The Seven Gateways
A gateway is an entrance or a passage that can be opened or closed by a gate structure. It’s a means of entry or access. It is used in Acts 12:13 RSV or Revised Standard Version where Peter knocked outside the house of Mary (John’s mother) after being supernaturally released from prison.
In last year’s 22nd National Prayer Gathering, “prophet” Vincent Selvakumar used vague prophetic languages to refer to seven (7) gateways in the Philippines, this is the traditional approach often used by modern-day “prophets” (in contrast to what his compatriot “prophet” Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj’s did when he pronounced date-specific prophecies last September).
But still, the language used were not as you would expect a typical Bible prophecy. When prophets speak in Israel, they usually name a tribe or a race of people they refer to like Edom, Jacob, etc. Names, which later came to be known as the name of the places where they settled. Prophets also speak of Israel’s surrounding cities and enemy states like Babylon, Assyria, Persia, etc. The Lord Jesus spoke of the destruction of Bethsaida, Korazin, and the Jerusalem Temple as well. In this case, Legaspi, Lipa, Cagayan De Oro, etc. are places known in the Philippines, a country far removed from Israel.
The words “reclaim”, “powerful prophets”, “commit your places”, and “angels stationed like a big horse” (my new favorite) are what we may say, “foreign” and “strange” as far as Biblical prophetic languages are concerned.? However, these are the terms you would normally hear from a Christian with Pentecostal or Charismatic background like myself. The same can also be said for the words “sanctify the city”, and “do a prayer walk around the city.” We are very innovative.
The seven gateways mentioned in last year’s 22nd National Prayer Gathering refer to seven places in the Philippines where God was allegedly supposed “to work a revival”. Since the 23rd National Prayer Gathering is approaching this April what have become of those seven gateways?
Reality check: Legaspi, Albay – rebels torched down a passenger bus as reported in the news last Jan 26, 2012. Cagayan De Oro – came the flood that hit Iligan brought by Typhoon Sendong. Lipa – this February, they celebrated the Miraculous Lady in Batangas (not Vilma Santos) while Baguio and Manila remains the same. As for Pateros, I was just shocked that “prophet” Vincent said God’s horn and trumpet are kept in Pateros. Because a year has passed and the last time I checked, Pateros remains to be the balut and penoy capital of the Philippines. Seriously speaking though, the Bible tells us that God’s horn of salvation is from the house of David (Luke 1:69) while the trump of God is with the archangel who will use it when it’s time to raise the dead in Christ (1 Thess 4:16).
Amazingly too, scrolls were opened casually for this “prophet.” In the Apocalyptic Book of St. John, no one can open even a single seal on just one scroll (Rev. 5:2). And where an angel is present or mentioned, usually there is an impending disaster. (Please see Rev. 7:2-3; 8:7-13; 9:1, 11-14, etc.)
If you find it odd that he used, “reclaim the land for me.” Don’t. It’s just a post-Exodus language allegorizing Joshua’s conquest of the Promised Land applied to different places the Philippines. I can’t help but compare it to the language used in the Great Commission when the apostles were instructed to go and make disciples of all the nations (Mat. 28:19-20) instead of reclaiming foreign lands. Perhaps this is what Vincent meant? But, since he opted for a more traditional vague prophetic languages it could very well be anything we wanted to hear and believe (2 Tim. 4:3).
Lastly, this time or our time has always been the days of the Holy Spirit as demonstrated by the Book of Acts which mentions the “Holy Spirit” in no less than 40 verses. But in this 400-word “prophetic message”, Vincent mentioned the word “angel” 8 times. I am really fascinated by the angels he is seeing. Take note that Muhammad, the founder of Islam, and Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion, also saw and received messages from an angel.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 Jn. 4:1
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