Awakening: The Deep Sleep (The Deep Sleep Trilogy Book 1) (9 page)

In hearing their lies, Beloved felt herself beginning to slip down toward their reach. With each lie, she perceived a danger to her faith, and the distance she’d gained was threatened. A tremor of fear leaped at her heart, putting her closer toward their grasp.

“I can’t go back!” Beloved screamed, “I won’t!”

Then she heard Holy Spirit whisper softly His faith-building words, “But Beloved, you
are
flying.” At the sound of His beautiful voice she felt her heart lift again and fear was thrown back – it was true!

“Yes! I am really flying! I’m doing what they told me I could not do!” With the power of His vital words, she couldn’t help but fly a bit higher.

Beloved realized as long as she stayed safe, close to the ground, the creatures would not stop accusing her and she would continue to be in danger of heeding their lies. Again, her gentle Guide strengthened her heart, “Fly
higher
, Beloved.”

A surge of faith filled her. “I
can
fly higher!”

Beloved flew high above those forlorn creatures as a well-deserved smile spread across her face. Flying
higher, out of their reach, she wanted to soar away from them. Breathing deeply, she closed her eyes and threw back her head. She surged upward toward the open sky. “I will soar!” she cried.

High above the threat of her enemies, she left them far behind her. Trusting in the arms of the One who loved her, the One who’d rescued her from the deep sleep, she opened her heart to all He’d destined her to be. In return for His love, she would love Him back. She would love Him with every breath she breathed, with every beat of her heart – He was her Everything!

Look at them as they leap along the mountaintops. Listen to the noise they make – like the rumbling of chariots, like the roar of fire sweeping across a field of stubble, or like a mighty army moving into battle.

—Joel 2:5 NLT

SOARING
in the heavenlies, filled with the love of her Savior, Beloved was seeing her life, and the lives of those she loved, from an entirely different perspective. Seeing clearly now the angelic as she looked to her right and to her left, she was truly surrounded by beautiful, celestial guardians who had never left her side. They spoke openly to her now, knowing she would hear them. Together, they flew at great speed into the atmosphere and to wondrous heights they ascended.

While tied to the earth, she had seen only glimpses of revelation of the Father’s victorious kingdom. Now, she saw the expanse of the terrestrial planet clearly through the eyes of faith the Father had given her. Truly, Beloved recognized the extraordinary days of the victorious white horse rider were here at last.

Flying with the angelic, she witnessed great battles being fought all over earth’s realm. Indeed, it flooded her heart with joy to see the victorious battles for the exultation of the Prince of Peace. She laughed out loud as she thought, “Wars fought
for peace
,” – how ironic. She grasped it all now, “No peace without the battle…” the angelic knew she finally understood.

Beloved could sense in her heart there was a heightened intensity filling earth that had been dulled by apathy for centuries. What a revelation the church was receiving. She could sense the passion for the Lamb beginning to rise. “They
will
love You, Jesus!” she shouted to the Lord. Beloved was undone as she beheld the revelation of the Bridegroom!

There was something new and different Beloved felt in her spirit. Heaven was surging with expectancy – the kingdom of heaven was preparing for an invasion and the realms of earth were left unaware of the nearness of their deliverer.

Light burst through the sky as Beloved’s spirit was captivated by an intense feeling of heightened awakening. She felt the anticipation of heaven’s determined triumph.

Flashes of chariot wheels exploded in her spirit, turning and twisting in hurried preparation. Horses stopping, grunting their impatience, awaiting the heavenly riders mounting in readiness of the warriors’ determined march. In bold resolution, she watched the great army make their preparations for an invasion of huge magnitude. Heaven was preparing to invade earth!

T
HE
P
RINCE

Indeed, Heaven was moving closer to earth and walls crumbled in consequence of its nearness. Spiritual walls were responding to His impending arrival. Idols were being demolished in the hearts of believers. Veils disintegrated in anticipation of His eminent coming. With one purpose and one destination, the kingdom of heaven was invading, coming to restore the earth (Revelation 21:5).

Beloved knew that what she was about to experience and what the earth would see revealed was the unequivocal authority of a Prince! THE Prince!

She could feel the weightiness of the roar of the Son of Heaven upon the atmosphere and she watched as earthly kingdoms bent and crumbled like playthings. Earth’s idols shattered and the radiance of Holy Spirit was pervading – destroying the strongholds in the minds of men.

Astounded by seeing what she’d previously only dreamed about, Beloved saw the future of the earth revealed before her. The impact of the ancient doors closed long ago now suddenly opened and an entire kingdom of priests were emerging to serve their King in truth and integrity. Seemingly out of nowhere, a great army stood and arose to take up their position for war!

In the heavenlies, she heard the Father’s voice roaring like the great waves of the ocean in a torrent. With one word He fractured the skies, in heaven and on earth. He spoke a word of great importance. Like thunder, it reverberated without end. “IMPENDING!” He spoke to the ascendancy of the universe surrounding Him.

Mystified by the scenes being played out before her, Beloved saw those the Father had held in reserve for this hour, those He’d drawn to Himself. His children,
His family
, standing with confident abandon, at the day of their impending destiny – beholding the majesty of their glorious Father’s mysterious plan unfold, unveiling His mighty power.

Beloved heard the Father declare from His throne, “Such is the call of earth’s Savior. His kingdom will rise to claim His bride. He will manifest His power and authority on the earth.”

“My dearest,” she heard her Father speak to her, “Do not fear the enemies around you. Look to Me – look to My throne, follow My thoughts. Trust Me – I will be your EVERYTHING!”

Awake, north wind! Rise up, south wind! Blow on my garden and spread its fragrance all around. Come into your garden, my love; taste its finest fruits.

—Song of Solomon 4:16 NLT

IN FIGHTING
many battles for her Prince, Beloved was now a formidable force for anyone who came against her. Transformed by her deliverance, she embraced the purpose for her journey and the battles she had faced. Made fearless by her struggles, she feared nothing, for she knew the power of her King.

He had become her strength, her delight and her deliverer. Following Him now without question, she even enjoyed the battles He allowed her to fight in. She was learning to expect the victories brought by the white
horse rider – indeed, it was the season of great victories, and the enemy swiftly scattered at her command.

Beloved had been awaiting the Lord’s arrival in the garden of His making. He’d told her to meet Him there, that He had something He wanted to share with her. Her expectancy was growing and she wondered, after all she’d been through, what would the Shepherd have to share with her now?

As she played with the question in her heart, she waited breathlessly for Jesus to come. Anticipating the joy the garden possessed, Beloved’s heart felt overwhelmed by the Lord’s delight to share this special moment with her.

In the midst of the garden the Lord appeared to Beloved and opened up a vision in the spirit realm to show her. She saw a captivating young woman clothed as a bride laying on a bed in the middle of the same garden she was now in. Her hair was long and thick in a mass of curls spread out perfectly around her face and shoulders like a dark amber cloud. Her head was adorned with a simple white garland of lilies, seeming to belong to her like the thick tresses of her hair.

Beloved was captivated by her beauty; it took her breath away. Admiring her, she contemplated, “She is absolutely the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.”

The bride lay like a portrait in peaceful tranquility on the cushioned bed surrounded by the artistic garden made to frame her. Her long, thick lashes and full red lips rested stilly, while her flowing, white chiffon gown lay perfectly spread about her as she slept.

Everything about the bride exuded purity – uncluttered beauty unlike anything Beloved had ever seen.

As Beloved watched in anticipation, Jesus entered the vision and approached the bride as she slept. With awaited purpose, He stared at His sleeping bride. Kneeling down next to her, He took her hand as He spoke gently to her,
“Awaken, my love. It is time to awaken.”

As she opened her eyes and sat up in her bed, the Bridegroom stood back to watch her awaken. The bride looked at Jesus with expectation and stood to her feet. She looked searchingly at herself, straightening her dress. Rightly fixing her hair, she seemed to dust off the remnants of her slumber. When she was quite certain she was ready, she looked at the Lord with eyes rich with anticipated love.

She ran to Him and threw her arms around His neck in an unbridled playful way, yet exuding such
sweet, tender love for Him – how happy she was that He had awakened her. Still clinging to Him, she hung her head back and gazed into His eyes. Her eyes spoke of a deep well of the most pure and innocent love.

Suddenly, she pulled back from Him with her eyes closed and face raised to His. She was completely filled with love for Him and her affection was evident through the joy that flooded her face. So full of such a wonderful, incredible, indescribable devotion, she let loose of Him and twirled around in front of Him as if to enjoy the love she felt. He laughed gleefully as He watched her adoringly.

She ran to embrace Him again. As they held each other, a bright, piercing light burst forth from inside her. Her body was soon enveloped completely by a glorious heavenly light. It exploded forth from her and filled the garden where they were. With eyes closed, head raised and arms outstretched in front of Jesus, she stood illumined by the powerful light shining from her.

Coming from deep inside her, four silvery-white birds burst outward and flew in all directions. They surged upward in flight, soaring rapidly over the face of the earth, covering mountains, oceans, cities and plains. They carried with them the same radiating light that emanated from the bride. Soon, the powerful, life-filling light was saturating the globe.

The bride and her Bridegroom remained in the garden adoring one another, as she glowed with the light of His love. He was not surprised by her beauty, but completely proud of her. He had always seen her beauty, and now the world would be captivated by her as she radiated His majesty.

He knew, at last, she was truly and completely His, assured that, in her eyes, there was no one else – she saw only Him. Saturated in the confidence of His love for her, His passionate love possessed her and she was illuminated by His glory – a tangible expression of His love.