Spirit and Truth Ministries

OUR ONLY PLACE OF SAFETY

A Prophetic Dream Given the Night of April 28, 1997

Don Hawley

Note before proceeding: If you have not read my prophetic dream entitled "Gates of Heaven/Gates of Hell", please peruse it at this time as this dream is a follow up of that one.

THE DREAM

At the beginning of the dream I found myself at the edge of an inhabited area, where I noticed the blacktop had been broken and pushed up into a pile about three feet high. The heap definitely had not been there earlier that same morning. As I walked I came upon a similar pile just a few feet away. Curious, I stopped to inspect it, and then noticed slight vapors of steam issuing from cracks in the mound. I then realized it had to do with volcanic activity.

A bit apprehensively I walked on into a wooded area. Since there was practically no underbrush I was able to see clearly for some distance. As I progressed I saw there were literally scores of tiny mounds no more than an inch high, and out of each one came a little wisp of steam.

At this time my attention was drawn to a pack of vicious dogs running through the woods and attacking any wildlife that they happened upon. One victim was a badger, that was trying to defend himself as best he could. Then, suddenly, about twenty feet ahead I saw a helpless little lamb, an easy mark for the killer dogs. But before the dogs could tear the lamb apart, it spotted me. Without hesitation it took about three bounds, and leaped right into my arms for safety. The dogs were no threat to me. As I snuggled the trembling lamb, I felt an overwhelming joy at being able to hold and protect it. With the safety of the lamb assured, I awoke.

THE INTERPRETATION

The two significant volcanic mounds were representative of the "time of trouble such as never was" that is about burst upon mankind--even Christians--as an overwhelming surprise. The steam is to warn us of the intensity of what will take place. Blacktop is hard and tough, as is our civilization. But it will be no match for what is coming upon the earth. The fact that these mounds were not there earlier in the day, shows that we will be caught off guard by the rapidity of end time events. God must laugh at our orderly little "end-time charts" that indicate we have him all figured out. Every one of us will be shocked when things transpire that we never even imagined.

The wooded area reminded me that there will be no place to hide from this time of trouble. Decades ago, several families from my home church in South Dakota packed up and headed for the woods of Arkansas. They were frightened concerning end-time tribulations, and sought a place of security. Most of them are dead now, and hiding in the woods did them no good. Whatever witness they might have been was lost as their attention was turned inward to self preservation. Even now I hear talk of families leaving not only the cities, but even the suburbs for a hideaway in the hills. They are putting in large stocks of supplies; they plan to hunker down until the Lord himself says it is safe to come out and inhabit their heavenly mansions. Let the cities burn; they are out to take care of number one.

A MINISTRY TO OTHERS

No doubt our cities will be places of rioting and turmoil, and perhaps it would be prudent to have a modest store of supplies for immediate use. But some Christians still have to have a love for the people of the cities; someone has to invade the very strongholds of evil to rescue souls for whom Christ paid the ultimate price. Jesus didn't hide out in the Galilean hills; he came boldly into the city of Jerusalem and taught right in the Temple courts. The Father hasn't written off the cities, and neither should we. Instead, we need Christian warriors who will press the battle against principalities and the powers of darkness. The true "mother of all battles" is just beginning. Put on your armor, and prepare to wield the sword of truth.

In my dream the underbrush was cleared so that I could see scores, perhaps hundreds, of little mounds with steam vents. Impending events are everywhere, all around us. When it all bursts forth, every aspect of our lives will be affected. The repercussions will be global, and nothing will ever again be like it used to be. Everything will be in disorder. The economy will collapse; stocks, bonds, even money itself will be without value. Governments will fall, and mobs will rule in many places. Armies will march, and battles will rage. Health professionals will face terrible epidemics against which their best skills are helpless. Natural disasters will devastate the earth. Except for the fact that God has promised to make a short work upon the earth, the human race would be wiped out.

Christians will not go completely unscathed; some will even be martyred. Nevertheless, those who have established a close relationship with Christ will have no fear, and they will hold fast till the end. Then, a glorious, eternal dawn with all things made new.

A PLACE OF SAFETY

My wife and I dearly love our little French Poodle, but in general dogs do not come off too well in the Bible. David said "My enemies surround me like a pack ofdogs." The dogs of my dream represent the forces of evil in their last spasm of hatred trying to destroy the entire human race. The wild animals they rip up are those who have not chosen Christ. Even though many of these people have been loyal to the devil, he has no care for them. Those who have chosen him have chosen death.

The helpless little lamb represents the sheep of Christ's pasture. To the devil they look like an easy mark. And they are helpless without Jesus, but he is a good Shepherd. He even laid down his own life for the sheep. Now he is alive forever more, and he is their strong place of refuge in any time of need. With a bound of faith we can flee to a place of complete safety where the devil's dogs dare not venture. In fact, time is short for both the devil and his dogs. He knows this, but has decided to go out roaring. It will end in a whimper, and a cry of despair.

There is no possible way to describe with words the wonderful warmth that flooded my soul as I cradled that little lamb in my arms. But it did give me, for a moment, a tiny understanding of how enraptured Jesus is when we trust in him alone for all of our needs. He has paid such a heavy price, and yet so few really love him deeply in return. How he longs to be everything for us.

Today our attention is easily drawn to our worldly possessions, our career, our entertainment, our denominational traditions, or our trials. If our eyes are not instead riveted on Christ, we will not know where to find him when our eternal life is at stake. Now is the only time we have to make sure that our walk with him is steady and firm. This is the day of our salvation.