Bird Chronicles Part 3

Christine Beadsworth

South Africa

Mar 7, 2009

Beloved, you will remember the lessons the Spirit has taught me through two little feathered friends – the lesson of tarrying and of being a witness by life or by death. Not long after that I received the next chapter in the avian tutorial:

One morning while watering the garden just below the nest of the first little messenger, I came across the dead body of yet another sparrow. Its head was missing and ants were crawling all over it, gathering flesh and carting it away to their nests underground. Straight away the Spirit dropped two scriptures into my heart;

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Pro 6:6 Go to the ant, sluggard; consider her ways and be wise;
Pro 6:7 who, having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Pro 6:8 provides her food in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.

This little headless bird represents those who have been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the Word of God; those who have not bowed their knee to the beast or been marked by him. Now we know that not everyone who has been martyred for the cause of Christ has been beheaded – some have been roasted alive or torn to pieces by wild animals just to mention two ways Christians have been martyred. So this scripture cannot be referring to those who have been killed because they are Christians. It is very specific in mentioning that this group have lost their heads. So who then is represented by this group?

The answer is hidden in the verses in Proverbs that the Spirit gave me. The word translated 'harvest' comes from a Hebrew word meaning 'severed, reaped, branch'. It refers to the practice of reaping the heads of grain once they are fully ripe. In a sense the grain is de-headed or beheaded because the only valuable part of the plant is contained in the full ripe head of grain. We know that Jesus spoke in parables of believers being like a field of wheat interspersed with tares and that once the wheat was ripe, harvesting would take place and the grain would be stored in the barn and used as a food source.

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

The only valuable part of God's wheat plants is the that which has brought forth fruit from the mind of Christ. The doctrines of man are sterile and produce nothing but increased chaff in the lives of believers. Those beheaded 'for the witness of Jesus and the Word of God' represent firstly those in whom the Word has become flesh; the sons of God who have the mind of Christ and not the thought patterns of the beast (referred to by the mark upon the forehead). They also have not partaken of the works of the beast nature, depicted by the mark upon the hand. Because they have refused to tainted in any way by this antichrist religious spirit at work in the earth, having overcome in many tests and trials, they are given authority to rule with Christ a thousand years.

There are many who believe that this refers to a literal thousand year period. It may do so. However, often the Word has layer upon layer of meaning. The Holy Spirit showed me something interesting. In the letters to the seven churches there is reference made to a group who overcomes. There are seven rewards given to the overcomers in each church, two of which is mentioned in these verses:

Rev 2:26 And he who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations.
Rev 2:27 And he will rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter they will be broken to pieces, even as I received from My Father.

Rev 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with My Father in His throne.

Here we see that it is the overcomers who sit with Christ and rule and reign with Him! Now for the interesting bit – the phrase 'he who overcomes' has a gematria value of 1000. So when it speaks of those who are beheaded for the cause of Christ ruling with Him a thousand years, it is a coded reference to the overcomers. Until one overcomes the assault of every contaminating spiritual influence and comes forth tried and tested, having the mind of Christ, one is incapable of ruling in righteousness and justice from heavenly places.

In each of the letters to the seven churches there is reference to things God is not pleased with, BUT 'to those who overcome', authority, position and provision is awarded. Therefore they are in a position to minister, feed and direct the affairs of the Kingdom.

Let us return to the little headless bird. Remember the ants were carrying away meat from its body, just as Proverbs 6 describes. What do these busy little creatures represent? The Hebrew word for 'ant' comes from a root meaning 'circumcised'.

Phi 3:3 For we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh;

So here we have a picture of those who are circumcised in heart, not partaking in the fleshly works of religion but worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth. They have understanding of the times, knowing that the winter is approaching when they will be unable to work. They are making the most of the time they have; getting ready for the approaching winter by gathering true meat from those who have been beheaded for the sake of the gospel. This is similar to the wise virgins who make sure there is enough oil in their lamps.

Now it seems that there are two different groups of saints depicted in this bird parable – those who have already been harvested or beheaded and those who are gleaning food from them. So we see that there is a forerunner company who have been prepared in advance for the sake of their brethren; just like Joseph was sent ahead and prepared through many trials in order to be in a position of rule and authority - where he could feed his brethren during the long famine for the Word of the Lord.

Joh 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.

There are two ways grain can bring forth much fruit. It can be planted in the earth and bring forth another plant bearing many grains OR it can be used to feed someone, thus nourishing them with true meat and causing them to bring forth fruit. Remember Paul said that death was at work in him, in order for life to be manifested in others. Paul lost his life for the sake of the kingdom but gained it in others who were brought into the kingdom. The headless bird speaks of a company who have lost their lives for the cause of the gospel; laying them down so that others may be fed by the meat of the Word that had become flesh in them.

In Revelation 12 the woman flees into the wilderness:

Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, so that they might nourish her there a thousand, two hundred and sixty days.

Who is the 'they' that will nourish her. It is those who have been 'beheaded' or harvested first; the firstfruits to God and the Lamb who have received authority, position and provision in order to feed and guide many.

Beloved, we are living in very pivotal days. It is time for those who are wise to learn from the ant and find sources of true meat from those forerunners who have already passed through the refiner's fire and in these days are being brought out of hiding in order to feed and guide many. The Lord prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies as things grow progressively darker on every side. It is time to eat His flesh and drink His blood from those who have the mind of Christ and in whom the Word has been made flesh. It is time to find faithful stewards who are serving meat in due season to God's household.

Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

We are in the season when true meat is needed. The time for eating the husks served to the pigs is over. Unless we store up spiritual food for the coming winter of hardship we will not be able to stand. We must discern between faithful messengers who are serving nourishment fitting for the day we live in and those who serve up dainties that have no lasting goodness in them. Sermons that tickle the ears and stroke the flesh will not sustain us in the stormy days ahead.

Pro 25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Pro 25:14 Whoso boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Snow is water that has been 'put on ice' so to speak. God has certain portions of the water of the Word that He has put on ice or reserved for the time of harvest that we live in. Both tares and wheat are being harvested at this time. Tares have no nourishment whatsoever and their destination is the fire. A tare will boast of a false gift, just like a cloud that doesn't bring any rain. We need the meat for this season; the meat that will fortify and undergird our spirits so we can stand unswayed by the ferocity of the storm and remain faithful to Him who has called us.

Remember the ant stores its food underground and the whole ant colony finds shelter underground. The true church will also shortly be going 'underground' as she flees to the wilderness from the wrath of the dragon. Make sure you have gathered your food in the time of harvest. Look for true meat. Find the carcass. Don't waste your time nibbling pastries!

For those who are represented by the headless bird, the Spirit of God will be directing many to come and feed from your lives. They will receive nourishment out of who you are not what you do, for you minister Christ from a place of Sabbath rest, having ceased from your own fleshly labors.

Selah