will arise in the area of her womb, and the moon will be under her feet. A brother in Christ wrote to me a few weeks back and asked if I had heard about this sign in the heavens occurring this year during the Feast of Tabernacles. I looked into it and came across Bob Wadsworth’s teaching on this. He said this sign occurs only at Tabernacles when the Feast falls late in the year, as it does this year. He said that the sign occurred over Jerusalem at the time of the birth of Christ, and will occur again this year.

There is some debate as to whether this is actually the sign of Revelation 12, and the sign announcing the birth of Christ, yet as it is a possibility I am speaking of it here. Bob wrote:

The sign of the woman clothed with the sun and the moon beneath her feet occurs about every 2 to 3 years as seen from Jerusalem. There have been arguments on whether the moon is below her feet in the constellation as pictured, in which case the moon will actually be above her feet as she is setting looking up from the horizon. Others argue that the moon is between the horizon and her feet for the moon to be below her feet. I believe either could be correct. This now occurs on Tishri 1 only when the feast is late in the year, from late September to early October.

At the time Y’shua walked on the earth, this occurred almost entirely every Tishri 1 when the sign occurred. This sign will occur on Tishri 1, October 1, 2008. The moon will be in the exact same position as it was when Y’shua was born on that date. It will be near that position as well on September 29, 2011 (all as seen from Jerusalem). It will not occur in 2012 as seen from Jerusalem. It occurs every year as seen from various locations on Earth, but only every 2 to 3 years as seen from Jerusalem, and rarely on Tishri 1 as seen from Jerusalem (perhaps 20 times per century). It is unusual for them to be three years apart as shown below. Below are three charts. The first chart for September 11, 3 BC Julian date, when Y’shua was born, the second is from October 1, 2008 and the third is from September 29, 2011. In all charts the moon is seen below her feet and above the horizon as the constellation is setting.

September 11, 3 BC

October 1, 2008

I have no sure word from the Lord on this sign in the heavens, but I have a greater witness regarding the sign that occurred in the constellation Bootes back in March.

According to NASA’s website, a gamma ray burst aimed directly at the earth erupted from the Constellation Bootes on March 19, 2008. NASA reported that it was the most intrinsically bright event ever recorded in the heavens, eclipsing all other gamma ray bursts by more than a million times. This was a huge heavenly event.

Bootes is one of three decans in the constellation Virgo. Bootes means “The Coming One.” From the virgin in the heavens we see a man coming and he has a scythe in one hand, the ancient instrument of cutting grass. The Lord has testified that the coming wilderness experience will be for the purpose of removing flesh from His people.

Isaiah 40:6-7
A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of Yahweh blows upon it; surely the people are grass.

Back in 1999 the Lord spoke to me and revealed that He had chosen me to be a cutter of grass, but first He had to cut the grass in my life. What I believe this sign is testifying is that Christ is coming. He is coming in His people, and He will use a prepared group of His people to remove flesh from the body of Christ.

II Thessalonians 1:9-10
And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified IN HIS SAINTS on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed…

It may seem incredible that we could see the day accomplished when the church will give birth to a man child. Yet there have been signs in the heavens and upon the earth that are pointing to such an event. Recently I wrote about the sign of three named tropical storms that are related to barren women in the Bible giving birth to male sons, pictures of the man child. Following is an excerpt from that writing.

Hanna – Ike – Josephine
(09-03-08)

What do all of these hurricanes have in common? Their names are all derived from Biblical characters who are associated with stories of barren women giving birth to extraordinary sons.

The Bible contains a number of historical accounts of women who were barren. Being childless was a tremendous stigma in ancient ages, much more so than it is today. The Bible recounts the great distress of those who longed to bear children, and we can be assured that no testimony of Scripture is without great significance. God both ordered the details of individuals’ lives and selected which stories to record for our benefit…

Sarah, Rachel and Hannah are all symbols of a barren church that must bring forth children. Various truths can be seen in each of their lives. In Sarah we observe that it is in the church’s old age that she brings forth a son. In Rachel we see that in a time of sorrow, of great birth pangs, her sons must come forth. In Hannah we see that these sons… will be God’s unique possession.

In recent years God has placed signs in the heavens and upon the earth that a time of great birth pangs is at hand. God’s has witnessed through signs and wonders that great distress is coming to the nations and that America will fall. Can we not therefore understand that the message found in these three witnesses, these tropical storms that all relate to barren women, are declaring once more that it is time for the church to bring forth children? And if the time has come, then the church must go through pain and sorrow, yet her desire will be for her Husband…

People of God, even as these storms bring with them destruction and calamity, they bring forth the promise that a son of power, a son after the image and likeness of God, will come forth. Let us look up with hope, for even as we can watch the progression of these storms we can know that those things God has promised to be accomplished in these last days will be performed.
[End Excerpt]

People of God, as I have been pondering these things, I have been staggered at the thought that it could possibly be the time for the man child to come forth and the church to flee into the wilderness. Yet there must be a time when it does occur. Why not now? Will not our imaginations always be staggered when they seek to comprehend such things?

Yesterday a sister from California wrote to me and suggested that I listen to David Eells broadcast that evening. Her reason for suggesting it was entirely unrelated to the things being discussed here. I have never before listened to a live broadcast from Unleavened Bread Ministries, but I sensed that the Lord would have me do so last night. How amazed I was when I found that the topic was not what this woman had told me (the collapse of banking), but it was the very things I am revealing to you here in this writing.

I cannot express to you my amazement that every detail I have shared in this writing was discussed in some form on the UBM broadcast last night. David Eells spoke of Samuel, Isaac, and Joseph being types of the man child, though he made no mention of the tropical storms that recently bore reference to them. He spoke of Revelation 12 and the Feast of Tabernacles, and the church going into the wilderness, drawing all these diverse themes together even as the Spirit has been doing in my thoughts.

Just prior to the program I had been on the phone with my brother in Christ, Randy Simmons, and I had shared these thoughts with him. I was wondering if perhaps I was reaching too far in making these connections. I told Randy I needed to end the conversation so I could go listen to David Eells broadcast, having no inkling that he would be speaking on the same topic. I highly recommend that you listen to this broadcast, which has been archived.
http://www.unleavenedbreadministries.org/sabs/092408.mp3

After an interview with a woman named Antoinette, which occupies about the first 30 minutes of the broadcast, David begins speaking about the Feast of Tabernacles.

I knew God had ordered my steps. People, we live in awesome days. As I listened to David speak of Joseph being brought out of the dungeon suddenly to stand before Pharaoh, the thought quickened in my mind that at this very moment I am residing in the basement of the house of some friends. Will God call for these sons at this time from their dungeons to receive heavenly authority and to enter in behind the veil to know His thoughts and ways as never before?

I considered the parable of the seed being sown into the ground to die, that it might come forth bearing much fruit. God has led a group of sons to such experiences in this hour. They have been dying daily on a cross God chose for them. Joseph and Moses continue the type perfectly. Joseph went down to Egypt, sold as a slave, and ended up in Pharaoh’s dungeon. When God had prophesied promotion, Joseph met with demotion. The seed has to fall into the ground and die before it can bear fruit. Moses likewise had to go out to the barren wilderness for forty years to die to all the ways of Egypt. He had to die to all confidence in the flesh. Then God was able to bring him back up and use him in power and glory.

People of God, I cannot say definitively that the man child will be caught up to the throne of God during this coming Feast of Tabernacles. I still see through a glass darkly. But I know these things must occur some time soon. Let us have a spirit of expectation. Surely God must have a prepared group of sons to lead His people through the wilderness. If not during the Feast of Tabernacles, these things must occur soon. I know this is one Joseph who is looking with anticipation from his dungeon. Yahweh has promised promotion. His promises cannot fail.

May Yahweh bless you with peace and understanding in these days.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063