20 years ago I was standing holding hands in my home in a circle at the end of a home group meeting. As I stood, the Spirit of the Lord came on me in an unusual way, and I felt "the burning heart" consume me, and I prophesied.
"WHERE ARE THE FATHERS?"
"WHERE ARE THE FATHERS?"
"WHERE ARE THE FATHERS?"
I understood the why of that burden of God. The Lord Himself was responding to the lack of true Shepherds for His people, and very sad and grieved that it was so.
I then wrote about seven national men who were in a place of authority, and only one, wrote me back, but with no answer.
Eight years passed, and I had another visitation I suppose, by the Lord. I was on fire; my chest area and heart area burned hard, and I was keeling over in grief and indignation, and I prophesied again.
This was God's reply to "Where are the Fathers?" They are coming, and at the same time, he is diminishing the role of the greedy shepherd.
This is a sound indictment that explains what happens to men when they desire to dominate the church....they become greedy wolves in a feeding frenzy; Satan anoints them to make sure they are satiated on the innocent.
Hear now, heads of Jacob!
And rulers of the house of Israel. !
Is it not for you to know justice? !
“You who hate good and love evil,
Who tear off their skin from them
And their flesh from their bones,
3 Who eat the flesh of my people,
Strip off their skin from them,
Break their bones
And chop them up as for the pot
And as meat in a kettle.”
4 Then they will cry out to the LORD,
But He will not answer them.
Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time
Because they have practiced evil deeds.
5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray;
When they have something to bite with their teeth, [as a man would test gold..]
They cry, “Peace,”
But against him who puts nothing in their mouths
They declare holy war. [ Jihad ]
6 Therefore it will be night for you—without vision,
And darkness for you—without divination.
The sun will go down on the prophets.!
I sent this out to leaders then, in 1999, but because of the controversy of one of them, I extracted reference to him, and now post the prophecy as it was given to me.
Also, when reading Andrew J. Hortons post on the "babies in the dungeon" thread...I realized that it was parallel, amazingly so, as to what the Lord has shown me.
The true Shepherds ARE on the way. They will be all we ever hoped for, and will lay their lives down for God's lambs, in love, no matter the cost to them.
THE SHEEPGATE
January, 1999
Tom Watkins
Things have changed recently. The Lord has established a sheep gate. Written over it is “Brethren” and “Freedom”. Every Christian on Earth must pass through it.
The Prophetic Movement is over. It has fallen, even to the spirit of the Pharisees, and the Lord is grieved, and has judged it.
Any brother, any leader, any Prophet, any Apostle, any Evangelist, any Pastor, any minister, that will not hear, and pass through this gate, shall be left out of the end time ministry, His Harvest, His service.
I’ll say, “Thus says the Lord.”
“BRETHREN”
“As much as you have done it to the least of these, MY BRETHREN, you have done it to ME.” [See Ezekiel 34....2-6]
1 CORINTHIAN: 11…27-32 FOR HE WHO EATS AND DRINKS, DRINKS JUDGMENT TO HIMSELF; IF HE DOES NOT JUDGE [DISCERN] THE BODY RIGHTLY.”
Every blood washed child, man or woman belongs to Jesus. He is jealous and passionate for them. The Pharisees refused to walk among them. Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, and many other nobodies like me, and you. Thank you Lord Jesus.
The Pharisees hated Him for this. He could do nothing else though; it was His nature.
“…but with force and severity you have dominated them…[Ezekiel 34 ]
The Sheep Gate is receiving EVERY person as Jesus does. The Lord is on the other side with His Rod. HE is the good Shepherd.
MINISTRY AS WE HAVE KNOWN IT HAS CHANGED. THE LORD IS FED UP.
The Shepherds persecute and falsely prophesy against the heart of Jesus to preserve their place, power, and position. It is subtle, but real.
ISAIAH 40, 3-6 ” A VOICE IS CALLING; “CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE LORD IN THE WILDERNESS!” “MAKE SMOOTH IN THE DESERT A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD!” LET EVERY VALLEY BE LIFTED UP,
AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL BE MADE LOW. AND LET THE ROUGH GROUND BECOME A PLAIN, AND THE RUGGED TERRAIN A BROAD VALLEY;………….THEN THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE REVEALED!….AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE IT TOGETHER!”…..for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it!
The little ones, the helpless, the widows, the orphans, the unimportant, the diseased, and the driven away, the poor, the unlearned and the nobodies shall be exalted and honored by their King.
The arrogant, the rulers, the Princes, the Pharisees, and all that sit on top, and leave the meek their crumbs, SHALL BE MADE LOW!
THIS IS THE SHEEP GATE...[ and the Spirit of Elijah "]
JESUS IS STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE CALLING; ..”
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY CHURCH?”…WITH HIS ROD.
A broad Plain is one body and unity. Equal love, equal mercy, equal honor…TO THE LEAST OF THESE MY BROTHERS. Jesus died for us ALL. He is bringing this to pass, and those who refuse this Word, shall be left out of end time ministry. They will NOT be allowed to touch anything holy. . They will NOT adorn the Bride. They will NOT even be allowed to wash her feet, unless they obey this word.
That goes for every “leader”… [ servant ]. But for those who endure and receive it; they will be a part of the Revelation of the Glory of Jesus in His Holy Bride. They will be honored with clothing her; nurturing her, feeding Her, Protecting Her;
....even to the laying down of their own lives….and it will be glorious…..TO GOD…AND TO MEN.
”FREEDOM”
Jesus is proclaiming freedom to His people. The fathers are coming forth. I have seen them in the end-times...[ another vision ]
They are broken, humble and meek, and carry the heart of Jesus, and lead God’s people to the Lord Himself. They present the Bride to the King so that HE will be pleased. They are foot washers and they love the Bride. They lay their lives down and take great care, individually, as they walk and live in the midst of the church.
They have the Fathers heart, even to the least and to all. They are offended over sin, and will weep over individuals, and grieve over individual sins, like greed, selfishness and immorality.
They will eat with Mary and Martha, and hang out with Lazarus; just because they love the heart of the meek. They will be friends of sinners, and walk everyday on the streets as life givers.
No office buildings, no schedule books, no appointments; but
SPIRIT LED FATHERS THAT UNDERSTAND THAT ROYAL AND HIGH TITLE OF BROTHER!
They [ the fathers ] will protect the freedom of the church, AND THE CHURCH WILL BE FREE.
They will be given great authority, even as the 12 apostles, to protect her freedom. Many in leadership today will be jealous of this glory, and will want to steal it, for themselves and their ministries……
BUT THIS GROUP WILL NOT ALLOW IT.
The Pharisees today who don’t repent and come through…..WILL BE IGNORED AND BECOME IRRELEVANT! And great joy and holy Presence will rest upon this Church, and true FREEDOM TO BE LOVED BY Jesus….even to the least.
THIS IS THE SHEEP GATE.
Brother Tom Watkins.....We need grace in buckets to survive...but we will.