#230 | Sceptres Under Scrutiny: A Divine Review

As we sang the song: “Holy, holy, holy”, I was pulled into a scene. I glanced around and noticed a moving line. At the beginning of the line was a throne, where the Lord sat in indescribable majesty, examining each person that stood before Him.

Interested in the procession, I looked keenly and noticed they were Pastors and preachers from different nations of the world. Despite their different appearances, each held a sceptre, representing their symbol of authority. As I appraised their sceptres, I noticed they were made of different materials, ranging from wood to gold.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw the Lord move, and immediately, I turned my attention to Him. The person before the Lord was kneeling with his sceptre stretched before Him. As the Lord assessed his sceptre, there was a stillness in the room.

When the Lord lifted His right hand and placed it on the man’s forehead, He permitted him to pass. The line moved, and the process continued. For those who passed His assessment, the Lord placed His right hand on their foreheads.

Again the line moved, and a man in elaborate regalia knelt before the Lord. As he stretched out his beautifully decorated staff, I recognized he was the Pope. The Lord looked at him—His gaze penetrating and concentrated. I hadn’t noticed the flow of time earlier, but with the Pope, the Lord seemed to assess him longer.

Then the Lord spoke: “There can be no two Kings.” His words proceeded like an uncontestable verdict. I watched as the words were executed—the Pope shrunk in size, transformed from a man to an insignificant miniature figurine, unable to hold the beautifully decorated staff.

The line moved again, and another kneeled before the Lord. I heard, “I will test their authority, by whose authority do you rule over My people?”

INTERPRETATION

The vision begins with ministers of God all over the world standing before His throne. This depicts a time for accountability and reckoning. Scriptures tell us that we will all appear before the Lord and give an account of ourselves (1 Peter 4:5; Romans 14:12; Revelation 20:11–13).

Each minister held a sceptre—a symbol of authority (Genesis 49:10; Esther 4:11; Psalm 45:6).

The visioner observed that there was a difference among the sceptres of these ministers. While some sceptres were made of wood, others were of gold. This reveals the type of vessel they are and the nature of their walk with God (1 Corinthians 3:12–14; 2 Timothy 2:20–21).

The differences in the nature of the sceptres could also speak of the various gifts and authorities made available in the body of Christ, whether pronounced or not. There are diversities of gifts and authorities the Lord has made available in the Church (1 Corinthians 12:4–6; 1 Corinthians 12:28).

In the vision, the ministers are seen kneeling before the Lord, presenting themselves for assessment. This is an act of submission and acknowledgment of God’s supreme authority. God delegates authority and is therefore the Ultimate Authority; hence the ministers’ acknowledgment of His supremacy (Psalm 75:7; Daniel 4:17, 26; Romans 13:1).

The ministers had to stretch out their sceptres for assessment as well. This is proof that the Lord will assess every man’s work to prove its quality (1 Corinthians 3:12–14).

For those who passed the Lord’s assessment, He placed His right hand—the hand of authority—on their foreheads (Psalm 110:1; Mark 16:19). The forehead, which speaks of the mind, is the centre for thoughts and a place where decisions are made.

The Lord’s hand on their forehead shows an approval that they are still working with the mind of Christ and in line with God’s will (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:5–7; 1 Corinthians 2:16).

19th July 2024
Sis. IFE
GAM-WATCH