V I S I O N
The State of the Church
As received by John W. Bosman during the night of August 5th, 2010,
in Roswell (Atlanta) Georgia.
I do not get these kinds of dream-visions very often, but when I do, it is very vivid, stays with me and proves to be most accurate.
The entire day immediately before I received this vision I was very quiet and almost withdrawn. It almost felt as if a spirit of heaviness was upon me and had no idea what was about to be unfolded. I could, however, sense that some great thing was going to happen.
The Vision moved me very deeply and I found it very difficult to share at first, but finally had the courage to put it into words and relate it to my wife, Anne.
It was early in the morning, probably 2:00am, when this vision began to unfold. It seems as though it continued all during the remainder of the night.
VISION: The vision began with me standing in a large, dark room. Although it was dark I could somehow see very clearly. I was standing at the one end of the room with my back towards the wall. There was a single door on my right-hand side towards the end of the wall.There was a bright light shining in as if from the rays of the sun.
Suddenly a young man burst through the door with a cell-phone in his hand. He was in his teens, had long hair, and was evidently very moved, almost shocked. When he saw me he stopped in his tracks, stood wide-legged and shouted, "Come and see, come and see what is going on!" He immediately turned around and ran out. I hurriedly followed him as we ran down a winding pathway. We ran to the end of a trail that ended at the edge of the shore.
I looked across the sandy plain and then with great shock and bewilderment suddenly saw what he was so frantic about. I saw a huge giant lying on his back. - (I am saying "huge giant" because the body I saw was very, very large; even larger than I would imagine a giant to be). In some way I was able to see all the detail very clearly. His one foot was in the ocean and the other on dry land. He had shoes on that were very worn, still in good shape, but clearly needing to be cleaned.
He was strapped down to the ground with strong, leather like straps (some of them looked like chains and cables) tied to iron pegs on either side of the body that were deeply driven into the ground. The bindings were all the way from his ankles to his neck - especially his hands and arms were tightly secured to the ground.
Then in horror I also noticed that the giant was hardly breathing and seemed to be at the point of death. His shallow breathing was very apparent and alarming. He was in bad shape! I looked around in anguish to see if there was any help coming, but there was none. I knew instantly that something needed to be done, but what, how? (I do not know what happened to the young man that sounded the alarm, but I was constantly, somehow aware of his presence to my right).
I slowly walked closer to the giant - very careful, and mostly trembling. Then I noticed in dreadfulness the huge, gaping wound on his right-hand side just under the rib cage. It was a very large and deep wound and was clearly festering with a musty smell coming from it. This particular sight made me realize I was facing an emergency. I could tell this was the main reason for the giant's sickly state.
Gathered around the body, and as far as my eyes could see, was a very large number of people - a multitude! But they were very, very small in comparison to the size of the giant. They seemed to be very busy - running around the body with lots of activity, but seemingly not disturbed by the body's condition.
Many of the people (remember they were very small in comparison) were crawling up and onto his face with a lot of actions and motions. They did not seem to be angry, but rather very intense in what they were doing. They were very sincere! They were feverishly talking to each other and kept moving around. This scene kept my attention for quite a while.
My attention was now drawn to his face. My heart was pounding as my focus sharpened. There were acute bruises to be seen everywhere - some more severe than others. I remember the grief I experienced when I saw so much hurt and pain. I sensed an overwhelming urge to do something, but felt so helpless on my own. It was going to take more than one person to change this situation!
There was no doubt in my mind that the giant was hurt deeply and was going to die if there was no help coming to rescue him from this fatality. The sight of what I was looking at shook me up and moved me deeply. I stood in astonishment and dismay. I was trembling and shaking. I kept on looking around to see what could be done. I realized that help had to come from somewhere or someone.
At this point I woke up (I think) weeping very much.I felt a pain along my chest, deep into my inside. It felt as if my heart was going to break into a million pieces. It seemed as though I did not have enough tears to shed. I became aware that I was rocking back and forth on the bed - I was in agony! I turned on my side and noticed my pillow was wet with tears around my face.
Then the vision must have continued. I tried to scream to get some help, but it felt so useless. In the vision I was now down on my face, weeping, crying out to God. (Even now as I write these words the tears are flowing out of my eyes as I remember the moment so vividly).
I hesitantly looked at the giant again, afraid that he may have died, but then I saw a little breath still coming out of his mouth. "If he could just breathe strongly again!" I thought. His face had now turned to a light blue color, the bruises on his face were more distinct, and he was not good to look at. The wound on his side had become worse and the smell had intensified.
It was at this point that I cried out in loud desperation, with tears still cascading down my cheeks "Dear God, what is this, what am I seeing? Why is this giant tied down? Why is he dying? What can be done? After all, it IS a giant!
I cannot remember ever feeling this kind of desperation in my entire life. I cannot describe to you the brokenness, hurt, and pain I felt on my inside. It was so intense that it felt as though I had come to the end of life's journey. I had never been here before! It then became clear that what I was seeing had a very deep and meaningful implication. I bowed my head, still softly weeping . . .
And then I heard a voice speaking to me - A voice so gentle and compassionate that it had to have been the Holy Spirit. And yet, He spoke with so much conviction and authority.
"The giant you see lying on its back," the voice said, "is the sad picture of the Church in America today. It is not as though it has never had power, but it is now in bondage, hurt, wounded, sick, and dying - all because of what people have made it to become. If the Church would ever arise again it will shake the nation and the world. America is in the condition it is because of the state of the Church.
"The restraints that are holding the Church (the giant) down are the bindings of man-made traditions, philosophies, religiosity, and personal agendas. They are demanding their ways. They are desiring a church that will be please to man instead of pleasing God"
As I looked closer at the straps around the body I could now see words written on them: Legalism, hypocrisy, worldliness, double standards, control, two-facedness, power struggles, manipulation, pretense, apathy, insincere worship, prayerlessness . . .
"For the most part the Church in America is no longer the life-giving change agent it was meant to be. It has become no more than another organization that feeds the desires and pleasures of man. It has lost its life, power, and relevance and has become sick."
I was startled and appalled. There was a knot on my own stomach. How did I compare? How much have I contributed to this condition? Where do I stand? A deep silence fell on me as I stood there in absolute shock.
"The multitudes of people represent the church members who are actively involved in church matters. Their attention, however, is focused more on their own activities rather than on the body. Although a great number of people have been attracted to the Church, most are no longer working to advance its purposes. Many are not leaving altogether because they don't want to lose the benefits of being connected to the Church. Their desire is longer passionate worship to God."
The next revelation shook me to the core and I have been in spiritual introspection ever since. To be honest - I do not like everything that I am finding in my own life!
"The huge, gaping wound in the giant's side is caused by many of those who have been called to be full-time ministers. They have been called, but many have compromised their calling. It is no longer about Christ and His Church, but more about them. They have lost their passion and running for an earthly prize and the applause of man.
"There is an absence in their devotion. They are eagerly trying to find ways to attract the crowds at the cost of building the true Church. They are delivering sermons that stroke the ears of the hearers, but avoiding messages of conviction. Their messages are dripping with popularity, but have no power. There is no anointing and no call to true repentance. They are more concerned to not offend people than offending God.
"They are no longer preaching to bring change, but rather to bring comfort. They concentrate on the feelings (soul) of man, and ignore the life-changing experience of the Spirit.They are involved in religious activities and have forgotten about spiritual commitment.
"Many are secretly entertaining sinful life-styles and trying to find excuses for not having to live holy. They have designed their own sets of rules and have carved out their own standards of living. They are hiding and believe they will not be caught in the wrong they are presently involved with. Many have been revealed, but many more are going to be revealed in time to come - and it's going to be soon.
"They have forsaken their responsibilities, relinquished their accountability, and abandoned personal discipline. It has become a bad smelling odor in the face of God. It has made the Church weak - to the point where it cannot face the onslaught of the enemy.
"A spirit of professional jealousy has taken control of many and they think nothing of speaking evil of those that are actually part of the army that should be fighting against the spirit of evil and darkness. They call each other names and make fun of the sacred things of God. Unforgiveness, strife, and even hatred has taken root among many and they continue in ministry not knowing what a bondage it has created. It is a spirit, and is stifling the Body of Christ and robbing the freedom of the Holy Spirit.
"All these things have wounded the Body of Christ and are causing indescribable pain. It has become a stench!
"The people crawling onto the face of the giant, trying to breathe into his mouth and nostrils is a picture of people trying with their feeble, failing attempts to breathe life into the church.
"People are endeavoring to bring life through man-made programs, social activities, special events, and even worldly methods, to stir up life again. They believe they can make it happen on their own. They are building organizational structures and using manipulative control instead of allowing the true manifestation of the Holy Spirit.They have been creative in their programs and their plans, but there is still no life.
"They have chosen their own ways, above those of God and have developed a form of godliness, but with no power. Their attempts have bruised the face of the Church and have made its appearance undesirable."
I cried out, "Oh Lord, what can be done? I know the Church cannot and will not die. I know the Church will make it - it's not going under; it's going over! But something is going to have to happen.
Suddenly everything became quiet - very quiet. It seemed as though there was anticipation in the air. Then I heard it . . .
Sounds were coming up from the people. It started with the ministers. I heard a soft but intense groaning. Then it became louder and clearly became the sound of contrite prayer - a definite prayer of deep repentance. They were turning their attention away from themselves and their own interests. It seemed as thought they were throwing things away from them.
I heard loud sobbing, then preachers calling out to God with so much agony, regret and remorse that it gripped my heart. They were now lamenting before God - begging for His mercy and forgiveness. I sensed a deep sincerity. There was something different about their prayers. There was conviction! I cannot remember every hearing such contrite, broken, sincere praying in all my life - nowhere! (I did, however, see some turn around and run away, but they were in the minority).
The agonizing prayer moved like a cloud over all of the rest of the multitude and the same sound of weeping, wailing, and repentance arose from them. It now sounded like thunder and it felt as though the earth was shaking. There was no one on the giant's face any longer. They were all on the ground, mostly lying with their faces on the ground. I have never heard such repentance and agony from so many people!
I then heard a sound coming from the ocean. I turned my face toward that direction and noticed it was a wind coming from there and it was getting louder and stronger. It was blowing in the direction of the giant. Huge excitement built up on my inside.
The next moment the Wind blew over the giant and into his nostrils. I could see new life coming back to him. It seemed as though he was taking a deep breath and then I saw his chest begin to heave up, and as it did I saw the straps! I saw them as they were breaking loose over his body - one by one! They snapped away like tight rubber bands. The giant was now breathing again!
The people were still on the ground weeping and praying. They were still lost in their supplication. A spirit of worship had taken over.
The next moment I saw a large (very large) hand descending from heaven - slowly coming down on the body of the giant. At the same time it seemed as though heavy thunder sounded from heaven - a deep rumbling. The hand continued to come down and rested on the body for a moment, and then slowly started lifting. As it lifted, the body arose with it! And now the arms and hands were also free.
To my amazement I now also saw in awe how the huge wound had disappeared and new color was coming to the face. The body was up on its feet, healed and alive!
The great multitudes of people were now also on their feet with shouts of praise, worship and adoration. I do not have the vocabulary to describe that marvelous sound of triumph and victory. As the giant stood on its feet I saw many little bodies fleeing on the other side and great numbers of people running through the valley on their way to the sound of the worship and prayer.
(True godly worship is coming back to the Church - and it's more than just singing. Truth is when the music stops our worship shouldn't).
The voice spoke up again and said, "The Church (the sleeping, sick, dying giant) will shortly arise, and will be well and strong again. But it will not happen if the ministers don't first turn back to God in agonizing repentance , and begin to lead the people back to godly worship, and the Christians do not turn from their own wicked ways. Great healing and deliverance is coming, but the believers have to cry out to God and get serious again! That will be the only answer for America!
The giant turned his face toward the land and slowly started moving in what seemed to be a north-easterly direction. The multitudes followed him with great exclamation. A great wave was following them and many people joined their ranks!
Jesus said:
I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!
PERSONAL NOTE
I firmly believe we are about to experience a fresh move of God, as we have never seen. Miracles, signs, and wonders, and also great deliverance and salvation will mark it.
It is time for the Church (the sleeping, dying giant) to rise up. This is the Church's finest hour and we need to seize the moment.
SOME THINGS ABOUT THE VISION: I do not fully understand what the young man, who ran into the room where I was standing, really means. I do not want to give my own interpretation, but it could mean that it is going to be the next generation that's going to sound the alarm and call the attention to the condition of the Church.
I also do not quite understand why one foot was in the ocean and the other on dry land. Neither do I fully comprehend the dirty, but still strong shoes the giant was wearing. I can try to give my own interpretation but prefer to refrain from it.
Personally I believe the condition of the Church as it pertains to the church in America is also true of the churches in most other (especially westernized) countries.
PRAY WITH ME that the Holy Spirit will bring full clarity to this vision and help us to return to righteousness.