Theology of Night and Day Prayer

Theology of Night and Day Prayer
The Churchs Eternal Purpose to Glorify and Minister to God as a Kingdom of Priests
I.
The original design of man: WHY WAS MAN CREATED?

A.
INTRODUCTION
1.
B.
It would be difficult to exaggerate the significance of understanding the purpose of humanity. Why
did the LORD create us? What are we created to do? what am I made for ?
HUMANITYS GRAND PURPOSE: THE GLORY OF GOD
Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I
have made." Is. 43:7
1.
2.
3.
4.
There is one singular, colossal purpose that shapes all reality and stands as the ultimate end of everything in the
Divine heart: the glory of God. All of the beautiful streams of His power and benevolence toward His creation
ultimately flow into this ocean of His own renown (Ps 145:10). This truth fills the pages of Scripture:1
From the purest principles of reason, as well as from the fountain of revealed truth, he demonstrates that the
chief and ultimate end of the Supreme Being, in the works of creation and providence, was the manifestation of
his own glory in the highest happiness of his creatures.2
God is committed to doing everything for his glory. This too is shown throughout the Scriptures, as Jonathan
Edwards has demonstrated so powerfully in his essay entitled Dissertation Concerning the End for which God
Created the World. It appears that all that is ever spoken of in the Scripture as an ultimate end of Gods works
is included in that one phrase, the glory of God. God elects his people before the foundation of the world for his
glory (Ephesians 1:6). He creates humankind for his glory (Isaiah 43:7). He chooses Israel for his glory (Isaiah
49:3). He delivers them from Egypt for his glory (Psalm 106:7-8). He restores them after exile for his glory
(Isaiah 48:9-11). He sends his Son to confirm his trustworthiness and so the Gentiles will glorify him for his
mercy (Roman 15:8-9). He puts his Son to death to display the glory of his vindicated righteousness (Romans
3:25-26). He sends the Holy Spirit to glorify his Son (John 16:14). He commands his people to do all things for
his glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). He will send his Son a second time to receive the glory due him (2
Thessalonians 1:9-10). And in the end he will fill the earth with the knowledge of his glory (Habakkuk 2:14).
Gods ultimate aim in all that he does is that his glory might be displayed for the appreciation of those who
embrace it, and the desolation of those who dont. 3
Humanitys existence is Gods highest expression of His own glory.
Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the
Son may glorify You, 2 for You gave Him authority over all flesh; so He may give eternal life to all You have given
Him. 3 This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent-Jesus Christ. 4
I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify Me in Your
presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.......... 10 All My things are Yours, and Yours are
Mine, and I have been glorified in them. John 17:1-5, 10
TALLAHASSEE HOUSE OF PRAYER RELENTLESS CONFERENCE SEPT 16, 2011 THE GLORY OF GOD: THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE OF PRAYER STEPHEN VENABLE
Sereno Dwight, Memoirs of Jonathan Edwards, in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 1 (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1974), p. clxiii.
3 Piper, John, A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Prayer and Fasting. (Crossway Books, 1997) p. 180
1
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"For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it for you, in order not to cut you off.
10"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 11"For My own sake,
for My own sake, I will act; for how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another. Is
48:9-11 (cf. Is 42:8,1 Sam 12:22; Ps 25:11; 106:8; Is 37:35; 43:25; Jer 14:7; Ezek 20:9, 14, 22, 44; Dan 9:1719)
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36 (cf.
Colossians 1:15-16, I Corinthians 8:6 & Hebrews 2:10)
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:17-18
5.
6.
C.
The Ultimate Purpose - God created all things for one reason - His glory. The Father has and will
continue to put Jesus on display so that all creation will marvel and break out in true worship that
brings Him all praise, honor, and glory. Jesus will be seen as so beautiful & so glorious that He will
have preeminence in everything (Col. 1:18, Is. 4:2). He will have first place in every single facet of
created order from the secret thoughts of men, to the governmental structures, to the way people
relate to one another. He will be central in every way. Every single affection, desire, & motive in the
eternal Kingdom of God will revolve around giving Him glory. Nothing will compete with His
supremacy. The purpose of Humanitys existence is for God. Man exists by Gods will for God (Rev.
4:11).
The universal truth that God created all things for His own glory is universally accepted by true Bible
believing Christians. But how are we to understand the motivation of Gods zeal for His own selfglorification? Is He an egomaniac?
HUMANITYS GRAND INVITATION INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE TRINITY
Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have
given Me because You loved Me before the world's foundation..... 26 I made Your name known to them and will
make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them. John 17:24,26
1.
2.
John 17 is probably the deepest gaze into Gods heart in all of scripture showing why He created
humanity. Here, God in the flesh, our beloved Jesus, is praying to the Father for the fullness of
humanitys purpose to come to pass. Here we see the second person of the trinity asking the 1st
person of the Trinity for His deepest desire! We are witnessing a prayer that will surely be answered.
So this prayer is prophetic because it shows us Gods deepest desires; and He will surely have what
He desires.
Jesus shows us that His desire is that all of humanity would love Him with the same kind of love the
Father Loves Him with? WHAT? How much does the Father love Jesus? How much does the 1st
person of the trinity love the second person of the Trinity? How much does God love God? This in
unfathomable! Jesus is basically revealing through this prayer that He created people to love Him
with the same quality of love that the Father has for Him! This is a wholehearted burning fire of love
that we cannot comprehend! This leads us into why the greatest commandment is to Love God with
all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are made to love God the way God loves God.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
(NKJV)
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
D.
4
5
BRIDAL PARADIGM: Jesus doesnt only desire us to love Him with utter fullness, but He prays that
we would be ONE with both the Father and the Son! This union is likened in scripture to marriage.
Just as a man leaves his father and mothers house and becomes one flesh with his wife (Eph. 5), so
Jesus left His Fathers house (in the incarnation) to be united forever to humanity as a bridegroom. In
John 17 Jesus is basically praying that the Father would give Him a worthy eternal Bride that will love
Him back the way He loves them. This shows us that God is not asking us to do anything He is not
doing first... He asks us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, because that is the
way He loves us.
Imagine in eternity past the Father, Son and Spirit enjoying the ecstasy of perfect love and union
between each other. The community of love within the Godhead was so grand and perfect that as an
overflow of this love God decided to create to share the love He had been experiencing within
Himself. Basically within the mystery of the trinity, God was experiencing God and overflowed with
the idea to create a creature with the capacity to be able to experience Him as He experiences Himself.
In short... He wanted to invite created beings into the fellowship and union of the Trinity!?!?!?!?!!!!!
(not that we would ever be equal to God in any way..... There will forever be an infinity chasm
between creature and creator)
Some imagine Gods zeal for His own glorification as narcissistic but with John 17 in view we
understand that this zeal is actually the heart of the Great Servant wanting to give Himself away
knowing that in Himself is the highest possible quality of existence. Gods zeal for His own Glory is
right and true because of how unsearchable the greatness of His majesty really is and anything that
hinders His glorification steals something so vast that we cannot comprehend. This zeal for His own
renown is the very definition of a servant; the very definition of humility.
Jesus answered, The foremost is, HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. Mk 12:29-30 (quoting Deut 6:4-5)...The inherent unity of the call to glorify
Him in everything and to love Him in everything is seen through the way parallel language is used in
Deuteronomy for the call to worship the LORD Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from
you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve (worship) the
LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul Deuteronomy 10:12 (cf. Deut 11:13,
28:47, 30:6,10; Josh 22:5) Thus, it is not a question of whether our ultimate purpose is to glorify Jesus or to love
Him. Our love for Jesus is the relational context through which we seek to magnify Him in all things4
God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him. Thats the shortest summary of what we mean
by Christian Hedonism. If that is true, then there is no conflict between your greatest exhilaration and Gods
greatest glorification. In fact, not only is there no conflict between your happiness and Gods glory, but his glory
shines in your happiness, when your happiness is in him. And since God is the source of greatest happiness, and
since he is the greatest treasure in the world, and since his glory is the most satisfying gift he could possibly give
us, therefore it is the kindest, most loving thing he could possibly do to reveal himself, and magnify himself
and vindicate himself for our everlasting enjoyment. In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand
are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).God is the one being for whom self-exaltation is the most loving act,
because he is exalting for us what alone can satisfy us fully and forever. If we exalt ourselves, we are not loving,
because we distract people from the one Person who can make them happy forever, God. But if God exalts
himself, he draws attention to the one Person who can make us happy forever, himself. He is not an egomaniac.
He is an infinitely glorious, all-satisfying God, offering us everlasting and supreme joy in himself.5
THE MODERN HUMANISTIC THEOLOGICAL DILEMMA
KEY OF DAVID PRAYER CONFERENCE ETHNOS MISSIONS CENTER THE PURPOSE AND DESIGN OF HUMANITY STEPHEN VENABLE. WWW. BEHOLDINGJESUS.COM
Sermon by John Piper on October, 13th 2012; God Is Most Glorified in Us When We Are Most Satisfied in Him,
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1.
[True] Christianity says, "The end of all being is the glory of God." Humanism says, "The end of all being is
the happiness of man.".......Humanism is, I believe, the most deadly and disastrous of all the philosophical
stenches that's crept up through the grating over the pit of Hell. It has penetrated so much of our religion. AND
IT IS UTTER AND TOTAL CONTRAST WITH CHRISTIANITY! Unfortunately it's seldom seen. .....AND
THIS IS THE BETRAYAL OF THE AGES!!! And it is the betrayal in which we live. .... We must come back to
a Christianity that is in DIRECT AND TOTAL CONTRAST WITH THE STENCHFUL HUMANISM that's
perpetrated our generation in the name of Christ. 6
2.
Our culture is potently narcissistic in its orientation. Self-esteem, self-absorption, self-gratification,

self-promotion, self-service, self-entitlement, self-help, and personal rights define modern
existence. The core of this worldview can be summed up as simply the consuming quest for selffulfillment. The danger this poses is that instead of meeting Christ and having everything turned
upside down through a radical reorientation of ones entire existence, the Gospel is at risk of being
presented in such a way that God is merely assimilated into the preexisting view of the world.
Through this human-centered view of reality, existence (including Gods existence) is evaluated with
man as the reference point. God is seen in terms of His relation to man rather than mans
relationship to God. We are in danger of believing that God exists for us rather than us existing for
Him. Whereas the gifts of God, which are too bountiful to number, exist to lead man into the
exaltation of the Giver, sin seeks to convince the heart that the Giver exists to bestow the gifts. The
cumulative effect of this distortion is that in salvation, mans self-fulfillment remains the final goal
rather than the glory of God, and Christ simply becomes the means to achieve that goal.
The salvation we have experienced through Jesus (and all subsequent sanctification) is primarily to
free us from the enslaving self-compulsion caused by sin, so that we could fulfill our created purpose
of magnifying Jesus and yearning for the Day of LORD when He alone will be exalted.....For the
love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and
He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who
died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:1415.... Scripture simply does not endorse the
idea of Christianity being primarily the benefits we will receive through Jesus now. We are saved for
Him, because we exist for Him.7
3.
E.
6
7
THE COMING SOLUTION: The realty is that there is a coming upheaval of all things that
compete for the affections, attention, allegiance and adoration of humanity. The Day of the
Lord will come and the Lord ALONE will be exalted! (Is. 2). .... God will be most glorified
through humanitys totally satisfaction in Him alone, and also humanity will be totally
satisfied when the Lord alone is exalted. For this is the divine order of creation. God DOES
want our happiness, and our satisfaction but He will have it ONLY on His terms and His
terms alone. All who try to satisfy themselves through any other way than glorifying Jesus
as their primary ambition will be met with the Jealous husbands fury.
JEALOUS HUSBANDS FURY: ETERNAL PUNISHMENT IN THE LAKE OF FIRE
Sermon by Paris Reidhead - Ten Shekels and a Shirt

KEY OF DAVID PRAYER CONFERENCE ETHNOS MISSIONS CENTER THE PURPOSE AND DESIGN OF HUMANITY STEPHEN VENABLE - WWW. BEHOLDINGJESUS.COM
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Man exists to love God and to be loved by God. To be human is to have one reason for existence: to
love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The end of all things is the glory of God which
is most expressed by the voluntary love given to Him in intimate adoring worship from His most
prized creation. John 17 is central to the doctrine of why Humanity exists...... Father I desire that they
would be with me where and I am behold my Glory...... That they would be one with us just as you
and I are one.... That they would love me with the same love that you have for them Humanity was
created to be a bride; The recipient and reciprocator of divine love. There is no other purpose or
reason for existence that motivated God to create humanity. To neglect loving God as a human is not a
peripheral issue it is everything. To neglect loving God as our primary ambition is to forsake the
fabric of our existence. God loves Humanity with the same love that He loves Himself with!!!! Wow!
We have no idea the implications of such a love. If a human is not moving steadily further and deeper
into loving Jesus with all their heart soul mind and strength then that human is going the completely
wrong direction no matter how nobel their pursuit looks. Men are filled with what look like nobel
pursuits, feeding the poor, taking care of their families, serving their communities, taking up one
justice cause after another, but if they are not doing these as an overflow of their primary pursuit
being that of loving and adoring Jesus then they are moving in the wrong direction. So what is Gods
response to Humanities nobel cause but forsaking to love Him?
1.
Eternal Punishment in the lake of fire is the perfect display of just how deeply God has been grieved
by the man that didnt love Him. God created humanity for one purpose of existence to love Him that
same way He loves them. However, they forsook that purpose and the grief God experiences from
their way-word lives is equal to the grief they will experience in the lake of fire forever. The lake of
fire is saying this..... with every passing moment of burning torment the human will suffer separated
from their maker they can rest assured that this same agony of separation was felt by God because of
their ardent choice to be separated from Him. For this is ultimate love. Man has seen God as stoic
and mostly passive and unaffected by the sinful condition of the human race. Nothing could be
further from the truth. God is grieving deeper that we can possibly image longing for His love for His
prized image bearers to be fully reciprocated back to Him. God is transcendent and doesnt have
needs that need to be met by humanity and is fully and totally joyful and satisfied in the fellowship
with Himself within the Godhead. However the mystery of all mysteries of Gods heart is that He
loves humanity the same way He loves Himself. Therefore sinners hating him and being cut off from
loving Him causes a grief as deep as if He were being cut off from Himself. Only the torments of an
eternal flame can express the grief He feels over the lost image bearer that He never gets to fellowship
with.8
II.
THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF MAN: THE PRIESTHOOD OF ADAM

A.
INTRODUCTION
1.
2.
B.
Now moving from the concepts of why humanity was created we turn to look at the practical
outworking of Gods desire. He created all things perfectly and in complete harmony with His desires
to be glorified by sharing with creation of His own renown. In all of Gods creative pristine He
created a man named Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden. And He said it was very good!
Adam can be understood as the original and archetypical man. When studying Adams purpose we
can see why humanity at large was created. We see Gods original intent and what He wants. This
might not be abundantly clear at first glance but a deeper search reveals that Adam was fashioned first
and foremost as a priest to minister to God!
THE PRIESTHOOD OF ADAM: CREATED AS AN IMAGE BEARER
Excerpt from a blog post Why Eternal Punishment in the Lake of Fire Letishmaelsing.com
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Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of
the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping
thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male
and female he created them. [Genesis 1:26-27]
1.
The Hebrew word for image is tselem, which means: a shadow, a reflection, a replica, a phantom,
or an illusion.
a.
2.
This word is used to describe the shadow that is cast by someone, it is used to describe what
happens when one looks into a mirror and sees a reflection. It is implied that this image is
a replica of an original that so closely portrays the original that it creates an illusion that it is
the original without the fullness of the essential characteristics of the originals nature.
The Hebrew word for likeness is dmuwth, which means: to resemble in: likeness, shape, to model
after, to pattern after.
a.
This word means to have qualities or features, especially those of appearance, be in common
with (someone or something), to look or seem like. It also means that this pattern is meant to
be an extension of the original.
3.
Man was created to bear the image of God. This means that man has the unique capacity to
receive and project Gods image and likeness #1 back to God for His Pleasure - [Rev. 4:11 KJV];
and #2 as well as displaying Gods image and likeness to all of created order. In short Man was
created to reflect the image of God! This means that man is not an image that can stand alone;
man was created to display another. To describe the purpose of mans existence is to understand
man as a mirror. For what is a mirror without an image it is reflecting? In mans case God
created us with free will to position ourselves to reflect what we are gazing upon.
4.
With this in view we can see the actually see the outworking of Gods desire in John 17 starting to
take shape. We see God being able to fellowship with a created being with the unique capacity
to display God back to God... How do you think the Godhead felt when they looked at Adam and
for the first time and saw their own image displayed outside themselves gazing back at
them!?!?!? Adam surely experienced being loved by God the way God loves God, and surely
Adam loved God extravagantly in return for sharing the greatness of His glory with him.
(though it seems that he never experienced the marital union we have in Christ through the new
covenant)
5.
Adam being created as an image bearer is mostly taught in light of God delegating authority of
the Earth to Adam as His representative Ps. 8. This is true but the overwhelming emphasis in the
whole of scripture is that Adam was created as an image bearer first and foremost in a relational
context to love and minister directly to God. Adam was not preoccupied pre-fall with His
assignment from God. He was totally pre-occupied with God Himself. We exist for the
pleasure God receives from being able to know us relationally. [Ps. 115:3; 135:6; Rev. 4:11 [KJV].
Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is like him [in His
likeness]." Gen 2:18
6.
This in my opinion is one of the most mis-understood verses in the bible. Most people think that
Adam was lonely in the Garden of Eden as if God wasnt enough to satisfy him and so he needed
to give Him a wife?? This is ridiculous! Adam in a pre-fall state having access to behold and
fellowship with the transcendent, Holy, uncreated God was more than just completely satisfied
he was surely lost in the ecstasy of non-comprehension 9
Von Balthasar, Hans Urs. Prayer (San Francisco, Ignatius, 1986), p. 159.
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C.
7.
Adam was the image bearer of God to all of creation it was not good that he didnt have a
companion that would give a mirror image of the Trinity. Adam needed a wife that he could
overflow to, love and serve to display the way the Godhead interacts. Adam needed a wife to
cherish and adore to display the way the Father, Son, and Spirit adore and cherish one another.
Adam needed to become ONE with a wife to show how the Father, Son, and Spirit are ONE but
yet different persons. Marriage Covenant was ordained to display the fellowship and union of
the trinity (as well as the way Christ loves the church.)
8.
It wasnt good for Adam to be alone because if all he did was receive the divine love without
having an equally yoked marriage companion to prefer in love he would become self-centered.
God gives to us so that we can in turn give. This is how the Godhead operates. The Son receives
the love of the Father and glorifies the Spirit; The Spirit then glorifies the Son and the Son in turn
glorifies the Father. They prefer one another in love, and this is how we were also made.
THE PRIESTHOOD OF ADAM: TO TEND AND KEEP THE GARDEN SANCTUARY
Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Gen 2:15
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
As a result of the typical view of the Garden of Eden as little more than a lush, verdant grove of fruit
trees, this verse is most often understood as Adam commanded to be the first farmer10 rather than the
first priest.
What did tending and keeping the garden mean before God cursed the ground at the fall? There
wasnt any need to work the ground as we know it. Before the fall, there were no weeds, nothing
hindering in any way. The earth operated in total and absolute perfection.
Priestly Purpose - It is true that the word often translated cultivate in Genesis 2:15 can have an
agricultural meaning when standing alone. Yet whenever these two words (translated tend and keep)
are paired together throughout the rest of the Old Testament within a fifteen word range, they always
refer to either the Israelites serving God and keeping His commandments or to priests who serve the
Lord and guard His sanctuary. 11
Thus the best rendering for this passage is likely that Adam was set to rest within the Garden in order
to serve and guard [i.e. the sanctuary]. This does not necessarily preclude the idea of Adam actually
stewarding the physical features of the Garden but clarifies that this was an overtly priestly service (just
as priests and Levites were later to care for the tabernacle/temple). [i.e. Num. 3:7-8; Num. 8:25-26;
Num. 18:5-6; 1 Chron 23:32; Ezek. 44:14] 12 This leads us to believe that the Garden of Eden was more
a worship sanctuary than an agricultural center.
When Adam failed to guard the temple by sinning and letting in a foul serpent to defile the sanctuary, he lost his
priestly role, and the cherubim took over the responsibility of guarding the Garden temple...The guarding
function of the cherubim probably did not involve gardening but keeping out the sinful and unclean, which
suggests that Adams original role stated in Genesis 2:15 likely entailed much more than cultivating the soil, but
also guarding the sacred space.13
If the Cherubim guarded the gate of the Garden of Eden we know for sure that it wasnt an open
field..... It was enclosed with walls of some sort that were substantial enough that this was only one
possible way into the garden which was now guarded by the Cherubim. This is another point that
emphasizes that the garden of Eden was a temple worship center.
IHOPU CLASS NOTES BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS OF NIGHT & DAY WORSHIP & PRAYER SESSION 04 HEAVEN ON EARTH & THE PRIESTHOOD OF
HUMANITY STEPHEN VENABLE
11 G.K. Beale, Temple and the Churches Mission, p 67; Also Ross, Hope of Glory, p 105-106).
12
IHOPU class notes - Theology of Night and Day Prayer session 8 - Stephen Venable
13 G.K. Beale, Temple and the Churches Mission, p 70
10
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Therefore...if the garden was an archetype or pattern of the sanctuary, then humans were there archetypical
Levites. Accordingly, Adam and Eve were created to serve the LORD, not the ground-they were like the priests
who had the responsibility for the care of all the divine institutions in the sanctuary...All the details of the text
then indicate that God created human begins to serve him in a spiritual capacity. 14
7.
Both ben Sira and Jubilees, in their different ways, bring Adam into direct association with the Temple
understood as Eden. According to Jubilees, the first ritual act of worship was offered by Adam immediately after
his expulsion from the garden...Adam is thereby constituted the first priest in a succession which will lead to
Levi, and then to Aaron and his sons.15
8.
D.
THE PRIESTHOOD OF ADAM: MINISTRY TO GOD

1.
When we think of a priest we usually think of the intercessory roles of the levitical priesthood (i.e
animal sacrifices) but with no sin to atone for... with no one to intercede for what was Adams
priesthood like? Adams priesthood was the unimaginable privilege to draw near to the Ancient of
Days Himself and Minister directly to God! The original and highest purpose of a priest is not to
minster to people but to minister to God.
. "Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister
to Me as priest. Ex.28:1(NKJV)
"But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel
went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me..." says the Lord
God. Ezekiel. 44:15(NKJV)
2.
3.
So how do we minister to God? Many dont understand the concept of ministry to the LORD, after all
why would the LORD need to be ministered to? How can we offer anything to God to minister to
Him? The answer lies our giving of voluntary love.
Each person has the ability to give God something that is most precious to Him; something that God
actually doesnt already have.their love. He doesnt force man to love Him; He stands at the door of
every mans heart and knocks to see if they will open to Him. He could take the human heart by force,
but He doesnt He allows man to choose to love Him. When people give the Lord voluntary love it
ministers to Him by bringing great pleasure & delight to His heart because they are choosing to love
Him when they dont have to. Love isnt really love unless there is a choice (hence the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil). Mandated emotions arent authentic love they are robotic. God wants
voluntary love not mandatory love. If a person chooses not to give God their hearts in ove then God
can never experience love from that heart that He created; this means he wouldnt be able to
experience the fullness of His creation. No one else has the capacity to love & express love to God in
the same way as you do. You have a unique & precious offering that you can give to God that no one
else can ever give for you - love from your heart. You have a ministry to God that no one else can
replicate. (Ps.16:3,149:4, Prov. 8:31; Is. 62:4; John 17, Rev. 3:20).
14
(Ross, referencing the work of Cassuto, has here argued that the linguistic features of the Hebrew in the passage should be understood as reflecting that the serving
and keeping were overtly spiritual acts before the Lord and do not need to be referencing the Garden itself in the agrarian sense. Hope of Glory, p 106.)
15 Ibid. p 90
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4.
5.
E.
The Significance Related to Ministry to the LORD - Often discussion on the subject of worship or prayer has as
its staring point all the inconsequential things that humanity (and even believing humanity) is preoccupied with
and then seeks to argue why we should cease from these things for a little while in order to engage in these
priestly activities. After all, it is argued, they may seem very foreign to our lives of productivity and efficiency
but the Bible says they are important and so we need to try to carve out some space for them. With the context of
Eden as a sanctuary and Adam as its priest before us we are now prepared to come to the crucial realization that
Scripture moves in the exact opposite direction related to these subjects. In the most primal, fundamental sense,
humanity was created to be occupied as priests and from that very overt purpose, identity, and action then move
outward. 16
Conclusion: Therefore to seek to defend the validity or legitimacy of a priestly-life is an idea foreign to Scripture
because from the Divine perspective to be human is to be called to be a priest. Though the consumerism
machine of Western Christianity has reduced it to a trite saying, we were truly created to worship. 17
THE WITNESS OF AN ADAMIC PRIESTHOOD

1.
As we move away from Gods original design of Adam as a priest in loving communion with God
within the paradise temple of Eden into redemptive history we see some interesting activities from the
ancients. These activities seem to be overtly priestly in nature. The question is: Where did they get
their priesthood since there hadnt been the institution of any formal covenantal priesthood? Here are
a few examples:
a.
Cain & Abel making sacrifices? Genesis 4:1-7
b.
Noah built an altar and offered a burnt offering? Genesis 8:20-22
c.
Abraham built an Altar? Genesis 12:7-8, 13:3-4
d.
e.
Abraham told to offer his son as a burnt offering so he goes up to worship? Genesis 22
f.
Isaac builds an altar and worships the Lord? - Genesis 26:23-25
g.
Jacob builds an altar? - Genesis 33:20; 35:1-7
h.
Jethro Priest of Midian [Midian establish by a son of Abraham] Exodus 2:16
i.
2.
Abraham & Melchizedek - Abrahams tithe to the Priest of God most High? Genesis
14:17-24
Mt Sinai encounter the Lord addresses some of the people as priests prior to the levitical
consecration Exodus 19:22-24
All of these examples give us clear understanding that Adam was a priest who passed on the
priestly identity and activity through the subsequent generations. These people were
functioning as priests before their was an official covenantal priesthood. Whenever the
patriarchs drew near to God they engaged in very priestly functions that give us the idea that
there is an eternal priesthood written on the heart of man as the protocol to draw near to God.
Interestingly enough the institution of the levitical priesthood included the same elements that
the patriarchs were practicing without the dictates from Moses i.e. Building altars, burnt
offerings, tithe, sacrificial offerings through the blood of animals.
The Lord God made clothing out of skins for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them. Gen 3:21
16
17
IHOPU course notes - Theology of Night and Day Prayer session 8 - Stephen Venable
IBID
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F.
III.
Could it be that all of these intercessory priestly functions go back to Adam as a worshipping priest
and Gods priestly activity of killing the first animal and covering Adam and Eves nakedness with
the skin of an animal to pass over their sin? The Lord Himself sheds blood first to prophecy of the
coming final atonement in Messiah. Adam and Eve surely would have been watching God kill that
animal [Im assuming it was a lamb] knowing that it should have been their own blood being spilled
instead. Where else would ancient civilizations have gotten the idea to spill the blood of animals as
a sacrificial offering to appease deity? There is an origin to all thought and there is a true priesthood
that stands out as authentic in the midst of all the perversity.
THE GARDEN OF EDEN AS A MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY

A.
B.
C.
If Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden as a priest to guard the sanctuary then what does that tell us about
the Garden of Eden? We have many preconceived ideas about what the Garden of Eden was like that run
contrary to scripture. We need to go back and allow scripture to inform our understanding of what that
Garden of Eden was.
Placed in the Garden - Gen. 2:15 reiterates the placement of the man within the Garden of Eden. Yet conjoined as it is
with the purpose of his presence there, a different Hebrew word for put is used. The choice of language in verse 15
literally means that Adam was set to rest in the Garden. This word is later used in the Old Testament to describe Gods
Sabbath rest and His desire for a resting place. (Ross, Hope of Glory, p 105). Thus this specific word conjures those
images and corresponds to the understanding of the Garden as a sanctuary. 18
We are to understand the Garden of Eden as a Mountain Sanctuary. This becomes quite clear in an oftenoverlooked passage from the prophets. Here Eden is very explicitly referred to as the Holy Mountain of God
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established
you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were
perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. 16 By the abundance of your
trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the
mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Ezekiel 28:13-16
1.
2.
3.
4.
IV.
Jewish tradition states that this verse is referring to Adam not to Lucifer.
One, blessed be He, for Adam the first in paradise, as it is written [Ezek. xxviii. 13]: "In Eden the garden of God
didst thou abide; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the chrysolite,
the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold.- 19
This indicates that a sanctuary was an integral part of creation itself from the outset: indeed, the Garden of Eden
was specially created on the third day (2:7). More specifically, Jubilees states that Eden is holier than the rest of
the earth (3:12). According to 8:19, Noah knew that the Garden of Eden is the holy of holies, and the dwelling of
the Lord... It would appear, then, that Adam and Eve were brought into the Holy of Holies prior to their
disobedience: their expulsion from Eden thus signifies their removal from the place where Gods Presence on the
earth is most immediate for Israel. 20
The Garden of Eden was the original Holy of Holies within the Holy Temple on Gods Holy
Mountain.
THE TABERNACLE & THE TEMPLE GIVING WITNESS TO AN EDENIC TEMPLE
18
IHOPU class notes - Theology of Night and Day Prayer session 8 - Stephen Venable
Babylonian Talmud Translated by MICHAEL L. RODKINSON Volumes 1-10 1918; public domain p. 1224 of PDF version
20 C.T.R. Hayward, The Jewish Temple: A Non-Biblical Sourcebook, (London: Routledge, 1996), p 89
19
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A.
To substantiate the point that Eden was a temple sanctuary we now turn to the time period when the levitical
priesthood is established. After examining the text we can see that the tabernacle and temple are meant to
replicate to give witness to Israel [and the surrounding nations] of the original Edenic Temple that was once
upon the earth (with this in view it is implied that Eden would have an eschatological return)
who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to
erect the tabernacle ; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN
WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN."Hebrews 8:5
In Exodus 25 Moses is up on Mount Sinai and he is in the direct presence of God and he is
shown a pattern to follow when building the Tabernacle and setting up the priesthood. This
implies that Moses is shown something authentic that he is to replicate. This implies that God
was not just talking to him about things by showing him theoretical blueprints. This implies that
Moses is staring at the true sanctuary in heaven and God says make it just like this.... A replica of
the heavenly sanctuary.... So lets look at some very interesting details in the pattern of the
tabernacle.
1.
...the lampstand four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers... Ex 25:34
if Moses is replicating something authentic why does God have almond blossoms and bulbs and
flowers as part of His original design? Is this just a nice touch of interior decorating or is it
intentional? Lets look at the Temple of Solomon which King David also gets divine revelation on
how to build the temple from a heavenly encounter which shows to be even more intricate than
the tabernacle of Moses (1 Chron. 28:19)
2.
On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open
flowers. 1 Kings 6:29
So he made two doors of olive wood, and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers,
and overlaid them with gold ; and he spread the gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees. 1 Kings 6:32
This beautiful picture of flowers and palm trees carved into the very walls with guardian
cherubim gives us great insight into the reality that the temple was not just ascetically pleasing to
the eyes..... but was a strangely familiar scene. These images were meant to constantly remind
the priests of the true heavenly sanctuary that Adam once walked in.... the Garden of Eden. The
ramifications of these details are astounding! This points to the fact that through these temple
details the Lord was prophesying of a coming day when the heavenly sanctuary would again be
in Israel and man would be able to again minister to God in the true Holy of Holies.... the Garden
of Eden. This shows us very pointedly that the garden of eden was not mostly about producing
agriculture but that it was the original and authentic holy of holies where God would commune
with man.
3.
V.
PARADISE LOST: THE MOUNTAIN PARADISE ASCENDED OFF THE EARTH

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An absolutely fascinating study is how so many ancient civilizations have some sort of idea that there was a
paradise lost. Biblically we know it as the fall of man and the loss of eden there are so many epic stories that tell
this tale. My Favorite is the legendary tale of the grand city of Atlantis that was lost when it sank under
water.
A.
The legend of Atlantis is a story about a moral, spiritual people who lived in a highly advanced, utopian civilization. But
they became greedy, petty, and "morally bankrupt," and the gods "became angry because the people had lost their way
and turned to immoral pursuits," As punishment the gods sent "one terrible night of fire and earthquakes" that caused
Atlantis to sink into the sea. 21 Other sources also say that Atlantis was made up of high and beautiful mountains 22
B.
This sounds so reminiscent of the biblical account of the mountain paradise of Eden being on the earth in the
beginning, sin entering through Adam, the Lord flooding the earth, and mankind loosing Paradise. This story
like many others show that all civilizations have their roots and remembrance in loosing paradise. It has been
disseminated in oral tradition all throughout the ages in many forms which stands as a witness that there is a
central truth underlying all legend. That central truth is given to us in the infallible, inerrant scriptures. This
is why men with restless hearts have ever stared off into the horizon and imagined, against all logic, that somewhere in
the distance there is an untainted land of perfection, a hidden city of splendor, waiting to be discovered. 23
The Greek word ! (paradeisos), from which we derive the English word paradise, came from a ancient Persian
term for a park or an enclosed garden. Its first adaption to Greek by Xenophon of Athens referred to the royal parks of the
Persian king and nobility. When the word found its way into the Greek of Judaism (from the LXX on) it took on a very
specific meaning referring most often to Edens garden. While in the Septuagint it typically appears in the form
! (the paradise of God) or something equivalent in order to distinguish it from secular use, in later
Jewish writings it came to stand alone and have the technical sense of the Paradise of God in Eden. With A.D. 55 as a
reliable date for the writing of II Corinthians, then it was about ten years after the ascension of Christ when Paul was
caught up into Paradise:
C.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years agowhether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the
body I do not know, God knowssuch a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man
whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows 4 how he was caught up into Paradise
and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. II Corinthians 12:2-4.
We recall that Paul here is writing to Greek speaking Christians in Corinth whose scripture was the Septuagint. Thus,
when the apostle says he was caught up into ! there was no question what he was talking about. Paul uses
the exact word that occurs almost twenty-five times in the bible of the Corinthians to refer to the Garden of God/Eden,
and that had since gained an even more exclusive and technical meaning when used in the Apocrypha and
Psuedepigripha. A general, vague realm is not being spoken of here. Paul says quite clearly that he went up to the
Garden of God. 24
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/atlantis/
http://www.aquiziam.com/lost_city_atlantis.html
23 IHOPU CLASS NOTES: FOUNDATIONS OF NIGHT AND DAY WORSHIP AND PRAYER STEPHEN VENABLE Session 07: Heaven on Earth
24 IHOPU Class notes:FOUNDATIONS OF NIGHT AND DAY WORSHIP AND PRAYER: Steven Venable - Session 07: Heaven on Earth; J. Jeremias, Theological
Dictionary of the New Testament. The etymology of the word underscores the points made previously in the chapter concerning how we should picture the garden of
Eden. In the canonical portions of the Septuagint it is found thirty times, with all but six instances referring to the Garden of Eden. See Genesis 2:8ff, Genesis 13:10,
Joel 2:3, Isaiah 51:3, Ezekiel 28:13, Ezekiel 31:8-9.
21
22
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The second passage comes from Jesus Himself, the One who made Paradise. His precious words complete
the picture and vault us to further conclusions. At the close of his address to the church in Ephesus, the
Lord says:
D.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give
to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. Revelation 2:7
This remarkable text transcends II Corinthians 12:2-4 in two distinct ways. First, Jesus is directly quoting the Old
Testament when He says the Paradise of God ( ! ), which is the full form of the way the
Septuagint translates the explicit references to the Garden of Eden found in Genesis 13:10, Ezekiel 28:13, and
Ezekiel 31:8 (see also Isaiah 51:3).25
2ND TEMPLE JUDAISM: This is the time period Jesus and the Apostles grew up within and it seems
that the writings of this time period almost universally point to a literal Paradise Mountain City that once
dwelt upon the earth and was lost because of the fall. Here is a writing showing that: 26
E.
...I took counsel to make Paradise, and showed Adam before he sinned, but when he transgressed the commandment
it was removed from him, as also Paradise. 4 And after these things I showed it to My servant Abraham by night
among the portions of the victims. 5 And again also I showed it to Moses on Mount Sinai when I showed to the
likeness of the tabernacle and all its vessels. 6 And now, behold, it is preserved with Me, as Paradise.2 Baruch 4:3-5
Clearly This passage is portraying Eden as the authentic Holy Temple that Adam, Abraham, and Moses
all saw. This shows that Paradise [or the Garden of Eden] was removed through the fall and is preserved
with God.
F.
G.
In a fascinating excerpt a church father27 named Hippolytus (lived approximately160/170 236) and reported to be a
disciple of Irenaeus, who was a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of John) describes how prior to the Flood, Noah
and his sons are summoned by God and warned of the Flood. They are then ordered to descend from the holy mount and
build the ark to prepare. When the time came for the destruction they wept for the loss of Paradise, embracing the stones
and trees of the holy mount before entering the ship." 28
IHOPU Class notes:FOUNDATIONS OF NIGHT AND DAY WORSHIP AND PRAYER: Steven Venable - Session 07: Heaven on Earth
2nd Baruch which is supposed to be written by Jews in the 1st century to strengthen hope after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70AD. http://
ocp.tyndale.ca/2-syriac-apocalypse-of-baruch/introduction. In protestant tradition we dont believe these writings should be included in scripture however many of the
writings of 2nd temple Judaism and shortly thereafter give us a thoroughly Jewish worldview that was fighting the corruption of hellenization that was threatening to
undermine Jewish Monotheism which is the seedbed of the new testament. All of the Authors of the New Testament grew up in 2nd temple Judaism and we cannot
underestimate how the Jewish worldview formed through these writings impacted them... For instance the book of Enoch written during 2nd temple Judaism is not
considered worthy of canonization but the letter written by Jude in verse 14-15 directly quotes from 1 Enoch 1:9; Also 2 Peter 2:4 seems to be a reference to 1 Enoch
10:4-12;
27 CHURCH FATHERS: Its worthy of noting that this Hippolytus is a highly regarded church father who was only a few generations away from the Apostolic age and
this is his commentary on the book of genesis. Could this be oral tradition passed down from the Apostle John? One thing is that I would much rather listen to
someone who is only a couple hundred years away from the actual events of the new testament than someone 2000 years removed from the events. We have much to
glean from the Church fathers. Modern Scholarship has written off much of what the church fathers have written as primitive and archaic. This assumption is basically
negating their proximity to the apostolic age and is saying that we have a superior understanding because of our technology and our manuscript evidence. This is
preposterous! Obviously they arent infallible but they carry much more weight and authority in their writings simply because of their close nearly direct relationship
with the Apostles who would have obviously formed the bulk (if not all) of their theological suppositions. For more on this subject visit http://pfrs.org/index.html - the
Pristine Faith Restoration Society .
28 IHOPU Class notes:FOUNDATIONS OF NIGHT AND DAY WORSHIP AND PRAYER: Steven Venable - Session 07: Heaven on Earth
25
26
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And God Most High ordered him to descend from the holy mount, him and his sons, and the wives of his sons,
and to build a ship of three storeys. The lower storey was for fierce, wild, and dangerous beasts. Between them
there were stakes or wooden beams, to separate them from each other, and prevent them from having intercourse
with each other. The middle storey was for birds, and their different genera. Then the upper storey was for Noah
himself and his sons for his own wife and his sons' wives.......And when they sat down by the body of Adam,
over against paradise, they began to lament and weep for the loss of paradise. Then, descending from the holy
mount, and lifting up their eyes towards paradise, they renewed their weeping and wailing, (and) uttered an
eternal farewell in these terms: Farewell! peace to you, O paradise of God! Farewell, O habitation of religion and
purity! Farewell, O seat of pleasure and delight!Then they embraced the stones and trees of the holy mount, and
wept, and said: Farewell, O habitation of the good!Farewell, O abode of holy bodies! 29
CONCLUSION: The evidence is overwhelming. The Garden of Eden [the Paradise Mountain] at some
1.
point between the fall of Adam and the flood ascended into heaven where it is preserved with God.
INTERESTING STUDY: When looking at ancient civilizations it was universally accepted by all
known cultures that the deitys dwelt at the peak of paradise garden temples above (either
mountain or pyramid in shape), and hence all pagan worship revolved around replicating a
temple with garden worship centers on the earth (i.e. The pyramids). Where did they all
independently get that story? Where did that story begin? The stands a witness of an undergirding truth that among the gross perversion of ancient idolatry was a real paradise worship
center . This shows us emphatically that all man has its beginnings in Adam in that Garden of
Eden.
2.
It was common knowledge, since deities dwell in garden-temples. 30 Most of the ancient world believed the
gods dwelled in some sort of idyllic paradise above. The polytheism is obviously a perversion, but I would argue
that the metaphysical construct is a remnant of truth which modern man has foolishly discarded. (Harrigan, John
Chapter 2_Biblical Worldview _en_draft of THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED A THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING BEFORE
THE GLORY)
VI.
THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS: RECONCILING HEAVEN AND EARTH

and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross ; through
Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Col. 1:20
A.
Col 1:20 talks about reconciling heaven and earth back together....to reconcile two parties means: that
they were once together; were then split apart; and then had to be brought back together again. Does this
not clearly mean that heaven and earth were together in the beginning [the holy city and eden on the
earth]; they were separated because of sin; and they will be restored back to each other at the end? This
in simple terms speaks of Gods commitment to fulfill his original intent for humanity..... The saying is
true we are on the journey back to Eden
29
THE EXTANT WORKS AND FRAGMENTS OF HIPPOLYTUS; REV. S. D. F. SALMOND.

;http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/hippolytus-exegetical.html
30 See Gregory K. Beales overall discussion of the Garden of Eden, the Third Heaven, and the New Heavens and New Earth as a paradisal city-temple in The Temple
and the Churchs Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God, New Studies in Biblical Theology 17 (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004), 23-80;
Beale summarizes this book in Eden, the Temple, and the Church's Mission in the New Creation, JETS 48.1 (Mar. 2005): 5-31.
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B.
From the moment of the fall of man God promises redemption through the crushing of the seed of the serpent
(Gen 3:15) also known throughout scripture as the Day of the Lord (Is. 13:6; Mal. 4:5; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10). This
frames the entire Bible within an eschatological lens. Eschatology is not a peripheral topic it is the great hope
of humanity.... For it is the time of the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). The desired end of this present evil age
(Gal. 1:4) is ushered in through the Messiahs 2nd coming [Day of the Lord] which is most clearly scene in the
book of revelation. So now we will look very briefly look at what the restoration of all things specifically
means concerning defining heaven, the return to the garden of Eden , and a lesser known concept ..... The
New Jerusalem.
The eschatological is not one element of Christianity, but it is the medium of Christian faith as such, the key in which
everything in it is set, the glow that suffuses everything here in the dawn of an expected new day. For Christian faith
lives from the raising of the crucified Christ, and strains after the promises of the universal future of Christ... A proper
theology would therefore have to be constructed in the light of its future goal. Eschatology should not be its end, but its
beginning.31
1.
C.
OVERCOMING MISCONCEPTIONS
When approaching the subject of our final destiny most believers think of heaven. The most
common sentiment when thinking of heaven is a picture floating on clouds and singing forever in
some etherial realm. The reality is that scripture does not warrant any type of thinking concerning
heaven. This is a bi-product the mixture of greek philosophy that crept into the Judeo-christian
worldview. We are in major need of a paradigm shift back to a biblical worldview concerning the
eschaton. I like how David Pawson said it, We need to de-greece the church32
1.
In the 2rd and 3rd centuries a school in Alexandria egypt became the central hub of learning and
theology in Christendom. This became very destructive to the church because this school propagated
a spiritual allegorical interpretation of scripture with the intended purpose to unite greek platonic
philosophy33 with Christian theology. A church Father named Origen came out of this school with the
express goal of synthesizing Christianity and Platonism throughout the world34 . He was very
successful at what He did. The Swiss theologian Hans Urs Von Balthasar, a man of towering intellect
and rare breadth of learning, stated there is no thinker in the Church who is so invisibly all-present as
Origen. (B. McGinn, FM Vo1 1, p 130). As a result of this another scholar wrote: All Christian theology
is dependent, to an extent at least, on contemporary Greek philosophy, primarily Platonism, but some Christian
thinkers fall particularly strongly under Platonic influence, and properly merit the title of Christian
Platonists (David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1996, c1992),
5:380.) 35
2.
Clement became the leader of the Alexandrian school in AD 190. He saw the literal meaning of Scripture as being a "starting point" for
interpretation. Although it was "suitable for the mass of Christians," God revealed himself to the spiritually advanced through the "deeper
Jrgen Moltmann, Theology of Hope: On the Ground and the Implications of a Christian Eschatology (London: SCM Press, 1967), 16.
http://davidpawson.org/resources/series/de-greecing-the-church
29 The worldview of Plato (c. 427-347 BC) involves a dualistic framework for reality: the immaterial intelligible world versus the material perceptual world. The
former is eternal, consisting of ideal forms, while the latter was created, comprised of corrupt copies. Platonic protology involves the eternal ideal state and a
debased material creation, which sets up its eschatological return to immateriality. Salvation is thus found in transcending materiality by enlightenment and/or death
Those who have enlightenment of the greater metaphysical reality (i.e. the philosophers) should then rule over the earth so as to help liberate the unlearned (The gospel
of Christ Crucified a theology of suffering before the glory; Harrigan, John; chapter 1 rough draft p. 18-19)
34 Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson and A. Clevel and Coxe, The Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. IV : Translations of the Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325,
Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Part Fourth; Minucius Felix; Commodian; Origen, Parts First and Second. (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, 1997), 299.
35 See Chapter 2_Biblical Worldview _en_draft2 of THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED A THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING BEFORE THE GLORY by John
Harrigan. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2NKIOIapYmTQWxDcVNyZlRrckU/edit?usp=sharing
31
32
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meaning" of Scripture. In every passage, a deeper or additional meaning existed beyond the primary or immediate sense. (Dockery, Christian
Scripture, 108) "The literal sense indicated what was said or done, while the allegorical showed what should be believed."[Ibid.] Origen,
Clement's successor, took his approach to new levels. Origen (along with Augustine) has been considered the most nimble, creative mind of
the early church. [Frederick W. Norris, "Universal Salvation in Origen and Maximus" in Nigel M. de S. Cameron, ed., Universalism and
the Doctrine of Hell (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1992), 35.] Schaff called him "the greatest scholar of his age, and the most gifted,
most industrious, and most cultivated of all the ante-Nicene fathers."[Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, vol. II (Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1910, reprinted 1995), 790.] Origen was a pious man. He "rarely ate flesh, never drank wine; devoted the greater part of the night
to prayer and study, and slept on the bare floor."[Ibid, 788. Origen's zeal for piety went to an unfortunate extreme. As a youth, he
emasculated himself to guard against sexual temptation. Ibid.] He was tortured and condemned to the stake in the Decian persecution, and
was saved from martyrdom only upon the death of the emperor. [ Ibid, 790.] For his faith, then, Origen is to be commended. For his theology,
however, he is to be severely castigated. Schaff's delicate suggestion that Origen's "great defect" was the "neglect of the grammatical and
historical sense and his constant desire to find a hidden mystic meaning" in the text of the Bible is sheer understatement. [Ibid, 792.] While
Origen did not deny the literal meaning of the text, that most certainly was not his emphasis. Rather, he taught that Scripture has three
different, yet complementary meanings: (1) a literal or physical sense, (2) a moral or psychical sense, and (3) an allegorical or intellectual
sense. [Dockery, Christian Scripture, 110.] To Origen, much of the Bible, if read literally, was intellectually incredible or morally
objectionable. An allegorizing interpretation was used to make objectionable passages palatable. [F.F. Bruce, "Interpretation of the Bible"
Evangelical Dictionary of Theology Walter Elwell, ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1984), 566.] However, as Bruce has observed: "this
approach was largely arbitrary, because the approved interpretation depended so largely on the interpreter's personal preference, and in
practice it violated the original intention of the Scriptures and almost obliterated the historical relatedness of the revelation they
recorded."[Ibid.] Farrar similarly declared: When once the principle of allegory is admitted, when once we start with the rule that whole
passages and books of Scripture say one thing when they mean another, the reader is delivered bound hand and foot to the caprice of the
interpreter... .Unhappily for the Church, unhappily for any real apprehension of Scripture, the allegorists, in spite of protest, were
completely victorious. [F.W. Farrar, History of Interpretation, 238 (cited in J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come(Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1958), 23.] The dangers of an allegorical approach to interpreting Scripture are nowhere more evident than with regard to Origen himself.
Origen taught the pre-existence of souls, universal salvation and a limited hell, doctrines for which he was posthumously condemned as a
heretic. [See C.C. Kroeger, "Origen" in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 803; Millard Erickson,Christian Theology, 1015.] Despite his
late condemnation, the damage had long been done. Through Augustine, Origen's allegorical hermeneutic became the backbone of medieval
interpretation of the Bible.Augustine (AD 354-430), perhaps Christendom's most preeminent theologian apart from the apostle Paul, was
drawn to the Alexandrian approach to interpreting Scripture by Ambrose, his spiritual mentor. Building on Origen's interpretive system,
Augustine suggested a four-fold sense which would later be adopted by medieval theologians: (1) literal; (2) allegorical; (3)
tropological or moral; and (4) analogical. [Dockery, Christian Scripture, 122.]36

3.
Western thought is, as Alfred Whitehead is known for saying, a series of footnotes to Plato. This dualistic
world of material versus immaterial (later termed natural versus supernatural) slowly became the playing
field upon which Judeo-Christianity was played. Instead of a storyline that ended in the restoration of all things,
including the physical body, the church began to look forward to the eternal existence of the soul in an
immaterial heaven. This shift was, as J. Christiaan Beker described it, a fall from the apocalyptic world of early
Christianity to Platonic categories of thought.56 By the fourth and fifth centuries, such Christoplatonic
thought became the standard. The invention of Islam in the seventh century was another Platonic derivative,
seeking a heavenly destiny and roughly framing itself as the fulfillment of the Judeo-Christian tradition, which
was prevalent in Arabia at the time.57 Throughout the Middle Ages, the Hellenistic (i.e. Greek) worldview
remained little changed, and though the Reformation restored to Christianity the centrality of the Cross and
substitutional atonement (see chapter 8), it did little to restore a biblical playing field, so to speak.58 However,
the twentieth century inaugurated a radical upheaval of Platonic thought. 37
Allen, Matthew, Theology Adrift: The Early Church Fathers and Their Views of Eschatology: chapter 4: https://bible.org/article/theology-adrift-early-churchfathers-and-their-views-eschatology
37 Harrigan, John Chapter 1_Biblical Hermeneutics _en_draft of THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED A THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING BEFORE THE GLORY
www.gospelofchristcrucified.com/book.html
36
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4.
5.
D.
It is high time that this perfectly good term should be rescued from the abuse it has suffered at the hands of
theologians who, either consciously or otherwise, have been under the spell of Platonic philosophy.38
Quote from church father Tertullian: These are the doctrines of men and of demons produced for itching
ears of the spirit of this worlds wisdom... Indeed heresies are themselves instigated by philosophy. From this
source came the Aeons, and I know not what infinite forms, and the trinity of man in the system of Valentinus,
who was of Platos school. From the same source came Marcions better god, with all his tranquility; he came of
the Stoics. Then, again, the opinion that the soul dies is held by the Epicureans; while the denial of the
restoration of the body is taken from the aggregate school of all the philosophers... What indeed has Athens to do
with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church? What between heretics and
Christians? Our instruction comes from the porch of Solomon [where the Apostles taught, cf. Acts 3:5], who
had himself taught that the Lord should be sought in simplicity of heart. Away with all attempts to produce a
mottled Christianity of Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic composition! We want no curious disputation after
possessing Christ Jesus, no inquisition after enjoying the gospel! With our faith, we desire no further belief. For
this is our palmary faith, that there is nothing which we ought to believe besides. 39
WE NEED A PARADIGM SHIFT

1.
2.
We need to return to biblical definition of heaven. We need to return to an authentic biblical

worldview.... The Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God and so how the Jews defined reality is
much closer to truth than pagan cultures who for centuries never had the scriptures. We need to allow
the scriptures alone to form our ideas, we cannot bring presuppositions about reality when
approaching Gods Holy Word.
I like to ask myself what did the Jewish apostles would have been thinking when they were referring
to heaven? Here is a quote from John Harrigan where he is attempting to reform our thinking about
heaven according to the scriptures.
Hebraic worldview clearly understood the heavens to be plural.......within this framework, the heavens are described in the Scriptures
as continuous. They are the abode of birds (Gen. 1:20; 2:19; Dan. 2:38); of clouds, rain and thunder[1st heavens] (Gen. 8:2; Job 38:29;
Is. 55:10), of sun, moon and stars (Gen. 1:14ff; Deut. 4:19; Ps. 8:3); of idols, spirits and powers [2nd or mid-heavens] (Ex. 20:4; Dt.
3:24; Is. 24:21); and of God himself [third heavens] (Deut. 26:15; 1 Ki. 8:30; Ps. 2:4). All of these things function together in the
heavens, and there are no clear lines of distinction between them. There are delineations between different areas of the heavens, as Paul
distinguishes the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2), but there is not a substantial change of existence between these areas..........The heavens
are also assumed to be inherently physical in nature. In contrast to the later Platonic concept of a singular, ethereal heaven, the
Scriptures describe the heavens as tangible, substantial and concrete. There are audible sounds, voices and songs (Is. 6:3; Rev. 4-5; 2
Cor. 12:4). There are physical objects, such as thrones, altars and thresholds (Is. 6:1-7; 1 Ki. 22:19ff; Ez. 1:25ff; Dan. 7:9f). Moreover,
there is time in the various regions of the heavens (Rev. 8:1). Moreover, this time generally coincides with the time on earth (cf. 1 Ki.
22:19ff; Dan. 7:9ff; Acts 7:55). The heavens are thus clearly dynamic in nature, not static as in Hellenistic thought. Ultimately, this
perspective resulted in the understanding that the physicality seen in heaven was analogous to the physicality known on
earth......These plural, continuous, and physical heavens were universally understood as real locations, not states of being, and their
relationship to the earth was positional. The heavens are above, and the earth is below (Gen. 6:17; Deut. 4:39; 1 Ki. 8:23; Ps. 50:4;
etc.).13 Thus, God looks down from heaven upon his creation (Deut. 26:15; Ps. 80:14; Is. 63:15). This is because he dwells at the
height of the heavens (Job 22:12; Ps. 148:1; Is. 14:13).....It is from the height of the heavens that God rules sovereignly over his
creation. The fact that God rules over his creation from within creation is shockingly foreign to the modern mind.........Do you not
know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was
founded? 22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the
heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. (NIV Isaiah 40:21-22)..........Concerning his sovereignty,
God rules from a real throne. As the heavens are concrete and tangible, so also is the throne of God (cf. Is. 6:1; Ez. 1:26; Rev. 4:2ff).
Biblical writers everywhere speak of it as they would the throne of any king on earth. The throne of God is not a metaphor to refer to a
figurative reign of God. Rather, it is a real chair in a real place in real time from which God rules over a real domain. Gods throne in
38
39
Alva McLain, the Greatness of the Kingdom (Winona Lakes, IN, BMH Books: 1959), p 66
Tertullian, Pagan Philosophy the Parent of Heresies, Prescription Against Heretics, ch. 7 (ANF 3:246-47); italics added.
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the height of the heavens is also set within a real temple (cf. Ps. 11:4; 28:2; 29:9; 96:6; 102:19; 150:1; Is. 6:1; Mic. 1:2; Hab. 2:20; Jon.
2:7). The heavenly temple is likewise not metaphorical, referring to some ethereal holy nature. He is holy, no doubt, but he is holy
within a real temple. It is his heavenly dwelling, from which he rules over all of creation and administrates everything in the heavens
and the earth............Within a biblical worldview, this is all very straight forward. There is no mystical language or spiritual
rhetoric. It is simply an interpretive narration of historical events that have taken place within the biblical cosmos.....40
VII.
HEAVEN IS A CITY: THE NEW JERUSALEM AND THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Rev. 21:10-11; 22:1-2 - And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the
holy city, [New] Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was
like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper......22:1 Then he showed me a river of the water of life,
clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the
river was the tree of life,bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month ; and the leaves of the tree
were for the healing of the nations
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established
you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were
perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. 16 By the abundance of your
trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the
mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Ezekiel 28:13-16
1.
This Passage in Rev. 21 has amazing continuity with the passage in Ezekiel 28. Could the two
passages be referring to the same reality? Could the Mountain of Eden be the same as the New
Jerusalem?
2.
The amazing description in Rev. 21 of the Holy City shows us that the tree of life is inside the
Holy City, the [New] Jerusalem. Why is the tree of Life that was once in the Garden of Eden in the
[New] Jerusalem? Did God move the Tree of Life to the Holy City? Where is the garden of Eden
now? (The word new is in brackets because it is not in the original greek text... It was added by
scholars to bring clarity.... But the real question really should be is this mountain city really
New?
3.
John Harrigan states the following points concerning the amazing continuity between the
Jerusalem above and the Garden of Eden: Moreover, many scholars have listed the various similarities
between the Garden of Eden and the Jerusalem temple [heavenly jerusalem]. Some of which include: 41
a.
b.
c.
d.
Man is commanded to serve/cultivate (Hb. abad) and keep/guard (Hb. shamar) both, representing his
priestly role and function (Gen. 2:15; Num. 3:7f; 8:25f; 18:5f; 1 Chr. 23:32).
The structure of both are three-fold with an entrance facing east (Gen. 2:8; 3:24; Ez. 8:16; 40:6). 42
Both are situated on a mountain (Gen. 2:10; 2 Chr. 3:1; Ez. 28:13-16; Is. 2:2), and both are guarded by
cherubim (Gen. 3:24; Ex. 25:18-22; 26:31; 1 Ki. 6:23-35).
Rivers flow out of both Eden (Gen. 2:10) and the eschatological temple in Jerusalem (Ez. 47:1-12; Rev.
21:1f).
Harrigan, John, Chapter 2_Biblical Worldview _en_draft of THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED A THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING BEFORE THE GLORY p.
10 www.gospelofchristcrucified.com/book.html
41 3a-g from Ibid. p11
42 3a-g john harrigan quotes: On the arboreal lampstand representing light and life, see Carol L. Meyers, The Tabernacle Menorah: A Synthetic Study of a Symbol
from the Biblical Cult (Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2003); on the Law representing wisdom and death to those who touch it, see Beale, Temple and the Churchs
Mission, 73-74.
40
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e.
f.
4.
5.
Precious metals and stones are used in and adorn both (Gen. 2:11f; Ex. 25:7-31; Ez. 28:13).
Trees filled the Garden (Gen. 2:9), and arboreal decorations adorned the Temple (1 Ki. 6:18-35; 7:18ff).
Moreover, the Trees of Life and Knowledge (Gen. 2:9) seem to be symbolized in the sanctuary Lamp stand
and Law, respectively.
The most logical answer seems to be that the garden of Eden has ALWAYS been inside the Holy
City. This means that the Holy City was on the earth in the beginning, and that Adam was inside
the Holy City when he was in the garden.
When we apply the truth of the original unity of heaven and earth to the biblical framework of heaven
previously established, it leads us toward the conclusion that in the beginning the Holy City was on the earth. 43
The Holy City seen at the close of the canon is not an innovation in or addition to heaven; it is and has always been
heaven the dwelling place of God and the home of the redeemed. Heaven is not an ethereal realm but rather a
mountain-city of colossal proportions and unrivaled beauty. The consequence is that when we read Heaven in the
Bible we need to equate it with the Holy City. Heaven and earth coming together is not the merging of two distinct
realms but simply the descent of the Holy City to the earth as described at the close of Revelation. Heaven is not an
ethereal, immaterial realm. Heaven is a city.44
6.
So now we need to re-orient our minds so that whenever we hear someone say heaven the first thing that
comes into our minds is the New Jerusalem (the Holy City) with the Garden of Eden (Paradise) within its walls.
B.
[Dost you think that this (current city of Jerusalem) is that city of which I said: "On the palms of My hands have I
graven you" 3 This building now built in your midst (the temple that Herod the great had built) is not that which is
revealed with Me (the Heavenly Temple of Eden), that which prepared beforehand here from the time when I took
counsel to make Paradise, and showed Adam before he sinned, but when he transgressed the commandment it was
removed from him, as also Paradise. 4 And after these things I showed it to My servant Abraham by night among
the portions of the victims. 5 And again also I showed it to Moses on Mount Sinai when I showed to the likeness of
the tabernacle and all its vessels. 6 And now, behold, it is preserved with Me, as Paradise. 7 Go, therefore, and do as
I command you.']2 Baruch 4:2-7
1.
This amazing passage from 2nd Baruch clearly states that Paradise (Eden), as well as the Holy City were
removed from Adam at the fall! This passage says that Abraham and Moses had their hope anchored in
the return of the Holy City which held the Garden of Eden within it.
2.
C.
PROMISE TO INHERIT THE LAND
9 By faith he [Abraham] stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and
builder is God....13These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a
distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. 14 Now
those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland 15 If they had been remembering that
land they came from, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But they now aspire to a better land-a
heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews
11:9-10;13-16
IHOPU CLASS NOTES: FOUNDATIONS OF NIGHT AND DAY WORSHIP AND PRAYER STEPHEN VENABLE Session 07: Heaven on Earth
IHOPU Course notes: BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS OF NIGHT & DAY WORSHIP AND PRAYER SESSION 02 UNDERSTANDING HEAVEN STEPHEN
VENABLE
43
44
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1.
Some say that Abraham somehow misunderstood the promise land. Some say that Abrahams
inheritance of promise land was somehow redefined to a heavenly abode? But when looking at the
text it is very clear God promised very specific geography in the middle east to Abraham and His
descendants. Did God Lie? Was Abraham confused? What about this heavenly land that Abraham
was looking for? Its very obvious that God promised real geographic land to Abraham and Abraham
understood that the Heavenly City would come down and rest upon that geographic promised Land.
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "I give this land to your offspring, from the brook of
Egypt to the Euphrates River: 19 [the land of] the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites,
Rephaim, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites." Gen 15:18-21
2.
3.
4.
VIII.
Irenaeus (AD120-202) - Thus, then, the promise of God, which He gave to Abraham, remains steadfast. For
thus He said: Lift up thine eyes, and look from this place where now thou art, towards the north and south, and
east and west. For all the earth which thou seest, I will give to thee and to thy seed, even forever. And again He
says, Arise, and go through the length and breadth of the land, since I will give it unto thee;and [yet] he did not
receive an inheritance in it, not even a footstep, but was always a stranger and a pilgrim therein. And upon the
death of Sarah his wife, when the Hittites were willing to bestow upon him a place where he might bury her, he
declined it as a gift, but bought the burying-place (giving for it four hundred talents of silver) from Ephron the
son of Zohar the Hittite. Thus did he await patiently the promise of God, and was unwilling to appear to receive
from men, what God had promised to give him, when He said again to him as follows: 'I will give this land to thy
seed, from the river of Egypt even unto the great river Euphrates.' If, then, God promised him the inheritance of
the land, yet he did not receive it during all the time of his sojourn there, it must be, that together with his seed,
that is, those who fear God and believe in Him [Jessu], he shall receive it at the resurrection of the just. For his
seed is the Church, which receives the adoption to God through the Lord, as John the Baptist said: For God is
able from the stones to raise up children to Abraham. ......Now God made promise of the land to Abraham and
his seed; yet neither Abraham nor his seed, that is, those who are justified by faith, do now receive any
inheritance in it; but they shall receive it at the resurrection of the just. For God is true and faithful; and on this
account He said, 'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.45
But those [Jews] who have persecuted and do persecute Christ, if they do not repent, shall not inherit anything
on the holy mountain. But the Gentiles, who have believed on Him, and have repented of the sins which they
have committed, they shall receive the inheritance along with the patriarchs and the prophets, and the just men
who are descended from Jacob, even although they neither keep the Sabbath, nor are circumcised, nor observe the
feasts. Assuredly they shall receive the holy inheritance of God. 46
This passage in Hebrews 11 clearly shows that Abraham and all the fathers werent just looking to
inherit the land of Canaan (promise land) alone but that they perceived by revelation that the Holy
City would one day return to that land promised and occupy the very spot it once inhabited. Their
hope was anchored in their return to the mountain paradise - Eden... where God dwells.
ESCHATOLOGICAL RETURN TO EDEN

A.
Above all, the new heavens and new earth will be a restored paradise. As Eden was paradisal in the beginning, so also will
the earth be paradisal in the age to come (Rev. 2:7; 22:1ff; cf. Is. 51:3ff).13 From Jerusalem will flow the river of the
water of life (Rev. 22:1), and wherever it goes everything will live (Ez. 47:9). It will be gloriously arboreal (cf. Ez.
47:7, 12), and the restored Tree of Life will bring the healing of the nations (Rev. 22:2; cf. Ez. 47:12). It is a real Tree of
Life on a real Earth with real fruit that will be the concrete mechanism by which death will be swallowed up. This is the
hope of a new heavens and new earth. 47
Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Bk. V, ch. xxxii

Justin, Dialogue with Trypho, ch. xxvi
47 THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED: THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING BEFORE THE GLORY; RD CH. 3 BIBLICAL THEOLOGY; JOHN HARRIGAN
45
46
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To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God... 26 To him
who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations 27 He will rule them with
an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery [Ps. 2:9]just as I have received authority from my
Father. (NIV Revelation 2:7, 26-27)
The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like
Eden, her wastelands like the garden [Gk. paradeisos LXX] of the LORD... 4 The law will go out from me; my
justice will become a light to the nations. 5 My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way,
and my arm will bring justice to the nations... 6 But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never
fail. (NIV Isaiah 51:3-6)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Bible is not only consistent from beginning to end, it has a perfect symmetry. The last 3 chapters of
Revelation mirror the first 3 of Genesis. At the beginning of Genesis we find the creation, the planting of the
Garden of Eden, the marriage of Adam and Eve, and the victory of the serpent. At the end of Revelation, we find
the new creation, the restoration of the Garden of Eden, the marriage of Yeshua and His bride, and the defeat of
the serpent. In Genesis 3 man sins. In Revelation 20 (3rd from the end), sin comes to its final judgment.
[Revelation 20 explains that the serpent of Genesis 3 was actually Satan.] No engineer, architect or contractor in
his right mind would ever lay the first brick or dig the first shovel until every last screw, wire and detail of the
building were already planned out in the written blueprint. Before God ever said, Let there be light, He already
had planned the ending of the book of Revelation. The rabbis say that the Torah and the Messiah existed before
the creation in Genesis. God planned His kingdom before the foundation of the earth (Matthew 25:34, Ephesians
1:4, I Peter 1:20, Revelation 13:8). Another rabbinic saying goes: the last to be done is the first to be planned.
Everything in Genesis was done with the final perfection of Revelation already in mind. Before God wrote the
first pages of His book, He had a happy ending planned for the last few chapters. 48
The Godhead together is set upon the restoration of Eden and establishing a dwelling place once more among the
sons of men.49
Inherent in the Abrahamic Covenant is the reiteration, in more explicit terms, of the promise for complete global
restoration (i.e. the return to Eden for humanity). This is the substance of the blessing pledged to be spread
abroad to the entire earth. Often this idea is trivialized, but it is in direct contrast to the curse that came after the
Fall and refers to the condition (blessedness) of communion and dominion enjoyed by Adam and Eve in Gods
untainted creation.50
And he [Messiah] shall open the gates of paradise, and shall remove the threatening sword against Adam. And
he shall give to the saints to eat from the tree of life, and the spirit of holiness shall be on them. Testament of Levi
18:10-1151
Thus, biblical theology could be summed up as eschatologically restored cosmogeny (restored creation through a
new heavens and new earth).6 As my middle born son used to say when he was three years old, Jesus is coming
back, and he will fix everything like it was in the beginning. It is simple enough for a three-year-old to
understand, but the church historically has continually sought a deeper meaning in the Scriptures. Far from
being carnal or earthly, there is nothing more glorious than the biblical concept of the resurrection of the
body and a New Earth.It is what we are made for, because it is how we were designed.52
[Asher Intrater, Old Testament in the Book of Revelation, Revive Israel Update (5 July 2009); archived at http://www.revive-israel.org/2009/07-05-old-testamentbook- revelation-part-2.html.]
49 IHOPU Course notes:Life of communion with God; Stephen Venable p. 29
50 IHOPU Course notes: Introduction to Biblical Doctrine; Stephen Venable p. 10
51 The date of the authorship of the Testament of Levi is uncertain but it is considered pre-Christian apocalyptic literature and is included in all modern collections of
Old Testament psuedepigraphical writings. Even if one were to assert that its composition was in the first-century, which is plausible, it is not considered a Christian
work and therefore supports the claim that it is reflective of the Jewish view of Paradise. See also 2 Esdras 8:45 for the reopening of Paradise - FOUNDATIONS OF
NIGHT AND DAY WORSHIP AND PRAYER FALL 2010 Session 07: Heaven on Earth - Stephen Venable
52 Harrigan, John, chapter 3_Biblical Theology _en_draft of THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED A THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING BEFORE THE GLORY
www.gospelofchristcrucified.com/book.html
48
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6.
IX.
Irenaeus (AD120-202) - It behooves the righteous first to receive the promise of the inheritance which God
promised to the fathers, and to reign in it, when they rise again to behold God in this creation which is renovated,
and that the judgment should take place afterwards. For it is just that in that very creation in which they toiled
or were afflicted, being proved in every way by suffering, they should receive the reward of their suffering; and
that in the creation in which they were slain because of their love to God, in that they should be revived again;
and that in the creation in which they endured servitude, in that they should reign. For God is rich in all things,
and all things are His. It is fitting, therefore, that the creation itself, being restored to its primeval condition,
should without restraint be under the dominion of the righteous; and the apostle has made this plain in the
Epistle to the Romans, when he thus speaks: 'For the expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of
the sons of God. For the creation has been subjected to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath
subjected the same in hope; since the creation itself shall also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the sons of God. 53
COVENANTAL REDEMPTION: A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
A.
Now we will step back and look how the covenantal promises all have continuity with Gods desired
eschatological end. The historic timeline of scripture we must be clearly interpreted through the lens of
the eschaton; the restoration/reconciliation of all things. From Genesis to Revelation the entire scripture
can be summed as Gods redemptive plan for humanity. God initiates a covenant with Noah, Abraham,
Moses, David and through Jesus with a very specific end result in mind; a return to the original design -
Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession
among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'
These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." Ex. 19:5-6
B.
The passage from Exodus 19 is the LORDs covenant vows that He made with the children of Israel after
He brought them out of Egypt. This passage can be likened to the covenant ceremony when Israel
stepped into the covenant that the Lord told Abraham about in Genesis 15. These verses are the Lords
wedding vows when He officially betrothed Himself to the nation of Israel forever (Jeremiah 2:2). The
vows describe Israel as the Lords highest treasure, and what He was vowing to make them into a
kingdom of priests.
C.
Here we see the heart of why the covenant exists; we see the purpose of Gods betrothal to man; we see
what the end result of what covenant will produce - The entire purpose for Gods covenant with man is
the Lord wants a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS.
1.
2.
D.
53
Instead of having a few set apart people that serve as priests on behalf of the rest of the people, the
Lords intention for covenant was He wanted a kingdom where every single person would function as
a priest.
However, having a Kingdom of Priests introduced in Exodus 19 is not a new idea. Since covenant
hinges upon restoring Gods original intent, it can be said that Gods intention from the very
beginning of creation was to have a kingdom of priests. God never changed His mind for the purpose
of Humanity from the very beginning he had a clear agenda and plan to produce a kingdom of priests
REPLICATION
Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Bk. V, ch. xxxii
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1.
It was not by accident that Israel was brought to a Mountain to worship to initiate the Mosaic covenant.
The LORD came down on the peak of a mountain to remind Israel of the Holy Paradise Temple
Mountain that He once rested upon. He was trying to remind them of the desired end... The God
again resting on the Holy Mountain restored to the earth with His people operating as a kingdom of
priests.
Tell him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship
Me in the wilderness, but so far you have not listened. Exodus 7:16
Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like
the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. Ex 19:18
2.
This is clearly foreshadowing the Messianic Age when Messiah is seen as beautiful and glorious, alone
exalted and reigning over the earth from the vastly elevated Mountain House
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His
ways so that we may walk in His paths." For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem. Is. 2:3
So human pride will be brought low, and the loftiness of men will be humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted on
that day. Is 2:17
On that day the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious,..... 5 Then the Lord will create a cloud of smoke
by day and a glowing flame of fire by night over the entire site of Mount Zion and over its assemblies. For there
will be a canopy over all the glory,
3.
X.
This leads us into the age of replication that bears witness to the coming restoration of all things.
REPLICATION OF THE TRUE TEMPLE IN HEAVEN UNTO CONVERGENCE

Now we will take a look at the replication within the Levitical/Davidic priestly worship. We see that the LORD
commanded that the tabernacle/ temple be built in a very specific way that replicated the true heavenly temple.
A.
Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right
hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which
the Lord erected, and not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is
necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since
there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly
things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, See that you
make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. Hebrews 8:1-5
But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made
with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He
entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Heb 9:11
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself,
now to appear in the presence of God for us Hebrews 9:24
When The tabernacle & Temple were rightly replicated and dedicated.... Gods glory filled the sanctuary. This
Glory which resided behind the veil was not just a visitation but it was a habitation. From the dedication onward
God Himself was referred to as abiding between the cherubim [I sam 4:4; 2 Sam 6:2; I Chron 13:6]
B.
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The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35Moses was unable to enter
the tent of meeting because the cloud rested on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 The Israelites
set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey. 37 If the
cloud was not taken up, they did not set out until the day it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was over
the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel
throughout all the stages of their journey. Exodus 40:34-38
The priests brought the ark of the Lord's covenant to its place [in solomons temple], into the inner sanctuary of
the temple, to the most holy place, beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 And the cherubim spread their wings
over the place of the ark so that the cherubim formed a cover above the ark and its poles. 9 The poles were so long
that their ends were seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they were not seen from outside;
they are there to this very day. 10 Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had put [in it] at
Horeb,where the Lord had made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. 11 When the priests
came out of the holy place-for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves regardless of their
tour of duty- 12 the Levitical singers of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, and of their sons and their relatives,
dressed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps and lyres, were standing east of the altar, and with them were 120
priests blowing trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the Lord with one
voice. They raised [their] voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the
Lord: For He is good; His faithful love endures forever; the temple, the Lord's temple, was filled with a cloud. 14
And because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the Lord filled God's
temple. 2 Chron. 5:7-14
1.
When the tabernacle and temple were rightly set up according to the pattern of the heavenly temple.
There was a convergence between the heavenly temple and the earthly reflection. This convergence
point was understood as the footstool of the LORD. The one tiny place in creation where God
literally rested like "
XI.
THE SEVENTH DAY OF CREATION: THE SABBATH REIGN OF GOD OVER ALL
And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made ; and he rested on the seventh day from all his
work which he had made Gen 2:2
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A.
B.
The seventh day of creation we are told that God rested from all His work. The Sabbath is then modeled after
this 7th day which becomes a central part of the old covenant Jewish law. This for most Christians this seems
odd.... Did God get tired from all His work? Of course not.... The rest of God on the 7th day is rightly seen as the
day when he had finished creating and on the 7th day He sat down to reign over His creation. This rest is the
rest of the Almighty is all of creation in perfect submission to his sublime leadership. He alone was exalted,
He alone was glorified, He had nothing striving against His leadership; nothing resisting his perfect plan.
When we see the LORD actively sitting down on His cosmic throne on the seventh day to receive praise from
creation instead of an apathetic deity that was nebulous about His own glory it clearly portrays Adams
original occupation as overtly priestly in nature. On that 7th day Adam was swept up into his creative design
to gaze at his Maker, be fascinated, and explode with the praise due to His name. That 7th day was surely a
glorious day!
The call to keep the Sabbath was the call to let God again reign over the hearts of His people again. It was the
call for His people to stop striving against His leadership and let Him again rest over His creation. The
Sabbath was about worship; the Sabbath was about remembering that the LORD alone deserves to be exalted
and is a weekly reminder that the true Sabbath was coming where the LORD would again come and restore all
things and sit enthroned at perfect peace with His creation. The Sabbath was about returning to the garden
again, entering back into the priestly ministry of Adam to give glory, honor and praise to the LORD. Because
of this the Sabbath was/is completely eschatological in nature. Its the call to enter into longing for the true
Sabbath reign on the earth again.
1.
2.
3.
2nd Temple Judaism as well as the first 300 years of church history hold to the Chiliasm 54 which is the
belief that the seven days of creation were typological of the entire plan of God. For God finished His
work in 6 days and then sat down to rule over his creation on the seventh day. A day with the Lord is
a thousand years so they saw that God would finish the plan of redemption in 6000 years and then
usher in the 1000 year Messianic age in which He would again reign over His creation.
In the traditional view that Genesis 1 is an account of material origins, day seven is mystifying. It appears to be
nothing more than an afterthought with theological concerns about Israelites observing the Sabbath an
appendix, a postscript, a tack on. In contrast, a reader from the ancient world, would know immediately what
was going on and recognize the role of day seven. Without hesitation the ancient reader would conclude that this
is a temple text and that day seven is the most important of the seven days... How could reactions be so different?
The difference is the piece of information that everyone knew in the ancient world and to which most modern
readers are totally oblivious: Deity rests in a temple, and only in a temple. This is what temples were built for.
We might even say that this is what a temple is a place for divine rest.55
.....On the sixth they said: "The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with excellency; the Lord is clothed, He had girded
Himself with strength: (therefore) also the world is firmly established, that it cannot be moved." Because then He
finished all His work He became exalted and placed Himself on the loftiest point of the world. On the seventh
they said: "A psalm or song for the Sabbath day" [ibid. xcii. 1]. A day of entire rest, when there is no eating nor
no drinking and no traffick, but the upright sit with their crowns on their heads and are nourished from the
glory of the Shekhina, as it is written [Ex. xxiv. 11]: "And they saw (the glory of) God, and did eat and drink,"
just like the angels.] 56
54
http://www.answersinrevelation.org/on_millennial_week.pdf
55
John H. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2009), 71.
NEW EDITION OF THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD Original Text, Edited, Corrected, Formulated and Translated into English BY
MICHAEL L. RODKINSON SECTION JURISPRUDENCE (DAMAGES) TRACTS ABOTH (FATHERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE), WITH ABOTH OF R. NATHAN,
DERECH ERETZ RABBA, AND ZUTA Revised by the Rev. Mr. GODFREY (Shajah) TAUBENHAUS Rabbi Cong. Beth Elohim, Brooklyn Volume I.(IX.)BOSTON;
THE TALMUD SOCIETY PDF version 1918 p. 2668
56
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4.
5.
C.
The following was the order of the Psalms in the daily service of the [2nd] Temple (Tamid, sect. vii, and
Maimonides in Tamid). On the first day of the week they sang Psalm 24, The earth is the Lords, etc., in
commemoration of the first day of creation, when God possessed the world, and ruled in it. On the second day
they sang Psalm 48, Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, etc., because on the second day of creation the
Lord divided His works, and reigned over them. On the third day they sang Psalm 82, God standeth in the
congregation of the mighty, etc., because on that day the earth appeared, on which are the Judge and the
judged. On the fourth day Psalm 94 was sung, O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth, etc., because on
the fourth day God made the sun, moon, and stars, and will be avenged on those that worship them. On the fifth
day they sang Psalm 81, Sing aloud unto God our strength, etc., because of the variety of creatures made that
day to praise His name. On the sixth day Psalm 93 was sung, The Lord reigneth, etc., because on that day
God finished His works and made man, and the Lord ruled over all His works. Lastly, on the Sabbath day they
sang Psalm 92, It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, etc., because the Sabbath was symbolical of the
millennial kingdom at the end of the six thousand years dispensation, when the Lord would reign over all, and
His glory and service fill the earth with thanksgiving.57
And six thousand years must needs be accomplished, in order that the Sabbath may come, the rest, the holy day
on which God rested from all His works. For the Sabbath is the type and emblem of the future kingdom of the
saints, when they shall reign with Christ, when He comes from heaven, as John says in hisApocalypse. For a
day with the Lord is as a thousand years. Since, then, in six days God made all things, it follows that six
thousand years must be fulfilled.58
The Restoration of the Sabbath reign is central to the plan of redemption for the writer of Hebrews says:
Therefore, while the promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear so that none of you should miss it. 2 For we
also have received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, since they
were not united with those who heard it in faith 3 (for we who have believed enter the rest), in keeping with what
He has said: So I swore in My anger, they will not enter My rest. And yet His works have been finished since the
foundation of the world, 4 for somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh
day God rested from all His works. 5 Again, in that passage [He says], They will never enter My rest. 6 Since it
remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of
disobedience, 7 again, He specifies a certain day- today -speaking through David after such a long time, as
previously stated: Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He
would not have spoken later about another day.9 A Sabbath rest remains, therefore, for God's people. 10 For the
person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His. 11 Let us then make
every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience. (Heb. 4:1-11).
D.
E.
This rest is not some arbitrary ceasing from works so that we can relax from working hard.... This is talking
about entering into the age to come, the age of rest, where creation again will voluntarily exalt the LORD alone.
This rest is the restoration of the priesthood of humanity when God ceases from striving with flesh (Gen 6:3).
And Humanity enters into the single ambition to glorify God within the context of relational love driven
worship. In the End God will alone be loved, treasured, adored by a kingdom of priests from every tribe
tongue people and nation. He will rest over us again and we will rest under His leadership forever.
When looking at the theology of the tabernacle it was the one place on the earth where God could again REST
His feet. This resting of His feet depicts perfect union between heaven and earth under His leadership like
it was in the beginning.
"The great trees of Lebanon will be given to you: its pine, fir, and cypress trees together. You will use them to
make my Temple beautiful, and I will give much honor to this place where I rest my feet. Is. 60:13
57
Edersheim, Alfred; TheTempleIts Ministry and Services
58
Hippolytus. On the Hexa meron, Or Six Days' Work, Fragments from Commentaries on Various Books of Scripture
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And the LORD said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place where I will rest my feet. I
will remain here forever, living among the people of Israel. They and their kings will not defile my holy name any
longer by their adulterous worship of other gods or by raising monuments in honor of their dead kings. Ez. 43:7
F.
THE FOOTSTOOL OF THE LORD

1.
The consequence of the holy replication was that theologically it was understood that there was complete
convergence between the earthly sanctuary (Gods footstool) and His Heavenly Sanctuary (His throne of
Glory).59
Then King David rose to his feet and said, Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to
build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had
made preparations to build it. I Chronicles 28:2
5 Exalt
the LORD our God, and worship at His footstoolHe is holy. Psalm 99:5
7 Let
us go into His tabernacle; let us worship at His footstool. 8 Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and
the ark of Your strength. Psalm 132:7-8
2.
3.
4.
G.
The theology of the temple was such that the glory of God behind the veil was not somehow a separate glory or
presence but merely the same glory of His Heavenly Temple. Due to the convergence there was no longer a
ceiling the Holy of Holies on the earth opened directly into the Heavenly Temple.60
Heaven and earth are further linked together ontologically in both Old and New Testament passages,
Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool...Thus, the earthly and heavenly temples are the
two ends of a cosmic dipole. The biblical examples have demonstrated that ontologically the temple/
palace of God may be considered as being either on earth or in heaven...Thus, when a righteous person
entered the temple in Jerusalem, he could contemplate the power of God and be with him in the heavenly
temple. In short, the divine temple could be depicted as earthly or heavenly, or both together in a
manner which illustrates an essential ontological unity between heaven and earth. 61
The temple is the place on earth where God rests his footit still belongs to the heavenly sphere: Yahweh sits on
his throne in heaven as well as in the temple (R. Knierim, VT 18 [1968], p. 52)62
THE WITNESS OF THE CHERUBIM

1.
Adam was forced to leave the Garden of Eden after He sinned and a Cherubim was placed at the
entrance to guard the way into the garden of Eden. No man could now enter back into the true
paradise worship center of Eden to be in Gods presence. Any attempt would be met with a flaming
sword.
So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword
which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:24
IHOPU COURSE NOTES: BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF NIGHT & DAY WORSHIP & PRAYER SESSION 05 A THEOLOGY OF REPLICATION &
CONVERGENCE STEPHEN VENABLE
60 IHOPU COURSE NOTES: BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF NIGHT & DAY WORSHIP & PRAYER SESSION 05 A THEOLOGY OF REPLICATION &
61 Revelation 4& 5, R. Dean Davis
62 Allen, Leslie C.: The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. Grand Rapids, MI : Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1976 (The New International Commentary
on the Old Testament)
59
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2.
Both the tabernacle and the temple images of cherubim were placed all around the walls and veil
surrounding the tabernacle, temple, ark and millennial temple. Cherubim were placed everywhere....
So the question is why?
8 And he made a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen; it was worked with an artistic
design of cherubim. Exodus 36:35
He made two cherubim of beaten gold; he made them of one piece at the two ends of the mercy seat [on the ark]: 8
one cherub at one end on this side, and the other cherub at the other end on that side. He made the cherubim at
the two ends of one piece with the mercy seat. 9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, and covered the
mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.
Exodus 37:7-9
Then he carved all the walls of the temple [of Solomon] all around, both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with
carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. I Kings 6:29
Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the doors of the [millennial] temple just as they were carved on the
walls. A wooden canopy was on the front of the vestibule outside. Ezekiel 41:25
3.
Without question the golden figures over the ark are the most significant biblical reference to cherubim
and with this perspective we can understand why they are so prominently featured. As we have seen, the
essence of the Holy of Holies theologically was the intersection of Heaven and earth, with the ark being
the footstool of the One enthroned on high in the Heavenly Sanctuary. The golden cherubim, therefore,
represent the living cherubim who were actually facilitating this mysterious intersection between the
two realities. Furthermore, just as the cherubim guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden, they are woven
into the veil to the Holy of Holies because the latter was the only point of access that remained to the City on the
earth. Their portraits were on the entryway to the Most Holy Place as a reminder that mighty, living cherubim
were invisibly present to strike down anyone who dared cross that holy boundary.63
4.
From the dedication of the tabernacle/temple onward God is now said to literally dwell between the
Cherubim.... This is not ambiguous... Beyond the veil inside the holy of holies God dwelt
simotaneously on the earth and in heaven between real heavenly Cherubim.
So the people sent [men] to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Hosts, who dwells
[between] the cherubim. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there withthe ark of the covenant of God. 1
Samuel 4:4 CSB
He and all his troops set out to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah.The ark is called by theName, the name of
the Lord of Hosts who dwells [between] the cherubim. 2 Samuel 6:2 CSB
David and all Israel went to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim), which belongs to Judah, to take from there the ark
of God, which is called by the name of the Lord who dwells [between] thecherubim. 1 Chronicles 13:6 CSB
XII.
ERA OF DAVIDIC WORSHIP : THE GLORY OF GOD NECESSITATES 24/7 ADORATION
IHOPU COURSE NOTES: BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF NIGHT & DAY WORSHIP & PRAYER SESSION 05 A THEOLOGY OF REPLICATION &
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A.
Introduction - We have looked at Gods original intent, His plan of restoration to have a kingdom of
Priests who minister to God, now lets look at a more rarely understood function of the priesthood called
the tabernacle of David. The Tabernacle of David shows us another facet of priestly ministry to the Lord.
The mosaic covenant mostly focused upon the intercessory roles of the priest in the sacrificial system
foreshadowing the atonement of Messiah. However, the tabernacle of David [which is central to the
davidic covenant] shows us/reminds us that the primary purpose of the priesthood is intimacy with God
through unceasing worship. It reminds us that being atoned for sin is unto a response of intimacy and
ministry to God in a priestly capacity.
B.
Historical Context - In the days when right before Samuel was born there was no widespread revelation
in the land of Israel, and the lamp of the Lord had almost gone out, and the priesthood was defiled (1
Sam. 2-3). However, after Samuel grew into a mighty prophet he anointed King David who built the
T.O.D. During the short season while the tabernacle of David was in operation we see the largest
concentration of seer prophets in the entire bible moving in revelation. 7 out of the 9 seers mentioned in
the Bible were alive during the function of the tabernacle of David They are: Saumuel, Zadok, Gad,
Heman, Iddo Asaph, Jeduthun. (The only other two mentioned in scripture apart from the time of the
tabernacle of David were Hanani, and Amos). Also Gad, Heman, Iddo, Asaph, and Jeduthun were all full
time singers & musicians in the Tabernacle of David. Many of these men were responsible for writing
many of the psalms. The vast majority of the Psalms were written during this time and were sung before
the ark continually.
C.
REPLICATING THE WORSHIP OF HEAVEN
1.
The tabernacle of David was birthed out of a young Jewish boy [David] on the backside of the hills of
Bethlehem playing his harp while no one was looking and getting an escort into seeing the worship of
heaven once again (Alluded to in Ps. 2, Ps. 27, Ps. 110, Ps. 132) . Once He perceived the created
purpose of Humanity His desire was single and his passion was one.... To gaze on the beauty of the Lord
forever, and he could not rest until there was again a resting place [Sabbath Reign] for the LORD on the earth
as it is in heaven. This boy who grew up into the unlikely mighty King of Israel carried a zeal for
humanitys purpose to be restored to the unceasing adoration to the LORD that it once had. Simply
stated: The only appropriate response to seeing the glory & majesty of God He was flung into a single
life longing; to see the LORD worshipped, adored, exalted and treasured above all else by all of
created order incessantly and continuously forever! He wanted to worship the LORD on the earth as
it is in heaven.
Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there in heaven a throne was set. One was seated on the throne, 3 and the
One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne.
4 Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns
on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and thunder. Burning before the throne
were seven fiery torches, which are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also before the throne was something like a sea of
glass, similar to crystal. In the middle and around the throne were four living creatures covered with eyes in front
and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like a calf; the third living
creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living
creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is coming. 9 Whenever the living creatures
give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever, 10 the 24 elders
fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns
before the throne, and say: 11 Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because
You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created. Rev. 4:2-11
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2.
3.
Revelation 4 and 5 gives us the highest revelation of Gods beauty in Scripture. God started with a blank canvas.
He could have put anything around His throne that He wanted. What the beautiful God put around His throne
expresses His beauty to creation. It is all very strategic. I call Rev. 4-5, the beauty realm of God and the
heavenly symphony.64
Right now our eyes look at the landscape around us and see grass brown from the bleak winter, cars speeding
around as though they were actually doing something important, beleaguered people bent beneath the weight of
the day bearing down upon their weary shoulders...just normal, everyday, life in a Midwestern city. Yet at the
very same moment, somewhere beyond reckoning, upon a deep blue expanse, living creatures cry out at the sight
of unthinkable beauty, elders fall, the voices of angels resound through the heavenly assembly. Covered with
eyes, the burning ones surrounding His throne gaze upon Him with ever replenishing wonder. 65
Heaven is so glorious because it is the place where God dwells and where He is perfectly honored. It is not a place of arbitrary
happiness detached from His identity. An unregenerate man would be utterly miserable in Heaven.....Its gravity derives from the fact
that it is where the beauty of Christ is beheld without hindrance and adored without rival. In other words, Heaven is so important and
pleasing because the Godhead is supremely glorified there all of its inhabitants are absorbed entirely with His greatness. Above all
else this is why God desires the earth to be like Heaven. Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is
unsearchable. Psalm 145:3 There are not competing objects of attention, affection, or allegiance in Heaven there is only one, allconsuming , absorbing focus of adoration. The LORD alone is exalted in the Heavenly Sanctuary. No angel, living creature, or elder is
subtly elevated so as to detract from the glory of the only One who is worthy........The Seraphim and the larger angelic host who are
enraptured with ministry to Him have never had a single sin forgiven, never an ailment healed, and never a financial need met and yet
their testimony is that His unending glory warrants their unending praise.......As they take in the glory of God with all of their eyes, it
is so overwhelming and so severe in its magnitude that it necessitates their unbroken adoration. In other words, their ceaseless
worship is based solely upon the glory of who He is. Furthermore, the only purpose of their worship is to magnify, extol, and proclaim
His surpassing glory. They are not changing the atmosphere in the Heavenly Temple or doing it so that revival will break out in the
Holy City, nor will they have any change in vocation or personal advancement because of their activity. In summary, both the
motivation (the sustaining force) and the aim (the purpose for which it is done) of the incessant worship of the Heavenly Temple is His
glory......66
Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and
with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is
full of His glory!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was
filled with smoke (Isa. 6:2-4).
4.
64
Note that the Seraphim are not hindered by the Holy One but are inflamed and enraptured by Him. God calls us
to be holy as He is holy, because of His desire to share His superior and most pleasurable quality of life. Holiness
is our liberty, not our restriction. It is the gateway into Gods infinite wonder, pleasure, and joy.67
STUDIES IN THE BEAUTY OF GOD MIKE BICKLE Session 3 Introduction to the Beauty Realm of God (Rev. 4) mikebickle.org
Venable, Stephen, IHOPU Course Notes Life of communion with God p. 128 PDF version
66 Venable, Stephen, IHOPU Course notes; BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS OF NIGHT & DAY WORSHIP & PRAYER SESSION 04 HEAVEN ON EARTH & THE
PRIESTHOOD OF HUMANITY p. 21-22
67 HOOD, ALLEN, IHOPU Course Notes: Book of Isaiah Session 4 Isaiahs Commissioning p. 13
65
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5.
6.
Yet, we must not compare the being of God with any other as we just now compared the mountain with the child.
We must not think of God as highest in an ascending order of beings, starting with the single cell and going on
up from the fish to the bird to the animal to man to angel to cherub to God. This would be to grant God
eminence, even pre-eminence, but that is not enough; we must grant Him transcendence in the fullest meaning
of that word. Forever God stands apart, in light unapproachable. He is as high above an archangel as above a
caterpillar, for the gulf that separates the archangel from the caterpillar is but finite, while the gulf between God
and the archangel is infinite. The caterpillar and the archangel, though far removed from each other in the scale
of created things, are nevertheless one in that they are alike created. They both belong in the category of thatwhich-is-not-God and are separated from God by infinitude itself.68
Those nearest the Throne continually bow and cover their eyes in response to the awesomeness of Gods beauty.
As the power impact of the revelation of God races through their being, they bow and rise up again invigorated
with the revelation of God. They cry, Holy, holy, holy which means, Transcendent beauty, transcendent
beauty, transcendent beauty! They are undone with incessant fascination, never exhausting the endless ocean
of Gods beauty69
Your eyes will see the King in His beauty (Isa. 33:17)
7.
8.
D.
There is a craving in every human spirit to be fascinated and to marvel. We long to be awestruck and filled with
endless wonder. The secular entertainment industry has identified this human longing and has targeted it
commercially. They have exploited this foundational craving to their own profit and to our ruin. Because of our
Divine design, we need a sense of wonderment in the core of our beings. Many search through secular
entertainment and recreation to fulfill this God given craving to be fascinated. We cannot repent away the
longing for entertainment, we can only answer it the right way. Without having a sense of awe, we live aimless
and spiritually bored. This makes us vulnerable to Satans tactics. A spiritually bored Church is weak. A
fascinated believer is strong and thus equipped to face temptation. The fascinating God created us with a need to
be fascinated. God's answer is the unveiling of Christ Jesus to fascinate the human spirit. Jesus will use Divine
entertainment to satisfy our longings. When God reveals God to the human spirit, there is a superior pleasure to
any other pleasure in life. In the romance of the gospel Jesus not only heals and forgives, but He fascinates our
heart with splendor and beauty. We have a beautiful God who beckons His people to fill their lives with His
Word and prayer.70
David saw glimpses of the unparalleled beauty of God and never recovered. He was consumed to
step into His created purpose to gaze on the beauty of God and worship as the only appropriate
response to such grandeur.
ESTABLISHING THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID: SETTING SINGERS AND MUSICIANS BEFORE THE
BEAUTY OF THE LORD ON THE EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
1.
David received revelation of worship according to Gods order in the heavenly sanctuary. Rev. 4-5
describes the worship order around Gods Throne. Those nearest Gods Throne agree with Him in
24/7 worship and intercession as the most exalted occupation
11 David
gave his son Solomon the plans...12 for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the
LORD...13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the
LORD... (1 Chr. 28:11-12)
96 I
68
69
have seen the consummation of all perfection (Gods Throne of Glory)... (Ps. 119:96)
A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (HarperCollins: San Francisco, 1961), p. 70.
BICKLE, MIKE; STUDIES IN THE BEAUTY OF GOD Session 7 The God of Jasper-like Beauty (Rev. 4:3) mikebickle.org
70 BICKLE, MIKE, FSM COURSE NOTES, STUDIES IN THE BEAUTY OF GOD Session 01 Introduction to the Beauty of God - mikebickle.org
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2.
After David became king, the first thing he did was to capture Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:3-10). Then he set
up a worship tabernacle in Jerusalem and put singers before the Ark (2 Sam. 6).
1Chron 16:1,4 - So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected
for it4. And He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to
thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel.
E.
King David brought the ark up from the Philistines possession and erected a tent in the City of David and
placed the ark within the tent. For some reason He did not take the ark to Gibeon where the tabernacle of
Moses was located. Which was were the ark belonged under the Law of Moses. The Levites were set
directly before the ark and were not separated from the ark. [which went against the law of Moses]
1Chron 9:33 - These are the singers, heads of the fathers houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and
were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night.
F.
David employed & provided for singers & musicians to stand before the Lord continually day & night. to
keep a continual upward flow of worship. Clearly David had revelation of the throne room in heaven
because His tabernacle was reflecting what was happening in heaven in Rev. Ch 4. This is why David
could do something that was contrary to the Law of Moses. He clearly received direct revelation from the
Lord. (1 Chron. 28:11-12)
1Chron 15:16 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be singers accompanied
by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals by raising the voice with resounding joy.
G.
We see very clearly that inside the tent the ark was surrounded constantly by song with an orchestra of
instruments that accompanied the songs. In I Chron 16:8-36 we see very clearly that the songs that were
being sung before the ark were the Psalms.
1Chron 23:5 Four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the Lord with musical instruments,
which I made said David for giving praise
H.
David did the un-thinkable by allowing a gentile to participate in the priestly service to the Lord. This
was in direct contrast against the Protocol of Levitical Priesthood. But this shows that David was
understanding the Rev. 5:9-12 Kingdom of Priests from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. David did
this as a witness of the coming priesthood inaugurated in the coming blood covenant in Messiah.
So David left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the Lord's covenant to minister regularly before the
ark according to the daily requirements. 38 [He also left] Obed-edom and his 68 relatives. Obed-edom son of
Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. 1 Chron 16:37-38
1Chron 25:1-3,6-8 David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph of
Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals2. under the
direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king.3. who prophesied with a harp to give
thanks and to praise the Lord..6. All these were under the directionfor the music in the house of the Lord,
with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps for service of the house of God they did this under the authority of
the king. So the number of them, who were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all were skillful, was 288 and they
cast lots for their duty small & great, the teacher with the student.
I.
We see that the David employed singers & musicians but also instructed them to sing Psalms before the
Lord and also prophesy during the musical procession. We see a training system in place to teach others
to sing scripture with musicians & to prophesy with their instruments.
J.
David undone with a passion for the glory of God he sets singers and musicians in place to worship God
24 hours a day 7 days a week.
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They cast lots impartially for their duties, the young and old alike, the teacher along with the pupil. 9 The first
lot for Asaph fell to Joseph, [his sons, and his brothers- 12] [to] Gedaliah the second: him, his brothers, and his
sons- 12 10 the third [to] Zaccur, his sons, and his brothers- 12 11 the fourth to Izri, his sons, and his brothers12 ......30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons, and his brothers- 12 31 and the twenty-fourth to Romamtiezer, his sons, and his brothers- 1 Chron 25:8-31
K.
The passage in 1 Chron 25 goes on, in v 8-31 to describe the casting of twenty-four lots for specific duties. In
considering an incessant element in Davidic worship, much hinges on accurately understanding what these twentyfour appointments were. At first glance it would seem like they correspond to the twenty-four courses (or divisions)
of the priests and the other Levites. A deeper investigation, however, yields a very different conclusion.71
1.
2.
3.
L.
Although the syntax links this verse to what has gone before, it in fact opens a new section, concerned with the
organization of division by lot. They system is similar to the one used for the other orders, but the term
divisions is absent; instead we find mismeret(correctly translated as duty)...We have seen that the casting of
lots among the priests was to decide the order of the fathers houses/divisions, and these were set all alike (24.5,
literally these against these.) For the Levites the lots were cast against their brethren...By contrast, for the
singers the lots are cast for their duties or duty against duty, and those who participate are small and great,
teacher and pupil alike (v. 8). This may mean that the matter determined by lot in this case is not the same: it is
not the rotating order of the divisions, but the composition and division of labour within the singers group
themselves, each of which was to perform its tasks according to its appointed duty. This could also account for
the relatively small number of singers: while each of the priestly divisions served two weeks per year, the
divisions rotating every week, there seems to be no parallel rotating system amongst the singers. 72
If the body of 288 was not separated, and instead remained a singular unit, then it begs the question of what
function the twenty-four groupings served. The most natural answer is that they corresponded to the twentyfour hours of the day.73
The singers were numbered by David into twenty-four courses. There was someone on duty in their course
throughout the twenty-four hours of the day and night praising the Lord (Psalms 134). There was a continual
service of praise ascending to the Lord as the Levites waited in their particular course. What a glorious
atmosphere to live in 74
THE DAVIDIC COVENANT
I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He
will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to
him, and he will be a son to Me. 2 Sam 7:12-14
1.
Central to the covenant God made with David was a promise that the promised seed of Abraham, the
Messiah (Jewish King) be of His family line. The LORD makes this promise to David in the context of
David wanting to build a temple for the LORD. David had a zeal to make a resting place for God on
the earth again because he clearly understood the plan of redemption was to return to original edenic
worship. God basically says to David that He wont be the one to build the permanent dwelling for
God but that his seed, the son of God (Messiah), will build that temple, and He will have a kingdom
with its throne in that temple.... Meaning the messiah to come will restore edenic worship. This is
fulfilled in the millennial temple seen in Ezekiel 40-48. Jesus will come and rebuild a temple in
Jerusalem that will precede the ultimate return of edenic temple back down upon the restored
renovated new heavens and new earth at the close of the millennium. This Son of David will be the
one to fulfill the longing in Davids heart for a night and day resting place of worship for the LORD.
Quotations from the IHOPU class Theology of Night and day Prayer session12 The story of Replication part 2 written by Stephen Venable
(Sara Japhet, I & II Chronicles (Louisville, Kentucky: John Knox Westminster Press, 1993), p 445-6.)
73 Quotations from the IHOPU class Theology of Night and day Prayer session12 The story of Replication part 2 written by Stephen Venable
74 Kevin Conner, The Tabernacle of David (Portland, Oregon: City Bible Publishing, 1976), p 184
71
72
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Lord, give thought to David, and to all his troubles;How he made an oath to the Lord, and gave his word to the
great God of Jacob, saying, 3 Truly, I will not come into my house, or go to my bed, 4 I will not give sleep to my
eyes, or rest to my eyeballs, 5 Till I have got a place for the Lord, a resting-place for the great God of Jacob. 6 We
had news of it at Ephrathah: we came to it in the fields of the wood. 7 Let us go into his tent; let us give worship
at his feet. 8 Come back, O Lord, to your resting-place; you and the ark of your strength. 9 Let your priests be
clothed with righteousness; and let your saints give cries of joy. 10 Because of your servant David, do not give up
your king. 11 The Lord gave a true oath to David, which he will not take back, saying, I will give your kingdom
to the fruit of your body. 12 If your children keep my word, and the teachings which I will give them, their
children will be rulers of your kingdom for ever. 13 For the Lord's heart is on Zion, desiring it for his restingplace. 14 This is my rest for ever: here will I ever be; for this is my desire. 15 My blessing will be on her food; and
her poor will be full of bread. 16 Her priests will be clothed with salvation; and her saints will give cries of joy.
17 There I will make the horn of David fertile: I have made ready a light for my king. 18 His haters will be clothed
with shame; but I will make his crown shining. Ps. 132
XIII.
THE COMMANDMENT OF DAVID: NIGHT AND DAY WORSHIP AFTER THE DAVIDIC ERA
1.
David passed on a commandment to continue worship night and day with vocational singers and
musicians
And he (Hezekiah) set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with lyres, and with harps, according
to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment
of the LORD by his prophets, And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the
trumpets. [2 Chronicles 29:25-26]
2.
The context of this verse is that King Hezekiah has torn down the alters of Baal and put an end to the
false worship. His next act he cleanses the temple and places all the singers and musicians back into
place according to the commandment of David, which was having singers and musicians ministering
to the Lord night & day. Clearly Hezekiah knew that to restore true worship in Israel the singers and
musicians had to be in their rightful place.
Also they roasted the Passover offerings with fire according to the ordinance; but the other holy offerings they
boiled in pots, in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them quickly among all the lay people. Then afterward they
prepared portions for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of Aaron, were busy in offering
burnt offerings and fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared portions for themselves and for the priests, the
sons of Aaron. And the singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their places, according to the command of David,
Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer. Also the gatekeepers were at each gate; they did not have to leave
their position, because their brethren the Levites prepared portions for them. So all the service of the Lord was
prepared the same day, to keep the Passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, according to the
command of King Josiah. [2 Chronicles 35:13-16]
3.
King Josiah just like Hezekiah took the throne when Israel was in spiritual compromise. The
economic situation was good and no one knew anything was wrong until the word of God was read
to the King. At this time Josiah repents and turns the entire nation back to the Lord. Again we see
that the King places the singers and musicians back into their place just like in the tabernacle of David.
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the Lord's people.
And all the people went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images, and
killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the Lord
to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt
offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established
by David. And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way
unclean should enter. [2 Chronicles 23:16-20]
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4.
This is another example of the Lord raising up a king and priest to turn Israel fully back to Himself.
We see here again that idol worship is again done away with, and the Levites along with the singers
and musicians according to Davids commandment are set in place. This event happened about 885
B.C. about 140 years after the reign of King David
And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers
across from them, to praise and give thanks, group alternating with group, according to the command of David
the man of God. [Nehemiah 12:24]
5.
6.
After Jerusalem had been destroyed Nehemiah goes back up in 446 B.C. and rebuilds the wall around
the city in the midst of fierce persecution. Nehemiah again sets the singers and musicians in place.
In this passage we see the singers antiphonally singing (singing back and forth). We see that this was
part of what was going on in the Tabernacle of David.
44 And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the first fruits, and the
tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and
Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered. Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept
the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his
son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and
thanksgiving to God. In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the
singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites, and the
Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron. [Nehemiah 12:44-47]
7.
After Nehemiah helps rebuild the walls around Jerusalem he sets up an economic system to provide
for all the singers and gatekeepers just as David once did so they could minister to the Lord.
A. King David not only set up a Tabernacle for a season but He actually declared an official commandment
that singers & musicians, and gatekeepers should be before the Lord night & Day throughout Israels
history. We see that every single time that Israel has a spiritual renewal, singers and musicians are again
set in their place. Every time true worship is established again in Israel we see them in their place
ministering to the Lord night & day. Every time Israel goes into a crisis the singers and musicians and
gatekeepers are not in place anymore. As soon as the ministry to the Lord is removed crisis was soon to
follow. The saying was true for Israel so goes the priesthood so goes the nation..... I think that same
principle applies today.
XIV.
NEW COVENANT PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST

"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with
the house of Judah-- not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by
the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,
says the Lord. Jeremiah 31:31-32
And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body
which is
given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten,
saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Luke 22:19-20
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1.
Israel broke the Exodus 19 covenant with the LORD which provoked the LORDS heart to anger
like a jealous husband. However, the Lord didnt give up upon the nation of Israel...He gave a
new covenant through the blood of Jesus Christ which would also allow all the gentile nations of
the earth to be grafted into the remnant of Israel so that all the nations could enjoy covenant with
the Lord. The central reason for the new covenant was the Lord wanted to provoke Israel to
jealousy by giving their priesthood to the gentiles. The Lord knew that when Israel sees the
gentiles functioning as priests in the presence of the Lord being filled with the Holy Spirit it
would cause Israel to say...Hey the Lord promised that we would be a kingdom of priests but look all the
gentiles are doing it and look at how awesome the promise of God is.. This provoking to jealousy will
cause Israel to enter back into covenant with God. In other words the reason why the Lord
allowed the gentiles to be included in the new covenant was so that Israel would to return to
Him. (Ex. 20:5, 34:14, Deut. 6:15; Ps. 117:1; Is 9:1, 11:1, 42, 49:6, 60 Jer. 16:19, 31; Zech 12-13; Mal. 1;
Luke 22:20; Acts 1-15; Rom. 9-11; 2 Cor. 3, 11:2; Heb. 8-9).
a.The centerpiece in Gods heart in the plan of redemption is the nation of Israel. The churches
main purpose in the great commission will come to conclusion when the entire nation of
Israel is provoked to Jealousy and All of Israel is saved. - Romans 11:26
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may
proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. - 1 Peter 2:9
Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are
before His throne, 5 and fromJesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings
of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood - 6 and He has made us to be a
kingdom, priests to His God and Father -to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Rev. 1:4-6
(NASB)
And they [the company in heaven] sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its
seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and
nation. "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." Rev.
5:9-10 (NASB)
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Rev. 20:6
B.
In these passages we see the fulfillment of the Lord bringing forth a kingdom of priests just as he said He
would in Exodus 19. This shows us that the new blood covenant of Jesus Christ fulfills the intentions of
the old covenant. The old covenant failed to produce Gods dream of a kingdom of Priests but the new
covenant succeeds in giving God that dream. The desired end result of both old and new covenants has
always been the same; to produce a kingdom of priests. The Lord never changed His mind, having a
kingdom of priests was always His intention. Remember Christ didnt come to abolish the purpose law
and the prophets exist but to fulfill them - Matt. 5:17. (Remember that the definition of the church is
those that have entered into the new covenant.)
1.
The new testament that the church clings to so much was never meant to stand alone but is the
fulfillment of the old testament. Therefore you cannot understand what the new testament is
fulfilling without understanding what the old testament was prophesying.
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C.
In this passage above in Revelation 5:9-10 we see a description spoken in heaven about the end-time church
who are on the earth. The church is being defined in this passage above, from heavens perspective, as the
very kingdom of priests described in Exodus 19. Heaven breaks out in a new song basically saying Praise you
Jesus for look you have produced the kingdom of priests that you wanted way back in Exodus 19, and here they are. This
passage proceeds the return of Jesus & the end time judgments. It shows us that there will be a saved remnant
in every ethnos on the earth before Jesus returns. So this passage tells us this that the end time church will step
into her primary function as a kingdom of priests before the Lords return.
Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament words says that the most reliable new testament
manuscripts use, the greek word basileia in Revelation 1:6, and 5:10 which is clearly translated
kingdom of/and Priests instead of Kings75 and Priests. The word basileia76 is never once used in the
new testament to describe a king, it is always, 100% of the time used to describe a kingdom. There are
a few manuscripts that use the greek word basileus77 which does in fact man kings and not
kingdom. However, based on the exegetical context of Exodus 19 the correct word should be basileia
and should be kingdom of/and priests. Here is the quote from Vines:
1.
In Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10, the most authentic mss. have the word basileia, "kingdom," instead of the
plural of basileus, AV, "kings," RV, "a kingdom (to be priests)," and "a kingdom (and priests)." The kingdom
was conditionally offered by God to Israel, that they should be to Him "a kingdom of priests," Exodus 19:6, the
entire nation fulfilling priestly worship and service. Their failure to fulfill His covenant resulted in the selection
of the Aaronic priesthood. The bringing in of the new and better covenant of grace has constituted all believers a
spiritual kingdom, a holy and royal priesthood, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9.78
2.
XV.
Summation of Gods Covenant with Man: The Lords primary intension for having relationship with
people through covenant was to bring together a corporate group of people called the church whos
primary occupation for eternity would be to function as a kingdom of priests. So when you think of
the church think kingdom of priests. The intended end of all covenants has always been the same: To
restore Gods original intent to have a kingdom of priests ministering to God in the context of a love
relationship within the Paradise temple of Eden. His plan was very good to begin with and will not
be changed..... He will have his way. All things will be restored to its original state, and then it will go
far beyond the glory of what Adam experienced.
THIS AGE OF REPLICATION TO GIVE WITNESS OF THE COMING RESTORATION IN THE AGE TO COME
A.
B.
Its vital to understand and to define from scripture when the restoration of all things will happen and what
the people of God should do/ expect until then. To understand the story of redemption we just need to
understand a simple timeline. This is the gospel. Simply stated the gospel is the good news. This good news is
much more than justification by faith in the atoning work of the cross. The good news is the restoration of all
things. The cross will always and forever be central to the gospel but the Day of the Lord is just as essential in
the gospel to punish the wicked and bring in everlasting righteousness. I have included a diagram to help
develop this a little more.
I just want to point your attention to the fact that the church is defined as sojourning through this present evil
age by as sons of light [Sons of another age] to giving witness of the coming resurrection (of the body &
creation) at the Day of the Lord. The Church is waiting for their inheritance (just as Abraham still is)
Kings? - I dont believe that there is strong scriptural support for Believers being called Kings. Obviously, some of the redeemed will reign with Christ, wear
crowns, and have great authority to steward the nations. But God never intended His people to have kings, He only wanted them to have priests that acted like Judges
and to submit to one king - the Messiah Jesus. I believe that the prototype of the reigning priest in the age to come is the prophet Samuel who ruled Israel as a priest,
prophet and Judge, and that we will function like he did ruling as a judge over nations in submission to the one true King - Jesus.
76 http://biblesuite.com/greek/935.htm
77 http://biblesuite.com/greek/932.htm
78 Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words - King http://studybible.info/vines/King
75
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C.
D.
In light of this the purpose of the church is to give witness to the rest of creation of what the age to come will
be like. So the church sojourns within priestly communities replicating the worship of heaven to bear witness
to the coming restored purpose of humanity.
There is also an included diagram how the LORD has all throughout this present evil age has been giving
clear signs that were clearly replicating the worship of heaven to bear witness of the coming restoration of all
things. Notice how some of the theophanies happen on the tops of mountains (Mt. Sinai and the
transfiguration). These are clearly pointing towards the day when the Holy Mountain will again be on the
earth with God ruling over creation from its peak.
THE CHUCH GIVING WITNESS TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN:

A PRIESTHOOD GLORIFYING GOD THROUGH UNCEASING
ADORATION
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians
1:17-18(NKJV)
E.
Jesus is Worthy- When we receive living understanding of: the infinite, never ending all powerful God
who loved us so much that He: put on a human frame (for eternity); took all our sin & the wrath we
deserved upon Himself; who died the most brutal death in human history pouring out His perfect blood;
who spent 3 days in hell and came out of the grave, thus defeating Satan, death, hell, & the grave receiving
all authority in heaven and upon the earth... how will the human soul respond? When we get a true spirit
of wisdom and revelation of who the God man Jesus REALLY is what will be the appropriate response of
the human heart? When we just get one glimpse of the reality of who Jesus truly is, it should lead us into
living lives of such abandon, extravagant love motivated worship that the only sensible & rational thing to
do with our lives will be complete and total surrender of our hearts to Him by pouring out everything that
we have and are upon His feet in worship. When the human soul finally starts to see the love bound up
within the heart of Jesus for humanity that was poured out through the cross; the human soul (under the
power of the Holy Spirit) will suddenly and forever be devastated with one longing, to love Him with
everything we have and everything we are. When this happens it will produce such an explosion of high
praise that is pulled from the depth of the human soul leading the one to love Jesus with the same
intensity and quality as the Father does ... With utter fullness.... (John 17:26).
1.
The issue the church is facing right now is the deity of Christ. Jesus is still asking the question to His
people who do you say that I am (Matt. 16:15)? Almost all the religions of the world honor Christ as a
prophet, but not as God. However this is ridiculous because if they are recognizing Him as a prophet
then they should listen to what He said; He clearly said that He is God (Jn 8:58, Mk 14:62). If He was
just a prophet but not God then we are all still stuck in our sin and we have no hope (1 Cor. 15:1-20).
However we know He is God cause only God can resurrect from the dead in a body that can eat fish ,
walk through walls and ascend in the heavens where He still lives in that body 2000 years later as
well as give His very own Spirit into peoples hearts (Jn 21:9-15, 20:19-20; Lk 24:36-53. 1 Jn 3:24, 4:13).
No person who ever came back from death ever stayed permanently alive but they all went back into
the grave eventually, Christ never did He is still alive in a body that will never die. No prophet could
give their spirit away into the hearts of others to help them overcome sin, but Christ did. So If we
know Christ is God then what is the proper response?
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so
that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Phil 2:9-10
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F.
Can you imagine if worship around the throne in heaven stopped for just one moment. How utterly
ridiculous & even blasphemous it would be to see the uncreated God in all His Glory sitting on His eternal
throne and NOT break out in an eruption of praise as a created being. Did you know that this is actually
impossible? Its actually impossible to get a glimpse of the reality of who God is and resist praise. Phil 2:10
says there is a day coming when the glory of Jesus will be revealed for all to see and even the wicked, along
with the demons will be forced to their knees by the weight of His glory and they will all shout that Jesus
indeed is LORD and GOD.
1.
2.
3.
G.
Can you imagine seeing God in all His glory and how insignificant our best description & language
would seem being offered to the uncreated God. We have no ability to effectively describe in our
limited vocabulary and finite minds the glory we will see in the Godhead which will leave us undone,
in awe & in complete fascination for eternity. The angels are also so undone that for thousands of
years they have been stuck on the same attribute of God, HOLY, and all they can declare is that one
word over and over again. He is so much greater and so much more glorious than anything we can
possibly comprehend.
Justice Did you know that the greatest injustice in the earth right now is not genocide, child
pornography, abortion, rape, murder or any other such horrific acts. The greatest injustice in the earth
is the fact that the God of all glory created the earth for His glory but instead He is constantly being
mocked by His own creation (i.e. Ps. 2, 14, 53, 94; Is. 24; Rom. 1). The Lord is and always has been all
glorious and completely worthy to be praised for who He is; yet He receives such a miniscule amount
of true worship & glorification from the earth. At any given time across the earth how much true
worship or informed revelatory praise is really rising before His throne? The lack of glorifying praise is
more than a tragedy or a catastrophe it is an utter abomination. Think about God creating something
and then that something actually hating Him and not being thankful for the very breath of life in its
lungs (Is. 53:6; Zeph. 1 Ps. 53, Eph. 2:1-3)!?
However, this will change in the generation before the Lord returns. We are told in Malachi 1:11, Is.
42, Ps 148 and many other passages that praise will rise from every single place on the earth declaring
His greatness. It is right, true & just for Jesus to be surrounded by day & night prayer & worship
every moment of every day for eternity. The most reasonable thing to do once we come to know Jesus
is to corporately worship him night & day. The greatest act of justice the church can do is to gather
corporately as often as possible to give Jesus the praise that is due to His name.
Worship defined: True Worship is Informed Revelatory Praise: True Worship is an appropriate response to the
person - God. True worship does not come from a song we know or a hymn we sing together. Worship is
given when we see Gods true nature and then our soul breaks out into an explosion of adoration in response
to what we are seeing. Its one thing to sing about a concept of who we think God is but its another thing to
sing and declare praise from seeing the very source of that idea - God Himself. An example of this is the 24
elders in Revelation 4. They are seeing God unhindered and as a response to what they see they sing Holy,
Holy, Holy; this is because they are staring at Gods Holiness. Eph. 1:17-19, Jn 17:24 tells us that God wants to
bring us up into the place of seeing & experiencing the glory of Jesus we so often sing about so that we can
respond in the appropriate worship for the singular purpose to glorify, magnify, and extol the worth of Christ.
It is not just lyric that glorifies Him, it is hearts that have experienced the source of the lyric and are singing
and praising from a place of personal experience that gives Him the most glory.
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H.
The greatest way God is glorified is by putting on display to creation human hearts that have come to
completely and totally love Jesus. Human hearts that have come to truly love God is the greatest miracle
of all. Man hated GOD through and through and for GOD to be able to transform those that spat on His
face, flogged Him, mocked Him and crucified Him into wholehearted lovers of God is an
incomprehensible feat (Rom. 5:8). The greatest way we can glorify Jesus is by giving Him as much time as
possible in an undistracted gaze upon Him for one purpose to Love upon Him to sing a new song of praise
straight to His heart. When many hearts come together in a corporate setting and do this together the glory
given to Jesus is beyond our comprehension as it makes all of created order marvel at the power of God to
transform the wicked human heart into one that truly loves Him.
1.
2.
3.
All throughout the scriptures we are commanded to give God to glory. Many people have
understood giving glory to God mostly to mean that doing everything as unto the Lord and then
tell others that it was God that gave us the grace to do it well. This is one aspect of how we give glory
to the Lord, however the vast majority of the time when the scriptures say give glory to God they are
specifically commanding us to sing to God in a corporate setting. (2 Chron. 5:13; Ps. 16:9; 29; 33; 40:3;
58:7; 66:2; 86:9,12; 96; 98; 105; 108;138; 149; Is. 42,)
Giving glory to God and worshipping Him is a life not just a song. The one who truly gives glory to
God and truly worships Him is the one who does everything even eating and drinking to the Glory of
God. You cant live half hearted in love for Christ, and then just sing to Him and call that giving glory
to Him. However, the highest expression of giving glory to God is when the life of the believer is all
done as worship, but the pinnacle of giving Him glory would be stopping everything just to gaze
upon Him and express Love to Him through song..... Thus giving Him Glory. Its the heart that
voluntarily loves Him extravagantly because of who He is, is the one who will make much of His name.
What higher way to express emotions is there than singing? This song is an overflow of a life unto the
glory of God. The one who has come to truly love Jesus will continually want to pull away from
everything to be in an undistracted gaze upon Him. For love desires the object of its affection. The
one who loves much is the one who has seen much... And the one who sees much will then sing
making much of Him.
What a shame it is that out of the millions and millions of believers that there is so little time where
the church is solely focused upon giving Jesus our love by giving Him the glory that is due to His
name. God will have a church who is a priesthood who will minister to His heart. God will have a
multitude of believers who will want to love Him voluntarily. The Church at the end of this age will
understand that their primary function & occupation in this life is to stand before Him to Love Him as
priests bringing Him Great Glory.
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I.
J.
The Ultimate Confrontation - The normal fallen mindset of mankind is that the end of all things is the
happiness of man. Fallen humanitys thoughts, motivations and intensions boldly yet subtly declare that
the purpose of God is that He exists for me. Even much of Christianity is indoctrinated with a gospel that
presents the center of all things as man and a God whos eternal throne as irrelevant whos main agenda is to
serve the happiness of man. This portrays a God who is distant, apathetic, and who does not see or care about
the reality that His creation is using the breath He gives them by mercy to constantly mock Him instead of
extolling His worth, and greatness. Currently, humanity spends all of its resources (trillions of dollars every
year) to make people more happy & comfortable in their sin to drown out the screaming voice of truth bound
up in the heart of every human soul saying Man exists for God, give Him glory!. However, this will all
change, and God will confront humanitys core desire to self exist in happiness in their own made up belief
systems which are devoid of truth. The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming
fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (2
Thess. 1:7-9). The true gospel is about a God who has fire in His eyes and zeal in His heart to bring forth the
reality that the end of all things is the glory and preeminence of Christ. He will show ALL that mans entire
purpose for existence was, is, and eternally will be to voluntarily and incessantly glorify God in the context of
a love relationship.
The Tragic Abomination: If Gods glory remains abstract, then the offense of other things being glorified in His place will
remain abstract as well. We are so accustomed to the outrageous treason of humanitys disregard for its Maker that we
are scarcely phased by it. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. Luke
16:15 All that is presently exalted or esteemed among men is looked upon with abhorrence in the LORDs sight precisely
because only He should be highly exalted by men. The rampant, emblazoned idolatry that fills the earth is an atrocity in
the eyes of the LORD. Turning from our own hearts to behold His, we find a torrent of zeal instead of apathy. Gods
passion for His glory burns brightly and the world is not aimlessly spinning into the future. God has ordained a Day
when His glory & His name alone will be revered and magnified in the earth. The extreme disparity between the present
condition of the earth and the unstoppable, global exaltation of God alone should cause us to tremble because it will
necessitate a worldwide upheaval unlike anything we can fathom. He will arise and shake everything that can be
shaken.79
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone
shall be exalted in that day. 12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall come upon everything proud and
lofty, upon everything lifted up Isaiah 2:11-12
The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; the LORD alone
will be exalted in that day, 18 But the idols He shall utterly abolish. 19 They shall go into the holes of the rocks,
and into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to
shake the earth mightily. Isaiah 2:17-19
17
K.
79 79
NIGHT AND DAY WORSHIP & PRAYER
TALLAHASSEE HOUSE OF PRAYER RELENTLESS CONFERENCE SEPT 16, 2011 THE GLORY OF GOD: THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE OF PRAYER STEPHEN VENABLE
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1.
2.
3.
Many people have made arguments that houses of prayer where Jesus is worshipped night & day are
extreme, unbalanced or unnecessary. Many believers have said that day and night prayer & worship
is not a biblical new testament church and that we have more important things to do than just sit and
a room and sing & pray. The fact that these arguments even exist within the Church displays just
how extremely disconnected & completely devoid of understanding the church has become with the
reality of who Jesus is. When we get a glimpse of the true worthiness of Jesus the only rational,
reasonable thing to do is gather together corporately night and day to worship Him on earth as it is in
heaven. At the end of the age all these arguments will be brought down, crushed and eternally,
destroyed by the consuming brightness & absolute splendor of the glory and majesty of Jesus being
put on display. In the end God wins, and He will be worshipped and exalted by His people every
moment of every second night & day for eternity. (1 Kings 9:5; 1 Chron 22:10; Psalm 10:16, 45:6,
46:10; Jer. 32:39; Is. 2:11, 45:8-25, 40, 65; 66:18-19; Dan. 2:44, 7:27; Micah 4:5; Rom. 1:25; I Cor. 1:29; 1 Tim
1:17; Rev. 4:10, 7:15, )
Our worship problem - The western church has lost understanding of what worship & prayer is all
about (Jn 4:23). We, the church, see prayer & worship mostly as a way that a person receives from
God unto being productive in life. Obviously, there are natural benefits to worship & prayer that do
cause us to experience personal inner transformation (2 Cor. 3:18). But we the church have made these
bi-products of prayer & worship the main course that we are feasting upon, with the side dish, that
we dont want to eat from, being ascribing glory to Jesus (Ps 29:2). We have exchanged the glory of
God for a graven image called ourselves (Rom. 1:25). We teach & preach sermons, and write songs
around self help man centered biblical concepts with Jesus sprinkled throughout that cause us to
grow in a knowledge that is supposed to increase the quality of life but fails to make Christ the
supreme center of all things. Christianity today many times is nothing more than a humanistic
sunday morning event that revolves around making people feel good and is almost completely
devoid of a jealousy to give Jesus the true worship that He rightly deserves. How much of what we
call worship & prayer causes people to get outside of themselves to focus & gaze upon the ultimate
value, worth & majesty of Jesus (Col. 3:2; Is 40:26; Ps. 27:4; Ps. 121:1, 123:1, 141:8)? The sad reality is
that most of what we call prayer & worship is time spent meditating upon our own souls rather than
upon Jesus. Frightfully so, many times our western Christian worship services are nothing more
than us coming together corporately to become effectively more self centered thus enforcing
humanitys natural inclination to bow down to worship ourselves. Lord have mercy upon us!
The purpose of the night & day house of prayer - Many people think of being a full-time prayer
(intercessory) missionary within a house of prayer as just a greenhouse preparation time to get
equipped to do ministry better; but that it is not a valid life occupation. Even, though people do
experience rapid growth & inner transformation from living a life of full-time prayer it is not the main
purpose of why the house of prayer exists, (again this is just a natural bi-product of spending large
quantities of time in Gods presence in prayer.) The main purpose of a full time intercessory
missionary within house of prayer is to have a set people in a set apart place to worship & glorify
Jesus earth just as He is in heaven because He is is worthy. Full time prayer & worship is mostly
focused upon God not people. (Is. 56:7; Matt. 21:13; Mk. 11:17; Lk 19:46; Rev. 7:15; 1 Chron 9:33; 2
Chron. 6:20; Is 62:6; Lk. 2:37, 18:7; Rev. 4:8)
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4.
5.
L.
M.
N.
It is such a tragedy that the name of God is constantly being mocked across the earth and that it stirs
such a small amount of righteous indignation & jealousy in the Church to preserve the truth about
who God is (Is. 48; Ez. 20:9,13, 22:26; 36:22-23). There is such a tiny amount of revelation of the true
glory of God that we think its normal to spend an hour on Sunday morning and an hour on
Wednesday night gathering to focus upon Him. The Church should see how God is being mocked
and long to make the wrong things right by building places all over earth where Jesus is being rightly
worshipped all the time (Ps. 113:1-3; 145:21; Mal.1:11, Is. 12:4-5, 45:6). It is so extremely sad that we
esteem worship to Jesus with such little value that we think people who want to use the majority of
their time & breath to praise Jesus as unwise, scary, radical, & even cultish. Here is what we are
saying by having these mindsets, Jesus I dont believe that you are worthy to be continually worshipped on
earth as you are in heaven. We are saying to our precious Redeemer Jesus, continual worship may work
in heaven but that just wont work down here on earth. Jesus, I am so thankful that you saved me from hell &
everlasting damnation that I am going to give you a whoopping 3-7 minutes of my time each day devoted to
worshipping you (the average time that a western christian spends daily in focused prayer)!?!?! Jesus,
continually worshiping you is a worthy way for people to spend eternity but its not a worthy way to spend the
vapor of a life we have now before eternity.
Freed up from other duties - The reality is that if we dont enjoy and want to voluntarily worship
Jesus in this life then why would we see ourselves fit to enter into Gods Kingdom that is completely
centered around worshipping Jesus. If we dont enjoy worshipping Jesus now then why do we even
want to go to heaven to spend eternity in the blazing glory of Christ where He alone is glorified
continually? The reality is, whether we like it or not, that in just a blink of an eye this life will end
and every single believer and is going to be freed up from all their other duties and eternally
employed in the full-time occupation of prayer & worship. If we think that a community of believers
that is doing night & day prayer and worship is weird, unbalanced, & extreme now how will we feel
when the entire collective church throughout all of history is doing it together for eternity? (1 Chron.
9:33, see end time worship references at the end of notes)
Defining Heaven: Do we believe in a heaven that is completely Christ centered or do we believe in just a
blissful place with no pain & suffering? If heaven somehow had all of the benefits of Christ readily available
to us but Christ himself was absent would we the western church even know the difference? Do we the
western church even want an eternity that is totally focused upon Jesus? Are we telling people the truth
about what heaven is going to be like or are we just trying to give them an alternative to everlasting
destruction?
Handling the harsh reality - This all can seem harsh but it is real. However, we are not to become bitter at the
state of the church. The church is Christs Bride so we must take heed how we think & speak about Gods
Bride. She is sick and needs help but we must discern that much of the lack of true worship has to do with
immaturity & a lack of true shepherds rather than blatant rebellion. So we must wake up the Bride to reality
by showing her the depravity of our current reality & then call her higher. We must shepherd & nurture her is
such a way that she feels empowered to enter into true worship. Remember that when Jesus corrects the 7
churches in Rev. 2-3 He always tells the church what she is doing well, then calls her to repentance, and then
encourages her again. We must know that it is the kindness of God to lead us into repentance.
WE WERE MADE TO BE FASCINATED
1.
Giving glory to God in true worship is what we are made for and its the most exhilarating thing we
can do now and forever. The core desire for man to be happy isnt bad in and of itself, but it becomes
sin when it becomes the end in itself apart from God. We are created for joy and pleasure but that is
only truly found in the superior pleasures of experiencing God. (Ps. 16:11, 27:4, 34:8, 36:8; Phil 3:8)
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2.
XVI.
- God is holy. In being holy, He has the highest, most pleasurable and exhilarating quality of life in existence.
He wants to share this life with us. God created us with a longing for the pleasure of being fascinated or
awestruck and filled with marvel and wonder. We are fascinated most when we are fascinated by revelation of
Jesus. The greatest pleasures available to the human spirit are spiritual pleasures that come to us when God
reveals God to our spirit. This exhilarates our spirit at the deepest levels. The Spirit discerns the deep things of
the Fathers heart and mind including the delight He feels for Jesus, the saints and His kingdom. The Spirit
helps us feel some of what the Father feels. The Spirit escorts us on a divine treasure hunt into the beauty of
Jesus. He takes the things that Jesus is thinking and feeling and reveals them to us. This is divine entertainment
at its highest - Mike Bickle
RESTORATION OF THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, THE END TIME WORSHIP MOVEMENT, AND THE
NEW COVENANT PRIESTHOOD
"On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I
will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name," Says the Lord who does this thing. Amos 9:11 (NKJV)
A.
The Prophet Amos was prophesying around 760bc. This prophecy was given in Israel during a time
when Israel was seeing military and economic gain, however the spiritual state in Israel was terrible.
This was given about 200-150 years after Davids tabernacle had been torn down. It was probably torn
down by Jeroboam who was the 3rd King over Israel. Jeroboam actually stopped the Levites from
ministering in Solomons Temple, and set up a false priesthood with idol worship at all the high places.
This prophecy was probably misunderstood because Solomons temple was built & established and
Davids tabernacle was left unattended. The tabernacle of David was seen as a temporary setting until
Solomons temple was built. The singers & musicians did move over to Solomons temple for a short
season. This prophecy was obviously about what was going on inside the Tabernacle of David rather
than the temporary tent.
'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild
its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who
are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.' Acts 15:16-17 (NKJV)
B.
During the Jerusalem Council there was a debate over how the apostles should steward the outbreak of
Revival that was happening among the Jews and for the first time among the Gentiles. Some were very
excited that the Gentile were receiving Jesus but others were worried that they would corrupt the purity
of the movement. The elder Apostle James (Jesus bother) stands up and quotes Amos 9:11 about the
Lord restoring the tabernacle of David so the Gentiles could also seek the Lord. So the question is why
would James use this verse that seems so out of context at first glance because it describes night and day
prayer leading to the salvation of Gentiles? What does this say about the normal expression of
Christianity in the early church?
1.I dont
think that James is quoting a random verse to describe the salvation of a group of gentiles. I
believe He is bringing definition to the form and function of how the church is to function to
walk out the great commission. He is defining the new testament church as the restoration of the
tabernacle of David. Now the only possible way that He could use this verse in context with the
function of the church is if the church was seemingly functioning in the spirit of the tabernacle of
David? So were they?
Acts 2:42-47 And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship in the breaking of
bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders & signs were done through the
apostles. Now all who believed were together and had all things in common. And sold their possessions
and goods, and divided them among all as everyone had need. So they continued daily with one accord
in the temple, and breaking bread from house of house they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of
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heart, praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to their group those who
were being saved
C.
Clearly the early church was functioning in a worship centric way in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David.
Instead of being egocentric or man centered like what the modern missions movements have subtly
evolved into. [Meaning worshiping Jesus was their primary ambition above trying to evangelize the
nations] The restoration of the T.O.D. is biblically the way the fullness of the gentiles will be saved (a
quantity & quality). This includes the Muslim nations (Edom or Esau). They must come to the saving
knowledge of Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit promised to the Jews which will provoke Israel (or
Jacob) to Jealousy which leads to all of Israel being saved. (Romans 9-11).
1.
D.
The only way that the fullness of the gentiles will be saved and the great commission is to be
finished is by rebuilding the tabernacle of David. The Lords heart behind missions and
evangelism isnt just to produce converts, but it is to bring people to encounter His manifest
presence so that they will see Him and respond rightly with worship. John Piper says it this
way.... missions exist because worship doesnt. When the manifest glory of God begins to fill the
worship & prayer rooms all over the earth the gentiles will be drawn in to seek the Lord. Just as
moths flock to a flame so will hungry people flock to encounter the presence of the living God.
The very purpose of the great commission is to disciple the nations into a priesthood who will minister to
God as the Bride of Christ:
But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was
given me from God, 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God,
so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the HolySpirit. - Romans 15:15
1.This verse
is astounding Paul defines himself as a priest who ministers the gospel. He is

communicating that He has become a messenger of the gospel to walk out the great commission
only because he has gone beyond the veil into direct communication with God as a priest to
hear the word of the Lord, and that His ministry to people is a natural overflow of an encounter
with the God-man Jesus. (See Mal. 2:7)
2.
The Lord is restoring the priesthood in the church so that we can rebuild night & day worship centers
in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David where people can come and encounter God and sing praises to
His name. The central cry of the Tabernacle of David was built upon:
Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the
days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple (NIV)
3.
The church at the end of the age will rebuild the Tabernacle of David because they are driven with
this priestly desire to gaze upon God and minister to Him as their one and only primary ambition.
Isaiah 16:5 In mercy throne will be established; And one will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David,
judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.
E.
After Jesus comes back He will establish His government in Jerusalem with His very throne right in the
midst of night & day prayer & worship surrounding Himself. He will govern the nations from a night &
day prayer room.
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1.
As we rebuild the Tabernacle of David on the earth in the generation before the Lord returns we
will actually help build & prepare the main seat of Gods government on the earth. Basically, the
prayer room on the earth will start to come into unity with the prayer room in heaven. The saints
being joined with Christ will begin to stand in the governmental authority of Heaven and they
will pray, prophecy and decree things from the prayer room that will shift the spiritual climate
over cities & nations. Also their prayers will release the end time judgements of God upon the
reprobate (i.e. Rev. 8:3; Jas 5:16-18; Rev. 11:6; 1 Cor 4:8; 2 Cor 10:3- 6; Jn 15:7-8, 16; Ps 12:3; Ps. 109).
2.
Prayer & worship is the central way that God runs the government of His Kingdom. This has
always been true. We can start to build prayer rooms that begin to establish Gods throne on the
earth now. God wants the prayer room of heaven to be united with the prayer rooms of the earth
(Mat. 6:10). When our prayer rooms start to come into divine alignment with the one in heaven
then the authority of heaven will be released into the earth and the prayers of the saints will be
seen as effective (James 5:16-18).
a.Right
now the governments of the earth are becoming more corrupt as the years go by. The
church has been mostly unsuccessful in transforming earthly legislation in the governments
of the earth. (This might happen in a few places in the earth to give witness to what will
happen in the age to come, but mostly the governments of the earth will get more corrupt
until the end of the age.... but this doesnt mean we give up trying). However, we can appeal
to a higher court and if we begin to step into the court room of heaven through intercession
then we will see God begin to shake everything that can be shaken in the wicked systems of
the earth (Hebrews 12:26). Gods heart is to establish godly earthly governments, but that
will not happen apart from prayer and rebuilding the tabernacle of David.
the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory. 19 "I will set a sign
among them and will send survivors from them to the nations : Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to
the distant coastlands that have neither heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare My glory
among the nations. 20 "Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to the
LORD, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the
LORD, "just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD. 21 "I will
also take some of them [gentiles] for priests and for Levites," says the LORD. 22 "For just as the new heavens
and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name
will endure. 23 "And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will
come to bow down before Me," says the LORD. Is. 66:18-23
F.
3.
Isaiah also prophesies about gentiles being taken by the Lord to minister as priests and levites in
the context of the fulfillment of the great commission and the millennial reign of Christ. Scholars
in every commentary I have read agree that exegetically speaking through the context of the
passage that the of them is speaking of God taking Gentiles as priests not Jews.
4.
Notice that the who reason for this priesthood is found in verse 19.... they will declare my glory
among the nations. That phrase is not mostly referring to speaking to others about God, (though
that is a part of it). This verse mostly means Gentiles standing before God as the Levites did in
the T.O.D. to sing of the glory and majesty of Christ.
RESTORING ALTARS OF WORSHIP
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O priests who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Your name ?' 7 "You are presenting defiled
food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be
despised......10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle
fire on My altar ! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "nor will I accept an offering from you. 11
"For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place
incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure ; for My name will be great among the
nations," says the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 1:6-7, 10-11
G.
1.
In the passage above from Malachi ch. 1 the Lord is rebuking the priesthood in Israel for
dishonoring their duties as priests and not taking their priesthood seriously. Israels priesthood
became disconnected from the awe having the HOLY one dwell in their midst and thus started to
despise their unique privilege to be the only people on the earth who were able to stand before
and minister to the one true God. They Lost the fear of the Lord and began to take His presence
for granted.
2.
The Lord tells them in Malachi 1:11, that because they have despised their priesthood the Lord
was going to go and offer the ministry of the priesthood to someone who would actually
appreciate His presence... the gentile nations of the earth. This prophecy would have been an
utter shock to the nation of Israel based upon the protocol of the Law of Moses that said that no
gentile foreigner could even come near the inner courts of the temple much less become the
priests of the temple! A gentile priest was the last and most ridiculous ideas to the jewish mind;
and God basically tells them, OK since you are communicating to me through your actions that
you dont want this priesthood then I am going to give it to the least likely ones....the gentiles.
He tells them in essence that when the plan of redemption is all said and done, that He will have
a priesthood who will offer pure sacrifices of praise in every place in every nation, in every
people group, and everywhere upon the planet....forever. Why? Because His name will be seen
as great and all the people all over the earth would build altars of worship and prayer unto His
greatness (i.e. Is. 2:11-12; Ps. 46:10; 22:27; 66:1-4; 67:3-7; 86:9; 138:4-5; 148:13)
3.
Incense is produced from the fire on the altar (Rev. 8:3-5, Ex. 30). Incense is defined as prayer in
Ps. 141:2. So what we see here is a picture of the church building altars of prayer & worship with
a fire that doesnt go out (Lev. 6:12-13). The Holy Spirit is going to raise up a priesthood who has
understanding on how to build and steward altars of worship.
4.
Altars were always built unto the Lord in a place where a person had an encounter with God.
(i.e. Genesis 35:1). An altar was meant to be a continual memorial before God that whenever
someone saw it they would worship the Lord. Holy Spirit is going to raise up people who will
encounter God and build altars unto God which will provide a resting place for Gods glory
rather than just a visiting place. This passage above tells us that there is going to be a priesthood
in every ethnos who will build altars in every place on the earth. Wherever the believers gather
will become an altar unto the Lord.
ESCHATOLOGICAL SINGING
Sing to the LORD a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth ! You who go down to the sea, and all
that is in it. You islands, and those who dwell on them. Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The
settlements where Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of
the mountains. Let them give glory to the LORD And declare His praise in the coastlands. The LORD will go
forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail against His enemies. Isaiah 42:10-13
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1.
Having a saved remnant in every ethnos is not going to automatically bring Jesus back to the
earth. He is coming for a Bride who will be longing for Him with wholehearted love. After we
have a saved remnant in every people group the passage in Isaiah 42 must come to pass to
provoke the heart of the Lord to come back. The Holy Spirit will move the entire church, all
across the earth into a united concert of praise & adoration unto the Lamb that truly makes His
name great in the nations which will stir His heart like never before. When the church begins to
corporately praise all over the earth from a place of deep mourning & longing for the Bridegroom
Jesus with an equal amount of longing that Jesus has in His heart to return to have His bride (Mk
2:20); then the Father will send Jesus back to the earth. Jesus will return with a mighty shout and
with all His zeal and He will come to get the church that He loved so much that He gave His life
for.
Currently the Church is very apathetic about wanting Jesus to come back... If they do talk
about Him returning its usually within the context to the hope of ending suffering, not the
longing to be with a person that they Love. This is the fruit of a deeper malady.... Where we
have to ask ourselves to we really love Him? Do we really long for His return? Did I wake
up today hoping He will come just so that I can be with Him? The real barometer of our love
for Jesus can be practically measured in our longing for Him to come..... For love desires the
object of its affections.
a.
b. The
doctrine of the church being the Bride of Christ (i.e. Eph. 5:27) is in part meant to point us to
the process of love produced between a man and a woman as they fall in love, as they long
for one another unto them becoming one for life. The intense longing that a man and woman
feel within their hearts the months and weeks leading up to the union of marriage is meant to
show the zeal in the heart of Jesus to come back to the earth for His church. (for we are
betrothed to Him now and will be fully united with Him at the resurrection) Its also meant
to display the burning flame of love that will be in the heart of the church for Jesus to return.
Jesus is coming back for a Bride who will reciprocate back to Him the feelings He has for
her.
2.
This prophecy in Is. 42 is about the worship movement at the end of the age when there will be a
people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation crying out in unity with the Holy Spirit and
in unity with each other saying, come Lord Jesus come (Rev.22:17) . This will be done from a
place of bridal identity which ultimately stirs the Fathers heart to send the Lord Jesus back to the
earth. A love motivated continual worship movement that consumes the hearts of all the
redeemed from every ethnos is the only thing that will stir the Fathers heart enough to
consider the church a bride worthy for Jesus. He will send Jesus with great zeal to get His
promised Bride and to inherit His rightful place of ruling the earth from Zion. All of Jesus fiery
passion will be displayed as He comes to destroy the ones who are oppressing His Bride.
There is coming a great end of the age missions thrust where the church will thrust themselves into the
hardest and darkest places on the planet so that Christ will be worshipped in every place. The greatest
burden upon the church will be the lack of praise given to Christ from nations that blaspheme His name
and they will go to those places to seek and save the lost motivated by seeing How the Great Missionary...
Jesus came to seek and save the lost for the glory of His name.
3.
H.
THE HEART BEAT OF MISSIONS
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This (His cross) shows us His reach to redeem & win the heart of His enemies. How far does His reach go? How
far was love Himself willing to go for the object of His affection? He came from the very highest splendor of heaven
to the very lowest depths of sheol. He sacrificed more than we can imagine. He was and is higher than we will ever
comprehend and He came far lower than we will ever know. He traveled infinitely further than what we have the
capacity to discern.... and why? Why did He do it? Why travel a vast chasm that no finite being could possible
travel? Why? It was Love; the very flame of Love; the very Author of love; the One who is an all consuming fire of
love. He did it for love! Love for underserving, wretched, hopeless, miserable sinners. This is how far love will go.
The greatest paradox of this love is just how undeserving, how inappropriate, humanity is to receive this love. It
would be one thing to travel further than the known universe for the greatest treasure or infinite wealth.... but for
sinners? This is where the human mind fails, it cannot comprehend, it has no words, it begins to breakdown, it
cracks and bursts and responds with one word... HOLY! He is totally other-than. Somehow,.... I am the treasure
that My creator transcended all boundaries to buy back. Somehow... I am His Beloved.80
1.
This is the heart beat of missions when we see the Glory of Christ and how low he came in the
incarnation, death burial and resurrection to save us who deserve Hell we will surely want to be just like
Him and also go to low places to proclaim His beauty to those that are lost just as we were. This should
cause us to thrust ourselves right into the most hostile places to seek and save His enemies so that His
name will be exalted in every place. Its wrong for the nations to blaspheme such love displayed in His
cross. We should go even at the cost of our very lives as He did to make sure that He is seen as beautiful
and glorious. When the glory of the cross bears down upon us, we will not even shrink back from death.
For love is as strong as death....
2.
Mal 1:11 is the heartbeat of the great commission. We go to build altars of worship so that there will be
a priesthood to Christ in every place so that He will be rightly worshipped by all people. I like to say that
great commission consists of building altars and maintaining sanctuaries so that the gentiles can seek the
Lord (Amos 9:11)
3.
XVII.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A.
80
We know that our lives here on the earth are very short compared to the eternity we will spend with Jesus
in the ages to come. Many believers are so focused on their own personal callings and building their own
ministries that they never understand their eternal identity & function. If you had a ministry that would
last forever & not just for a mere 70 years wouldnt you want to know about it? Well, we do have an
eternal ministry that will never ever change, and it is every believers high calling, but yet the vast
majority of believers today have no idea what their eternal ministry is. It is indeed the ministry unto the
Lord done by voluntary lovers whos main agenda forever is to somehow give themselves to God in such
a way that He receives more glory, honor, & praise than He had the previous moment.
http://ryanandsally.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-love-is-thishe-was-our-propitiation.html#more
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B.
What is the standard of judgement: The Fathers motive & purpose for the Church is to produce a Bride
worthy of Jesus who loves Him with the same love that He has for His Son so He would receive great glory
(John 17:26; Eph 5:27; Is 53:11). As believers we will be judged & rewarded based upon one question? DID
YOU LOVE (Mk 12:30-31)? Did you love Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind & strength, and did you love
your neighbor as yourself. Ministry to God is the most practical thing we can do to walk out the greatest
commandment of loving God. Ministry to God is an active gaze upon the beauty of God which causes us to
praise & love Him more, causing us to glorify Him more. Also, loving our neighbor is Biblically founded in
leading them into Christs love by demonstrating the love of God and by teaching them to follow His
commands (John 14:15-25). True second commandment love leads others to love Jesus in the first
commandment prescribed way. True love leads others to the source of love - Christ. So, true second
commandment love teaches others the ministry to God. When everything is all said and done, the truth will
be revealed and we will be rewarded based on the quality of love we had for Jesus and the quality of love
for Jesus that was produced in others through our lives.
1.
C.
D.
E.
F.
81
After the Great Commission is over then what are we the church going to do? After we disciple all
the nations and our great task is over ...then what? Accomplishing the great commission is not and
end in itself, but it is unto something so much greater. When the great commission is over our
ministry functions as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, etc. will no longer be
needed and will come to and end. There is a day rapidly approaching where we will all loose those
titles and we will no longer be identified or identify ourselves with these ministry functions. We will
be identified as priests.
Becoming a praying church usually is talked about in the context of helping us fulfill the great commission.
We usually teach the necessity of prayer so that the lost will be saved and so that we can be transformed into
effective carriers of the gospel. These are obviously Biblical concepts However, becoming a praying church is
more than crying out for revival and its more than personal transformation of the heart. Becoming a praying
church is mostly about becoming a people who want to praise the worthiness of Jesus because they love Him.
Ministry to God is not focused on man at all. The highest praise is when we loose view of ourselves and all we
can see is God on the throne. Praying for revival and personal heart transformation is focused upon man and
is very necessary but secondary to our highest calling of Ministry to God.
Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesnt. Gods passion is to
be known and honored and worshipped among all the peoples. To worship him is to share that passion for his supremacy
among the nations. In heaven there will be no missions; only worship. Gathered around the throne will be worshipers
from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Revelation 7:7). 81
The very purpose of the great commission is to disciple the nations into a priesthood who will minister to God
as the Bride of Christ:
We need to start to move the church into her eternal identity to give a true witness of how the Kingdom of
God is meant to function as a kingdom of priests who minister to God as their primary occupation. We need
to begin to disciple the nations into an expression of Christianity that gives a witness to the earth of what
heavens definition of Christianity is.....or rather how heaven expresses its Christianity.
Piper, John, A Holy Ambition To Preach Where Christ Has Not Been Named, 2011 Desiring God Foundation, p. 1160
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SUMMATION STATEMENT: All throughout redemptive history Gods commission to the righteous remnant
is the same: To give a clear witness of the restoration of all things in the coming age by functioning as a
kingdom of priests replicating the worship of the true temple above. The very epicenter of the restoration of
all things is not a nebulous utopia where man can experience bliss, but rather this epicenter is when the
haughtiness of man is brought low and the LORD JESUS alone will be exalted (Is. 2; Phil. 2)! The very heartbeat of
restoration is WORSHIP; worship being restored on the earth as it is in heaven like it was in the beginning.
The great end of all things is the glory of God which is expressed primarily through the love motivated
worship of the redeemed. This love driven worship will forever be incessant, unceasing adoration, as the only
appropriate response to the glory of Christ, and His sacrificial love displayed through the cross. The church is
meant to sojourn through this present evil age living as if they are sons of the age to come. This primarily means
to carry a driving motivation in everything we do that Jesus must be treasured and exalted above all else, in
every place, all over the earth, all the time (Mal 1:11) which is in stark contrast to the world who mocks His
identity and has the primary motivation being the exaltation of man all over the earth all the time. The glory
of Christ needs to begin to bear down on us far more than the felt need of man so that we carry a true
conviction that the lack of glorifying worship to Christ is far more tragic than all of the cumulative suffering of
humanity put together. In fact we must see the lack of worship the way God sees it as an utter abomination
and thus we must seek thrust ourselves and others into the hardest and darkest places of the planet to build
altars or worship and disciple priests of Christ in every tribe, tongue, people, and nation so that Jesus will
receive the reward of His suffering. His reward is an equally yoked eternal Bride that loves Him the way the
Father loves Him, and who will forever seek the glory of their bridegroom God as their main purpose of
existence.... Sight is for the purpose of beholding Him, and Breath is for the purpose of praise.
G.
XVIII. APPENDIX
THE END TIME WORSHIP & PRAYER MOVEMENT BIBLICAL REFERENCES
1 Chron 16:23:36 - Sing to the LORD, all the earth ; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 24 Tell of His
glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. 25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be
praised ; He also is to be feared above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the
heavens. 27 Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place. 28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families
of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name ; Bring an
offering, and come before Him; Worship the LORD in holy array. 30 Tremble before Him, all the earth ; Indeed, the world
is firmly established, it will not be moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice ; And let them say among
the nations, "The LORD reigns." 32 Let the sea roar, and all it contains ; Let the field exult, and all that is in it. 33 Then
the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD ; For He is coming to judge the earth. 34 O give thanks to the
LORD, for He is good ; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 35 Then say, "Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather
us and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks to Your holy name, And glory in Your praise." 36 Blessed be the LORD,
the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. Then all the people said, "Amen," and praised the LORD.
Ps. 2 - Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing ? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us tear their fetters
apart And cast away their cords from us!" 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will
speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, 6 "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion,
My holy mountain." 7 "I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD : He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have
begotten You. 8 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your
possession. 9 'You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware .' " 10 Now therefore, O
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kings, show discernment ; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with
trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be
kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!
Ps. 8 - O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the
heavens ! 2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To
make the enemy and the revengeful cease. 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the
stars, which You have ordained ; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty ! 6 You make him to rule
over the works of Your hands ; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the
field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our
Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth !
Ps. 22:22-31 - I will tell of Your name to my brethren ; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. 23 You who fear the
LORD, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. 24
For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted ; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he
cried to Him for help, He heard. 25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly ; I shall pay my vows before those
who fear Him. 26 The afflicted will eat and be satisfied ; Those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live
forever ! 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations will
worship before You. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S And He rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth
will eat and worship, All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive. 30
Posterity will serve Him; It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation. 31 They will come and will declare His
righteousness To a people who will be born, that He has performed it
Ps. 9:11 - Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion ; Declare among the peoples His deeds.
Ps. 29 - Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the
glory due to His name ; Worship the LORD in holy array. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters ; The God of glory
thunders, The LORD is over many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful, The voice of the LORD is majestic. 5 The
voice of the LORD breaks the cedars ; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip
like a calf, And Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD
shakes the wilderness ; The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve And
strips the forests bare ; And in His temple everything says, "Glory !" 10 The LORD sat as King at the flood ; Yes, the
LORD sits as King forever. 11 The LORD will give strength to His people ; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Ps. 30:4-12 - 4 Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, And give thanks to His holy name. 5 For His anger is but for
a moment, His favor is for a lifetime ; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. 6 Now as
for me, I said in my prosperity, "I will never be moved." 7 O LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand
strong ; You hid Your face, I was dismayed. 8 To You, O LORD, I called, And to the Lord I made supplication : 9 "What
profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit ? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness ? 10 "Hear,
O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper." 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing ; You have
loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, 12 That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my
God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Ps. 33:1-3 -Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones ; Praise is becoming to the upright. 2 Give thanks to the
LORD with the lyre ; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. 3 Sing to Him a new song ; Play skillfully with a
shout of joy. 4 For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness. 5 He loves righteousness
and justice ; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And
by the breath of His mouth all their host. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap ; He lays up the deeps in
storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD ; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
Ps 47 - O clap your hands, all peoples ; Shout to God with the voice of joy. 2 For the LORD Most High is to be feared, A
great King over all the earth. 3 He subdues peoples under us And nations under our feet. 4 He chooses our inheritance for
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us, The glory of Jacob whom He loves. Selah. 5 God has ascended with a shout, The LORD, with the sound of a trumpet. 6
Sing praises to God, sing praises ; Sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth ; Sing
praises with a skillful psalm. 8 God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. 9 The princes of the people have
assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, For the shields of the earth belong to God ; He is highly
exalted.
Ps. 66 - Shout joyfully to God, all the earth ; 2 Sing the glory of His name ; Make His praise glorious. 3 Say to God, "How
awesome are Your works ! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You. 4 "All
the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name." Selah.
Ps 67:3-4, 7 - Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. 4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for
joy! For You shall...govern the nations on earth... 7God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
Ps. 68:3-5; 32-35 - But let the righteous be glad ; let them exult before God ; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. 4 Sing to
God, sing praises to His name ; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the LORD, and exult
before Him. 5 A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation......32 Sing to God, O
kingdoms of the earth, Sing praises to the Lord, Selah. 33 To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from
ancient times ; Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice. 34 Ascribe strength to God ; His majesty is over
Israel And His strength is in the skies. 35 O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives
strength and power to the people. Blessed be God !
Ps. 86:8-12 - There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours. 9 All nations whom
You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name. 10 For You are great and do
wondrous deeds ; You alone are God. 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD ; I will walk in Your truth ; Unite my heart to fear
Your name. 12 I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.
Ps. 95:1-3 - O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come
before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God And a
great King above all gods...
Ps. 96 - Sing to the LORD a new song ; Sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name ; Proclaim
good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 3 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the
peoples. 4 For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised ; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the
peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in
His sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to
the LORD the glory of His name ; Bring an offering and come into His courts. 9 Worship the LORD in holy attire ;
Tremble before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns ; Indeed, the world is firmly established,
it will not be moved ; He will judge the peoples with equity." 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice ; Let the
sea roar, and all it contains ; 12 Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy 13
Before the LORD, for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness And the
peoples in His faithfulness.
Ps. 97 - The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice ; Let the many islands be glad. 2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. 3 Fire goes before Him And burns up His adversaries round
about. 4 His lightnings lit up the world ; The earth saw and trembled. 5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of
the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples
have seen His glory. 7 Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images, Who boast themselves of idols ; Worship Him,
all you gods (demons). 8 Zion heard this and was glad, And the daughters of Judah have rejoiced Because of Your
judgments, O LORD. 9 For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth ; You are exalted far above all gods. 10 Hate
evil, you who love the LORD, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones ; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous And gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Be glad in the LORD, you righteous
ones, And give thanks to His holy name.
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Ps. 98 - O sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained
the victory for Him. 2 The LORD has made known His salvation ; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the
nations. 3 He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel ; All the ends of the earth
have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth ; Break forth and sing for joy and sing
praises. 5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, With the lyre and the sound of melody. 6 With trumpets and the sound
of the horn Shout joyfully before the King, the LORD. 7 Let the sea roar and all it contains, The world and those who
dwell in it. 8 Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy 9 Before the LORD, for He is coming
to judge the earth ; He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with equity.
Ps. 99 - The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble ; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake ! 2 The LORD
is great in Zion, And He is exalted above all the peoples. 3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name ; Holy is He. 4
The strength of the King loves justice ; You have established equity ; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the LORD our God And worship at His footstool ; Holy is He. 6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And
Samuel was among those who called on His name ; They called upon the LORD and He answered them. 7 He spoke to
them in the pillar of cloud ; They kept His testimonies And the statute that He gave them. 8 O LORD our God, You
answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil deeds. 9 Exalt the LORD our God And
worship at His holy hill, For holy is the LORD our God.
Ps. 100 - Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness ; Come before Him with joyful
singing. 3 Know that the LORD Himself is God ; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves ; We are His people and
the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His
name. 5 For the LORD is good ; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.
Ps 102:11-20 - My days are like a shadow that lengthens, And I wither away like grass. 12 But You, O Lord, shall endure
forever, And the remembrance of Your name to all generations. 13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to
favor her, Yes, the set time, has come. 14 For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, And show favor to her dust. 15 So
the nations shall fear the name of the Lord, And all the kings of the earth Your glory. 16 For the Lord shall build up Zion;
He shall appear in His glory. 17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer. 18 This
will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. 19 For He looked down
from the height of His sanctuary; From heaven the Lord viewed the earth, 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To
release those appointed to death,
Ps. 103:20-21 - Bless the LORD, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His
word ! 21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will. 22 Bless the LORD, all you works of
His, In all places of His dominion ; Bless the LORD, O my soul !
Ps. 108 - My heart is steadfast, O God ; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul. 2 Awake, harp and lyre ; I will
awaken the dawn ! 3 I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the
nations. 4 For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the skies. 5 Be exalted, O God,
above the heavens, And Your glory above all the earth. 6 That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand,
and answer me!
Ps 113 - Praise the LORD ! Praise, O servants of the LORD, Praise the name of the LORD. 2 Blessed be the name of the
LORD From this time forth and forever . 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the LORD is to be praised.
4 The LORD is high above all nations ; His glory is above the heavens. 5 Who is like the LORD our God, Who is
enthroned on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth ? 7 He raises the poor
from the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap, 8 To make them sit with princes, With the princes of His people. 9 He
makes the barren woman abide in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD !
Ps. 117 - Praise the LORD, all nations ; Laud Him, all peoples ! 2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the
truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD !
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Ps. 135:1-3 - Praise the LORD ! Praise the name of the LORD ; Praise Him, O servants of the LORD, 2 You who stand in
the house of the LORD, In the courts of the house of our God ! 3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good ; Sing praises to
His name, for it is lovely.
Psalm 138:4-5 - All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. 5 Yes, they
shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
Ps. 145:3-10;21 - Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable . 4 One generation shall
praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your
wonderful works, I will meditate. 6 Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness.
7 They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. 8 The
LORD is gracious and merciful ; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. 9 The LORD is good to all, And His mercies
are over all His works. 10 All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, And Your godly ones shall bless You....21 My
mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
Ps. 147 - Praise the LORD ! For it is good to sing praises to our God ; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming. 2 The
LORD builds up Jerusalem ; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. 4
He counts the number of the stars ; He gives names to all of them. 5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength ; His
understanding is infinite . 6 The LORD supports the afflicted ; He brings down the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the
LORD with thanksgiving ; Sing praises to our God on the lyre, 8 Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain
for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. 9 He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens which
cry. 10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse ; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The LORD
favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.
Ps. 149 - Praise the LORD ! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones. 2 Let
Israel be glad in his Maker ; Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King. 3 Let them praise His name with dancing ; Let them
sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre. 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people ; He will beautify the afflicted
ones with salvation. 5 Let the godly ones exult in glory ; Let them sing for joy on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God
be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations And punishment on the
peoples, 8 To bind their kings with chains And their nobles with fetters of iron, 9 To execute on them the judgment written
; This is an honor for all His godly ones. Praise the LORD !
Ps. 150 - Praise the LORD ! Praise God in His sanctuary ; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. 2 Praise Him for His
mighty deeds ; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. 3 Praise Him with trumpet sound ; Praise Him with harp
and lyre. 4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing ; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. 5 Praise Him with loud
cymbals ; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!
Is 24 - For thus it will be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, As the shaking of an olive tree, As the gleanings
when the grape harvest is over. 14 They raise their voices, they shout for joy ; They cry out from the west concerning the
majesty of the LORD. 15 Therefore glorify the LORD in the east, The name of the LORD, the God of Israel, In the
coastlands of the sea. 16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs, "Glory to the Righteous One,"
Is. 42:8-13 - "I am the LORD, that is My name ; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images. 9
"Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things ; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to
you." 10 Sing to the LORD a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth ! You who go down to the sea, and all
that is in it. You islands, and those who dwell on them. 11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The
settlements where Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the
mountains. 12 Let them give glory to the LORD And declare His praise in the coastlands. 13 The LORD will go forth like
a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail
against His enemies.
Is. 45:21-25 - "Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old ?
Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD ? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a
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Savior ; There is none except Me. 22 "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth ; For I am God, and there is no
other. 23 "I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That
to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. 24 "They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are
righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame. 25 "In the
LORD all the offspring of Israel Will be justified and will glory."
Is 56:6-7 - "Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD,
To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath And holds fast My covenant ; 7 Even those I will
bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be
acceptable on My altar ; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples."
Is. 66:18-23 - "For I know their works and their thoughts ; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they
shall come and see My glory. 19 "I will set a sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nations :
Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have neither heard My fame nor seen My
glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations. 20 "Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations
as a grain offering to the LORD, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain
Jerusalem," says the LORD, "just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the
LORD. 21 "I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites," says the LORD. 22 "For just as the new heavens
and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name will
endure. 23 "And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will come to bow
down before Me," says the LORD.
Jer 31:7 - For thus says the Lord: "Sing with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give
praise, and say, 'O Lord, save Your people, The remnant of Israel!'
Amos 9:11 - "In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, And wall up its breaches ; I will also raise up its ruins
And rebuild it as in the days of old ; 12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations who are called by
My name," Declares the LORD who does this.
Zeph. 2:1-3- Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, 2 Before the decree is issued, Or the
day passes like chaff, Before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon you! 3
Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that
you will be hidden In the day of the Lord's anger.
Zeph. 2:11 The LORD will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall
worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations.
Zeph 3:19"Behold, I am going to deal at that time With all your oppressors, I will save the lame And gather the outcast,
And I will turn their shame into praise and renown In all the earth
Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go
to another, saying, "Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, And seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also." 22
Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the Lord.' 23
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish
man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you zech 8
Zech 12:10 - "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and
supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son,
and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
Mal. 1:11 - "For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place
incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure ; for My name will be great among the
nations," says the LORD of hosts.
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Phil. 2:10 - For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10
so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Rev. 5:13-14 - And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all
things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and
dominion forever and ever." 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and
worshiped.
Rev. 8:3-5 - Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he
should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of
the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer,
filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an
earthquake.
Rev. 15:2-4 - And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast
and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. 3 And they sang the song of
Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, " Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God,
the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! 4 "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your
name ? For You alone are holy ; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR
RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.
And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever
desires, let him take the water of life freely. rev. 22:17
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Theology of Night and Day Prayer - Blog

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The original design of man: WHY WAS MAN CREATED?

HUMANITYS GRAND PURPOSE: THE GLORY OF GOD