“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of The LORD am I now come.  And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?  And the captain of The LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”   Joshua 5:13-15.

There are moments in time when seasons of trial are determined upon individuals, nations and even the whole world.

Such times do not come with the announcement of a trial; they don’t come with an advertisement; they come with a wave; and even more, a wave of events.

To try Job as an individual; Satan went before The LORD and sought to gain permission to try Job.  Every storm the enemy threw at job was aimed at one thing — to get Job to use his mouth to curse The LORD  (Job 1:8-11).

“Then The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
So Satan answered The LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?  Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?  You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.  But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”   Job 1:8-11.

As a nation, The LORD through Elijah, called a nation to The Valley of Decision and set them to make a choice; a choice with their hearts and their mouth, a choice for The LORD GOD of Israel, or a choice for Baal  (1 Kings 18:20-21).

“So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.  And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. “   1 Kings 18:20-21.

As the world, being the congregation of people into nations, The LORD spoke of a time of trial that would come upon the whole world; an hour of trial that will come to try everyone in the world,  (Revelation 3:10).

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”   Revelation 3:10.

This is to say, there are times of significant trials that are permitted and determined to come upon individuals, nations and the whole world.  However, The Book of Joshua gives us an interesting perspective of what The Kingdom looks out for during these times of trial.

In Joshua 5:13-14, we see Joshua looking ahead into Jericho contemplating their advance into Jericho; then he saw a man standing against him; with swords drawn in his hand.

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand.  And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”
So He said, “No, but as Commander of The Army of The LORD I have now come.”
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?””   Joshua 5:13-14.

Most definitely, having questioned in his mind, Joshua summoned the courage to ask this man, “Are you for us or for our adversaries.”

To which the man replied; “Nay, but as Captain of The Host of The LORD, am I now come”.

What a stunning response!  He didn’t say he was for Israel; neither did he say; he was against Jericho, but he said “as The Captain of The Host of The LORD am I now come”!

In other words; while Joshua saw Israel versus Jericho, this Captain saw another Tribe; the Tribe of The Host of The LORD.

The Captain in the most profound way posed a question back at Joshua; asking if Joshua was amongst the Tribe of The Host of The LORD.

Joshua had to discern that it was Joshua and his troops duty to be counted as being in The Tribe of The Host of The LORD.

The moment Joshua realized this; Joshua bowed and submitted to the Captain; as we see in Joshua 5:13-15.

Then Joshua and his troop were now counted as being in the tribe of The Host of The LORD; then The Captain began to lead the war and give instructions that Joshua obeyed

Think about this for a moment.

In the eyes of the world, it is Russia versus Ukraine.

Have you thought about the righteous remnant Church in Russia (a tribe in The Host of The LORD) and what the consequences of these will be to them?

Have we considered Ukraine, and the Remnant Church in Ukraine (also a tribe in The Host of The LORD) and what the consequences of these will be to them?

The political governments of Russia and Ukraine are making alignments that have birthed complexities and is resulting in all these.

However, have you considered that there is a tribe, The Tribe of The Host of The LORD (The Church) that exists in both Russia and Ukraine?

There are profound significant prophetic insights The LORD have granted me concerning Ukraine and Russia, that accounts for the “whys” of what is taking place.  But these are not the times for such publication.

Something greater is taking place — and it is a world on trial.

Nations, Institutions, Individuals are taking a stand.  Some are lining up behind Ukraine — and others a lining up behind Russia, in their approval and disapproval, they are making a choice — a choice of alignment.

To some, they are for Ukraine — to some they are against Russia.

To others, they are for Russia — to some, they are against Ukraine.

However there’s a Tribe amongst all these — and it is The Tribe of The Captain of The Host of The LORD Jesus Christ.

All Satan wanted to accomplish in trying Job was to get him to curse The LORD.

Our voices of approval and disapproval is going on record.

Our voices of blessing and cursing is going on the record.

Our decision on whom we line up behind is also going on record.

Such that, beyond this crisis — there will be Ukrainian led Nations and there will be Russian led Nations.

The question to you this day is:

• In a time of global trial; when your voice and the voices of all peoples and nations are going on the record in heaven for the choices and utterances they have made — What will be recorded in your book?
• In a time when The Captain of The Host of The LORD appears on the scene, and we ask The Captain — Are you for us or for our adversaries?

I believe The Captain will say, “As The Captain of The Host of The LORD, am I now come!”

Then we will realize, that the long game of the smokes and the fires have had one mandate — to silence and isolate The Remnant Church arising in a region.

May we not be torn between two carnal choices — when we can align to The LORD and be guided into righteousness and justice for all.

Like David; we must cry out in this time saying;

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight , O Lord , my strength and my Redeemer,”   Psalm 19:14.

It is time to be counted as one whose voice is to see The Tribe of The Host of The LORD (The Church) delivered and granted victory in the midst of all these; and across all Nations.

The words of The Captain of The Host echoes strongly; “As The Captain of The Host — am I now come!”

 

~ by Abel Praise

---

Abel Praise, serving as Team Lead, Ministries Of Abel Praise is committed to working with apostolic and prophetic ministries across nations to raise up a new generation of leadership in The Body of Christ; by making teaching and training resources available and stewarding Ministers In Congress Conventions. See also: abelpraise.com

Back to Top