While praying recently, I saw a vision of many leaves of a tree branch being eaten up by worms, insects and locusts, and became disfigured, out-of-shape (with holes), and jagged (rough, uneven edges). After that, the glory of the Lord came in the form of a river that looks like a hand that touches the leaves. The leaves then became fresh and new again, looking whole and complete again.
That's when I heard the Lord saying, "This is a month of My glory! The glory of restoration and the glory of healing!"
There are many aspects of God's glory in the heavenly realm, but the glory that is now is the glory of His restoration and the glory of His healing! By faith, tap into this 'river' and drink from it! The river of God always bring with it the glory of God! Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV) says, 'Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations'.
In cross-reference, Ezekiel 47:12 (NKJV) says, 'Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine'.
Note: The word 'medicine' here is 'teruwphah' in Hebrew, which means 'a remedy'; from the word 'rapha' meaning 'to heal, to cure, to repair, to mend'.
And Joel 2:25-26 (NKJV) says, 'So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust... You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame'.
Note: The word 'restore' here is 'shaw-lam' in Hebrew, meaning 'to be safe (in spirit, soul, body, estate), to be made completed, to give back what one has lost'; from the same root word as 'shalom' (i.e. peace, complete, full, perfect, whole, well; nothing broken, nothing missing).
I was asking the Lord the meaning of those 'leaves' being restored and healed in the vision. And interestingly, 'leaves' in Greek is from the word 'phule', meaning 'an offshoot, a race, a clan, a tribe'. Indeed, you and I (irrespective of race) are all 'offshoots' from the man Adam! And symbolically therefore, you and I are those leaves! You see, not only does God want you to be restored and healed, but He also wants you to in turn be used to bring healing to the nations!
People of God, never underestimate what the Lord can do through you when He has put a nation (or nations) in your heart to preach the good news, or to proclaim what He has asked you to proclaim in prayer! The truth is God wants to restore and heal every tribe and tongue, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (Revelation 14:6, 2 Peter 3:9).
And the good news is in the glory of the Lord, the leaves stay fresh and young! That's what God's people (you and I) should be on earth! Psalm 1:3 says, 'He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper'. And Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, 'Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear (or see) when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit'.
This brings us to the question people often ask: "What is the glory of the Lord on earth?"
And the next question: "Can the glory of the Lord manifest on earth?"
Revelation 21:2-5 says, 'Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."'
Revelation 21:10-11 then says, 'And he (the angel) carried me (John) away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal'.
The word 'glory' here is 'doxa' in Greek, meaning 'magnificence (or splendor) of heaven that is apparent (obvious, tangible, clearly seen, a reality)'. And see the words 'coming down out of heaven' here? And the words 'descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God'?
Therefore, here are the answers according to the Scriptures above: The glory of the Lord on earth is a foretaste of heaven (where there is no pain or shame), and can manifest here and now on earth!
Note: The meaning of 'foretaste' (according to Oxford Dictionary) is 'a sample, an experience of something before it actually happens'.
So, people of God, let this glory of the Lord be seen upon you, here and now on earth! You don't have to wait till you reach heaven one day! Your time is NOW, here on earth! As it is written in Isaiah 60:1-3 that says, 'Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people (of the world). But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising'. Let it be so! In Jesus' wonderful name.
