- The father of our country, George Washington,
was a man of prayer. We have all read of how he went to the thicket many
times to pray during the winter his army was at Valley Forge. However,
little publicity has been given to the vision and prophecy he received
at that time.
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- The account of this vision was given
in 1859 by an old soldier. He gave it to a writer, Wesley Bradshaw, who
published it. In the vision, God revealed to George Washington that three
great perils would come upon the Republic. He was given to know that America
was going through the first peril at that time. The old soldier who told
the story of the vision said that the nation would soon see the account
verified by the second peril descending upon the land.
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- The account here is as it was reprinted
in the U.S. war veteran's paper The National Tribune, in December, 1880.
The National Tribune is now The Stars and Stripes. This article was reprinted
in The Stars and Stripes December 21, 1950. Here is the report of this
phenomenal, and most important heavenly message for us at this hour. Wesley
Bradshaw wrote:
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- The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman
was on the fourth of July, 1859, in Independence Square. He was then ninety-nine
years old, and becoming very feeble. But though so old, his dimming eyes
rekindled as he gazed upon Independence Hall, which he came to visit once
more.
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- MESSAGE DISCLOSED
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- "Let us go into the hall,"
he said. "I want to tell you of an incident of Washington's life-one
which no one alive knows of except myself; and if you live, you will before
long see it verified. Mark the prediction, you will see it verified.
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- From the opening of the Revolution we
experienced all phases of fortune, now good and now ill; one time victorious
and another conquered. The darkest period we had, I think, was when Washington
after several reverses, retreated to Valley Forge, where he resolved to
pass the winter of 1777. Ah! I have often seen the tears coursing down
our dear commander's care-worn cheeks, as he would be conversing with a
confidential officer about the condition of his poor soldiers. You have
doubtless heard the story of Washington's going to the thicket to pray.
Well, it was not only true, but he used often to pray in secret for aid
and comfort. And God brought us safely through the darkest days of tribulation."
-
- "One day, I remember it well, the
chilly winds whistled through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless
and the sun shone brightly. He remained in his quarters nearly all the
afternoon, alone. When he came out I noticed that his face was a shade
paler than usual, and there seemed to be something on his mind of more
than ordinary importance. Returning just after dusk, he dispatched an
orderly to the quarters of an officer, who was presently in attendance.
After a preliminary conversation of about half an hour, Washington, gazing
upon his companion with that strange look of dignity which he alone could
command, said to the latter:
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- AN UNINVITED GUEST
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- "I do not know whether it is owing
to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting
at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something in the apartment
seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly
beautiful being. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not
to be disturbed that it was some moments before I found language to inquire
the cause of the visit. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did
I repeat my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor
except a slight raising of the eyes. By this time I felt strange sensations
spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the being
before me rendered volition impossible. I assayed once more to speak,
but my tongue had become useless, as if paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious,
potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze
steadily, vacantly at my unknown visitor."
-
- "Gradually the surrounding atmosphere
seemed to fill with sensations, and grew luminous. Everything about me
seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor also becoming more airy and yet
more distinct to my sight than before. I began to feel as one dying, or
rather to experience the sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompany
death. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move. All were alike
impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my companion."
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- THE FIRST GREAT PERIL
-
- "Presently I heard a voice saying,
'Son of the Republic, look and learn,' while at the same time my visitor
extended an arm eastward. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance
rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a
strange scene. Before me lay, spread out in one vast plain, all the countries
of the world-Europe, Asia, Africa and America. I saw rolling and tossing
between Europe and America the billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia
and America lay the Pacific. 'Son of the Republic,' said the same mysterious
voice as before, 'look and learn.' At that moment I beheld a dark, shadowy
being, like an angel, standing, or rather floating in mid-air, between
Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each
hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his
left he cast some over Europe. Immediately a cloud arose from these countries,
and joined - in mid-ocean. For awhile it remained stationary, and then
it moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds.
Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through it at intervals, and I heard
the smothered groans and cries of the American people. (This may be interpreted
to have been the Revolutionary War then in progress.)
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- SECOND GREAT PERIL
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- "A second time the angel dipped
water from the ocean and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was
then drawn back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows it sank from view.
A third time I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic,
look and learn.' I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns
and cities springing up one after another until the whole land from the
Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them.
-
- Again, I heard the mysterious voice say,
'Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn.'
And this time the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward. From Africa
I saw an ill-omened spectre approach our land. It flitted slowly and heavily
over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set
themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking
I saw a bright angel on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was
traced the word 'UNION.' He was bearing the American flag. He placed
the flag between the divided nation and said, 'Remember, ye are brethren.'
"
-
- "Instantly the inhabitants, casting
down their weapons, became friends once more and united around the National
Standard. Again I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic
look and learn.' At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his
mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean,
he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and Africa.
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- THIRD AND MOST FEARFUL PERIL
-
- "Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene.
From each of these continents arose thick black clouds that were soon
joined into one. And throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light
by which I saw hordes of armed men. These men, moving with the cloud,
marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped
in the volume of cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the
whole country and burn the villages, towns and cities which I had seen
springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing
of the swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I
again heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and
learn.' Where the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his
trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long and fearful blast."
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- HEAVEN INTERVENES
-
- "Instantly a light as of a thousand
suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the
dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon
whose head still shown the word UNION, and who bore our national flag in
one hand, and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended
by, legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants
of America, who I perceived were well-nigh overcome, but who immediately
taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle.
Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict I heard the mysterious voice
saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' As the voice ceased the
shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled
it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the
armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious."
-
- "Then once more, I beheld the villages,
towns and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright
angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them,
cried with a loud voice: "While the stars remain, and the heaven
send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the UNION last." And taking
from his brow the crown on which blazoned the word 'UNION,' he placed it
upon the Standard while the people, kneeling down said, 'Amen.' "
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- THE INTERPRETATION
-
- "The scene instantly began to fade
and dissolve, and I, at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor
I at first beheld. This also disappeared, and I found myself once more
gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard
before, said, 'Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted:
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- Three great perils will come upon the
Republic. The most fearful for her is the third. But the whole world
united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic
learn to live for his God, his land and UNION.' "
-
- " With these words the vision vanished,
and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had
been shown me the birth, the progress, and destiny of the United States."
-
- "Such, my friends," the venerable
narrator concluded, were the words I heard from Washington's own lips,
and America will do well to profit by them."
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- From LIFE MESSENGERS Seattle, Washington
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- If you have comments , Tim Hagemeister
can be reached at tim@nacomm.org
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