First printing: July 1989

Copyright © 1989 by Shelli Jones Baker. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. For information write:

New Leaf Press, P.O. Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638.

ISBN-13: 978-0-89221-176-0

Library of Congress Catalog Number: 89-63069

Cover art: Shelli Jones Baker

Painting photo by: K.C. Photo, Kent Casey

Printed in the United States of America.

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"Write the vision. Make it plain upon tables that he may run that reads it. The vision is yet for an appointed time. But at the end it shall speak and not lie. Though it tarry, wait for it as it will surely come. It will not tarry."

Habakuk 2:2

THANKS TO:

My husband Ronnie and my daughters who prayed me through this project and also Lee and Jan Morgans and Billye Brim and Eilzabeth Pruitt and Gwen Shaw who all helped spread this message arond the nation.

Special thanks to Shirley Bair who typed and edited the second chapter.

Contents

Dedication

1. Burning "Old Glory"

2. Paint the Vision and Run

3. America God Shed His Grace on Thee

4. Chosen for Revival

5. They Sailed for Liberty

6. A New Breed

7. The Blood The Key

Bibliography

I

dedicate

this book to

all of those who

gave their lives to

found America, "The

Land of the free and the home

of the brave", and to keep

it by the guidence of the

Lord Jesus Christ

and His holy

written

Word!

1

BURNING "OLD GLORY"

Burning the flag of any nation is to be taken much more seriously than a mere expression of complaint. It is and has historicaly been considered a universal declaration of war! For in desicrating the emblem of a nation the assassin antagonizes and challanges its citizens to declare and determine whether or not they be indeed a worhty and honorable people at all. Lack of response is cowardice towards the mockery of their intelligence, importance, and the heritage of their children. The assailant contests their right to consume wealth, occupy valuable lands and govern endeavers that bind them as a nation.

Under the blood stained banner of their labor and sacrifices they are simply bound, either in weakness or strength by the constitution of their wills; mind, soul and body. America simply is the Constitution of the United States and it's flag; a mirror and an emblem reflecting whether or not she even be a people at all.

Awake! Awake! If we dare sleep. A battle cry has been sounded. And America I hear the destroyer's feet! How shall we engage him?

"The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;"

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Today, this whickedness lurks in the lowly streets of the ghetto were the Flag is being torched and worse yet in the high seats of the Supreem Court where its honor is being scorned. As elusive as the early markings of the Civil War,again an enemy of liberty and the Union has crept into the tidy marbled halls of Washington and established a foothold that shall be difficult to remove.

How significant are the recent Supreem Court decisions on allowing "Flag Burnings", Dial - a - porn, restrictions of religious symbols in public, and the executions of juveniles or the retarted and the reversals of abortion rulings? They are absolutely critical to the definition of liberty and the survival of a population accustomed to it in America!

Why? Because these rulings effecting the very core of America's moral conscience, are based on the interpretation of its governing axis, the Constitution of the United States. Reactions as adverse as night and day, fire and ice have caused the document to literally go on trial! It now faces the delicate surgery of amendment and possibly (in the hands of the wrong jurers) total abolishment:punishment for a disease it does not bear and a crime it did not commit.Where stands the accuser then? He hides in the robes of the Supreem Court!

Never created to become a law making branch of government, the child now betrays the parent into the blood thirsty mob which it has stirred up! The existance of the Supreem Court was birthed through the process of the Constitution being designed to serve the Godly concious of our founding fathers and the new republic they hoped to guide in 1787.

Alexander Hamilton, one of the original signers,in creating three governing branches to balance the sinful and selfish nature of man with the divine providence of God, stated that the Supreem Court was the least dangerous branch. In Article III of the Constitution, the writters gave the judicial branch the role of first interpreting federal statutes and secondly interpreting the power of the Constitution.

The court was clearly to be limited to the intent of the Constitution's framers as stated by many of the original signers in their own writings. They were not to simply substitute their notions and ideas or to become law makers in their own right. Nor were they to rule like England's magistrates or kings for life.The latter addition to their duties was extreemly adverse to the desires of the forefathers. George Washington nearly refused to be President because of the public fear of having another power hungry king like the one they had fought in the Revolutionary War.

Chanellor James Kent, a close disciple of Alexander Hamilton, said this in the 1700's "If judges are not bound by the intent of the founding fathers in interpreting the constitution they are free to roam at large in the trappless fields of their own imaginations." This is exactly the ripe condition today. We are entangled in a system too large to percieve, addicted to a media saturation to convincing to disbelieve and the result is that we have judges with almost unlimited authority ordering the most intricate affairs of our physical existance, religion and morality.

In 1987 I visited Russia on a ministers tour and found the conditions appalling; masses of people who no longer retained the abiltiy to govern themselves. I was surprised to learn from our government tour guide that Russia had aproximately 600 million people and not nearly all Communist as I'd grown up to believe. But only 17 million of them officially belonged to the party and from what I could gather most of them probably did so just to reap the benifits of a more elete lifestyle. And out of that 17 milliion only 5 hundred held seats in the captial affairs and out of that number only a tiny handful of less than 10 controlled the major decision making processes that effected the entire population that I had been taught to hate.

I think that it is a curious thing, perhaps a foreshadowing of things to come as the third ghost of Charles Dicken's "Christimas Carol" would present the possibilities to us, an event of our choices; that the these two governments now align themselves so closely with similar language and systems. It becomes difficult to determine how good becomes suddenly evil? and evil strangely sweet?

Suddenly our own Constitutional Law has become a fudy-dudy fraud; a scapegoat for a system of government by the majority vote of a nine person committee of lawyers, un-elected, and holding positions of utimately higher influence on our lives than the President, and for life! This is the system that guided a generation to murder millions of unborn children with legal excuse. Now they tell us to burn our flag if we want to or amend the Constitution! What a wonderful choice; we declare war on ourselves as Iran and Cuba join in the folly of the flames; or we risk disecting our governing charters beyond recogniton tying to adjust its savor to fit our modern day pallets if we speak to put the fires out. Somebody had better PRAY! We certainly need a higher power with a bird's eye view of this mess to survive the war.

As we allow our own citizens to desecrate our flag, we lose face in the eyes of the entire world. Those who have long awaited the oppertunity to quench our spirit and rob our lands are licking their chops like wolves in the shadows hardly able to believe what delights their eyes. We don't need to fear an army , bomb, or a Hitler; if we don't repent one will have ease to rise up of our own. Just let some fool try to burn Russia's flag in the Kremlin Square;and they will be cremated as a curtesy of the guards for the funeral!

Who are these people burning the flag? How did its destiny become a constitutional issue of the Supreme Court?

In 1984, during the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas, Gregory Lee Johnson, along with other demonstrators, stole a publicly displayed American Flag and burned it screaming, "America the red, white, and blue, we spit on you." He was a member of the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade.

The American Civel Liberties Union came to Johnson's defense after Dallas police arrested him for "desecration of a venerated object" and theft. Pushing the case all the way to the Supreme Court, with funding from such organizations as the Playboy Foundation, ACLU not only succeeded in declaring war on the American Flag and its residents, but won a significant series of battles as well; demolishing the sacredness of the flag, protection for pornographic publishers, illegalization of religious displays in public, etc...

In 1931 a Congressional Committee stated "The American Civil Liberties Union is closely affiliated with the Communist movement in the U.S., and fully 90 percent of its efforts are on behalf of communism..." Founder of the ACLU, Roger Baldwin, is quoted as saying, "I seek the social, ownership of property ... Communism is the goal." And Brock Chislom, director of the World Health Organization echoes this communist and New Age theory, "To achieve World Government it is necessary to remove from the minds of men their individualism, loyalty to family tradition, national patriotism and religious dogmas..."

There is truth to the fact that the First Amendment guarentees free speach but there are just certain actions that do not benefit the rest of society's well being. At the time that amendment was written, some of its signers were also signing bills in their state legislatures to prohibit spitting on sidewalks to prevent epidemics and blasphemy and cursings. If one man can burn the flag as an expression of free speach, then I hope another can not speak our military secrets to an enemy and drop a bomb as his expression of his feelings!

And there are certain things that our government owns publicly such as government buildings, equpipment, and all of the real estate that you and I pay taxes on. A flag is also just as equally a public piece of property no matter who sews it together. We pay no tax to the treasury for it but the dues is reverence. Forty eight out of fifty states have laws on the books which make "Flag Burnings" a criminal offense. See the fact sheet below which accurately portrays the governmental feeling of the past 200 years regarding the flag.

Evolution of the Stars and Stripes

1777, Sept. 14

- Design approved by Continental Congress.

1777, Nov. 1

- First time hoisted at sea, on the "Ranger," commanded by John Paul Jones, sailing from Portsmouth, NH, to Nates, France.

1778, Jan. 28

- First time hoisted outside the United States - on Fort Nassau, Bahama Islands.

1778, Feb. 14

- First recognition by foreign power - a salute of nine guns from French fleet off Brest, France, given to the "Ranger."

1787-1790

- First time carried around the world - by the "Columbia," commanded by Robert Gray.

1795, May 1

- Flag of fifteen stars and fifteen stripes created by Congress.

1814, Sept. 14

- Name of "Star-Spangled Banner" given to flag by Francis Scott Key to honor defense of Fort McHenry, Baltimore, under British bombardment in War of 1812.

1818, July 4

- Flag of thirteen stripes and twenty stars becomes official. From this date on thirteen stripes remains the unchanged number; a new star added for each new state admitted to the Union on the following July 4.

1824, Mar. 17

- Name of "Old Glory" given to flag by William Driver, commander of the "Charles Doggett," at Salem, MA.

1834

- United States Army authorizes its artillery to carry the national flag as a regimental color.

1841

- Each regiment of infantry is given right to carry the Stars and Stripes.

1892

- Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag is written by James B. Upham and Francis Bellamy.

1905, Feb. 20

- Federal law prohibits registration of a trademark that "consists of or comprises of the flag or coat of arms or other insignia of the United States."

1907

- United States Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of state statues imposing penalties for desecration of national flag.

1912, Oct. 29

- President William Howard Taft's executive order establishes uniformity of design in the national flag.

1923-24

- National flag conferences at Washington, DC, draw up a code prescribing proper display and usage of the Stars and Stripes.

1942, Dec. 22

- Flag code becomes federal law.

1943

- United Supreme Court invalidates state laws requiring individuals to pledge allegiance to the flag.

1949, Aug. 3

- June 14 officially designated as Flag Day.

1954

- Phrase "under God" added to flag pledge.

1960, July 4

- Flag with fifty stars and thirteen stripes becomes official.

Though I feel the Constitution would stand alone if interpreted in the light of its framers on this issue of the travail of the flag, I deem it better to amend the document for its protection and pray that the changes do not exceed the need. But politics and legeslation is not the answer.

And I do not lothe the judges of the Supreem Court or worship the founding fathers. They are but men and women caught in the battle of the ages, that which rages between God Almighty and Lucifer the fallen one who continously challenges His palns to liberate Adam's race. Though many soldiers shed their blood for the cause of liberty, there has never been a drop more precious than that of God's own son Jesus who shed His once and for all at Calvary that all men through it's crimson flow might find eternal freedom. Quoting Rev. Roy Hicks, "Earth is the only heaven a sinner will ever know and Earth is the only hell a christian will ever have to endure!

In studing the history of this text, I have discovered that most often the heroes are not as wonderful and the villans as terrible. Ledgon and tradition are more deadly but if we will dare to look with eyes wide open at the truth it will set us free to avoid the snares that our enemy has laid for us.

Written in this text is that which I hope may provide understanding to mend wounds, unite divisions and inspire revival of souls to Christ. God has provided cannon fodder in the annals of history and the Bible to wage our war against Saton's devisive plans of destruction. We do not need to go to blows with the tormented fellow who is burning the flag but to prayer for his soul and for our leaders whom God has given power to govern. He can still turn the heart of a king!

Upon my return to New York from Russia in 1987, I heard the voice of God in my heart, "I have sent you to foriegn lands before and I will yet send you again, but now I commission you to reach America, for there is trouble in the land and it will become to you as a foreign country, for you will traverse her highways and byways and be as a tourist or foriener to see it as if through objective eyes." I wonderingly pondered that quietly. Then two months later The Holy Spirit poured out the most all consuming vision upon me that has provided the fishhook for the work in that plan. There is hope.

2

PAINT THE VISION AND RUN WITH IT

"America you are too young to die!", words of encouragement, words of warning lingered in my ears as Colonel Bird finished his Fourth of July address. "Let us bow our heads and pray for America", he concluded. His stirring speech had not been delivered through the lips of America's firecracker happy citizens that day but from the heart of one who had watched her from afar with concern, through an international scope. Colonel Bird had served the United States military as the warden of Nuremburg's prison in Berlin, West Germany for over twenty years.

Not only had his words pled for America to awaken from a spiritually diseased hour of her history, but the voices of foreigners also had preambled his speech earlier in the day.

One distinguished guest from India's address had diminished to fumbling tears as he determined that America's light might soon burn out leaving the rest of the world in utter darkness.

Colonel Bird began to pray. I obligingly dropped my head to join in spirit but my own thoughts obliterated his prayer.

"Die? America? Surely not our great and mighty nation! Could America ever die? Oh, God, no!" I prayed. Thoughts of her tangled domestic and foreign policy problems, the outbreak of AIDS plaques, confused moral standards and economic upheavals flashed before me. "Surely there is some salve for her, some answer," I prayed.

God suddenly returned a startling reply; before I could catch another breath I found myself sovereignly consumed by His presence , dramatically involved in a vision that unfolded in 3-D all about me, It seemed as if the convention hall had vanished. Then there was a flash of something metallic.

"Blood!" I gasped. Spurting from smoky vapors that engulfed me was a fountain of blood. Splashing across my face and hands, a forceful flood erupted from someone's arteries. I squinted to discern whose blood.

Flashing in the wet mixture of blood and water was the outline of a gleaming metal spear. I watched its razor-sharp edge emerge from a slash of raw flesh that covered the length of a man's exposed rib-cage. Then I understood that I beheld a rare view of me precious Savior's riveted side. Animated in every detail, the vision unfolded before me as a living mural; a history of the ages painted in Jesus blood.

Angelic voices then narrated the first scene by singing William cowper's hymn:

"There is a fountain filled with blood,

Drawn through Emmanuel veins,

Sinners plunged beneath that flood,

Loose all their guilty stains."

My eyes followed the fountain of blood from Jesus' wound as it spread across his middle, broadened into a river, a waterfall, and pooled into the breadth of a tumultuous ocean. The images of men baptizing converts appeared to be standing on the shores of this ocean. The shoreline became part of a continent that spread into a world map behind the crucified figure of Christ. Contrary to my theological knowledge of his death, I realized that he was not hanging on the old wooden cross but upon the nations themselves. Calvary was no longer contained to the borders of Jerusalem but occupied all the earth. For what had the weight of the cross symbolized anyway but the burden of all men's sins and the travail of all their wars spiritual and physical.

Swarming above Christ's head were stormy skies terrifyingly full of the elements of war spreading the length and breadth of all five continents. But in the midst of it all, hung his corpse seemingly as much alive as dead. Never had I thought to see a face so full of compassion and peace, yet masked with such tears of agony. His lips seemed still able to expel the last breath of a sweet blessing upon the earth. Even in death the contentment upon his face, that his work was finished, made him appear to be a reigning king over death and the events of time and eternity.

The body was dead, but the blood continued to flow as if from and endless supply source. It's motion portrayed much life. As it lapped across the shores of the ocean it created, I saw how it washed over the turmoil of men upon those continents, and healed them silencing the voice of their sin.

Revelation jumped into my heart! Jesus' blood was shed for the healing of the nations; for their peace, restoration, and total liberty! Surely America, the greatest booster of liberty for all, could salvage a measure of that, Was this her healing slave to prevent an early death? Yes!

Even as I dared ask the question, I saw the ocean of blood take on the Atlantic's shape. Embarking upon it's waters were three ships to the south, and a larger one to the north. Somehow I knew them to be those of Columbus, and the Mayflower. Sailing on the water and blood from Emmanuel side, they seemed to be carriers of the message of liberty. I watched them dock in the harbors and white sand bars of the American shoreline. The blood that carried them there flowed on past the white shores, up into the mouths of its' rivers, lakes, and streams, from east to west, from sea to shining sea, until the continent of North America was striped with blood.

Scenes of the French and Indian War, American Revolutionary War, Civil War, Spanish American War, and countless other pieces of history appeared on the map. The blood that flowed from these scenes mingled with the blood of Jesus until it formed the bold red and white stripes of courage and purity on Old Glory, our flag. Above the United States map, bombs burst in air, and the heavenlies raged until they, too, faded into the peace of a western starry sky and became the everlasting stars of the Union as Betsy Ross had once sewn them there. I scanned the entire vision again from Christ's bleeding side, across nations in travail to the far western shore of America where there at last was peace, an eye of calm in the storm.

"Oh, God, what have you shown me?" I hoped to know.

Again there was an answer: "The birth of a nation. Adam birthed a bride from his side, and Christ as well - not for the sake of one nation, but for all the earth. Unfolded before you is the "Travail of the Flag". In its fabric is not the symbolism of history alone, but waymarkers for future generations to retain their strength. By God's divine providence, this flag came to be a symbol of redemption, peace, and liberty for all nations. Ever since that plan was unfurled, jealous men and satanic forces have contested America's right to fly is as guardians over its purpose - freedom. Again and again the flag and its people have been brought to travail by the testings of spiritual and physical war. I determined to obey the Holy Spirit's prompting, "Paint the vision quickly and run with it as a herald before the eyes of the nation. It will remain in their hearts longer than a thousand sermons in their ears!"

Five days later in the heat of an Oklahoma summer, I began to paint on four fresh canvas panels totaling a dimension of 4 by 8 feet. I chose the media of acrylics, which I had never used before, but chose for the haste with which they would dry and allow me to create the work. Even though God had commissioned me to paint, he had not given me a deadline for the unveiling. Yet all the while, I felt an urgency of His Spirit guiding me steadily towards some near date fore ordained. At first, I painted eight hours a day, then by August eighteen hours a day, and in late September twenty - four hours around the clock!

In the early stages of the work, a brush three inches wide was employed and continually replaced by diminishing sizes until the final details were painted with a brush of three hairs!

The presence of the Lord was the source of energy behind every stroke. It seemed that my studio was consumed with His presence night and day and in my weariest hours, it seemed as if angles guided my hands for support. I did not paint what I desired but was faithful only to what the Holy spirit had shown me.

And I marveled much how He had prepared the vessel He was using. Twelve years earlier, my parents had sent me to study art at the Rhode Island School of Design but their hopes and dreams had almost been crushed when I was stricken with colitis and eye troubles early in the course of my studies. But God clearly had a plan not to be thwarted. Concerned friends took me to a prayer meeting one evening where I so encountered the presence of the Holy Spirit that I was consumed by His presence and completely healed of every symptom. the bi - focals I had worn were presented to a specialist on a latter date and He pronounced that my eyes had no more need of them, saying their restoration was miraculous.

Miraculous! If the author of the miraculous could turn one life such as mine, then surely there was hope for an entire nation!

3

AMERICA! GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE

Completed in less than three months, fifteen hundred hours of work waited to be unveiled before the eyes of the nation on October 11, 1987. Two of my dear friends, Elizabeth Pruitt and Billye Brim, had intercepted the painting before its completion and decided to plan the ceremony for me with the assistance of my pastors, Lee and Jan Morgans, at A Glorious Church Fellowship in Collinsville, Oklahoma. My mother and a friend had flown in to accept the honor of drawing back the veil. Rev. Kenneth and Gloria Copeland previewed the painting and prayed a first benediction upon the task of showing it to the nation, prophesying that it would be used to turn the heart of Congress one day.

All of the power and might of Almighty God's prophetic voice seemed to be focused on America through the point of my paint brush. I was as curious as any one as to what the many images that lay behind that veil would mean as we began to pull it back to give us the interpretations.

Muffled sighs, gasps, and weeping torched God's heart as I began to sing the Star Spangled Banner and mother pulled back the drape.

Oh, say can you see

Through the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed

At the twilights last gleaming

Whose broad stripes and bright stars

Through the perilous fight

O'er the ramparts we watched

Were so gallantly streaming

And the rockets red glare

The bombs bursting in air

Gave proof through the night

That our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen

Through the midst of the deep

Where the foes haughty host

In dead silence reposes.

What is that which the breeze

O'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows,

Half conceals half discloses.

Now it catches the gleam

Of the morning's first beam.

In full glory reflected

Now it shines on the stream.

Tis the Star Spangled Banner Oh long may it wave

O'er the land of the free And the home of the brave.

And where is that band

Who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war

And the battle's confusion

A home and a country

Should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out

Their foul footsteps'pollution.

No refuge could save

The hireling and slave.

From the terror of flight

Or the gloom of the grave!

And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever

When free men shall stand

Between their loved homes

And the foe's desolation;

Blessed with victory and peace,

May our Heavens rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made

And preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must,

For our cause it is just -

And this be our motto:

"In God is our trust!"

And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

As I finished singing these words penned by Francis Scott Key during the war of 1812, I wondered why America did not sing the last verse on the few occasions when the anthem was still sung. Key had called America "Heaven's rescued land"! America had first learned to sing this majestic crest swelling anthem with pride in God rather than self.

After unveiling the painting, I dared not move because the Glory of God hung around us so thick that you could see what seemed like a mist in the church. All eyes were fixed on the painting. I turned to view it and was awestruck by the anointing upon it. I felt that I had carried it as a baby but now it had been delivered to stand on its own. I realized that it did not belong to me but to the nation. I saw how I had not authored its design or strokes but God! Now it ministered as much as to anyone else.

The "Travail of the Flag" seemed to be alive with a heavenly beauty as it stood on the platform in its new guilded frame. Andres Sorens, a naturalized citizen of Latvia, had donated the frame having fashioned it himself without any prior woodworking experience. Having lost his freedom once in life at the age of eight during the clash of Nazi Germany's and Russia's co - invasions, he cherished the liberty portrayed in the painting. He donated the frame to give the painting its crowning glory from the hands of all those who had lost their freedom with the hope and prayer that America would never lose hers!"

How precious freedom is to those who have none, dear enough for which to shed blood!

While curious eyes surveyed the painting for the firs time, I began to sing another patriotic hymn, "America the Beautiful" by Samuel A.Ward,

Oh, beautiful for spacious skies

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountains majesty

Above the fruited plains.

America, America,

God shed his grace on thee;

And crowned thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea.

My hand traced the blood which flowed from Jesus side, westward through the Atlantic, across the red strips of America and the battlefields of her brotherhood. "God shed His grace on thee."

Oh, beautiful for pilgrim's feet

Whose stern impassion'd stressed

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness.

America, America,

God mend thy every flaw

Confirm thy soul with self control

Thy liberty in law.

Oh, beautiful, for hero's feet

proved in liberating strife;

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life.

America, America,

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness

and every gain divine.

Oh, beautiful for patriot's dream

That sees beyond the years;

Whose alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears.

America, America,

God shed his grace on thee

And crowned thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shinning sea!

Who were the patriots? What kind of people were they? Like us today or different in courage and belief? What was their dream that saw beyond the years? Why had they shed their human tears in liberating strife; loving their country and mercy more than their own lives and comfortable gracious living?

4

CHOSEN FOR REVIVAL

Many are called; few are chosen. To simply obey the calling of God is to be chosen. It is very simple.

"Are you your brother's keeper?" God asked Cain after he slew Able. God said that Cain was to have been his brother's keeper.

I am my brother's keeper. I painted a painting to help my fellow American. Those patriots who shed their blood were my keepers. They have made me to be my brother's keeper over lands where I have yet to go. My passport can take me there but it was bought with their blood to keep me free. It says I am in blood covenant with those who died for the liberty to worship Jesus Christ and believe in him. A nation who does not respect innocent blood will soon loose their liberty.

Look at Germany and Russia. Before their dictators brought them to their political suicides they both were murdering babies and Jews or Christians. And, Oh God, now look at us who have slaughtered over 2.1 million babies in abortions clinics since 1973.

My passport says I am ready to shed my blood if need be and that I uphold what they believed in. But America has become a nation of covenant breakers. Spreading the headlines of her newspapers, T.V. and gossip columns are continuous reports of divorces, broken military truces, corruption of financial institutions and most recently "flag burnings"!

From ancient times governing powers have displayed their intents to serve the covenants of their gods on coins, military objects and symbols. America still displays the founding father's faith on coins that boast "In God We Trust". The marbled halls of Congress and the Supreem Court remind the statesman and lawmakers of God's divine providence to guide their feet in battle and their decisions of which He desires to be a part. But who entreats easily the vocal expression of a patriotic citizen these days?

In March of 1987 I was invited to minister at a church in Philadelphia. It was very near a district that was famous for the burning of an entire city block due to the extraction of a dangerous cult group known as the "MOVE" earlier in the 1980's. During one of the evening services the pastor turned to me on the platform and said,"Sister, do whatever the Holy Ghost tells you to do." Being that the hour was late, I determined to take that as a hint and close the service. Laying on the podium was my recorder flute which I had used in ministry earlier in the service. When I turned back to the congregation, it caught my eye and suddenly the inspiration came to me that I should pick it up and play the Battle Hymn of the Republic like a pied piper, leading the people out the door!

My face must have betrayed the shock of my flesh at it reacted to that leading of the Holy Ghost, for in my hesitation the pastor turned to me again and said,"Sister, Obey God!" We did.

Filing out the door, fifty some saints followed me and the pastor and my co - worker singing "Mine eyes have seen the Glory of the coming of the Lord..." No sooner had we filed past the parking lot on a route around the block than we came upon several teenage boys carrying bags of tools and possibly weapons or loot over their shoulders, running out of an alley as fast as they could. Never was any hoodlum so shocked as these to be apprehended by the Glory of God! Realizing that they had been stopped abruptly in the middle of some crime, I did not halt our march but continued on, looking back over my shoulder to see what God might accomplish. Panic paralyzed them as they searched for another escape route while 50 some saints marched by them singing "Glory Glory Hallelujah!" At last they bolted away into the night. I often wonder what effect that had upon them afterwards.

Upon completing our little "mission" we were greeted by a police car at the church parking lot. An officer informed us that at 11:00, the precise moment of departure from the church, a dispatcher had received a call concerning the theft of a car from those very premises. It turned out to be the pastor's mother - in - law's car which revealed signs of the steering column having been stripped. Piecing the events of the night together we realized that the Holy Ghost's bizzare prompting to march had been the very thing that had surprised the boys, forcing them to hide in the alley, never dreaming that we would then apprehend them red handed singing a hymn! Instant obedience to the Holy Ghost saved the car and maybe even lives and the confrontation with the police ever materialized!

Facing natural circumstances, it would be ludicrous to do such a thing in a boarded up ghetto in the midnight hours. But the anointing of God can cause those that know Him to boldly recover territory and souls! When these saints saw these sinners in their path it excited them. The Glory gave them boldness. When you are fishing, it can be boring until you get a nibble. But when you hook one and then another,and another, it gets exciting! As soon as you get a nibble on your hook your adrenalin begins to flow and you want to try again. It's just getting people to go fishing the first time that's difficult.

After this stirring adventure the Pastor awarded me a van and the commission to take some members to Constitution Square.We were to lay our hands on the bell as a point of contact to pray for religious freedom. But when we entered the monument we were unobliged and intimidated by a foreboding silence like that which prevails in a morgue.

I have encountered that kind of thing before in Russia; prison land! On a train traveling between Leningrad and Moscow that same year I had been very aware of how guarded our freedoms were to be. However at the strong urging of a Russian orthodox priest and some 70 tourist I was persuaded to sing the same hymn. Pulling into the Moscow station, we were some 70 voices strong, shaking the rail car with stomping feet and the Glory of God! One little Russian Orthadox lady was so touched that she stated,"This is a day in history, someone should write it down. Here we are the oldest known church of Russia joined in one voice with you evangelicals proclaiming the coming of the Lord in a train filled with Glory in an atheistic forbidden Communist land!

"There was faith in that Russian train to be bold to proclaim freedom because the people having little of such plead to God for it but in America we are a slumbering Samson who take our liberties and duties for granted. It's time to wake up!

Though the public proclamation of faith came easily in Russia surprisingly, it was much more difficult in Philadelphia where no one seemingly would understand the necessity of such a gesture. I and my small band of crusaders prayed timidly at best. Then a lady dressed in revolutionary war costume for the benefit of tourism, passed by and heard us praying. Surmising that we were from a church and on a mission, she kindly encouraged us to enjoy our visit to the bell and do what we had come to do. Receiving permission, we began to again sing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

About that time a tour of school children came in, For the first time in their lives they were seeing the Liberty Bell. What a wonderful memory to walk away with; the memory of a bell tried for religious freedom and the words from the hymn "Mine eyes have seen the Glory of the coming of the Lord..." Their teachers were first silent then began to mouth the words with us.

Mine eyes have seen the glory

Of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage

Where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning

Of His terrible swift sword;

His truth is marching on.

Glory! glory,hallelujah!

Glory! glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires

Of a hundred circling camps;

We are building Him an alter

In the evening dews and damps;

I can see His righteous sentence

By our dim but flaring lamps; (Prayermeetings!)

His day is marching on.

Glory! glory, hallelujah!

Glory! glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet

That shall never sound retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men

Before His judgment seat.

O be swift, my soul, to answer Him!

Be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on!

Glory! glory, hallelujah!

Glory! glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies

Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom

That transfigures you and me:

As He died to make men holy,

Let us die to make men free;

While God is marching on.

Glory! glory, hallelujah!

Glory! glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on.

(Julia Ward Howe)

The park guard was touched too. She gave us a special speech telling how the bell had not always been referred to as the Liberty Bell during its active years of tolling for freedom.

This symbol of American freedom received the name "Liberty Bell" from the description of a biblical inscription on its rim; Leviticus 25:10.

"Proclaim liberty through out all the land to all the captives thereof".

Molded in iron by patriots, forgotten by their sons, this bold declaration of purpose was not brought to light until the retirement of the Bell after 100 years of service. A crack in the bell had been noticed in 1829 but had not been attended to until the damage was unrepairable.

The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, "Yes, when you fail to use your liberty, you loose your liberty." He said, "There is a serious crack in America's liberty today, a crack in her Christianity. The bell that she was supposed to be ringing in the spirit has almost gone numb. But you tell them all across America that the damage is not yet irreparable. there is still time."

5

THEY SAILED FOR LIBERTY

I believe that the erosions in out chrisitain liberties can actually be repaired. Let us procalaim that liberty; upholding the blood stained banner, "Ol Glory that our forefathers died to keep. As the freest people on earth, we should be able to use our liberty to do more for the cause of freedom, spreading the gospel farther than any other people. I even suggest that our judgment shall have extra weight added to the scales, tipping against us if we do not. As the freest people on earth what will we do to preserve the redeeming message of Christ's blood? For only where the Spirit of the Lord is shall there be liberty. Without a mighty revival, we shall surely fail for lack of courage.

Fear did not prevent me from ministering in the foreboding atmospheres of Russia and Philadelphia; because the anointing of the Holy Spirit was on me. This same anointing of boldness and liberty has also rested upon others who knew their God and obeyed His callings to arise and do exploits. Though ordinary and few in number God made them strong in the face of great impossibilities and by their sacrificial lives laid out His plans and purposes for America.

In the early 15th century, the winds of the Holy Spirit began to stir the heart of a young Italian catholic named Christopher Columbus whose name in Latin literally means "light bearer" or "Christ bearer." A vision of God revealed to him the virgin western hemisphere and her native inhabitants, still concealed in the creator's hand awaiting a discover who would draw back the curtain of time and unveil a glorious purpose; the birthing of a "Christian" nation. Certainly Columbus did not comprehend this nor Europe emerging from the dark ages guided only by the light of human torches burning the flesh of pentecostals and Jews.

While satanic vices worked to quench the liberty of the gospel, God moved to open a window of refuge through Columbus, providing the only modern day haven for religious freedom. Consumed by this vision Columbus penned these lines in a diary entitled "Prophesies".

"The fact that the gospel should be preached in so many lands in such a short time this convinces me'.

Thus he set out in life to obtain the goal, visiting the kings of Europe's wealthiest nations, hoping to obtain favor for the financing of his journies. Though well educated for the task and cunning enough to offer future conquests of land and resources to the greedy palate of a king, Columbus did not succeed alone. Not until Columbus resigned the matter to God on the doorstep of a fransican monastery did the first glimmer of hope appear.

Padre Juan Perez de Marchenan at the church of Santa Maria de Rabida in Spain, led Columbus in a prayer pledging a vow to God to perform his heavenly commission no matter what the cost.

Immediately favor and financing became available through Queen Isabella of Spain. Fitting into the pattern of biblical confrontations between God's will and earthly sovereigns, like Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus *3, Queen Isabella graciously supported God's ultimate plan to provide religious freedom to the very groups of people imprisoned by the horrible inquisition of her own court's design.

Written in another passage from Columbus's diary is the account of his departure from Palos Spain on Friday, August the 3rd 1492:

"Queen Isabella said "Are you ready Christopher Columbus?'

He replied,'God is with me this hour and I could not be more ready.'

Queen Isabella,'If our Lord gives you his blessings then who am I to deny mine? God speed Columbus!'"

God has always had his men on the threshold of discovery and technology. Jews like Albert Einstein derived their theories of science from biblical passages and born - again Christians pilot our space shuttles and invent intricate guidance systems for the moon launches based on visions in prayer coupled with education; the excellence of God appears to be the brilliance of Columbus's genius navagations as well as stated further in his diary:

"It was the Lord who put it into my mind. I could feel his hand upon me there was no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit because he comforted me with rays of marvelous illumination through the scriptures and the execution of the journey. I simply went where the winds of the Holy Spirit blew me."

Pure intentions and enthusiastic words fill the first pages of Columbus's diary but his God - given plan was soon brought to travail. Three sailing vessels, the Pina, Nina and Santa Maria had not only been provided by the Queen but also subsidized by a wealthy Palos family; the Pinzons. Their intention was not to sail for souls but for gold.

This kind of greed has been the spoiling of many revivals and plans of God. Calling humanity to embark on unchartered waters, leap beyond the unknown by faith, in order to bring us to the shores of a better place physically and spiritually, God provides gold to finance the move. Unfortunately some charlatan and hecklers follow in the wake, proclaiming that the plans will fail or perverting the prosperity attached to it; having no anointing to maintain a steady course because of impure motives.

During Columbus voyage, his men became increasingly distraught as they observed him traversing more furlongs of the unknown Atlantic than any predecessor. Such fear gripped their hearts and that of the Pinzons brothers who feared loss of their investments in the voyage, that a rebellious scheme of mutiny arose against Columbus. However, he challenged them to allow the space of 3 more days for the sighting of land at which time he would return to Spain if defeated.

During those days he like Jonah retreated to the belly of the sea - going vessel and there recounted the marvelous vision and workings of God that had brought him thus far. While he prayed, God was at work, causing the ship to traverse more furlongs of sea in a fast wind than those which she previously had traveled from Spain. A paralyzing fear of God fell upon the crew, preventing the further organizing of their mutinies. And on the 3rd day floating vegetation of near by land was sighted, being announced by the ship's canons!

On Friday, October the 12th 1492, A rapturous joy filled the "Christ - bearers" heart as Columbus beheld the natives of his boyhood vision curiously hailing his vessel from the tropical island of the Caribbean Sea. With much gratitude he knelt reverently on its shored and named the island "San Salvador"; "San" meaning holy and "Salvador" meaning savior.

Soon the news of the kind gift bearing white man spread excitedly upon native tongues from one island to the next until Columbus reached the San Blas Indians of Panama. Paddling through the shallow harbor with gold rings dangling from their noses they came expectantly to greet him. But the long awaited sight of gold struck the Pinzons brothers with "gold fever". The meeting soon turned from a great missionary possibility into a bloody massacre as they began to torture the natives in hopes of being led to rich cashes of gold treasure.

Returning to Spain with a cargo of both Indians and gold, Columbus's success was instant and also his down fall. Whether it was the same "gold fever" or pride which changed his heart's course, Columbus never fulfilled his original mission completely. For instead of being known as the "Christ - bearer", local American Indians spread his fame from the Florida Keys to Nova Scotia as the thieving devil. Thus the plan of God to evangelize the American Indian has not yet been fulfilled. Instead of being know as a prosperous Christian nation, Central and South America are poverty stricken and under the atheistic governments of communism. 497 years later missionaries are only now beginning to reverse the curse.

Such was the spiritual condition of Northern America 128 years later in 1620 when another ship with spiritual purpose chartered a course towards its' northeastern coastline. However, this time the message of Christ's redeeming blood would not halt at the harbor as in Columbus's day but be spread throughout all the tributaries and crevices of the continent at a better prepared people; the Mayflower's pilgrims.

Educated by the benefit of the Gutenberg press and King James bibles of the 16th and 17th centuries in the language of the common man , these Christians seized their liberties and fled religious persecution from England, pursuing a God - given vision to colonize a "free" Christian world.

Lest anyone convince you that God was not in the founding roots of our nation you need only direct them to the words of important documents penned by our forefathers such as the Mayflower Compact where by one can see how the Holy Spirit became the master weaver of the fabric of this nation thereby setting a pattern for any nation that will embrace the same gospel of Jesus.

The very first line of the Mayflower Compact on November 11th 1620 sates:

"In the name of God, Amen."

Their intent is clearly expressed and agreed upon unanimously as indicated by their signatures in the following documentation:

THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT

November 11, 1620

"In The Name of God, Amen, We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. In WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James of England, France, and Ireland, the Eighteenth and of Scotland, the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620."

Mr. John Carver

Mr. Stephen Hopkins

Mr. William Bradford

Digery Priest

Mr. Edward Winslow

Thomas Williams

Mr. William Brewster

Gilbert Winslow

Isaac Allerton

Edmund Margesson

Miles Standish

Peter Brown

John Alden

Richard Bitteridge

John Turner

George Soule

Francis Eaton

Edward Tilly

James Chilton

John Tilly

John Craxton

Francis Cooke

John Billington

Thomas Rogers

Joses Fletcher

Thomas Tinker

John Goodman

John Ridgate

Mr. Samuel Fuller

Edward Fuller

Mr. Christopher Martin

Richard Clark

Mr. William Mullins

Richard Gardiner

Mr. William White

Mr. John Allerton

Mr. Richard Warren

Thomas English

John Howland

Edward Doten

Edward Liester

This was the very first document ordering government in this land, born through continuous prayers and fasting. God was showing forth His guidance as can clearly be seen in my painting where Christ's right hand is laid upon England. But as in earlier times of unfolding His plans God's enemies would bring this venture to travail also.

While sailing 63 days towards Virginia the MayFlower encountered a vicious storm which bless it many miles off course. During the storm, one of the hired crewmen began to taunt the Puritan pilgrims for their audacious faith in God to believe that they could possibly survive the perils of the Atlantic and furthermore the hostile environment of America's wilderness beyond it. In the midst of his mockery he was suddenly taken ill with scurvy and perished. Other astounded hecklers ceased in their tauntings of the land - lubbers and soon joined them in the singing of a hymn led by the devout Governor William Brewster. During the subsequent time of worship the storm is said to have ceased and the haul of the ship to have instantly risen in the hazardous waves some 3 feet, raising the draft and setting it out of danger. Shortly thereafter, on November 9th 1620, they landed in Cape Cod Harbor.

Through the tribulation of being forced to leave half of their expedition in Plymouth England due to the unseaworthiness of another consigned vessel - "the Speedwell" - and the deaths of more than forty of their remaining 101 passengers, the pilgrims continued to trust in God and came to build their colony in Massachusettes Bay. Having survived a harrowing winter of famine and death, they reluctantly waved goodbye to the MayFlower on her return voyage to England in March 1621. As earthly securities departed, God's heavenly connections began to provide.

"From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." — Ephesians 4:16

Within a week of the Mayflower's departure an unusual Indian fellow suddenly appeared at the edge of the pilgrim settlement. Earlier encounters with hostile Nausite savages prompted the settlers to react by raising their muskets. to their utter astonishment the Indian replied "Welcome Englishmen!" and went on to greet them in the name of Jesus in English. His name was Samoset and he was from the Wampanog tribe, having learned English from previous explorers fishing off the coast. He was graciously entertained by the pilgrims with great wonderment as to what relationship God might construct for His purposes. A few days later Samoset returned with Squanto, an Indian chief from the Patoxan tribe.

Squanto's whole life had been seemingly arranged by the hand of God to prepare a guide and protection for the pilgrims. In 1614 Squanto and 20 braves had been kidnaped by an explorer named Hunt and sold in Spain as slaves. A monastery purchased and converted him to Jesus with the intent of returning him to his own people as a missionary of catholisim. But he escaped to Protestant England in 1619 where he learned English and returned to America seven months prior to the pilgrims' arrival.

Bitter disappointment awaited him in America for during his absence an epidemic of disease had wiped out the entire tribe, leaving their plowed fields and dwellings in a useless condition. Gravely distraught, Squanto had sought shelter in the village of a neighboring chief, Massasoit, where he befriended Samoset as well.

The arrival of the Puritan pilgrims suddenly gave Squanto a much needed purpose for living as he soon became their interpreter and survival teacher. Likewise, it was a fortunate thing that these Englishmen had made this valuable contact and that they had just happened to have settled upon the very plot of land abandoned by Squanto's deceased tribe. Not only were the leveled cornfields and advantage but also the fact that the plaque of their decease caused other superstitious savages to avoid the area, thereby providing the only haven of safety for hundreds of miles around!

Led through many perils by a God - given desire for liberty, many documented prayers and fasting, these pilgrims were clearly guided by His hand to a prepared place and time when the dream could be fulfilled. Though not the first to pursue this goal, they were the first to press through tribulation, willing to lay down their lives to obtain the goal, a "free" Christian nation. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of one of His saints."

Birth from the womb comes not but by the first delivering signs of blood and water and likewise liberty and Christianity could not have come but by that which sprang forth through the life giving flow of Christ's side and those who travail for the gospel's sake.

6

A NEW BREED

The pilgrims had come with no other desire but to serve God, but within one hundred years they had opened the doors for others to follow them with different desires of self gain. But that's the mercy of God working. He opens a way for the rain to fall on the just and the unjust alike.

MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL LAW OF 1642

April 14, 1642

(E.P. Cubberley, ed. Readings in the History of Eduaction, p. 298-9)

"This is the earliest known law on eduaction in the American colonies. Similar laws were adopted, somewhat later, by Connecticut, New Haven, and Plymouth. See also, the law of 1647, Doc. No. 20. See bibliography in M.W. Jernegan, The American Colonies, p. 164."

"This Cort, taking into consideration the great neglect of many parents & masters in training up their children in learning & labor, & other implyments which may be proffitable to the common wealth, do hereupon order and decree, that in euery towne ye chosen men appointed for managing the prudentiall affairs of the same shall henceforth stand charged with the care of the redresse of this evil, so as they shall be sufficiently punished by fines for the neglect thereof, upon presentment of the grand jury, or other information or complaint in any Court within this jurisdiction; and for this end they, or the greater number of them, shall have power to take account from time to time of all parents and masters, and of their children, concerning their calling and implyment of their children, especially of their ability to read & understand the principles of religion & the capital lawes of this country."

THE NEW ENGLAND CONFEDERATION

May 19, 1643

(F.N. Thorpe, Federal and State Constitutions, Vol. I, p. 77 ff.)

"Whereas we all came into these parts of American with one and the same end and aim, namely, to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ and to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel in purity with peace..."

Within these one hundred years, cities had sprung up, mills, harbors, and industry. Great theological institutions to train preachers such as Harvard and Princeton came into being, but also pubs, and houses of prostitution. The streets of Boston were unsafe with murder and theft. There were pubs full of men whose dreams had been shattered by the oppressive powers of England. and in that time it looked like America's evangelical pursuit was lost and their dream of democracy a failing experiment.

Drinking away their sorrows, brawling, thieving , raping; 18th century Americans were a fitter lot for hell than heaven. Yawning parishioners, who sparsely dotted the empty pews of Sunday meeting houses could, for the most part, no longer realize the meaning of the religious freedom for which their grandfathers had risked their lives.

It seemed that the power of Christ's crimson flow had ceased to lap against American shores. the body of Christ in America was beginning to stink like a dried up rotten corpse! One could have wondered that should the winds of revival blow that it might have already have been too late. But blow they did! and Loud enough to sound like Jesus' shout of resurrection power at the tomb of Lazarus!

God chose and unlikely humble servant to breath through, as His billows stoked the dying embers of puritan Christianity into a flaming bonfire of revival! A new breed of preachers came on the scene of the Great Awakening as it became known.

God raised up Jonathan Edwards, a man without charismatic appeal, seemingly not the proper candidate for such an earth - shaking task. But one night the faithful pastor of North Hampton Massachusettes felt inspired to pen a sermon entitled, "Sinners in the hand of an Angry God"*4 , using as his text; "Their foot shall slide in due time." Deuteronomy 32:35.

He simply read the sermon on a hot and boring Sunday afternoon but excitement followed because God kindled the spark sovereignly and He was ready to move across America! God moved through ordinary people as He is ready to move now! He began to burn the land of America with the fires of the Holy Ghost. the absence of true Holy Ghost fire is truly the sleeping potion of American churches today.

People were so stirred by Edwards sermon that they clung to the pillars of the church crying out for salvation. They emptied out bars and closed whole towns of such to repent and be saved. Edwards preached that true Christians evidenced a change in their lives after conversion that could be seen. I believe our American churches in the present 20th century are full of parishioners who have not hungered after God with serious concern for their souls. Theirs is not a humble life of self - denial, prayers and fasting which should allow the Holy Spirit to seal their hearts with a scar of circumcision that denotes they are in covenant with a God whose privilege it is to consume their sacrifice of total service.

Serving god as a circuit preacher, another saint arose to the forefront of the 18th century revival, George Whitefield. He was perhaps the most famous of his colleagues, even known by many as "The Great Awakener".

Befriended by John Wesley of England, Whitefield became a member of the "Holy Club" and learned there to travail in prayer for his own sin - sick soul. Inspired by a revelation of justification by faith in Christ's redeeming blood he began preaching in the coal mines. Soon his converts, outnumbering the prestigious churches of the era, began to win great persecution for their efforts from jealous religious leaders. Spreading his wings in America, Whitefield continued to bear down on the religious communities in open air meetings like an eagle after its prey.

A marked trait of Whitefield's revival was that denominational barriers among religious foundations seemed to fall flat. One notable example is of a meeting he preached among mixed congregations of more than a thousand who heard this sermon:

Whitefield shouting into the heavens,"Father Abraham, have you any Baptists up there?" - silence - "I said, 'Father Abraham, have you any Episcopalians up there?'" - silence -. Continuing the pattern he proceeded to name every major denomination know to the crowd until at last he shrugged his shoulders and changed his position as if to preach on without the heavenly reply. Suddenly, cupping his hand to his ear he excitedly announced to the curious audience, "Father Abraham says, 'No my son, we only have Christians up here!"

Here is an eye witness account of one such meeting which took place in a day when men and women could not advertise by phone, or television or postal services.

Mr. Whitefield Preaches in Middletown

On October 23, 1740, George Whitefield came to preach in Middletown, Connecticut. The following eyewitness account by Nathan Cole, a local farmer and carpenter, reveals the enthusiasm with which colonial Americans took advantage of the opportunity to hear George Whitefield preach:

Now it pleased God to send Mr. Whitefield into this land; and my hearing of his preaching at Philadelphia, like one of the old apostles, and many thousands flocking to hear him preach the Gospel, and great numbers were converted to Christ, I felt the Spirit of God drawing me by conviction; I longed to see and hear him and wished he would come this way. I heard he was coming to New York and the Jerseys and great multitudes flocking after him under great concern more and more, hoping soon to see him; but next I heard he was a Long Island, then at Boston, and next at Northampton.

Then on a sudden, in the morning about 8 or 9 of the clock there came a messenger and said Mr. Whitefield preached at Hartford and Whethersfield yesterday and is to preach at Middletown this morning at ten of the clock. I was in my field at work. I dropped my toll that I had in my hand and ran home to my wife, telling her to make ready quickly to go and here Mr. Whitefield preach at Middletown, then ran to my pasture for my horse with all my might, fearing that I should be too late. Having my horse, I with my wife soon mounted the horse and went forward as fast as I thought the horse could bear; and when my horse got much out of breath, I would get down and put my wife on the saddle and bid her ride as fast as should and not stop or slack for me except I bade her, and so I would run until I was much out of breath and then mount my horse again, and so I did several times to favour my horse. We improved every moment to get along as if we were fleeing for our lives, all the while fearing we should be too late to hear the sermon, for we had twelve miles to ride double in little more than an hour and we went round by the upper housen parish.

And when we came within about half a mile or a mile of the road that comes down from Hartford, Whethersfield, and Stepney to Middletown, on high land I saw before me a could of fog arising. I first thought it came from the great river, but as I can nearer the road I heard a noise of horses' feet coming down the road, and this cloud was a cloud of dust made by the horses' feet. It arose some rods into the air over the tops of hills and trees; and when I came within about 20 rods of the road, I could see man and horses slipping along in the cloud like shadows, and as I drew nearer it seemed like a steady stream of horses and their riders, scarcely a horse more than his length behind another, all of a lather and foam with sweat, their breath rolling out of their nostrils every jump. Every horse seemed to go with all his might to carry his rider to hear news from heaven for the saving of souls. It made me tremble to see the sight, how the world was in a struggle. I found a vacancy between two horses to slip in mine and my wife said "Law, our clothes will be all spoiled, see how they look," for they were so covered with dust that they looked almost all of a colour, coats, hats, shirts, and horse. We went down in the stream but heard no man speak a world all the way for 3 miles but every one pressing forward in great haste; and when we got to Middletown old meeting house, there was a great multitude, it was said to be 3 or 4,000 of people, assembled together.

We dismounted and shook off our dust, and the ministers were then coming to the meeting house. I turned and looked towards the Great River and saw the ferry boats running swift backward and forward bringing over loads of people, and the oars rowed nimble and quick. Everything, men, horses, and boats seemed to be struggling for life. The land and banks over the river looked black with people and horses; all along the 12 miles I saw no man at work in his field, but all seemed to be gone.

When I saw Mr. Whitefield come upon the scaffold, he looked almost angelical; a young, slim, slender youth, before some thousands of people with a bold undaunted countenance. And my hearing how God was with him everywhere as he came along, it solemnized my mind and put me into a trembling fear before he began to preach; for he looked as if he were clothed with authority from the Great God, and a sweet solemn solemnity sat upon his brow, and my hearing him preach gave me a heart wound. By God's blessing, my old foundation was broken up, and I saw that my righteousness would not save me. [1]

I know an elderly man in Churchville Maryland., Mr. Scarborough, who was the organist in a Presbyterian church that grew from one of Whitefield's revivals held on his great grandfather's property nearby. He said that men seated in chestnut trees for a bird's eye view of the sermon, had been knocked to the ground by the Glory of God during the meetings.

George Whitefield's blazing career included thousands of open air ten meetings, at least seven trips across the atlantic and untold hundreds of thousands of conversions. Finally his health broke after preaching on last sermon with two congested lungs to several thousand people in Exlter Massachusettes. The following morning on September the 30th 1770 he passed to heaven.

Preaching more than 80,00 sermons in a few short years, he managed to bring about an unprecedented unity of Christian spirit in the heart and mind of the thirteen colonies. some historians attribute these massive conversions to Jesus to be that one factor of moral strength which enabled the meager minute man militia of 1776 to overpower England's world conquering armies in the Revolutionary War. Even President Calvin Coolidge was once quoted as saying "America was born in a revival of religion and back of it were John Wesley and George Whitefield.

Other ministers such as missionary David Brighton helped to accelerate the awakening even in the long awaited camps of the Indians.

A new breed of preachers had arrived on the scene just in time to awaken Americans to the impending perils of war, both spiritually and physically. As the church revived in great victories, Satan's furry began to attack them. England, startled by the alarming move among colonists to ignore the constrictions of the official Anglican Church, began to raid the meetings and arrest revivalists. And King George became increasingly intolerant of their claims to economic and governmental liberties.

A foreboding cloud of destruction, principalities and powers of Satan , began to press toward the colony. But they found the populace freshly bathed in the baptismal waters of salvation and the doorposts of their hearts cleansed with Christ's redeeming blood!

In Exodus 4:12 one sees the promise of God to honor this condition.

"And the blood shall be to you a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood I will pass over you and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt."

Their Egypt was England and its system had to be purged so that God's plan for liberty might spring forth.

As King George pressed increasing regulations and taxes against them the colonist began to cry out,"No King but King Jesus!" The blood of the Revolution was shed for the sake of Jesus's gospel and the liberties and prosperities that are produced by it. Our veterans may not understand why they lost their blood to this dear extent but it was precious to God and the strength of our liberty today.

In the 20th century how do we stand in the destroyer's path? Is the blood of Jesus the lamb applied to the doorposts of our hearts as it should be? or will our sin - ridden bodies; too sluggish to dodge the destroyer's blows, slump upon the doorsills of the land? As former generations flying the banner have endured travail, Who are we to suppose it shall not come to us to do so as well?

In 1776 men who believed they could dare to trust God for the wisdom to govern themselves signed the Declaration of Independence. I wove this into the land and fabric of the flag with my brush and painted below it a Quaker women praying; for that was the only ingredient that would cause the declaration to work.

For every victory seen in the battlefields of America there were the unseen victories fought before hand by prayer warriors on their knees behind the scenes. I know of one account of Whitefield's converts praying all night in a cornflower near Churchville Maryland while General Washington and his armies happened to be crossing the Delaware river. They had been interceding as the outcome of the war weighed in a delicate balance until news of Washington's certain victory reached them.

General George Washington himself was known to be a devout man of prayer. though unschooled in some disciplines of Christian character, he never the less led a life accustomed to prayer. As a young colonel in the earlier French and Indian war, Washington records how an Indian chief testified to him that in trying many times to shoot him, it was as if great beings surrounding Washington prevented the arrows from their course. In one battle charge that he later led against the British, he did not loose a single man while their casualties numbered near a thousand. This is similar to old testament Bible stories of battles which Israel won through the miraculous interventions of angels. A newspaper article has been discovered from a reprint of officer Anthony Sherman 's eyewitness account in the National Tribute, Vol. 4, No. 12, December 1880. He describes a vision which the general related to him after an angelic visitation during the frozen winter of Valley Forge. Washington relates how an eagle bearing the banner "UNION" upon its head visited him in an open vision while praying for God's wisdom for leading his men. The angel showed him three great conflicts on American shores during the time appointed to us to be Christian stewards.

WASINGTON'S VISION

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. Few military figures in history ever faced misery and deprivation as did Washington and his forces at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778. But three years later British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at Yorktown to end the American Revolutionary War.

The following is a well-documented accounting of a vision General Washington had at Valley Forge.

Anthony Sherman

More than a century ago a Mr. Wesley Bradshaw published an article in which he quoted Anthony Sherman, who was an officer with General George Washington's at Vally Forge.

Bradshaw's original article was reprinted in the National Tribune, Vol. 4, No. 12, for December, 1880. He told of the last time he saw Anthony Sherman, and these are Bradshaw's words:

The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on the fourth of July, 1859, in Independence Square. He was then ninety-nine years old, and becoming very feeble. But though so old, his dimming eyes rekindled as he gazed upon Independence Hall, which he came to visit once more.

"Let us go into the hall," he said. "I want to tell you of an incident of Washington's life - one which no one alive knows of except myself; and, if you life you will, before long, see it verified.

"From the opening of the Revolution we experienced all phases of fortune, now good and now ill, one time victorius and another conquered. The darkest period we had, I think, was when Washington after several reverses, retreated to Valley Forge, where he resolved to pass the the winter of 1777. Ah! I have often seen the tears coursing down our dear commander's care-worn cheeks, as he would be conversing with a confidential officer about the condition of his poor soldiers. You have doubtless heard the story of Washington's going into the thicket to pray. Well, it was not only true, but he used often to pray in secret for aid and comfort from God, the interposition of whose Divine Providence brought us safely through the darkest days of tribulation.

"One day, I remember it well, the chilly winds whistled through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless and the sun shone brightly, he remained in his quarters nearly all the afternoon alone. When he came out I noticed that his face was a shade paler than usual, and there seemed to be something on his mind of more than ordinary importance. Returning just after dusk, he dispatched an orderly to the quarters of the officer I mention who was presently in attendance. After a preliminary conversation of about half an hour, Washington, gazing upon his companion with that strange look of dignity which only he alone could command, said to the letter:

"'I do not know whether it is owing to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon as I was sitting at this table engaged in perparing a dispatch, something seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed, that it was some moments before I found language to inquire into the cause of her presence. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I repeat my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight raising of her eyes. By this time I felt strange sensations spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible. I asssayed once more to address her, but my tongue had become useless. Even thought itself had become paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily vacantly at my unknown visitant. Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed as though becoming filled with sensations, and luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor herself becoming more airy and yet more distinct to my sight than ever before. I now began to feel as one dying, or rather to experience the sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompany dissolution. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move; all were alike impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my companion.

The First Peril

"'Presently I heard a voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn," while at the same time my visitor extened her arm eastwardly. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a strange scence. Before me lay spread out in one vast plain all the countries of the world - Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. I saw rolling and tossing between Europe and America the billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia and America lay the Pacific. "Son of the Republic," said the same mysterious voice as before, "Look and Learn." At that moment I beheld a dark, shadowy being, like an angel, standing, or rather floating in mid-air, between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his left hand he cast some on Europe. Immediately a cloud raised from these countries, and joined in mid-ocean. For a while it remained stationary, and then moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people.

"'A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean, and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows it sank from view.

The Growth of America

"'A third time I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and cities springing up one after another until the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them. Again, I heard the mysterious voice say, "Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn."

The Second Peril

"'At this the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward, and from Africa I saw an illomened spectre approach our land. It flitted slowly over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking I saw a bright angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word, "Union," bearing the American flag which he placed between the dividened nation, and said, "Remember ye are brethren." Instantly, the inhabitants, casting away their weapons became friends once more, and united around the National Standard.

The Third Peril

"'And again I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." At this the dark, shadowly angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; he spinkled it upon Europe, Asia, and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: from each of these countries arose thick, black clouds that were soon joined into one. And throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, who, moving by with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns and cities that I beheld springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I heard again the mysterious voice saying "Son of the Republic, look and learn," When the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long and fearful blast.

" 'Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shone the word "Union," and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle. Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict, I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious.

FINAL PEACE

" 'The once more I beheld the villages, towns and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice: "While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last." And taking from his brow the crown on which blazoned the word "Union," he placed it upon the Standard while the people, kneeling down, said, "Amen."

" 'The scene instantly began to fade and disolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappearing I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, "Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted: Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the third passing which the whole world united shall not pervail which the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic Learn to live for his God, his land and Union." With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown to me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States.' "

A WORD OF WARNING

Anthony Sherman climaxed his recollection of Washington's words by saying, "Such, my friends, were the words I heard from Washington's own lips, and America will do well to profit by them."

Thomas Jefferson once said of our first President: "His integrity was the most pure, his justice the most flexible, I have ever known. He was, indeed, in every sense of the word, a wise, a good and a great man."

INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION

These three perils which George Washington saw all took place on American soil.

Peril 1: Was no doubt the revolutionary war which still continued for three years after the Lord gave Washington the vision. There was much suffering, but not as intense as the other perils which were yet to come.

Peril 2: The ill-omened spectre coming from Africa points towards slavery as the issue of a terrible civil conflict when the nation was divided and brothers fought brothers.

Peril 3: The last and most terrible of all, clearly predicts hordes of enemies from Europe, Asia and Africa, armed for mortal combat. A red light accompanies these terrible invaders - indicating they are no doubt Communists. They come by air (the cloud), land (perhaps via Canada) and sea. They devastate all of America, destroying cities, towns and villages. Millions are engaged in mortal conflict. Just when all seems lost, divine intervention from heaven, angels and saints descend to assist the inhabitants of America to close their ranks and win the final victory.

A special warming is given by the Angel of the Union to Americans: "LET EVERY CHILD OF THE REPUBLIC LEARN TO LIVE FOR HIS GOD, HIS LAND, AND UNION." This is an indication that in the last peril patriotism, the love of country, the respect for our constitution and our faith in God will be in great jeopardy. Already we find this to be the case. May God help us to heed the warning of the guardian Angel of America - before it's too late!

The two World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars were never shown to Washington. Probably because they were not fought on American soil.

The first war was that in which he was engaged and the second involved a civil conflict of brothers in which the Union prevailed and the third was concerning an invasion of European, Asian and African forces or spirits. Of the three wars, the third was by far the worst but even so the Union prevailed.

Spiritual Revival fires cleansed the land , having laid the pattern for those white stripes of purity in her continental army flag. Storms in the spiritual heavens above and bombs bursting in air became the everlasting stripes of the Union as Betsy Ross first sewed them there to a field of blue in 1777. Red stripes of courage evolved to represent a blood so precious of brave new martyrs mingled with that of Jesus a millennium before to insure a redeeming liberty for all.

American colonist eagerly enlisted to fight the yoke of an ungodly government and it's curses. England on the contrary, had great difficulty turning subjects to the battle because they had been touched by the Great Awakening also and would not enlist to fight brethren. At last King George enlisted German mercenaries into a failing effort.

Victorious in the Revolutionary War, America's continental forces mustered the moral strength to defeat the British in a second testing of the nation's right to exist in 1812.

These lines from Francis Scott Key's anthem scribbled with patriotic emotion while viewing the battle in Baltimore's bay, express the attitude of 18th century Americans.

"Let the heaven's rescued land praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then Conquer we must. In God is our trust."

Without the aid of modern communications, in less than a week the anthem was being sung throughout the colonies with swelling adulation!

But after the war, in just a few short years, individuals and states had begun to over indulge in personal liberties, no longer caring about being their brother's keepers or of God's opinion of them. Self gain was becoming a wedge to divide them by the time the Continental Congress of 1776 in Philadelphia met to design a constitution of government. They guarded themselves, protecting their own interest. George Washington was summoned from, Mt. Vernon to claim the committee but remained a silent member not wishing to appear as another kingly figure of too much influence to the people of the new republic.

At last an elderly patriot, Ben Franklin, perhaps inspired by the late Whitefield, stood up and quoted Psalm 127:

"Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Unless the Lord watch the city,they labor in vain that watch it."

An awesome reverence fell upon the committee who filed out of the hall in silence. Returning the next day they established prayer as the beginning of every agenda. Immediately following this decision the Constitution of the United states was formed.

Clearly God's divine hand of providence was moving again and no where in the document do the words: "Separation of Church and State" appear. Where did the term come from?

The phrase was penned by Thomas Jefferson who was not present at the congress but busy helping the French plan their revolution based on atheistic and agnostic reasoning of existentialism. It is clear to see why God did not allow the French to win the colonies; for had they won, the nation would have never taken on a Christian character but one of total humanism.

Jefferson believed that humans and not a central government or biblical dictates should decide the course of individuals and states other than for the causes of protection, and postal services. His broad interpretation of liberty allowed for a dose of "healthy rebellion to keep the powers of federal government in check", thereby planting the seed of division seceding states later used to form the Confederacy; civil war being the result.

In 1986 the Holy Spirit showed me a vision of the United States of America in the form of a patchwork quilt consisting of fifty states. Each patch seemed to be sucking and heaving at the seams as if to rip apart. The force seething beneath the blanket was that same Spirit of Division of Civil War days, which had not been slain but only laid dormant. Now it seems to be regaining strength, threatening to divide our nation into many factions, Christians vs.Christian and Christian vs. Humanist, Homosexuals and Abortionist. And there are new uprisings of native Indian issues and racial conflicts. Even at the time of this writing matters of Constitutional jurisdiction on abortions and Flag burnings have been turned over to state legislatures, dividing state against state as they formulate their stand, opening the door for riots and bloodshed. But in the midst of this confusion I heard the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" being sung and saw that it was the time for God's army to win souls by rushing boldly upon the battle fields! God is bringing a counter move to all of this; When Satan cries "Hatred and Division" The Spirit of God cries "Love and Unity".

Christ birthed a church in Blood. Satan had his cohorts there and waiting among the lives in Herod's courts to say that the disciples stole the body of Christ and that he had not risen. Again and again Satan moves to obliterate the liberating plan of God. Waiting in the wings were men like the Pinzons, Samuel Hutchinson, William Rogers, Benedict Arnold and Thomas Jefferson; whose ideas of democracy were more near to anarchy than those of the Union established by the federalist.

To determine the controversial issue of whether or not the Continental Congress intended for biblical guidance to remain a part of the government, one must observe the constitution in the light of period writings by the same men. Clearly, they did not want to endure the tyrannies of a state church ever again but were in no way trying to exclude the guidance of the Holy Ghost from their governmental decision making processes!

"From The Bill of Rights, Article 1. Religious Establishment Prohibited, Freedom of Speech, of the Press, and Right to Petition.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

Fireworks celebrations marked the nations unique victories on the 4th of July during the 19th century while another sort of explosion began to brew in congress. But burning embers from both kinds spread across the continent, land in the very places that other revivals occurred, such as St. Louis Missouri and Azuza Street California. In the painting one ember even illuminates the head of a Cherokee Indian chief, John Ross.

In 1838, he led his people on the trail of Tears, a forced march, one of the most ungodly atrocities of our government abusing the natives as in Columbus's day. Before entering Newton County Arkansas, the chief was greeted by a friendly Christian leader Frank Villines who had persuaded local settlers to entreat the weary travelers well. In sharp contrast to former receptions of prejudice whites a feast and bounty of supplies awaited the Indians.

In grateful response chief John Ross, a Christian convert through British missionaries, spent the entire night on a ridge praying for them. And before his departure he generously awarded them a large Jasper stone ring, stating,"Jasper is a hard and strong stone, lighted from inside by love. It is like the men of this ridge. Call the place Jasper." Jasper is a biblical semi - precious stone in the new city gates of Jerusalem. Though Satan would further hinder the character of a Christian nation from forming, God continued to open windows and gates!

Wagon trains headed westward, steel mills industrialized the east and cotton plantations rambled across the south using thousands of slaves.

Though the authors of the Constitution had stated that all men were created equally, slaves and Indians did not seem to be included in the mind of Americans at all. Reports of slaves being brutally beaten, for no other crime than attempting to worship Jesus, point towards the total hypocrisy of the church. After working a back - breaking day in the fields, they are noted to have retreated to the swamps to worship the God of the white man of whom they had learned and seemed more needy. At one point more than 3,000 of them were rounded up and murdered in cold blood for this so called crime. Masters proclaiming that slaves were lesser beings, animals, found it difficult to justify their being able to think and cry out for a savior. While Americans were once again growing increasingly more selfish and hardened against the evangelical purpose of the nation, these martyrs like modern day Russian Christians and Jews, laid down their lives for liberty with many prayers and fasting.

As I was painting the figure of one little "Mammie" I could hear in my spirit the cry of her prayers, for freedom on the behalf of all who were bound physically and especially spiritually. Prayers like hers must have rung in the ears of God so loud that He answered with the second Great Awakening!

Charles Finney was a forerunner of the move in the early 1850"s proclaiming that revival was as sure as seed time and harvest providing all the conditions were supplied by willing men who would take hold of the horns of the alter and stir themselves to pray.

In 1858 while a simple and humble merchant, Abraham Lincoln, prepared himself for the United States Senate in the face of complex political divisions, God again began to bring forth one of the greatest revivals of all time.

In New York City the fires of the Holy Ghost began to consume an unknown man in New York city named Jeremiah Lamphier. Printing and distributing handbills to local business men, he succeeded in starting a noon day prayer meeting that grew to astounding numbers. Simple prayers and petitions flooded in being rewarded with continuous answers.

Newspapers began to report the happenings and the sparks soon ignited the hearts of business men in all major cities until a blazing bonfire of the Holy Ghost had consumed the entire nation. So complete were the results in such towns as Louisville Kentucky, that the papers announced the arrival of the Millennium! This revival even crossed to Europe once again and touched the heart of Charles Spurgeon in England. Unlike the revival before, it did not sport the names of men as it's instigators nor sensational miracles but rather evolved in many common people simultaneously.

Perhaps the lack of more certain leadership caused the flames to languish too quickly, for even though God had sovereignly awakened America to His desire for their hearts, there was not a thorough enough repentance to mend the political striving or turn mercy upon the slaves.

Thus in 1861 the flames of the Civil War burned off the harvest fields of souls rather than the purifying fires of the Holy Ghost. America had become too lax, stiffened and resistant to her calling. The matter of greed and slavery would have to be eradicated from her spirit in some other way that she might eventually begin to share Christ's liberty with all men.

Through civil strife Satan divided Christian against Christian but he could not destroy the prevailing power of their forefather's covenant with God. Though the Union flag plunged to the dust in bloody travail, its purpose as stated in the Pledge of Allegiance could not be defeated:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United states of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

During the throws of the battle, Bible societies raised up from the preceding revival continued to distribute Bibles in army camps on both sides of the North/ South conflict. Proportionately to any other period of history they were able to distribute more of the written word of God to the total populace.

At last in 1864 Confederate forces under General Robert E.Lee, a Christian, surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Apatomatax. The Union would survive! Yet even as Americans rejoiced, Satan retaliated with the assassination of President Lincoln in Washington D.C. at Ford's theater. The assassin was an insane demon - possessed man that the South neither claimed nor supported. Lincoln's death was their greatest loss of the war because His generous reconstruction plan died with him. But he like a Moses led us to the position where God had intended from the start, a fully free nation.

THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

November 19, 1863

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live. It is together fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow - this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who faught here thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Lincoln also warned in a speech that men should not fail again to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord or they would not survive another battle on the continent!

America erected to the martyred President a memorial exalting his virtues as the savior of the Union and the Emancipator of Freedom. At last Americans were spiritually and physically ready to evangelize the world. What would we do with a liberty so great? Many diverse things.

We became the protectors and defenders of liberty world - wide. Financing missionary councils we sent out more Christian missionaries than any other nation on earth. We opened our harbors to receive thousands of emigrants eager to follow our example and embrace our liberties and our gospel.

But we also continued to torture our slaves, abuse our Indians, embrace humanism, capitalistic economics, legalize abortions and sexual perversions of every kind, ban God from our schools and public institutions and allow the erection of temples to pagan gods on our hallowed land.

The result was that we fell prey to our enemies by Satan's desire to test us further. With much human sacrifice we allowed our flag to suffer more frequent travail as we carried it across battlefield after field, of the Spanish American War, the World Wars I and II and Korea and Vietnam. when shall we ever learn that only the blood of Jesus coursing through humble hearts can heal the nations?

Americans greatest Revival is still needed to complete the vision. Oh that the consuming fires of the Holy Ghost would take hold of us before the consumption of war again.

But I believe that we are yet to come into our greatest hour of power when a revival of all revivals shall affect us from sea to shining sea!

1. The foregoing is a passage from the Spiritual Travels of Nathan Cole. It was reprinted in The William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd Series, vii (1950), pp. 590, 591, and subsequently in George Whitefield's Journals (Banner of Truth Trust: Carlisle, Pennsylvannia, 1960), pp. 561, 562.

7

THE BLOOD THE KEY

For in showing me the painting, God was giving me hope to share with you America! Yes, there is a healing salve for your wounds, the precious blood of Jesus! Preach it! Receive it! Pray through it!

Though all the vision from Christ's wounded side to the Midwest portion of the painting is bloody and tumultuous, it ends in the serene and strong portrait of an eagle soaring above the American flag with its beady eye intensely focused above the storm towards the return of the rapturing Christ and His triumphant armies.

Behold He comes with his rewards in his hands. And just as he would seem to gather the Jews through His arm stretched across the holocaust of Europe he shall gather in those who are watching and waiting for him among the church.

In the fourth panel of the painting, "The Travail of the Flag", I painted the right arm of Jesus. In death it is laid down for humanity with the mark of a covenant slashed in His wrist. Eastern men cut their blood covenants in the right wrist. Emerging from the dark cavern of the wound are the nation of the Jews, first in their skeletal form of death from Hitler's concentration camps and then in the tattered robes of refuges. Finally a priest appears blowing the shofar (ram's horn) and multitudes are led into their home land of Israel.

Pictured in the heart of Christ is the center of that country, Jerusalem. And highlighted there is the Temple Mount where Abraham,Father of the Jews, began to sacrifice his son . God allowed him to substitute a ram for the covenant they were cutting and Abraham found the animal caught by its horn in a thicket. The blowing of the ram's horn represents the coming of the Messiah and the day when God will complete His part of the covenant. He did complete it almost 2,000 years later on that very mountain ridge ,Morriah, in a place of execution named Gulgatha. But Israel rejecting the sacrifice entered almost 2,000 more years of dispersion.

Every year at Passover Feast they would tell their children,"Next year we shall eat the feast in Jerusalem." By 1940, that must have seemed like a vain legend but in 1948 It came to pass as Israel miraculously became a nation once again! Jesus promised to return for His followers and for almost 2,000 years we have told our children that we shall be raptured to meet him in the twinkling of an eye (an atomic second) and today many see the promise as a fairytail. But as in the painting, Jesus, in stretching out his arm to His Jewish brothers extends His hand to the Christian nations as well. One day they shall both look upon Him whom they pierced and recognize the raven black locks of his head as those of the Bridegroom in King Solomon's Song.

While gazing at the painting I realized that the fortified walls of the Iron Curtain had been painted against the bracing of Christ's outstretched arm. It represented how for a season, God had allowed their existence but should he sovereignly move that arm and gather His people to His bosom the prison walls and nations would crumble and be no more!

God is a covenant keeping god even to ten thousands of generations. Shall we keep His covenants in this generation or fall to His judgments? Let us be like Queen Esther and reclaim our God - given liberties of worship.

"How can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? — Esther 8:6

Esther was willing to fast and pray for her nation that judgment against them might be removed. And God gave her favor with her king extending the golden scepter to her for the granting of her desire. While painting the flagpole in the painting, I was seeing it tightly bound with tangled ropes. It burned with a refiner's fire until even the paints took on the appearance of fine gold. I did not tether it to the flag because I did not see it that way. Thus it seemed to serve no purpose but to be an object of beauty. Then the Holy Spirit let me see that it was shaped like Esther's scepter. Raised to the heavens it represented the favor of God granted to those whose prayers and blood had won it.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord! and the people whom He hath chosen for His inheritance!" — Psalm 33:12

Then I heard their prayers and saw how their voice was that which caused the flagpole to be unbound of its ropes. One great tassel swinging free was like the door of a huge grainery opening to loose its harvest! A fire swished from its tail and ignited the grain! And amid the grain appeared the faces of well known leaders in the Body of Christ, past and present. At the forefront of the blaze was evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. Little did I know of the publicity smear that lay ahead for him in a few short months. Amid the crowd was the face of Colonel Oliver North and many ordinary people carrying the flag and bibles. After the unveiling ceremony it became apparent that the fire which burned the field of faces was that which calls us to holiness. God first began to deal with the leaders and will yet consume all of the rest of mankind. The glory brings both blessings and judgments. But any good farmer knows that by burning off a harvest field you prepare the ground for a bumper crop of the future!

At the forefront of the blaze was evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. Little did I know of the publicity smear that lay ahead for him in a few short months. Amid the crowd was the face of Colonel Oliver North and many ordinary people carrying the flag and Bibles.

After the unveiling ceremony it became apparent that the fire which burned the field of faces was that which calls us to holiness. God first began to deal with the leaders and will yet consume all of the rest of mankind. The glory brings both blessings and judgments. But any good farmer knows that by burning off a harvest field, the ground is prepared for a bumper crop of the future!

I hear God calling you America to raise our voices in prayers and fasting so that the harvest of souls might come in! And God will extend the scepter of our rulers towards us so that wickedness may be quenched and a place for revival be made.

"Shall everyone that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found; surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh thee." — Psalm 32:6

How then shall we pray? Through the blood of Jesus; the salve that heals our wounds and gives us strength in our declarations of faith! In the vision I painted, one can see that the wound in Jesus' side is cut in the shape of the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan river and the Dead Sea. His left fist glows with resurrection power and the wound in that wrist oozes with liquid light which congeals into droplets of blood that run down his arm pit into the wound. Life from heaven pours out upon the earth through Jesus side. And just as the life line of Israel is the Dew of Mount Hermon flowing into the Sea of Galilee flowing into the Jordan river flowing into the Dead Sea, so is the blood of Jesus the life line of the Body of Christ ; the church!

With out Israel's full supply of water her crops fail. Like wise with out a revival of the message of the redeeming blood of Jesus we shall have a crop failure of souls and power. Some of the church today prays to Him like a sugar - coated Santa Claus. But Hebrews 12 :24 says there is power in the "VOICE" of the blood!

"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Able."

The blood of Able was the blood of a martyr. He was killed on the first battlefield of recorded history. Satan had arranged his death to attack the plans of God to raise up a redeemer of Adam's race. His blood cried out to God from the earth for restitution.

"What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood cries to me from the ground!" — Genesis 4:10

If one drop of righteous Able's blood got Almighty God's attention then how much more does the cry of every soldiers' blood echo in his ears and should not the cries of millions of aborted babies and martyrs blood shake the heavens? Earth is an artificial vessel, a cauldron filling up with the blood of humanity. One day on the plains of Meggido in the battles of Armageddon Satan will over play his hand and as the first drop of blood over runs the rim of earth's vessel it's cry for vengeance will be that which sentences him to the lake of fire forever!

In the meanwhile we have a mighty weapon to wield against him. The blood of a baby comes not from the mother nor mingles with her supply but rather from the father. Jesus' Father was the Father of lights, God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. His uncontaminated Glory literally flowed through the veins of Jesus Christ! When His blood hit the pavement of Calvary it began to shake the heavens! There was an earth quake. The temple veil was rent in two. It resurrected the dead patriarchs of the Old Testament and it pleaded His cause in the belly of the earth for three days! Now it pleads and seals the covenant of God for every born - again believer who prays in Jesus' name. There is power to save in the blood of Jesus (Isaiah 53) and power to heal; even to heal a nation!

Healing shall come by result of revival in the church. To revive means to bring something back to life. New revelations are not necessary only the restoration of foundational doctrines of truth. Hidden with in the attic of the church of Jesus Christ are the treasure chests of these truths and memories of past revivals. It only remains to us in this generation to find the key and the keyhole that shall unlock them.

In the communion services of every Christian church there is a word - shaped key hole that describes the source of liberty from sin and oppression; the broken body and blood of our saviour, Jesus Christ. Every true church of history has been birthed by the message of that redemption; the Orthadox, Catholics, Lutherens, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodist, Episcapalians, Quakers, Pentacostals ect.. And every false church or cult has come from a doctrine of salvations by works rather than of repentance through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

In the Song of Solomon we see the condition of the Church, the sleeping bride:

"My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him."

When she hears the turning of his key in the lock , it is then that she awakens! She runs to the door but can not find him and then to the streets where she is beaten by his adversaries. But atlast she finds him and he conveys her away to the bridal chamber once and for all!

I hear and I see the key in the lock America! It is the blood of Jesus! The firey wind of the Holy Spirit from Heaven is bringing the thunder of its voice to earth again in a mighty shaking and an outpouring of Glory and revival! Oh for a thousand tongues to sing the old redemption story! When the voice of the blood in Hebrews 12:24 spoke on the day of Pentecost in the streets of Jerusalem through the apostles of old, three thousand were born into the ranks of Heaven in a day!

The keyhole in the Church is the redemption story of salvation through repentance and faith in the blood of Christ. And the key is the Hloy Ghost power of its voice. As the bride is stirring and waking up, we are seeing the beatings and the thirstings and the crying in the streets again. But it is a spine chilling sign to us to get ready and pray all the more for the harvest is coming in and the Bridegroom is just around the corner to secure us in His bosum forever!

One day our flag will know no more travail for in that day if we have carried it well we shall lay it triumphantly at the feet of Christ Jesus and be raptured with Him to a new heaven and a new earth when our task here under this flag has been done! Amen.

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