Mystic risks (continued)

Lasting damage usually came from the institutions and dynasties who suppressed revelation. On the other hand, many individuals who moved out of the established order into fruitful new directions are now remembered as heroes of faith. Luther, Wesley, Francis of Assisi, Wycliffe and Paul of Tarsus were all outstanding rebels of their time. They did not get everything right; but their persistence in holding onto their personal revelations gave freedom, light and truth to many in their time and to all ages since. We would be poorer today if they had kept quiet and toed the official line of their day.

The fact that we cannot all be superstars in the revelation business does not diminish the importance of this matter to each one of us as individuals. There will be no First Division winners if the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions and all the local leagues fail to play their part in the game. My prophetic gift may not be in the star class, but I am fulfilled if I do what God puts in my heart. Each nation, each locality, each community, each individual needs light from heaven to guide the way through present, local trials towards relevant goals.

The dangers of false prophecy are over-rated because prophecy is always subject to check; and that check is most effective when all are prophets. Play a wrong note in a room full of musicians and everyone will notice the error. Paul said that we may all prophesy (See Note 3), and that each person can share his/her vision in turn so that others may judge. We are capable of making good judgements because each of us has our own hot-line. The veil of the holy place is down for us all, not just for an elevated elite, so we can each assess the relevance of one another's revelations. We have only to

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