Recently, I had a unique dream that I found myself disturbed but then quickly encouraged by. In the dream, I saw a land that I was not familiar with. It had large fields filled with massive trees that were perfectly aligned in rows. The land had rolling hills instead of being on a flat terrain or mountainous range. The fields of trees went on and on as far as I could see. They were larger than normal trees with fruit on the extended branches. The fruit wasn’t necessarily what I would recognize but in the dream I felt like I knew what each one was representing. I didn’t go through the rolling hills collecting any of the fruit that I was seeing. Rather I found myself amazed at the sight of the land and the size of the trees, along with the fruit. Everything looked as though it was larger than normal. In the dream, I walked through the rows of trees for what seemed like a long time before I heard the steps of a man coming. The sound that I heard was deafening though. It was very loud with a thunderous clap with each step taken. As the sound got louder with each approaching step, I stepped under the shade of one of the trees. A massive man appeared with a hook in his left hand. I could not see the face of the man, but could see the size of a man larger than life. The hook would sway back and forth in his left hand and he would bring it up high and swing outwards to the trees. His right hand would reach the limb with the fruit and he would throw that fruit to the ground. As he did this, there would remain limbs with fruit on the trees. It was as if he was only cutting away certain limbs that contained the fruit. The hook then came back down right before me in which I could see “Pruning Hook” written on it, like a trademark of some sort. The man then progressed forward going through each tree and repeating the cutting away of certain limbs. In the dream ,I didn’t say a word. I wasn’t afraid or terrified of what was happening, but I knew that I didn’t want to be seen. Shortly after the man walked on, my dream was over.
Types and Shadows
It has taken me a few days to process this dream as it has parts of it that are self explanatory and parts that weren’t so clear to begin with. After days of prayer and seeking, I now realize what this dream is saying to us.
The man that appeared in the dream is a type and shadow of The Father. Considering his face is never revealed it reminds of Exodus 33:20, “But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”. The larger than life size also brings about the understanding that this could be The Father due to the creator being larger than the creation. Secondly, I believe that the trees are types and shadows of mankind. Jesus used an illustration through the comparison of trees and man in Luke 6:43-45, “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”. The rolling hills are representing the vastness of the Kingdom and with the trees being in alignment it’s detailing the importance that throughout the up and downs of the hills, the alignment of the trees never changed.
The question now becomes, what is this dream about? And why did I see “Pruning Hook”? First of all, I want you to get the image of that hook. The best way that I can describe what it looked like was that of a sickle that is used in a wheat field. I cannot articulate why it’s different exactly, but this pruning hook looked and curved differently than a sickle though. In the dream, I was never concerned with what was happened. I wasn’t in a state of fear. This is the reason that I am not actually disturbed with a shaking, but encouraged with a sifting.
Let’s talk about the pruning hook in his left hand. First of all, it’s important to recognize that the left hand is often thought to be the hand that is connected to your heart. Many who have heart attacks (Not all, but a majority) will grab their left arm as it is closely aligned with our hearts. The hook in his left hand is a type and shadow of a picture that is saying that this man is pruning away what is not connected to his heart. In other words, what is being cut away is doing more harm than good. Granted, in Revelation 14 we get a picture of Jesus with a sickle in His hand as it represents an end time harvest for salvation and judgment. Revelation 14: 14-20 describes the scene as a sickle is in the hand of the son of God, and also two angels with sickles in their hands as well. When you study these scriptures out, you get the understanding of an end-time event that is separating those in Christ, and those without Christ. Let us not forget the dream where the trees remain in tack with fruit still on the limbs. There was only a cutting away of certain limbs/fruit, and also there were no one else with a hook (sickle).
What is the LORD doing/saying?
I believe that this dream is a type of warning, and a type of declaration to what The Father is doing. The Father is telling the Ekklesia that He is walking throughout the Kingdom pruning those who are bearing fruit for the advancement of who you are destined to be. The “Pruning Hook” is not punishment or judgement, rather it’s reforming the tree. The Hook is a tool that the Father is using to bring about Reformation in mankind (trees). I believe that’s why I am in the dream and it’s not just a dream of me seeing this unfold. I believe that my ability to witness this is the Lord saying that He is Pruning the 5-Fold Ministry through Reformation. As a 5-fold minister, it speaks volumes to me that I am not terrified in the dream, rather I am amazed at what is happening.
The Lord is saying to us today that He is bringing about the “Pruning Hook” to those who are called to equip and edify the Saints. He is cutting you and I in order that we may produce what must be produced. It’s not a sickle of punishment or judgment, rather it’s a hook to take away what must be removed in order to produce the best fruit. It’s a warning to those who continue to defile the 5-fold in the consistent attempts for self-gratification, pollute the prophetic, abuse the apostolic, prostitute the pastoral, and the list goes on. However, it’s a declaration that The Father is also purifying the prophetic, aligning the apostolic, elevating the evangelistic, and so forth.
This pruning is a great thing, and yet a challenge to many. Reformation is at hand and the Father is using a “Pruning Hook” to bring about the clarification of those who are willing to demonstrate the heart of the Father. What good are we if we have the gifts of Holy Spirit, but never demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit? Let this dream encourage you that there is a reforming taking place. Let this dream awaken you to get back to the intent of the Father’s heart. Let us be willing to rise above offense, mistakes, anger, bitterness, backbiting, slander, false accusations, unforgiveness, hatred, and so much more. Welcome the pruning of The Father as we continue to raise the standard of Holiness and Righteousness throughout the Ekklesia. Our call is not to be taken lightly, nor is it a call in which we were never destined to fulfill. Rise up Ekklesia!