Releasing The Sounds of Heaven On Earth PDF

Releasing the Sounds of Heaven on Earth
Aligning The Church's Worship with Kingdom Revelation By Jim Hodges
Releasing the Sounds of Heaven on Earth: Aligning The Church's Worship with Kingdom Revelation Copyright 2004 by Jim Hodges
Permission has been granted by the Lockman oundation to !uote "rom the #ew American $tandard %#A$& 'ible( All $cripture has been !uoted "rom the #A$) unless otherwise stated(
Published by Glory of Zion International inistries P!"! Bo# $%0$& 'enton () *%202 Phone+ ,40-./2-$$%% - 0a# ,40-1%1-,2%4 2mail+ Plantern3aol!4om -5et+ 666!glory-of-7ion!org
Endorsements for Releasing the Sounds of Heaven on Earth

*There is a great need "or a "resh model o" worship in today's church( We have e+hausted the li"e out o" certain *styles* o" singing and worshiping and we desperately need a "resh look into what is happening in ,eaven( This book has challenged me to tune my ear to the sounds o" heaven and has helped me ascend to a place where - can see the synergy that occurs by combining prophecy) prayer and music( -t is a power"ul combination o" a practical manual o" instruction and a book o" deep spiritual revelation o" heavenly worship(* .arco A 'arrientos President) Amistad Cristiana -nternacional) -nc
*/+periencing 0heaven on earth' should be more than a cliche( Christ made it ,is chie" ambition to "ind out what the ather was saying in ,eaven) and then ,e taught and implemented it on earth( -" we are to emulate Christ) that is the pattern1 As we do we will "ind that those heavenly *sounds* become heavenly actions) bringing li"e and blessing to earth( Releasing the $ounds o" ,eaven on /arth will motivate) empower and e!uip you "or this(* 2utch $heets Author) Pastor o" $prings ,arvest ellowship) Colorado $prings) 3$A
Dedication
orty years ago) the Pearl o" 4reat Price) the Lord 5esus) gave me a 6ewel( ,er name is 5ean( ,er walk with the Lord and her li"e as wi"e) mother) and grandmother) have blessed me beyond measure( 2ear) with deep gratitude and appreciation) - dedicate this book to you(
Table of Contents
0ore6ord By Chu48 '! Pier4e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* 9uthor:s 0ore6ord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $$ Prefa4e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $2 Chapter "ne!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $1
The Restored Tabernacle of David: Worshiping Like David Did
Chapter (6o!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 21
Arrayed For Apostolic and Prophetic Worship
Chapter (hree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.4
Synergizing eaven and !arth
Chapter 0our!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!44
The So"nds and Songs of eavenly #reakthro"gh The Divine Shift in Worship
Chapter 0i;e!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!14 Chapter <i#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!%$

The So"nd $s the Signal
Chapter <e;en!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! %%
%o&ponents of '#ook of Revelation' Worship $&precatory $ntercession and Worship
Chapter 2ight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*2 2pilogue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! // Bibliography!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,0
! "ord of Than#s
#o one births a book alone( There are many mid7wives who assist1 - thank the "ollowing8 All those who have encouraged me to write) especially 'arbara Wentroble) #orma Anderson) and Lora Allison Charles %Chuck& Pierce and the 4lory o" 9ion -nternational leadership team) who opened the door "or my book to be printed( Pastor Robert ,eidler o" 4lory o" 9ion in 2enton) T:) who did the layout and o""ered e+pertise ; editing advice( $usan $tan"ield "or her editing and proo"reading labor( 2awn Turley) my very capable administrator) "or her assistance on the manuscript( And to all the wonder"ul members o" my spiritual "amily) the people o" the ederation o" .inisters and Churches) -nternational) thanks( - am indebted to all o" you(
%ore&ord By Chu48 '! Pier4e

- consider it such an honor to write this "oreword "or 5im ,odges( ,e is probably one o" the most insight"ul apostolic teachers in the 'ody o" Christ( ,e is also an apostle that understands the power o" worship and 4od's pattern "or today( .any o" us live in the historical perspective o" the 'ook o" Acts( 5im takes us way beyond that in Releasing the So"nds of eaven on !arth8 Aligning the %h"rch(s Worship )ith *ingdo& Revelation( When 5ohn 2ickson and - wrote The Worship Warrior: Ascending in Worship+ Descending in War) the 'ody was headed into a war season in the earth realm) and the Lord wanted to e+plain the worship dynamic( Apostle ,odges moves you "rom the earth realm into the heavenlies and the pattern that we must display in the Church "or the "uture( $ound is ama<ing( 4od's sound permeates "rom heaven and orders much o" what goes on in the earthly realm( When ,e is ready to bring restoration to /arth) ,e releases ,is sound( Physical sound is created when something vibrates( $ometimes we can see the vibration) and sometimes we cannot( When we clap our hands or stomp our "eet) vibration occurs( This causes air to move( The source o" the sound vibrates and pushes the molecules through the air and into our ears) and our brains then interpret it as sound( ,eaven is "illed with sound( We "ind a lot o" *e+pressive sound* in the 'ook o" Revelation( We "ind 5ohn on the -sle o" Patmos) a place on /arth) but ascending into a place in the heavenlies( rom this place) he communicated to us revelation and in"ormation "rom heaven and its pattern( This is necessary "or us to understand as we advance through the ages( ,is worshiping heart received
'
sights and sounds "rom heaven( ,e saw patterns in heaven that 4od wanted to mani"est in the earth( 5ohn saw 4od enthroned as our =mnipotent Creator( 4od showed 5ohn ,is Throne( /verything in heaven revolved around this royal Throne( ,e saw the living creatures and he saw the elders 6oin in with the living creatures in worship( ,e then saw 5esus as the Con!uering Lion and the ,elpless Lamb( .ost o" us look at the 'ook o" Revelation as the 'ible's *$tar Wars* chapter( .any o" us never read the book because we say it's too symbolic and too hard to understand( The Lord promises us that i" we will read this book ,e will bless us whether we understand it or not( - so love this book that - went to the island o" Patmos and read it out loud( - believe i" you will take what 5im has written and read Releasing the So"nds of eaven on !arth along with the 'ook o" Revelation that the Lord will open up a di""erent dimension o" meaning and understanding( 4od is preparing "or 5udah to go "irst( 5udah means *Praise >ahweh*( -n this season) a ma6or shi"t is coming in the way we worship and acknowledge 4od corporately( The word *praise* originates "rom *value* and *price(* >ahweh signi"ies the 4od o" covenant( This is a time when 4od values our worship( Also) this is a time when we begin to value the covenant that ,e has allowed us to enter into with ,im( What a price ,e paid to give us access to the throne room( =ur worship will take on great covenant signi"icance in this time( =ur worship will release great blessings into the earthly realm( The redeemed o" the Lord will say so( This is a time when the burning bush) *- A.)* type o" worship is coming into the midst o" 4od's people( This is going to release a deliverance call across /arth( 2eliverers will rise up1 /ntire groups o" people will begin to be delivered "rom the bondage and oppression that has kept them prostrate) and they will begin to stand be"ore the Lord with great shouts o" victory( This is a time o" much
con"rontation( 'ut when the con"rontation o" the enemy comes "rom intimate communion and worship) we are assured victory( This is a time when we must give 5udah %our praise and worship& the "reedom to e+periment until we come into the sound that will bring victory into the earthly realm( We must distinguish the sound o" 5udah( *The Lord also will roar "rom 9ion ((( the heavens and earth will shake ((( the Lord will be a shelter "or ,is people) and 'the strength o" the children o" -srael* %5oel ?8@A) emphasis added&( 4od not only does new things in the heavenlies) but ,e also brings what is new into our individual lives( These new things can be small or big( They can be tweaks o" attitudes or directions to new paths that will "orever change the courses o" our lives( The big new things can occur !uickly and o"ten( 4od is doing a new thing in worship to align the Church in the earth realm( This is happening not only in individual lives) but in the whole Church( =ver the ages worship itsel" has shi"ted) grown and blossomed( rom the 4eorgian chants o" the "ourth century to Wesley's hymns o" the eighteenth century) there have been many variations( -n the twentieth century alone we spanned a "ull spectrum "rom 4eorge 'everley $hea's gospel tunes to the Bineyard's deep soaking in the presence o" 4od to .ike 'ickle's intensive CD7hour7a7day model at his Kansas City) .issouri) -nternational ,ouse o" Prayer( As we have turned the corner into the new millennium we are seeing another momentous shi"t in worship) which may be related to 4od's redemptive work in our time and pivotal in the spiritual battle both on /arth and in the heavenlies( We are advancing to an intimate) strategic) warring worship( When 4od does a new thing) ,e makes a "resh sound that we can hear in /arth's realm( .oreover - believe that this "resh sound is also rising up into heaven( Put aside the ways it has always been done( =pen up to
)*
the new things o" 4od( Listen "or ,is sound( 4et up1 Ascend to the Throne room o" 4od( Let the Lord realign your li"e( This book will give you a clear picture o" what ,e is doing and help you receive ,is anointing to advance into strategic) warring worship( Chuck 2( Pierce President) 4lory o" 9ion -nternational .inistries Bice President) 4lobal ,arvest .inistries #ote8 An important companion book to read is The Worship Warrior by Chuck 2( Pierce and 5ohn 2ickson %Regal 'ooks&(
))
!uthor+s %ore&ord
The worship o" the Church has shi"ted in style and theology through the centuries( ,istoric shi"ts can be documented "rom the 4regorian Chants o" the .iddle Ages to .artin Luther's re"ormational hymn) *A .ighty ortress -s =ur 4od*) on to the "ree style o" the charismatic movement( We are now witnessing a worship7shi"t in the C@st century Church( This shi"t) like previous ones) is the result o" the un"olding revelation o" 4od's restorative purposes( Whenever the ,oly $pirit illumines the truths o" the 'ible) change occurs in the 'ody o" Christ and in the earth1 We are now undergoing change) shi"t) and transition because o" the release o" revelation "rom heaven1 There are a number o" e+cellent books available about worship( - will re"er to some o" them in this volume( .y goal in writing this book is to e+plain the kind o" shi"t we need to make in our worship today( .y main thesis is8 The worship o" the Church in this ?rd millennium needs to be patterned a"ter the worship that is going on in heaven by the saints and angels( This heavenly worship is described in the 'ook o" Revelation( - contend that the book o" Revelation is the worship and prayer manual "or the Church( -t is more than prophecy( -t is a book) much like the Psalms) where prophecy) prayer) and praise merge together( $omehow the Church on earth must vocally) visually) and instrumentally align its worship with the worship around the throne o" 4od and the Lamb( -n other words) the Church must release the *sounds* o" heaven on earth1
)2
,reface
0rom Patmos to Paradise ,e who was so near now seemed so "ar away( ,e had leaned on ,is breast at the $upper( ,e was in the inner circle o" ,is "ollowers( ,e had been the one commissioned to care "or ,is mother a"ter the cruel cruci"i+ion at Calvary( ,e had once been a "isherman along with his brother 5ames( ,is name was 5ohn( Then 5esus came along and 5ohn's li"e would never be the same( ,e met /mmanuelE4od near us and 4od with us( #ow he was banished to a rocky) treeless island named Patmos( This "orbidding and "orsaken place was the residence o" e+iles assigned there by the Romans( The island itsel" was only @F miles long and about A miles broad( ,e who had been so close to Christ was now e+iled) "ar "rom ,is "ollowers( =n this lonely island even *4od near and with us* seemed "ar away( Tradition says that 5ohn usually "ound shelter in a cave( -t is di""icult to imagine more discouraging circumstances( ,e was alone) isolated) e+iled) removed "rom regular society and "rom his "ellow believers in 5esus( Then) one morning on the island as the light dawned on the "irst day o" the week) called the Lord's 2ay) something supernatural and dramatic happened( 5ohn somehow was on the island and in heaven) simultaneously1 e )as in the Spirit and that gave hi& access to both places, A door stood open in heaven and a trumpet7like voice invited 5ohn up to the throne7 <one o" the universe( There he would receive revelation that would become the 'ook o" Revelation( ,e who had been e+iled suddenly seemed reconnected to Christ in a new way( Through the ministry o" the ,oly
)3
$pirit) 5ohn) in his spirit) ascended into the third heaven where Christ is1 ,e) like another apostle named Paul) was caught up "rom the earthly realm into the heavenly realm( There) awesome) historic) and prophetic revelation "rom 4od was released( ,ow 5ohn must have re6oiced in all this1 ,e was transported in the $pirit "rom a lonely island to the most *un7 alone* place in the universe( There) he saw the throne o" 4od and the throne o" the $on o" 4od) the Lamb( ,ere) the /ternal ather and the /ternal $on dwell in ultimate "ellowshipE une+plainable un7aloneness( ,ere) 5ohn no longer "elt the e+ile or isolationG he "elt at home( e had gone fro& Pat&os to ParadiseThe good news "or you and me and all the "ollowers o" 5esus is that we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies by the same ,oly $pirit( We are blessed by the ascended Christ with every spiritual blessing that is in the heavenlies( We are also battling in the heavenlies to dislodge de"eated powers o" darkness %/phesians @8?G C8AG A8@C&( -n a manner o" speaking) every "ollower o" Christ has one "oot in heaven and one on the earth( 'y the $pirit) we) like 5ohn) can dwell in the celestial and terrestrial simultaneously( When we really believe that) we can begin to receive revelation like 5ohn( We can see what he saw and hear what he heard1 Revelation D8@ is the call to the Church in this ?rd millennium8 '%o&e "p here+ and $ )ill sho) yo" )hat &"st take place after these things,' While no more canonical books will be added to the 'ible) the Church) by the $pirit) can continue to hear what the Lord is saying to the churches( We need to ascend through worship and prayer in order to bring what is revealed in the heavenlies to the earth( We can hear the sounds o" heaven's worship and intercession) and we) the Church) can release those sounds here on the earth( When the Church does this) more o" heaven will break out here on the
)4
earth1
)5
Chapter One
(he =estored (aberna4le of 'a;id+ >orshiping ?i8e 'a;id 'id
'.After these things $ )ill ret"rn+ and $ )ill reb"ild the Tabernacle of David )hich has fallen+ and $ )ill reb"ild its r"ins+ and $ )ill restore it+ in order that the rest of &ankind &ay seek the Lord+ and all the /entiles )ho are called by 0y na&e+( says the Lord+ )ho &akes these things kno)n fro& of old(' 1 Acts 23:24125
A number o" years ago) 4raham Truscott wrote an e+cellent book entitled The Po)er of is Presence(a -n it) he described the worship at the Tabernacle o" 2avid on .t( 9ion( This book) along with some others) educated the 'ody o" Christ to worship like 2avid did( Through the last several decades) the Church has discovered that 2avidic worship is prophetic) intercessory) "ree7"lowing) instrumental) singing the #ew $ong) and singing the $ong o" the Lord( 3nmistakably) in the content o" the Psalms o" 2avid) we see a blending o" praise) prayer) and prophecy in his songs to the Lord( When we care"ully read the 'ook o" Revelation) we see this same blend1 If Psalms is the Hebre6 hymn and prayer boo8& then the Boo8 of =e;elation is the Chur4h:s 6orship and prayer manual@ At the 5erusalem Council %Acts @H&) the apostle 5ames declares that the Church is to worship in a restored tabernacle o" 2avid( This declaration sets in place the worship paradigm "or the #ew Testament Church until Christ returns1 To say it another way) 2avidic worship is apostolically certi"ied "or the Church today( -t is my contention that the 'ook o" Revelation is our
paradigm "or worship( urthermore) it is the guide "or implementing 2avidic worship today( $ome simply endeavor to duplicate the 2avidic pattern in - Chronicles( While Chronicles is certainly help"ul in rediscovering the initial e+pressions o" 2avidic worship in the =ld Testament) we need to understand that restoration al6ays means more than dupli4ation! Restoration brings for)ard an earlier e6pression and &akes it &ore glorio"s, -t is more glorious because there is more revelation and understanding released as we move through history( #ew Testament 2avidic worship should be more glorious than =ld Testament 2avidic worship1 -" this is so) we must ask where we "ind 2avidic worship e+pressed in the #ew Testament i" not in the 'ook o" Revelation( While there are re"erences that authori<e the usage o" =ld Testament Psalms in the worship o" the Church %/phesians H8@I) Colossians ?8@A&) these do not convey any #ew Testament e+pressions( They simply point us back to =ld Testament e+pressions( (he 5e6 (estament >orship anual+ (he Boo8 of =e;elation or too long) we have looked at the last book o" the 'ible as prophecy only( We have thought the last book only addressed last things( A closer reading) however) will show that prophecy is only one component o" the book( The Apocalypse is also about worship and intercession1 5ust as in the =T Psalms) prayer) praise) and prophecy "low together in the 'ook o" Revelation( The book is "ull o" heavenly worship scenes( We will take a look at them later( The 'ook o" Revelation is really a divine light and sound show1 -t can easily be viewed as a liturgical drama which unveils the Lord 5esus Christ and ,is bridal Church in their kingly) priestly) and prophetic callings( The book is a
)$
book o" victory( irst) we see the victory o" Christ over ,is enemies and second) we see the victory o" the wi"e o" the Lamb over her enemies( 2espite the ominous "igures o" the 'east and the 2ragon) the good news is that all o" them are overcome1 -n Chapters Two and Three) the churches are called to be overcomers( The remainder o" the book documents how the Lord will bring this to pass( (heir ;i4tories are the result of 6orship and inter4ession@ The 'ook o" Revelation shouts at us with this truth8 liturg- directs histor-. "hat ha//ens in heaven0 in earth0 and in histor-0 is the result of the &orshi/ and intercession of the Church on earth agreeing &ith the &orshi/ and intercession of the Church in heaven. Person Pre4edes Paradigm 'e"ore "urther pursuing the connection between the Psalms and the 'ook o" Revelation) - want us to take a look at 2avid) the worshiper( 'e"ore we can properly understand the tabernacle o" 2avid on .t( 9ion) we must see 2avid) the worshiper) on the hillsides o" 5udah( ,is personal worship there) as he tended his "ather's sheep) is the background "or the corporate worship o" the sheep o" the house o" -srael in the tabernacle o" 2avid( This is the order o" 4od8 people) then paradigms( People come be"ore structures( 'orrowing "rom 5esus' re"erence about wine and wineskins) we could say it this way8 it is the wine that makes wineskins necessary( The reverse would not be true( -t is the ,oly $pirit o" 4od Who creates structures and paradigms( They are necessary because o" ,im( 'y the way) the wine never changes) but the wineskins must( -ndeed) the ,oly $pirit does not change) but ,e does change ,is structures and paradigms throughout history1 -n taking a look at 2avid) the worshiper) here are the highlights we see8
)'
He 6as intensely relational 6ith his God! As a shepherd boy) he poured out his heart to the Lord( ,e built a "oundation in his li"e in those years o" knowing 4od and making worship his priority( ,is e+pression in Psalm C?8@ power"ully captures this8 *The Lord is &y shepherd* %italics mine&( He learned to hear the sounds of hea;en! Through the many hours he spent playing his instrument) 2avid began to hear new sounds( This developed a hunger in him "or *heavenly* music and propelled him to create many new instruments that would capture and release the sounds he was hearing1 %- Chron( C?8H&( -t was this process that began to unlock the prophetic anointing in him that would later be evident in the .essianic Psalms %Psalm C and @@F&( He sought the presen4e of God! 'ecause 2avid became a worshiper who knew the presence o" 4od) he could never be satis"ied with religious ritual( The Psalms he would write) under the inspiration o" the $pirit o" 4od) would prioriti<e knowing and obeying 4od over ritual observances %Psalm DF8A7J&( Let me share a personal testimony about hungering "or the mani"est presence o" 4od( .any years ago when - was a pastor o" a denominational church) - would go to my o""ice and pray with some background music playing on an old reel7to reel tape recorder( =ne tape) especially) released the presence o" the Lord( -t was a tape o" a Kathryn Kuhlman meeting that included an anointed soloist( A"ter she sang) someone made announcements about the logistics o" the con"erence( This interrupted the "low o" the $pirit in my o""ice and - would have to turn o"" or rewind the tape to hear the song again( =ne day
)(
when - was in prayer) - told the Lord it would be wonder"ul i" could concentrate on ,is presence and not have to turn the tape o""( That day when the tape played to the conclusion o" the anointed song) the tape recorder turned itsel" o""1 - can still "eel the awesome presence that was in my o""ice1 4etting back to 2avid) we see that he had discovered that the presence o" 4od in his music had the power to con"ront demonic powers( The anointing o" the $pirit o" 4od in 2avid's worship brought relie" to $aul) the tormented king o" -srael( This may have been the inception o" 2avid's understanding about praise as a weapon in spiritual war"are( He assimilated his personal 6orship into 4orporate 6orship! 2avid passionately and unashamedly danced be"ore the Lord when he led the procession that brought the Ark o" the Covenant to .t( 9ion %-- $amuel A8@D&( This occasion represented "ul"illment in the mission o" 2avid's li"e and it also meant) in some sense) "ul"illment "or 4od since ,e had always desired 9ion "or ,is habitation %Psalm @?C8@?&( What began years be"ore as personal worship in the hills o" 5udah now was consummated as corporate worship on the hill o" 4od( The lesson is clear8 once personal worship is established) we are ready "or a corporate paradigm o" worship to be built( Corporate worship must "low "rom the passionate hearts o" individuals who are hungry to be in the mani"est presence o" 4od and to make ,im) not ourselves) the "ocus1 He re4ogni7ed the authority of God that is released in 4orporate 6orship! -t is the mani"est presence o" 4od released through praise that establishes ,is throne1 %Psalm CC8?&( This leads to the release o" divine authority and power that e""ects change in
2*
the earth( Remember) 9ion was the mountain7city o" 4od) the King( rom this mountain) the authority o" our King is e+tended throughout the nations %Psalm DJ8@7C) and -sa( C8C7D&( The Church needs to return to worship as the means to do Kingdom business1 This is the reason our worship must be 4od7centered) Kingdom7oriented) and corporate1 =eferen4es to 'a;id in the Boo8 of =e;elation - believe the 'ook o" Revelation is essentially 2avidic( Look at these verses8 ' e )ho is holy+ )ho is tr"e+ )ho has the key of David+ )ho opens and no one )ill sh"t and )ho sh"ts and no one opens,,, '1Revelation 7: 8 The Lord 5esus Christ has the key o" 2avid and it is ,e Who releases Kingdom authority to ,is Church( 'The Lion that is fro& the tribe of 9"dah+ the Root of David+ has overco&e so as to open the scroll and its seven seals ' 1 Revelation 3:3 2avid and 5esus are both descendants o" 5acob's son) 5udah( 5esus) however) was be"ore 2avid( ,e is the eternal $on o" 4od( '$+ 9es"s+ have sent 0y angel to testify to yo" these things for the churches, $ a& the root and offspring of David+ the bright &orning star' 1 Revelation :::24 ;e&phasis &ine< The churches in the #ew Testament and the churches today need to know the connection between 2avid and the Lord 5esus) the 4reat $on o" 2avid( These three re"erences document that Revelation is
2)
2avidic( This is the key to understanding #ew Testament Tabernacle o" 2avid worship( =eferen4es to 'a;id in 94ts 2 -n his message on the day o" Pentecost) the apostle Peter !uotes "rom the prophet 5oel and "rom several 2avidic Psalms( $ince the 'ook o" Revelation is primarily 2avidic) it can be seen in some sense as a commentary o" Acts C( We know "rom reading this chapter that the outpouring o" the ,oly $pirit was the result o" 5esus' ascension and enthronement at the right hand o" the ather( The prophet 5oel re"ers to the outpouring o" the $pirit in the last days %Acts C8@K&) and the 2avidic Psalms re"er to 5esus' coronation on the day o" Pentecost %Acts C8??&( Let's take a look at some key scriptures in Acts C( 'For David says of i& ;9es"s<+ .$ )as al)ays beholding the Lord in &y presence for e is at &y right hand that $ &ay not be shaken,,, '( 1 Acts :: :31:5 This !uote "rom Psalm @A8 J7@@ is a prophetic re"erence to 5esus' death) burial) resurrection) and ascension to the right hand o" the ather( '#rethren+ $ &ay confidently say to yo" regarding the patriarch David that he both died and )as b"ried+ and his to&b is )ith "s to this day, And so+ beca"se he )as a prophet+ and kne) that /od had s)orn to hi& )ith an oath to seat one of his descendants "pon his throne+ he looked ahead and spoke of the res"rrection of the %hrist' 1 Acts :: :=172 This is a re"erence to the covenant the Lord made with 2avid concerning one o" his seed that would sit on the throne %-- $am( K8@C7@?&( The Lord 5esus is the $eed o" 2avid Who
22
"ul"ills this covenant by sitting down on the throne in the heavenlies( This is ,e Who broke the seal and unrolled the scroll in Revelation H( 'For it )as not David )ho ascended into heaven+ b"t he hi&self says: (The Lord said to &y Lord+ sit at &y right hand+ "ntil $ &ake Thine ene&ies a footstool for Thy feet(' 1 Acts :: 7>173 This !uote "rom Psalm @@F8@7C) which is a prophecy o" the enthronement o" the Lord 5esus) in"orms us that Pente4ost 6as the day of the essiah:s 4oronation as Aing of 8ings and ?ord of lords! 5esus sat down on the throne o" his "ather 2avid) and ,e will remain there until all ,is enemies are subdued1 Pentecost was the day o" ,is anointing to be King and Lord( 'Therefore having been e6alted to the right hand of /od+ and having received fro& the Father the pro&ise of the oly Spirit+ e has po"red forth this )hich yo" both see and hear' 1 Acts :: 77 -n the =ld Testament) kings were anointed by prophets( or e+ample) the prophet $amuel anointed $aul and later 2avid with oil %- $amuel @F8@ and @A8@?&( ,ere on the day o" Pentecost) 5esus is anointed "or ,is kingly o""ice as Lord o" all( #otice the verse says that ,e received the promise o" the ,oly $pirit( As you know) ,e had already been anointed with the ,oly $pirit at the 5ordan River when ,is public ministry began %.atthew ?8@A&( This re"erence in Acts C is obviously about a subse!uent anointing( This is the anointing o" 5esus to reign as King "orever1 .y conclusion is that since Acts C is 2avidic and the book o" Revelation is primarily 2avidic) the book o" Revelation includes a commentary o" Acts C( The "ocus in both
23
Acts C and in Revelation is the throne o" the King) 5esus) the Lord7Lion7Lamb1 urthermore) the 'ook o" Revelation proceeds "rom 5ohn's vision o" the throne and what is released "rom the throne in response to the worship and intercession o" the Church1 The 'ook o" Revelation) then) is about the throne o" the $on o" 2avid) and the worship o" the restored tabernacle o" 2avid( The prophet -saiah declares) 'A throne )ill be established in loving kindness+ and a ?"dge )ill sit on it in faithf"lness in the tent of David' ;$saiah 24:3<, The throne o" 2avid and the tent %tabernacle& o" 2avid are connected in Christ) the $on o" 2avid( >hen the Holy <pirit des4ended at Pente4ost& it 6as from the o;erflo6 of the anointing Jesus re4ei;ed 6hen He sat do6n at the right hand of the 0ather in hea;en@ Peter declared that the Lord 4od poured "orth the $pirit as the result o" 5esus' e+altation and enthronement( ,e added that 4od had poured "orth .this )hich yo" both see and hear( %Acts C8??b&( This strongly connects to 5ohn's e+perience in Revelation( As he was caught up in the $pirit) he both sa6 and heard1 Let us both receive the outpoured ,oly $pirit and ascend in the $pirit to see and hear1 We began this chapter by !uoting 5ames %Acts @H8@H7 @J&) who !uoted the prophet Amos %Amos I8 @@7@?&( 5ames' word became the de"ining and directing *word* "or the new covenant community as they struggled with the issue o" multitudes o" 4entiles coming into the Church without "irst submitting to the ceremonial Law o" .oses( This controversy could have divided the early Church( The revelation the Lord gave 5ames "rom Amos was this8 the worship o" the restored Tabernacle o" 2avid is connected to the ingathering o" the
24
nations %4entiles& into the Kingdom o" 4od( As we shall see later) the worship around the throne o" 4od will come "rom every nation) tribe) people) and tongue1 Amen1 5otes+
a Truscott) 4raham) The Po)er of is Presence( %'urbank) CA8 World .ap Press) @IKC&(
25
Cha/ter T&o
9rrayed 0or 9postoli4 and Propheti4 >orship
'Therefore+ holy brethren+ partakers of a heavenly calling+ consider 9es"s+ the Apostle and igh Priest of o"r confession' 1 ebre)s 7:2
(he 9postoli4 Priesthood of Jesus -n the 'ook o" Revelation) Christ is presented in the robes o" the high priest( When 5ohn saw ,im) he described ,im this way8 ',,,in the &iddle of the seven la&p stands one like the Son of 0an+ clothed in a robe reaching to the feet+ and girded across is breast )ith a golden girdle ' ;Rev, 2:2:b+27<, This apparel un!uestionably corresponds to the dress o" Aaron in the =ld Testament( This is what the high priest o" -srael wore on the 2ay o" Atonement( Although Christ is prophetically pictured in the robe o" the =ld Testament high priest) the book o" ,ebrews announces that the priesthood o" Christ is di""erent "rom that o" Aaron( -n Christ) the old order o" the Levitical priesthood has become the new order o" .elchi<edekal priesthood( -n ,ebrews H8H7A) we read) 'So also %hrist did not glorify i&self so as to beco&e a high priest+ b"t e )ho said to i&+ (Tho" art 0y Son+ today $ have begotten Thee(@ ?"st as e says also in another passage+ (Tho" art a priest forever according to the order of 0elchizedek, ('
These two !uotes "rom Psalms C and @@F document the anticipation o" a change in the priesthood which was "ul"illed in the coming o" Christ( The priesthood o" .elchi<edek is superior to that o" Levi( This is e+plained in ,ebrews K( -n "act) the priesthood o" .elchi<edek preceded that o" Levi( -n 4enesis @D) Abraham tithed to .elchi<edek) the king7priest o" 5erusalem( -n that sense) Levi) yet in the loins o" Abraham) also tithed to him( The greater priesthood blessed the lesser priesthood %,ebrews K8K&( urther) the priesthood o" .elchi<edek is re"erred to as a resurrection priesthood whereas the Levitical order is according to human genealogy( The resurrected Christ has ascended to the right hand o" ather 4od and has been sworn in by a covenantal oath as a priest "orever according to the order o" .elchi<edek %Psalm @@F8@)D&( rom the book o" ,ebrews we learn that the priesthood o" 5esus is .elchi<edekal) i(e() kingly and apostolic( ,is is a governmental priesthood) apostolic in ,is Church and kingly in the earth1 ,e is Lord o" all) both inside the Church and beyond the Church1 (he Chur4h as a Priesthood =ur ,igh Priest has made us a priesthood1 -n the very "irst chapter o" the Revelation) this is declared8 ',,,and e has &ade "s to be a kingdo&+ priests to is /od and Father,,, ' %Rev( @8A&( Again) in Revelation H8@F) we read) 'And Tho" has &ade the& to be a kingdo& and priests to o"r /od@ and they )ill reign "pon the earth,' -t is no surprise) then) that the Church in the 'ook o" Revelation is arrayed in priestly robes1 /ach re"erence highlights a particular emphasis o" the Church's priestly ministry( Let's take a look(
2$
9 Go;erning Priesthood -n Revelation D8D we read o" the twenty7"our elders( 'And aro"nd the throne )ere t)enty1fo"r thrones and "pon the thrones $ sa) t)enty1fo"r elders sitting+ clothed in )hite gar&ents+ and golden cro)ns on their heads,' The garments re"er to priesthood and the crowns re"er to kingly government( The crowns speak o" authority delegated to them by the King o" kings( 4od's kingdom in the earth is e+tended through the priestly anointing( The number) twenty7"our) probably re"ers to the twenty7 "our divisions o" the priesthood in - Chronicles CD) and the twenty7"our divisions o" the singers in - Chronicles CH( Twenty7 "our could also re"er to the twelve tribes o" -srael plus the twelve apostles o" the Lamb as they lead the saints o" all the ages in the ministry o" the Church in heaven( -n Revelation H8J) we are told that each elder has a harp and golden bowls o" incense which contain the prayers o" the saints( The harp re"ers to worship and the bowls obviously re"er to intercession( The message could not be clearer( (he Chur4h is to reign through 6orship and inter4ession@ The ministry o" the Church on earth should correspond to and re"lect the ministry o" the Church already in heaven1 9 Propheti4 Priesthood -n Revelation @H8A we see seven angels clothed in clean and bright linen with golden sashes across their breasts( Angels in the 'ook o" Revelation can re"er to both human messengers and angelic messengers( or e+ample) in Chapters C and ?) the Lord addresses the angels o" the churches who are also re"erred to as the stars o" the churches( .ost believe that these represent the senior apostolic governing leader o" each local church( $tars in $cripture represent government( -n 4enesis ?K8I)
2'
5oseph had a dream in which he saw the sun) moon) and stars bow be"ore him( This was a prophetic dream which came to pass later when 5oseph became the ruler o" /gypt under Pharaoh( The day came when his brothers bowed be"ore him( -n 4enesis @8@A) 4od created the heavenly lights) i( e() sun) moon) and stars) to govern( 'oth cosmological and covenantal governments are represented in $cripture by stars( Then we see the Lord 5esus as the morning star %Rev( CC8@A&( These messengers in Rev( @H are given seven bowls) or chalices) "ull o" the wrath o" 4od( Prophets are the primary messengers o" 4od and their task is to call the people o" 4od back to covenantal "aith"ulness( When they persist in un"aith"ulness) the chalices o" wrath are then poured out on the covenant breakers1 -n $cripture) $amuel and 5ohn the 'aptist were priests who had a prophetic ministry %- $amuel C8?H) Acts ?8CD&( $amuel) the young priest tutored by /li) became a prophet in -srael who would anoint $aul) and later 2avid) to be king( 5ohn the 'aptist was born into a priestly "amily( ,is parents) 9acharias and /li<abeth) could trace their lineage back to Aaron( 5ohn's ministry was obviously prophetic "or the spirit o" /li6ah was upon him( 'oth $amuel and 5ohn witness to the prophetic dimension o" the priestly ministry that the Church is called to "ul"ill( We are assigned to intercede) as priests) and to call the people back to the covenant) as prophets( 9 Bridal Priesthood -n Revelation @I8K7J we see the bride o" the Lamb arrayed in "ine linen) bright and clean( We are told the "ine linen represents the righteous acts o" the saints( A saint is one who has sanctuary privileges( The Church) like 5ohn) can ascend into the heavenlies in the $pirit and can "ellowship with the Lord( Although this passage
2(
probably re"ers to the consummation when the Church sits at the marriage supper o" the Lamb) it would not e+clude the Church "rom "ellowshipping with her ,eavenly 'ridegroom every time we partake o" the Lord's $upper( =n the Lord's 2ay) we can ascend and be seated at ,is table1 (he message here is that all ministry must flo6 out of relationship 6ith Him@ The bridal analogy obviously re"ers to a close and intimate relationship( The priests in the =ld Testament had a "ocus on relationships( They mediated the people's relationship with 4od through the sacri"icial system( We) as #ew Testament priests) because o" the sacri"ice o" the Lamb o" 4od) must steward well our relationship with the Lord and with each other( Paul) in /phesians H) re"ers to the Church in a bridal sense( ,e states that the 'ody o" Christ is becoming a holy and blameless 'ride through the sancti"ying power o" the *rhe&a* Word o" 4od( =ne day $he will be presented to Christ in all her glory1 The Lord is calling us today to walk in integrity and wholeness in our relationships1 9 >arring Priesthood 'And the ar&ies )hich are in heaven+ clothed in fine linen+ )hite and clean+ )ere follo)ing i& on )hite horses ' 1 Revelation 2=:2> ,ere the Church is seen as an army arrayed in priestly garments) "ollowing the Lord into war with ,is enemies1 The Lord is riding and so are we1 The "inal book o" the 'ible is essentially the record o" the victory o" the Lamb over ,is enemies and our victory over ,is enemies1 Amen1 2;ery enemy in the boo8Ethe alse Prophet) the 'east) the 2ragon) the ,arlot) and 'abylonEis o;er4ome by
3*
the ?amb and those 6ho follo6 Him! The True Witness) the Lamb) the .an7Child Ruler) the 'ride o" the Lamb) and the #ew 5erusalem prevail in history as well as in eternity1 =ur worship must start re"lecting and "acilitating ,is victories( ,e is riding and de"eating all ,is enemies( 'ut too o"ten our present worship does not sound like we are battling and winning( We are singing too many non7breakthrough songs( We are singing like we are on valium( 0ay the Lord help "s to break o"t of o"r introspective+ pietistic+ and private foc"s in o"r corporate )orship servicesWe need the sound o" breaking into the enemy's territory and taking it back "rom him( We need the release o" the roar o" the Lion o" 5udah in our worship and intercession( Can you imagine William Wallace in the movie) 'raveheart) standing be"ore his $cottish warriors as they prepare to "ight the army o" /ngland) saying) *#ow you all 6ust do your best and we hope everything works out*L #o way1 -" you saw the "ilm) you heard the roar and the shout1 y issue here is not noise& but my point is& 6e must ha;e brea8through 6orship and musi4 if 6e are going to brea8 through@ #on7breakthrough worship will not break us through1 The entire book o" Revelation is an un"olding liturgical drama o" the advancement o" the Kingdom o" 4od in history( We must war to advance and we must war to overcome the Kingdom o" darkness( Let(s so"nd like it'y the way) when we are at war) things are not normal( This may e+plain where we are in history( - believe we are in a new level o" spiritual war"are in the 'ody o" Christ and very "ew things seem normal( - am reminded o" an incident in the =ld Testament when 2avid's men ate the bread in the Tabernacle "rom the table o" showbread %- $amuel C@8@7A) .ark C8CH7CA&( That was not normal) nor was it scriptural(
3)
=nly the priests could do that( 'ut at this time in -srael's history) they were at war with the Philistines and things were not normal( 2avid and his men were serving as guardians o" the Tabernacle and an allowance was made "or them in their need "or "ood which would sustain them in the battle( Church) as priests) we are arrayed "or war"are worship1 9 =estoration Priesthood '#lessed are those )ho )ash their robes+ that they &ay have the right to the tree of life+ and &ay enter by the gates into the city, '1 Revelation :::2> (he 6orship and inter4ession of the Chur4h is designed ultimately to lead us ba48 to 2den! As a corporate+ holy+ and royal priesthood+ )e restore the earth to its original p"rpose- -n Revelation C8K) the overcomers will be granted to eat o" the tree o" li"e which is in the Paradise o" 4od( The theme o" restoration which begins in the book o" 4enesis is consummated in the book o" Revelation( ,istory begins in a 4arden %Paradise&) and it concludes in a 4arden7 like city or civili<ation( -n 4enesis) the earth is potential paradise( -n Revelation) the earth is matured paradise( -n the "inal chapters o" the 'ible) we read o" a glorious cityMcivili<ation which is revealed in the earth( -t is designated as the #ew 5erusalem %Revelation C@8@) @F&( #otice some o" its salient "eatures8 @( -t is "oundational and built on the ministries o" the twelve tribes o" -srael and the twelve apostles o" the Lamb %C@8@C) @D&( C( -t is cubical in dimension and its light is the Lord ,imsel"( This reminds us o" the dimensions o" the ,oly
32
o" ,olies in the Tabernacle( The outer court was illumined by the sun) the ,oly Place by the lampstand) and the ,oly o" ,olies was abla<e with the $hekinah glory7light o" 4od ,imsel" %C@8@AG CC8H&( ?( The ,oly $pirit) like living) crystal clear water) "lows "rom the throne through the city %CC8@7C&( D( The nations o" the earth are healed by the leaves o" the trees on either side o" the river( Jesus is the original tree of life and no6 His Chur4h has be4ome a tree of life! A more accurate picture o" this would be to see "orests o" trees produced by the river o" 4od in the city o" 4od %CC8C&( H( The nations and their kings will bring their glory and honor to the city o" 4od %C@8CD) CA&( A( The city is temple7like because o" the presence o" the Lord 4od and the Lamb %C@8CC&( K( The city is the instrument o" 4od to remove the curse o" the irst Adam's "ailure and to release the blessing o" the Last Adam's success %CC8?&( While the 'ible does not teach ultimate per"ection this side o" the Resurrection %this will take place at the $econd Coming o" Christ&) it does teach the earth )ill "lti&ately e6perience the plan of /od as if the First Ada& had never fallen- Anything less does not honor the "inished work o" Christ) the Last Adam1 (he =e-robing of the Chur4h As we have seen in this chapter) the Church must be properly arrayed "or its #ew Testament priestly ministry(
33
The 'ook o" Revelation is about the restoration o" our priestly robes and garments( -n the 'ook o" 4enesis) 4od's servants lost their priestly robes o" authority( -n Revelation) they are restored and we are re7robed1 We remember what happened to #oah and 5oseph back in the 'ook o" 4enesis( #oah's son) ,am) took his "ather's robe while he was asleep in his tent( ,am) the youngest son) was guilty o" the sin o" usurpation( The "ather's robe identi"ied #oah as 4od's covenant heir in the earth( ,orri"ied at their brother's action) $hem and 5apheth reverently backed into the door o" the tent and re7robed their "ather %4enesis I8CF7CJ&( 5oseph) the "avorite o" his "ather) 5acob) had his multicolored tunic stripped away by his own brothers %4enesis ?K8C?7CD&( They threw him into the pit and later sold him to .idianite traders who) in turn) sold him to Potiphar in /gypt( A"ter rising to become the chie" steward in Potiphar's house) 5oseph lost his coatMrobe again when he had to "lee the seducing attack o" Potiphar's wi"e( Later) when he is imprisoned) he probably is given prison clothes and thereby loses his outer garment again( The story o" 5oseph is this8 he kept losing his coat) but he never lost his character1 The day would come when he was re7robed with an authority under Pharaoh that would save his own people and deliver the world o" his day "rom "amine( This is the story o" the Church8 4od is re7robing us as we remain "aith"ul to ,is calling and purpose( We are a holy and royal priesthood1
34
Cha/ter Three
<ynergi7ing Hea;en and 2arth
The challenge and call upon the Church o" the C@ st century is to align its worship with the worship in the heavens around the throne o" the Lord 4od( The guidebook "or meeting this challenge and "ul"illing this call is the 'ook o" Revelation( rom 4enesis to Revelation we hear the call to realign the earth with heaven( The 'ible begins with) '$n the beginning /od &ade the heavens and the earth ' ;/enesis 2:2<, The strong implication is that heaven and earth were in harmony( $in had not yet been released in the earth( When it was released through the "all o" our "irst parents) earth became disharmoni<ed with heaven( -n "act) everything came into disharmony when Adam and /ve embraced the lie o" Luci"er( 4od and man became disharmoni<ed in their relationship( Adam and /ve's relationship became strained and disharmoni<ed( Adam and /ve and the environment no longer related in the same way( Certainly Cain was not in harmony with his brother) Abel( Throughout the =ld Testament) 4od called new heirs through whom ,e desired to re7harmoni<e earth with heaven( rom #oah) to Abraham) to .oses) and to 2avid) 4od brought "orth new dimensions o" ,is plan to overcome the disharmony( All o" these were like *new Adams* with whom 4od started over( Through each o" them the Lord released a new order o" worship( /ach o" these orders included blood sacri"ice by which 4od would establish ,is covenant in the earth( The order "or Adam was the 4arden( or #oah) it was the ark) a sort o" "loating garden( -n Abraham) altars throughout the land
35
o" promise became the order( -n .oses) the pattern "or the tabernacle came( And through 2avid) although actually built by $olomon) the Temple e+pressed the new order o" worship( Although there was some historical progress in the plan o" 4od) all o" these new Adams did as the "irst one did( They "ailed) and they "ell( When we come to #ew Testament times) we behold the Lamb o" 4od Who takes away the sin o" the world( e is the Last Ada&1Second 0an )ho did not fail nor fall, Through ,im and ,is redeeming and atoning blood) the worship order is established in the heavenlies which would become the pattern "or worship in the earth among ,is "ollowers( When ,e hung on the cross) the hori<ontal and the vertical met in reconciling power( .an is reconciled to 4od and the earth is legally) 6udicially) and covenantally re7 harmoni<ed with heaven( #ow the Church) through the worship order inaugurated by the Lamb) will become the vessel through whom the Lord 4od will e+perientially re7harmoni<e the earth with heaven( #ow it will be the Church o" the redeemed who will pray as ,e taught) *Thy Kingdom come) Thy will be done) on earth as it is in heaven1* -" the Church will synergi<e with heaven in its worship and intercession) the earth will once again be in harmony with heaven1 -t would be good here to recall two 'iblical settings which present a picture o" synergy between heaven and earth( The "irst one is "ound at 'ethel when 5acob saw angels ascending and descending on a ladder that connected earth with heaven( ,e then declared) 'This is none other than the ho"se of /od+ and this is the gate of heaven ' ;/enesis :5:28<, -t was here that the Lord renewed the Abrahamic
covenant with 5acob( -t was also here that 5acob received the revelation that earth and heaven are connected( -" the Church) the house o" 4od) is the gate o" heaven) then something o" heaven is here on the earth( -ndeed the access to heaven is on the earth and that access is "ound in the Covenant Community o" the Lamb( 3ndoubtedly 5esus had this incident in mind when ,e said to #athaniel) 'Tr"ly+ tr"ly+ $ say to yo"+ yo" shall see the heavens opened and the angels of /od ascending and descending on the Son of 0an ' ;9ohn 2:32<, 5esus) the Lamb) would provide access to the ather's presence through ,is shed blood( And 5esus is the ladder that reconnects and re7harmoni<es earth with heaven1 (he <ynergy of the >ord of God and the usi4 of God
Author 5ames 5ordan makes an intriguing comment about this( ,e says the ,oly $pirit is the .usic o" 4od(i would agree( - would add this observation8 4od is the original .usician and ,e created angels to worship ,im with music( -n the 4odhead) the ,oly $pirit is in charge o" the music and worship1 Christ is the Living Logos Word o" 4od and the ,oly $pirit is the .usic o" 4od1 We see the synergy o" the word and music in the ministries o" two =ld Testament prophets) $amuel and /lisha( (he inistry of <amuel
$amuel) who inaugurated the school o" the prophets) was accompanied in his ministry by a prophetic orchestra %$amuel @F8H&( This orchestra brought "orth new sounds never heard in -srael or in the earth1 They were a "orerunner ministry who introduced the ministry o" song to the priesthood( 3p to
3$
that time) the priesthood was all about sacri"ice and teaching the law( -n $amuel's ministry) song 6oined sacri"ice) and this became a "oreshadowing o" the *Tabernacle o" 2avid* type o" worship that would later be established on .t( 9ion( This also pointed "orward to the song o" the $acri"iced =ne) the Lamb1 %Revelation @H8?&( (he inistry of 2lisha
Later in the history o" -srael) the prophet /lisha re!uested a minstrel be"ore he prophesied to King 5ehoshaphat %-- Kings ?8@H&( The $cripture states when the minstrel played) the hand o" the Lord came upon the prophet and he released the word o" the Lord( The point is obvious( #oth the ')ord' and the &"sic )ere prophetically anointed, These incidents give us "urther insight when we look at the worship in the 'ook o" Revelation( Let me re"er again to 5ames 5ordan( ,e makes an insight"ul observation when he says that throughout church history) there has been a tendency to slow down the praise o" the Church) to pull it down into a devotional and reverential piety that gives way to mystical "eelings( The 4regorian chant o" the .iddle Ages would illustrate his observation( 'ut then the Re"ormation o" the @Ath century returned the Church) in a measure) to vigorous praise( ,owever) a "ew generations later) the churches slowed down their singing and practically eliminated the rhythmic character o" their hymns and Psalms( -n the later part o" the CFth century) the charismatic movement restored vigorous praise but sometimes at the cost o" weak doctrine(ii 5ordan is advocating more vigorous worship and praise "or the Church and - would concur( When we take a closer look at the worship scenes in the 'ook o" Revelation) we will be con"ronted with vigorous) demonstrative) instrumental) and yes) loud worship( -t will be
3'
as the sound o" many waters and peals o" thunder( The worship o" the Church ought to move like water and clap like thunder1 (he <ights and <ounds of >orship <ynergy in =e;elation (he <ynergy of 9postoli4 Go;ernment and Priestly Inter4ession& =e;! 4+4 The twenty7"our elders around the throne could speak o" the two sets o" twelve re"erred to in the book) the twelve tribes o" -srael and the twelve apostles o" the Lamb %Revelation C@8@C) @D&( Twelve can represent spiritual government( These twenty7"our elders have crowns on their heads and are clothed in priestly garments( ,ere we see the synergy o" spiritual government %crowns& and intercession %garments&( ,ebrews ?8@ re"ers to Christ as the Apostle and the ,igh Priest( ,ere we also see the 6oining o" the governmental and intercessional( Regrettably) a number today do not embrace apostolic ministry in the Church( They embrace intercession) but not government( =bviously there is no synergy unless both are received( Revelation H8@F documents this same truth( The Church must receive its #ingl- calling and its /riestl- calling0 government and intercession1 (he <ynergy of Co;enant& =e;! 4+. The rainbow overarching the throne in heaven testi"ies to the #oahic Covenant( 4od called #oah and his "amily into a relationship with ,im and through their covenant) the earth was rebuilt a"ter the "lood( $ynergy with 4od is personal and relational( That is true within the 4odhead and it is true between 4od and ,is people1 -t would be good here to observe the synergy o" 6udgment and mercy that was e+pressed in #oah's day( The bo) in the sky )as first a )ar1bo) and then beca&e a rainbo)
3(
%4enesis I8@?&( The ,ebrew word is gesheth) literally) an archer's bow( 4od came in 6udgment in the war7bow) and then ,e revealed ,is mercy as the war7bow was changed into the rainbow1 We need to remember in our day that 6udgment and mercy are connected and that mercy can triumph over 6udgment1 =ur worship and intercession need to embrace this synergy( (he <ynergy of Creation and =edemption& =e;! 4+1 *Lightning and thunder* is primarily *creation* language( The *seven lamps o" "ire* is primarily *redemption* language( The Lord's purpose is not only redeeming individualsG it includes the restoration o" the created order( The Psalmist had this in mind when he wrote) 'Thy lovingkindness+ A Lord+ e6tends to the heavens+ Thy faithf"lness reaches to the skies, Thy righteo"sness is like the &o"ntains of /od@ Thy ?"dg&ents are like a great deep' ;Psal& 74:314<, Lovingkindness) "aith"ulness) righteousness) and 6udgment are covenantal terms that relate to redemption( The heavens) the skies) the mountains) and the depth o" the sea re"er to the created order( Redemption and Creation synergi<e in the eternal purposes o" our 4od1 -n Romans J) Paul declares that the created order groans "or the mani"estation and maturation o" the sons o" 4od) i( e() the Church( -n this passage we see the creation groaning %verse CC&) the Church groaning %verse C?&) and the ,oly $pirit groaning %verse CA&( This three "old synergy o" groaning will bring "orth the purposes o" 4od "or all creation1 At this point - must note that thunder and lightning remind us o" the ministries o" .oses and /li6ah( They both met 4od on .t( $inai) which shook with the power o" 4od( 'oth
4*
.oses and /li6ah were power"ul) prophetic intercessors1 The seven lamps o" "ire which burn be"ore the throne re"er to the ,oly $pirit o" 4od in the seven dimensions o" ,is being %-saiah @@8C&( The seven spirits also connect with the seven churches addressed in the 'ook o" Revelation %@8D) @@&( urthermore) these churches in the area o" Asia .inor %modern day Turkey& would testi"y to the synergy o" the 'ody o" Christ in a region( The $ynergy o" the our Living Creatures) Rev( D8A) K These heavenly beings re"erred to in /<ekiel @ provide a double witness in the court o" heaven "or the release o" heaven's responses to the worship and intercession o" the Church on earth( .a6or 6udicial verdicts need to be established by at least two witnesses %2euteronomy @K8A&( The Church in its worship and intercession legislates and ad6udicates in the heavenlies( These decisions and verdicts are then released in the earth( Additionally) - see these "our living creatures representing in heaven the "our corners o" the earth) the north) south) east) and west( There must be a release o" divine synergy between the throne in heaven and the Church on the earth "or global trans"ormation to take place( These "our have also been looked upon by a number o" 'ible teachers through the years as representing the "our 4ospels in the #ew Testament8 The lion corresponds to the 'ook o" .atthew) which emphasi<es 5esus as a descendant o" 5udah and 2avid( The 4alf corresponds to the 'ook o" .ark) which emphasi<es 5esus as the sacri"ice "or sin( The man corresponds to the 'ook o" Luke) where the humanity o" Christ is emphasi<ed( The eagle corresponds to the 'ook o" 5ohn) where emphasis is on the deity o" Christ) the =ne sent "rom the ather in heaven(
4)
(he <ynergy of the ?amb and the ?ion& =e;! 1+4-% As ?amb) 5esus "orms the Church as a priesthood( The shedding o" ,is blood at the Cross released ,is priestly ministry %,ebrews I8@D&( As Lamb on the throne) ,e is releasing ,is Church into the ministry o" intercession( As ?ion) ,e is making ,is Church a kingdom( ,e is the Lion o" 5udah( 5udah was the son o" 5acob who was promised the scepter o" authority %4enesis DI8@F&( 5esus) the Lion) is still reigning and still roaring1 A while back) my wi"e) 5ean) was at the <oo with some o" our grandchildren( When they entered the "ront gate) they heard a loud roar( They did not know what it was until they later saw the lion) who then roared again( 5ean said the sound was so cavernous) reverberating throughout the <oo) that she was almost overcome1 When o"r Lion1*ing roars fro& heaven and thro"gh is %h"rch+ &ay all be overco&e(he <ynergy of >orship and Inter4ession& =e;! 1+/& , -n the last "ew years we have seen the release o" understanding about the harp and the bowls( The elders in heaven each have a harp and together they are singing a new song to the Lord( .usical) vocal) and instrumental worship are released continuingly in heaven( Revelation J8?7H gives us more understanding about the bowls in heaven8 'And another angel ca&e and stood at the altar+ holding a golden censer@ and &"ch incense )as given to hi&+ that he &ight add it to the prayers of all the saints "pon the golden altar )hich )as before the throne, And the s&oke of the incense+ )ith the prayers of the saints+ )ent "p before /od o"t of the angel(s
42
hand, And the angel took the censer@ and he filled it )ith the fire of the altar and thre) it to the earth@ and there follo)ed peals of th"nder and so"nds and flashes of lightning and an earthB"ake, ' This angel could be the Lord) ,imsel") as the Angel o" the Lord( At any rate) the message is the same8 when the saints pray) their prayers rise to the Lord like incense( When the angel mi+es the incense o" the prayers o" the saints already in heaven) with the prayers o" the saints on earth) and the bowls become "ull) they are tipped over by the angel at the altar) releasing dramatic displays on the earth) as in storms and earth!uakes( !t this /oint0 intercession has become intervention1 The challenge in this prophetic picture is8 don(t stop sending yo"r incense "p@ don(t stop praying+ beca"se it co"ld be yo"r prayer that tips the bo)ls over- ,allelu6ah1 When the Church on earth prays synergistically with saints in heaven) miraculous answers to prayer and divine interventions are inevitable1 (he <ynergy of 2thni4ity& =e;! *+,-$0 What a scene1 A multitude that no one could count) "rom every ethnic group) tribal group) people group) and language group clothed in white robes) shouting to 4od and the Lamb1 That is diversity and synergy on a scale that angels had never witnessed( #o wonder that provoked the twenty7"our elders) the "our living creatures) and all the angels to 6ump in and 6oin the awesome) multinational corporate worship1 %Revelation K8@@7@C&( rom the "our corners o" the earth have come these "our to worship8 nations) tribes) peoples and tongues( The word "or nations %4entiles& in the 4reek #ew Testament is ethnos( -t is re"erred to by 5esus in the 4reat Commission %.atthew CJ8@I&( /very nation on earth is to be
43
bapti<ed and discipled1 Another important 4reek word is laos %- Peter C8I&( -t re"ers to the people o" 4od( /very ethnos is to become ,is laos1 Revelation K8I shouts) The /reat %o&&ission is f"lfilledThe Church on earth must model this heavenly) multiethnic worship1 "e need to model unit- in our diversit-. This kind of )orship )ill attract the angels and heavenly beings to ?oin "s in a cos&ic sy&phony of synergy(he <ynergy of 9postles and Prophets& =e;! $/+20 The ministries o" apostles and prophets is "oundational to 4od's Church in government) vision) and doctrine %Acts C8DC) /phesians C8CF&( They e+perience "ul"illment when they see the house o" the Lord built in the earth1 ,ere we see the saints) apostles) and prophets re6oicing when something is "alling down1 As 'abylon "alls) the apostles and prophets) along with the saints in heaven and earth) re6oice over the 6udgment o" 4od against her( The fall of every syste& and str"ct"re that is anti1*ingdo& sets off an e6plosion of ?oy, They re6oice because the only thing still standing in the earth is the unshakable Kingdom o" 4od and the glorious city o" 4od) the #ew 5erusalem1 The Lord is certainly moving today to 6oin and blend is Five1Fold Ascension /ift 0inistries %/phesians D8@@&( >hen these ministries 4ome together& they 6ill release a synergy to e#tend the Aingdom and a strategy to dismantle e;ery anti-Christ system in the earth@ Let us re6oice and be glad in ,im and ,is prevailing purposes1 5otes+
i 5ames 5ordan( *$piritual Worship* Rite Reasons( #o( J?) .arch CFF? ii -bid(
44
Cha/ter %our
(he <ounds and <ongs of Hea;enly Brea8through
CAnd they sang a ne) song saying+ (Worthy art Tho" to take the book+ and to break its seals@ for Tho" )ast slain and didst p"rchase for /od )ith Thy blood &en fro& every tribe and tong"e and people and nation, And Tho" hast &ade the& to be a kingdo& and priests to o"r /od+ and they )ill reign "pon the earth(' 1 Revelation 3:=12D
#ew sounds o"ten signal new movements in history( .any will recall Pete $eeger's "amous song) We Shall Averco&e) that became the sound o" the civil rights movement in CFth Century America) 'We shall overco&e+ )e shall overco&e+ )e shall overco&e so&e day, Deep in &y heart+ $ do believe+ )e shall overco&e so&e day, ' A number o" us lived through the social revolution o" the @IAFs) Woodstock) Biet #am) Watergate and the populari<ation o" drugs in our culture( All this had its accompanying sounds and songs( - remember one summer in 2allas when - taught a course on The *ingdo& of /od at Christ or The #ations 'ible -nstitute) the "amous singer) 'ob 2ylan) sat in my class( #ew songs and sounds e+press and energi<e revolutions and new movements in history( -n a sense) they re"orm and trans"orm1 We need and &"st have the release of songs and so"nds that )ill refor& the %h"rch and transfor& the )orld- These are available and can be released "rom heaven( We can e+perience a power"ul move o" 4od once again through breakthrough sounds "rom heaven1
45
#ormally the Church will be captured by a sound be"ore it is willing to shi"t mentally and theologically1 That is why Psalms and Revelation are so important( 'oth books are "illed with theology 7 a theology that is sung1 -t did not take me too long) as a ministerMteacher o" The 4ospel) to "igure out that people tend to "orget sermons( They do) however) tend to remember an anointed song( The song stays with you1 =ne o" the ma6or theological shi"ts in my li"e took place in the late @IAFs( - received the baptism in the ,oly $pirit( was changed not only by certain books - read) but by the *new* sound o" praise and worship in that day( 0y heart )as i&pacted before &y &ind )as changed(he 5e6 <ong The #ew $ong is mentioned seven times in the =ld Testament %Psalm ??8?) DF8?) IA8@) IJ8@) @DD8I) @DI8@ and -saiah DC8@F&) always in re"erence to 4od's redemptiveMcreative acts in historyi( We "ind the new song re"erred to twice in Revelation) H8I and @D8?( These re"erences celebrate the making o" the #ew Covenant in the blood o" Christ( There &"st be a ne)+ lit"rgical response by /od(s )orshiping people in light of )hat %hrist acco&plished in is death+ b"rial+ res"rrection+ ascension+ and enthrone&ent at the right hand of /odThe word "or *new* in the 4reek language here is kainos( This word is used o"ten in the #ew Testament) ne) commandment) ne) wineskin) ne) name) ne) 5erusalem) ne) heaven) and ne) earth( -t is best translated with the terms renew) reshape) remake) and re"orm( The /oint 2 &ant to ma#e is this: the 3e& Covenant re4uires an ongoing ne& song. The new song both declares covenantal truth and releases the anointing to e+perience that
truth( The new song is declarative and prophetic1 -t has the power to re"orm the Church and anoint her in her task o" trans"orming the earth1 The new song sung by the twenty7"our elders and "our living creatures in Revelation H is related to the scene where the Lord 5esus breaks the seal and unrolls the scroll in ,is hand( While there are several opinions about the meaning o" the scroll) many tend to believe that it represents the title7deed to the nations o" the earth( -n the =ld Covenant) the earth was primarily controlled by covenant7breakers( =nly occasionally in the =ld Testament do we see 4od's covenant people possessing what their 4od already owns( or e+ample) the con!uest o" Canaan) led by 5oshua) pictures this( #"t no) that the Son of /od has conB"ered all by is death and res"rrection+ e is releasing the ste)ardship of the earth and the nations to is Ee) %ovenant people- -t is they who have been made a kingdom o" priests by their King and they are called to reign on the earth1 The Church in every generation needs the release o" the new songs o" the $pirit1 These provide the spiritual dynamic "or us to come into our inheritance and rulership( What Christ accomplished "or us in ,is death) resurrection) and ascension must be entered into e+perientially( When )e sing the songs e gives "s to sing+ )e enco"nter i& and o"r belief beco&es e6perience-n this chapter) we want to take a look at the songs o" worship we "ind in the 'ook o" Revelation( Remember in these scenes o" heavenly worship) we "ind our guidelines "or worship here on the earth( We began with the #ew $ongG we now move on to see the others( (he (hrone Zone <ong& =e;! 4 5ohn) in his spirit by the power o" the ,oly $pirit)
4$
ascends into the third heaven and enters into the throne <one1 ,ere he sees and hears the worship o" the twenty7"our elders and the "our living creatures( ' oly+ oly+ oly is the Lord /od+ The Al&ighty+ )ho )as and )ho is and )ho is to co&e ' ;Revelation >:5<, 'Worthy art Tho"+ o"r Lord and o"r /od+ to receive glory and honor and po)er@ for Tho" didst create all things+ and beca"se of Thy )ill they e6isted+ and )ere created' ;Revelation >:22<, These acclamations about the Lord 4od are the "ocus o" the worship in heaven8 B$CHis holiness B2CHis eternality B.CHis 6orthiness ,is holiness speaks o" ,is uni!ueness( There is none like ,im1 ,e is the Totally Ather Ane, #o one can compare with ,im or measure up to ,im( ,is holiness includes ,is per"ect) moral character( - like what 'ible teacher) /m 'a+ter) used to say) *,oliness is the godness o" 4od(Nii ,is eternality is a mystery) but is) nevertheless) so( There is none be"ore ,im1 ,e transcends time and space( ,e never began and ,e will never end1 ,is 6orthiness speaks o" ,is worth and value( 'oth "low out o" Who ,e is and what ,e has done( ,e is Creator and Redeemer( /verything o" value and virtue proceed "rom ,im and ,e is worthy to receive all these back to ,imsel"( These emphases we observe in the worship o" heaven
4'
instruct us in our worship( =bviously) we need to be 4od7 centered in our worship( Too o"ten our praise and music can easily slip into sel"7"ocus( *.e7centeredness* cannot !uali"y as true worship( urthermore) me7centeredness is potentially dangerous1 4a<ing on ourselves will usually discourage us( $t is )hen )e look "pon and foc"s on no e is and )hat e has done that )e are enco"raged and lifted "p, Look on i& and sing to i&Har;ested 2arth:s <ong to God and the ?amb& =e;! *+,-$0 What a scene1 The "our corners o" the earth have been reached by the 4ospel( People "rom every nation) tribe) people) and language have been gathered into the Kingdom o" 4od( The 4reat Commission is "ul"illed( The nations are discipled1 #otice) it is a harvest that cannot be measured) ',,, a &"ltit"de+ )hich no one co"ld co"nt,,,' This reminds us o" the promise o" the Lord to Abraham that his seed would be like the stars in heaven and the sand on the earth %4enesis CC8@K&( A while back) - heard a scientist who is a Christian say that there are more stars in the universe than grains o" sand on the earth( We cannot imagine the numbers) but we can know that 4od gets a huge harvest "or ,imsel"1 /vangelist Reinhard 'onnke has said) *,eaven will be heavily populated and hell sparsely populated(* - agree( Anything less than a huge harvest cannot honor the sacri"ice o" the Lamb1 This worship scene connects us to Acts @H8@A( ,ere we see the worship o" a restored Tabernacle o" 2avid related to the ingathering o" the nations into the Kingdom o" 4od( Worship and evangelism are related( Worship and missions are related( As author 5ohn Piper says) *.issions e+ists because worship doesn't(* .issions and evangelism e+ist because there are people who are not yet worshiping ,im1 Amen1iii
4(
Church0 &e need to sing of the harvest and in the harvest1 We should be singing o" a growing) universal harvest "or our 4od and the Lamb( 2on't sing o" a little remnant who will be barely saved when 5esus comes again( $ing about and hear in the $pirit the unnumbered multitudes "rom all over the globe) dressed in white robes) holding palm branches and shouting) 'Salvation to o"r /od Who sits on the throne+ and to the La&b,' (he <ong of the Aing and His Aingdom& =e;! $$+$1-$* This section o" the 'ook o" Revelation is the essential historic and prophetic summary o" what is happening in history) as a result o" the work o" Christ( $ince ,is ascension and enthronement) Christ) alongside ,is ather) has begun to reign( Progressively in history) the kingdom o" this world %cosmos& is becoming the kingdom o" the ather and ,is Christ1 -t is interesting to note this eruption o" declarative praise happens as the seventh angel sounds his trumpet( -n -srael) a trumpet was blown at the "irst o" the month "or seven months in their calendar year( These seven months comprised -srael's liturgical year with its easts) #ew .oons) etc( The seventh) or last trumpet) was blown at Rosh ,ashanah) known as the 2ay o" Trumpets( This seventh month also transitioned the nation "rom its liturgical calendar to its civil calendar( The message is !uite clear8 all o" the dimensions o" li"e77personal) "amily) economic) and civil) "low out o" divine worship( As we can easily notice) the 'ook o" Revelation is patterned a"ter the seven7"old Creation =rder in the book o" 4enesis( -n Revelation we see many sevens) including seven spirits o" 4od) seven lampstands %churches&) seven stars o" the churches) seven seals) and seven trumpets( -n the beginning) be"ore the "all) Adam and /ve lived in
5*
the divine order o" worship "irstG then they accomplished the work o" stewarding the 4arden( We need to be reminded again that a success"ul and blessed human culture is based upon the true worship o" the Lord 4od( Civil life should flo& out of liturgical life. When the Church gathers "or corporate worship on the Lord's 2ay) we celebrate the victory o" Christ over all ,is enemies( A"ter our celebration o" ,is resurrection power) we enter our work o" stewarding the earth "or ,is glory1 %irst0 &e &orshi/0 then &e &or#. We work within a 'iblical understanding o" an ever e+panding and ever increasing Kingdom( His 5ingdom has come0 His 5ingdom is coming0 and His 5ingdom &ill come1 (he <ong of 'eli;eran4e& Di4tory& and =est& =e;! $1+.-4 This is the song o" overcomers1 These who sing have been victorious over the 'east and the enemies o" the 4ospel( They sing o" two deliverers) .oses and the Lamb) the Lord 5esus Christ( 'ible teachers re"er to two songs o" .oses) one in /+odus @H and one in 2euteronomy ?C( The /+odus @H song celebrates the deliverance o" the children o" -srael "rom bondage in /gypt( Their song put "aith into their own hearts and released "ear into the hearts o" their enemies( They celebrated the Lord's victory on their behal"8 (The horse and the rider e has h"rled into the sea( %/+odus @H8C@&( They also prophetically sang "ear into the enemies they would later "ace in the land o" Canaan( 'The peoples have heard+ they tre&ble@ ang"ish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia, Then the chiefs of !do& )ere dis&ayed@ the leaders of 0oab+ tre&bling grips the&@ all the inhabitants of %anaan have &elted a)ay' %/+odus @H8@D7@H&( This generation that stood redeemed at the Red $ea had never met a Philistine) .oabite) or Canaanite( They were)
5)
however) singing o" them( The- &ere /ro/hes-ing to them &ith the Song of 6oses. The power o" prophetic song can release "ear into the hearts o" the enemies o" 4od and 4od's people1 This song o" /+odus @H is a model o" the songs we should be singing in the Church1 We need to sing songs o" prophetic declaration and intercession( Revelation @H8D declares) ',,,all nations )ill co&e and )orship before Thee,' The songs o" .oses and the Lamb both declare that our King is con!uering all the nations77"rom /gypt) to Canaan) to the whole earth1 The second song o" .oses is "ound in 2euteronomy ?C( ,ere) the Lord taught both .oses and 5oshua this song in order that they might teach it to the sons o" -srael be"ore they crossed over the 5ordan River into the land o" Canaan( This song )o"ld enable the& to re&e&ber and rehearse the Lord(s covenant to the& and provide the& rest and s"ccess+ if they obeyed the Lord /od, Al"red /dersheim points out that in the "irst century) in the $abbath services o" the Temple) 2euteronomy ?C was sung in the morning and /+odus @H in the eveningiv( =ur songs in the #ew Temple o" the Church should rehearse the terms o" the #ew Covenant and remind us o" the deliverance) victory) and $abbath rest that are available through our "aith and ,is "aith"ulness1 (he HalleluEah <ongs& =e;! $,+$-/ The ultimate celebratory word o" the Church both in heaven and in earth is hallel"?ah1 We "ind "our o" them in this passage8 ',,,a great &"ltit"de in heaven+ saying: ( allel"?ahSalvation and glory and po)er belong to o"r /od(' %verse @&(
52
'And a second ti&e they said+ ( allel"?ah- er s&oke rises "p forever and ever(' %verse ?&( %The re6oicing here is over the release o" divine vengeance and destruction against 'abylon) the great harlot) the "alse bride1& 'And the t)enty1fo"r elders and the fo"r living creat"res fell do)n and )orshiped /od )ho sits on the throne saying+ (A&en, allel"?ah-(' %verse D&( The ne+t ,allelu6ah comes "rom a great multitude) the Church on earth( ' allel"?ah- For the Lord o"r /od+ the Al&ighty+ reigns' %verse A&( Their worship is like the sound o" many waters and mighty peals o" thunder( -n verse K) they say8 'Let "s re?oice and be glad and give the glory to i&+ for the &arriage of the La&b has co&e and is bride has &ade herself ready,' The engaged) "iancOe bride o" Christ has now become the consummated wi"e o" the Lamb1 -t as been my privilege to preach and teach the 4ospel in over "orty nations o" the earth( /verywhere - have gone) have discovered the *,allelu6ah People(* That ,ebrew word) hallelu6ah) which translates) Praise 5ah %Praise 4od& is the same word in every language - have ever heard( Last year) when ministering with my wi"e and "riends in 'ihar) -ndia) the Lord spoke to me and said) *All over the earth) my ,allelu6ah people are becoming my Amen people(* A"ter in!uiring o" the Lord) here is the e+planation( -n the #ew Testament) *Amen* translates) verily) truly) and *it is so(* or e+ample) 5esus said to #icodemus8 'Tr"ly+ tr"ly+ $ say to yo"+ "nless one is born of )ater and the Spirit he cannot enter into the *ingdo& of /od' %5ohn ?8?&( -n the 4reek) 5esus was saying) *Amen) amen) - say unto you((((* Hallelu7ah is praiseF !men is pro4lamation! Amen is
53
also the oath o" the covenant( 'y it we swear allegiance to our King and to the terms o" ,is covenant with us1 =ut o" anointed) heavenly praise) the Church can make prophetic proclamations in the earth1 The Amen sets the truth in motion1 -t declares that 4od's truth will advance and prevail( Church) it is time we sing the right songs1 -t is time to pattern our worship a"ter the pattern in the heavenlies( -t is time we sing songs o" spiritual breakthrough( The 'ook o" Revelation is our worship manual and song book1 5otes+
i 2avid Chilton) Days of Fengeance % t( Worth) T:8 2ominion Press& p( @KH( ii /rn 'a+ter in a message preached at .ontreat) #C) @IK?( iii 5ohn Piper) Let The Eations #e /lad( %4rand Rapids) .-8 'aker Academic) @II?&( p( @K( iv Al"red /dersheim) The Te&ple $ts 0inistry And Services( %4rand Rapids) .-8 /erdmans Publishing Company&( p(KA(
54
Cha/ter %ive
(he 'i;ine <hift in >orship
'So he ;David< left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord+ to &inister before the ark contin"ally+ as every day(s )ork reB"ired@ and Abed1edo& )ith his 45 relatives@ Abed1edo&+ also the son of 9ed"th"n+ and osah as gatekeepers, And he left Gadok the priest and his relatives the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place )hich )as at /ibeon,,, ' 1 $ %hronicles 24:7817=
The ?rd millennium Church is beginning to e+perience a dramatic shi"t in its worship( While we do not yet have "ull de"inition) many are sensing the shi"t and transition( We do not completely understand) but we know things are changing1 $ince this is not the "irst historic shi"t in worship) we can learn "rom previous ones( We can discover guidelines to assist us in navigating the shi"t we are in today( Are you willing to shi"tL ,ere we go1 (he <hift from the (aberna4le of of 'a;id oses to the (aberna4le
This shi"t happened in the day o" King 2avid( -t is important to note that both Tabernacles were "unctioning simultaneously( The tabernacle of David was located on .t( 9ion in 5erusalem and the tabernacle of 6oses was located about "ive miles away at 4ibeon %- Chronicles @A8?IG C@8CI&( At the tabernacle of 6oses) the Levitical priests o""ered up animal sacri"ices to the Lord %- Chronicles @A8DF&( At the tabernacle of David) the assigned singers and musicians) led by Asaph) ,eman) 5eduthun) and =bed7edom) released songs to 4od with instrumental accompaniment %-
55
Chronicles @A8DC&( At the tabernacle of 6oses) there was the morning and evening o""eringG at the tabernacle of David) there was continual praise and worship) CDMK( At 8ibeon) there was sacri"iceG on 6t. 9ion) there was song1 -t is interesting to note in the 'ook o" Revelation) there is no &ore sacrifice+ b"t there are songs to the Sacrificed Ane+ the La&bAt the tabernacle of 6oses) there was no ark o" the covenant( =n 6t. 9ion) 2avid had the ark inside a little tent( This meant that the tabernacle o" .oses had no glory o" 4od mani"est in it( Previously) in the wilderness 6ourney) the $hekinah glory o" 4od had been encountered up close in the ,oly o" ,olies) once a year) by the high priest o" -srael on the 2ay o" Atonement( #ow) on .t( 9ion) the glory o" 4od was no longer veiled( Psalm HF8C says8 'A"t of Gion+ the perfection of bea"ty+ /od has shone forth,' ,istorically) a man could enter once a year through his priestly representative and witness the glory o" 4od( 'ut here) in 2avid's tabernacle) the glory o" 4od broke out on the people1 The "nveiled and "ncontained glory of /od apprehended everyone-t would be worthwhile here to notice that there seven re"erences to the ark o" the Covenant( As we have already seen) the 'ook o" Revelation is structured by a pattern o" seven( Take a look at these re"erences8 (he ar8 of the testimony& 2#odus 21+22 (he ar8 of the 4o;enant of the ?ord& 5umbers $0+.. (he ar8 of the ?ord God& I Aings 2+2%
(he ar8 of the ?ord& the ?ord of all earth& Joshua .+$. (he ar8 of God& I <amuel .+. (he holy ar8& II Chroni4les .1+. (he ar8 of (hy strength& Psalm $.2+/ The tabernacle o" 2avid had the most important item) the ark1 ,ere) on .t( 9ion) the ark o" 4od "ound its resting place %Psalm @?C8J) @?7@D&( This is the place 4od had desired "or it since ,e gave ,is people the revelation o" it on .t( $inai in the days o" .oses( Ama<ing1 The ark took a DFF year trip and "inally made it home1 /arlier in their history) in the days o" 5oshua) the ark rested in the tabernacle o" .oses) located at $hiloh( -t was there until the days o" $amuel( Then as 6udgment came upon the priesthood o" /li and his wicked sons) the ark was taken in a battle with the Philistines( They however) did not keep it long because their god) 2agon) kept "alling whenever it encountered the ark o" -srael( The Philistines then released the ark on a cart pulled by cows) and it wound up back in -srael( or over twenty years) the ark was in the home o" Abinadab at Kireath75earim( When 2avid "inally became king) he desired to bring it to 9ion( This he did) a"ter the "irst unsuccess"ul e""ort when they transported it on the Philistine cart( A"ter leaving it at the home o" =bed7edom "or three months) 2avid and the priests properly transported the ark on their shoulders and brought it to .t( 9ion) amidst great praise and celebration( ,ere) in 2avid's tabernacle on .t( 9ion) many o" the Psalms were given to the singers and 2avid by the ,oly $pirit( ,ere) the earth heard the sounds o" heaven as the new songs o" the Lord came "orth1
5$
(he <hift from "ld (emple >orship to 5e6 (emple >orship $ometimes we "orget that the #ew Covenant order overlapped the =ld Covenant order "or an entire generation( rom A2 ?F to A2 KF) there were two orders o" worship in the city o" 5erusalem( The death o" Christ had inaugurated the #ew Covenant order( ,owever) Levitical priests were still o""ering animal sacri"ices in the Temple( The =ld did not let go even though the #ew had been established1 This) by the way) was the historical conte+t "or the /pistle to the ,ebrews( -n the book) believing 5ews were warned about going back into the old order o" 5udaism( Animal sacri"ices were no longer needed because the Lamb o" 4od had been o""ered up once "or all1 -t is my conviction that the 'ook o" Revelation) as well as the 'ook o" ,ebrews) documents this "irst7century transition time) a time o" two temples( This brings up the issue o" the date o" the 'ook o" Revelation( .any scholars believe it was written sometime in A2 IF( ,owever) there is a growing scholarship that believes it was written in the days o" the Roman ruler) #ero( This would date it be"ore A2 KF( Revelation @@ is cited as a re"erence "or the early date( #otice what Revelation @@8@7C says8 'There )as given &e a &eas"ring rod like a staff and so&eone said: (Rise and &eas"re the te&ple of /od+ and the altar+ and those )ho )orship in it, And leave o"t the co"rt )hich is o"tside the te&ple+ and do not &eas"re it+ for it has been given to the nations@ and they )ill tread "nderfoot the holy city for forty1t)o &onths,(' The issue is) did 5ohn measure the temple standing in 5erusalem or a heavenly templeL Revelation @@8@I re"ers to the temple o" 4od which is in heaven( The more likely position is
5'
that 5ohn) by the ministry o" the $pirit) was to measure the literal temple in the old city( =bviously) i" 5ohn is measuring the temple) the temple is still standing and the 'ook o" Revelation) written by 5ohn) is pre7A2 KF1 -n both ,ebrews and Revelation) two orders o" worship and two temples overlap1 The old temple is standing and services are going on as usual( At the same time) a #ew Temple has been established( -t is the Church) the temple in the $pirit( ,ear these words "rom Paul the Apostle8 'So then yo" are no longer strangers and aliens+ b"t yo" are fello) citizens )ith the saints+ and are of /od(s ho"sehold+ having been b"ilt "pon the fo"ndation of the apostles and prophets+ %hrist 9es"s i&self being the corner stone+ in )ho& the )hole b"ilding+ being fitted together is gro)ing into a holy te&ple in the Lord@ in )ho& yo" also are being b"ilt together into a d)elling of /od in the Spirit' ;!phesians ::2=1::<, As long as the old temple was standing) the Church) made up o" believing 5ews and 4entiles) was visibly reminded o" the in"luence o" the old order o" worship( The presence o" the old temple made the worship o" the #ew Temple seem illegitimate and scandalous( The real stor- &as that the old tem/le+s da-s &ere numbered and that the &orshi/ order of the 3e& Tem/le &as here to sta-1 When 5ohn was told to measure the old temple) it was "or the purpose o" 6udgment( ,istory records that the Roman general) Titus) and his army) destroyed the temple in A2 KF( The prophecy o" 5esus concerning the temple) recorded in .atthew CD) .ark @?) and Luke C@) was "ul"illed( The 5ewish historian) 5osephus) writes o" the horror and tribulation o" those days(i
5(
(he <hift of the >orship of (his 9ge to the >orship "rder of the 9ge to Come The worship o" the saints) angels) twenty7"our elders) and living creatures in heaven) like the worship o" the Church on the earth) awaits the age to come) the age o" resurrection( The saints o" the =ld Testament and #ew Testament have died and are now in heaven( Paul re"ers to this in -Corinthians H( The saints are at home with ,im in ,is immediate presence) but they are there without their resurrected bodies( They) like the saints on earth) await their resurrected bodies they will receive when Christ returns( Although they are in heaven) they are not yet per"ected( 'oth the Church in heaven and the Church on earth await consummation and per"ection1 They are anticipating and we are anticipating( We will both need resurrected and glori"ied bodies %like Christ's& in order to steward the eternal enterprise o" the Civili<ation7 Kingdom o" 4od which will be e+pressed throughout the entire cosmos1 -t should be noted here that the saints in heaven are not "loating souls( They do have some kind o" spiritual body7"orm( We know this "rom several scriptural re"erences( @( -n .atthew @K8@7H) Peter evidently saw .oses and /li6ah when they appeared with the Lord on the mountain o" trans"iguration( ,e wanted to build three tabernacles) one "or each o" them and one "or Christ( Peter usually had some good ideas) but not always 4od7 ideas1 The point here is that .oses and /li6ah had some observable "orm( C( .atthew CK8H@7H?( At Christ's resurrection) =ld Testament saints came out o" their tombs and were seen by many walking in the city o" 5erusalem( They did not
have their resurrection bodies yet) but they did have some kind o" bodily "orm that was recogni<able by people living in the city( The 'ook o" Revelation sends us a clear signal( The &orshi/ that is going on in the eternal realm in heaven is overla//ing &ith the &orshi/ that is going on in the tem/oral realm on earth. The 'ook o" Revelation connects eternity and time1 -t connects this age and the age to come( -t connects heaven's worship and earth's worship( 5otes+
i 5osephus) Complete Works translated by William Whiston( The War Af The 9e)s, %4rand Rapids) .-8 Kregel Publications( @IAF&( pages HKF7 HI@
Cha/ter Si:
(he <ound Is the <ignal
CAnd it shall be+ )hen yo" hear the so"nd of &arching in the tops of the balsa& trees+ then yo" shall act pro&ptly+ for then the Lord )ill have gone o"t before yo" to strike the ar&y of the PhilistinesH 1 $$ Sa&"el 3::>
$trategically placed between his anointing as king by all the tribes o" -srael and the return o" the ark to 9ion) is 2avid's war with the neighboring Philistines( ,is long7time nemesis rises up again to thwart his kingdom( >arfare and the 9nointing The story o" this young shepherd7king records that every time 2avid is anointed he ends up in war1 -n - $amuel @A8@?) we see the prophet anointing young 2avid to be king o" -srael( Then in - $amuel @K) we observe 2avid going out to battle the largest Philistine o" all) 4oliath1 -n -- $amuel C) a"ter the death o" King $aul) 2avid is anointed by one tribe in -srael) i(e() 5udah %-- $amuel C8D&( A long war then ensues between the house o" $aul) led by Abner) and the house o" 2avid( inally) a"ter seven years o" ruling over the tribe o" 5udah) 2avid is anointed by all the tribes who gather at ,ebron( We read o" this event in -- $amuel H8?8 'So all the elders of $srael ca&e to the king at ebron+ and *ing David &ade a covenant )ith the& before the Lord at ebron@ then they anointed David king over $srael,' A"ter this event) the newly7crowned king wants to move his head!uarters "rom ,ebron to 5erusalem and bring the
ark to .t( 9ion( 'ut) as the pattern has been) 2avid is going to war again1 e )ill have to )ar before he can &ove for)ard in his plans, All the Philistine hosts gathered in the valley o" Rephaim to come against 2avid( This was a place where an ancient Canaanite race o" giants had lived( -n 4enesis @D Abraham had "ought and de"eated the kings "rom the east) including the Rephaim %4enesis @D8H&( These Rephaim) it seems to me) represent historic and huge demonic strongholds( They )ill have to be defeated before the p"rpose of /od can progress thro"gh *ing DavidThe te+t in"orms us that 2avid "ought the Philistines twice in the valley( The "irst time) the Lord gave 2avid a word that he would be victorious over them( A"ter smiting the enemy) 2avid names the place 'aal7pera<im) which means the master o" breakthrough( -n this way) 2avid acknowledges that it was the Lord Who broke through the enemies and gave him the victory1 The Philistines then came up against -srael again( When 2avid in!uired o" the Lord) the Lord changed the strategy( 2avid was instructed to circle around behind the Philistines and to wait "or a sound o" marching in the tops o" the balsam trees( %$t &"st be a)eso&e to hear the &arching of )arring angels-< (he <ound 9bo;e 'etermines the 94tion Belo6 The "irst time) the Lord gave 2avid a word( The second time) ,e gave him a sound( The sound became the signal "or advancing in success"ul war"are( /ven though these trees are shrub7like) the point cannot be missed( The sound above determines the action belo&. 2avid's signal in the war was the sound o" 4od in the trees( The sounds and movements o" heaven are to determine
our course o" action here on the earth1 ,earing the sound *above* and aligning with that sound is our challenge in worship and intercession1 <ound in the Boo8 of =e;elation The worship in the book o" Revelation is "ull o" sound( ,ere are a "ew e+amples8 @( The voice o" the Resurrected Christ is like the sound o" many waters %Revelation @8@H&( C( The seven angels are sounding trumpets throughout the book %Revelation J8A ; @?) I8@&( ?( The throne o" 4od emits sounds) peals o" thunder and "lashes o" lightning %Revelation D8H&( D( The worship o" the saints is like the sound o" many waters) the sound o" loud thunder) and the sound o" harpists %Revelation @D8C&( The 4reek word "or sound is phone( -t is translated as sound and voice( -t can re"er to the sound o" waters) the sound o" trumpets) the sound o" wind) etc( -t also re"ers to speech and utterance( The Lord speaks with ,is voice and ,e speaks through ,is sounds1 The worship o" heaven is "ull o" instrumental and vocal sound( That was also true o" the worship at the tabernacle o" 2avid( 2emonstrative) re6oicing) e+uberant) thunderous77these describe 'iblical worship1 (he Po6er of <ound The issue with 'iblical sound is not noise) but the power o" it( =ur goal in worship is not a certain decibel levelG
our goal is to release the sound we are hearing "rom heaven( Author and pastor) Ray ,ughes) in his outstanding book) So"nd of eaven Sy&phony of !arth) e+plains the power o" sound( ,e observes that a pair o" ?F inch speakers connected to a tone generator can generate a note low enough to literally move a building o"" its "oundation1a ,e points out that we are continually in the presence o" ultrasonic and subsonic sound waves( 3ltra7waves are waves beyond our threshold o" hearing and sub7waves are beneath our threshold o" hearing(b - want to add here this point8 the so"nds of heaven are not beyond the %h"rch(s threshold of hearing if )e yield to the &inistry of the oly Spirit=ne o" the greatest insights in ,ughes' book is the connection he makes between sound and light( Let me !uote him8 'The day /od chose to create light )as the day &"sic began, Light and so"nd travel thro"gh the &edi"& of )aves, 0oving light )aves are called electro&agnetic )aves, The )avelength of an electro&agnetic )ave deter&ines )hich type of light it is, As h"&ans+ )e(re only able to see 7 percent of the entire light spectr"&+ and part of the =8 percent of invisible light is categorized as electro&agnetic light, Within electro&agnetic light e6ists a range of )avelengths called radio )aves, Within this category of radio )aves e6ists an even s&aller range of )aves )hich h"&ans can hear, !ssentially )e kno) that all these categories and for&s of light and so"nd e6ist )ithin the sa&e spectr"&, The first ti&e /od said+ (let there be light( ;/en, 2:7<+ e )as also proclai&ing the beginning of so"nd, When e said (light(+ it )as heard in the silent void and darkness, Altho"gh light and so"nd are located on different freB"encies+ they are the sa&e
thing, The #ible says+ (/od is light and in i& there is no darkness at all( ;$ 9ohn 2:3<, !verything that /od has ever bro"ght forth has co&e fro& is creative voice+ the sa&e voice )hich i&pregnates the earth )ith light+ so"nd+ &"sic+ and glory+ the ele&ents of /od,'c We can "urther see the connection between sound and light when we recogni<e the similarity o" the #ew Testament 4reek words) phone and phos( Phone is the word "or sound and phos is the word "or light( 'oth words have the same root( -n 4enesis we see the connection between sound and light and in the 'ook o" Revelation) we see worship that is presented as sound and light1 5otes+
a Ray ,ughes) So"nd Af eaven Sy&phony Af !arth( %Charlotte) #C8 .orningstar Publications and .inistries) CFFF& p( CJ( b -bid) p( CJ( c -bid) pp CA) CK
Cha/ter Seven
Components of GBoo8 of =e;elationG >orship
Let me begin this chapter by stating again the thesis o" the book8 the &orshi/ of the 3rd millennium Church needs to be aligned &ith the &orshi/ of the saints and angels in heaven around the throne. We need to ascend in the $pirit and hear the sounds o" heaven's worship and then release those sounds here on earth( These heavenly sounds will bring earthly trans"ormation1 #ow we want to make the "ollowing practical observations concerning the dimensions o" worship "ound in the 'ook o" Revelation( 'imension "ne+ It is Corporate $imply said) the worship in the 'ook o" Revelation is corporate worship( -t seems the Church today struggles with the corporate dimension o" worship( We tend to be individualistic in our worship services( We sing) *Lord love meG Lord) don't leave me(* The emphasis is upon *me)* not ,im( $uddenly) worship is about me and my needs rather than ,im and ,is Kingdom purposes( While it is true the Lord loves each one o" us individually and is certainly concerned about the needs o" ,is children) worship is not ministry to you and meG it is ministry to ,im1 While it is true the $criptures teach individual prayer and worship) its greater emphasis is upon corporate worship( -n the heavenly worship scenes) we see the corporate worship o" the saints in heaven) the angels) the twenty7"our elders) and the "our living creatures( The entire 'ook o" Revelation is about the corporate1
We see seven individual churches in Asia .inor regionally connected as a corporate body( /ach o" these seven7"old lampstand churches are linked to si+ other seven7"old lampstands1 We see the apostle) 5ohn) incorporated into the corporate worship o" the twenty7"our elders that is going on around the throne in heaven( We see the corporate worship o" every ethnic group "rom all the nations o" the earth( -" we succumb to individualistic worship only) then we become internally "ocused and introspective( There is a time "or individual worship) in your shower) your car) or your prayer closet( 'ut when we gather together) it is time to get corporate1 Then is the time to "ocus on ,im as ,ead o" the Church and Lord o" the earth( urthermore) corporate worship puts an emphasis on ,is purposes) ,is plans) and ,is strategies to work through us) ,is Church( 'imension (6o+ It is <ymphoni4 .ost o" us have en6oyed the ma6estic sounds o" a talented symphony orchestra( $uch a variety o" musical instruments making di""erent sounds that "it together in harmony give us some idea o" the creativity o" the =riginal .usician1 -n the 'ook o" Revelation) we witness a cosmic symphony o" praise as heaven and earth 6oin together in one accord to worship the Lamb o" glory( The music and worship seem to move like cascading waters whose "low is periodically punctuated with sounds like that o" clapping thunder( The word symphony is "rom the 4reek word) s"&phoneo( -t means8 'harmony) agreement) to be together with(' The Church is called to sumphoneo) that is) to symphoni<e in its ministry o" worship and intercession1 This is the word 5esus used in .atthew @J8@I when ,e said)
'
'Again $ say to yo"+ that if t)o of yo" agree on earth abo"t anything that they &ay ask+ it shall be done for the& by 0y Father )ho is in heaven,' The conte+t here) especially in .atthew @J8@J) shows us that symphony in the Church is a key to releasing more o" heaven on earth( A discordant) divided Church cannot release heaven on earth( ,eaven is symphonic) so must we become( The power o" Pentecost was more than the coming o" the ,oly $piritG it was also the harmony o" one accord the hundred twenty came into during the ten days o" waiting in 5erusalem %Acts C8@&( ;<ord0 bring -our Church into a ne& s-m/hon- of the S/irit1; 'imension (hree+ It is =esponsi;e The worship o" heaven is an ongoing response to the ma6estic and multi7"aceted aspects o" the Lord 4od( The "our living creatures respond non7stop day and night by saying8 ' oly+ oly+ oly+ is the Lord /od+ the Al&ighty+ )ho )as and )ho is and )ho is to co&e' ;Rev, >:5<, As they behold the Lord 4od) they see new aspects o" ,im and with each disclosure o" ,is character) nature) and power) they cry out) *,oly) ,oly) ,oly(* A number o" 'ible teachers re"er to this as antiphonal singing among the living creatures and angels( -t is something like stereophonics( A group o" heavenly beings sees an aspect o" 4od and they cry out) *,oly) ,oly) ,oly(* Then "rom another direction another group o" angels upon seeing something else o" 4od) cries out with the same acclamation( =mni7directional cries o" holiness toward the =mnipotent =ne "ill the throne <one in the third heaven1
Then the twenty7"our elders cast their crowns be"ore the throne in an ongoing response to ,is authority and Lordship %Rev( D8@F7@@&( This pattern in heaven's worship o""ers insight into our worship( 3pon seeing ,im "or Who ,e is) we respond to ,im with adoration and 'iblical e+pression( We simply cannot receive a revelation o" ,im) and not respond1 'iblical responses o" worship involve our minds) hearts) emotions) voices) and physical movements( 'imension 0our+ It is Propheti4 The worship o" heaven is prophetic( -n both the tabernacle o" 2avid %Psalms& and the 'ook o" Revelation) we can hear the song o" the Lord and the new song( The song o" the Lord is the song the Lord declares to ,is people( The new song is the song the Lord gives "or ,is people to sing back to ,im( -n both songs) 4od is communicating with ,is people( -n both songs) ,is people are ,is instrument "or the release o" ,is communication1 Look at - Chronicles CH8@7?8 '0oreover+ David and the co&&anders of the ar&y set apart for the service so&e of the sons of Asaph and of e&an and of 9ed"th"n+ )ho )ere to prophesy )ith lyres+ harps+ and cy&bals@ and the n"&ber of those )ho perfor&ed their service )as: of the sons of Asaph: Gacc"r+ 9oseph+ Eethaniah+ and Asharelah@ the sons of Asaph )ere "nder the direction of Asaph+ )ho /ro/hesied "nder the direction of the king, Af 9ed"th"n+ the sons of 9ed"th"n: /edaliah+ Geri+ 9eshaiah+ Shi&ei+ ashabiah+ and 0attaniah+ si6+ "nder the direction of their father 9ed"th"n )ith the harp+ )ho prophesied in giving thanks and praising the Lord' ;!&phasis &ine<,
$*
#otice the abundant re"erences to the prophetic dimension o" their worship at the tabernacle o" 2avid( We worship in a restored tabernacle o" 2avid and our worship must emphasi<e the prophetic word coming "orth through our voices and instruments1 -n the 'ook o" Revelation) the seven angels sounding seven trumpets are heralding prophetic events in the earth that are released as the Church in heaven and earth agree in worship and intercession( Programmed worship is not prophetic worship( While planning and preparation are needed "or the corporate worship e+perience o" the Church) we must be care"ul to not *plan out* the ,oly $pirit Who is the ultimate Worship Leader1 'imension 0i;e+ It is 'i;inely "rdered Thus "ar we have seen that the worship at the tabernacle o" 2avid in the book o" "irst Chronicles and the worship in the restored tabernacle o" 2avid in the 'ook o" Revelation are "ree7"lowing) demonstrative) and prophetic( ,owever) it is not without order( 'iblical worship is not chaotic( There is per"ect order at the throne and in what goes on around the throne( There is order and there is liberty in the worship o" heaven( Paul) the apostle) in instructing the church at Corinth about their worship services) gave this admonition8 'Therefore+ &y brethren+ desire earnestly to prophesy+ and do not forbid to speak in tong"es, #"t let all things be done properly and in an orderly &anner' ;$ %orinthians 2>:7=1>D<, The problem at Corinth was liberty without order( -n this chapter o" the /pistle) Paul has to correct their misuse o" the spiritual gi"ts in their corporate worship times( We might also observe here that the problem in some churches is they
$)
have good order) but no liberty1 'Let all things be done+' is liberty( 'Let all things be done properly+' is order( We obviously need both in our worship services( Amen1 =ne o" the best analogies - can think o" is that o" a king's palace( -n a sense) when the people o" 4od worship) they enter the palace o" 4od) their King( They have an audience with ,im1 /very palace has a protocol and certainly the King o" the universe's palace has one( Come) let us go to 9ion) the city o" the 4reat King1
$2
Cha/ter Eight
Impre4atory Inter4ession and >orship
'And they cried o"t )ith a lo"d voice saying+ o) long+ A Lord+ holy and tr"e+ )ilt Tho" refrain fro& ?"dging and avenging o"r blood on those )ho d)ell on the earthI '( 1 Revelation 4:2D
This passage is strikingly similar to many sections in the Psalms( This kind o" prayer and worship is "ound in both Psalms and Revelation( 2own through history) the Church has gotten away "rom singing the 'iblical Psalms( /ven though the book remains popular among Christians "or devotional reading) it has rarely been used as a worship and intercession manual( -n "act there are large sections o" the book that most Christians would be uncom"ortable praying and singing1 - can remember learning to sing "rom some o" the Psalms back in the @IKFs( 'ut we never sang the imprecatory sections o" the book( urthermore) we did not use the 'ook o" Revelation in our worship( As a result) we have not engaged the enemies o" the 4ospel in the way they need to be engaged1 $imply stated) imprecatory prayer is about engaging the enemies o" the Lord 4od( 2ngaging the 2nemy in the 2arly Chur4h $ometimes we "orget the "irst7century Church lived and ministered in an environment o" con"lict and con"rontation( Their initial con"lict was with the religious system o" 5udaism( -n Acts D) we read o" the arrest o" Peter and 5ohn by the priests) the temple guard) and the $adducees( The healing o" the lame man at the 4ate 'eauti"ul) recorded in Acts ?) had stirred 5erusalem and 5udaism "elt threatened( A"ter the apostles had
$3
been commanded to stop proclaiming Christ as Resurrected Lord) they were released( #otice the response o" the apostles and the Church in Acts D8CD7CA when they gathered to hear Peter and 5ohn's report( They prayed Psalm C8 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vainI The kings of the earth take their stand and the r"lers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed Ane,' -n their con"lict and con"rontation with the e+isting religious system) they prayed "rom the book o" Psalms( They understood that their enemy) in some ways) had become 4od's enemy1 This became evident later on when the Temple was destroyed in A2 KF( -t was not long be"ore the Church "ound itsel" in con"lict with the civil government o" the Roman /mpire( /arlier) the /mpire protected them because Christianity was viewed as a sect o" 5udaism( When it became clear it was not) the early 'elievers were "iercely persecuted( Later) when the 'ook o" Revelation was written) the religious systems that opposed the 4ospel were re"erred to as 'abylon %Revelation @K8H7A&) and the civil governmental structures that opposed them were re"erred to as the 'east %Revelation @?8@7?&( 'abylon) which represents institutionali<ed "alse religion) can be traced back to the tower o" 'abel %4enesis @@8 @7I&( Centuries later) in 2aniel's day) King #ebuchadne<<ar o" 'abylon became an illustration o" the 'east( A"ter claiming to be a god) he became beast7like "or seven years1 %2aniel D8 CJ7 ??&( -n the 'ook o" Revelation) the 'east is a speci"ic re"erence to the Roman Caesars) like #ero( =bviously) all this presents a prophetic picture o" our day1 All over the world) the Church is in con"lict with opposing world views and religions and a number o" civil governments
$4
authori<e the murder o" Christians( 'abylon and the 'east are very much alive and they are opposing the 4ospel1 We) the Church o" the Ascended Lion7Lamb) must engage the enemies o" the 4ospel on a new level( "e need to shift into im/recator- /ra-ers and &orshi/1 2#amples of Impre4atory Prayers in the Psalter '$n pride the )icked hotly p"rs"e the afflicted@ let the& be ca"ght in the plots )hich they have devised, #reak the ar& of the )icked and the evildoer,,,' 1 Psal& 2D: :+23a '%ontend+ A Lord+ )ith those )ho contend )ith &e@ fight against those )ho fight against &e, Let the& be like chaff before the )ind+ )ith the angel of the Lord driving the& on, Let their )ay be dark and slippery+ )ith the angel of the Lord p"rs"ing the&, Let destr"ction co&e "pon hi& "na)ares@ and let the net )hich he hid catch hi&self@ into that very destr"ction let hi& fall' 1 Psal& 73 'Let death co&e deceitf"lly "pon the&@ let the& go do)n alive to Sheol,,,' 1 Psal& 33:23 'Destroy the& in )rath+ destroy the& that they &ay be no &ore,,,' 1 Psal& 3=:27 '0ay their table before the& beco&e a snare@ and )hen they are in peace+ &ay it beco&e a trap, 0ay their eyes gro) di& so that they cannot see and &ake their loins shake contin"ally, Po"r o"t Thine indignation on the&+ and &ay Thy b"rning anger
$5
overtake the&, 0ay their ca&p be desolate@ &ay none d)ell in their tents, 0ay they be blotted o"t of the book of life+ and &ay they not be recorded )ith the righteo"s ' 1 Psal& 4=: ::1:3+ :5 'Deal )ith the& as at 0idian+ as )ith Sisera and 9abin at the torrent of *ishon+ )ho )ere destroyed at !n1dor+ )ho beca&e d"ng for the gro"nd, A &y /od+ &ake the& like the )hirling d"st@ like chaff before the )ind, So p"rs"e the& )ith Thy te&pest+ and terrify the& )ith Thy stor&, Fill their faces )ith dishonor+ that they &ay seek Thy na&e+ A Lord' 1 Psal& 57:=12D+ 27+ 23124 '/od of vengeance+ shine forth- Rise "p+ A 9"dge of the earth@ render reco&pense to the pro"d' 1 Psal& =>: 21: 'Let his days be fe)@ let another take his office, Let his children be fatherless and his )ife a )ido), Let his posterity be c"t off in the follo)ing generation let their na&e be blotted o"t' 1 Ps, 2D=:51=+ 7 'Do not grant+ A Lord+ the desires of the )icked@ do not pro&ote his evil device+ lest they be e6alted, 0ay b"rning coals fall "pon the&+ &ay they be cast into the fire+ into deep pits fro& )hich they cannot rise, 0ay a slanderer not be established in the earth@ &ay evil h"nt the violent &an speedily' 1 Psal& 2>D:5+ 2D122 When you read these passages) - am sure you will acknowledge the Church does not pray this way very o"ten1 That is the point( We are not engaging the enemies o" the 4ospel in the way 2avid did in his prayers1
>hat Is Impre4ationH The 'iblical usage and de"inition o" imprecation is primarily "ound in the book o" 5eremiah( The ,ebrew word "or imprecation) J(lalah) is "ound in the "ollowing re"erences8 CD8I) DC8@J) and DD8@C( -ts meanings %along with its root word) Jalal& are8 %@& curse) %C& reproach) %?& reviling) %D& to become lessened or despised) %H& to become insigni"icant) %A& to become lightly esteemed) and %K& to be lowered to a lesser state( Let me share some background "or 5eremiah's usage o" this term( 5erusalem had been invaded and sacked by King #ebuchadne<<ar in HJA 'C( The prophet and a remnant o" the people o" 5udah are le"t in the city( As you can imagine) there is much con"usion and turmoil( The leader o" the remnant) 5ohanan) asks 5eremiah to in!uire o" the Lord to get direction( They promise to obey whatever the Lord says( 'ut when 5eremiah returns ten days later with the word o" the Lord) the people re"use it and accuse the prophet o" lying1 ,ere is the word "rom the Lord through the prophet8 'For th"s says the Lord of hosts+ the /od of $srael+ As 0y anger and )rath have been po"red o"t on the inhabitants of 9er"sale&+ so )ill 0y )rath be po"red o"t on yo" )hen yo" enter !gypt, And yo" )ill beco&e a c"rse+ an ob?ect of horror+ an i&precation+ and a reproach@ and yo" )ill see this place no &ore '( ;9ere&iah >::25<, -n other words) i" the people o" 5erusalem remained in the city) the Lord would "avor them and they would not be invaded by the 'abylonians again nor taken into captivity like many o" their countrymen( 'ut i" they went down into /gypt) they would be in a place o" great danger there because #ebuchadne<<ar was going to invade it) burn it) and take many
$$
captives( 'ecause o" their disobedience to the word o" the Lord) the people became an imprecation( That is) they e+perienced the curse that comes "rom disobeying the Lord %2euteronomy CI8C@&( They would become disgraced) dishonored) and lessened in the sight o" all the neighboring nations( They e+perienced the curse that comes "rom breaking covenant with the Lord 4od( As a result o" their re6ection o" the word o" the Lord) they would lose status and esteem and become a reproach wherever they were scattered( $&precation) simply de"ined) is the very opposite of blessing- must make one sobering observation here( -n the Psalms and 'ook o" Revelation) imprecations are released on the enemies o" the Lord 4od( -n 5eremiah) the imprecation7 curse is released on the disobedient people o" 4od1 This is a strong warning "or us todayEi" we continually re6ect the prophetic word o" the Lord and disobey the written word) the 'ible) this can) in some way) align us with the enemies o" 4od and the 4ospel1 Impre4atory Inter4ession in the "ld (estament Psalms+ Praying ?i8e 'a;id 'id -n his li"etime) 2avid "aced many enemies( The lion) the bear) 4oliath) the Philistines) the army o" $aul) and the 5ebusites are all numbered among them( >et) when 2avid prays imprecatory prayers) he is not re"erring e+clusively to his enemies( As it turns out) his enemies had become the enemies o" 4od( They were seeking to destroy the $eed o" 2avid as much as 2avid himsel"1 /ven $aul) the King o" -srael) a"ter becoming 6ealous o" 2avid and disobedient to the word o" the Lord through $amuel) sought to kill him( 2emonic "orces endeavored to employ $aul to destroy 2avid because he was the progenitor o" the 4reat $on o" 2avid) the Lord 5esus Christ(
$'
$o when 2avid prays) he is not only engaging his enemies) he is engaging the enemies o" the Lord 4od( Pastor 2on Walker reminds us that the .essianic Psalms comprise the prayer *record* o" the $on o" 4od to the ather(i ,e cites a !uote "rom 2ietrich 'onnhoe""er in his book) Psal&s: The Prayer #ook Af The #ible( David is+ as the anointed king of the chosen people of /od+ a prototype of 9es"s %hrist, What happens to hi& happens to hi& for the sake of the Ane Who proceeds fro& hi&+ na&ely %hrist, $n the Psal&s of David+ the pro&ised %hrist i&self already speaks ; ebre)s :: 2:@ 2D:3< or+ as &ay also be indicated+ the oly Spirit ; ebre)s 7:8<, These sa&e )ords )hich David spoke+ therefore+ the f"t"re 0essiah spoke thro"gh hi&, The prayers of David )ere prayed also by %hrist, Ar better+ %hrist i&self prayed the& thro"gh is forer"nner David, With this in mind) let us take a close look at the "ollowing observations( Impre4ations 9re 5ot "utbursts of Personal Dengean4e 2avid was not imploring 4od to kill $aul( -n "act he resisted natural tendencies to do away with $aul even when $aul was seeking to kill him( What a heart we see in 2avid1 ,e honors and will not harm his earthly king( ,e recogni<es that 4od must deal with $aul "or it was the Lord who placed him as king over -srael( 4od put him in and 4od would take him out( The scripture "orbids personal vengeance( -n Leviticus @I8@J and in 2euteronomy ?C8?H) we are instructed that vengeance belongs to the Lord( The apostle Paul rein"orces this in Romans @C8@I when he states)
$(
'Eever take yo"r o)n revenge+ beloved+ b"t leave roo& for the )rath of /od+ for it is )ritten+ .Fengeance is 0ine+ $ )ill repay+ (says the Lord, ' #ot only are we to resist taking personal vengeance) we are to love and bless our enemies and to pray "or those who persecute us1 %.atthew H8DD&( Impre4ations =elease the Dengean4e of the ?ord against His 2nemies We have learned that Christ prayed through King 2avid( Christ will also pray through ,is Church( ,e is) a"ter all) the Chie" -ntercessor %,igh Priest&) and by ,is $pirit ,e prays through us %Romans J8CA and ,ebrews ?8@&( When the Lord 5esus prays) ,e prays imprecatory prayers that release divine vengeance upon ,is enemies1 %Psalm ID8 @7C&( 2ivine vengeance is rooted in divine 6ustice( ,is 6ustice demands vindication "or ,is servants and deliverance "or the oppressed( Praying imprecatory prayers is not unloving( $cripture says that 4od takes no delight in the death o" the wicked( ,owever) to not pray imprecatory prayers would be un6ust( What is unloving is when 6ustice is not e+ecuted and the perpetrators o" destruction and wickedness are not stopped1 The release o" 4od's vengeance) then) is the action o" the Lord 4od to bring 6ustice to victory in the earth( The imprecatory prayers o" the Church release this victory1 Impre4ations are ?ongings for the 2stablishment of =ighteousness 'A let the evil of the )icked co&e to an end+ b"t establish the righteo"s' ;Psal& 8:=a<, The scripture teaches that righteousness e+alts and li"tsG
'*
on the other hand sin brings reproach and death %Proverbs @D8 ?D&( This is so "or an individual) a "amily) a church) and a nation( - o"ten say that righteousness blesses unrighteous "olks1 A community is blessed when righteousness prevails( /ven unrighteous people are blessed i" their children are not on drugs( An unsaved wi"e is blessed i" her husband is "aith"ul to her( These earnest imprecatory pleadings in prayer make re!uests o" the Lord 4od to *step in* and right some matters that are grossly distorted and out order( -" ,e does not intervene) all hope "or righteousness and 6ustice will be lost1 Impre4ations are 2#pressions of Zeal for God and His Histori4 Aingdom Purposes /ven though 2avid would not harm $aul) he still longed to be king o" -srael in "ul"illment o" the anointing he received through the prophet) $amuel( The Lord's Kingdom purpose "or -srael included 2avid coming into kingship( The Lord's Kingdom purpose "or the Church includes us coming into kingship1 %Revelation H8@F&( The attacks on 2avid by his enemies that provoked these imprecatory prayers were seen as attacks against 4od and especially ,is representatives in the promised line o" the .essiah1 The <eal o" the Lord o" hosts had consumed 2avid1 .ay ,is Kingdom purpose consume us1 Impre4ations are 2#pressions of 9bhorren4e for <in The enemies o" 4od are sometimes the very embodiments o" evil( 2oeg) "or e+ample) was a vile and e+ceedingly wicked man %- $amuel CC8@J7@I&( ,e slaughtered eighty7"ive priests o" the Lord and then put the sword to the
')
whole city o" #ob) killing men) women) children) in"ants) and animals( ,owever) it was not 6ust because men like this were 2avid's enemies that he desired their overthrow) but because o" their wickedness and opposition to 4od( 4od allows wickedness to mature to a certain level) like in $odom and later on Canaan) and then ,e sends in ,is representatives to deal with it( /ven when the Lord 4od) through ,is people) deals with unrepentant wickedness) his grace is evident( or e+ample) in Canaan) 4od saved a repentant harlot named Rahab %5oshua C&( -n the book o" Acts) we read o" the Lord appearing to and saving a Pharisee named $aul who was wickedly murdering 'elievers in Christ %Acts I&( That is grace Ebig time1 -mprecations are prophetic indicators o" 4od's attitude toward ,is unrepentant and persistent enemies( These prayers only repeat what 4od had already stated would be the end o" those who continue to oppose ,im and ,is purposes1 Let me illustrate( Psalm ?H8H is an imprecatory prayer which says) 'Let the& be like chaff before the )ind,,,,' -n Psalm @8D) the Lord had already stated) 'The )icked are like chaff )hich the )ind drives a)ay,' Psalm HJ8A is an imprecatory prayer which says) 'A /od+ shatter their teeth in their &o"th,' -n Psalm ?8K) the Lord had already stated) 'Tho" hast shattered the teeth of the )icked,,,'
'2
-n Psalm C8@C) we learn that the *kings of the earth+* that is) the civil rulers) who persistently oppose the authority o" the Kingdom o" 4od in the earth) will perish( This was so in the case o" Pharaoh in the days o" the /+odus( -t was also the e+perience o" ,erod) the Roman ruler) who was eaten by worms and died %Acts @C8 C?&( 'etter to die and be eaten by worms than to be eaten by worms and then die1 When the Church understands and prays Psalm C) we can enter a ministry o" intercession "or civil government and civil leaders that goes beyond - Timothy C praying( - see *Timothy C8@7C praying* "or all men) including kings) as our priestly responsibility( - see *Psalm C praying* as our prophetic responsibility( The Lord knows which civil rulers will never repent and never cease promoting an anti7Christ agenda( When ,e gives us that revelation) we can pray "or their removal1 (he Impre4atory Prayer of Jesus -n .atthew C?) the Lord 5esus pronounces a long list o" woes upon the religious leaders o" 5udaism( ,e designates the Pharisees) $adducees) and scribes as hypocrites) blind men) "ools) and blind guides( $trong stu""1 What is going on hereL 5udaism in 5esus' day had not "aith"ully stewarded the covenant 4od made with their "ather) Abraham) in the =ld Testament( They had allowed the traditions and doctrines o" men to replace the revelation and doctrine o" 4od( This action aligned them with their "ore"athers in 5eremiah's day) who) like they) re6ected the word o" the Lord through the prophet( Look at what 5esus said to them8 'Fill "p then the &eas"re of the g"ilt of yo"r fathers, Ko" serpents+ yo" brood of vipers+ ho) shall yo" escape the sentence of hellI Therefore+ behold+ $ a& sending yo" prophets and )ise &en and scribes@ so&e of the& yo" )ill kill and cr"cify+ and so&e of the& yo"
'3
)ill sco"rge in yo"r synagog"es+ and persec"te fro& city to city+ that "pon yo" &ay fall the g"ilt of all the righteo"s bloodshed on earth+ fro& the blood of righteo"s Abel to the blood of Gechariah+ the son of #erechiah+ )ho& yo" &"rdered bet)een the te&ple and the altar' ;0atthe) :7:7:173<, The pronouncement o" woes based on divine revelation is a part o" imprecatory praying( #otice the woes in this chapter culminate with a "inal pronouncement 5esus makes in verse ?J8 '#ehold yo"r ho"se is being left to yo" desolate-' This is re"erence to the imprecatory prayer 2avid prayed in Psalm AI8CH) '0ay their ca&p be desolate@ &ay none d)ell in their tents,' We should note here that there are woes released in the 'ook o" Revelation %I8@C) @@8@D) and @J8@F&( ,ere) too) we see woes connected to imprecatory intercession( 'y the way) these woes were "ul"illed in A2 KF when 5erusalem was destroyed by the Roman armies( 5esus prophesied this in .atthew CD( %Compare .atthew C?8?A to .atthew CD8?D(& -" 5esus prayed imprecatory prayers and pronounced woes) so must the Church1 'ut we need to do it with the heart o" 4od revealed in 5esus1 While 5esus had to pronounce woes upon a covenant breaking people) ,e did so with tears and tenderness( We see ,im weeping over 5erusalem %Luke @I8D@& and we see ,is heart when ,e said) 'A 9er"sale&+ 9er"sale&+ )ho kills the prophets ands stones those )ho are sent to her- o) often $ )anted to gather yo"r children together the )ay a hen gathers her chicks "nder her )ings+ and yo" )ere "n)illing' ;0atthe) :7:78<, We also see the hope o" restoration in ,is words
'4
'For $ say "nto yo"+ fro& no) on yo" shall not see 0e "ntil yo" say+ (#lessed is e Who co&es in the na&e of the Lord(' ;0atthe) :7:7=<, (he Impre4atory Prayers in the Boo8 of =e;elation This chapter began with a !uote "rom Revelation A8@F( This is the prayer o" the martyrs in heaven( They are asking the Lord to 6udge and avenge those who shed their blood( This is imprecatory praying( 4od does 6udge and ,e does avenge) but in ,is time( The prayers o" the saints) re"erred to in Revelation J8?) would) o" course) include the prayer o" these martyrs( -t is my understanding that the prayers o" the saints that are blended with the incense "rom the golden censer in the hand o" the Angel o" the Lord) include the intercession o" the saints in heaven and the saints on earth( When the sweet smell o" agreement "ills the golden altar) the Angel releases responses to prayer as thunder) lightning) and earth!uakes1 The "iery coals o" 4od's vengeance are hurled down onto the earth1 -n the remainder o" the 'ook o" Revelation) we see the release o" the woes and the 6udgments o" 4od in response to the worship and prayer o" the Church in heaven and earth( -n Revelation @J8CF) we see the Church) along with the apostles and prophets) re6oicing over the "all o" 'abylon( Re6oicing is a part o" worship( ,ere worship is going on because the unrepentant enemies o" 4od have "allen1 'Re?oice over her+ A heaven+ and yo" saints and apostles and prophets+ beca"se /od has prono"nced ?"dg&ent for yo" against her' ;e&phasis &ine<,
'5
Guidelines for Praying Impre4atory Prayers The challenge a"ter receiving revelation is application and implementation1 There"ore) - need to share the "ollowing so that we can stay on track in this challenging area o" ministry( $! Pray impre4atory prayers 6ith the heart of God! The heart o" 4od is redemption and salvation) not condemnation( We are not 6ust praying "or the de"eat o" the enemies o" 4od) we are praying "or their salvation( ,ear these words "rom Psalm J?8@A7@J( 'Fill their faces )ith dishonor+ that they &ay seek Thy na&e+ A Lord, Let the& be asha&ed and dis&ayed forever@ and let the& be h"&iliated and perish+ that they &ay kno) that Tho" alone+ )hose na&e is the Lord+ art the 0ost igh over all the earth, ' -n this Psalm 4od is implored to con"ound ,is enemies( And yet) there is the appeal "or their salvation1 We do not pray i&precatory prayers )ith a &ean spirit or an attit"de of conde&nation@ )e pray the& like 9es"s did2! Pray out of re;elation! We can only boldly re!uest that the Lord remove ,is enemies when we have revelation "rom ,im they will never repent( or e+ample) we do not know i" a wicked dictator will repent or not) but the Lord does( -" he or she will never kiss the $on o" 4od) then let them be removed and possibly perish( Please remember that imprecatory praying is not *taking it out* on your enemiesG it is praying against the enemies o" 4od and the 4ospel( The Lord instructs us through the words o" $olomon)
'
'Do not re?oice )hen yo"r ene&y falls+ and do not let yo"r heart be glad )hen he st"&bles ' ;Proverbs :>:28<, urthermore) 5esus said to love your enemies and pray "or those who persecute you %.atthew H8DD&( When we pray imprecatory prayers) we need a revelation "rom 4od o" those ,e sees as ,is enemies1 .! Pray 6ith a 4orporate anointing! -n - Corinthians A8C7?) Paul in"orms us by divine revelation that it is the Church) that is) the saints) who are to 6udge the world and angels( Praying imprecatory prayers must be done under the authority o" the Church1 This is a part o" our spiritual war"are as the army o" 4od( We see the "unctioning o" the corporate anointing in the Acts D prayer meeting( When Peter and 5ohn were released "rom 6ail) they came together with the 'ody o" 'elievers in the city and prayed Psalm C( This passage reveals several components o" the corporate anointing8 9postoli4 o;ersight+ Peter and 5ohn were prominent apostles who provided leadership in the early Church( Propheti4 insight+ The Lord gave them revelation how to pray and led them to Psalm C( Body parti4ipation+ *The- lifted their voices )ith one accord* %Acts D8CD) emphasis mine&( This is the right setting "or praying imprecatory prayers( #otice the result o" their intercession( The place where they met was shaken by the power o" 4od %Acts D8?@&( They were all "illed with the $pirit) and this meant that the city was
'$
going to be shaken too1 And it was1 4! Pray 6ith patien4e! All acco"nts are not settled in this life, There is a final ?"dg&ent at the end of history, There )ill be a final vindication of the righteo"s and a final destr"ction of the )icked,ii The Lord did not immediately mani"est ,is wrath against 5udaism and the Roman /mpire on behal" o" the apostles and the early Church( -n "act it was "orty years a"ter the prayer meeting o" Acts D that divine vengeance was poured out on the city o" 5erusalem in A2 KF( 4od is eternal( ,e is not in time like we are in time( While there are periodic days o" 6udgment in history) we must keep in mind that the "inal one awaits ,is return1 Con4lusion The call to imprecatory praying is a call to engage the enemies o" the Lord 4od and the 4ospel on a new level( -n light o" current world events) especially the war on terrorism) this kind o" praying becomes urgent "or the 'ody o" Christ1 - believe the prayer movement that is sweeping the world is destined to embrace this dimension o" intercession and worship( This would be like a *crowning touch* on the present global intercession move o" 4od1 5otes+
i 2on Walker) *-mprecatory Prayers*) Arrows =" Truth %article&( .arch @D) CFFC ii -bid(
''
E/ilogue
-n this volume) @ have endeavored to issue a challenge to the 'ody o" Christ concerning the ministry o" worship( The challenge is two7"old8 %@&To align our worship) and) %C&To shift our worship( =ur worship and intercession need to align with the revelation o" the Kingdom o" 4od that is e+pressed primarily in the 'ook o" Revelation( What we say and what we sing in our worship are vitally important to the un"olding purposes o" 4od in history( This is the primary reason the worship o" the 'ody o" Christ on earth must align with the worship o" the saints and angels around the heavenly throne( Then the sounds o" heaven will be released here on the earth( Like 5ohn) the author o" the Apocalypse) we need to be apprehended by divine revelation( =nce the ,oly $pirit shows us and e+plains to us *heavenly worship)* we will then be directed and inspired to shi"t our worship( The shi"t we need goes beyond style) beat) and musical pre"erence( The shi"t is about obedience to the current word o" the Lord to ,is Church1 -t is about moving "rom bridal worship that emphasi<es intimacy in relating to the Lord) into civili<ation building worship where prophetic proclamations) intercessions) declarations) and decrees are released( -n the last book o" the 'ible) The Revelation) the Church is presented in two primary ways8 %@& wi"e o" the LambG and %C& the city o" 4od %the heavenly 5erusalem& %Revelation C@8I7@F&( The wi"e o" the Lamb %bride& speaks o" the Church's relationship with the heavenly 'ridegroom( The City o" 4od
'(
speaks o" the Church's task o" bringing "orth the civili<ation o" the Kingdom o" 4od in the earth( 0ay the La&b on the throne grace "s to &ake this align&ent and shift-
(*
=ibliogra/hBoo8s
Arndt and 4ingrich) A /reek !nglish Le6icon of The Ee) Testa&ent, Chicago) -L8 3niversity o" Chicago Press) @IHK( Chilton) 2avid( Days of Fengeance, t( Worth) T:8 2ominion Press) @IJK( Chilton) 2avid( Paradise Restored, Tyler) T:8 Reconstruction Press) @IJH( /dersheim) Al"red( The Te&ple $ts 0inistry and Services, 4rand Rapids) .-8 /erdmans Publishing Company) @IJF %reprint&( ,ay"ord) 5ack( / Puake( #ashville) T#8 Thomas #elson Publishers) @III( ,ughes) Ray( So"nd of eaven Sy&phony of !arth, %harlotte) #C8 .orningstar Publications and .inistries) CFFF( 5osephus( Complete Works translated by William Whiston( The War of the 9e)s, 4rand Rapids) .-8 Kregel Publications) @IAF( .itchum) 2ean( Apostolic *ingdo& Praise( $anta Rosa 'each) L8 Cl) CFFF( .orris) 2avid( Lifestyle of Worship, Bentura) CA8 Regal 'ooks( =rr) 5ames( %ed& $nternational Standard #ible !ncyclopedia Bol( -B 4rand Rapids) .-8 /erdmans Publishing Co() @I?I( Pierce) Chuck and 2ickson) 5ohn( Worship Warrior, Bentura) CA8 Regal 'ooks) CFFC( Piper) 5ohn( Let the Eations #e /lad, 4rand Rapids) .-8 'aker Academic) @II?( Truscott) 4raham( The Po)er of is Presence, 'urbank) CA8 World .ap Press) @IAI(
()
9rti4les
5ames 5ordan( *$piritual Worship* Rite Reasons, #o( J?) .arch CFF? 2on Walker( *-mprecatory Prayers* Arro)s Af Tr"th %article& .arch @D) CFFC

Releasing The Sounds of Heaven On Earth PDF

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originalbeschreibung:

Originaltitel

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Releasing The Sounds of Heaven On Earth PDF

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Releasing the Sounds of Heaven on Earth

Aligning The Church's Worship with Kingdom Revelation By Jim Hodges