What do you enjoy most about winter and Christmas? Is it decorating sugar cookies with your kiddos or grandkiddos or the traditional carols sung outside since we’re still in the midst of the pandemic? Speaking of braving the cold, this week’s message pertains to a prophetic vision to seek the lost featuring the frozen footprint, a lantern, and a Christmas tree.
When the vision opened, I held an old-fashioned lantern in my right hand as I approached a Christmas tree decorated with multi-colored lights located on the outskirts of a town. I looked down at the ground and saw a frozen footprint in the snow. I knew by revelation this was a man’s right shoe footprint who would have been wearing about a size 10 boot. This must have been made when the snow was fresh because you could clearly see the outline of it. My attention was drawn to the lone footprint as the left one was about 18 inches from the right one. (The image accompanying this blog post features several footprints, but this is the closest picture I could find to portray the overall message.)
Darkness and nightfall were fast approaching in this country setting. There were no gifts under the tree or empty boxes wrapped with Christmas paper which are found in some outdoor displays.
In the next scene of the vision, I saw others following behind me carrying identical antique lanterns. They were about 8-10 feet apart, moving slowly and searching the landscape.
As I glanced over my shoulder to the right, I recognized one person behind me whose first name is Sharon. Her name means Princess with the accompanying lifetime scripture verse:
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9)
I received this vision on the 5th day of December 2020. Five is symbolic of God’s grace to man; man’s responsibility; redemption; favor; and abundance.
The scripture that was impressed upon me was from John 9:4-5, “I (Jesus) must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
As Jesus’ disciples, we must work while it is still day as night is fast approaching.
This is not to be confused with a works-based salvation which is one of the hallmarks of a cult. It teaches that Jesus’ atoning death on the cross is insufficient for total salvation. Another significant clue is that a bunch of works are added to their false gospel which is one of the chief ways to control their members. They intentionally misappropriate James 2:17, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
The Bible helps us to understand salvation through Christ alone. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Emphasis mine)
Yes, we are to work within God’s kingdom with the individual and corporate assignments He has given to us, but these are not to be confused with the basic requirement for salvation.
I deem the main theme of this vision is searching for the lost which could pertain to those who once knew Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and have walked away from Him or have never been introduced to the real Jesus of the Bible. There’s another important distinction here as the cults have their own version of who Jesus is.
Since there are only 16 days left until Christmas, I am treating this as a NOW word or a word in due season. (Proverbs 15:23)
It’s not always going to be convenient to search for the lost. If we revisit when the vision first opened in the Spirit realm, it was cold outside, and darkness was fast approaching. Time is of the essence.
The vision does not explicitly state what the man who left the footprints was doing, but he was obviously drawn to the lights.
It’s interesting that each of the people in the vision was carrying antique-looking lanterns as opposed to modern day flashlights or using the same on their cell phones.
I knew by revelation these were heavenly issued lanterns which symbolize God’s word; the believer’s heart; a church; The Spirit of God; and truth.
The Spirit zoomed in to where I could see just the words “Psalm 36:9” painted vertically down one side of the lantern, and each person’s first name was painted with blue Calligraphy font down the other side. This verse from the 36th Psalm reads, “For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.” Blue is the color of heaven.
In John 8:12 we read, “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'”
Also, “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:5)
It’s incumbent upon us to help others come to the true light which is Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
There was obviously a candle inside each lantern which burned. This would not shed much light, but this is what the vision contained. Using an ancient lantern would mean that the searchers would have to be close to the person in order to find him. The lanterns would not light up what is far away. It would have to be a one-on-one interaction.
Plugging in some other symbolism and Bible verses help us to continue to pray into this vision:
- It was winter outside which is representative of death; hardship or tribulation; little light (no revelation of Jesus Christ); progress with difficulty; time of hibernation or rest; time of pruning; unbelief.
- Snow covered the landscape which indicates a time of refreshing; God’s word; or timely message. What could be timelier than the salvation message? (Romans 10:9-10)
- Evergreen (Christmas) tree with multi-colored lights is symbolic of feeding on the Word of God daily and long life. The way to have everlasting life is through belief in Jesus Christ, God’s one and only begotten Son. (John 3:16)
- The sole print of the boot most likely pertains to the souls of men. It’s sort of a play on words. Boots speak of external or outward walk; work; or arduous path.
- A footprint in and of itself points to steps of faith; claiming of spiritual inheritance; angelic evidence; or evidence of strongholds. The right (footprint) signifies strength; faith; preferred, preeminence, above, before or double portion; authority; longevity; wisdom; future destiny; and the spiritual realm.
- An antique lantern speaks of the old, antique, or ancient ways. Jeremiah 6:16 comes to mind:
“Thus says the Lord:
“Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.
But they (Israel) said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”’
- Additional Bible verses to ponder in light of the overall prophetic vision: Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 20:27; and John 11:9.
Encouragement to seek the lost comes from Luke 15:1-7 which tells us the parable of the lost sheep.
“Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him (Jesus) to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
A consideration: this prophetic vision is in conjunction with the timing of the Feast of Dedication or Hanukkah.
The events of this prophetic vision take place in the winter which mirrors the timing of Hanukkah. In addition, it’s called the Feast of Dedication. In Biblical times, this took place at Jerusalem. (John 10:22) It celebrates the rededication of the Jewish temple in December 164 B.C. after its desecration by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus Epiphanes IV in 167.
Hanukkah, also called Chanukah, occurs on December 10–18, 2020 (Jewish Year 5781) this year.
Each Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and all Christians grow into a holy temple in the Lord. You also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21–22)
Although Christians celebrate December 25th as the day of Jesus’s birth, He was born in the spring. December 25th may be the day of his conception.
Prophetic Insights for Daily Living:
In this season, who’s the one that the One (Jesus) is laying upon your heart to seek?
Proverbs 6:23, “For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,”
Some would incorrectly opine that we are no longer under the commandments and law of God. Jesus came to fulfill all the law and the prophets as He instructed His disciples on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
The person in the prophetic vision was drawn to the multi-colored lights on the Christmas tree which did not satisfy him. Only the true light of the world, Jesus Christ, can do that.
Jesus is the reason for the season. All of the other glitz and glamor pale in significance to Him, and the sole purpose He came to earth was to save sinners. Time is running so short to share His message of love, forgiveness, and hope.
Even if you don’t have an antique lantern on hand, God will show you by and through the power of His Son and His Holy Spirit what method to use to search for the lost person. Believers spiritually are each members of the body of Christ because He works through each of us to accomplish what He desires. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 26-27)
Are you willing to sacrifice the comforts of warmth (people were outside in the frigid cold searching with lanterns in the vision), your time and plans to help someone enter the kingdom of heaven before it’s too late?
This is a priority which won’t be convenient or comfortable unless you like to spend lots of time in cold, snowy weather!
Each of us only has so many days ordained in which to fulfill his or her destiny. (Psalm 139:16) May we use them wisely as we continue to shine as bright lights in the world. (Philippians 2:14-16)
https://sheilaeismann.com/spiritual-time/
Please join me in praying for the lost:
Father, we thank You that You sent Your Son to seek and save those who are lost. (Luke 19:10) Each of us is made in Your image, and it’s Your desire that none perish but come to everlasting life. (2 Peter 3:9) We know that time is of the essence to spread the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Please show us our individual assignments as to whom to search for and share the good news as we know that You’ll have gone ahead of us to prepare their heart soil to receive it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Sheila Eismann, Prophetic Seer, Blogger, Author & Teacher, publishes her weekly blog posts endeavoring to encourage others through God’s word. Her writings include teaching and instructions on how to apply prophetic insights for daily living. You can subscribe to receive new blog posts on her website at www.sheilaeismann.com.
(Photo via Pixabay)