According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, 2018 is considered to be the year of the dog. I would like to submit to you that 2018 is not the year of the dog, but rather the year of the Ox. I feel the Father urging me to share with his sons and daughters that there is great significance in this being the year of the Ox. The Father says, “No longer will my sons and daughters eat the crumbs that fall under the table. No more!” Many of you are like the Ox, for you have been carrying heavy burdens.

While oxen are known for their strength and hard work, they also bear responsibilities while carrying heavy loads. Many of you can identify with the ox in your own life, as you have been carrying burdens and responsibilities in your lives and ministries, and for some of you, this season has lasted for years. I feel the Father is saying that this season of heavy laden-ness is coming to an end, and will hit suddenly.

In Ezekiel chapter 1, Ezekiel has an opened vision:

While I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. There the hand of the Lord was on him.

⁴ I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the North—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, ⁵ and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, ⁶ but each of them had four faces and four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. ⁸ Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, ⁹ and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved. ¹⁰ Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. ¹¹ Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. ¹² Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. ¹³ The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. ¹⁴ The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

Let’s look at the faces of the four living creatures in Ezekiel’s vision:

The Lion – Is Royalty. The lion symbolizes supreme strength and Kingship, with a great authority that represents a territorial anointing. He can be heard for miles and miles when he ROARS.

The Man – The Father created us in His image and likeness. A human being represents intellect, as we possess the highest intelligence of all of creation.

The Ox – The ox is the burden-carrier (like the donkey who carries out the death ashes for God’s people).

The Eagle – The eagle soars into the Heavenly realms and brings back the oil that illuminates and brings Revelation. He carries the keys to the Gates of the city (Revelation 3).

We see the representation of the four living creatures from Ezekiel’s vision in each of the four gospels:

In the gospels of Matthew, the Lion is Yeshua Messiah, the King. He is honored by Wise Men, and lived a life of unwavering devotion to truth and justice.

In Mark, the Ox is Jesus the servant, taking the yoke of our sin upon himself by bearing the weight of mankind’s sins.

In Luke, He is the Son of Man, taking on human form and being subject to sin no different than any other man, yet remaining sinless.

In John, the Eagle is the Son of God, as He rose to the heavens, and his ascension made a way for the Holy Spirit to come and bring revelation.

We, like the four living creatures, must now forge straight ahead; wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. I pray, “Holy Spirit, let the north winds of heaven blow!” I see a glory storm on the Horizon, and at the crest of the horizon is where the north wind is blowing.

The north wind is spoken of twice in the Bible, and in both instances, as the north winds blew, they brought exposure to their surroundings!

Isaiah 45 1-8 says:

This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:² I will go before youand will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. ³ I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. ⁴ For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. ⁵ I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, ⁶ so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me.  I am the Lord, and there is no other.  I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. ⁸ “You Heavens above rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it.

The season when the north winds are to blow and bring exposure is now. The treasures hidden in darkness are now being exposed. This is our time, Church, to rise up and be the church – the apostolic, prophetic leaders are positioned. Let us help ease their burden and become unitary (forming a single or uniform entity) – this is our key to victory!

We are called to be mighty overcomers. It is time to stand on the shoulders of giants, in every nation and in every city! Just like David, we will partner with the Lord and use the Sword of the Spirit to sever the head of the spiritual giants that are suppressing His anointed, and they will be fed to the dogs!

Till the end,

Angela

www.angelagreenig.com