Yesterday, the discussion of the three major Ages suggested there is a lesser manifestation (seed) and a subsequent greater manifestation (fruit) in each Age. In the long-term cycle of Our Heavenly Father’s timeline, the three major feasts are a type and shadow of each Age: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. I find that Our Heavenly Father’s endpoints to those Ages tend to be held back from those occupying the earth at the time due to their blindness and deafness to seeing and hearing the Spirit. In hindsight, it was obvious. But those living it out at the time often had little or no understanding of the big picture. I have personally heard and read prophets predicting the “return of Christ” throughout my entire adult life. At the time and based on my current understanding and knowledge, it seemed plausible. However, they were all wrong. Do we shoot them? No, forgive them.
As we progress in our maturity, we are given greater understanding about Scripture. New facets open up to us in the very same passage that seemed to be minor in the past. The new facet was hidden in plain sight. How do we know when we have the “fullness”? We don’t know beforehand. We cannot be sure afterwards unless Our Heavenly Father tells us that we now have the fullness. This is why we must seek Wisdom from Above as we walk out our callings. Men only know in part and if you put too much faith in their “current” revelation, you will be left unfulfilled. I trust that when you read our postings as well as others, you let the Holy Spirit minister a second witness to what you are taking in. Our goal is to promote a personal relationship with Our Heavenly Father and for you to hear HIM directly, not relying on us to hear HIM for you. We provide you with writings to instruct or to consider in an effort to move you toward greater maturity. With that said, let us consider the “lesser” and “greater” in the context of the prophecy of the greatest prophet, John the Baptist:
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
As Stephen Jones often says: any time you see wheat or threshing floor, it is typically referring to the Age or Feast of Pentecost. In this passage, John speaks of the matured wheat being gathered up. Additionally “winnowing” represents the “Barley Overcomers” or “Remnant”. You “winnow” barley and you “thresh” wheat. The first fruits of a harvest are presented at the Day of Pentecost:
Exodus 34:22 “And you shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end.
John The Baptist is referring to the end of the Age of Pentecost since the threshing floor is being cleaned and the harvest is at the end of its cycle. At the end of the cycle is the “chaff burning” time. What is chaff? The fleshly covering to protect the “fruit” until it has fully matured. The threshing of wheat is a more difficult process and there is notable resistance versus the “winnowing” of barley. Barley provides little or no resistance in separating from the fleshly covering.
To the best of my understanding, John’s prophecy has not been completely fulfilled. The lesser fire of cloven tongues was reported in Acts 2. I have personally experienced this lesser fire and have operated in the “Spirituals” at various times. However, I have not been fully purged by the “unquenchable” fire yet nor I have heard of anyone else experiencing it. We have had many temporary examples of what to expect, but none were sustained. I believe those were provided for our encouragement.
From all indications, we are at the end of a major Age. Wickedness is abounding, but Grace abounds more. It appears that the Greater Fire is soon to come. The overall earth needs a “Great Reset” economically. Moral bankruptcy is spreading around the world. Perversity and lawlessness have infiltrated the political and church systems. Now is the time for the unquenchable fire to burn up the chaff. But first He is separating and gathering His wheat. Thy Kingdom come!