This confirmation took place after I, Reverend Bruce Shoop, was
posting the founding documents for our beloved Brother Greg to his
website. As I reached the very last page of his
Founding Documents Part 1
there was a document beginning with "This Vision of The Promise Land..."
The Holy Spirit was upon me within moments as the revelation
unfolded before my very eyes. This was about us... Brenda and I! There
is not a doubt in my mind that our Tree of Life lead us directly
to our very own "hoama monk" and founding Bishop of the
new church age...
The Universal Orthodox Church
Later that evening while conversing with Brother Greg on the
telephone, I casually mentioned that I felt like he should read the
document mentioning this prophetic Vision. The dialog below ensued...
From: Brother Greg Davis
To: Rev. Bruce
Shoop
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 9:29 PM
Subject: Prophecy
Bruce:
I read the prophecy again after your mentioning being struck by the Divine Appointment concept. I didn't get it when you first mentioned it.
The person that I will bring you will be a Divine Appointment. You walking up to me at Meskel and tapping me on the shoulder to come to the tent qualifies. Well maybe I should say way over the top qualifies. So, check that one for the box.
And then it changes to: They are going to mentor and encourage you. Both you and Brenda are plural here. So, check that one for the box.
Mentor is an interesting term. I like to refer to a literal dictionary for precision and will quote. This is a Greek term which is interesting and rare in English. [Mentor the friend of Odysseus, when departing for Troy, entrusted the education of his son Telemachus.] A wise or trusted monitor or counselor. And then mentorship noun. The office of mentor. You do exhibit the wisdom of innocence. An office is a functional title of doing something. I did not tell you about Solomon Berihun asking me if I had a website on Saint Gabriel day. I got the go ahead to publish and just basically signaled you to go ahead. So, check that one for the box.
Encourage you. Another interesting item here, too. You both showed up at exactly the right moment when my door knock at Saint Mariam took place. You have both told me to drop the wine and get with the program. And now, we have been through the difficult stretch of faith and I called you both to confess this breakthrough. Check again.
The breakthrough of seeing through to the other side we spoke of with the testimony of priest Gabriel Meskel. The frustrations of how to deal with this have been ever present these last few months. We spoke about this at the same time. These all check so this tracks, again.
Don't be discouraged which has been both of your lines. Funny but your faith has been constant in this and mine has been not being able to 'see to the other side'. So, again check this box, too.
This was 1 1/2 years ago. The impossibility of really establishing or founding the New Church religion of the ages is just way over the top. I know what a true Bishop is and this is way out there. But both of you are of the mind well sure why not. Your reinforcement has been key. So, again check this box, too.
Interesting concept again considering that we came to this basically at the same time from different directions.
Humph, you got me. I can usually tell when someone is on to something because I kind of bow up inside thinking: That can't be right. And then when I examine the issue closely, I will be faced with agreeing. Also, I tend to be sure that my insights surpass anyone else's. And when I examine that notion, of course it is ridiculous. Pretty good stuff. I missed it. I will have to agree. You tagged it.
Thanks again for your encouragement and now mentoring. I'll pay closer attention to your insights in the future. This is really starting to get interesting fast. I have been engaging in the Lenten fast of the Ethiopians because I realize this is past me and I can't keep up sometimes it seems. This insight encourages me and is pointing out the obvious. That is what a mentor does. We are definitely on track here. The insight today on my end again now is confirmed.
I'll let you know the outcome of the meeting on Friday when I get back to the house in the evening. Let's see if I can get Gabriel Meskel on the telephone to you to say hello! Or as Brenda would say, hello-oh! kinda
Your brother in the Anointed,
"Greg"
----- Original Message -----
From: Rev. Bruce Shoop
To: Brother Greg Davis
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 10:17 PM
Subject: Re: Prophecy
"Bruce"
----- Original Message -----
From: Brother Greg Davis
To: Rev. Bruce Shoop
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: Prophecy
When you said last night that this prophecy had meaning to you, I really could not understand why. I had forgotten about putting this up on the site earlier and was looking for the right place to put it in order. You told me about going over my latest changes to the website and that you had read this for the first time. I placed it in order of time, as a lead in for the Invoice to the General Church of the New Jerusalem I considered to be appropriate. And so, my thinking just tended to dwell on the issue of them paying. And as my relationships with the Ethiopian priests are becoming stronger, I thought this prophecy meant I was to be put under the tutelage of some priest.
Last week, I was compelled to attend Morning Start Chapel in Alpharetta, Ga. and after the conclusion of the service they gather in the Fellowship Hall. At that time if anyone has an announcement, a moment is allotted. I confessed that back in October of 2002 I had been baptized there and then gone on to attend an Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Atlanta which has now moved to Decatur. And glory; now the priests of this Ethiopian Holy Synod in Exile recognize me as having become a priest. They have put me through all of their ceremonies and I passed! And oddly, I was never baptized into their religion and the priest that ordained me is not of their religion. Now, the priests and I are meeting to compare notes on theology with a view to my becoming baptized. I wanted everyone to know, that this denomination of priests is examining now the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg and taking them very seriously. Afterwards, only one lady came to congratulate me on this incredibly unique occurrence or occasion. And she was one of the converts to this religion of which there are only a few in Atlanta.
I have come to realize over the years that my relating spiritual experiences in the life is all just too much for regular Church going folks and priests freak, too. People are comfortable with their ignorance and become offended or bothered that the Word is calling for them to change their belief structure. This Swedenborgian congregation has remained static over the years. A few converts who find the Writings compelling are still there but only a few new faces were seen. There were only around 25 people in attendance.
The sermon that day was on the importance of the life of charity and that truth and good must go together in the life. In the Fellowship Hall the two IT experts were again talking shop just like they did years ago when I attended regularly then. I interrupted the one in charge of the monthly bulletin to ask if my announcement could be made a record. My accomplishment in having studied all of the Writings was announced in the past as was my ordination but these were ignored even though there is a section in the Bulletin for the Announcements that have taken place. This editor directed me to speak to Pastor Patrick Rose because all these Announcements are originally edited by him. The Pastor is an interesting man who came to that congregation the first day that I came their too. He was inside the Sanctuary and seated at the front and was discussing the placement of a new altar piece to hold up the central candle of the seven that surround the Word and the Writings in one bound volume. I took a seat a few rows back and listened as the conversation progressed.
At the close, Tom Lepper was told that his work was approved. He stated, "Now all I want to know is where I send the bill." At that statement the Pastor turned to me and I said, "You will need to send that to Rt. Rev. Alfred Acton for approval." To which he replied, "I will be going up to Bryn Athyn this week and meeting with him.” I replied, “You’re going to go see Alfy,” I said in remembrance of the old knick name he gave to the then Chairman of the Translation Committee for the General Church of the New Jerusalem back in 2003. That was when Pastor Patrick Rose first suggested I meet with him to discuss my research. Later, when I came back and told him how Rt. Rev. Alfred Acton had told me, “This is a very wealthy Church. If your research is accepted we will pay for your expense and any reasonable fee.” The Pastor had told me then, “Did he really tell you that,” regarding my research that cannabis is the hidden term for calamus in the Writings.
This past Sunday he said, “I'll take a copy of the invoice up there with me if you could send it to me." To which I told him, "It's is on my website under the Founding Documents," as his face suddenly took on a pasty look. Everyone walked out of the Sanctuary and the Pastor and I joined in a conversation. I asked him if my Announcement could be posted in the Monthly Bulletin. And he dodged by telling me he would have to charge me. I rejoined telling him that I will have plenty of cash after my invoice gets paid. Then, he joked that he wants 10% for a collection fee. I rejoined that would be agreeable if the General Church of the New Jerusalem pays for all of the interest penalties. I walked behind him wearing the Gabbe as we left the Sanctuary together.
So, you can see how I was fixated on the wonderment of whether the General Church of the New Jerusalem will pay up and how this will effect the consciousness of mankind. At some point, I believe they will have to acknowledge the Divine Truth that Jesus is the Anointed literally with the holy anointing oil of Moses and that this blessed unction contains cannabis because everyone will. The prophecy in the Writings is that the revealing in the clouds merely means the literal understanding of the Word and that the Word has been falsified. Go figure. My constant whine to you both is about how all this is a bit much.
The previous Sunday, I confessed to you that Bishop Jacob at Saint Mary in Decatur had blessed me. I told him that I believe now that my prayer is answered. You remember that day when you both picked me up as I stood outside that Church praying. I told you all then about how the Spirit had come upon me so strong after knocking very loudly upon the door three times during the offertory when the time when a break came in the choir. I stood outside the door of that Church and read from the Word in Luke, "Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me in his journey and I have nothing to set before him?" 11: 5, 6. I eased backward down the steps and held aloft my Word and Service Book and started walking around the Church praying in tongues. And as I continued in this effort the Spirit had me pray that much louder. I came from around the back and greeting me was the Chairman of the Church who asked, "What do you want." I was looking at him still speaking in tongues and thinking, "that was quick." And I uttered some more as he looked at me. Then, I calmed down and said, “Friend, lend me three loaves for a friend of mine has come to me in his journey and I have nothing to set before him.” And he continued looking at me for amplification, I said, "I seek the Bride of Christ." And he continued looking at me for amplification, I said, "Give me the Bride of Christ." And he continued looking at me for amplification, I said, “Tell the Patriarch Abune Merkorios that we need the blessings of the Ethiopian Holy Synod in Exile upon the holy anointing oil of Moses so that my brothers and sisters can be set free.” And the Chairmen said, “I’ll tell him.” And I hugged him Ethiopian style and said blessings brother blessings and he turned and went back into the Church through the side door.
And then, I stood before the Church and read from the Service Book and the Word appropriate for the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in from the prophecies of our soon coming days of deliverance from bondage. And both of you after being told this incredible event applauded the moment when I got into your automobile and we drove away praising the Lord Jesus the Anointed One. I just read the other day, where a man was sentence to life in prison for growing KNH BSM. So in closing, I think we should add our email exchange of this revelation to your Ministerial Section that refers to the appropriate page in the Founding Documents section.
Your hoama monk,
"Greg"
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