Focus on Venice and Italy (Anagram of Laity) - a Sign?
On 9 June 2012, in response to an earthquake in Italy, I sent a letter to Five Doves titled: Earthquakes in Italy and Pentecost - an Unexpected Link. In this letter I commented on the earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand as well as Italy (link to full letter below).
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/june2012/denish69.htm
The recent floods in Venice have once more shifted the focus to Italy. As a result of heavy rain, floods and tidal effects, around 70 per cent of Venice is flooded (sixth highest water level on record). The floods are expected to flow to other parts of Italy including Rome. With this in mind, I have copied part of the 9 June 2012 letter below (the section headed Italy - Anagram of Laity). This also comes at a time when the Australian Government has announced a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in organisations, especially religious bodies. This was mainly (albeit not only) prompted by problems in the Roman Catholic Church in Australia.
Italy - Anagram of LAITY (Joel 2:29)
Even upon the menservants and upon the maidservants in those days will I pour out My Spirit (Amplified)
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days (NKJ)While musing on the earthquakes in Italy, my mind was guided to an amazing, yet simple, anagram of Italy: LAITY (a term for the body of Christ at all levels, the church as a whole). It seems more than coincidental that LAITY would be an acronym of Italy, the country where there have been earthquakes at this critical time and a country where arguably one of the most (albeit not the only) hierarchical/structured churches (the Church of Rome) is located. Rome in Italy was also the place where Paul finished his course - his life’s journey. The coming outpouring of the Holy Spirit can be expected to impact on the structure of churches, of all types - just as on the Day of Pentecost, when a small group of 120 persons were waiting in the upper room while much larger religious celebrations were taking place in Jerusalem.
Of those 120 persons - cloven tongues of fire fell on each one, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they all spoke with other tongues. I apologise for this somewhat long letter, but the last point I would like to make is arguably the most important, and is based on Joel 2:29. Joel 2:28 already contains a promise that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would be upon ALL FLESH. So why add verse 29 (pouring out of the Spirit on Men and Maid Servants)? This verse appears to have been included for one key purpose only - to highlight very strongly that the final outpouring, like the Day of Pentecost, would go across all social strata, and would include the humble and lowly. This I believe covers both the lowly in society and perhaps even more so (true) servants in the body of Christ. These are the ones who have followed in the steps of the Suffering Servant Jesus Christ - we do not know most of those present on the Day of Pentecost, but they collectively, with the Holy Spirit’s fire/power, turned the world upside down. While leaders (especially the apostles) were released, the true strength of the early church was the release of the Holy Spirit’s power across the LAITY (following a shaking!).
We long for the Rapture, but we also desire to see the resurrection power of Christ released in His church - including the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on leaders within the Church (as on the early Apostles), our family members (Jesus’ family were there on the Day of Pentecost), our friends (presumably Lazarus, Mary and Martha were in the Upper Room) and, very importantly, those in the Church who have known the path of suffering, who have shared in His sufferings but will find release and see changed lives, healings and miracles in and through their lives and ministry as the Holy Spirit is outpoured - further fulfilling the prophetic promise of Joel 2: 28, 29 that began on the Day of Pentecost.
Maranatha! Denis