124 - Poison Ivy

Letter From the Editor:  

Jesus once testified to his persecutors, saying, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working (Jn 5:17).” So it is true today. But it takes spiritual eyes to see what the Father is doing, especially amidst the chaos of human dynamics and demonic interference. Today’s Briefing gives us a profound glimpse into the activities of the Father concerning Israel and the battle for truth on our college campuses. Let’s join Him in His great work of redemption. 

– Cheryl Amabile

Poison Ivy

In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Rev 22:2

When our prayers become headlines, we know God is on the move. Eighteen years ago during a corporate 40-day prayer strike in Boston, Chris Berglund dreamed that he saw masses of young people with welts on the temples of their heads. In the dream Chris asked about the welts and was told,“It’s poison ivy… the Ivy League universities were intended to be the leaves for the healing of the nations. But, instead, they have poisoned the minds of a generation with false ideologies.”

Never has this statement been more evident than in recent weeks. Ever since the atrocities of Hamas’ October 7th attack in Israel, anti-semitic protests have risen up on college campuses across America. References to “Poison Ivy” are now being used in newspaper headlines and social media posts to describe the dangerous rhetoric of student groups at Harvard and other prestigious universities calling for the genocide of the Jews. 

As horrifying as it is to see the rage of Satan rear its ugly head, it signifies a time of action in response to the maturation of what has been festering beneath the surface. This situation on our campuses is reminiscent of Jesus’ teaching about the wheat and the tares (Mt 13). When in full bloom, the tares’ protruding stalks can be distinguished from the bowed heads of wheat. It is then that the farmer takes out his sickle for harvest and casts the tares into the fire.

We received another dream along these lines in which 1 Tim 2:2 was being recited as intercessors were descending 50 steps. In the dream we had to explain to the university students why the heads of their professors’ were being removed. This figurative imagery speaks to us of the intercessor’s role in humbling oneself in fasting and prayer (i.e. descending) where we cut off these false ideologies at the source. 

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 1 Tim 2:1-2

The number “50” can also reference the jubilee that God instituted for His people in Leviticus 25. Every 50 years land was to be returned to its original owners. Historically, universities were founded to educate young men in service to God. Harvard’s original motto was, “Truth (Veritas) for Christ (Christo) and the Church (Ecclesiae).” By the cross of Christ, we can apprehend a jubilee for Harvard and other universities where they return to the source of all truth and become the “leaves of healing for the nations” once again. But as with so many areas of society, the harvesting of the promises requires a removal of the tares. God is looking for His sickles. 

This week the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution calling for the presidents of Harvard and M.I.T. to resign after their failure to condemn anti-semitic activity on their campuses. The president of the University of Pennsylvania resigned last week after drawing criticism for her remarks before the congressional hearing. This is not the end of the matter, but the beginning. Just as Congress is functioning in the natural realm to exert its influence, we as intercessors must legislate from the heavens and do the same. 

“See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10

We were shown in 2021 that we are in a “holy war” against the “global pandemic” of anti-semitism. Prophetically we have come to understand this in the context of Revelation 12, where the accuser of our brothers and sisters will be overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. These are the days of The Great Communion Blood Revival.  

This brings us back to that 40-day fast in 2006. Yeshua came to us in another dream, saying, “It would honor the body and the blood if you would pray for My Israel each night before the sun sets.” We 'did' the dream in that season by taking Communion each day as we stood in the gap for Israel. It became clear to us over time that we must continue to do so. 

Little did we know back then, when we were praying to restrain the Prince of Persia, that in the years to come there would be an international agreement known as the Iran Nuclear Deal with strategic sunset clauses. According to the compact that was established in 2015, this October was the sunset date when certain restrictions on Iran were scheduled to expire. Could this be what the Lord meant in the dream when He said, “before the sun sets”?

In October, in light of the attack against Israel, the nations did not loosen their sanctions. But regardless, darkness has come upon the Land in this hour of great tragedy and war. Yet, we are reminded that it is often in the midst of deep darkness that God breaks forth with light. 

Lou Engle recently had a dream in which he was announcing “a Genesis moment.” It was so unexpected in the dream, and seemed almost too good to be true. Someone exclaimed, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Then the dream ended. Lou has often said that dreams are like spies that go out ahead of us into the Promised Land to show us what God has in store. This one certainly sparked our imagination. 

Let us believe together for Israel, Gaza, and the college campuses, for a Genesis moment to break forth out of the present chaos and darkness. Let's command the light of truth to shine in these universities until the ideological battlefields become harvest fields where only good fruit remains. 

There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. Hosea 2:15