Rapture in the Middle East

Our first missionary journey has been accomplished in the fulness of God’s time and the amplitude of His space. For so long a time it existed only in the two-dimensional realm of promise and prophecy. Now it has passed into the third-dimensional realm of earthly performance and has been fully and perfectly recorded in heaven. So it seems fitting and pleasing to the Lord that I make an attempt to record it carefully on earth. This calls for a stirring up of my tired memory, which stored up myriads of sights, sounds and impressions all along the way; a reviewing of my fragmentary and sometimes illegible notes, hastily jotted down on planes, buses and in waiting rooms; and, most needful of all, the faithful assistance of the Blessed Holy Spirit—who has power to recreate past events, and bring to mind all that the Lord has said and done in this or any other time. All praise to Him!

It has pleased Him to give the trip this honorable title. I am aware that it in no way compares with Paul’s first Missionary Journey, nor with that of any of the noble missionary-saints. But nevertheless it was truly ordained by the Lord, and the significance and fruition of it are known only to Him. It climaxed our two-year period of interceding for every nation under heaven, visiting many of these lands in the Spirit, sacrificing to send forth the Gospel to each one, and earnestly studying about them and their peoples, so that we might love and understand them and their needs more perfectly.

This call, while new in its implications and operation, was an extension of an earlier call which has been with me—and with all who have been in close unity with The Golden Candlestick—for many years, a call which is far-reaching and complex in its accomplishment. But it can be stated simply in a few words: we are to pray, believe, love, praise, give and obey to the uttermost, so that “The Gospel of uttermost salvation may be preached in uttermost demonstration of power to the uttermost parts of the earth.” In the truest sense of the word, this is “our” calling. Just as truly, this trip became “our” trip, in which we all participated together with our Lord and His precious saints and angels.

Even earlier than this recent call to the nations, several of our sisters had strong impressions about going to The Holy Land. The thrilling news that the World Pentecostal Convention was scheduled to gather there in dear Jerusalem—where Jesus died for our salvation and rose again, giving us all eternal life; where the disciples tarried in one accord in the Upper Room until the Holy Spirit was copiously poured forth; and from whence the anointed ones went forth with the Gospel to the ends of the then-known earth—was thrilling and evocative. The very place! The very season! The very people upon whom the Latter Rain has fallen! The privilege to participate in such an event seemed very great. None of us felt worthy of it. But much prayer centered about it; and several began to make both spiritual and material preparations to send me, feeling certain that the Lord had appointed me as a delegate to represent us all at that auspicious occasion.

It was evident from the first that it would take faith, love and self-sacrifice to make this possible. I am sure that I shall never forget the devotion and generosity shown by those who went to extremes to provide for me, even though they truly longed to go themselves, and under some circumstances could have done so. A few received strong personal dealings along this line, and yet readily transposed them to me, realizing anew that we truly are “one”—and that they could go with and in me, by the power of the Spirit. I appreciate also those who accepted the announcement of my going by faith, not having been given previous dealings or revelations, and straightaway began to pray and sacrifice and stand with me in the Spirit. The Lord was gracious in giving each of you, as well as some others scattered abroad, a part in sending me and going with me, both in the material and spiritual realms.
It gives me much joy to know of the wide variety of dealings and experiences you have had both before and during this trip. Truly never did so many ride on one ticket! I wish I could write the record of this multiple visitation to the Holy Land and the other five nations. This, of course, is not feasible. Each of you must prepare her own report. And I am led to ask you to do so. No doubt only the highlights can be given, but do be sure to include the Scriptures given to you, since it is on the Word that we stand and by it that we move forward. If you have faithfully kept your diaries, this will not be too great a task. Do this joyfully as a work of faith and labor of love, and make it a special offering to the Beloved. One month’s time should be ample (dating from June 25.) Remember, we are called to be witnesses—and it is required of such that they make their testimony clear and true. We are also stewards of the mysteries—purposes and plans—of God, and, as such, must give a careful accounting. Please include that which you have already shared with me, to refresh my over-worked memory, and clarify my understanding.

I hope soon to “take off” into a “Dove’s eye” view of the trip, accompanied by a very human “candid-camera” accounting of the Lord’s testings and schooling. Were I writing only for those “scattered abroad,” I should likely stress only the movings of the Spirit. But since each of you is a participator along with me of both the “kindness and the severity”—the blessing and the discipline—of the Lord, it is expedient that I share my own experiences with you, that you may profit by them, and perhaps hasten your own preparation and perfecting as a faithful witness. The words of Jesus must be repeated and manifested by each of us: “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” Therefore, do bear patiently with me in this account until we are “airborne.”