The Case of the Visitation in the Time of John the Baptist
The theme of “visitation”, ִיְדְדִי (ppakedi), is as old as man himself, and is associated with the manifestation of God, in principle, to a community, a people or an entire nation. It should not be related to “apparition”, accidental וַיְּאּ (yera), or deliberate ֵרהַנָאְאֶה (han.nir’eh), because it is not the same. The nature of “visitation” is group-type, while the “apparition” can be either group-type or individual.
The apparition entails an evident presence, while the visitation does not necessarily mean an evident presence of God. “Visitation” is rather an event that marks the difference in time between one season and the next, with the purpose of emphasizing that change is God’s decision about the community visited.
Of course, there are several reasons or causes for a “visitation”; in this particular case we want to introduce the theme, and if God allows us to develop in depth on the causes of “visitation” we will do so in a later study; to introduce the theme, we said, by studying the case referred to by the writer of Luke’s Gospel citing the words of the priest Zechariah in relation to the birth of John the Baptist.
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; Luke 1:67-69
“Visitation” has the meaning of time of redemption (v. 68),
for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
The writer clearly describes the characteristics of a “visitation”, let’s see them. The first and most important characteristic of a “visitation” of God is the presence of a “liberator” (v. 69),
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
God’s work is established on earth through men and women, and even children. This is a fundamental characteristic of God’s legitimate work. In the case where an angel of God has intervened, his participation is only as a messenger to make known an event, or to give instructions on some action that people should take; but it is men or women who establish the work.
In the writings of the book of Judges this operational way of acting of God is highlighted:
And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. 19And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. Judges 2:18, 19
The second characteristic of a “visitation” is the establishment of liberation in all the visited land. Liberation is not only about people but also about places and regions on which a curse has fallen because of the satanic practices and invocations made by its inhabitants. The writer of Luke’s Gospel quoting the words of the priest Zechariah, states its emphasis,
That we should be saved from our enemies, (v.71a)
The overwhelming evidence that the Kingdom of God has been established upon a place and its inhabitants is the casting out of demons (deliverance). Jesus Himself established it as the sign of the establishment of the Kingdom,
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Mathew 12:28 (Luke 11:20)
A time of “visitation” brings with it the exercise of the expulsion of demons from the places and the liberation of the inhabitants of the regions. There can be no “visitation” without a real manifestation of liberation. It is the very foundation of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven; let us see it,
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1st. John 3:8
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Hebrew 2:14
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Philippians 2:9, 10
and from the hand of all that hate us; (v.71b)
Another characteristic of a “visitation” of God is the recovery of the value of the people of God before the inhabitants of the localities.
The case of when the people of Israel were delivered out of the hand of Pharaoh of Egypt: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:36); the case of when the people were delivered out of the hand of Haman the son of Amadatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews: And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. (Esther 8:17); among many other cases, they illustrate this characteristic of liberation, fruit of a “visitation” of God.
They are not isolated cases; it is the execution platform on which all time of “visitation” of God operates.
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, (v.72a)
God’s “visitation” establishes among those who live under the Lordship of Christ a spirit of revelation, as the apostle Paul himself points out: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (Ephesians 1:17).
It is a time of discovery of the mysteries of the Father. God validates the mercies given to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David, and activates them on behalf of those who live under the Lordship of Christ.
That is, the above means that in a time of “visitation,” the treatment (mercy) that one who lives under His Lordship receives is the same mercy given to David, for example:
O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant. 2 Chronicle 6:42
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Isaiah 55:3
And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Acts 13:34
A time of “visitation” is a time of Revelation of the mysteries of the Almighty.
and to remember his holy covenant; (v.72b)
The holy covenant is the covenant to inherit the earth. A time of “visitation” is a time of taking rulership over the places of the earth that God has inherited for His people. Psalm 37 is the psalm that best describes the holy covenant.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land,(v.3)… For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.(v.9)… For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.(v.10)… But the meek shall inherit the earth,(v.11)… The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.(v.18)… But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume;(v.20)… For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.(v.22)… He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.(v.26)… but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.(v.28, 29)… Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.(v.34)
The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, (v.73)
God’s oath to Abraham is found in the book of Genesis,
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Genesis 22:17, 18
The promise has two emphases. The first, that of possess the gates of his enemies, a promise that was validated to Peter in the same terms: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18).
The second emphasis, that of establishing and regulating the terms and conditions under which the nations of the earth shall live: in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. This, if we carefully review other prophetic texts, such as the blessing of Moses to the twelve tribes, we will see that from ancient times it was prophesied about the regulating character of God’s people over the inhabitants of the earth:
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10
Therefore, understanding and validating this Word, the cause of the moral, social, economic and political debacle of a nation does not consist in the multiplication of evil within it, it is not because of what the wicked do, but because of a people of Light that does not exercise its authority over the regions, that gets into four walls and seeks to live isolated from its environment, without realizing that by doing so they are losing ground and invalidating themselves the Promise that God swore to Abraham, the father of faith.
And now comes the conclusion:
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (v.74, 75)
Many men and women of God have been called as liberators, to bring “visitation” of God to the regions they inhabit, but they have gone astray and are looking for pulpits and churches where to work, believing that ministry is reduced to pulpit.
There are men and women already chosen in Venezuela, in Mexico, in Spain, in El Salvador, in China, in Iran, in Bolivia, in so many different places of the world, places that God has prepared to initiate “visitation” on earth. They are men and women without a pulpit, without a church that recognizes them, without much ministerial prestige, some even unknown, some children even… but they are the liberators who will bring God’s “visitation” upon the earth in preparation for His Coming.
All biblical quotations are taken from the King James Version.
Pastor Pedro Montoya
Ph. (407) 764-2699
Twitter: @pastormontoya
Treasure in Earthen Vessels 