I recall this email going around during the election. Here on a “truth or fiction” website it is reported to be true. But who knows.
I do recall when it went around I thought to myself that if true, this was not good news. As before Esther could do her good (”perhaps you were made for a time like this” or similar Bible quote) - she, and the rest of the Jews, had to suffer under an unjust ruler for awhile. I hope in our case, it is “only” four years.
************************************************
Pastor Mark Arnold’s Prophetic Word For McCain and Palin-Reported To Be Truth!
Summary of the eRumor:
An eRumor about the story of Pastor Mark Arnold of Ohio and how he met John McCain and Sarah Palin on the campaign trail. The pastor told Governor Palin that she was a modern day Esther.
The Truth:
This account has wide distribution on the internet during the month of October 2008.
We’ve not found any independent evidence about whether this encounter took place or whether it happened the way Arnold said it did, but Arnold is a real person and the story that is circulating appears to be authentic in terms of his account of it.
Arnold is the pastor of Life Covenant Church in Monroe, Ohio.
Click for Pastor Mark Arnold’s website
updated 10/16/08
A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:
This past Tuesday, the McCain / Palin Bus came through a little town called, Lebanon, Ohio.
The LORD allowed me to go to the Rally giving them a message that He wanted me to personally deliver.
Sunday Night - a burden hit me that would only shake me to my knees - I prayed and wept for our Nation. Never has my heart been so broken before God. I literally interceded for these wonderful people who do not deserve all the hate against them. The GOD-Haters are going to try everything to stop them, but they will not succeed!
God is not pleased with the ‘bashing’ in the News of this ‘Anointed’ person. He has called her for this time! I promised God that I would pray and hold them up in prayer. I would ‘listen’ out and be mindful of where they were. The following day is important in this time-line...because I didn’t even know until God spoke to me...
Monday and into Monday Night - the burden of prayer was so heavy that I was literally shaking and could not stop weeping. I didn’t know that they were coming to Ohio. I prayed and walked and wept and walked. I prayed and prayed and wept and prayed...
Tuesday at 2:00 A.M. - God spoke these words to me - ‘...Go turn the Radio on!’ Immediately the the Reporter’s Words were - ‘McCain & Palin Bus to be in Lebanon later this morning for a 10:00 A.M. Rally!’
Immediately on hearing that news, I heard God again...
God said, ‘You are to go. You will meet them and give them a message for Me!’
I prayed as an intercessor and went to a place in prayer that I don’t think I’ve ever been...because the LORD had just visited me...and I knew I was on a ‘Mission.’ I had now been up since Sunday Night...and now it’s Tuesday and I’ve got to go on the ‘WORD of the LORD.’ He sure became My Strength as this unfolds...
I didn’t stop praying until I drove over to the town and parked the car. The News would later report they were expecting 5,000 people and the actual head-count of those who had been scanned was more than 10,000 people.
I simply obeyed...and God actually told me where to stand, who to talk to...and when to be on the move. I had sure learned on the Mission Field, when God wants to open a door, He will do it at the appropriate time. He always has someone to assist...and even those standing beside you may just be an Angel.
I struck up a conversation with an agent on the ground - he simply said, ‘I can’t allow you to stand here!’ Here is where the bus was going to actual pull up to. They had to make a much larger perimeter so the entire area was now being moved back several blocks. The only other thing he told me to do was to go through the metal detector zone and just watch from the back. So, that’s what I did.
Due to sensitivity of the internet...I can’t share much of the story as to what happened next was a definite GOD THING ALL THE WAY.
Looking over the shoulders and backs and heads of all those people...I knew it would take a miracle for what GOD told me to do.
As I was standing there, two Boy Scouts came running up my back...literally, they almost knocked me to the ground because they were running so fast behind me...up my back and over to the right. These Boy Scouts were about Junior High Age. Their Scout Leader and several others were behind them...but as the two out front was trying to push through the crowd, saying they were late...the smaller scouts were left in the dust. The Scout Leader who was with a McCain Rep from the State grabbed me and told me bring the other Scouts up front as they try to keep up with the first two that just came through.
I just became the leader of the rest of the Scouts to lead them right up front and center. As the Rep was shouting back at me...to bring the Scouts forward...the people parted just like God parted the Red Sea.
I marched them boys right up front and to the right of the stage as one was looking from the back. When I got there I was fifteen feet from the podium. GOD said, ‘Stand here, and don’t move from this spot.’
Within five minutes...the bus pulled up and around the other side McCain, Sarah Palin and her husband Todd stepped up and the speeches took off. I was where God placed me...and even Sarah Palin and Todd were standing on my side of the stage. I made eye contact, I gave them thumbs up gestures...and I knew they were just happy to see me standing there. Ha Ha
When they came around the podium and started on the other side, I knew they were coming right toward me, a little lady who stood by me, reached up and told the Rep that they had promised a Picture with her because she was the one who had lost a son in Iraq, recently. The Rep confirmed she would get a pic with them and they would talk to her. When McCain came to hug her... he immdiately shook my hand and following his moment with her, I shook his hand as he grabbed my hand, now for the second time, and I said, ‘God wants you to know that I’m praying for you, Sir!’ He thanked me and kept smiling. I repeated that phrase to him five times. He grabbed my hands and looked right into my eyes and said, ‘I won’t make it without prayer. Sir, Thank You for praying for me, and don’t let one day go by that you don’t pray for me. I need all the prayers that I can get. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!’
As he moved to my right, Sarah Palin, came over to my left side...standing over the crowd and then looking at the little lady who had lost the son. It took a moment for her to shake some hands and people were pushing in all around. Sarah came and got on her hands and knees on that side of the stage and hugged that little Mom, telling her, ‘...it was not in vain.’ She promised her support.
It was at this moment Sarah Palin, reached out for me to help her up and as I was assisting her to stand I was now face to face with her and GOD said, ‘Open up your Mouth and I will fill it.’
Here is what came out...
‘God wants you to know that you are a present day Esther!’
[She immdiately began to cry]!
‘God wants to tell you that you are Chosen for such a time as this!’
‘You are called, and chosen to be a leader.’
‘Don’t lose heart and don’t fear man.’
‘The news and nay-sayers and criticizers are going to be very hateful toward you...
and in the days ahead they are going to turn up the heat...but do not fear.’
‘You are a present day Esther.’ You are an Esther. You are an Esther!
‘Keep your eyes on GOD and know that He has chosen you to Reign!’
‘Stay strong...be strong...don’t tire. Don’t be weary in well-doing. Be strong.’
Her husband Todd came over and I told him what I told her. He began to cry. I emphasized the fact that he was to guard her at this time...and know that ‘...she is GOD-CALLED and GOD-ANOINTED.’
‘...this is a GOD-THING and your wife is a Present day Esther...she is for God to use at this time...She is an Esther...she is an Esther...she is an Esther.’
‘You will be hated...but stand strong...GOD has called both of you to stand!’
‘We are praying and I am praying for you...!’
At this moment, McCain came right to where I was finishing talking to Todd and I told Mr. McCain exactly what I told to Sarah and Todd Palin.
‘Mr. McCain, ...they are called of God and she is an Esther.’ ‘Don’t lose hope and don’t lose heart.’
‘We are praying for all of you!’
He shook my hand and with a deep look of understanding what I had just said, he said, ‘Thank you for your prayers and support...I really do mean that!’ And he turned and shook more hands...and I watched them as they went through the crowd.
Then I got to my car I sat there for quite a long time...knowing the GOD of the Universe had just used me to deliver a message confirming to Sarah and Todd to realize they are truly chosen vessels of God.
I wept. I have not stopped praying and crying My heart is full knowing they had to have all the staging and all the hype and all the crowd...but the GOD of Heaven and Earth...wanted to give them a Divine-God-Appointment!
To God be all the GLORY and HONOR.
If anyone wants to know if I believe God can speak. Yes...Absolutely, is my Answer!
Be praying for me...and let me know what you think about all of this.
Burdened for all of our Leaders!
Pastor Mark Arnold
(contact information removed by truthorfiction.com)
LIFE COVENANT CHURCH
Monroe, Ohio
“I must decrease, so that JESUS is increased in my life!”
I don’t remember that email, I just remember the story of Esther and her courage.
Sarah just reminded me of her. Since her first introduction to the rest of America, I have always thought she was our modern day Esther.
I like Palin, but some of you are worse than the Obama worshipers with the” chosen one” nonsense. Palin is a talented politician with conservative opinions... nothing more. She is not the second coming.
I remember this very clearly. Even before this story, and until this day, I have shuddered to tears at times, thinking of the powerful annointing God has placed on her. It’s deep in my spirit and those who understand - understand well, those who don’t, don’t. It’s not a cult thing, a messianic thing, blah blah blah - it’s God’s Spirit that moves in each of His believers and uses the willing vessels for HIS purposes and times. This man was such, just as days of old, just as in my lifetime and so will be Sarah. None of us know to what extent, but God will use this imperfect vessel for great things.