elisha tomb 13 dec 2018

I always take close note of any archaeological discoveries which take place in the Middle East, as very often they occur at specific times and seasons in order for there to be a prophetic message released to those who have eyes to see what the Spirit is doing. Bearing this in mind, a remarkable prophetic sign took place in the earth on 13th December, which I believe is speaking a message over the coming year of 2019.

One of the gates of the Tigris (‘Dicle’ in Turkish) Dam, broke on this date, due to EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINS. The dam was constructed to supply water to Diyarbakır, one of the largest cities in south-eastern Turkey, situated on the right bank of the River Tigris. It is the administrative capital of the region. The water level decreased by around 10 meters and what was very significant is that it revealed the tomb of Elisha, which had been completely hidden by water for the last 23 years!

Beloved, it is no accident that a gate in this dam wall was broken through and the waters were drawn back, revealing the tomb of Elisha. The Genesis account states that on the 3rd day of creation, the waters were drawn back and the earth brought forth plant life from the seed that was already hidden within it. So, what was buried in this Turkish ground revealed by the receding water? This will indicate what is about to spring forth in the coming season. Around the tomb of Elisha, there were many other gravestones, but the newly unveiled tomb of Elisha no longer contains the bones of this amazing prophet of God. They were removed before the dam was built. The other graves however, marked the place of the bones of ordinary men and women long dead. The message this speaks to me is that this administrative capital was being fed with waters which originally had their source in Eden, the garden of God (Genesis 2:10-14), but these hidden graves and their dead bones had continuously been tainting the water with death. In the Old Testament, anyone who had contact with a dead body was immediately considered unclean and had to stay outside the camp for a prescribed period. In other words, the imbibing of this unclean water by the administrative capital had consistently tainted every governmental decision carried out. Without the bones of Elisha there to cleanse and purify the water (just as he did with the bitter water that flowed from the spring in Jericho), there was no way for this water-head from the original river of Eden to be restored to its lifegiving power. A spring cannot bring forth both sweet and bitter water, but if one of its tributaries is contaminated downstream, it brings disrepute to the whole stream. Those tasting the bitter water assume that the source is also to be avoided and likewise, modern-day Christianity has in many cases served contaminated water and brought disrepute to the Name of God, the Source of the water of Life. We have need of the anointing and sound of a double portion of the Spirit of Elijah to cleanse the waters we offer the world.

 

It is also important to note that the dam was built to CONTROL the water flow of the Tigris (or Hidekkel, as it was originally called). Man always tries to control the flow of the river of God because he wants to build and settle. But the heavy latter rain is going to cause a breakthrough and a passing out at the gate, and the waters will recede or drop, just as they did with Noah as he waited in the ark. The first things to appear after the flood were the tops of the mountains upon which the ark had come to rest. Mountains represent giants in the faith, just like Elisha. When the gate of this man-made dam broke, the tomb of this giant of God was revealed. Let’s examine the account of what took place at this tomb:

2Ki 13:20  Elisha died, and they buried him. Bands of the Moabites invaded the land in the spring of the next year. 2Ki 13:21  As a man was being buried, such a band was seen coming; and the man was cast into Elisha's tomb. And when the man being let down touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

The dam wall was built for control and to obscure the place of the release of resurrection power. Before this, the bones of Elisha were moved to a convenient place for veneration. Isn’t that just like the church? We dam up the natural flow of the river of God to make a lake for water sports and refreshment and keep all control in our hands, and then set up little shrines elsewhere that don’t affect what we are building and administrating. But the incomparably great power which raised Christ from the dead is meant to be available to us who are predestined to live for the praise of His glory – note, not the praise of His grace but His glory, and so now Heaven is releasing the heavy latter rain of the revelation of Christ and in 2019, there shall be a breaking through and a breaking out at the gate and a bringing forth of that which was hidden and veiled.

Why was this tomb unveiled now? Because this is the place where the dead made connection to the resurrection power of God. It is a sign of the unveiling of the access place in the Spirit to connect to resurrection power. Ephesians 1 tells us that Paul prayed for the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened, or given light and revelation, so that they could know the hope of their calling and the glorious RICHES of his inheritance in the saints AND the exceeding greatness of His power. Elisha means ‘God of Riches’ and Elisha’s life was a demonstration of the power of the God of riches. He is able to provide the double portion!

The casting into the tomb of Elisha is a picture of the restoring the name of the dead to their inheritance; the release of the double portion of the mantle of Elijah. Elisha had to cross the Jordan, go past the place of death to access it and so do we. It was stored up in heaven for him, but was not cast down and accessible until the changing of the guard; until the ‘seeing’ of Elijah’s ascension. Just as the disciples saw Jesus ascending in the clouds and had to wait to be endued with power from on high before going forth and doing greater things, so too, those who offer themselves willingly in the Day of His power must wait to ‘see’ and be endued or clothed over with the appointed mantle. It is the same mantle used in the last season by Elijah, but changed, imbued with an extra portion of anointing and power.

There is much to chew on in this resurrection account and we must not miss one grain of its nourishment as it is the portion of understanding given to propel us into 2019 in great power and victory. The timing of this encounter with the tomb of Elisha is important.

2Ki 13:20  Elisha died, and they buried him. Bands of the Moabites invaded the land in the spring of the next year. 2Ki 13:21  As a man was being buried, such a band was seen coming; and the man was cast into Elisha's tomb.

Note that the voice of Elisha; the sound of the spirit of Elijah had fallen silent in the previous season. And then came the winter; the bare branches and lack of any sign of life. So much so, that in the spring which followed, a man was being buried. The lack of the sound from the true mouthpiece of God has brought such malnourishment, that death was inevitable. All that remained for the man was burial – of hopes, dreams, visions and plans.

Without the authentic prophetic sound from the mouth of a holy messenger in the earth, the spiritual life of the people of God dwindles to a trickle and then, like the Brook Cherith, dries up completely. However, spring, the season of the funeral procession, is also the season of the heavy latter rain. Does not Hosea 6 say that our God breaks down in order to build up? He wounds in order to heal. The dismantling of the old season which you have just been through has been utterly necessary. And after 2 days, He will REVIVE us. This speaks of the release of new life; of an awakening from the dead, just like the bare trees of winter begin to bud and bring forth new life as fresh sap begins to flow in their veins. On the 3rd day, He will RAISE US UP, to dwell before His face. He is coming to us as the heavy latter rain; the spring rain which brings the harvest to full ripeness. And it is the glory weight of this latter rain which will cause the gate to be broken through.

The unveiling of the tomb of Elisha is heralding the season of the release of resurrection power and life for those have been brought to the place of death to self. The Hebrew word ‘latter rain’ means ‘eloquence’ and speaks of a powerful flow of anointed words from those whose tongues are the pen of a Ready Writer (psalm 45); those who ride forth for the cause of Truth. The heavy latter rain is imbued with the same breath and wind that raised up the mighty army of dead bones in Ezekiel chapter 37. There has already been a shaking and a rattling and a coming together of bone to its bone, and sinew has even been laid upon these joined bones, but the resurrection breath of God has yet to be released into these divine connections and partnerships. Just as God formed Adam and then had to breathe into him in order for him to stand upon his feet, a man made in the image of God, so too there lies a vast body of divine connections in the earth; the waiting Body of spiritually mature men and women; the endtime 2nd Adam, yet to be filled and raised to its feet for the endtime work of the Kingdom. Only the breath of the Bridegroom will raise this bondslave army to its feet and release it to do the greater works. And the heavy latter rain comes with just that impartation in mind. God intends to sow His sons like a rain of arrows into the earth in the early morning of this 3rd day. From the womb of the morning will spring forth His young men who are as the dew (psalm 110); a mighty force in the earth, priests after the order of Melchizedek, operating in the double portion of resurrection power.

According to 2 Kings 13, in the spring, the Moabite raiders appear in the land, (The Moabites were a violent unclean bunch, which sprang from the incestuous union of Lot and his daughter after the destruction of Sodom). Their appearance is the trigger which causes the dead man to be cast into the tomb of Elisha. Remember this: though there be violence and a flood of uncleanness in the land in 2019, its appearance will herald your appointment with the God of Riches and resurrection power.

In the spring, kings go to war (2 Sam 11:1). These newly anointed and crowned kings are those who have offered themselves willingly in the day of His power, saying, ”Here I am, send me”, and dying to self, dreams, associations and their own will, are then ready to be cast into the tomb of Elisha. ‘To cast’ is ‘to form into a predetermined form by pouring into a mold’. Only liquid metal can be cast, which means one has yielded completely in the crucible of the Refiner’s fire, letting go of all dross, all self-centered plans and dreams.

Heb 12:1  THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,

Coins are ‘cast’ or minted and, according to the image forged upon them, they have authority to transact in the earthly realm. They are endued with authority during the casting, and once released, walk in this same authority and power from then on, no matter how many transactions they carry out. That cloud of witnesses who surround you and accompany you to your own ‘burial’ will participate in ‘casting’ you into the appointed portal, connecting you to the measured portion resurrection power laid up for you. You have borne the image of the earthly. Now it is time for you to go forth bearing the image of the Heavenly, and walking in the same authority and power as He did. The Kinsman-Redeemer, the Man of riches, is restoring the name of the dead to the inheritance that is stored up for them. The day of the double portion has arrived.

In 2019, the Breaker is going ahead of you and breaking through at the gate, so that the heavy latter rain may gush forth, carrying you to your assignment in the harvest field. The heavy latter rain is releasing the greatness of His power and it is propelling you to the appointed metron of rule as one of His sons. Jesus was raised with resurrection power and seated at the right hand of God in heavenly places, far above principalities and powers (Eph 1:20,21). Eph 1:5 says that He foreordained us to be ‘adopted’ in accordance with His will. The word ‘adopted’ actually means ‘to place as a son in a position of delegated authority’ i.e. released to take over your Father’s business. So we know that this coming release of resurrection power is for the purpose of raising and seating the sons of God in the place of the right hand; the season of the manifestation of the sons of God is at hand.

For 23 years, the tomb of Elisha lay hidden under the water. 23 is the gematria of the phrase ‘Aleph tav’. It represents the complete work of Him who is the Aleph and the Tav; the Alpha and Omega. You knew that He would complete the work He began in you, but it still lies hidden within, veiled. The unveiling of the tomb of Elisha at the close of 2018 is a prophetic sign which announces that, for those who are dead to self, the season of the release of resurrection power is at hand, in preparation for the placing of sons! Before you are placed as a son in your delegated area of authority, you must be clothed with power from on high; infused with resurrection power.

We all know that the Word says in 1 Cor 15:52 that we shall be changed, in the twinkling of an eye. We will be clothed over. What is very interesting is that this word ‘twinkling’ in Greek actually means ‘to fling (properly with a quick toss, to deposit (as if a load); by extension to disperse: - cast (down, out), scatter abroad, throw’. The dead young man was ‘flung’ and ‘quickly tossed’ into the tomb of Elisha and came out changed and full of resurrection power. Expect quick connection with the power of Heaven and total filling in the year ahead. 2019 is the year of monumental shift and change; the year of the manifestation of the prepared ones, filled with the sound of the heavy latter rain and walking in the double portion assigned to the firstborn from among the dead.

Mic 2:13 The Breaker will go up before them. They will break through, pass in through the gate and go out through it, and their King will pass on before them, the Lord at their head.

Selah