I am sharing this experience with you to honor four young women that visited me recently. Two were from China and two from Mike Bickle’s church. When they came into the office, they saw the picture from my journal lying on the desk. I told them that I was thinking of sharing the revelation/experience concerning the betrothal gifts with the picture drawn twenty years ago. They told me that many children learning English in China read “Heaven Awaits the Bride” and also follow this website because they like the pictures, as well as the true stories.
So – in honor of the children in China that read these true stories – Bless you and I hope you enjoy this amazing experience with our Lord.
CONCERNING THE GIFTS
The ancient custom of giving the future bride gifts at the time she agrees to marry is still prevalent today. The man, now, usually brings an engagement ring.
The custom is featured in the Bible when Abraham’s servant travels back to the area where Abraham’s relatives live to seek a bride for his son Isaac. Supernaturally the chosen young maiden is shown to the servant, (who represents the Holy Spirit). When she says she will go with the servant to marry Isaac, the servant unloads (from his camel caravan) gifts for the family of the chosen bride and many valuable gifts for her.
RECEIVING THE BETROTHAL GIFTS
The following is such an occurrence in my life – twenty years ago, while living in a government project. The revelation/experience was written in a book: ‘The Priestly Bride’; but the colored pencil drawing that was a part of the story in the journal has never been seen, (except by the young ladies from Kansas City and from China.)
The scriptures substantiating the scriptural relevance of the vision and clarifying the experience will be found in the “Teaching” section of this month’s web site.
I do hope you enjoy it.
THE GIFTS
The edges of the air were on fire.
I raised my hand to shield my eyes from the searing light. The very molecules of the air within our apartment were burning white-hot from a central point.
Swiftly the Holy Spirit spoke: “Rise, Anna.” At the time I was down on my knees in prayer asking for more of God. Now, however, I had stopped praying, for I was struck by the wonder materializing before my eyes. The air sizzled and curled.
From the center of this phenomenon, the fiery glory of the Lord began to burn through the wall of our apartment. The Holy Spirit had to set me on my feet, for I could not stand. Seeing the Lord’s glory while on Earth and in one’s body is very different from seeing Him above while in spirit. His glory is almost more than the physical body can bear.1
ANGELS OF HIS PRESENCE
As I rose to my feet, stately angels of HIS PRESENCE stepped through the center of the blazing light to enter the room.2 They came in pairs but separated as they touched the room’s atmosphere. Four angels stood before me in a semicircle to my left, four angels in a semicircle to my right. They wore pale lavender robes embroidered with deep purple and gold on the sleeves and hem. Golden girdles bound these garments across their chests.3 Each angel carried something in his hands in the manner of an emissary.
Then four additional angels, similarly dressed, entered the room through the burning air. Each of these held one pole of a canopy, the sort one might see in a Jewish wedding. As they moved forward, the word LOVE could be seen at times in the canopy’s fabric.4
KING JESUS
The Holy Spirit stirred and swelled into a whirlwind in response to the One who now stepped beneath the canopy. King Jesus, brighter than the sun, entered the room.
Through the shock of unbelievable light, I could see faintly that He was wearing a rich purple cloak that opened in the front and hung in folds to the ground. It had long sleeves and was edged with a wide, gold brocaded border. Beneath this garment was a white robe that also reached to His feet. The robe was grappled across His chest with a golden girdle. On His head was a golden crown that was similar in some respects to the crowns used to cap Torah scrolls.5 He was terrible in majesty, awesome in holiness, splendid in beauty.
The Holy Spirit swirled around me to strengthen me, for the intense light and power emanating from the Lord made it difficult for me to stand.
GIFTS
Then, as if by some silent command from Jesus, the nearest angel in the semicircle stepped toward me. In his hands he held a golden crown, which he carefully placed upon my head. “Wisdom,” he said, smiling slightly.6 Then crossing his arms over his chest, he nodded respectfully and stepped back into the semicircle.
The angel opposite him in the semicircle stepped forward with the gift he was carrying. He placed golden earrings on my ears. “Knowledge,” he said.7 Then he too folded his arms over his chest and moved back to join the other angels.
One by one each of the remaining angels of His presence brought the gift that he held in his hands. After the physical gift was placed upon me, the angel named the spiritual gift it symbolized. The gifts these angels presented included a golden heart that hung on a chain over my own heart – understanding;8 golden bracelets on each wrist – discretion;9 a golden nose ornament – discernment;10 golden rings on each finger – the ability to communicate;11 and a golden necklace – the fear of the Lord.12 The eighth angel stepped forward and blew a mist of gold over me. It covered me like a veil from my head to my feet. “Favor,” he said as he smiled.13 He too nodded and stepped back into the semicircle.
THE RESPONSE
I was stunned. I had never received such an immediate and extravagant answer to prayer. I looked down at the gifts that I was able to see. They were princely – gifts of my Father from my Father.14 But why the canopy?
“Lord,” I said, “let all of these gifts be within for Your pleasure.”15
He smiled at me. “Because you have asked that these be for My pleasure, they will be [for My pleasure] and will also be experienced by others. These gifts will unlock My heart to you and to My body. All mysteries are bound up, locked away in Me, Anna. But the mystery of My love is the greatest revelation of all.” Moving toward me, He said, “My chosen one, My love, a fruitful bough, an orchard of fruitfulness.”
“Lord,” I replied, “I am barren.” (I had never borne physical children.)
He smiled again as He answered, “You will bear and be more fruitful than if you had borne physical children. I have withheld your bearing. But now I place My hands upon you that you might bring forth good fruit – many children, all heirs, kings and priests to their Father.”
He placed His hands upon me. Fire and power surged through me. He continued to speak, “No longer will you bear shame because of unfruitfulness.”
RATIFICATION OF BETROTHAL
“Cleave to Me,” He said. I am your Husband. Let My covering be on your head. His eyes burned into me as He continued, Ï am the Lord your God, and none is like Me. I am the beginning and the end. I am your health, your protection, and your fruitfulness. Thousands upon thousands of heirs will you bear, those who will walk right into My kingdom, those who will be at home in My chambers.
“Anna,” He said in a more intimate tone, “You are more beautiful now than earlier. My heart is turned toward you. My desire is for you. You have captured My heart. Lock this away in your heart, for My promises are true and sure.”
I could hardly breathe. “Lord,” I whispered, “let it be soon.”
“It is already accomplished,” he said. “Bear fruit for the kingdom. Shun pride. Point not the finger.”
THE DEPARTURE
He bowed at the waist as a sign of His departure and stepped back under the canopy. Once under the canopy, He turned and walked through the burning opening in the wall of the apartment. The four angels holding the poles of the canopy also bowed and walked out with Him, holding the canopy over His head as He disappeared. The angels of His presence also signified their departure, and two by two they followed the Lord.
Then the Holy Spirit swirled before me again, this time gathering up all of the remaining fire and light. He too passed through the apartment wall. Instantly, the gifts became internal and no longer adorned me externally. The wall closed.
Silence.
“Father,” I whispered, “who am I to marry a King? I come with nothing.25 I have no dowry.26 I do not even have a hope chest with linens and…”
Before I could continue, my Father thundered audibly in the room: “Can I not provide linens for My children?”27
Return to the August 2021 Personal Section
