Swamp: an area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects; a bog or marsh.
I saw the Spirit of the Lord as a great ocean beginning to recede off an enormous shore line. This was a season in time when “the tide” was beginning to go out. The body of Christ was standing in the water, practically immersed in the tide. But as the tide gradually began to go out, we began to gradually be exposed as though we could no longer be covered by the water. We stood spiritually naked in a swamp as the tide was still going out.
As the tide went out from the shoreline, many chains and bondages could be seen holding God’s people. This was hindering them and stopping them from going on to follow the Spirit, which was gradually going out from them, leaving them helpless and powerless as though the Spirit was exposing their sin and weakness, yet at the same time, departing from them.
Others were able to go further on after His Spirit, but the tide seemed to pick up a faster pace, and there was a great cry as the tide rapidly went out and even the very elect and righteous began to cry out, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” As the body of Christ stood still with exhaustion and weariness and great discouragement, the ground beneath turned into dry land, where there was no water—just like a desert.
The church could only see the tide going out a long way off and could no longer experience the move of the Spirit. On the contrary, what was left was their sins, bondage and helplessness. As the church was exposed and stood as though naked, a great mocking cry was heard from those who were back on the shore who had never touched the water. This represented the world. The world’s people were seeing the shame and sin, and God was being reproached. The time frame in which this took place seemed like forever to God’s people—as though they were separated from God and nothing appeared to be happening, except for failure.
Many turned from looking toward the tide going out, and after a while, they began to walk back towards the shore from where they came. They just gave up and were tired of waiting and waiting, convinced that God had forsaken them by all appearances.
But a remnant stayed and stood still, waiting upon the Lord, confessing their sins and repenting and interceding for all the world, realizing it is not by might, nor by power, but only by the Spirit of the living God. Then it seemed that the earth stood still, and the waters going out even stopped and a strange calmness came. And then the Lord spoke: “The tide is beginning to turn. The tide is beginning to turn. And the tide is on its way back in! This is the tsunami of My glory that My earth has been waiting for!”
It was wave after wave after wave. These waves were bringing in the lost. I mean lost, lost! These waves were bringing the lost up out of the lowest places of the earth. It seemed as though the sea was giving up her dead. There were pornographic stars, mass murderers, witches, many from occult and Eastern religions. Souls who had committed horrendous, indescribable crimes. The powers of hell were letting go of them. These last waves had the power to bring up the very bottom of the ocean.
As these waves kept coming in, the waves of salvation began covering more and more of the shore and coming upon the earth. Like a flood, the Spirit was coming in, lifting His standard upon the earth itself and multitudes were being saved as the waves of salvation continued to literally cover the earth. As these waves increased in magnitude and became humongous tidal waves, the Lord said, “Truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord like the waters cover the sea.” {eoa}
Bill Yount has been a member of Bridge of Life in Hagerstown, Maryland, where he is now an elder, and a home missionary for the past 40 years. He faithfully served in prison ministry at Mount Hope Inc. for 23 years and now travels full-time, ministering in churches and Aglow circles. He is currently an adviser at large for Aglow International. Bill has authored several prophetic books. His latest book is: The Power of Real / Transparent Prophetic Encouragement. His prophetic email list is: billyountweekly.com. Visit Bill’s website atbillyount.com.
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