From:    heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
To:      "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Date:    Sat, 27 Dec 1997 01:27:58 +0000
Subject: A Vision of Three Cities

From:          Bob Neuman
To:            <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject:      A story of Three Cities

  Dear Brother Eddie and all my Mishpachah (family),

a little less than a week from today we will be in a time of "celebration".
in succession we will celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, and New Years
Day. all within a span of seven days. for the last four or five years i have
felt a misgivings toward what was once the high point of the year. i might
be dating myself but i remember when Christmas was bright and cheerful. a
time where ebenezer scrouge could learn to live better. where the idea of
peace and good will was evident in people in their words and their demeanor.
maybe it was a nicer, better time way back then. the world has changed a
great deal in a very short time. a lot darker and a lot colder in spite of
what the media will hype next.

my wife over these years demanded we 'do christmas' for the sake of the
children. but each year the decorations decreased and the presents became
fewer. the joy of shopping was even loosing it's luster. so when this year's
christmas season began as halloween ended even she decided something was out
of balance. (we still are wondering what happened to thankgiving. instead of
talking about turkey and dressing all we heard was E Coli and food
poisoning. and a pilgrim was someone who made a long journey in order to eat
with native americans. not anything about thanking G*D for anything......)

this year we will bake cookies and banana bread, fry some latkas and give
thanks as we do at every meal. money is too tight and it is just not fun
anymore. and that is what hurts the most. i have been told by too many
brethren that i need to get into the christmas spirit. and i wonder what
that really is? buying stuff you want and do not need. then they respond
with the season...JESUS is the reason for the season....and i hear in my
spirit "FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO" and i shudder.
is JESUS a seasonal LORD. a KING for a day. do they understand what is going
on behind the tinsel and lights. when i began to study these Hebrew roots i
understood the Feast of Rededication, of Lights as something that i was
living out daily as i learned to walk upright before a HOLY G*D.

all the old christmas carols spoke one word in common....MARANATHA....yet i
will sit through all kinds of entertaining events, concerts, cantatas where
the fact of HIS COMING AGAIN will not be mentioned. and i wonder why?
christmas is supposed to mean Christ coming. advent...to come. and we forget
HE IS HERE. EMANUEL....GOD IS WITH US. so how did we get the idea HE came
and went and that is our reason for a season where statistically more
americans will commit suicide, be killed by drunk drivers, where wives will
be battered and children be abused. if there is a time when or where THE
PRINCE OF PEACE IS NEEDED MOST and remembered the least in the last 2000
years it is today.

christmas is the day to remember the birth of a baby. it is also the day we
should remember as the day a promise of G*D was kept. HANUKKAH is the day
where another miracle occurred, but after a victory and the cleansing of
G*D'S TEMPLE. something to remember also. yet both are days of thanksgiving
and sharing the GOOD NEWS of what G*D HAS DONE.

so i wish to share with you something i received in a series of dreams a few
years ago. in it's way it is a christmas story, too. i pray that it might
bless all who read it.

be blessed
bob in miami


A STORY OF THREE CITIES

A VISION...


In the Day that the Great King had set, He sent forth to His cities to tell
them of His coming to visit them. At regular intervals Heralds ran before
Him to each of His cities. The message of each Herald was the same;"O City
of the Great King! Your King now comes to you. Prepare yourself for Him.
Make all your preparations. Plan your feast and set aside only your best.
For your King comes in Power and Glory. Rejoice, O City in which He
delights. Open up your ancient gates and welcome your King!"

In the First City the people were jubilant. Each went to their own homes, to
clean and to polish. Then they cleaned their streets and lanes. They strung
banners and planted flowers. Festivities were planned in great detail. They
opened their gate and waited. Each day they would wait, looking for the
Entourage of the King. As days passed they waited. And on occasion another
Herald would come, shouting the same message. And as each Herald came in his
time. Their anticipation grew. Their preparations continued so only their
"best" awaited the Coming King.

Each day, and each night they waited. Whenever dust was seen in the distance
they rose up crying, "Is it He in whom we wait?" But usually it was just
another traveler , another caravan. Each time the watchmen saw movement on
the road, they called out in warning. Once again a wave of anticipation ran
through the people as the gates were opened, and the people would go out to
meet their King. But it was not their King, so they continued to wait upon
Him.

But there came a day when the watchmen's words were never heard. Instead the
people heard the trumpets sound fourth, the great drums roaring. And the
people ran out to meet Him shouting, "Open up yea gates, so the King of
Glory may come in!" At the front of the horsemen, the Lion banners flew
beside the Lily Banners. The Warriors of Light moved to the sides of the
road, opening a path between them.

In Indescribable Glory the Great King came forward. The children from the
city ran forward singing, flowers in hand. As the King road on the Maidens
danced to the children's song. For the King of Glory had come for His Bride
who had made herself ready for Him. In joy and celebration they entered into
the banquet long prepared for. And once all were in the city-the gates were
again closed- never to open again. For the King and His Beloved are one.


The Second city heard the King's heralds and sat down to discuss the
"issue." Committees were formed, action groups were created. Funding was
discussed. And time passed. They watched the road, but the King did not
come. So life went on as usual. Then other Heralds came, and people would
get "busy" briefly. But we had to get back to normal was their excuse. Then
when a traveler came, or a caravan went by, they first looked up and
wondered, but would quickly go back to the "same old, same old."

Each time a Herald came, they said: "We've heard it all before-but the King
never came." So they went back to their lives in "their" city-and forgot
their King.

And then a day came that they did not know, at a time they had not foreseen.
The city was awakened by a great "shout", and a thunderous trumpet call rang
out. The beat of the King's drums, and the calls of the King's trumpets
vibrated the very walls of the King's City.

"Open up ye ancient gates, so the King of Glory may come in," shouted the
holders of the Lion Banners. And all the Warriors of Light responded as they
opened their rank for the King. "Who is the King of Glory, The Lord Strong
and Mighty! The Lord Mighty in Battle! He is the King of Glory!"

As the King of Glory waited the people slowly opened their gates and saw
their King, radiant in Glory and Power, surrounded by the Lion Banners. For
there were no Lily Banners for this city. In fear and trembling the people
came out of the city. There were no more shouts, no more trumpets and the
drums were silent. The people knelt, weeping and wailing before the King of
Glory, crying for mercy.

Into His city the King rode. Instead of with Joy, there is only anguish.
Instead of music and dancing there only is weeping and wailing.

Instead of a banquet, much cleaning was in order.

And once all were in the city, it's gates too were closed.


Then there was the Third City, and like the earlier two the Great King's
Herald came to it's gates and cried.

"O City of the Great King! Your King now comes to you. Prepare yourself..."
And the message was halted as a rock thrown from the city's wall struck down
the Herald of the Great King. As the Herald looked up he heard the laughter
from the watchmen,
the city had placed on the wall.

Finally a leader of the watchmen came foreword and shouted down at the
Herald. His uniform and armor shined in the dawn slight. His voice melodious
and strong."Who is this Great King, fool. We know no king over us.Look upon
this great city, greater than any other. Did this Great King build it? Does
He dwell here?"We built our own city, and we who dwell here are kings unto
ourselves. We recognize no king, but ourselves. We need no King here, but
ourselves. What has your King done for us? All that you see, all that is
here is because we have done for ourselves.
We do what is right in our own eyes!

"Be gone, fool! You and your unseen King. For we have no need of you!

As the Herald stood and walked away from the gates of this city. he heard
the mocking laughter of the watchmen. As they cursed both him and his King.
And he wept.

Yet the evil captain and his watchmen, did not forget the Herald's message.
They put the people of the city to work extending the walls and preparing
for a war against this King they would not serve. For they knew Him not, saw
Him not. As time passed further Heralds came. They killed the King's Heralds
for they did not even want to hear the Message. But as time went on, all but
the Captain forgot the King's promise to come to His city. As caravans went
by, no one noticed. In fact, the Captain used the coming of each Herald to
spur the people to work and obedience to him. Add to that the pleasure of
seeing a Herald of the Great King murdered made it all even better, so he
felt.

Then one day the evil captain stood at the top of the city's gate and looked
out. Light was breaking over the Horizon and it burned his eyes. In panic he
called out the alarm and the city's people rose up as one and went to their
places in the battle lines. In panic the evil captain kept giving more and
more orders, often at odds with each other.

As the Light of the King's Glory came from the East , the Light only became
brighter. The loud thunder of trumpets and battle drums began to vibrate the
walls of the city. Fear gripped the city and the evil captain shouted more
orders, yet no one could hear. For now the sound of horses and the rattle of
armor joined the trumpets and drums. The King had Come!


As all looked out, one rider rode ahead of a great host of mounted warriors,
whose number was beyond counting this day. As the Rider came forward all in
the city saw Him plainly. On His Head were many Crowns. His garments were
pure white except for his cloak that showed dark red in His light. But on
His robe it was written: "King of Kings, Lord of Lord."

Among the multitude of horsemen who followed the King there was but one
banner, and it rode directly behind the King. All in the city looked beyond
the King to the sole banner. upon it was a single Lamb, that was slain. And
all the people feared. As the King and His Bride stopped facing the gates a
voice rang out clearly in the sudden silence. As strong as rolling thunder,
yet clear as a single note it cried:

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye ancient doors, and
the King of Glory shall come in."

In great anger and fear the evil captain jumped up to the outer wall so all
could see and hear. "Who is this King of Glory? We have no King-we need no
King-we want no King!" And as rehearsed, the evil captain raised his fist to
the King and every bow, sling, and catapult fired as one against the King.

Like a cloud the missiles flew from the dark walls of the city to the bright
Glory of the King, where they ceased to exist. In moments every rock and
stone, spear and arrow had failed. And as one all in the city drew sword and
waited.

As one, the Host of Heaven spoke softly, "Who is the King of Glory? The Lord
Strong and Mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."

As the evil captain prepared to answer, the King raised His hand and said
one word, "NO." And with one word the great and ancient gates were
shattered. The battlements of the walls were sheered away. And all the
people were killed.

Again the Host of Heaven spoke softly, "The King of Glory will come in. Who
is the King of Glory? The Lord of Host, He is the King of Glory."

Slowly the King and His Bride, and all the Hosts of heaven entered the city
which once again is His.

INTERPRETATION

The whole world is three cities.

The First City are the righteous saved who await the coming of the Great
King. She is the Bride and will be soon snatched away.


The Second City is the saved who have not prepared themselves. They shall
wash their own robes in the Blood of the Lamb. She is the Tribulation
saints.

The Third City are all who refuse the Blood of the Lamb and choose the
beast. She is the whore that will be destroyed.

The Heralds are the Prophets and Apostles sent to warn and teach the people
The Gospel of the Kingdom.

The King of Glory is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. And
He is on His way to visit His cities.


ARE YOU READY?

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