Joseph Herrin (05-21-2012)

On March 14 of last year, following the earthquakes in Sendai, Japan and Christchurch, New Zealand, I posted a blog titled The Ring of Fire.

https://heart4god.ws/wordpress/2011/03/ring-of-fire.html

I am going to repeat some of that article here as the Father is once again bringing forth a testimony of what is soon to occur. All the major news venues emphasized the rare annular solar eclipse that occurred yesterday (SUNday). Over and over, those in the media were referring to this eclipse as a “ring of fire.”

Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse

There were two reasons for this eclipse to be so described. First, the Moon was at such a distance from the Earth that it appeared too small to completely cover the Sun. At its point of greatest occultation, the Moon did not completely hide the Sun. There was a halo effect all around the moon as the fiery Sun shone forth all around the Moon.

Before I mention the second reason that this eclipse was described as a ring of fire, let me mention the symbolism of this heavenly sign. The Sun signifies the Son of God. He is described as “the light of the world” (John 8:12, 9:5). The Scriptures in one place use the word “Sun” to describe the day of the Lord, and His fiery appearing. I believe this passage is soon to be fulfilled.

Malachi 4:1-2
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says Yahweh of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My name, the Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings…”

Speaking of that fiery purging that must cleanse all of the sons of God, Yahshua declared:

Luke 12:49
“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!”

The Moon is a symbol of the church. The Moon is a lesser light than the Sun in the same way that the church is a lesser reflection of the glory of God than Yahshua. The Moon has no glory of its own. It reflects the radiance of the Sun. Similarly, the church has no glory of its own. It is a reflector of the radiance of Christ. Even as the Moon waxes and wanes in its glory while the Sun remains steadfast, so too does the church fluctuate greatly in its reflection of the Son of God. When man is faithless, God remains ever faithful (II Timothy 2:13).

In the image above the Moon is entirely encompassed by the fiery Sun. This speaks of a time of great trial that the body of Christ must pass through. The church must become a full partaker of the trials and sufferings of Yahshua.

The second reason that this heavenly event was described as a “ring of fire” eclipse is that it was viewable from that location on the earth known as the Ring of Fire. Following is a portion of the blog I shared last year.

The Ring of Fire describes a geographic area where 75% of the earth’s volcanoes, and 90% of the earths earthquakes occur.

The earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand which occurred on February 22, 2011, and the massive 9.0 magnitude quake that occurred in Japan on March 11 were both located on the Ring of Fire…

On march 10th, the day before what is now being referred to as the “Sendai Earthquake” in Japan, Randy Simmons, the brother in Christ with whom I have traveled to speaking engagements across America, had an unusual experience. He was doing some work with an uncle. Both men sing and play the guitar. As they were working they began to sing the Johnny Cash song Ring of Fire. Randy is not a big fan of Johnny Cash’s music, and rarely ever sings his songs, but that day this particular song came to mind. The next day as Randy was listening to the news reports on the earthquake in Japan, he was struck by the repeated mention of “the Ring of Fire.”

Randy called me about noon on March 11, and told me about the earthquake. I had been busy with other things and had not seen the news. Randy also told me about his experience singing Ring of Fire the previous day. Since this was my introduction to the quake, from the very beginning the Father has had me ponder what the significance is of it occurring on the Ring of Fire.

As I considered these events, in my mind were the words “birth pains.” The Spirit of Christ has shown me that these events are related to birth pains.

Mark 13:8
“For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

Romans 8:19-22
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

In my spirit I sensed a prompting to do an Internet search on the words “birth pains” and “ring of fire.” When I did, the Spirit confirmed what I had been sensing. Following is an excerpt from the first web page I was led to.

The “ring of fire”
Posted on March 12, 2008 by Kathy

At some point during birth preparations, somebody is going to tell you about how it feels to give birth. For me, the contractions were painful, but the birth itself was not, except for what is known as “the ring of fire.” Some women feel this every birth, some don’t feel it at all, and some have it at some births and not at others. I don’t want you to set yourself up for feeling more pain than is strictly necessary, but I do want to prepare you for this sensation.


First, what is it? During a vaginal birth, as your vagina expands around the largest point of the baby’s head you will often feel a pulling or burning sensation. It is brief (maybe 30 seconds), and like every other pain you feel, it impels you to change something to stop the pain. Typically, it will feel better to stop pushing, to allow your tissues to rest and expand gently. Many times when women push through the pain, they end up tearing.


Now, what does it feel like?


Open your mouth as wide as you can and hold it. Now, put your fingers in the corners of your mouth and pull your mouth wider until you feel stretching or burning. Now, imagine that at your vaginal opening. That is similar to what you might feel when your baby is born.


Yes, it’s painful, but it’s also brief. Some women are nearly terrified of the “pain of giving birth,” but they feel like they can handle the contractions. They may opt for an epidural or a local anesthetic to avoid this pain. But I gotta tell you–birth is painless compared to the contractions beforehand. If you can handle the contractions, you don’t need to worry about feeling the baby come out. For me, pushing was one of the most empowering things I’ve ever done; and the sensation of the baby moving down was also empowering. The contractions were no fun; but pushing my babies out was painless, except for the ring of fire.
[Source: http://womantowomancbe.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/the-ring-of-fire/]

On the Internet, I found reference after reference, confirming that the moment during the birth process when the baby’s head begins to crown is associated with the term “ring of fire.” These words describe the pain a woman experiences when the baby’s head is crowning.

As the baby enters the vagina your skin and muscles stretch. Eventually the head will appear. With every push, more of the baby’s head can be seen. The labia and perineum (the area between the vagina and the rectum) eventually reach a point of maximum stretching. At this point, the skin may feel like it is burning. Some childbirth educators call this the “ring of fire” because of the burning sensation felt as the mother’s tissues stretch around the baby’s head.
[Source: http://www.healthline.com/yodocontent/pregnancy/intrapartum-care-vaginal-delivery.html]

Everything that occurs in nature is according to the design of Yahweh. That women experience pain in childbirth is by design. In the third chapter of Genesis we read that pain in childbearing is a part of the curse brought upon the creation when Adam and Eve sinned.

Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

In other writings I have shared the parable that is contained in these words. Yahweh did not choose this experience for the woman arbitrarily. It was intended to reveal through the natural realm some deep spiritual truths. Yahweh’s desire from the beginning of the creation has been to have sons in His image and likeness. When mankind sinned, the plan of God did not change. However, it became necessary for mankind to experience pain in order to arrive at conformity to the image of Christ.

In these words to the woman in Genesis 3:16 we find a grand parable. Eve was the wife of the first man, whose name is Adam. The church is the wife of the Last Adam, who is Yahshua the Messiah.

I Corinthians 15:45-48
And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.

Eve was told that she would only be able to bring forth children through pain. In a direct parallel, the church can only bring forth sons in Christ’s image through suffering.

Matthew 10:38-39
“He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Philippians 1:29
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake…

Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

People of God, the ministers of ease and prosperity do not proclaim truth. They tell no one that there is an “afflicted path that leads to life, and few there are who find it.” The church continually receives the lie that Christ suffered so that they would not have to do so. Such a message is appealing to the flesh and soul of man, but it is a false message. Christ proclaimed the message that all who would follow in His steps must also embrace pain, and sorrow and suffering. Such things are necessary in order to bring forth sons in the image of God. There is a cross appointed to ALL who would be a disciple of Christ.

There is a ring of fire that ALL sons must pass through in order to be revealed.

I Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

The Father has been giving numerous signs, parables, and testimonies in the earth that the time for the sons of God to be revealed is close at hand…

Consider the significance of the fact that the birth pains described as “the ring of fire” occur when the baby’s head is “crowning.” Christ must have offspring who can rule and reign with Him. These sons can only be brought forth through pain.

A great testimony has been occurring along the Ring of Fire on the earth. On February 27th, 2010 an 8.8 magnitude quake occurred near Concepcion, Chile. In the story of Abraham and Sarah we read that God appeared to Abraham and told him the time appointed for a son to be given to him was at hand. The messenger told Abraham that “at this time next year, Sarah will have a son.”

In February of 2010 the Father gave this sign that the hour was at hand for the church to “conceive.” The hour of her “conception” had arrived. A year later in February 2011 we find a massive earthquake striking Christchurch. Now the time of birth pangs has arrived. The Ring of Fire is being stretched as the earth experiences her birth pangs in anticipation of the sons of God being revealed. Now we will see both “Christ’s church” and the world begin to reel.

Isaiah 24:19-23
The earth is violently broken. The earth is split open. The earth is shaken exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall totter like a hut; Its transgression shall be heavy upon it, and it will fall, and not rise again. It shall come to pass in that day that Yahweh will punish on high the host of exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth. They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and will be shut up in the prison; After many days they will be punished. Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed; For the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders, gloriously.
[End Excerpt]

Even as in the previous year there was a link between earthquakes and the ring of fire, the two main news stories yesterday were the Ring of Fire eclipse and a destructive earthquake in Italy. The earthquake in Italy is reported to be the strongest in the region since the 1300s.

Church Destroyed in Italy Earthquake

The news reported that many churches were damaged in the earthquake. One article reported the following:

The tremors seriously damaged many historic churches and other buildings, adding up to the greatest loss to Italy’s artistic heritage since an earthquake in 1997 ravaged the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, where the ceiling collapsed…


Three of the town’s churches were severely hit, damaging centuries-old frescoes and other works of art.


“We have practically lost all our artistic patrimony,” said Alberto Silvestri, mayor of San Felice.


“Churches and towers collapsed. The theatre is still standing but has cracks.”
[Source: http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0520/three-dead-as-earthquake-strikes-northern-italy.html]

Last year in February there was a devastating earthquake in Christchurch where many historic church buildings were damaged or destroyed. This occurred along the Ring of Fire. Now we have two events, one in the heavens, and one on the Earth, that are bringing forth the same testimony.

Image from the Quake in Italy

The picture above was the first one I encountered when reading about the earthquake near Bologna, Italy. It is a message in a picture. Time has been shortened. A time of great shaking and destruction is near at hand.

A further testimony is revealed in that the earthquake struck at 4:04 A.M. local time in Italy. The number 4 denotes humility. The repetition of it twice denotes a double portion. Yahweh will humble the nations, and humble His people. The shaking at hand, and the experiences to follow, will be for this purpose.

I will end this post with a final quote from the blog last year.

What does this portend for the people of God, and how are they to prepare themselves? The church has avoided suffering, choosing for herself ease, and pleasure and sensual indulgence. This has brought no sons forth to maturity. Those who would pass through this time of birth pangs and emerge as glorified sons must adopt a very different mindset. “For the joy set before them” they must “endure the cross.”

The hour is late. I have been writing recently about the preparations that are being made by governments in anticipation of an hour of civil unrest and economic collapse. Yahweh is also leading many of His sons and daughters  to make preparations in this hour. There are very difficult days ahead which we must all pass through. The Earth must experience her birth pangs, and the sons of God must be revealed.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws  

 

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com  

 

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