I went to The Return in Washington DC, on Saturday Sept 26, and stayed through the 27th. But the main reason I came was not to go to this event as much as it was to go on the OFFENSIVE in prayer and intercession (I call it a “Praytest” instead of a ‘protest’) over key strategic ‘gates’. In Matt 16: Jesus says that the gates of hell shall not be able to prevail against the Saints, He goes on to tell us that He would give us the KEYS to the Kingdom of heaven and whatsoever we bind in heaven shall be bound on earth, What so ever we loose in heaven will be loosed on earth. However, to do this we have to actually ENGAGE the gates of Hell!
When Jesus asked the disciples this question He was actually at the foot of Mt. Hermon in Caesarea Philippi. This mountain was well known by all as a place where the fallen angels came to earth. –
(Enoch was acknowledged as scripture by the Jews and the Lord—When Jesus answered the Sadducees concerning marriage in heaven, he said, Matt 22:29-31
“You are mistaken, not knowing the SCRIPTURES nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven….
The only ancient Hebrew text that talks about men not marrying in heaven is Enoch chapter 15 and the Lord quotes from it here and calls it scripture! The Jews recognized Enoch as scripture and therefore accepted and were astonished with His answer.)
— So, the point is when Jesus makes this statement about the gates of hell, that is exactly where he was when He said it. There was much child sacrifice made at the base of Mt Hermon where there is a cave that is considered the entrance to the underworld and a dedication plaque to the Greek god Pan.
In Luke 10 Jesus APPOINTED and SENT 70 to go before His face to the cities and villages He was about to visit. He gave them specific orders; pray for laborers, declare the Kingdom and heal the sick. He said if a city receives you stay where you are received, don’t go house to house, and eat what is given you. If they do not receive you wipe off the dust of your feet and move on. Judgement will be strong against that place.
Jesus then goes on a rant against Capernaum and other cities where He had continually been too, stating that Sodom will have a better standing before the courts of the Lord then them (We do not really know where Capernaum was) At the end, the 70 return, rejoicing that “even the demons are subject to us in your name!” To which Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lighting from heaven. Behold I GIVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO TRAMPLE ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIANS AND ALL THE POWER OF THE EVIL ONE AND NOTHING BY ANY MEANS WILL HARM YOU! …”
He then goes onto say to not rejoice in this, but to rejoice that your names are written in His book, The point being, DON’T GET COCKY about power over the demons. Stay humble and respectful, the authority is actually HIS authority and is given to those who are APPOINTED and SENT and who WENT and OBEYED! To those He has promised both authority and protection! And he later in Luke 22:35 gives them some adjustments to these orders and tells them to ‘sell their garment and buy a sword’ (which are spiritual in nature not physical as Peter is rebuked for using the physical sword he picked up later to slice on a servants ear.)
Jesus sent them out in two’s and likewise I was not at peace going anywhere alone nor to even go at all without it being submitted to first my wife and then family and then a handful of other faithful friends to pray and confirm if even going to the US and to execute this “Praytest” was of the Lord. All confirmed. So, when I came to DC I was joined by my youngest son, who goes to school in DC but is studying on line because of the CV nonsense. (the fear of CV is much more potent than the CV itself and that is clearly proven) and we were also supported by close friends who came in from Virginia.
Day one was during ‘The Return’ itself and we targeted the obvious gates that are in the area. Plus. one that was not so obvious (the center of the Ellipse, which was laid out be the center of DC and has quite a dark history to it. (The blowing of the shofar there produced a discernible and palpable spiritual dynamic, that my youngest, a couple of others close by, and I could clearly sense!)
Day two had some ‘fireworks’ at a specific location that those who have dug a bit and done their own research could accurately predict. Day two was different, and there was much more resistance in the spiritual realm and I think it had to do with the locations we went to. I would imagine they all might have been somewhat un-encountered before in the terms of what we went there to do. The Shofar is a serious weapon of spiritual warfare. It is like a thousand shouts. It is like foolishness’ to the Greeks and the arrogant but in the heavenlies it rocks, it absolutely smashes on the gates == strongholds and prisons == of hell.
Jesus says that anyone who prays, in His will, and believes what they pray for, they can cause mountains and trees to be removed and cast into the sea– (the abyss) Mark 11:23, Matt 21:21-22.
“Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” NKJV
When there is more than 2 it begins to multiply. Matt 18:19-20
19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
In my, and the opinion of those who were with me, the greatest anointing was not in the speakers, or the events of The Return or Franklin Graham’s walk. The real power was in the hundreds and even thousands of small groups we saw joining hands or in a circle praying. ALL OVER THE MALL. Some 5 here, 10 there, some 20 or 30 gathered together. At the capital, in front of the White House, at the Supreme Court and a variety of other buildings and locations. A large number of people surrounded the Washington monument, to where it looked like the “Wailing Wall” as people laid hands on it prayed and some wept. There were thousands praying coming and going and praying in front of the White House. This was the nameless and faceless army of the Lord. and it was awesome to behold, very pleasing to the Father. Something you could not see unless you were there. The presence of the Lord in this was palpable.
The strike of the rod on the ground (Moses plagues and 2 Kings 13:14-19 and the two witnesses of Rev 11) and the blast of the shofar (Jericho, Gideon) may seem like foolish childishness to the ‘Greek’ and the deaf and blind (1 Cor 1:18-25), but it is not to the saints or the army of the Lord! The sound of the occasional blast of the shofar would elicit a response from the saints, some would stop and pray others would worship, lifting their hands. It was really amazing to see. I also can assure you that the Angels and principalities and demons surely know what it means as well, and this was confirmed on the second day!
Why would 3 police units come and confront and interrogate us for over 20 minutes for simply standing outside, on public access property, of a heavily fenced and armed gate while simply praying and calling on the name of the Lord and sounding a trumpet on Sunday afternoon when no one is there!?
Surely, we propose no physical threat and that was obvious. So why the 3rd degree? I know why and scripture is always true, this is not primarily a physical war, it is spiritual one and our weapons are not carnal but mighty in God to demolish strongholds –2 Cor 10:3-6! Prayer is a key weapon and is equated with the Sword of the Spirit in Eph 6:17, 18. Of course, the shofar and the rod are nothing of themselves, simply a strong stick and the horn of an animal, that was normally killed (sacrificed). They have no power, they are simply tools, the real power is from the prayer and intercession of the saints. The shofar and the rod are just symbols, similar to the wine and the bread of communion or when Jesus spit on the ground and made mud to heal the man born blind in John 9. Or when the disciples anointed many with oil (Mark 6:12,13) James said to anoint the sick with oil for healing (James 5:14,15) and many other spiritual applications using physical, tangible symbols or tools. We do not reverence or worship the tools!
It really comes down to faith and believing God’s word. And if there ever was a time to break out all the weapons of warfare, that help us have faith and BELIEVE GOD (Heb 11:6) and to swing the Sword of the Spirit (Rhema) praying in the Spirit and sounded out through the shofar Eph 6:17, 18 and the Sword of the WORD (Logos) symbolized through the strike of the Shepherd’s rod and staff, Heb 4:12, 13 , now is that time!