The Fusion of Light and Power

Peter Gross

Australia

On Jan. 24, I saw a hybrid form of light that looked like a cross between a lightning bolt and a laser beam; I'll call it a 'lightning beam.' The edges of the lightning beam were not as jagged as the edges of a lightning bolt, but they were not as straight as a laser beam . It was similar in appearance to the current produced by a Taser or stun-gun; sometimes theology follows technology. The lightning beam was stunning in appearance. Intuitively, I felt that the lightning beam was very powerful (a characteristic of a lightning bolt) and that it could be controlled with great precision (a characteristic of a laser beam). The lightning beam was directed at the centre of a clear pane of glass that was standing upright. The light formed a ball at the point of contact with the glass. Light would not normally behave this way according to the known laws of physics. Then I saw 4 of these glass panes. The panes had been placed equidistant from each other; they did not make contact with each other. The outer edge of one glass panel pointed North, one pointed South, one pointed East, and one pointed West. Together, they looked like a paddlewheel or waterwheel (perhaps this is a 'lightwheel'?). The lightning beam shone into the space that was at the centre of the 4 panes. Again, the light formed a ball and it touched the inner edges of the 4 panes. Light would not normally behave this way.

The panes of glass in this revelation may represent Christians who are not only walking in the light, but the light is in them and that they have learned how to operate with (or apply) the light. This light will not only show the way, it will make the way, it will be the way. Indeed, the Word says that God is light and Jesus is the way (see 1Jn quotation below; Jn 14:6). People will be transformed by this light into the likeness of Christ. As people walk in the light and on the way (of obedience cf. Is 35:8), God will release His power to individuals. Further, God uses light to draw people together (see 1Jn quotation below; interestingly, light is considered to have electromagnetic properties). As unity in the body increases, God will release His power corporately. Hence, as I saw 2 distinct but related images, I consider that the relationship between power and light is also twofold:

First, an individual makes contact with the light and learns how to operate with the light, which contains God's power (single glass pane).

Second, God uses light to draw together the people who have learned how to operate with the light in unity (multiple glass panes).

This light will 'empower' Christians who are walking in the light just like the way the sun can empower a vehicle fitted with solar panels. This light is not just an intensification of the light that we have been seeing. This is not the light of God's fire; this is the light of God's power. (Lightning is a visible discharge of electricity -- several hundred million volts and 50,000^o F. If storms are going to intensify in the future, perhaps lightning will also intensify). However, I'm talking about the psychology and theology of light and power, not the physics of light and power. It is about our attitudes regarding both humility and transparency; it is about power in weakness; it is about receiving power while walking in the light. Besides, the 'lightning beam' did not behave according to the known laws of physics. As a psychologist, the only particle that I have smashed lately is my big toe. Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us go forward in both God's light and power. In the past, we may have desired to go forward in power first, then in light, but light must increase so that power will increase. Someone can be powerful (like Samson), but they can easily stumble in the dark (be deceived, like Samson).

A passage of Scripture that may help to understand this revelation is 1Jn 1:5-7:

5 ¶ Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.
6 If we say, "We have fellowship with Him," and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin (HCSB).

A quotation that may also help to understand this revelation comes from Witness Lee:

When the electricity in a building is turned on, there is an electric current. Before this, the electricity is present, but not moving because it has not been applied. The electric current supplies electricity to the appliances as soon as the switches are turned on. The overhead lights, for example, are separate and unrelated until the switches are turned on. As soon as the electric current gets into them, there is a unity among them, the current of electricity itself, which brings them into "fellowship" with each other (The Seven Mysteries in the First Epistle of John, 1980, p. 19). Note: I have implied that light must come before power. Witness Lee has implied that power must come before light, but this is so that there will be power for unity. The way I see it is that light helps us to see each other and you need light so that you can operate power tools. In the end, it is somewhat of a circular process, but it is dangerous when light is dim.

The contribution of this article is in gaining an understanding that the release of God's power is conditional upon, and in proportion to, walking in God's light as individuals and with others. Further, unity in the body may be facilitated when all the members of the body can see the same light source rather than different light sources (see also Light of the World, Priscilla Van Sutphin, Feb 2, 2009, etpv).