There is a river flowing from the throne of God. This river brings life. This river brings healing (Rev. 22, Ezekiel 47). Jesus spoke of the river of living water that can flow out of our heart, thus speaking of the Holy Spirit. In order to do so, we must be thirsty and drink (John 7:37-39). Ezekiel spoke of the water level of this river progressively rising in depth from ankle to knee to waist and then at such a level it was over his head.

We are living in unprecedented times with an acceleration of events leading up to the soon return of Jesus. It behooves us to recognize in this day what the Spirit is saying so we can immerse ourselves in this supernatural river.
The revelation of the Father’s love and the outpouring of the Spirit through the ministry of John and Carol Arnott and the Toronto outpouring has completely revolutionized my life and the lives of countless others. The river that has flowed continuously there and around the world since 1994 has primarily been characterized by the revelation of God as a good, heavenly Father, eager to come into an intimate relationship with the children He loves. It has also been characterized by deep healing of our hearts, ridding us of hurts and emotional wounds thereby setting us free to soar in destiny.

In 2003 when my husband and I left the pastoral staff at Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship to pastor the Arnott’s first church plant in Stratford, Ontario, it was a personally painful time as I had no desire to leave the joyful revival abundant in Toronto. In crying out to the Lord in how to see a habitation of His Glory in Stratford, He answered by saying, “Worship and Pray and decree I am Lord of this city.” It all sounded quite simplistic actually but as John and I began to give our mornings to the Lord in prayer and worship, things began to shift. Then the Lord spoke again, this time in a tangible cloud of Glory such that I could not help but be on my face in awe. He said, “The River and the Tabernacle of David are going to meet and cause a beautiful spontaneous combustion that will go all over the world.” Knowing the term but not comprehending what it was, I remember thinking, “What is the Tabernacle of David?”

Hence began an in depth study of the Word and anything I could get my hands on about the Tabernacle of David. In essence David, in his exuberance for the Presence of God brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, pitched a tent over it and began 24/7 worship, intercession, prophetic singing, clapping, dancing, music, antiphonal singing, singing of the scriptures, thankfulness, rejoicing, lifting of the hands, shouting, psalms, seeking and ministering to the Lord. He established 24,000 Levitical priests to look after the work of the House of the Lord, 4,000 of which praised the Lord with musical instruments (I Chr. 23:3-5). He had 288 prophetic musicians, made instruments with his own hands to play to the Lord and in modern currency, gave over $100 Billion to this work (I Chr. 25:7, I Chr. 22:14). This went on for approximately 40 years and coincides with Israel’s greatest boundaries in history. In Amos 9:11 repeated in Acts 15:15-17 the Lord said He would rebuild the Tabernacle of David in the last days so the rest of mankind may seek the Lord for the plowman shall overtake the reaper.

When David had made the vow that changed history in Psalm 132 to build this kind of resting place of the Glory of God, the Lord responded to him in verse 17 that, “There I will make the horn (government) of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed (Messiah).” The rebuilding of the spirit, values and principles of the Tabernacle of David is tied into the Second coming of Jesus.

Remaining in the river of the Father’s love, we then embraced the worship and prayer movement in Stratford launching a House of Prayer, worshipping and interceding (harp and bowl, Rev. 5:8) for the Father’s purposes on earth. This has led to marked transformation in our church and city. We began to see prodigals coming home to the Father, the Presence of God increased in our fellowship, drug houses and a seedy hotel burned to the ground, the mayor asked for the birth of an annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, churches began to grow numerically with greater unity as they began working together to see the Kingdom expanded in our midst.
The International House of Prayer in Kansas City exemplifies a modern day Tabernacle of David. Under the leadership of Mike Bickle, in this highly anointed place, worship and intercession has been going on non-stop for over ten years. It is obvious to see the emphasis there on the person of Jesus as the soon coming Bridegroom, King and Judge.

The Lord spoke to me over two years ago saying, “How is it that I have made you a prophetic voice but you have no awareness of the particulars of my coming, the ultimate prophecy of all time.” There was nothing else to say to the Lord besides, “Good point!” Hence I began a study of End Times and the 150 Biblical chapters that speak of Jesus’ soon return and the details that will precede this hallmark event. It has become clear to me we are entering a time as Jeremiah 23:20 states, “In the latter days, you will understand it perfectly.” A veil is lifting and the many eschatological passages are becoming clearer to those who would endeavor to seek and study the Word as the Holy Spirit gives illumination.

I believe the present move of the Spirit at IHOP in Kansas City since Nov. 11, 2009 is the fulfillment of the word the Lord spoke of the River and the Tabernacle of David converging. I also believe it is a first fruits fulfillment of the prophetic word given by the leaders of the Asuza Street revival in 1909 or 1910 that stated a revival was coining in 100 years that would eclipse that move and would be the greatest revival the world has seen. The ministry of Bill Johnson and the ministry occurring in Redding, California can be characterized by the power of the Holy Spirit. Signs and wonders, Kingdom now and ministry outside the walls of the church are common themes.

The Lord spoke to me about three years ago saying the three rivers of Toronto (Father), Kansas City (Son) and Holy Spirit (Redding) would converge. What I believe He spoke was that all three of these streams needed each other and their coming together would again mark a rising of the river flowing from the throne of God on the earth today.

What the Lord is doing on the earth is not confined to particular people or locations. However, when the three leaders of these modern day moves of God (John and Carol Arnott, Mike and Diane Bickle and Bill and Benni Johnson) stood together in unity in Kansas City to say that they would covenant to bless and honor one another and bless the outpouring at IHOP, it was a sign from heaven. What I believe they marked is the fullness of the Trinity coming in such a way to help usher us into the Greatest move of the Spirit the world has ever seen which is unto a great harvest of souls and the return of Jesus. It is but a drip presently compared to the thunder of heavy rain that is coming (Job 37:2-6).

Jesus said to make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We need to be rooted and grounded in the Father’s Love, embracing healing of the heart, flowing in the river. We need to pray and worship like never before, build houses of prayer and walk in the revelation of the soon return of Jesus as King, Bridegroom and Judge with hearts full of passion for Him. We need to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit, Kingdom now signs and wonders brining many into salvation. We need all three.

The river is rising. “And the Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

Patricia Bootsma