It has taken me awhile to process this… a dream I had not long ago.
It was near the end of my sleep, that is all I know. When I awoke, it was time to get out of bed. How long it lasted up till that point, I do not know. I know they say dreams can feel like hours, but only be minutes. But, this was no ordinary dream.
I was outside on the streets in Springfield, IL, the city where I grew up. The sun was out. The skies were blue. The grass was green and the trees were in full leaf.
I found myself walking on the sidewalks outside my old school, Southeast High School. Looking up I could see clouds beginning to gather on the southwest horizon. I hadn’t been anywhere near my old high school in almost 30 years.
Cars were now driving past me turning into the school parking lot. People were beginning to move all about as they made their way into the school building.
“This is strange,” I thought to myself. I didn’t even like high school, but here I was. People seemed to know me, and I knew some of them. Some of them were my former classmates, but most I did not know – not necessarily strangers, simply non-acquaintances.
The clouds continued to grow. The height and breadth of the clouds were most impressive. Tall white clouds, reaching thousands of feet into the atmosphere. Dark grey, almost black, low clouds continued to roll and expand. I do not remember all the types of clouds from my high school science classes, but these were not ordinary clouds.
A sense of ominous tension began to grow as the storm approached.
“Do you feel it?” I asked of those around me. Others began to feel it too. Some were concerned, but many went on their way.
My gaze was drawn to the front edge of the clouds as they continued to grow, blotting out any blue left in the sky.
Something was different.
There was the shape of a person standing on the front edge. He had the appearance of an angel, a warrior, his sword in hand – and he gazed right at me. I do not remember if the voice was audible, but he spoke to me.
“It is time. I am coming.”
I took off running into the school, running through the hallways, shouting for everyone to come outside, to believe in Jesus, and that the King was coming. Up and down the hallways I ran. People were leaving the building and going into the parking lot.
I ran back outside. The parking lot was now full of people. The storm clouds were now complete. All color was gone. The world had turned black and white. Some could see what I saw, but most could not. They saw the storm clouds, but they did not see the Rider. The One who spoke to me was no longer by Himself
He had come on his mighty horse. The angel armies had followed Him. They were countless and stretched on behind Him.
I was silent.
He was there, ready to lead His army. He looked at me as I stood in the parking lot, gazing up into the clouds. The floor of the clouds seemed to be just 100 feet off the ground.
I stood there, staring at Him in a black and white world. The clouds continued to billow and swirl under His feet and those of the angels. His face was one of a warrior, ready for battle. He didn’t smile. His face was set with a purpose. He was fierce.
People continued to move about me. I’m not sure who was seeing what I was seeing, but the heavens had opened and the Rider was ready. He was my only focus.
I don’t remember Him speaking to me, but He never dropped his gaze of me. The end of days was here. The armies of Heaven were at the doorstep.
I awoke.
I lay there for a long time trying to process, recall, and wonder what I had just seen. Why didn’t I fall to my knees. I don’t know. The King of Kings had his sword drawn and was preparing to ride. Maybe that’s a time to stand, and not kneel. I don’t know.
I figured I have had over 17,300 night’s sleep in my life up to that point. I had never had a dream like that before, nor have I had one since.
The King is coming, and He is leading His armies. The time is short. There isn’t much time left. Stand firm. Don’t falter.
Look, He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him – even those who pierced him. ~ Revelation 1:7
Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. ~ Revelation 19:11-16
Why I had this dream, I do not know. There are many who are more faithful than me that deserve dreams like this.
Why the world turned black and white. I do not know.
Why I was back at my high school in my home town, I do not know. That’s probably the strangest thing to me.
I do know that the images from this dream are very real in my mind. I wish I was an artist and could render the images from my mind to the canvas.
I do know He is coming soon. It’s sooner today than it was when I had this dream. The time is short.
He is Faithful and True, and it will be better to ride with Him than against Him.