Operation Shields of Iron
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation,
My stronghold and my refuge;
My Savior, You save me from violence.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
2 Samuel 22:2-4
The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation,
My stronghold and my refuge;
My Savior, You save me from violence.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
2 Samuel 22:2-4
After landing and arriving in Israel a couple weeks ago and enjoying a peaceful ride to our Air BnB, we woke up the next morning shocked to be in a nation at war. Jarred to attention, it became obvious to us that times had suddenly shifted. Every ounce of complacency, presumption, or expectation was suddenly wiped off the shelf as we peered into the reality around us. We realized we were on an assignment from the Lord quite different than we had expected. What followed was a week of twists and turns that wiped every ounce of complacency off our hearts into a surreal reality, changing the trajectory of our plans and purpose.
Amid the turmoil and reality that times had shifted, I had a dream that has not left, and as I pondered it, realize that God is calling us to attention. Times have shifted.
Dream: I was in a heavy mist or cloud. I saw the number 777 in red rise out of the misty horizon. Behind the number was a giant shield that rose up with what appeared to be a large angelic figure behind. I could only see wings. There was a small mouse like figure that was dashing about the base of the numbers 777.
Times have changed. God is summoning His watchmen forward. Vetting out the vision reveals the call.
Interpretation:
The number 777: The number 777 is definitely a number the Bible references and is sometimes known as “God’s number." It symbolizes significant biblical concepts, the fullness of His work, completion, or perfection. There are three places where the number 7 is mentioned three times. Here is a rundown:
There are many other significant meanings of seven in scripture. The various multiples of seven occur over 700 times. All point to the omniscience of God and the perfection of God’s work and Word.
Shield:
The shield is a powerful symbol of God’s character and as a weapon in defensive warfare.
God’s character examples:
Though both a physical and spiritual defensive weapon, by and large, scriptures speak of the spiritual strength of the shield. Of the 59 times it is mentioned in the Bible, less than half of them speak of the physical shield. Most scriptures speak of God and His trustworthiness as our shield. Ephesians 6 speaks of the shield of faith. Faith puts God's word, our sword, into action breaking through any spiritual resistance .
The mouse:
In seeking the understanding of the 'mouse,' our friend and biblical scholar, wrote and noted this, "The mouse. The Hebrew word for mouse is "ackbar". The Arabic word for powerful is "akbar" - a small difference is in the sound. When Muslims proclaim "allah akbar", the Hebrew speakers hear: "allah is a mouse" So in you dream the mouse that attacks God's foundation is something very insignificant in His eyes. As we lift our weapons of warfare we need not to fear." In hearing this, I believe this is a very important interpretation of the mouse.
It can also represents the distractions, and diversions of the enemy to get us out of sync and out of God’s timing. As we intentionally seek Him, these obstacles will become obvious and God will remove them. Strengthening ourselves in the character and nature of God will align us with His timing and provide the shield we need to move into the summons He is now releasing. As we do so, the enemy schemes will diminish in size and we will witness an ever-increasing testimony of Jesus moving in our midst.
Operation Shields of Iron:
God is summoning us as watchmen to be a shield and defender of His covenant purposes in times of increasing adversity and war. As we have entered a new season, if not a new era, we are being summoned to a higher level of intentionality and engagement. At stake is the fulfillment of God’s word and completion of His promises. Though the enemy is trying to change the times, God has set it in heaven. As watchmen, we are being summoned to the ramparts to align with His call. As we do so, we will see God’s miraculous hand move to fulfill His word.
How do we respond?
As resistance and adversity rises, God is looking for those who will defend His covenantal purposes. What is that? Such a call is multi-dimensional, but on a national level can boil down to defend Israel as central to His redemptive plan for the nations, and prepare His church, to be the Bride. Romans 11:25 is a looming call to His Church, the Ekklesia, "For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved." This will require us to step forward, out of participation into mobilization. As Israel picks up the Operation Swords of Iron, we as watchmen, need to pick up the Shields of Iron, to be a defensive force in times of increasing war and rumors of war. As times have shifted, God is not only inviting us but summoning us to the ramparts. How does that look?
As we respond to the summons, we will see the growing testimony of Jesus release His glory, His supernatural answers, across the nations. His word promises:
Amid the turmoil and reality that times had shifted, I had a dream that has not left, and as I pondered it, realize that God is calling us to attention. Times have shifted.
Dream: I was in a heavy mist or cloud. I saw the number 777 in red rise out of the misty horizon. Behind the number was a giant shield that rose up with what appeared to be a large angelic figure behind. I could only see wings. There was a small mouse like figure that was dashing about the base of the numbers 777.
Times have changed. God is summoning His watchmen forward. Vetting out the vision reveals the call.
Interpretation:
The number 777: The number 777 is definitely a number the Bible references and is sometimes known as “God’s number." It symbolizes significant biblical concepts, the fullness of His work, completion, or perfection. There are three places where the number 7 is mentioned three times. Here is a rundown:
- Creation: Genesis 2:2-3 “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
- Victory: Joshua 6:3-4. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
- Pentecost: The day of Pentecost is determined each year using seven cycles of seven days where each cycle ends on a seventh day Sabbath, Lev 23:15-22
- The Bride: Revelation 21:6 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
There are many other significant meanings of seven in scripture. The various multiples of seven occur over 700 times. All point to the omniscience of God and the perfection of God’s work and Word.
Shield:
The shield is a powerful symbol of God’s character and as a weapon in defensive warfare.
God’s character examples:
- Gen 15:1 Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.
- Deut 33:29. Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you and you shall tread down their high places.
- 2 Sam The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
- Ps 33:20. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
- 1 Sam 17:7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.
- 1 Kings 10:16-17 And King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. He also made three hundred shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
Though both a physical and spiritual defensive weapon, by and large, scriptures speak of the spiritual strength of the shield. Of the 59 times it is mentioned in the Bible, less than half of them speak of the physical shield. Most scriptures speak of God and His trustworthiness as our shield. Ephesians 6 speaks of the shield of faith. Faith puts God's word, our sword, into action breaking through any spiritual resistance .
The mouse:
In seeking the understanding of the 'mouse,' our friend and biblical scholar, wrote and noted this, "The mouse. The Hebrew word for mouse is "ackbar". The Arabic word for powerful is "akbar" - a small difference is in the sound. When Muslims proclaim "allah akbar", the Hebrew speakers hear: "allah is a mouse" So in you dream the mouse that attacks God's foundation is something very insignificant in His eyes. As we lift our weapons of warfare we need not to fear." In hearing this, I believe this is a very important interpretation of the mouse.
It can also represents the distractions, and diversions of the enemy to get us out of sync and out of God’s timing. As we intentionally seek Him, these obstacles will become obvious and God will remove them. Strengthening ourselves in the character and nature of God will align us with His timing and provide the shield we need to move into the summons He is now releasing. As we do so, the enemy schemes will diminish in size and we will witness an ever-increasing testimony of Jesus moving in our midst.
Operation Shields of Iron:
God is summoning us as watchmen to be a shield and defender of His covenant purposes in times of increasing adversity and war. As we have entered a new season, if not a new era, we are being summoned to a higher level of intentionality and engagement. At stake is the fulfillment of God’s word and completion of His promises. Though the enemy is trying to change the times, God has set it in heaven. As watchmen, we are being summoned to the ramparts to align with His call. As we do so, we will see God’s miraculous hand move to fulfill His word.
How do we respond?
As resistance and adversity rises, God is looking for those who will defend His covenantal purposes. What is that? Such a call is multi-dimensional, but on a national level can boil down to defend Israel as central to His redemptive plan for the nations, and prepare His church, to be the Bride. Romans 11:25 is a looming call to His Church, the Ekklesia, "For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved." This will require us to step forward, out of participation into mobilization. As Israel picks up the Operation Swords of Iron, we as watchmen, need to pick up the Shields of Iron, to be a defensive force in times of increasing war and rumors of war. As times have shifted, God is not only inviting us but summoning us to the ramparts. How does that look?
- Respond to the summons: A summons has been released to the watch towers of our cities, states, and nations. Our response requires us to re-evaluate our priorities and be willing to step out of our comfort zones. Times have shifted, we are in a new season if not era. The warfare now is different and we must be much more intentional in our commitments whether at local or global levels in our watches, churches, and other spiritual activities. For the Global Watch, this is a sure call to mobilize. He is calling us to "Prepare the Way," Isaiah 62:10-11. Go through, Go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; Build up, Build up the highway! Take out the stones, Lift up a banner for the peoples!
- Our weapons: Our sword is God’s word, and our shield, our faith in God to accomplish it. It sounds cheesy and simple, but His word and our faith is the “atomic bomb” of heaven. By aligning and decreeing His word in faith, it cuts through the atmosphere of resistance to line up with the courtrooms of heaven. His word is a powerful weapon and can shake the nations as the prophetic end-time narrative unfolds. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Co 10:4-6
- Mobilize: This is a time to not just participate in the various watches and spiritual activities you may be involved with, but to engage others. Spread the vision and mobilize the troops.
- Build: This is a time to build spiritual and meaningful connections. Watchmen know how to build. It is one of their characteristics. They see the times, understand the bigger picture that is unfolding, and know how to and who to connect with. (See 2 Kings 11). This is an important time to build. Ministry "under my wings," is not the focus of the Watch. The watch is called to build the highways that will prepare the way for the Lord (Is 62:10-11). Core values on how we treat one another is the mortar upon which we build.
- Identify redemptive calls of nations and leadership teams: In nations that presently do not have watches in place, we will be looking for leadership with the call to their nation to establish them. With present national expressions, we will be working on developing core redemptive calls of nations to enhance prayer and worship over these nations.
- Promote stewardship of biblical values. Develop watches that defend and foster biblical values in cultural spheres of influence and work to connect at meaningful levels with leaders in the fields.
As we respond to the summons, we will see the growing testimony of Jesus release His glory, His supernatural answers, across the nations. His word promises:
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the LORD will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3
For your light has come!
And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the LORD will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3
In the past season, we have been waiting on God. In this season, God is waiting for us. As we step forward, we will see amazing answers to our prayers, and the signs, wonders, and miracles that will follow as the testimony of Jesus grows across the nations.
Susan Rowe
co-founder The Global Watch
Susan Rowe
co-founder The Global Watch
