Chad Taylor
4-16-00
"Lest Satan should take advantage of us; we are not ignorant of his devices" (2nd Corinthians 2:11).
In a series of prophetic revelations and visions I have come to the simple conclusion that as we race toward epic times in the church, the kingdom of darkness as well is setting up their best strategies and schemes to attempt to thwart the Church since the Garden of Eden. Releasing darkness, "the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people" but we can also anticipate at the same time, " the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you(Isaiah 60:2). Above all else we must know our Father's heart and pray accordingly in this critical hour. Even as the year 2000 has been a spiritual landmark for the church and the world, so it is in the ranks of Satan as well. Unprecedented in church history the Spirit of the Lord is imparting and impacting His people with a profound, and sometimes even simple, revelation to combat effectively the hordes of hell that are amassed against us.
Like an ensign, we see a world arrested by this darkness, captivated by its deceptions and illusions. More than ever before the Church must be a "city upon a hill that cannot be hid." I believe it is the current wisdom and revelation now being revealed by the Church, from Her prophets and apostles, Her teachers and shepherds, evangelists and preachers, that is posturing us to invade the darkness like never before. Leaving an indelible and eternal mark in its midst and setting the captives free by the billions as we enter into this final harvest. By these relevant and recent prophetic insights we might now take up the weapons of our warfare more effectively and powerfully. Opening the prisons to them that are bound and binding up the broken hearts of nations.
So in this heart and passion I offer to you the Church this simple and yet, I believe by the Spirit of the Lord, urgent and critical revelation. The Year of the Dragon. To the intercessors and those on the walls of Jerusalem, let this bring insight and enlightenment to your prayers and intercessions. To the prophets and evangelists, may it fuel your fervency and passion for the lost and better equip you to tear down the strongholds. And to the Apostles and Pastors, let it quicken you to the impending battle that looms over our cities and streets and the victory that is certainly within our reach
2000: THE YEAR OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON
Dragon cultures exist in both the Eastern and Western world. Dragons are deeply rooted in the Chinese culture. The Chinese often consider themselves, 'the descendants of the dragon.' Chinese emperors think they are the real dragons and the sons of heaven. Thus the beds they sleep on are called the dragon beds, the throne called the dragon seat, and the emperor's ceremonial dresses called the dragon robes. Traditionally the dragons are considered as the governors of rainfalls in Chinese culture. They have the power to decide where and when to have rain. They believe the kings of the water dragons live in the dragon palaces under the oceans. It is similar to Jobs description of Leviathan in Job 41.
According to ancient texts the dragon was a creature 'with a pair of antlers like the one of a deer, a camel head, the eyes of a hare, and the neck of a serpent. Its belly looks like the one of a shen (a mythical water dragon that resembles a crocodile). Its claws look like the ones of an eagle, its paws like the ones of a tiger and its ears like the ones of a buffalo. The Chinese use the same Chinese character for Gold and Metal, and as Gold sounds more valuable, the Chinese like to call the year 2000 the "Golden Dragon" rather than the Metal Dragon.
The dragon was able to morph from one form into another within a few instances, from fat to thin and from tall to short. It could also rise to heaven and descend to the depths of the sea. It seems to be that the dragon is a supernatural creature that can accept any type of form. The Chinese sign for the dragon appears during the Yin and Shang dynasties (from the 16th to the 11th century BC, the period of the earliest Chinese hieroglyphs), between inscriptions on bones and turtle shields. These inscriptions depicted a horned reptile, teeth, scales and sometimes paws as well. Above the sign there's often a symbol that seems to indicate that the dragon is considered to be a violent, evil, and bearer of terrible news. The dragon is sometimes called, "the musical serpent...." What we see here is Satan manifesting himself throughout history in different "forms." "And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." (2nd Corinthians 11:14).
There were nine "dragon sons" that were worshiped and made into idols. Supposedly they were the sons of the four "dragon kings", Ao Shun, Ao Ch'in, Au Jun and Ao Kuang. These four are depicted as brothers. Each brother rules one of the four seas that surround the earth. As myth tells it they live in the "Crystal Palace", which is underwater. It is here that their ministers, army and watchmen live and guard the sea. I see this literally as the enemy revealing his own identity and those that rule with him. This should give us more ammunition as we pray and bind these four "dragon kings" or principalities.
China is also the bosom of Buddhism. The main identifying trait of the dragon is false religion, occult, and witchcraft. This is their calling card or profile. Even as there is a revival in the Church, there is also a "revival" in false religions and cults. More than ever the masses are turning to the "father of lies" and following his many devised and devious schemes. His false prophets are roaming the earth propagating these occultic and even accepted and publicly embraced religions. "Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." (2nd Corinthians 11:15).
Isaiah 59:19 says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." 2nd Chronicles 7:14 makes it very clear God's blueprint for restoration and clearly defines this 'standard' He has promised to lift up. "If My people will humble themselves and pray" But this is not prayer in its conventional means and practice, but this is revelatory prayer moved by the Holy Ghost! Not just simple repetitious utterances, but with the Lord's unction, "as the Spirit gave them utterance!" Praying by divine enterprise and illumination. This is why the Lord is revealing to His church "the deep things of God" To better equip us for the battle at hand, and lay waste the enemies plots and ploys.
The year of the Dragon is also termed, "Awakening of the Dragon." Throughout the centuries scientist came up with many explanations and theories about the dragon. It's beyond any doubt that it must have been, in its earliest appearances, a reptile; a snake, alligator, or lizard. Reliquees and archeological sites dating from 5,000 to 6,000 years BC have shown that lizards, alligators and dragons were adapted in totemestic masses of honor and rituals.
According to Revelation 20:2 the dragon is the devil. "He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the devil, and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years" It is this enemy and foe that we must reckon with in the spiritual realm and fight. Though the battle for our souls has been won at the cross the battle for the billions yet to acknowledge that fact is still waged and fought for every day. This is the epic tug-of-war we find ourselves engaged in at this very moment as the Church. "To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church TO THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES."(Ephesians 3:10).
God is revealing His ancient strategies and means of absolute victory to us! We are His weapons of warfare! "Whatever YOU bind on earth is bound in Heaven, whatever YOU loose on earth is loosed in Heaven."
SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA
(Below is a quote from an article on this historical San Jose event.)
"Awakening from 7-Decade Sleep"
"Thanks to funding from the San Jose Redevelopment Agency and Chinese Historical and Cultural Project, San Jose's Golden Dragon, glistening the thousands of sequins and spangles, awakened on July 30, 1995, after 71 years of slumber. The San Jose Dragon's last documented appearance was in front of the Ng Shing Gung in 1924. Since then, Gung Lum, the Golden Dragon disappeared from public view.
After year's of disrepair, the original dragon head surfaced and was refurbished with the aid of Redevelopment and CHCP funding. Dave Thomas, martial arts master of East-West Kung Fu, labored for months to restore a salvaged dragon head and tail and create the Dragon's new 125-foot body, appliqued with multicolored, sequined designs.
Also called the Golden Dragon, the Dragon was also given a second name, Dragon of the Heart's Delight, which reflects the name of its home in the Santa Clara Valley known as the "Valley of the Heart's Delight" before its newer sobriquet, "Silicon Valley." The name was selected from among entries in CHCP's "Awake the Dragon Contest" that was the source of stories and paintings depicting the dream adventures of the dragon's seven-decade sleep. ('Heart's delight' or dim sum is also the term for Chinese savory treats.)
At the 1995 Chinese Summer Festival, the Golden Dragon awakened when a mixture of potent herbs was rubbed onto his eyes in the traditional eye-dotting ceremony. At that magical moment, the Dragon reared his 3-by-5-foot head in a whirl of smoke. He rose to dance again with the help of 40 dancers the strongest at his head and the fastest at his tail." (End of quote)
All over the world these "dragon festivals" are taking place. These rituals done by a Taoist Priest deemed, "the awakening of the dragon" are laying the foundation to build these fatal and false religions or cults that are not only thriving in foreign lands, but now in America with as much zeal and fervency. Seducing the youth and promising illusions of grandeur. But in all reality it is only the concoction of that "serpent of old, the devil" Weaving a web of deceit and deception, but ensnaring billions in its process. This is the revelation that the Spirit of the Lord is imparting to His Church, the revelation to pray and intercede and see this dragon slain! To see this Dragon hung on his own gallows and the children set free! This is what we must pray! This is what we must intercede! "See then that you walk very carefully, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16).
DRAGON BOAT RACES
'The dragon boat festival is typically celebrated "the Fifth of the Fifth" - the fifth day of the fifth month. Red is the prominent color on the boats because it is the color of the number five and symbolizes heat, summer, and fire. Dragon Boat Festival is called Duan Wu Jie in Chinese. Jie means festival. The festival is celebrated on the 5th of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This will be a key time to pray and intercede for these "festivals" to come to nothing and the power they are releasing to be negated.
The 2,000 year-old Dragon Boat ("Tuen Ng") it is one of Hong Kong's most revered festivals, featuring fierce dragon boats racing in a lively, vibrant spectacle. In year 2000, the festival falls on June 6 with local dragon boat races throughout the territory. The enemy know the power of a "sacred assembly" as mentioned in the book of Joel. We need to as the Church, understand this principle of revival as well, "Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the youth and the nursing babies." (Joel 2:15-16). We need to have the same severity and seriousness in our assembling as the enemy has in his, understanding the power and impact we have when we do.
The Festival commemorates the death of a popular Chinese national hero Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mi Lo River during the third century BC. The dragon boat racing began more than 2000 years ago when a group of fearful people believed that the boat racing would ensure prosperous and bountiful crops. Their celebrations took place on the summer solstice - the time of year typically associated with disease and death and when man felt most helpless against the powers of nature. It was imperative then that a boat capsize and at least one person drown - which was considered a special sacrifice to the gods and was, surprisingly, a sign of good luck. Another manifestation of the dragon is suicide. We must pray against this expression from the enemy's camp. There is a focused thrust from the enemy in the area of suicide that we must counter attack with poignant passionate prayer.
The phenomenon of dragon boat racing stretches across the world from Hong Kong, Sydney, Seattle, New York, London, Cape Town and Dhaka. The Dragon Cup USA is a non-profit organization, which hosts dragon boat races on Lake Washington, in Seattle. Preceding each race a ceremony, which dates back over the centuries, is performed. This ritual associated with the races is the awakening of the dragon, where a Taoist priest prepares the boat by dotting the eyes of the dragon head in order to end its slumber. This ceremony is conducted to cleanse and "bless" the area of the competition, the competitors, and their boats. It also gives the boats and their crew the strength of the dragon and the blessing of the goddess of the sea' Seattle as well as these other cities are powerful points of spiritual contact for divine intercession and Christian intervention. We need to take these cities into our places of worship and intercession and push back the enemies attempt to occupy them.
DRAGON SLAYERS!
"In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent, and He will slay that reptile that is in the sea"(Isaiah 27:1)
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17).
"But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death" (Revelation 12:11)
The Spirit of the Lord is raising up a divine company of intercessors and prophets that will speak to the demise of this dragon. A Church that from Her lips will come an authority and power that only the Son could inspire. They will march around the fortified cities and with a great shout the walls will fall flat and the masses will be set free. Not only Rahab, but also all of her descendents even to this day, that have put out the hand of fellowship and friendship to God's army. God will spare their lives in this hour, and by the millions they will join the troop and march to the holy beat of God's heart.
Like the four lepers in 2nd Kings, an army will rise from famine and defeat, and will march and the sound of their feet will be the sound of a great and mighty army. The enemy will flee at the sound! Like Zechariah the father of John the Baptist, the Church that has been in silence will now utter great and mighty things. Revelations that have been hidden even to this day, will they now reveal to the "principalities and powers in the heavenly places" And we once again declare the awesome wonders of God. A generation of Dragon Slayers is emerging from the smoke of battle with a great sword of His Word and authority. Terrorizing hell and wreaking havoc in the kingdom of darkness. The motto of this generation will be, "As long as we are alive, hell will have no peace"
DRAGON SLAYER ARISE TO THE CALL OF CHRIST AND MARCH INTO THE NATIONS WITH THE UNCTION AND POWER OF CHRIST. THIS IS YOUR HOUR TO 'ARISE AND SHINE! FOR YOUR LIGHT HAS COME! AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS RISEN UPON YOU!' (ISA. 60:1).
Chad Taylor
Email: destiny@televar.com
Web: www.consumingfire.com
LAMENTATIONS 2:19
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