Is it possible that 2020 felt like a dark swirl, whirlwind, or even tornado to you? Although the storms of life are full of uncertainty and may at moments leave one feeling like the victim of circumstances, it is often by Yahweh’s (Hebrew word for God) grace that He allows situations and hardships to refine us. In fact, there are many scriptures in the Bible that illustrate that Yahweh shows up in the whirlwind or storm. Nahum 1:3 even says, His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.
As we continue to transition into the Kingdom age, it is important that we learn His ways, heal from trauma (generational and situational) through the process of soul restoration, navigate the stormy seas, and mine the deep mysteries of His heart. Fortunately, we can trust Yahweh, as He loves us greater than we can ever imagine. This blog is a glimpse of my journey as I studied scripture, spent time, and had encounters and dreams of being in His whirlwind.
Before I share about my recent encounters regarding His mysterious presence in darkness and in whirlwinds, let us look at the definition of a whirlwind, as well as some Hebrew translations. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says, “When two currents from opposite directions meet, a circular motion results called a whirlwind.” When a whirlwind travels over the sea, it draws up small particles of water from the sea and forms a great funnel-shaped column through condensation of the moisture in the clouds above. In the desert, this happens with sand and often creates a destructive force, as well.
Whirlwind comes from a Hebrew noun סְעָרָה meaning “storm or tempest.” Other translations include: gust, gale, flurry, excitement. The word whirlwind appears in the Bible approximately 25 times and was first referenced in 2 Kings 2:11 when Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind into heaven.
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
-2 Kings 2:11, NIV
In this case, the whirlwind becomes a vessel of God in the supernatural realm and serves as a bridge or portal from heaven to earth. Not only does the whirlwind represent heaven touching earth, but we also see the power and magnitude of Yahweh accompanied by the raging elements, including thunder, earthquakes, loud noise, storms, and flames of fire. Here are a couple examples of this in the Bible:
Then suddenly, in an instant, you will be visited by the Lord of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire.
-Isaiah 29:6, BSB
Then the Lord will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south.
– Zechariah 9:14, NIV
And in Psalm 77, we see God showing up as reflected by the mighty forces of nature:
When the many waters of the Red Sea took one look at you, they were afraid and ran away to hide—trembling to its depths. Storm clouds filled with water high in the skies; cloudbursts and thunderclaps announced your approach. Lightning-flashes lit up the landscape. Rolling whirlwinds exploded with sonic booms of thunder, rumbling as the skies shouted out your story with light and sound and wind. Everything on earth shook and trembled as you drew near. Your steps formed a highway through the seas with footprints on a pathway no one even knew was there. You led your people forward by your loving hand, blessed by the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
-Psalm 77:16-20, TPT
This Scripture shows how it is possible for Yahweh to show up in the powerful, raging elements and at the same time to use His loving hadn’t to lead and bless His people. This scripture was just as relevant back then as it is to us today. We have entered a “parting of the Red Sea” moment in history, and the Lord is looking for a people who will trust Him regardless of what the current news or political situation looks like. Regardless of what we see in front of us, He is creating a pathway to a promising future.
It is also in these dark places that God reveals His great power, as well as His loving arms that lead us to our destination. Despite the unpredictable and sometimes precarious ride, it is in these highs and lows that God reveals our fears and places of mistrust. Psalm 107:24-30 beautifully describes the whirlwind of a journey that we often find ourselves in among life’s storms:
They saw the works of the Lord, His wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.
-Psalm 107: 24-30, NIV
Now that I have shared scriptural examples of Yahweh’s being in the whirlwind, I would like to share a glimpse of my personal encounters during January’s All Things Restored morning prayer call, when he took me up in a whirlwind and led me through the different vantage points of His swirling force. Through a series of days, He started to show me that the same whirlwind or storm looks different based upon one’s posture or stance in relation to His whirlwind. One of the more beautiful encounters was a whirlwind with diamonds that symbolized the sons of Yahweh being created and strategically aligned. Due to the safe and advantageous place in His glory cloud, we were twirling, glistening, and reflecting His light and love to the world. As confirmation of what I saw, Virginia Killingsworth informed me that similar visions of these “diamond sons” were seen on the prayer calls in previous years. As I shared in my recent blog (Diamond Sons Arising), the following scripture describes the sons of God rising and shining His light:
Rise up in splendor and be radiant, for your light has dawned, and Yahweh’s glory now streams from you! Look carefully! Darkness blankets the earth and thick gloom covers the nations, but Yahweh arises upon you and the brightness of his glory appears over you! Nations will be attracted to your radiant light and kings to the sunrise-glory of your new day. Lift your eyes higher! Look all around you and believe, for your sons are returning from far away and your daughters are being tenderly carried home. Watch as they all gather together, eager to come back to you!
-Isaiah 60: 1-4, TPT
The next day on the prayer call, from a very dismal vantage point, I saw a dark tornado and heard unsettling noises of insects that were less than pleasant. In fact, it was very opposite from the beautiful, diamond-laden one that I had seen the day before. I was led to read in Revelation concerning the seven plagues that are released before the end of the age. I did not fully understand my glimpse of this dark and destructive whirlwind until others on our prayer call shared their encounters. Thanks to Virginia, who helped connect the dots, I soon came to understand that what I heard was hornets symbolizing God’s judgment dismantling ungodly structures that were not grounded in Him. Although the word judgment often brings a negative connotation to mind, we can trust that Yahweh’s judgements are holy and just and are filled with His love and mercy. Psalm 89:14 reminds us that the foundations of his throne are righteousness and justice, as well as grace and truth. We do not need to be afraid of His judgments, for they are actually there to refine us and to even keep us safe. He removes the residue of the earthly realm so we can become more like Him. He is a just God, and, as sons, we are righteous in His eyes through the blood of Yeshua (Hebrew word for Jesus). Just as a storm or tornado moves through, the Spirit of Truth moves and reveals all things hidden. Judgment and justice are the same, but it depends on the posture of the heart. If we are in a posture of repentance (asking for forgiveness and turning toward God and His pure and just ways), then we receive His grace and mercy. Thankfully, by the grace and blood of Yeshua, as repentant sons, we are always judged righteously, declared innocent because of the blood of Yeshua.
It was through these series of encounters that the theme of perspective and vantage point was fully brought to the surface. The same day that I saw the dark whirlwind and was reading in Revelation, Dianne Rigby saw flames of fire on the glassy sea, like those described where I had been reading in Revelation 15:
Then I witnessed another great and astonishing sign in heaven: seven angels bringing the last seven plagues, for with them the wrath of God finished. Then I saw what looked like a vast sea of glass blended with fiery flames.
-Revelation 15: 1-2, TPT
Virginia explained to us how the pillar of fire in Exodus looked different depending on one’s vantage point. As sons of God, we can engage with this seat of rest and see the heavenly perspective, just as the Israelites saw that flame as a sign of hope because they looked to the Father and knew their identity. To the Egyptians, it represented destruction and plague. As I mentioned earlier, we are at another Red Sea parting moment in history. It is up to us, the maturing sons of God, to look to Him (inward – remember He is living within us!) and engage with the reality of our oneness, so we can be the gates of heaven here on earth. According to Acts 3:21, it is only when we fully take this seat of rest and remember who we are as sons that the restoration of all things will take place. What an honor and a weighty responsibility at the same time! When we are engaging in the Father’s whirlwind of glory and see His perspective, we have unlimited potential.
From the moment John stepped onto the scene until now, the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power.
-Matthew 11:12, TPT
As confirmation of the encounters I experienced on ATR’s morning prayer call, I had a dream where I was caught up in whirlwind. This was later confirmed in the natural realm through my son and also a friend. The night after having the dream, my son Elijah asked me to make a “bananaSWIRL” breakfast like he had seen on Daniel the Tiger. That was the first and only time that he has asked me to make that dish. That same morning, I received a random message from a prophetic friend saying, “Morning…there’s a big idea swirling around in your head, and the Lord said, ‘Yes and amen. It’s Me’.” In the months prior to me writing this blog, my son had dreams where he was riding on a tornado. He even drew happy pictures of himself with tornadoes in the background. I call these “God winks,” when Yahweh confirms that we are hearing from Him and tapping into our oneness with Him. As we learn to trust Yahweh through uncertainty, there are nuggets and treasures to be found in the exploration of His mysteries.
Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.
-Psalm 97:2, BSB
Practically speaking, it is often through dark times that we are refined by the fire and become more like Him. The word “mystery” is multidimensional because, as we remember that we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27), we are refined by His fire and discover the nature of Him within us. The amplified version of Zechariah 13:9 states, And I will bring the third part through the fire. Refine them as silver is refined. And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will listen and answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’
One way that God refines us is by allowing the wind of change to blow on our lives in a way that disrupts everything and births something new.
You make your messengers into winds of the Spirit, and all your ministers become flames of fire.
-Psalm 104:4, TPT
In summary, one’s posture and position in His whirlwind will determine one’s vantage, as well as reality and future. One of the most powerful examples of vantage point in the Bible is Matthew 14:29-30:
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
-Matthew 14:29-30. NIV
Peter literally walked on water until he lost his true vantage point as he took his gaze off Yeshua. So how do we learn to not only make it through life’s storms, but to walk in miracles like we were originally designed to do? We keep our eyes on Yeshua and learn to live out of Yahweh’s heart. We learn to spend intimate time in our seat of rest with Hashilush Hakodosh (Holy Trinity) and His whirlwind of glory. It is in this secret, divine place that we remember our original blueprint and tap into infinite possibility. We will shine and reflect His love like the diamonds that we truly are and have been since the beginning of time. We are IN HIM (Acts 17:28). And the eye of the hurricane is the safest place to BE.
-Ashley Sobolewski