Prophetic word released on July 22 and 23, 2021:
In 2007, I went through a several-week season in which the spiritual warfare around me escalated exponentially. It is hard to explain but it felt like I was in a cloud of darkness and oppression. The attack was daily and relentless; it was hard to think and very difficult to sleep. I had to resist this attack diligently in order to keep from becoming overwhelmed.
I called a prophet and friend, Chuck Pierce, and asked if he had any prophetic discernment as to what this was all about. He immediately prophesied to me, "Yes. This has to do with your calling to the nation. It is the spirit of Baal. He is the spirit/principality over America. God wants you to learn about this spirit – how it operates, how we can overthrow him – and teach the rest of us."
I knew that Daniel 10:13-20 and other passages reveal that principalities in satan's kingdom are assigned to regions. I had no idea until that point in time that Baal was ruling America, let alone that my situation was related to this. I also was confident that through Christ, God has given us authority over all the powers of darkness; we are fully able to resist demonic spirits and keep them from overtaking us personally. However, this was a different situation; it was not about me but the nation.
Essentially, I was in intercession, "standing in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30) for the nation. What I was experiencing and feeling was actually warfare toward America. This began a process of breaking Baal's influence off of America, a process that God is now taking to its next phase.
When a person or people (nation) "give place to" the devil (Ephesians 4:27) through perversion, the shedding of innocent blood, idolatry, "covenant breaking," and other sins, satan has a legal right to rule and control them until the sin is cleansed.
The word "place" (in Ephesians 4:27) is topos, from which we get topography. It literally means "a location," as in a piece of land. Interestingly, it is also a scabbard, a "place" to hang a sword. Figuratively it means "opportunity." This verse is telling us sin gives ground to satan, a place for his sword, a legal opportunity to steal, kill, and destroy. This has happened in America. Through our sins, we have given place to the devil and his demons, and Baal is the principality in charge of overseeing this authority. (Photo via Flickr)
The Different Traits of Baal and the Spirits Under Him
Baal is identified as "the ruler of the demons" (Matthew 12:24; Beelzebub is another name for Baal). The name Baal means "lord, master, or owner." As with most of what satan does, taking this name is an attempt to usurp and replace God. Baal was considered the god of fertility, storms, rain, provision, and much more. He was called by several other names in Scripture and also in historical accounts. People referred to their gods by different names to represent different facets of their character or activity, just as we do with Yahweh. For example, God is Yahweh Rapha, "the Lord our healer"; He is Yahweh Shalom, "The Lord, our peace or well-being."
As the strongman over America (see Matthew 12:29), much of the evil in our nation, including the shedding of innocent blood (abortion), is caused by Baal's influence. Most biblical teachers attribute the spirit over abortion to be Molech, but Molech serves under Baal.
Baal always goes after the next generation, trying to cut off the extension of God's covenantal purposes. He is a violent spirit and throughout history has always required human sacrifice. Not only is abortion under Baal's influence, he is also behind the "cutting" of today's generation (see 1 Kings 18:28), the vampire and goth movement, and the death culture in general that has so invaded America.
Jezebel, the spirit behind so much immorality and sexual perversion in America, is also under Baal. Baal is the spirit influencing the plethora of divorce and covenant breaking. Even though satan nor his demons are omnipresent, Baal has many spirits working under him, and where there is demonic activity in our nation, he is most likely involved.
Baal was/is called Baal-zephon, meaning "lord of the north." This name included his supposed lordship/rule over the seas, winds, winter, and more... He was/is called Baal-hamon, meaning "lord of wealth or abundance." People considered him their provider and worshiped him in order to receive prosperity or wealth. (The symbol of Baal-hamon was a bull; yep, as in Wall Street's symbol of prosperity.)
Divorcing Baal and Renewing Our Covenant with Christ
There are many more names and traits associated with Baal; however, my purpose in this post is not to teach on him, per se. It is to point out that America is in the process of being delivered from this spirit's control; and also to reveal where we are in the process.
This brings me to the last name of Baal I will mention, though there are numerous others. Baal-berith means "the lord of the covenant." The Hebrew word "baal" actually means "husband" or "marriage." The spirit of Baal always attempted to cause Israel to "divorce" or break covenant with God and "marry" or align with Him. Look at the words of Hosea regarding Israel's marriage covenant with Yahweh:
"Therefore, behold, I am going to persuade her, bring her into the wilderness, and speak kindly to her...And she will respond there as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she went up from the land of Egypt. 'And it will come about on that day,' declares the Lord, 'that you will call Me my husband and no longer call Me my Baal. For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, so that they will no longer be mentioned by their names... I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in favor and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord.'" (Hosea 2:14-17, 19-20) (Photo via StockSnap)
After God showed me these things and more in 2007, I began teaching on how America had broken covenant with the Lord, just as Israel did on numerous occasions, and was now "married" to Baal. To see God's favor and blessing return, we would have to "divorce" Baal by repenting of our sins, and return to covenant with ("remarry") the Lord. This was the theme of a national prayer event in 2007, hosted by Lou Engle. After this, intercessors in every state went to key places where corporate repentance needed to occur, and made decrees of divorcement to Baal and remarriage to Yahweh.
I will tell you about this 2007 event (further down below). The information is extremely important because God is bringing America into another phase of deliverance from Baal's hold, and re-covenanting us to Him once again.
Exposing the Source of Evil in America
I released a post a couple of weeks ago from Exodus 14 about God's defense of Israel and His judgment of the gods of Egypt. The last god He exposed was Baal-zephon. Yahweh led Israel to the exact location where this god was worshiped and honored, a setting which also effectively trapped the Israelites. With a mountain, the Red Sea, and Pharaoh's army hemming them in, Israel was now unable to flee.
Pharaoh assumed that his god, considered the lord of the sea, wind, and other facets of nature, had confused and disoriented the Israelites, causing them to wander into this hopeless trap. He believed that although Israel's God, Yahweh, had overcome all his other gods (through the 10 plagues), his god, Baal-zephon, had now outwitted and overpowered the God of Israel. Yahweh, however, would show who was truly Lord over the wind and seas.
When Holy Spirit led me to this passage on July 4th, I felt He was showing me that this is where we as Believers currently are in America. Our backs are against the wall; it looks as though we – and our God – have been outsmarted and trapped. It appears that the enemy has won and taken over this nation. God, however, just as He did at the Red Sea, has other plans. Yahweh is doing more than simply restoring this nation; He is also exposing and judging His enemies.
Since Holy Spirit first began speaking to me regarding this passage, I have spent much time thinking and praying about it. Holy Spirit continues to give me revelation; another piece arrived this past Sunday. FINALLY, I saw the relevance of where I was when He gave me the insight about Baal-zephon and its correlation to America. I was in Nashville. It was July 4th, America's Birthday! Ceci and I were not planning to attend this gathering, Kent Christmas' July 4th celebration service. We love to enjoy holidays at home with our family. Not until a couple of days before did we sense a strong impetus to attend. But God wanted us in Nashville! To understand why, we must go back 14 years.
Breaking the Hold of Baal
Nashville was where God began breaking the hold of Baal over America – or at least began a new phase of it – in 2007. My friend, Lou Engle, initiator of the powerful events he labeled The Call, told me he felt he was to do one in Nashville on 7/7/07. "I don't know why it is to be on this date," Lou said, "but I feel strongly Holy Spirit said this is the date. And God has confirmed it prophetically." (Photo of Lou Engle)
"I believe I know why," I responded.
I then shared with Lou some of what I've included in this post regarding the spirit of Baal and its hold over America. I felt the portion regarding the word "baal," meaning "marriage," and Baal-berith (one of Baal's many names), meaning "the lord of marriage or covenant," was significant.
Another important factor (which I have not shared in this post yet) was regarding the number 7. Just as with Baal's name, the number 7 is associated with covenant and marriage. In ancient times, when two people entered into a covenant, they swore an oath, repeating it 7 times. This is most likely because the number 7 symbolizes completion, and the individuals were fully or "completely" giving themselves to the other in covenant. This oath was actually called "sevening oneself." In fact, the word "seven" and "oath" come from the same Hebrew word! 7, therefore, symbolizes covenant and marriage. I shared this with Lou.
I also explained to him that this is why, as a symbolic picture, Israel's judgments for their "marriage" to Baal often involved 7 or 70 years (see Judges 6:1; 2 Kings 8:1-2; Jeremiah 25:11; and there are others). Also, Israel entering into or renewing covenant ("marriage") with Yahweh, or even experiencing fulfillment of their covenant with Him, as in entering Canaan at Jericho, was sometimes pictured by the number 7 (see Judges 6:25, 28; Joshua 6:4-15; 1 Kings 18:43; and there are others).
"I believe," I said, "God is saying He has brought America to a point – through repentance and other acts of obedience – when we can 'divorce' Baal and 'remarry'/re-covenant with Him."
This became the theme of The Call Nashville, on 7/7/07. I have seen estimates saying as many as 92,000 people attended. Many fasted 40 days leading up to it. The revelation surrounding it was believed and acted on so strongly that several engaged couples, as a symbolic/prophetic act, had their wedding ceremony in the stadium on that day. The prayers and worship were profound, the presence of God amazing! The blowing of 100 shofars that night, toward the end of the gathering, was one of the most powerful occurrences I've ever witnessed and heard. Indescribable!
I shared Jeremiah 51:44 that day: "I will punish Bel [this is Baal] in Babylon, and I will make what he has swallowed come out of his mouth; and the nations will no longer stream to him. Even the wall of Babylon has fallen down!" Then I prophesied it: "I will cause Baal to spew out of his mouth what he has swallowed!"
It was a remarkable day in the turning of a nation!
Another Battle – the Same War
As I stated earlier, this past Sunday I was once again meditating on Exodus 14 and the account of God exposing and judging Baal-zephon and delivering Israel. Holy Spirit had clearly shown me 2 weeks earlier that this was a picture of where America is NOW. But suddenly, the 7/7/07 connection came:
God had taken me back to Nashville, two weeks ago, the place of The 7/7/07 Call, to begin speaking to me about this! He did so to show me that what is happening NOW is connected to what occurred THEN. Another battle; the same war. Holy Spirit also wanted to confirm to me that, just as several prophets have said, He is currently doing more than simply saving America; He is exposing and judging His enemies, just as He did Pharaoh and Baal.
Our friend Betty Love, who is also a prophet, sent me a word from the Holy Spirit recently:
"On 7/7/21 I heard the Lord say, 'After 14 years you have come again to your Beersheba, America. The prayers offered up on that day [7/7/07] are alive and I AM acting on them! Decree that the vengeance of God and the judgment written will be carried out against Baal. Babylon has fallen!'" (Beersheba means "the well of covenant.") (Photo via Unsplash)
Watch and see what God does to the plans of those aligned with this spirit. He will crush His opposition. Watch the demonstration of His mighty strength and how He reveals the foolishness of His enemies' "wisdom"! The coming outpouring of His Holy Spirit will shatter decades of satan's planning. His wind will blow and the sea will part. Pharaoh's chariot wheels will come off and God will be honored, just as He was in the Exodus.
Do not doubt this! It is coming...and WILL NOT BE STOPPED!
Pray with Me:
Father, we thank You for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for the Blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. We thank You that this Blood can be applied not only to an individual, but to a nation.
America has rejected You. We have broken covenant with You and aligned ourselves with Baal, and we are paying a great price for this: violence, bloodshed, the deterioration of families and so much more. We have sown the wind and are reaping the whirlwind (see Hosea 8:7).
But for the past 25 years, You have led intercessors to pray prayers of repentance that would now total in the millions, filling the bowls of Heaven. And You are a gracious God that hears those prayers – it still works. Through many prophetic voices You have said You are now going to restore and heal this land through a great revival. We ask You for this, Lord. We ask for a complete divorce from Baal and a remarriage to You.
Father, we thank You for what You are doing in our nation and the nations of the earth. You will win! We thank You for the role You have given America in this season of time. We are humbled and honored, and see our role as one of "serving" You and the nations of the world. We know full well that it is not to lord over them or arrogantly assume we are the most important. It is a holy and humble calling. We will never allow it to be stolen.
We know You work on Earth through Your people. One of those ways is prayer. So we ask You to finish what You started in judging Baal and delivering us from our shameful alliance with him. Many prayers of repentance and divorcement have now been prayed regarding this. Many prayers re-covenanting ourselves to You have also been prayed. And we are confident...this still works!
Make this evil spirit spit out everything he has swallowed! Punish him! And do as You have promised: Save America! In Christ's name we pray, amen.
Our Decree:
We decree that God, in His mercy, is delivering America from our covenant with Baal and restoring us to Himself.
Baal's hold on America is broken! We are re-covenanted to God.
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Dutch Sheets
Dutch Sheets Ministries
Email:Â click here
Website:Â dutchsheets.org
Dutch Sheets is an internationally recognized author, gifted teacher, and conference speaker. He travels extensively, challenging believers for passionate prayer and societal reformation. Seeing America experience a sweeping revival and return to its Godly heritage is Dutch’s greatest passion. Dutch has written over 23 books, many of which have been translated into over 30 languages. His international bestseller, Intercessory Prayer, has sold over 1 million copies worldwide. Dutch has pastored, taught in several colleges and seminaries, and served on the board of directors of numerous organizations. He is fondly known to many as Papa Dutch. Treasuring time spent with their family and grandchildren. Dutch and Ceci, his wife of 40 plus years, enjoy quiet walks in the woods, reading, and playing a little golf. They make their home in beautiful South Carolina.
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