Scarlet Thread Token of Victory
Part of Occupy and Conquer Series
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town, January 2026
Based on notes from MBTC Subject Historical Books 1, and Apostle Andre Pelser’s notes on building a strong home base from 2005.

Tokens of Victory
From Joshua chapter 2 we see the following tokens of victory and preservation. This can be applied to a strong home base for a global ministry like this church. Apostle Andre Pelser summarized this chapter as follows and gives 9 tokens of the p[promises made by the spies to Rahab who sheltered them:

The token of mutual kindness
The token of mutual support
The token of continuation of vision
The token of binding love
The token of unity of purpose
The token of belonging to a household
The token of abiding in a place
The token of protection
The token of the scarlet cord

Token of the Promise
Rahab wanted a true token or a sign (Hebrew ‘owth’) that they would keep their promise to her.

1) sign, signal; a distinguishing mark; banner; remembrance; miraculous sign; omen; warning; token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof

The Lord works with his sent ones to confirm the word they preach with signs and wonders following wherever they go. But these signs are also performed at the home base, to prove that it is the same Lord and the same message and the same Holy Spirit working through believers.

Hebrews 2:4
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
The King James Version

Mark 16:15-20
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
The King James Version

View the Land
Don’t ignore sinners
Hear the good news in reports from your new territory. “I know that the Lord has given you the land, the terror of the you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.”
They hear d how the lord dried up the red Sea, and how they defeated the kings on the other side of the Jordan. Your enemies’ hearts have melted and their courage leaves them when they hear about the works of the Lord.
Revelation 12:11 “We overcome by the word of our testimony, blood of the lamb, and not loving our lives unto death.”
Appeal for kindness –
When the kindness of the Lord appeared – Jesus came to earth to show the kindness of the Lord.
Tit 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
Tit 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
Tit 3:6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Tit 3:7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

God’s promise to give the land to his people
The main purpose of the spies was to spy out the land God was about to give to them. The Hebrew word for ‘give’ is Nathan and it describes a whole series of events that could take place: to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend . The word ‘Nathan’ can also be expanded into the following concepts: to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
The Hebrew word for ‘land’ is ‘erets’ and it refers to country or region or tribal territory that God has designated for those who are willing to fight his battles and to spread the Kingdom of God on earth. God has predetermined the territories that nations may inhabit and he has predetermined the coastlines for the oceans. He knows what He has in mind for our church and our ministry. ‘Erets’ also refers to the whole earth.

The warfare strategy
Every army consists of a home guard and an attack force. The two go hand in hand. You cannot deploy all the soldiers in the attack and leave the home territory unguarded. Both divisions of the army are important in the war strategy. Both parties share in the victory and both share in the spoils of war, because both parties are willing to lay down their lives for the cause!

The apostolic commission
God gave our church a divine mandate: to spread the apostolic reformation first in our land and then in other lands. It is a divine commission. It was only possible to fulfill that mandate because of a proper home base in Cape Town and a synergized global network. Now we have a renewed mandate to build many churches, raise up leaders as Bishops to care for the new regions we have reached and reap the ONE harvest, with holy convocations and networking as wheels within wheels working together, as the Lord has decreed.
As Rahab let the spies down with the scarlet cord, so the home base lets the missionaries go out from here. The scarlet cord is proof that the missionaries were sent out and supported from that particular household. Heaven is our witness that the bond between the home base and the sent ones is dipped in ‘scarlet’ dye material, speaking of the blood of Christ and the first apostles who laid the foundation for the church.
Rahab (‘Rachab’ in Hebrew) a harlot of Jericho who aided the spies to escape; saved from the destruction of Jericho; married Salmon, an ancestor of David and of Christ; commended for her faith in the book of James Her Name means ‘wide or broad’ and infers a large pasture or the enlargement of a territory. By establishing a proper home base for apostolic ministry, the churches influence will be enlarged throughout the land and throughout the earth.

Joshua is a type of Christ Jesus
Notice that Joshua sent out the spies. His name in Hebrew is Jehowshua or God is Saviour. When we realize that God is in charge of the church and that Jesus is the Lord and the Holy Spirit determines the operation of the gifts of the Spirit, we begin to understand how the five-fold ministry can work together. In the book of Acts we see that some apostles were resident apostles and others were sent out on missions. There were teachers and evangelists, prophets as well. The elders fulfilled the roles of pastors to shepherd the people of God. James, the brother of Jesus, eventually became the resident apostle that was the overseer over the church in Jerusalem. The five-fold ministry equips the saints and they are given to perfect believers so that we all come into unity of faith. Then we will no longer be tossed to and fro by winds of doctrine that come from overseas! The full measure of the stature of Christ becomes a reality in an accurate church where the full impact of five-fold ministry is received. This is the New Testament pattern for the True Church that has Jesus Christ as Head of the Church.

How the Lord builds His Church
When a church does not have a resident apostle of prophet or evangelist, it can relate to such a ministry that has proven their care and concern for that body. The input of the traveling ministry should develop a similar ministry in that church over a period of time. It is preferable that every church has resident five-fold ministries as well as relate to traveling ministries for fresh impartation from time to time. Every church should know who their spiritual sources are. We know that Christ is our source, but he ministers to us through those he has chosen and we receive them as gifts to our body of believers. The whole ministry of Jesus Christ has been divided up into five allotments namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. As these ministries work together the believers become well-rounded in their faith; they become well-balanced believers and not lob-sided because of too much input in one particular area. God sees to the entire operation, Jesus is in charge of the ministries and the Holy Spirit determines the gifts. This is how the Lord Jesus Christ builds his church: through his chosen vessels and not through programs and systems that enslave people like Pharaoh made slaves of God’s people.

Moses was sent to deliver God’s people from slavery in Egypt and to lead them out to the Promised Land. Joshua followed in Moses’s wake and took the people into the Promised Land. The promises of God in the New Testament make up our Promised Land and the Lord Jesus (Joshua) leads us into these promises! His promises become our inheritance. We learn to conquer things in our lives that rob us of our spiritual inheritance. As we stand together as a body of believers we become a strong army, each one adding the necessary bit that completes the whole, each one filling a gap that someone else left, each one conquering the foe opposing them, until we all march forward to enlarge our territory, to gain greater understanding of the ways of the Lord, to grow in our knowledge of God, to become more effective in our spiritual work and to enjoy greater blessings as a result of God’s favor upon our church. Jointly we stand and jointly we enter into the joy of our Lord as faithful servants who have learned to obey the instructions of our Great Commander and Chief Apostle our Great High Priest and Savior Jesus Christ, our Lord and soon coming King!

Joshua’s father’s name was Nun and it means ‘fish’ or ‘posterity’, and figuratively speaks of increase and continuance. It points to the fishermen Jesus chose as disciples and his often referrals to winning souls as becoming fishers of men! It is the will of God that the church will go from generation to generation. In a study made by Anton de Gruchy, a teacher in our church, he pointed out how many moves of God veered off the original path set by the founders because the founders had to travel to spread the message given to them and the home base operation was not strong enough to keep to their teaching and doctrine. It is important that the scarlet cord remain between the sent ones and the ones who remain at the home base.

What it means to spy out the land
The Hebrew word for spy is ‘ragal’ and it literally means to walk through the land as an explorer or pioneer!

The spies were sent out to view the land and the word view is ‘ra-ah’ that means to have vision and to distinguish what is seen by considering it with attention. to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out
1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish.

The goal is Salvation of Souls
Rahab’s request to the spies was to save her household. The Hebrew word for save is ‘chayah’ and it covers the following meanings: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health
1a1) to live
1a1a) to have life
1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive
1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon
1a1d) to live (prosperously)
1a2) to revive, be quickened
1a2a) from sickness
1a2b) from discouragement
1a2c) from faintness
1a2d) from death

Our Mission Statement
As we continue to fulfill the Great Commission to go to other lands to preach the Gospel, we simultaneously fulfill the Great Command to love. This is our Mission Statement and our slogan, our battle cry and our motivation: to serve God and humanity as long as the Lord spares our lives and keeps us healthy enough to continue with His work here on earth. May God have mercy upon us all and may His Grace be sufficient for us in all circumstances! Sela.
Besides the Five-fold ministry a strong Base of Operations has the following ingredients:
1. A solid apostolic foundation of faith (Hebrews 6:1-3)
2. Ability to evangelize and make disciples
3. Worship in Spirit and Truth and fervent, effective prayer
4. Commitment to vision and a function at the Home Base
5. Ongoing training program for spiritual advancement
6. Households where believers are nurtured in faith
7. Vision to expand according to a prophetic Metron
8. Effective administration and book keeping systems
9. Alignment with similar ministries for cross-pollination

COMMANDED TO LOVE!
John 13:34-35; John 15:12-14; James 2:8
We are to love God and one another as Christ loved us.
People will know we are disciples of Jesus by our love for each other.
We fulfil the Royal Law of God by loving our neighbour as ourselves. Jesus says: “you will do well”.
When our love is reflecting Jesus’ love for His church, and we are assured of God the Father’s love, it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom. Then we are equipped by the fivefold ministry to fulfil our commission to go and make disciples of all nations.
We have Miracle Bible Training Centre – a facility for specialist training in the word and practical ministry.

COMMISSIONED TO GO!
We receive our commission and commands from Jesus Christ:
Matthew 28:19-20
GO and make disciples of all the nations.
GO baptise in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost
GO teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. In the Commission to go Jesus has promised to be with us always even to the end of the world.

HARVESTER Households
One of the main means of care and communion will be through the Harvester Household. The Harvester Households are to be places where people are saved, baptised and then brought to the church to become disciples of Jesus and members of HRC.
In sharing the Love God poured in our hearts, everyone taking equal care for one another you get a care structure that is unsurpassed by anything else. This is the body of Christ, made up of cells.
Similarly, in His family there are households. The Harvester Household leaders are trained on a regular basis, to provide them with tools like, counselling and deliverance, governmental prayer, operating in the gifts to enable them to effectively shepherd every group.
The Genius of God is revealed in a many membered body of believers, each one doing their share, causing the growth in the full measure of the structure of Christ Jesus. Read a more about our reformational theology in Apostle Andre Pelser’s book “God’s Genius.”

ORBITS of Function
We are a Christ centred ministry, and our organizational structure is not a pyramid, but a galaxy. Members are encouraged to explore different orbits of function and eventually gravitate towards the sustainable and effective orbit of function where their gift makes room for them, and their fruit can be developed over time. As we function, discipleship takes place through practical work of the ministry, helps and administrations so that the services and functions become a platform for instruction in spiritual principles and Godly character.
As members are faithful in the least God will appoint them over much. “Appoint faithful men who are able to teach others also” is the standard that apostle Paul implemented with the Ephesian Church in 2 Timothy 2.
As we function in our different orbits, we lift up the name of Jesus and draw all men unto Him.
Read more about Orbital Structures in Apostle Aje Pelser’s book – “Into Orbit.”

PARADIGMS of Vision
Combine Harvester – we all work together to bring in the harvest and make sure it is processed and cared for properly.
Aircraft Carrier – we are all committed to send and receive ministries and do outreaches – equipping each aircraft with the necessary fuel and ammunition for the operation in missions. We have missions to 125 nations so far over the last 30 years as a church.
Orbital Structure – the Harvester ONE network serves affiliated ministries, churches, organisations and businesses in four continents. Read more about our work in missions in the Telescope Magazine.

HRC Members Commitment:
Becoming a member of Harvester Reformational Church you commit to the following:
1. Agreement with the New Testament and covenant of Jesus Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit as a person, our Statement of Faith and Apostolic Creed. Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42
2. To commit to see Christ formed within you and others, and to do the work of an evangelist to convert people to Christ. Gal. 4:19
3. Fulfilling the great command to love God and people. Matt. 22:37-40
4. Fulfilling the great commission to go and make disciples and commit to ongoing discipleship through functioning in orbits of church with mutual submission. Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20
5. Commitment to ongoing reformational Bible study centred on Christ Jesus, through the resources of Miracle Bible Training Centre. 2 Tim. 2:15
6. Attending Church on Sundays and Harvester Household Meetings and functions weekly, along with momentum occasions. Heb. 10:24,25
7. Children’s Church and Youth group participation. John 21:15
8. Applying the principles of sowing and reaping through tithes and offering. Heb. 7:1-10; 2 Cor. 9:6-12; Php. 4:16-19; Mal. 3:6-12; Romans 14:17,18
9. To continue to seek God’s Kingdom first, His righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit and in believing. Matt. 6:33;