(Prophetic dream)
By Joanie Stahl ( April 2018)
Lately, I have been remembering a dream I had many years ago. I cannot remember the exact date in time, but I do remember it to be a few years ago during the fall. I know that when the Lord gives us dreams, they are timeless, for they come out of eternity into our dimension of time.
The truth is, that for a while now the Lord has brought it front and center of my mind, and day by day He has moved in me to write it. It only grew stronger and stronger and I had to write it by the moving of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In fact, I was supposed to go to work to day and wished with all my heart that I could rather stay home and write it. Because I felt the inspiration, the wind of the Holy Spirit moving me, “like the wind in the trees.”
Just as I was getting ready to leave I received a text that informed me that I did not need to come in today. I immediately began writing.
Perhaps, the recollection of this dream may speak to you in some ways. It has of late, been speaking to me. That is the beauty of something given from God. It is alive, it is active, and powerful, ever growing. It has the life of God in it that is ever enlarging itself within, and you cannot help but be aware of it.
I also know that it is not of me to bring it to mind and keep it there. The source is only from God. This dream I had was so powerful and full of hope, glory and power. Yet after so many years has been still unfolding itself like the “Whirlwind that came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself..” in the book of Ezekiel 1:4. KJV.
The heart of this message is that though I dreamed it, is not for me alone, but for every Christian who puts their trust in the Living God, by “Whom we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28. KJV. I think it is one of the most beautiful dreams I have ever had. I think many of us have so many dreams of devastation, end of the world judgments and things pertaining to the end of the Church Age these days.
That every once in awhile the Lord deems it good to reveal some of His rewards that await us in the other world. Which is meant to encourage us “as we see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25. KJV.
I will do my best to speak about it here, and the describing of the imagery, then afterwards give the interpretation. What I believe means not only for me as I above stated, but for you too as well. Sit back, and breathe in this beautiful dream.
Dream
In my dream I saw myself walking with a little group of people, about seven or so. There were men and women, and I noticed that some were very old, while others various ages. One of the men was very old.
We were in a wilderness walking on a very narrow path. It was so narrow in fact, that only from time to time perhaps only two can walk side by side, while other times only one person at a time, with other following in a line. Also the path was not easy to walk upon. Each step had many rocks in it, and I remember that each step had to be calculated.
There was a weariness to it because of the roughness of it. I also noticed that all of us at all time stuck together in a tight group. There was a strong feeling of loving, brother and sisterly love. That is why we stuck together and what brought encouragement and a sense of safety.
Also, on this rugged path there were dangerously, extremely elevated cliffs that if we did not watch every step, only tragedy awaited us. Each person was responsible for their own walk essentially.
The wilderness was thick with brush, and trees. The road never straight, but going up and down very steep, and always curving around mountains, sometimes scaling steep places. There were times that we could only see a few feet ahead of us.
We all arrived at the top of the rough and rocky road. I stood in the front of everyone, because in this part of the road it was very narrow and they were all behind me. I stopped, and told everyone behind me to stop.
I held my hands out to my side to block them from walking any further. I looked down the steep path in front of us as I noticed that it might be dangerous because of the steepness and instability of the road. After all there were older people in the group. as well as young. I did not want anyone getting hurt.
I assessed the path with my eyes as they followed up ahead where I saw it fork off. For some reason I looked down to the ground because something caught my eye. I noticed about a few inches from my feet in front of me was a string of pearls.
My eyes followed the string of pearls down the road ahead of me. I noticed that the pearls are not what you would think. There were only pearls that were every so often, like 10 feet apart. They almost felt something like a bread crumb trail.
I said to those with me, “Wait right here! Let me go on ahead and see about what this string of pearls mean. I started off following the string with my eyes, watching for the next pearl, then the next. I thought it so strange that there was a string of pearls out in the wilderness, in the middle of nowhere.
I had a feeling within that this might mean that someone could be in trouble, and that I would go and see. They stayed and I left to follow the string of pearls where they led.
As I said in the beginning, walking on this rugged, rocky path was not ever easy. Each and every step required the evaluation of every placement of our feet. We had to keep our eyes on our feet on this path every second, or there would be certain injury or death.
Now this time, I noticed that the path had evened out, and this time instead of assessing each step because of the rough path, I kept my eyes on the intermittent pearls. As if one focus was exchanged for another.
I arrived to the fork in the road. I saw that the string of pearls went to the right. I continued following the string of pearls and the road again became very high and elevated, having deep, terrifying chasms on both sides. I stopped to see something in view that caught my eye. It was a car. It looked to have flown off the road into the deep, rocky chasm.
I looked to see if there was any survivors, and I saw a dead man in it. The car and everything was black, and horrifying, as if it had been there a very long time, and no one knew it. I thought it strange that there was a car wreckage there, seeing that the road I was on was only enough for one person. How did it get there? And why was the dead man left there?
I decided to continue onward knowing that there was nothing I could do. I kept looking down at the ground to see where the pearls would take me too, and when. Almost as soon as I thought that, I was coming to the end. I was walking down a soft decline and then the pearls stopped in the same place where the road ended perfectly.
I looked up and saw in the short distance ahead a beautiful, majestic palace. At least those are the only words that I can come up with. I then looked to my right, and as in many of my dreams through the decades, there was the same man. He stood to my right.
I kept looking at the palace and noticed many people all around it. They were all very busy carrying things back and forth. It seemed very clear to me that someone was moving into it. I wanted to get a better look, and the man knowing this, bid me to go with him to see it. Like he was there to take me there to see.
NOTE: In all my dreams where this man appears, he is always there to show me something, or take me on a tour of things. I am never afraid when he is there. His presence is always something very natural, comforting. He is always kind, strong and there is safety with him.
Back to the dream.
As we got closer to the palace, we walked through, and passed by all the workers. He took me to the front door. They were double doors as you would imagine, and were very high, and very massive. With big, thick golden looking handles. I knew that no one had ever lived in this palace before and that it was brand new. In my dreams from the Lord, I always know everything, nothing needs to be told to me mostly.
I stood there with man, wondering what was next? I was curious about what was inside. Just as I said that, one of the doors opened up, and a young man came out. He had a look of great joy when he saw me. He smiled from ear to ear, and looking up at me said, “You are a king!”
I replied, “No, I am not a king!” He said, “Yes. Yes you are a king!” Again, I emphasized. “NO, I am not a king! If I were a king, then why are you not bowing!” I admit I said this out of sarcasm not to be evil, mean or to mock. I said that to him because it did not make any sense to me what was happening, and I have always, and only been a common person.
The young man only laughed joyfully, and went on with what he was doing. He went to where all the other workers were.
The man that was with me held the right side of the door open and motioned for me to go in. As I went in, he followed in behind me. We both stood inside and I was in awe. We stood in what looked like a vast, majestic hall meant only for the highest, loftiest royalty. The ceiling seemed without height as I scanned it back and forth.
The splendor of it is still very difficult to describe. The architecture was full of grandeur and was breath taking. The man motioned for me to start walking inward, into the palace. I immediately began to feel something entering into me.
A sense of authority. Plain and simple. All I can say it was a feeling of command that did not originate within me. It increased with each step I took as I gained more interior ground. I came up to the entrance of a immense hallway. It was very bright and white. Like there was a light source so pure, so white it made everything full of light.
Just when I was going to enter into the the hallway, the man left me. I did not see him again. I decided to continue. The hallway was very wide, and there were no stairs. but there was an ascending upward as I walked, and I was very aware of it. It spiraled up and up.
I felt the authority now increasing, and growing with each step. I literally began to feel with that increase of authority and command, the very strange sense of ownership of this palace. As I continued to go, I saw a troop of angels marching past me.
I knew right away that is what they were. They marched in perfect, flawless unison. There were about four rows of them and they were all dressed in white. Not in robes. No, not these angels. They had distinct uniforms on. The best I can say is they had on some kind of pants, and other hard to describe articles of clothing on.
They each held big weapons in their right hands. They had very intense looks on their faces and were fierce looking. They were all of a white light. It is hard to describe, but they were all white, and glowed with white light.
Immediately, I felt a surge of wanting to be with them, to go with them, be a part of them. You see I am a fighter. That is what the Lord’s calling is for me in this life time, so it was a powerful surge of that gift in me that felt explosive.
I ran to join them and began to march with them.
Just as soon as I did, instantly a door swung open and a man swiftly appeared. He quickly walked right up to me, and with a strong, though kind voice said to me, “Stop! You are not to go with them. Come with me.”
I have to tell you that this man was no ordinary man. I saw that he had great authority. He had a rather royalty to him in a military way. He was very decorated. His clothing also was all white, and unique to who he was, and his duty. He was strong in another worldly sort of way.
I agreed to go with him, and turned to get one last look of the angelic troop march down the hall and out of sight..
This man now was leading me upwards, the walk way spiraling all the way up. We finally arrived, at the utmost top of the palace.
There was a single door. The man opened it, and went in ahead of me, motioning for me to follow him. He walked across the room towards these very enormous shutters that he began rolling off the to side. Moving them away, revealing huge window type doors that were very tall, and wide. (We would see them as being French doors). As he was doing this, I stood in the middle of an empty room, and looked behind me.
I saw another little room that was empty, all except one little cardboard box in the very center of it. As the man finished rolling away the shutters, the entire room was flooded with warm, golden light. He opened the doors and walked out on them, and motioned for me to join him on this very large balcony.
As I stepped out, the man immediately left me, and this is what I saw.
There was a majestic and beautiful land full of green, rich rolling hills. I felt that I could literally see for endless miles, and I marveled at that. I marveled at how I was able to see such depths of color, and vastness. The sky was very blue, like the kind you see on the best summer day. The sun was golden and cast a liquid glow upon the land, enriching it with glory.
I then felt that all that authority and command had reached it’s epoch. I then stood there looking out over that land knowing that I indeed was somehow the full owner of the palace in that glorious land, and that somehow I had kingly power over it, as well as the land I was viewing. That it was all given to me.
As I was taking it all in, another man stepped onto the balcony. I turned to look at him. He was beautiful. I saw that he was dressed in robes, and decorated very highly. I knew in myself that there was no one alive that was more decorated.
I looked at him for a moment and said, “What is it that you do? and what is your position?”
He said, “I am the Gardner and the Gatherer of Clay.”
I am not sure why I felt to ask him those questions.
I felt his authority then, and knew that there was no one higher, or loftier than him, though he was very meek, very calm and spoke kindly. Just then for some reason I looked back over my shoulder to look at the little room, and saw that box, now with a little golden cup on the top of it.
I turned back around to look at this man, and he said, “Very soon, you will be drinking this cup in my kingdom.”
I felt a feeling of the power of victory and I stood there with him, as we both looked out over the glorious land, and I was alive in him. His glory and peace enveloped me, and I loved and cherished him.
End of Dream
Interpretation
The beginning of the road represents our walk together as true Christians. There were only a few of us, young and old. Our sticking together was by the bond of family love, of “the household of faith.” There was a very real power that was made of love which was the glue. There was no one who was over another, but had “all things in common.”
The rugged, rocky, rough dangerous path in a wilderness, is none other than our sojourning through this earth on our way to heaven.
The sometimes cliff-like walks, rocks, and dangerous obstacles represent all of our trials. and hardness of this life. Notice, we all still had to walk through it. Each step that had to be accessed by each individual, means that each one of us is responsible for our walk in Christ. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12. KJV.
Each step the way being rugged is our walk in the present world. There must always be carefulness in every step we take on the way to heaven, and that takes a committed Believer. The very narrowness of the road that sometimes allowed two people at a time, and many times only one, means that there are many, times in our lives that we are forced to walk alone.
Then other times God allows another person to join us.
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-11. KJV.
Notice even when when this occurred everyone really was still together. The stopping to see the road from a very steep angle is wisdom in action. When we find ourselves in uncertain territory, the wise thing to do is stop and access because we never, ever want to take our walk to heaven for granted.
The sense I got at first seeing the string of pearls, was that perhaps someone was in trouble. This is the result of the maturity of faith. I did not look at the string of pearls, which are costly, but that there might be a person lost. The awareness and sensitivity of what Jesus is and was on earth.
The seeing the string of pearls is very clear. The pearls represent Jesus Christ.
If you have the time read the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price in Matthew 13:45:46.
Also they represent the four gates of heaven, “The twelve gates are twelve pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl.” Revelation 21:21. KJV.
The fact that the pearls were not as we would expect, seeing pearls side by side. No, these were spread far apart, causing me to have to keep my eyes open looking for the next one, and then the next one. Because they are representative of Jesus Christ, that would necessitate that my eyes stay open and fixed on Him, because He is “the Way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6. KJV.
Also that He is the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Our survival depended on my following this string of pearls and the commitment of it. The part where it took me to the fork in road, and then went onward to the right meant that if I took my eyes of the string of Pearls, (Jesus), I ran the risl of taking for granted that I knew the way, and went down the wrong path.
The path I had mentioned because smooth when I set out from the people to follow the string of pearls. Which means and shows that the closer we get to heaven, He makes our pathway smoother. This indicates that the majority of our walk to heaven, is rough and treacherous, which educates us, kills off the whimpering, weakness of our flesh.
It produces faithfulness, self denial, loss of pride, and creates a robust, hearty Christian. Fearless, full of courage and bravery. The smooth path would destroy us.
He waits to get you on a path that does not need to educate you anymore. The last part of the older persons journey is in view here. The right way that I went only because I kept my eyes on the string of pearls, which part I believe is the extension of this narrow road.
The road was only fit for one person. It again became dangerous in that there were deep chasm’s on both sides of the road. The car I spotted with a dead man in it at this point of the road, shows that no matter where any of us are in the longevity of our walk in Christ can be taken for granted.
All of know that if we are driving on a very narrow, treacherous highway, know never to take our eyes off the road even for one split second. We know better that to take anything in the world as Believer’s for granted. This is “the pride of life” we are warned about in 1 John 2:16.
Though no car I knew could fit on this road, drives the point home more perfectly. The narrow road is ever narrowing, and sometimes more treacherous, meant only for the experienced. This is the part of the Believer’s life that is and can only be appointed to him or her.
The end of the string of pearls, ended with the road I was on. Both ceased at the same time. This is what I would consider to be the end of my earthly life and the entrance into the eternal world. Heaven-land. The man that is always with me in mostly all my dreams met me at the end.
The majestic palace that I saw in the very short distance, I will be careful to share. I believe it represented my mansion in heaven.
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I got to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am there ye may also be.” John 14:2-3. KJV.
This stands as a representation for each and every one of us that stays faithful to Him, “looking to the Author and Finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2. KJV.
The workers that I saw in the foreground are whom I believe to be the angels in heaven. The Lord was showing me how they are getting everything ready for us.
The man escorted me the great and high doors. I think this is in a way a double meaning. One, we must enter into through the gates of heaven first, and Jesus is the Door.
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:10. KJV.
The young man that opened the door from within was what I think was an angel. He recognized me with great joy. He called me a king. I refuted it and even mocked it, because I know there is ONLY one King. But then later after the dream I realized that Jesus is “the King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:16. KJV. One day we will all rule and reign with Christ as Him being the head over us.
“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead. and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6. KJV.
That is why I think when we went into that majestic, hall full of grandeur was all about. I knew it was a throne room. But not mine. The vastness of it I fully believe is meant for the multitudes in heaven. The power of authority that increased within me, giving me increased command as I ventured deeper and upward is about degrees of growth when on earth.
it was gradual and all given to me, within me. I had nothing to do with it nor could have. Neither would have. It was a power from another world, a source other than my own self enlarging and expanding itself within.
The man that is always with me in all my dreams, that led me to a huge hallway, left me. I no longer saw him again. I believe that is because there is a time, his work with me will have an end. The vast, broad hallway that had no stairs, but only graduated upwards, spiraling is the many levels in heaven. I truly believe that is what I saw and that is what it is.
The troop of angels I saw, that were fierce looking, intense and perfect in their cadence, are the warring angels. Even in heaven they do not ever end their duty. They were made to be the “armies of the host of heaven.” My intense explosive excitement to join them, was out of order.
The man that suddenly appeared that had a high ranking command and was very decorated, again, is some class of angels. It was made known to me speedily that I do not belong to the angelic host. The utmost, highest, final room was mine. I knew it.
How he marched forward to open the big blinds and then opened the big glass windows to let the glorious golden light in ended his duty. I believe that even in heaven we are not just going to handed a set of keys and sent to our new residence, like a hotel experience.
I saw that there is much considered with our acquisition of our new mansions. The empty room felt like how it does when you first move into a home. The little room with the box in the middle was unopened, because that had to correlate with the final words of Jesus.
My last and final house warming gift.
The man that opened the blinds and doors, then went away. I walked out on the very large balcony to view what I knew to be Heaven-land. For I have never seen anything like it before on earth. I have traveled far and wide, and have seen breathe taking scenery. The view I was now viewing was nothing in comparison.
Everything was more alive, and the my eyes could see as far God wanted them to. Which seemed forever, “Unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills.” The golden light only heightened the already resplendent scenery.
The power of authority and command that was ever-increasing within me stopped. And it was then that I knew, that I truly was the king of a The Great King.
The man that appeared last of all, I know was none other than Jesus Christ. My asking Him what did He do? and what was His position? and the answer being, “I am the Gardner and the Gatherer of clay.”
Who else is “the Gardner” but our Father. John 15:1, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman [gardener].” Though I am not saying that Jesus is the Father. I hold firmly in the Triune God-head. Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. I believe Jesus could refer to Himself as such in that, He claims, “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30. KJV.
The second statement of Him being “the Gatherer of clay”is Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the creator of all things in heaven and in earth.
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Colossions 1:16-17. KJV.
“But now, O LORD, thou are our father; we are the clay, and thou are potter; and we are all they work of thy hand.” Isaiah 64:8. KJV.
This New Testament story of the man born blind from birth brings to life and light, the above verses.
“When he [Jesus], had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” John 9:6-7. KJV.
This is so clear that we being made out of the earth, being referred to as clay vessels.
“But we have this treasure in earthen [clay] vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power of will be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7. KJV.
The work of the Cross isto gather all and as many people in reconciliation back to the Father. John 3:15-16.
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19. KJV.
See also Genesis 2:7, Job 10:9, Romans 9:19-21 and 2nd Timothty 2:20. Just to name a few verses that substantiate that we are clay.
It was then, that after He told me what He did, as well as His position was He fully revealed in His Kingship and Lordship. I take this to mean that even in glory He will ever be revealing Himself to us,“For He is unsearchable past finding out.” Romans 11:33. KJV.
When I turned back and saw the gift now opened, and the little golden cup, and himsaying, “Very soon, you will be drinking this cup in my kingdom.” was notable.
He had to say it in future tense because I was being shown things to come. My dream of course did not mean I had arrived. Clearly, it was what was to come and what awaits all of us.
When I turned back around, so did He, and as we both stood there looking out over Heaven’s glorious land, and as I was breathing His glory, a potent peace came upon me. That peace that came from Him enveloped me in my body and was thick in the air….and I loved Him so much.
Looking out together was my pure reward and I was so happy!
I know this was long, but Jesus was with me when I dreamed this, because He gave it to me. I have held it in for many years, and only a few people have I shared it with. For the last week, He moved in me to share it now with you. To show you what is to come, and the assurance of it.
Even now, I can feel His presence and pleasure upon me because He wanted me to tell you, and His will is done.
Shalom to you, and love from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE LAMB OF GOD and me,
His servant and friend.