The Lord's Two Ships

The Whole Story of the Vision of the Lord's 2 Ships

You have probably read about how everything started and so without further ado I will just put in the early dates here and begin where I left off in "The Vision".

Things happened fast for the first 60 days of my new life with Jesus. I accepted him on November 19, 1991 at 7pm when Eva, the pastors wife, asked me point blank, "James are you born again?" and I said, "I think so" Smile... nope.. wrong answer... she took me into the room and prayed for me, and I said the sinners prayer and then started to talk in young tongues. I finally knew I had been born again!

Sometime in the month of Dec 1991, my friend and housemother of the home I was in, asked me if I had ever been to a Charismatic Church before? and I said, "NO" she just smiled and said to me, "tonight is our church service for the weekday, it was Wednesday night, and she, her son Danny, and myself went to John Wayne Airport and to a warehouse type facility that was a church. There was a well known preacher there who spoke about the tongues and how his first word was "kitty kitty kitty" I laughed and thought that was funny. I learned a lesson that nite.. never laugh at God's anointed. .you'll pay... I was sitting in the 3rd seat from the aisle and Lorraine was next to me in the 4th seat and Danny was next to me in 2nd seat and someone was in the first seat. The Church was called "The Eagles Nest" and the pastor was Gary Greenwald. And then, one of the "Prophets.. stood and said, someone down this row has a hearing problem.. and started to walk down the aisle... there had to have been at least 700 people in the meeting that nite. and the prophet came down further and all of a sudden, Lorraine lifted her hand and pointed to my head.... gheezz! I was done for... The Prophet came up to me with his microphone and asked me, are you having problems with your hearing?" and I said yes I was. and He, right there put both hands on my ears and prayed... and let go... wow? I could hear the fans going overhead.. amazing! and started to sit down... nope.. wrong again. ... He said, "The Lord saith this to you...... .and proceeded to prophesy over me.. and when he was done.. It wasn't good, he spoke something about turning me upside down and shaking me loose and turning everything inside out, I wanted to hide or run but,  I started to sit down again.. Nope He made me stand and not even knowing what was goin on, his partner prophet who was standing in the aisle started to prophesy over me , saying that that the Lord not only would turn me upside me down and shake me and make me a new man, whom I would not recognize when the Lord was done with me .. and then ... there was something else too ... in the spirit but ... he was done .. and I wanted to sit down and crawl under the chair.. it didn't seem that whatever they were saying was very good... Pastor Gary had by then  walked down the aisle overseeing the prophets doing their work... and he looked me directly in the eye and I remember.. his words silently, "This is God doing His work .. take it for you are no longer your own”. and with that I had a scared look on my face, and started to sitdown again.   Nope, they weren't done yet, But the Third Prophet immediately broke in and nailed me to the wall.. of my life, everything.. said how I was so selfish, so selfserving.. but that that was all done and that from now on, the Lord was going to use me in a way that even I couldn't imagine ... and finally I was allowed to sit down... and I wanted to crawl under the chair or at least run out of there. But God's ways are very definitely much higher than ours.. and HE made good his promise to completely change me and now I do serve Him in a wonderous way.  Amen

So. California: Newport Beach,

Feb 2, 1992 Received the original statement from the Lord,  "Take my church to the people"

At a small marina next to a Paddle Wheel Restraunt on Pacific Coast Hiway/Bayside Blvd:

So. California: Newport Beach, Hogue Hospital parking lot:

Feb 9, 1992 Received the actual instructions "James, Build My Ships" from the Lord and the first of 7 confirmations (Luke 5:2) although there have been many others through other people on the reality of the ships as being of the Lord. The 7 confirmations came over a span of months.

I must interject something here. I have had many people call me, to tell me that "The Ships are spiritual". And that I should not have to worry about this "Vision".  There have been some others that have told me that I should take an old ship and remodel it, saving $$$. That would be economic except that the Lord said, "James, Build My Shipss"  He wasnt saying to remodel or anything of the sort. Then one day a respected Prophet that I knew, called me and Said, "I think the Ships are Spiritual". He started to tell me things that didnt make sense. I couldnt handle it and cried for several hours, until finally, The Lord himself broke through.  He asked several questions such as, "If these ships are spiritual ... then why did I direct you to a physical ship?(the Crystal)"  Again he said, "If these ships are spiritual then why would I direct you To the owner of the Crystal whose name was Cornielus? or why did I arrange it so that the naval architect's name would be "David?"   He kept going on opening each question with, "If these ships are Spiritual?" It was truly amazing and when HE got done, I knew even more that the Ships were real and that someday they will be built. Amen?  :)

The 7 confirmations Dealt with;

1. The confirmation of the project (Luke 5:2)

2. The Process from which I will go through to attain the completion of the vision

These were 5 scriptures that brought in the process... for me to be trained in all aspects of His Calling and how he would do it. And here are the 5 scriptures;

a) [2]Joshua 1:5 "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." {confirming that he does and will speak to me directly with His Word but also be with me as He was with Moses} Realize this,.... He wants to speak to all his children the way he spoke with Moses. That is His desire and IT IS THE HOLY COVENANT that HE established back in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

b)[3] Isa 6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send; and who will go for us? Then said I, "Here am I; Send me" { Accepting the Challenge and Calling, Which I did}

c) [4]1Timothy 3:10 "And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless." {It is the deacon who is selected to do "Special Projects" for the Lord} ... On Dec 31, 1992/1-1-93 at precisely the stroke of Midnite, I was anointed "Deacon in the Ministry of the Lord" done at the prompting of the Holy Spirit to a Pastor who knew not the whole of the vision, only what the Spirit told him to do, which was to anoint us as deacons.

d)[5]2Chronicles 2:6 "But who is able to build him a house; seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?" To confirm that indeed he gave me the challenge to "Build His Ships" which were to be as a House of Worship just like His Temple in Jerusalem, An Altar to the Lord, A Monument to the Lord. .This word came from a couple of servants of the Lord and then he gave me this verse to confirm that indeed the ships are - An Altar to the Lord.

e)[6]Exodus17:15-16 "And Moses built an Altar and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi: For he said, because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." This verse was the confirmation of the Banner that was to fly over the ships, to show that They are indeed a Monument to the Lord, An Altar to the Lord, floating Churches if it were to sail port to port to "Take My Church (His Doctrine) to the People" Yes Jehovah Nissi is The Lord always with us, protecting us, but we see and hear in the spirit. The ships must reachout in the World, therefore there must a secular banner that flys over the ships to Claim what it means, "That everything under MY banner is set aside and protected by God Himself. Why you ask? For they Are The Lord's Ships!

3. [7]Gensis6:14"Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch itwithin and without with pitch." ... The Last Scripture given by my own brother who did not own a bible, came when He was in the shower and HE got the Scripture and then he couldnt get rid of it... And so that nite I told him who do you think it is for? and He said, "You" and I replied that if it is for me once you deliver it it will not haunt you as it does now... So what is the scripture? and He said, "Gensis 6:14" I started jumping all over the place for it was the last of the 7 confirmations that the Lord said he would give me... and what was the last confirmation? The Actual instruction to Noah to BUILD the Ark! The preparation was done and the command to actually build the Ark was given... again because the preparation was completed. And again it will be so for the Lord hath said, "James, Build My Ships" And I will.

Northern California: Aqua Caliente

In the space/time the first was given on Feb 9, 1992 and the last Which was from my brother was at the end of a sixty day Sabbatical "in the wilderness" Which was in June of 1992 - 5 months.

So. California: Huntington Beach

Now that we are through the first 7 confirmations which have been many more since then let us continue on to how the Lord brought forth this Vision to make it known to all concerned that indeed these are His Ships.

And Now you may ask... Are these ships that you call "The Lord's Ships" .. are they scriptural? in other words are they in the scriptures? The answer is unequivocally YES!

Ezekeil 30:9 "In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians(The Heathens) afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt; for lo it cometh."

Daniel 11:30 "For the Ships of Chittum .. shall come against him: (Hmm? Not the people? but the ships comes against him (comes against the Anti-christ? fascinating..) therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the Holy Covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the Holy Covenant. "

These are just two of the scriptures that have the direct relation to the ships and the direct relation as to belonging to the Lord.

NOTE: Let me say, that there are some bible scholars that say that these scriptures have already come to pass and that they even quote historical events. But, what they fail to recognize is that those ships which they claim were of the historical events to which they claim completed the scriputres in question, came from nations. NOT directly from the Lord, NOT commanded by the Lord, NOT directed by the Lord. And in the scriptures it says point blank.. "THEY ARE HIS MESSENGERS, IN SHIPS" not from some nation. Again, in reference to Dan 11:30 .. It is the ships that come against Him. and he(the anti-christ) comes against the Holy Covenant. Therefore, the Ships represent the Holy Covenant. No nation can do that and represent the Lord.. it has to be that the Ships "speak" to the world  (and how can they do that? broadcast via satellite worldwide)and defend the Holy Covenant, therefore the Ships are His Ships. .. Again, that hasn't come to pass ... yet.

So. California: Newport Beach

March 1992 ... I was again standing at the paraput at Hogue Hospital and was seeking the Lord in some guidance, mainly, How did he want the Ships designed? Did he want a super cabin cruiser to do bible studies on, or something a little bigger? How long? How wide? What was the mission of the ships? To do bible studies? To preach the unadulterated pure Word of God? What was the mission? That question kept coming up. Then as if on cue, I asked Him point blank.. "Lord, of all these ships out here in the harbor is there not one that even looks like what you want?" And I kept glancing at this one ship that looked like a 3/4 sized Destroyer Escort, a warship if you like. It looked like a warship, but had the elegance of a Yacht for a very affluent well to do person. The Ship was called "The Crystal". I couldn't take my eyes off of her.. .I would look at her then look at others and kept coming back to The Crystal.. Finally out frustration and in awe, I said to the Lord, "Like That?" and his answer was just one word, ....  "YES"  ... WHAT!!!! This was just too much... and I remember blurting back at the Lord, "What!!! Lord, here I am with $5 in my pocket, on disability, $10 bucks in my checking account and you want me to build you two ships that are a million bucks apiece!" ( actually The Crystal's construction cost, when it was built was $3,500,000 Talk about a sense of humor? For the Revelaton and the Revelation II will cost an estimated $15-19,000,000 each!)   Oh geez, this was too much! But, I went home throughly upset with HIM.. Well, all I knew was that if he wanted it to be  .. HE was gonna have to do it.... Then that very same night.....

The Prophecy: Wednesday nite church service, Buena Park in So. Cal. I was living in a Christian home for men and my home director used to go to a church in Buena Park and his ex-pastor was there.. And my director had a lot of respect for him. And so we went to the Wednesday night services. But before we could get into the lesson of the evening .. He stopped and asked the congregaton if anyone needed prayer. I was suffering from Diabetes and was living in faith without medicinces of any kind. and I wanted the Lord to heal me... so I could go on and work for Him... I got up and came up to the elder pastor who was in his late 70's. He asked me what I needed for prayer and I told him... He started to pray but only got as far as "WE pray for this man to be healed from this incidious disease, Diabetes...... He stopped... My back was to the congregation, and he started praying in tongues.. going "Yes Lord,, Yes Lord".. and then without a Word, He spun me around to face the congregation and said,

"This man will fly through the eye of the Needle and he will lead the Life of Paul" Three days later I flew through the Eye of the Needle.. I was on my motorcycle when a lady and her friend in a Bronco were talking and while driving, pulled in front of me at an intersection and I had to beat her through the intersction in order not to get hit ... I heard a click, but was to busy trying to stay up... I was almost killed by the truck, then a telephone pole in front of me, I was doing 55MPH!  and then there was a palm tree! Through it all, I remained upright.. And all I could do was to yell.... ":JESUS!!" He threaded me through the "Eye of the Needle" But that was not the real waker upper.. it was the statement that I would lead the Life of Paul. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.. but 6 days later I was beat up on a bus for answering the Lord and saying that I would deliver His message. The message got delivered.. and the one who attacked me, ? The Lord put me on a 3 day fast for him to be delivered, The Lord did and I got to see the results of the fast. Wow! But in all this I still had a very important question... .The one that kept bugging me... What was the mission of the ships?

Paul, the Lord's representative who sailed around the "Known World at that time" Took the Lord's Church to the people.. he didn't stay and make them come to him.. he went to them..via ships. And at once I knew the mission of the Lord's Ships. To sail port to port delivering His Word to the people. So when the answer he gave to me, "YES", looking at The Crystal, It all made sense! . Then, after the episode on the bus, it was another confirmation of the prophecy. I understood immediately that it would be a worldwide ministry that went around the world, but would be heard all over the world via satellites. The ships had to be seaworthy, large enough to handle The high seas, even in inclimate weather, a full-time crew of 14, plus it had to be large enough to bring aboard 130 people (Plus 14 crew = 144) And so, the process of the understanding what the ships would do and how they would do it started to formulate within my spirit.

Making a way out of No-way: Now, it was around April 1992 and the Lord brought into my life a gentleman (Blessings to you Rueben) that could draw better than I could ever dream of and we had the exterior layout of what the ships would possibility look like.. but we needed to see the inside, inorder to understand how the layout of the ships were to be. So I went to the Hogue Hospital Parking Lot and again reaching out for the Lord..... "Lord ?, You know where we are at in the designing process, but we need to somehow get on board The Crystal to take some pictures of her for Rueben to do the inside drafts, ... Lord what do I do.... ?" I like how the Lord does things.. so simple and to the point.. he answered and said, "GO!" ... WHAT!? ... I don't even know the owner, I don't even know who owns it, and now you say "GO"? Oh brother..... ok Lord .. Here goes.... I did... shaking like a leaf, but I went.....

I went across the Lido Island bridge on my trusty $400 Kawasaki motorcycle and turned the corner to Where the Crystal was tied.. shaking like a leaf. I had my camera and film in my bag on the bike. To my surprise there were two men loading barrels of oil onto a stakebed truck and I came up to them and said, "Do you know the owner of the Crystal?" And the short one (Tommy) nodded in the affirmative.. and so I ventured a little farther, "Do you know if he's home or on board?" And the short one said, "NO, he's not here ... he is out of country" my heart dropped... I was thinking.."What? Lord, you said 'Go ' and I did.. so what is this?.. then I turned around and asked one more question..... "Do you know if the Captain is around?" And the short one said, "I am Tom and I am the Captain of the Crystal and This is Wes, my First Officer... What can we do for you?" I remember thinking....." OH GEEZ!!! Well James, you're here.. don't faint now.. " I continued.... "I know this is going to sound crazy but I believe that the Lord has called me to build two ships for him and they are based on the Crystal's design, but we are at a standstill, we need to see the interior to see how the layout is... Permission to go aboard sir?" Tom straightened up and looked at Wes who smiled and nodded to Tom in the affirmative and Tom said, "Permission Granted!"

In less than a minute I was walking down the breeze way to the Crystal and standing there looking at her from the aft, I took a picture... and stepped aboard.. I was thinking , "Wow Lord, you did this? Thank You ... Thank You .... Thank You.. and proceeded to take a whole roll of film of the interior of the ship from top to bottom ! And then I rushed to develop the pictures and called Rueben and he came down to see the pictures and said there were more shots that we needed... And we went down to the Crystal and got permission again and took another roll of film... totally amazed at what the Lord had done with a little guy with a $400 Motorcycle ... now touring the ship and taking pictures.. Rueben and I were elated. As it turned out we not only got to meet the owner of the Crystal, Mr. Cornielus and became friends , we were able to meet Herb David the Naval Architect who designed the Crystal. Who also, by the way, is the Naval Architect that has designed yachts for Kings and Queens of the world, Warships for the USN, Coast Guard, British, and Canadians, He is the naval architect for The Revelation and The Revelation II.

Oh by the way; The Lord gave David the plans for Solomon's Temple. Isn't it a wonderful coincidence that the man that God gave the real designs to His Ships was named "David " Also?

: - ) Naw, you can't see the Lord's hand in this, can you?

Here is a comparison: The Revelation and The Crystal.... Both designed by Herb David of So. Cal.

Within a couple of months (around May 1992) I was in touch with a man who had access to large amounts of funds to be used for the Lord's purposes... and through him, I was able to set up a meeting with Rueben and I giving the presentation, to 10 investors for the Lord and the owner/shipbuilder of the Crystal and the Naval Architect. After the meeting they all went into prayer to seek the Lord on the project.. And everyone of them got the same answer... "Yes this is of the Lord, but no, not now." It was a devasting blow for I was anxious to get on with the business of building His Ships . But there was still more of the process' I had to go through.

Nor California: Santa Rosa

I went back to Santa Rosa and joined the Santa Rosa Four Square Church and one Sunday I told the Pastor of the Vision the Lord had given me... and the next sunday he was in the shower and said to the Lord, "How come you bring me all the fruitcakes? Now I got one who says you asked him to Build Your Ships... hahaha"... In just a short time the Lord answered his comment and said, "I DID". When the pastor told me about it. the look on his face was just precious... we became good friends.

It was during this time (June 1993)that I met one of the Lord's prophetess' and she gave me a word that was just incredible, She said, ... "I see both ships out in the water and the Shekiana Glory is around the ships and the water surrounding the ships, They are protected by God himself They are both pure white" ... This reminded me of the Jehovah Nissi Banner; meaning that everything under the banner would be set aside and protected by God himself.. "This I took as another confirmation of the Ships and whose they were....

The Lord's Two Ships ....

So. California: Long Beach

I went to accounting school in Oct 1994-1995 and graduated with honors at Heald Business College in Santa Rosa, but 30 days after I had graduated I had two heartattacks in Long Beach, CA while looking for a job. Which was number 2 and 3 of my life. The third one was at church and I was singing a solo, "Lord leave a light in the window ", when the heartattack came upon me. I was able to finish the song but had to go to the hospital and it was discovered that the residue of the stent surgery broke loose and went directly into my heart causing the 3rd heartattack.

It was during this stay in Long Beach that one of my brothers in the Lord that I was staying with and I were studying the plans for the ships and at the same time we were, without the other knowing, studying the book of Ezekiel. The two of us stood over the kitchen table, looking at the layout for the Sanctuary Deck and as if on cue, we both said together, "Ezekiel's Temple!!". And we got such a wave of witness from the Spirit that we both had to sit down... for our knees were to weak.. When you read "The Tour of the Revelation" take a look at The Lord's Sanctuary and you will see the similiarities of Ezekiel's Temple in it.

Nor. California: San Francisco

May of 1996 There were 4 of us in a car in San Francisco and I started to get this witness from the Spirit. and said to the driver, I was getting a witness of something ... and then as soon as I had said it, we came upon the San Franscisco Spirit, a 4 decker dinner ship that was 150' long and very similiar to the design of the Revelation.. I thanked the Lord and we moved on....

Approximately 2 years later (not really sure.. lost track of time around 1998?), I was with Rick and Julie (part of the Praise and Worship Team) and we were coming from an event in the mountains. Rick was driving and took the wrong cut off and ended up on the Bay Bridge headed into San Francisco. I felt the spirit was leading him and told Julie to watch what he does cause I believed the Lord was leading him to a specific place in San Francisco. HE was. Rick went right down the Embarcadero to where the San Francisco Spirit was tied up and then HE prayed and said, ... "Lord open up the lanes so I can park" .... The Lord did.. immediately! and when we pulled into the parking garage the very first slot had just been vacated! WE went to the San Francisco Spirit and Rick stepped out in faith and went to the door and asked the man who answered if we could tour the ship.... we did.. It was incredible, to be able to be on that ship and see what the Lord had in store for us, she was 150' x 40'. Just incredible..... WE ended up having a dinner onboard the San Francisco Spirit for 16 people who knew of the vision of the Lord's Ships.

Nor California: Santa Rosa

Everything seemed to be on hold for the years 1995-1999 and then in Dec 1999 I was surprised by a phone call from an old friend. who said that Lord had said to get a Vehicle for me , and a few other things .. one of them were the Plans for The Lord's Ships... When I got a hold of Mr. David. he was surprized as much as I was.. and was anxious to get started on the plans for the ships.

On Feb 2, 2000 Exactly the date When ther Lord spoke those Words, "Take My Church to the people", that the vision was given to me 8 years before, I was in Herb's office looking at the real Naval Architectural plans for the Revelation and the Revelation II. They were so awesome! Truly these ships are of the Lord and they are truly Monuments/Altars to Him.... Check out the "Virtual Tour of the Ships" by just clicking on the link.

The Definition of Chittum;
May 1999 How did I find out where the ships would be built? Through scripture.. in verse Dan 11:30 it says, "The Ships from Chittum .... . The actual definition from the Nelson's Bible Dictionary is; .... "Chittum (KIT im) A form of Kittim ... Kittum: A Hebrew name for part or all of Cyprus (Jer 2:10) and named after a son of Javan (Gen 10:4) Kittim also became a symbol of Rome (Dan 11:30) The Israelites must have been familiar with Kittim, or Cyprus From the oracle of Balaam (Num24:24) it is evident that the Israelites associated Cyprus with ships. The prophet Jeremiah saw Kittim as the western boundary fo the known world (Jer 2:10) and Ezeiel reported that Cyprus supplied Phoenicia with pines for Phoenician ships (Eze 27) . Italy has a few of the world's best known Yacht builders. So it could be Italy, Greece, Cyprus .. So What it really comes down to? Where ever the Lord wants his ships built, thats where they will be built.

And Now it is almost 7 years later, (16 years since the beginning Feb 9, 1992) a lot has come and gone, family members have passed away, old friends have gone on their life's journeys, New friends have come, And still, I have not given up on the Vision that the Lord had given me, "To build His Ships".. They must be done in his time and on His time schedule not ours. For we have to wait for His perfect timing. and we will.. but until then WE are at a stand still again, waiting upon the Lord. I believe that very soon He will be sending me to bring to the people the mission of the Lord's Ships, and began to build up His "International Prayer Force for the Lord' s Ships" If you haven't already, you can check out this page on the Prayer Force by going to the table where you will find, "The International Prayer Force". or just click on the hyperlink already established.

Currently, April 2008 we have had a series of separate confirmations involving Noah and the Ark Gen 6:14... They on the group “The Endtimes Prophets and Seers have brought up the subject through a picture that was presented of a 1670 freighter in mid construction and I was standing next to it. Several of the members Got, “Noah's Ark” or Building the Ark... or James being a Noah.... It was facinating that so many responded to the picture. So Now I am prepared should the Lord bring about the financing for HIS SHIPS .... Amen?

Phillipians 4:6 " Do not be anxious for nothing...." But Lord it is so hard to wait .. give me the strength to continue to pray for this vision of yours, for you are 'My Everything'. This I pray in your Holy Name. Amen"

And there you have it.. a short concise story on the Vision of the Lord's Ships, and some of the "coincidences" that occurred within those 14+ years which is to say that this is not all of the confirmations.. by any stretch of the imagination.

I pray that this will give to you, the reader, the sense of seeing that which is of the Lord and enjoying how He brought this project along to this point.

Praise Him in all things,

Sincerely Yours in Christ

James Banfield

The Home of the Lord's Ships

Email JB