by Frank Hammond
As reported in the January, 1990 issue of the Maranatha Manna
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the past several years, Frank Hammond, author of PIGS IN THE PARLOR, has received prophetic messages from the Lord in the form of night visions. On Feb. 5, 1985, he was given a vision of three attacking eagles. Seven nights later, God revealed to him their significance.
Below is an excerpt from his booklet,
"God Warns America: Arise, Oh, Church!"
which gives the vision and its interpretation.
THE VISION –
The dream began with me sitting in a large stadium among a crowd of people. It was night, and there was a layer of light clouds overhead. Suddenly there was a very brilliant light that illuminated the clouds from above. (It) attracted everyone's attention, and all eyes were upon the shining clouds. People were wondering aloud what the source of the light might be. One person speculated that the light might be coming from a comet.
Then the clouds directly overhead parted and an eagle descended through the clouds. The eagle was brilliant green in color, and was very stocky and strong in appearance. The eagle had many sharp teeth like those of a saw, and its claws were extended in an attack position.
It amazed me that no one else in the stadium seemed the least impressed with what we were seeing. I exclaimed, "This is like something that one would read about in the Book of Revelation. It must be a judgment of God coming down upon us!" The eagle descended swiftly to the earth. Its exact point of attack was near the stadium but just out of my sight.
At this point everyone began to leave the stadium to go to their homes. Suddenly, there was a second burst of brilliant, white light exactly like the first. Within moments the clouds parted and a second eagle appeared in the heavens. His appearance was like that of the first eagle; the only difference was he was brilliant red. (It) descended swiftly to the earth a little distance away. I did not witness the exact scene of his attack.
The people walking beside me took only a casual interest in this plunging red eagle, but I was very intent in observing it. I was more convinced than ever that these two eagles represented judgments from God coming upon our land.
Finally, everyone else had disappeared into their houses, and I remained out of doors alone. Then, for a third time, the heavens above me were illuminated by a burst of glowing, white light which originated above a thin layer of white clouds.
At this very moment the Lord began to speak to me. He told me that a third eagle would soon appear. I was instructed to lift my arm and point directly toward the brightest spot of light in the heavens. The Lord said, "When the next eagle appears you must command him to come directly to you. When he comes to attack, then you must destroy him."
The moment the Lord finished speaking, the clouds parted and a third eagle appeared in the heavens. He was like the two which preceded him ... only (he) was blue.
Without a tinge of fear I pointed at this attacking eagle and commanded him to come directly to me. He immediately obeyed and came swiftly toward me with teeth bared and claws extended for attack. My right hand shot forth (and) grasped the eagle by the neck .... his claws restrained my left hand. Actually, his claws were only beneath the edges of my fingernails. After a brief struggle, the tips of my fingernails split and my left hand was freed to grasp the eagle's neck. With a quick, powerful stroke, I twisted off the eagle's head and cast its lifeless form to the ground.
I entered a nearby house and asked the people if they had seen the third burst of light. (It) was so bright that it would easily have shone through their windows. To my surprise these people were totally unaware of the light and of the descent of the third eagle. Furthermore, they took no interest in my report, so I did not bother to share with them that I had destroyed the eagle.
THE INTERPRETATION –
As I pondered over the vision for the next couple of days, I was reminded of the scripture which says, "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God....But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:12, 14).
A spiritual dream cannot be deciphered by human reasoning, only by divine revelation. I knew that I must wait prayerfully upon the Lord for the interpretation.
THE STADIUM –
The Lord explained to me that the stadium filled with people meant that normal events will be going on when His judgments come. People will be pursuing their pleasures rather than making preparations for the evil day. It will be the same as it was in the days of Noah. People were doing all the things they normally did right up til the time that the flood came. Therefore, they were caught totally unprepared and with no way of escape.
The Lord is merciful to give warning before every judgment. Such warning is an opportunity for sinners to repent and avoid the judgment. God's wrath is reserved for the unrighteous who refuse to repent. He will make a way of escape for those who repent unto obedience. That is why He says to all who will hear, "Watch therefore ... be ye also ready" (Matthew 24:42, 44).
THE CLOUDS –
The clouds overhead were thin and white rather than heavy and dark. If the clouds had been gathering for a storm, I would have immediately discerned that they spoke of coming judgment, but (they) were not the least threatening in appearance.
The coming judgments (will) not be preceded by ominous clouds of forewarning. (They will) seem to most people like natural circumstances not attributable to God, recognized as judgments by only those with spiritually discerning eyes.
Clouds represent a concealing of what lies beyond. The natural man will not discern, and therefore not anticipate the approaching judgments. They will come suddenly and unexpectedly as represented by the sudden opening of the clouds as each of the eagles were released.
The scene took place at night. This represents the operation of Satan and his kingdom of darkness. The fact that the judgments are the works of Satan does not contradict the fact that they are from God. The judgments will come as satanically inflicted curses when God lifts His restraining hand upon the powers of wickedness in the heavenlies.
THE BRILLIANT LIGHT –
The brilliant light was a heavenly, supernatural light. It represents the light of God which shines upon the evil one. It exposes all of his ways and doings. The judgments of God are never hidden. Before God moves in chastening power, He always reveals His intentions through His prophets.
"Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He reveal-eth His secret unto His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:6-7).
Thus, Divine illumination precedes punishment. Nevertheless, there are many who see the light who do not comprehend the light. Jesus said: "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they, seeing, see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand" (Matthew 13:13).
This explains why most of those who saw the light and what it revealed remained unmoved while I, representing spiritual men, recognized its meaning. They attributed the light to a comet and looked for a natural explanation and perceived not that the light was supernatural.
May all who read this vision have "eyes to see and ears to hear."
THE EAGLE –
The eagle is a bird of prey. He is strong and swift. His lodging is in the high places of the earth, and his domain is in the heavenlies. Thus (it) represents those spiritual powers spoken of in Ephesians 6:12 ("the rulers, powers, world forces of darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" NASB).
The eagle is also a symbol of the United States, and I was thus shown that the judgments were upon our nation. Furthermore, the American eagle, which normally speaks of our nation's power to defend herself and overcome enemies, was now the aggressor against our nation. The approaching judgments will be self-inflicted from within our own nation, and through our own government. The lifestyle in our nation, long looked upon as a blessing, will become a curse.
"If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto My name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart" (Malachi 2:2).
THE GREEN EAGLE –
In the U.S. we call our currency "greenbacks." The green eagle represents an attack upon our economy, in particular upon the dollar. Our prosperity and per capita income has been one of the highest in the world. Money and materialism have become America's gods.
Since our own nation will be the channel for this judgment, we might expect that leaders will make decisions or pass legislation which will create economic chaos. This does not mean that we should blame the President or the Congress. The sin of materialism, the worship of money, has infected our people. (Their) decisions merely reflect the greed, selfishness and lust which are in our hearts.
God has been telling us repeatedly to make Him our source. His word is, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
God's Word instructs us to give generously as an insurance against the day of calamity. The world counsels us to store up, to covet and to look out for ourselves. But God counsels us to "cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT WHAT EVIL SHALL BE UPON THE EARTH" (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2; emphasis added).
God will guide us in the handling of our finances if we will seek His counsel. We must walk in determined obedience to the guidance given us.
THE RED EAGLE –
The red eagle represents bloodshed. An estimated 1.5 million babies are aborted annually in the U.S. God will no longer ignore this carnage.
Murder has replaced childbearing. We have despised God's blessing and called it a curse, for the widespread acceptance of abortion shows that children are no longer considered "the heritage of the Lord" nor "the fruit of the womb, His reward" (see Psalm 127:3).
One of the specific causes for a curse from God is murder of the innocent. "Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person" (Deuteronomy 27:25). Who is more innocent than a baby yet in the mother's womb? Who is more guilty of murder for hire than the doctors and their staffs who receive pay for the murder of abortion? The nation that permits such bloodshed is guilty before God.
When the prophet Daniel realized that the sins of his nation had brought on God's judgment he was moved to prayer, fasting, deep repentance and the confession of his nation's sins (see Daniel 9:3-19). Only such genuine and deep repentance can save America. Where are our tears?
But, oh America, the bloodshed will not be limited to continued abortions. There will be added to this, bloodshed that comes through terrorism and violence in our land.
The fierce, blood-red eagle is vividly pictured in Scripture: "The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, AS SWIFT AS THE EAGLE FLIETH; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; A NATION OF FIERCE COUNTENANCE, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to young" (Deuteronomy 28:49-50; emphasis added).
The Lord warns that the disregard for human life expressed through abortion will not be limited to innocent babies, but will expand to include the elderly.
In my spirit I clearly understood that the bloodshed of THIS judgment would NOT be the result of war and foreign invasion. The "nation" that comes against us is to be a demonic kingdom. The only thing that now withholds the invasion of demonic hordes posed for destruction against the U.S. is God's restraining hand of mercy. The only thing that will keep (it) in place is a sweeping, spiritual revival which will turn America back to God in obedience, righteousness and holiness.
THE BLUE EAGLE –
The blue eagle represents persecution coming against the Church due to her failure to keep God's truth through purity of doctrine and practice. In some major denominations and churches today, over half of the pastors no longer believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, the deity of Jesus, His resurrection, and the inspiration of Scripture. Secular humanism and liberal theology have eroded the true value of God's Word in the minds and hearts of many nominal Christians.
Again, the impending judgment will be channeled from within. It will come principally through the federal and state governments and their agencies. Already there are sinister forces at work, determined to destroy America's religious liberties. This is but the tip of the iceburg.
(The Church) has not faithfully heralded an uncompromising Gospel. The result has been the erosion of the spiritual and moral foundations of the nation. Truth upheld and lived by becomes an individual's or a nation's bulwark. Truth denied and abandoned becomes their downfall.
In the vision I represented a person demonstrating the overcoming power of those who have and love the truth. It was the right hand which was extended and which grasped the dreaded eagle by the throat. The right hand symbolizes strength and ministry. The Lord has raised up His army in the earth and anointed it with His Spirit. These soldiers know their authority over the principalities and powers of Satan's kingdom. They also understand that acceptance and confession of truth is a necessary condition for spiritual victory.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE –
As God instructed me to command the blue eagle to obey, likewise, God is instructing His army of Spirit-anointed believers to exercise their boldness of faith in spiritual warfare. Satan will make every effort to intimidate. He will bare his sharp teeth and claws in menacing and threatening tactics. Those who know not the truth of their spiritual authority will flee in fear; they will abandon the battle.
God is saying that...all the judgments can be averted. There are enough righteous ones in Sodom-America to make the difference, but these must not remain passive. As they minister the truth in boldness and faith, many will be turned to righteousness, and the powers of coming judgment will be turned aside.
The momentary restraint on the fingernails of my left hand by this eagle speaks of his ineffectiveness to resist. The fingernails are the armor of the hands, and thus speak to us of our proper weaponry. We have the whole armor of God, but all of the devil's armor has been taken from him.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER –
The left hand is the supporting hand and symbolizes intercessory prayer as the necessary companion to direct spiritual warfare. Intercessory prayer is spiritual weaponry. Today, the Holy Spirit is raising up an army of prayer intercessors. They support those who are in the forefront of the battle (teachers and ministers of deliverance and spiritual warfare). These two ministries are interdependent. One hand alone could not destroy the fierce eagle of persecution, but when the two hands were joined in ministry, the eagle's head was torn off.
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel" (Ephesians 6:18-19).
I questioned the Lord about those who witnessed the eagles coming down and yet remained so unmoved. He reminded me of the many times in the Bible when people saw but did not understand. He said that likewise in this generation, when men are warned of the impending judgments of God they will be like those whom Peter described. When they were warned of judgment to come, they retorted, "All things continue as they were from the beginning of creation" (II Peter 3:4). As it was in the days of Noah, they will refuse to repent and turn to God.
WHAT MUST WE DO?
"Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1).
This prophetic vision is a serious matter. It brings us face to face with God. We must admit that God has been patient with our nation for a long time. We can be thankful for His warning. We know now that time is running out. If you want America to be spared these judgments, then I urge you to do these things:
1. REPENT OF ALL YOUR OWN SINS WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JUDGMENTS GOD IS GOING TO BRING.
Specifically repent of:
1. All sins related to money.
2. All sins related to abortion.
3. All sins related to Christ's Church and truth.
NOTE: God will forgive any sinner when he sincerely repents and asks for forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).
2. CONFESS THE SINS OF THE NATION. Follow the example of Daniel.
1. Confess that "we have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly,
and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments"
(Daniel 9:5).
2. Confess that we have not hearkened to God's ministers whom He sent to teach us
(Daniel 9:6).
3. Pray and plead for God's mercies.
4. Pray that God will deliver us from judgment.
5. UNITE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE. "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood --
contending only with physical opponents -- but against the despotisms, against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere" (Ephesians 6:12, Amplified Bible).
6. There are ruler spirits which Satan has assigned over our nation to bring us to destruction. Their plan is to destroy our economy with greed, to destroy God's favor with abortion, and to destroy our spiritual liberties by compromise.
7. Jesus has given us power to bind Satan and his demon spirits (see Matthew 12:29; 16:19).
8. Bind specifically the following demonic powers assaulting our nation:
* Mammon (wealth personified), greed, covetousness, avarice, selfishness, material lust, lust for money and the idolatry of money.
* Abortion, murder, fornication, adultery, sexual lust and child sacrifice. (Child sacrifice is the spirit of Molech, the god to whom the Moabites and Ammonites burned their babies in demonic worship.)
* Liberal theology: denial and unbelief concerning the virgin birth, sinlessness, deity, blood atonement, and resurrection of Jesus; denial and unbelief concerning the inerrancy of Scripture; secular humanism; traditions of men; spiritual compromise and complacency. 4. SPEAK TO THESE DEMONIC PRINCIPALITIES IN THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS' NAME. Command them to be bound. "Wrestle" them in the power of the Holy Spirit. That is, put pressure on them by using the spiritual weapons of the name of Jesus, the blood of the Lamb, the word of testimony, the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) and praise. (See Mark 16:7; Revelation 12:11; Ephesians 6:17-18; Psalm 149).
ARISE, OH CHURCH!
"Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is He, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps He will again relent and leave behind Him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.
"Blow a trumpet Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD weep, And say, 'Spare, O LORD, your people, and make not your heritage a reporach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, "Where is their God?"'" (Joel 2:12-17, NAB).
