God is casting new mantles two part mantles on many seers. Older seers, sages, and mystics are passing their mantles to a younger generation, much like Elijah did with Elisha. While some are busy disputing over who will get which mantle, others are focused on pursuing God and receiving the double portion upgrade.

At the same time, God is distributing new mantles to seers whose ministries and reputations have been damaged for releasing genuine visual revelation in the previous season. When I stand in a prayer line, I often see people’s mantles. Sometimes, they are torn, ripped, slashed, or stained. We know Jesus’ mantle as light (see Psalm 104:2) and His mantle of zeal never wears out.

Yet, I see dirty mantles, sometimes in tatters, sometimes with holes. What we see in the spirit is often symbolic and signifies something in the natural realms. When I see torn mantles, the Lord often leads me to prophesy new mantles. I now prophesy new mantles for those who have taken blows and heat from religious persecution. And I hope to lead some to repentance whose mantle was stained with sin.

How is your mantle damaged? I have found three clear ways in Scripture: the rebellious leader like Saul tries to control you, you tear your own mantle in grief, or your enemy tears it. There are probably other ways your mantle can be damaged, but most fall into one of these three biblical examples. It is also clear that our mantle can be defiled, dirtied, or soiled by sin.

Leaders like “Saul” try to control you.

When you serve leaders like Saul—rebellious leaders to God, who operate in the fear of man and otherwise move in a spirit of control—you may eventually find your mantle torn. If you have submitted to Saul, you may find that ongoing manipulation, restrictive and directive influence, ungodly power, reckless intimidation, domination, oppressive surveillance, and more tear your mantle in more than one place.

Leaders like Saul do not want to see you rise in your anointing, wear your mantle, and pursue God’s call in your life. Leaders like Saul may also use your gifts to promote their agenda. They make hollow promises, manipulate, or use fear tactics to keep you under their control so you continue to share the gifts and revelations they need to succeed. Saul’s leaders do not want you to move beyond their mantle.

We see King Saul trying to control the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 15. The Lord actually told Samuel He regretted making Saul king because he had not followed His commands. Saul was tasked with exterminating the Amalekites, an insidious enemy of Israel, but he allowed the people to convince him not to destroy the king or the best of the sheep and oxen. Saul initially refused to accept responsibility for his actions but eventually admitted his sin. Read the account in 1 Samuel 15:24-27:

“Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.’ But Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.’ And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.”

The rebellious Saul was not following the Lord. Saul was more concerned with appearances, even when God was watching. Saul was not seeking to please God, but man. Saul used Samuel the seer to support his kingship.

I have seen it time and again—someone can carry an anointing to lead a church, a business, a school, or a family and yet grieve the Holy Spirit by how they treat those who build with them. Samuel did nothing wrong. He was faithful to intercede for the king and give him prophetic counsel. But the rebellious King Saul wanted to control him so the people would still respect him as a leader. Saul lost the kingdom that day, and Samuel’s mantle was torn.

Has Saul torn your mantle? Have you found your anointing hindered in a controlling ministry? Go back and read the prayer about healing your eyes.

You can tear your mantle in times of mourning.

We see time and again people in the Bible tearing their mantle in times of mourning. When Ezra, Job, and others heard shocking news and became upset about situations and circumstances, they tore their mantle. It is a symbol of grief and mourning. There are many examples of this in the Bible, but we will look at just one in Ezra 9:2-4:

“For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass.” So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.”

We can tear our own mantle in response to incidents that grieve the Holy Spirit or even sadden our own soul. You may be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit that what grieves Him grieves you to the point that you tear your mantle and put on spiritual sackcloth and ashes. The best way…

This text is an excerpt from the book “SEERS OF POWER: Keys to Enhancing Your Prophetic Vision” written by Jennifer LeClaire.

We invite you to read the following article “Faithfulness is a Seer’s Key.”