Put in the Sickle for the Harvest is Ripe
Joel 3:13
Part II: The Harvest and the Spirit of Elijah
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.
Malachi 4:5-6

This is part II of the word, "Put in the Sickle for the Harvest is Ripe." We have discussed the sickle in part I. Now, we are going to look at the harvest. Today, the harvest fields look very different than they did even ten years ago. Yes, there are the unreached people groups that are winnowing down to the last 100+ people groups in the nations thanks to the activity of sincere missionaries working the remote fields of the nations. Today, across the broader nations, an unprecedented dynamic is emerging. We are presently in the most fatherless generation in history. This fatherlessness resulted from the past century’s wars, and movements that fostered rebellion (the hippie movement, drug culture, decline of family of ’60s and '70s). The casualties of World War I are estimated at 15-22 million; World War II reached 35-60 million; Korean War reached 2.5 million. These wars left massive numbers of families fatherless covering two-three generations. Following these wars were movements fostering intergenerational rebellion and disrespect. We are now facing an epidemic of mental illness, and drug addiction that reaches across nations and cultures. Recent drug statistics out of the USA indicate that 50% of people 12 and older have used illicit drugs at least once. Drug overdose deaths in the USA since 2000 have reached nearly 1 million (700K). Now, out of the dysfunction of fatherlessness/motherlessness is a gender dysphoria deceiving people of the very roots of creation itself.
All of these manifestations, and more, represent the activity of a demonic force separating people from their identity in Christ. It is known as the Antichrist spirit. The Russia/Ukraine war is a manifestation of the spirit of the Antichrist. As the Antichrist spirit rises, it equates to a global escalation of the Jezebel and Ahab spirit. God is countering this escalation by releasing His word that Malachi prophesied, "Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse," (Mal 4:5-6). The spirit of Elijah is emerging to counter the rising Jezebel/Ahab/Antichrist spirit that the havoc of fatherlessness has wrought.
God has heard! Out of the rising darkness, a cry is emerging. A generation is coming forth with a cry, “Will you help me? Will you mentor me? We can’t do it alone. We don’t want you to pass the baton, we want to carry it with you.” This kind of cry has never been heard before and is a summons for the mothers and fathers to rise in the spirit of Elijah. It is part of God’s plan to capture the harvest and nurture and build it. Our challenge is to raise up a fatherless generation into fathers/mothers God created us to be to stop this cycle. The sound from the upcoming generation is the invitation for the healing required and the spirit of Elijah will propel it forward.
Elijah was an Ezekiel 3:17 watchman. Ezekiel prophesies, "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me." He heard from the Lord and spoke it. He must have had a reputation that preceded him for he arrives on the scene out of nowhere in 1 Kings 17:1, and presents himself to Ahab, the King of Israel. Proclaiming and warning of a drought, he did his duty and left. The rest of the story of Elijah relays the character and nature of a watchman.
Why is that important? Today as the harvest fields are ripe, God is raising watchmen to "watch over" the fields. They are coming out of nowhere but have a heart for the restoration of God's covenant purposes. They know God's word and carry their sickle (see part I) and are wielding it with greater and greater strength and anointing as they agree and line up with God's purposes. In a field filled with the fatherless/motherless, the spirit of Elijah is summoning an Elijah company of watchmen to face the challenges today. The story of Elijah carries all the characteristics of not only a prophet, but of a watchman. The nature of both is rising as the headwinds of the Endtime narrative unfold.
All of these manifestations, and more, represent the activity of a demonic force separating people from their identity in Christ. It is known as the Antichrist spirit. The Russia/Ukraine war is a manifestation of the spirit of the Antichrist. As the Antichrist spirit rises, it equates to a global escalation of the Jezebel and Ahab spirit. God is countering this escalation by releasing His word that Malachi prophesied, "Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse," (Mal 4:5-6). The spirit of Elijah is emerging to counter the rising Jezebel/Ahab/Antichrist spirit that the havoc of fatherlessness has wrought.
God has heard! Out of the rising darkness, a cry is emerging. A generation is coming forth with a cry, “Will you help me? Will you mentor me? We can’t do it alone. We don’t want you to pass the baton, we want to carry it with you.” This kind of cry has never been heard before and is a summons for the mothers and fathers to rise in the spirit of Elijah. It is part of God’s plan to capture the harvest and nurture and build it. Our challenge is to raise up a fatherless generation into fathers/mothers God created us to be to stop this cycle. The sound from the upcoming generation is the invitation for the healing required and the spirit of Elijah will propel it forward.
Elijah was an Ezekiel 3:17 watchman. Ezekiel prophesies, "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me." He heard from the Lord and spoke it. He must have had a reputation that preceded him for he arrives on the scene out of nowhere in 1 Kings 17:1, and presents himself to Ahab, the King of Israel. Proclaiming and warning of a drought, he did his duty and left. The rest of the story of Elijah relays the character and nature of a watchman.
Why is that important? Today as the harvest fields are ripe, God is raising watchmen to "watch over" the fields. They are coming out of nowhere but have a heart for the restoration of God's covenant purposes. They know God's word and carry their sickle (see part I) and are wielding it with greater and greater strength and anointing as they agree and line up with God's purposes. In a field filled with the fatherless/motherless, the spirit of Elijah is summoning an Elijah company of watchmen to face the challenges today. The story of Elijah carries all the characteristics of not only a prophet, but of a watchman. The nature of both is rising as the headwinds of the Endtime narrative unfold.

Elijah: A Watchman of Israel
Biblical Call of a Watchman: Elijah's life exhibited the three biblical roles and functions of a watchman, the individual, corporate, and end-time call. These characteristics describe how God crafts and uses watchmen today and fully manifested in Elijah's life.
Elijah was a Watchman: There are four main Hebrew words for "watchmen." Each carries a different characteristic, Shamar, Natsar, Tsaphar, Mishmar. Elijah exhibited each of these characteristics.
Gilgal vision:
Recently, we were at a convergence of various ministries from Israel and the nations at biblical Gilgal. This is the site where many believe Elijah was taken up. The gathering of all generations, many different tribes and tongues, was on a site owned by orthodox Jews. The grace was given for us to convene there. The gathering, supposed to last 1.5-2hrs, ended up taking most the day. God moved dynamically amongst us as generations worked and prophesied together. This was accompanied by a winds that blew through the gathering and intensified during the day. During the gathering I had a progressive vision:
While on the hill where people were gathering, I turned in the direction of Jordan and saw a very large chariot with 4 horses and strong driver dressed in a breastlike armor come galloping in over our heads. The chariot, horses and driver was a size of at least half the hill we were standing on. Massive. As this vision opened, a gust of wind manifested. As the wind settled down, I turned again towards Jordan, and another horse with chariot and rider dressed in armor came over us, about half the size of the first chariot. This happened two more times, with these large chariots about half the size of the first. A gust of wind accompanied them both times. After a brief moment, I turned once more towards Jordan, and the heavens opened with a massive army of horses, and chariots with riders.
Summary:
Elijah’s name closes the Old Testament for a reason. The drum beat of a mighty army is rising. Malachi prophesies there would be day when the spirit of Elijah would be revived for the endtime harvest. This company of watchmen in the spirit of Elijah is emerging. They have seen and heard the sound of the harvest. As God opens the eyes of spiritual mothers and fathers to the heart-cry of generations around them, the harvest will be captured. Health and healing will be restored by those orphaned and separated by the schemes of the enemy. God is calling watchmen in the Spirit of Elijah for the harvest is ripe. Swing the sickle and bring the harvest to the barn. Make way, make way for the Lord!
Biblical Call of a Watchman: Elijah's life exhibited the three biblical roles and functions of a watchman, the individual, corporate, and end-time call. These characteristics describe how God crafts and uses watchmen today and fully manifested in Elijah's life.
- The individual call is reflected in a life with intimacy in the Lord
- He heard from the Lord (1 Kings 17:1-2, 8, 22, 18:1; 19:11; 21:17) and said and did what he was told.
- Elijah was an Ezekiel 3:17 watchman speaking, doing and going where he was told throughout his story.
- He had heard a word from the Lord and delivered it to the person he needed to deliver it to. Though hidden, he apparently had a reputation that went before him to give counsel to the king.
- Corporate Call of the watchman
- He was engaged with schools of the prophets in Bethel, Jericho and Gilgal, 2 Kings 2:1-4
- He had a father’s heart in calling out Elisha 1 Kings 19:16
- He was a seer. He knew how to link up with those who could see. In 1 Kings 18:5, he planned with Obediah how to deal with the famine, and to approach Ahab in calling the prophets of Baal to Mt. Carmel, 1 Kings 18:5-19
- He had a heart of faith to care for others in their time of need, the oil and flour supply in famine, and revival of her son for the widow of Zarephath. At the end of all the trauma she said “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.” 1 Kings 17:24
- Endtime call
- His father’s heart earned him a place in sealing of the Old testament with Malachi 4:5-6 that speaks into the times in which we presently live
- Mt. 17:11 Jesus spoke about the spirit of Elijah in John the Baptist that would come first to restore all things. But it can be also for today. As the spirit of Elijah moves, it will carry a restorative force in the earth.
- As the end-time narrative unfolds, watchmen are being called to contend for God’s covenant purposes and be messengers of His purpose and promises in the midst of increasing darkness.
Elijah was a Watchman: There are four main Hebrew words for "watchmen." Each carries a different characteristic, Shamar, Natsar, Tsaphar, Mishmar. Elijah exhibited each of these characteristics.
- Shamar שָׁמַר šâmar; is the most frequent word used to describe watchmen. It means to heed, preserve, save, watch and have charge over God’s covenant.
- Occurs 468 times
- Isaiah 62:6-7 watchmen are the "shamar" watchmen who "will not keep silent until He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth."
- God’s intended role for mankind to tend and "keep" (shamar) his garden. Gen 2:15.
- The shamar watchman is associated with God’s covenant the majority of times it is mentioned;
- Genesis 17:9 As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you.
- Exodus 13:10 Moses: You shall therefore keep this ordinance (Passover) in its season from year to year.
- Leviticus 18:26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments.
- The Shamar stance of the watchman is important today, to see clearly beyond the difficulties into God’s purposes and bring them before the righteous judge of heaven
- Elijah exhibited this characteristic when he confronted the prophets of Baal to re-align Israel with the Lord. He declared these words before the fire fell on the altar, ""LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." 1 Kings 18:36-37
- Natsar נָצַר nâṣar– to preserve, guard, or protect with fiedelity. more intense than Shamar as it guards something precious. Root is found in Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus.
- Occurs 61 times and is mentioned 10 times in Psalm 119 which goes through the Hebrew alphabet and proclaims the power of His word. His word is essentially a covenant He has made with His creation. Our task is to keep "natsar" that covenant.
- Elijah cared for the widow of Zarephath and son supplying oil and flour and brought back him back to life, 1 Kings 18:36-37 bringing him back to life.
- Tsaphar צָפָה ṣâp̱â-watchman to lean forward, peer into the distance
- Occurs 34 times
- Isaiah 52:8. Your watchmen shall raise up their voices, sing together for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord brings back Zion
- Hab 2:1 I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.
- Elijah exhibited this on Mt. Carmel as he persistently peered in to the distance and the drought ends, 1 Kings 18:41-46.
- Mishmar מִשְׁמֶרֶת mišmereṯ-describes the relentless nature of the watchman, taking responsibility for their watch
- Occurs 69 times
- Neh 12:45. Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification.
- Nehemiah 4:9, describes the intentionality of the Jews as they built the watch and guarded the work, “We set a watch against them day and night.”
- Throughout Elijah's life, he was found to be responsive to the Lord. He lived a life committed and obedient to the Lord in spite of intense opposition. Though he fled Jezebel at one point, 1 Kings 19:4; God met him and he recovered only to enter into a greater promise and multiplication of his ministry in meeting and calling out Elisha.
Gilgal vision:
Recently, we were at a convergence of various ministries from Israel and the nations at biblical Gilgal. This is the site where many believe Elijah was taken up. The gathering of all generations, many different tribes and tongues, was on a site owned by orthodox Jews. The grace was given for us to convene there. The gathering, supposed to last 1.5-2hrs, ended up taking most the day. God moved dynamically amongst us as generations worked and prophesied together. This was accompanied by a winds that blew through the gathering and intensified during the day. During the gathering I had a progressive vision:
While on the hill where people were gathering, I turned in the direction of Jordan and saw a very large chariot with 4 horses and strong driver dressed in a breastlike armor come galloping in over our heads. The chariot, horses and driver was a size of at least half the hill we were standing on. Massive. As this vision opened, a gust of wind manifested. As the wind settled down, I turned again towards Jordan, and another horse with chariot and rider dressed in armor came over us, about half the size of the first chariot. This happened two more times, with these large chariots about half the size of the first. A gust of wind accompanied them both times. After a brief moment, I turned once more towards Jordan, and the heavens opened with a massive army of horses, and chariots with riders.
Summary:
Elijah’s name closes the Old Testament for a reason. The drum beat of a mighty army is rising. Malachi prophesies there would be day when the spirit of Elijah would be revived for the endtime harvest. This company of watchmen in the spirit of Elijah is emerging. They have seen and heard the sound of the harvest. As God opens the eyes of spiritual mothers and fathers to the heart-cry of generations around them, the harvest will be captured. Health and healing will be restored by those orphaned and separated by the schemes of the enemy. God is calling watchmen in the Spirit of Elijah for the harvest is ripe. Swing the sickle and bring the harvest to the barn. Make way, make way for the Lord!
For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will dwell in them and walk among them.
I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
2 Cor 6:16
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.
John 15:16-17
"I will dwell in them and walk among them.
I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
2 Cor 6:16
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.
John 15:16-17