In the early afternoon of the 10th April, The LORD took me back to something He shared earlier. Back then I didn’t have the key to understanding.

He said that the land that He was giving to us, was a “good land,” (pleasant, agreeable, beautiful) and that we were, “not to look at the size of the giants but to look at the size of the fruit.”

This referred to the grapes of Eshcol (Numbers 13:23),

“And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs,”

Eshcol means “to cluster, to bunch” which has connotations of braveness. It’s also used in relation to “a lover”.

He said the land was good and was “His joy” and as the people’s focused, believing on this, they would experience the transformation His joy would bring.

He stated:

• That He would watch over us, to cloak and cover us, just like the stars were cloaked by the night sky.
• That there was to be a time(s) of evangelism as His hand and arm are outstretched, (Acts 4:30 passage).
• That the glory of God would be manifest, even in the “cell of man’s night” (Acts 16).

He spoke of the place and time, where Jesus was baptised, (John 1:28). These things came to pass in Bethabara, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.

Bethabara means house of the ford, house of the crossing. It’s where Joshua and Israel, crossed with the Ark of the Covenant into the Promised Land, (Joshua 3:16b) “so the people crossed over opposite Jericho.”

It is believed also to be the place of the floating axe-head, the place where Naman did not want to get into the muddy water, and where Elijah and Elisha crossed to the place where Elijah was taken up in a heavenly chariot.

“And Elijah taketh his robe, and wrappeth it together, and smiteth the waters, and they are halved, hither and thither, and they pass over both of them on dry land,” 2 Kings 2:8.

… compare with Exodus 14:21,

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and The LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided….”

“He rebuketh the sea and make it dry…..” Nahum 1:4.

He spoke of the healing of our nation Great Britain and of Europe. But also He said, “as we lift up The Son, lifting up His Name, He would …not only bring healing and deliverance and life ….but He would also part the way:

Which would be a place of baptism — Jesus came “up, out of the waters”^(**)

Would be a place of the doves^{(^)}

And the place of the above⁽⁺⁾

That He would open up the way and the church would ascend^(*) as He descends, placing His foot in the waters.

It would be a time of “fire in the earth” that would bring the pillars of the earth crashing down.

^(*) by ascend, He meant to gain, expand their place of excellence, not any rapture so to speak, but to enter “as through the portal” and into the deeper recesses of understanding and supply of heavens stores, bounty and grace.

As I write, I see the entrance to the storehouse. As one enters, one crosses the threshold, bearing left into this room, where I could see the ranks of the people already inside.

With these last Words, I saw fire come down and strike the ground. I considered it alongside the earlier sense, that His foot would come down … in the water … and I had a notion of fire coming down on water, both fire and water being mixed, but not one element being put out by, or destroying the other.^(#)

As He said … “there will be fire in the earth, bringing the pillars of the earth crashing down” … I then saw a huge turtle … and I heard … “the shell will not protect”… and I will say it as I heard it … “the shell will not protect and I will make turtle soup out of it.”

I discovered, that though fairly small, that the shell of the Box Turtle can readily support a weight 200 times greater than its own; an adult that strong could carry 10 cars on his back — or the equivalent of 2 elephants!

Quote:

”In the far east, the turtles shell was a symbol of heaven⁽⁺⁾ and the square underside was a symbol of Earth. This meant that the turtle was an animal whose magic united heaven and Earth. In the Hindu myth the tortoise Chukwa supports the world.” ^©allturtles.com

The Chinese believe:

“The turtle (of the sea) carries the world on its back and that these animals foretold future events. The tortoise (of the land) also supports the world. Its four feet being the four corners of the Earth. It is the Black Warrior, depicting strength and endurance. It was credited with a great life span and was therefore a symbol of longevity. As a warrior the tortoise joined the dragon on the banners of the imperial army. Both representing indestructibility as neither ^(#) can destroy each other. The tortoise cannot be crushed nor the dragon reached.” ^©allturtles.com

In Africa:

“It represents the feminine to the serpent’s masculine power. In Greco, as the feminine power of the waters, the turtle was an emblem of Aphrodite/Venus in Greco-Roman myth”” ^©allturtles.com

Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure and procreation, as well as of eternal youth and the most beautiful god(ess) in appearance.

Personality wise she was described as weak, frightened, ill tempered and easily offended. She was known to act with loathing, in a vindictive and violent manner, towards those considered more beautiful than her.

But she attracted men and other god’s as well. Homer said she inspired lust amongst the god’s and mortals.

Corinth was considered the centre of Aphrodite worship as was Athens of note and Ephesus had an important sanctuary dedicated to her.

Also the Assyrians were the first to worship her and had her linked as a female demon. Astarte and Ishtar are other names we know her associated with, as well as Wicca. She’s considered to be a warrior goddess. Linked as/ to the Queen of Heaven⁽⁺⁾ and associated with the colours red, white and gold.

Among her symbols are a golden apple, a dove^{(^)} (cognizant to her beauty) (considered her sacred animal) and a rose, to do with her like of food and perfume.

As well as a mirror, a reference to the planet Venus which the Romans (counterpart) had called her by. Also seashells, as she is supposed to have been born from a sea shell^(**) having arisen from the seas foam.

I’m reminded that the ancient Egyptians felt that a deliverer would emerge from water.

A breastplate and a belt are also a chief symbol, aiding her with powers to charm. Her other animal emblems were a sparrow and a swan … the latter she rode the sky with.

To the ancient Greeks, she was called the goddess of agape. If one examines the characteristics, origins and “abilities” one can see how they seek to copy, mimic and imitate The LORD God. But the sense is, all will be brought low, all will be seen, for what it really is.

The turtle/ tortoise was considered her emblem. But He, The LORD God could, would, and will “condense” her and mans supernatural claims concerning her and her abilities, He will condense her down to a pottage of soup.

In a sister article, we hear The LORD is about to pull the rug out from under certain people, situations and “powers”.

Considering the turtles great shell covers, and legs uphold and support (it and apparently the whole earth).

But seeing as the earth is The LORD’s and every thing and every one in it. We are about to see the extremities of both shell and foot, both man and beast, both heaven and earth, natural and spiritual and everything in between come crashing down.

The turtle scenario was followed by an image of a burnt carcass of a boar.

Psalm 80:13 shows the powers that destroyed the Jewish nation are compared to wild boars and wild beasts of the field.

“The boar out of the woods uproots it,” Psalm 80:13.

This references the cruel and mighty Assyrians. The wild boar was declared an unclean sacrifice unto pagan Gods.

The wild boar is abundant in certain parts of Palestine and Syria, especially in the thickets which border the lakes and rivers, as about the Chuleh, the sea of Galilee, the Jordan, and in the deltas and their streams.

They can be, in their own natural habitat, ferocious, and a danger to trespassers onto what they consider to be territorially their property.

Boars are very destructive towards vineyards. Though generally wild, they were surreptitiously reared around the Sea of Galilee — The LORD of the land, particularly set apart Israel, as the Holy Land, but He finds it is defiled and unclean, boars are considered as this.

Also on and within the thickets of such river banks and lakes, are other landing places — the lion would as well await, hidden, seeking to pounce on unsuspecting folk, alighting on their shore or banks.

But the picture of the burnt boars carcass is testimony that nothing escapes God’s notice, no matter how much it considers itself hidden.

Nor does it’s numerical presence, size or prowess, nor the prior occupancy of the land, forbid Him claiming the land “the other side”, as being anything “but His own”, or belonging to those whom He wishes to allocate it to.

The image and meaning of the turtle and boar, represent today what they have always represented. But I felt that these notions concerning them are not just mere facts or understanding — but they also reflect how He feels about these things, with heartfelt concern that touches His own self with all our pain.

He is not aloof from it and stoops down to conquer with conviction and also with care.

He hurts for us and them. But He will bring and apply the Holy balm of Gilead. He who descends, will ascend with healing in His Wings

 

~ David Hood

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David Hood, is from Stanley, County Durham, England and was born-again 30 years ago.  He began a more serious prophetic insight in the 90’s.

 

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